The Wild have had a version of this conversation before - talented enough to be in the race, frustrating enough to make you wonder if the ceiling is lower than the pieces suggest. Kirill Kaprizov has been an absolute monster this season in stretches, generating offense in ways that remind you he's one of the five or six most dangerous players in the league when he's cooking. The issue is consistency from the supporting cast, which is a familiar complaint around Xcel Energy Center.

Marc-Andre Fleury's role in the crease has been a topic all year. The Wild need reliable goaltending down the stretch and postseason track record matters. Filip Gustavsson's development alongside him has given the organization something to work with but the balance hasn't always felt settled. The blue line has been better than advertised this year, which has helped cover some of the team's defensive breakdowns.

Xcel is one of the more underrated hockey buildings in the league. Getting tickets for a late home game here is worth every dollar - the Minnesota crowd knows its hockey and the atmosphere for a game that matters is something that doesn't get enough national attention. The Wild have been in the "almost" category long enough that another first-round exit or playoff miss would feel legitimately damning. Kaprizov deserves better than that. So does this building. So let's see if this is finally the year this roster delivers.