After going 3-2-1 in their first six games of the 2023-24 regular season, the Minnesota Wild have lost nine of their last 11 and are now sixth in the Western Conference’s Central Division with a 5-8-4 record.



The Wild were part of the NHL’s Global Series in Stockholm, Sweden, where they lost in a shootout to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday and fell 4-3 in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. Despite heading back to North America with two out of a possible four points, things aren’t looking good in the State of Hockey.



On the most recent episode of <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5jPNZUlCwGq58w3Hro2JCF?si=WBwmKuBwTZuyoA_x-3Rd3Q&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=5691627478cc4baf">Frankly Speaking with Frank Seravalli</a>, Frank spoke with Wild general manager Bill Guerin in Stockholm during a team practice. During the conversation, Frank asked about the team’s tough start and what the Wild need to do going forward. <div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="141"></div>



Note: this conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Also, this interview took place before the Wild’s two games over the weekend.



Frank Seravalli: It’s been a rocky start, and there’s a lot to sift through, but for an overall evaluation, where do you stand on this team? 



Bill Guerin: It has been a rocky start, and I feel for me, the one thing that hasn’t been there is our compete. 



Frank Seravalli: It hasn’t been at the level you need it to be? 



Bill Guerin: No it hasn’t, and I’ve been very honest with the coaches and the players. To me, that’s the biggest thing we haven’t been doing is competing at a high level on a consistent basis. There’s more that we can give, and I expect that. <div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="135"></div>



Frank Seravalli: Is that a surprise to you? This is a team where a lot of the same guys are back, you’re coming off a 100-point season. I know the first-round loss in the playoffs was deflating, but given that hard work is the one constant, as you say, why does that not show up?



Bill Guerin: That’s a good question and one that I don’t really have an answer for. It happens, it really does. But I think it’s part of my job to let them know how I feel and what I see. Look, everyone needs a kick in the ass sometimes. We all need it, and I think this group needed a push in the right direction. 



You can listen to the full episode and other conversations on the Frankly Speaking podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frankly-speaking-with-frank-seravalli/id1658075238">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6IRJcNI4nL4VKpXIr1vaAh">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU--hi_aUxNATLd1ufUPcn5m8MGY9YTih">YouTube</a> and wherever you get your podcasts.<div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="146"></div>