Big-picture for the Wild, there might be brighter days ahead. Several prospects could provide much-needed upgrades next year for a squad that has clearly lost its way. For now, though, let's just take a quick numerical look at where things stand: *Through 56 games this season, the Wild now has a paltry 58 points. The team is 5-16-5 in its past 26 games.

*Under the much-maligned Todd Richards a year ago, the Wild was 30-21-5 at this point, good for 65 points.

*Even in Richards' first season, the squad was 27-25-4 through 56 games, good for the identical 58 points it has now at the same point.

Plenty of folks watch more Wild hockey than we do. Tell us: Is it the system, the players, a combination of both or something else entirely? And can this season under Mike Yeo be considered anything of an upgrade over the previous two under Richards?