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Suter: Wild ‘in a good spot -- we just can’t take a step back’

Chicago Blackhawks v Minnesota Wild - Game Four

Ryan Suter

NHLI via Getty Images

The first three seasons of the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter era with the Minnesota Wild weren’t a disaster, but they’ve been subject to a narrative that’s getting old fast: They claw their way into the playoffs and get eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks.

The fact that their last three seasons can be summed up in one relatively unflattering sentence is a problem, but it’s one the Wild will get another chance to correct in 2015-16.

Suter puts a lot of pressure on himself and he wants to his team to live up to the aspirations Wild owner Craig Leipold had when he handed matching 13-year, $98 million contracts with Suter and Parise. At the same time, Suter wants to put that narrative into context.

“There’s a reason they won the Stanley Cup this season. And two years ago. And five years ago. How many other teams lost to them?” Suter said of Chicago, per the Pioneer Press. “We’re in a good spot; we just can’t take a step back. If we keep progressing the way we are, we’re going to be fine.”

Minnesota certainly isn’t lacking in young talent that might be ready to take a step forward, including Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter, and Jason Zucker.

Even still, Suter likely hit the nail on the head when he said that they can’t take a step back. Of course, many other players from a variety of teams would say the same, but Minnesota’s recent history and expectations make that sentiment particularly relevant. This is a team that seemed to be on the brink of disaster last season before acquiring goaltender Devan Dubnyk. If the Wild struggle mightily again, if the fourth season of this era ends without so much as a playoff berth, will they really maintain the current status quo for 2016-17?

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