Watch: Former coach Bruce Boudreau sees a tough, talented Wild team, but one missing piece

As the Minnesota Wild prepare to open the 2026-27 season on Oct. 1 vs. Nashville, Bruce Boudreau sees a team capable of winning plenty of games, frustrating opponents with its physicality and work ethic, and making life miserable for anyone who faces them in a playoff series.

What he doesn’t see, at least not yet, is a complete Stanley Cup contender.

The former Wild coach and current NHL Network analyst believes Minnesota’s ceiling remains high, but he also believes the same question that has followed the franchise for years still lingers: Where is the true No. 1 center?

“I think they will compete because they work their butts off every night as a team,” Boudreau said. “But I think there’s a level of how good they can be.”

Our Darren ‘Doogie’ Wolfson caught up with Boudreau earlier this month, via Zoom.

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