Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher joined NHL Network on Friday after the Wild made a splash in free agency.
He added that this year’s Wild team has no excuses moving forward and even challenged players such as Mikael Granlund and Charlie Coyle to take the next step and be a leader, according to Chad Graff of the Pioneer Press.
#MNWild GM Chuck Fletcher said he challenged Coyle/Granlund. "You guys got to step up. It’s time for you guys to grab some leadership here."
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) July 1, 2016
To say the Minnesota Wild had an up and down season would be an understatement. At the halfway point of the regular season, the Wild were off to their best start in franchise history through 41 games.
Through their next 14 games, the Wild would win just once more. That prompted a coaching change, relieving Mike Yeo after four and a half years.
Interim Coach John Torchetti guided the Wild to the playoffs, but they lost their final 5 regular season games to get there and were bounced in the first round.
After being fired, Yeo hinted that the Wild’s locker room was divided.
Not to mention veteran players not putting up points they were accustom to and young players still waiting to take the next step. The Wild’s brass did not retain Torchetti and hired Bruce Boudreau instead.
Now with a new coach, a few new additions and a fresh start, Chuck Fletcher and the Wild are hoping the younger players will rise to a new level, while make their presence as leaders in the locker room.
