Following extremely frustrating seasons from the Twins and Vikings, the early season success of the Minnesota Wild has been a breathe of fresh air for Minnesota sports fans.

The question is: Is it too good to last? The Wild have had successful seasons in the past only to fail come time for post-season play. So will this season be the real deal or is it too early to get the playoff hopes up? So far under first year head coach Mike Yeo, I see no reason why, as Minnesota sports fans, we shouldn’t be placing our full confidence in the Wild and their early season successes. After all, we have nothing to lose, right?

As a hockey player for 15 years, I will admit to some disappointment in the Wild since their inaugural season debut in 2000. Sure, they made it to the playoffs in the ’06-’07 and ’07-’08 seasons, but the success was short-lived as they were eliminated (both years) in the conference quarterfinals. I don’t know about you, but I hope for a little more out of the team representing the State of Hockey. Hockey is our sport, it’s what we’re known for, so wouldn’t it only be fitting if we consistently had one of the best teams in the NHL?

This season, it’s almost as if someone breathed new life into the Minnesota Wild. With a new coach and two key players of Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi recently acquired from the trade of Brent Burns and Martin Havlat, it seems as though the Wild may finally have found the combination for success to carry them through both regular and post-season play. They have developed a different style of play that for the first time ever has allowed them to play consistently and show some confidence. Lead offensively by Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley and in net by Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding, the Wild have found a way to be a resilient team, even in the face of adversity.

As the holidays quickly approach and the year comes to an end, I have nothing but confidence and high hopes for this new Minnesota Wild team in the new year. I believe they will start the 2012 year for Minnesota sports off on a good foot and can only hope the others will follow in their footsteps. I believe the 2011-12 Wild will restore some much needed hope to Minnesota sports fans and will leave the State of Hockey proud as they continue to build on their successes and work to establish themselves as a consistent and dominant force in the National Hockey League.

Do you think the Wild will make it to the playoffs this year? Do you have confidence in their early season success? Do you think it’s too early to be thinking about playoffs for the Wild or do you have confidence in their ability to continue their consistent and successful play?