There is no other way to put it. Mikael Granlund had one of the best seasons any player for the Wild has ever had. In fact, he tied for the fourth highest scoring season in franchise history with 69 points (26g-43a). After years of at least mildly frustrating Wild fans with flashes of brilliant play followed by periods of underperformance and a seemingly fanatical commitment to passing the puck instead of shooting, Granlund was unleashed under the guidance of Bruce Boudreau and his staff.
One moment from the season that best illustrates this was his overtime game winner against the Los Angeles Kings.