It can be funny how just when you think you have things right, that you get proven wrong.

With Minnesota’s second consecutive Quarterfinal dismissal from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, all of the parties involved (fans, players, Brass, media types, passers-by) are scratching their heads, wondering “What went wrong?” I just wrote on my blog (ya, you like that shameless self-promotion?) how the high water mark for the franchise, the magical “David vs. Goliaths” run of 2003, has spoiled Wild Nation; we’ve seen the heights we can reach, so why hasn’t The Wild gotten back there since, especially since on paper (a harbinger of doom if there ever was one) each of the teams the past two years are stronger?

Last year it looked promising; the newly assembled roster rallied behind new starting goalie Niklas Backstrom, and roared into the postseason for a match up with the Anaheim Ducks, who promptly kicked our ass. Literally, kicked our ass. For a team not used to the brutal physicality that Anaheim brought, it was an eye-opener for players and Management alike. So in what could be considered a knee jerk reaction, in an effort to boost toughness, we brought in Sean Hill, Todd Fedoruk (a great pickup, but more for his overall play), and in the biggest public relations-egg-in-your-face transaction ever, Chris Simon. (Before you go back to my column on acquiring Simon, I stand by my opinion that it could have been productive. However he saw very little ice time, and when he did, he did very little aside from beating up Jim Vandermeer.)

Onward to this year, where with Division title in tow, we faced off with the Colorado Avalanche; we matched up well because both teams can skate; the added toughness will work to our advantage, right?

Not if the team you face doesn’t fight; maybe it was Anaheim that skewed the definition of “toughness”- its not about just having the firepower to win a line brawl, but more about being consistently physical, and being more of an irritant than a pain-reliever. I realized that playoff hockey isn’t necessarily honest hockey; you need guys who will goad, prod, mock, talk, hit, and instigate because its not about keeping it clean- its about winning the Stanley Cup. Look how effective Sean Avery is in the East; he single handedly drove Martin Brodeur nuts. Even closer to home, which Minnesota fan didn’t want to ring Cody McLeod’s neck? Luckily for Minnesota we’ll have that pest sooner than later- Cal Clutterbuck, come on down!

Its a learning experience with every playoff “run” (for the lack of a better term.) Each series brings about a moral to the tale, whether its to serve the purpose of reminding the management of making that move to enhance depth, whether it be at center or defense, or to bring in that player or two you know can be effective without the puck. Lessons learned indeed; its just that everyone has all summer to rue over it.