WILD CAPTAINS ON THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Ryan Suter
Age: 32
Career regular-season stats: 69 goals, 373 assists, 442 points, 913 games.
2016-17 note: Career-high nine goals, tied for NHL lead plus-34, 40 points (11 fewer than last season).
Career playoff stats: Five goals, 26 points, minus-19 in 73 games.
The quote: "Just with the team we have, with the salary cap, we've got young guys that are going to be starting to get paid a lot, the window is small with the salary cap era. I mean, we have a team right now that we all feel that can compete for the Stanley Cup."
Mikko Koivu
Age: 34
Career regular-season stats: 179 goals, 435 assists, 614 points, 843 games.
2016-17 note: 18 goals were his most since 2009-10 (22), 58 points his most since 2010-11 (62).
Career playoff stats: 10 goals, 22 points in 45 games.
The quote: "You prepare the same way if you're 25 or 35 or whatever. I'm not looking at it that way. I think as you get older you appreciate it more. You really want to enjoy the opportunity. I'm trying to enjoy each and every day and prepare the right way. I now that sounds like a cliché, but it's really what it is. Take it all in from the opportunity we have here and enjoy every bit of it. It goes fast. The year, it flew by again. It's fun to be a part of it. I can't wait for this week."
Zach Parise
Age: 32
Career regular-season stats: 318 goals, 343 assists, 661 points, 830 games.
2016-17 note: 19 goals, 42 points in 69 games, his fewest in a full season since his rookie year (2005-06).
Career playoff stats: 30 goals, 68 points in 89 games.
The quote: "I don't think that we're sitting here thinking we have to win this year or we're done. Some people get a little weird about players' ages and stuff, but we all feel good. Regardless of the age we are, we feel good, we feel like we're playing well. I don't look at it like if we don't win this year, our window's closed.
"We have some really good, young players that I think still have a lot of room to get better and keep playing more consistent. And we'd like to think we've got a handful of more cracks at it."
MICHAEL RUSSO
