2013-14 Season In Review: Mikael Granlund

Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Mikael Granlund's second season in Minnesota was far more successful than his first. Lets review.

Stats

Minnesota (NHL): Regular Season-63 GP, 8 G, 33 A, 41 P, 22 PIM, 104 SOG
                             Playoffs-13 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 P, 2 PIM, 35 SOG

Review

After a shaky first season in professional hockey, Mikael Granlund came into the season hoping to make big strides. He did just that. Despite missing nearly two months due to two separate concussions, Granlund proved to be one of the Wild's best scorers. He eventually was moved to the top line alongside Zach Parise and Jason Pominville, and really did not relinquish that position through the end of the postseason. His 33 assists were good enough for third on the Wild behind Mikko Koivu (43) and Ryan Suter (35). In the postseason, Granlund was outstanding against Colorado (five points in seven games) until he was shut down in the Chicago series. Granlund also was on the Finnish Olympic team that ended up taking the Bronze medal in Sochi, where he scored three goals and four assists in six games alongside Teemu Selanne.

Highlights

Status for 2014-15

Alongside Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin, and Erik Haula, Granlund enters the final year of his entry level contract and will be a restricted free agent following 2014-15. The final year of that deal will come with a $900,000 cap hit. With the strides Granlund made this past year, he would be the most likely candidate to receive a contract extension this summer.


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