WILD MILD THIS OFFSEASON

Xcel Energy Center (St. Paul)-
There's the old adage that if isn't broke, don't fix it. This holds true for the Minnesota Wild this offseason. But what may not be broke, does need some tinkering when players are lost with no compensation (retirement).

Coming off a disappointing end to an otherwise superb season, Wild management made the decision to wait until after players announced their retirement, whether or not to take this season off and get younger.

"We have a core group of players that are a mixture of young and well, not so young guys," said Wild GM, Blake Wendt. "Early on we were prepared to take a step back if we lost alot of guys to retirement. We have a handful that are on that bubble every offseason."

The retirement process came, and the only player lost from the Wild roster was defensive center, Wes Walz. A player who will be missed, but not someone to take this hockey club away from their goal of another championship.

"I kind of just let the players be in their decisions," said Wendt. "I wasn't going to try and sway any of them in them coming back next season. With Wes, we kind of figured he wasn't coming back. Although an integral part to our success and in winning the Cup a season ago, he just wasn't getting the same ice time and was a healthy scratch for several games. Wes won't be going too far though. He's staying with the organization as 'special assistant' who will break down video for us during games and keep us updated during intermissions and help in preparing the team for the game."

With losing a defensive center like Walz, the Wild were not looking forward to having to release another to waivers. But they did as Michael Peca was reluctantly released this week.

"It's tough to lose a guy like Mike," said Wendt. "His play on the ice, the passion for for the game, his penalty killing and leadership... that's hard to replace, if not impossible."

They addressed that need for defense up front by making a trade with the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Sending Ales Hemsky, Jeff Taffe and Kurt Sauer to Beantown, for Todd Marchant and David Backes.

"We not only brought back a defensive-minded center to help ease the loss of Peca and Walz, but we weren't left completely empty on the right wing in losing Hemsky," said Wendt. "Plus we got a tougher player in David Backes to give the Sedin line some punch."

It is believed that Hemsky's time with the Wild was wearing thin after a sub par regular season, and an ice cold post-season.

Next up for the Wild will be selecting a player from the waiver pool that Peca was sent to. They will pick second to last at the 29th spot.

Is Minnesota's roster set for GLHL Season 15?

"We're close, if not there," said Wendt. "I don't think we'll actively be shopping around. But if someone comes to us, we always look at every offer to see if it makes us better."

Will the Wild make a deal in reaction to someone within the division making a trade?

"We never make trades to counter a trade made by someone else in the Northwest. Our division is one of the most active divisions in the league. Especially this off season it seems. But they are making those moves to get to our level. We see no need to adjust our roster based on another teams roster moves. I am more than confident that we have a solid, strong hockey club."