On today's episode of Locked on Wild, Zach Zeman joins the show as we fire up an impromptu mailbag looking to the future in the light of a recent run of mostly ineffective play. We start by discussing the current temperature of Bill Guerin's seat in light of all of the turmoil this season. Seth and Zach agree that while Guerin's seat may not be as warm now as many would think, the burner has definitely been turned on and if these issues persist and carry over into next season that may be enough to ensure he doesn't stick around to see the end of his vision play out. Seth and Zach also discuss when we can expect the Wild to legitimately contend, and both agree that it is most likely that 2026-27 starts the serious contention window, depending on if Kirill Kaprizov decides to re-sign in Minnesota. Seth and Zach finish by looking at the biggest needs for the Wild to turn them into true contenders, with Zach begging for the team to find a consistent direction forward as opposed to continually being stuck in the "muddy middle".

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