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It took the Minnesota Wild awhile to get going, but the month of November was a big improvement over October.
The Wild finished the month with a 5-3-3 record, including 3-0-1 to close out the month and a sweep of a home-and-home serie against division-rival Colorado Avalanche.
Most Valuable Player
Mikko Koivu. The center was slow to get out of the gate, but led the Wild in November with 12 points, three goals and nine assists. He finished four points ahead of Andrew Brunette, who was second for the month. The Wild’s captain now is the team’s leader with 24 points, again Brunette is second with 19. Koivu is the Wild’s best player and he proved it in November.
Offensive Player of the Month
Owen Nolan. The wing, like Koivu, got off to a slow start with just two goals in October. In November, Nolan led the Wild with five goals and is now second on the Wild, just two behind team-leader Brunette. He added two assists and had a team-high 39 shots on goal in November.
Defensive Player of the Month
Greg Zanon. The defenseman had just one goal and two assists, but continues to be a defensive leader. He has lived up to his reputation as a shot blocker. He continually puts his body in front of shots on the penalty kill and even strength and has not missed a game this season.
Minor League Offensive Player of the Month
Danny Irmen. The former Gopher wing is leading the Aeros with six goals and is fourth on the team with 10 points. His time with the Aeros this season, includes a two-game callup from the Wild.
Minor League Defensive Player of the Month
Clayton Stoner. He is known as defensive defenseman. He will make a career similarly to Zanon and Nick Schultz. He is willing to sacrifice his body to block shots. He leads the Aeros with a plus-10 rating. He also has contributed three goals and eight assists in 21 games for the Aeros.
Prospect Player of the Month
Erik Haula. The wing for the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League is second on the team and third in the league with 31 points, 12 goals and 19 assits, in 19 games. He leads the Lancers with 14 power play points, three goals and 11 assists. The future University of Minnesota Golden Gopher was the Wild’s first of two seventh round draft selections.
