The Minnesota Wild have lost their last five games and are in sixth place in the Central Division of the National Hockey League, which is anything but pleasing to their general manager Bill Guerin.
With just five wins in 17 games this season, head coach Dean Evason’s team is in trouble in the standings and we shouldn’t necessarily expect any transactions that will change the situation as the organization is constrained by the financial constraints of more than 14 US dollars have their hands tied, so to speak, with millions on the payroll as a result of the acquisition of the contracts of Zach Parisé and Ryan Suter.
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The Wild’s recent trip to Sweden hasn’t solved the club’s problems, which fell to the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs this weekend. And Guerin made his message clear at a meeting he organized specifically for the players.
“I’m not happy with our situation,” he told The Athletic. My biggest concern is our competitiveness. The boys work hard every night and care [des succès], I know that. However, this is a different kind of commitment and focus. I don’t think we got it.”
“It’s about everything from faceoffs to puck possession battles to execution, positioning and the ability to be in the right spot on passes from the palette. Everything needs to be improved.”
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However, Guerin refused to point the finger at Evason, other than to say that anyone who knows the sport knows that the fate of coaches continues to be a matter of wins and losses. The results must follow, but for now it’s up to the hockey players to act. The sooner the better, because qualification for the next series is getting further and further away.
“There is an old saying: You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot force it to drink. I think Dean is doing a good job. And you know what? He can’t go on the ice and play for the boys. It’s up to them to do it,” the Director General reminded.
Minnesota will return to action on Friday when they host the Colorado Avalanche.