WARNING SIGNS: Minnesota Wild FALTER vs. Non-Playoff Teams—Lack of Focus or BIGGER PROBLEMS?

WARNING SIGNS: Minnesota Wild FALTER vs. Non-Playoff Teams—Lack of Focus or BIGGER PROBLEMS?

35:04 Mar 17, 2026
About this episode
Minnesota Wild struggle against non-playoff teams, raising questions about their playoff readiness. Are slow starts and cold secondary scoring threatening their postseason hopes? Seth Toupal examines the Wild’s alarming trend of playing down to inferior opponents, reflected in recent losses to the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Key insights include Marcus Johansson's season-long slump, John Hines’ use of the line blender, and the team’s overreliance on perimeter shots instead of high-danger opportunities. Discussion focuses on the Wild’s split records—dominating playoff teams but faltering vs. weaker competition—and the urgent need for improved first-period performance. Upcoming games against the Chicago Blackhawks become crucial, as fans wonder if the Wild can regain consistency and ignite their offense before the playoffs. Everydayer Club: If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.  Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonwild.supercast.com/ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: Locked On Wild Follow/Subscribe Anywhere: https://linktr.ee/LockedOnWild Follow Locked On NHL: linktr.ee/lockedonNHL Join our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/ZAB6yyck Have a Question for the Show or a Topic you want Covered? Email lockedonwild@gmail.com For your next listen, check out the Locked On NHL podcast, where the season never ends providing national expertise with a local perspective. Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! DripDrop - Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to https://dripdrop.com and use promo code LOCKEDONNHL. Indeed - Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/lockedon right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this p
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