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Boudreau's philosophy with everybody is, "I'll usually answer everything fairly honestly. A lot of times I'll think, 'Shoot, what did I just say?' That usually hap- pens on TV." He proved that when I asked him point blank if he's concerned the Wild only has 10 forwards with legit NHL experience heading into this season. Most coaches, especially those in the first year in a new city, would tip-toe around such a question in front of fans. Not Boudreau, who answered can- didly, "I've let [General Manager] Chuck [Fletcher] know how I feel about it. Now, I'm not going to badger him because then he'll get [angry] and that's the last thing we want our GM to do is get mad at me before the season starts." Boudreau said he's willing to keep an open mind when it comes to youngsters like Kurtis Gabriel, Tyler Graovac, Alex Tuch and Joel Eriksson Ek and bubble players Zac Dalpe and Jordan Schroeder heading into training camp, but "I want to make sure they're NHL ready." Boudreau was a world of information at the Star Tribune event, and here were some of the most interesting tidbits head- ing into the 2016-17 season, one in which the Wild once again hopes to take that next step in a difficult Central Division. Michael Russo covers the Wild and National Hockey League for the Star Tribune. He co- hosts a podcast on malepatternpodcasts.com, can be heard weekly on KFAN (100.3-FM) and seen on Fox Sports North. Follow him on Twitter at @russostrib. MINNESOTAHOCKEYJOURNAL.COM // OCTOBER.2016 24 RUSSO'S RANTS PHOTOS: MINNESOTA WILD. GETTY IMAGES Boudreau Sounds Off … On the captaincy: "I have no plans of chang- ing any captaincy at all. I don't want this being skewed in any way. There is no controversy in who the captain of the team is: Mikko [Koivu] and it's going to stay that way." On the No. 1 center: This was interesting because it was proof positive that a new coach is coming in with no pre-conceived notions or care about egos. Former coach Mike Yeo used to go through pains to label Koivu the No. 1 center, even going as far to make sure Koivu's line was first in line rushes during practice and warm-ups. Boudreau when asked about the No. 1 center? "I'm hoping—we're hoping—that it's going to be Eric Staal. I think he's been really unmoti- vated the last couple years. He went into camp in Carolina last year by his own account not in the greatest of shapes. And he looks fit as a fiddle now. He looks hungry and if Eric Staal is anywhere the player he was two years ago, then I think you guys are in for a real treat because he's a bull. I think Mikko's a great No. 2. He really reminds me of the way I used Ryan Kesler last year with [Ryan] Getzlaf being the No. 1 [in Anaheim]. If Mikko can be on a line that is pro- ductive and shuts down, I think we're really doing a good thing." On thinking bigger: Boudreau made it clear he wants the Wild to get bigger. "Chuck knows I want to be more aggressive, more in-your-face, so we're going to try to get bigger and tougher and stronger." On chemistry: There will be a lot of experimentation with lines, and he's not just pigeonholing reacquired Chris Stewart as fourth-line right wing. He knows Stewart played well with Koivu during his first stint with Minnesota. He seems to be looking at Stewart and Nino Niederreiter as the right wing on a line with Granlund and Koivu, meaning Jason Zucker could start on the third or even fourth line. Also, Charlie Coyle will either play right wing or center. If it's center, Erik Haula could start on the fourth line. On the power play: No more selfishness on the power play: "The power play is simple. You've got to have two good units and they can't be self- ish. They can play a minute and then they've got to get off. What usually happens to teams when their power play's not working, they get the same guys staying on for a minute-and-a-half, a minute- and-three quarters. Then they get too tired to do anything. We want to get fresh guys out there and we've got enough skill on this team that we can make two really good power-play units." On playing time: Ryan Suter, whether he wants to or not, will not play 29 or 30 minutes a night: "We can manage the minutes I think a lot better. I don't think anybody has to play 30 minutes a game on this team. We can bring it back to between 18 and 24 for everybody and I think that's going to give them a lot more jump to play offensively when they get the opportunity." Boudreau's philosophy with everybody is, "I'll usually answer everything fairly honestly. A lot of times I'll think, 'Shoot, what did I just say?' That usually happens on TV." PRESENTED BY