![Minnesota Wild left wing Erik Haula (56) celebrate with fansafter scoring on Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) to tie the game during the second period of their game Tuesday night at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Wild faced the Chicago Blackhawks in game 6 of their playoff series Monday night, May 13, 2014 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/3FMAZDLPERXUQJTQX4GIDFB5II.jpg?&w=1080)
These are not the best days, collectively, for the Timberwolves, Twins, Vikings and Wild, but these are not the worst in recent memory. That honor goes to the spring of 2011, when the Timberwolves completed a 17-win season under Kurt Rambis, the Wild trudged to a playoff-free season, the Vikings tore up an aging roster after a disastrous 2010 and the Twins went from good to awful overnight.
Indeed, three years after that nadir, those four teams are at various stages of rebuilding — but the four combined offer four of the most compelling types of stories that keep fans interested:
• Team: Wild. Type of story: Well-built team aiming for the next step.
Any team that makes the playoffs in this market is going to be celebrated, but mix in an owner willing to spend with a good core of young talent and you suddenly have a team that can capture the imagination of fans with nothing more than on-ice play.
• Team: Wolves. Type of story: Potential trade of a superstar for young, intriguing pieces.
The Wolves haven't participated in the playoffs in a decade. They play in a brutal conference. And they are on the verge of losing the second-best player in a 25-year franchise history. So why is my e-mail flooded with messages from intrigued fans wondering about a Kevin Love trade? Because trade stories offer the dual seductions of mystery and potential. Add in that the past two No. 1 overall picks could be part of a deal and we're off the charts with speculation and interest, even if the Wolves figure to take a step back in the short-term.
• Team: Vikings: Type of story: New coaching regime ready to start over with revamped roster.
Mike Zimmer is 0-0 as an NFL head coach, and that's a powerful position heading into the opening of his first training camp with the Vikings on Thursday. "Let's see what Zimmer can do with the defense" and "When will Teddy Bridgewater start at quarterback" are talking pieces to keep even the most cautious fan occupied.
