SHOCKING: Wild SMALLEST Team in NHL While Preaching Physical Play | Is There a Franchise DISCONNECT?

The Minnesota Wild face a critical identity crisis: they're the NHL's smallest roster trying to play a physical, grinding style. GM Bill Guerin keeps adding size and toughness at the trade deadline, while draft strategy under Judd Brackett prioritizes speed and skill in undersized packages. This organizational disconnect is creating serious problems. Host Seth Toupal breaks down the Wild's roster construction issues, examining how Minnesota ranks dead last in average height (6'0") across the NHL. While teams like Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers feature big forwards who can score—Tomas Hertl, Jack Eichel, Aleksander Barkov—the Wild rely on undersized stars like Kirill Kaprizov, Marco Rossi, and Matt Boldy to carry the offense. Meanwhile, their size additions (Marcus Foligno, Jake Middleton, Zach Bogosian) contribute little offensively. The analysis explores Minnesota's unclear identity under coach John Hynes, examining past deadline acquisitions and draft patterns that reveal a franchise pulling in opposite directions. With the Wild struggling early in 2025-26, this fundamental misalignment between philosophy and personnel demands immediate attention. Watch now to understand why Minnesota's approach isn't working and what needs to change. 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! Rugiet - Ready to level up your confidence ? Head to https://rugiet.com and use promo code LOCKEDONNHL for 15% off your first order. Gametime - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. Monarch - Take control of your finances with Monarch. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at https://monarch.com/lockedonnhl for 50% off your first year. FanDuel - Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new FanDuel customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins! FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.