Andy King / AP

Right wing Martin Havlat was one of the top free agent signings in the offseason.

Stanley Cups: 0

2008-'09 record: 40-33-9, 89 points (3rd in Northwest, 9th in West)

2008-'09 playoffs: Did not qualify

General manager: Chuck Fletcher (1st NHL year, 1st team)

Coach: Todd Richards (1st NHL year, 1st team)

Captain: Alternating captains

Top returning scorer: C Mikko Koivu (20 goals, 47 assists, 67 points)

Top returning goalie: Niklas Backstrom (37-24-8, 2.33, .923)

Key additions: RW Martin Havlat; C Kyle Brodziak; D Shane Hnidy; D Greg Zanon; D Jaime Sifers; G Wade Dubliewicz; C Nathan Smith; D Ryan Lannon; RW Petr Sykora.

Key subtractions: RW Marian Gaborik; LW Stephane Veilleux; D Kurtis Foster; C Krys Kolanos; C Dan Fritsche; D Martin Skoula; D Marc-Andre Bergeron.

Top line: LW Andrew Brunette; C Mikko Koivu; RW Martin Havlat

Top defensive pairing: Kim Johnsson, Brent Burns

Goaltending: Workhorse Finn Backstrom signed four-year, $24 million contract extension in March after season in which he was a Vezina Trophy finalist. Absent of panic, makes the sensational save appear simple. Beginning to play more aggressively and challenge shooters instead of sitting back in blue paint.

Player to watch: D John Scott. Concussion suffered in preseason by tough-guy Derek Boogaard opened opportunity for 6-foot-8, 258-pound rookie to crack lineup. Collected one assist with 21 penalty minutes in 20-game trial with Wild last season. Can also play on the forward line and offers a physical presence.

Icing: Richards comes over after a stint as an assistant with San Jose, which posted the NHL's best record last season. Richards was in charge of a power-play unit that was third in the league with a scoring rate of 24.2 percent.

Outlook: Take away longtime coach Jacques Lemaire and Gaborik from this mix and it’s a whole new world for the Wild, one which may take them some time to tame.

Prediction: 87 points (4th in Northwest, 12th seed in West)

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?

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