theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.

A midseason slump in 2015-16 spelled the end of head coach Mike Yeo's tenure with the Minnesota Wild. This year, the Wild turn to Bruce Boudreau, who will be tasked with unlocking the team's offensive potential. With that in mind, here are three players to watch in 2016-17:

Zach Parise

Since joining the Wild in 2012, Zach Parise hasn't seen the offensive output he had with the New Jersey Devils. He scored just 53 points last season, and his best performance with the Wild is 62.

That's a far cry from the 94 and 82 point seasons he posted with the Devils in 2008 and 2009, respectively. However, playing under a head coach in Boudreau that plays an offensive, run-and-gun style, it's safe to expect more from Parise this season.

Boudreau envisions him playing wing to Eric Staal, who signed with Minnesota in the offseason, as well as Charlie Coyle. As a key offensive cog, he'll be relied upon to lead the Wild to its fifth straight postseason appearance.

Eric Staal

Boudreau believes Staal, like Parise, is capable of providing far greater offense.

After spending his entire career with the Carolina Hurricanes, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2006, the veteran center was dealt to the New York Rangers at last year's trade deadline.

Staal finished last season with just 39 points, including just six points in 20 games with the Rangers. He was then held pointless in five postseason matches, marking his worst showing offensively since his rookie campaign, in which he scored 31 points.

While the 31-year-old's production has dipped over the last three seasons, Boudreau is optimistic he'll have a great year with the Wild, particularly under new circumstances, after facing months of trade speculation in Carolina. After signing a three-year deal with Minnesota, he'll use his time with the Wild as an opportunity to reboot his offensive game.

Production aside, the 6-foot-4, 200-plus-pound Staal also provides the Wild with some size up the middle behind captain Mikko Koivu.

Ryan Suter

The Wild boast impressive defensive depth, and a critical piece to that is standout blue-liner Ryan Suter. The 31-year-old finished second league-wide in ice time last season, averaging 28:35 a game. That marks nearly six minutes more than any other Minnesota defenseman.

With a blue line shared by Jared Spurgeon, Marco Scandella, Matt Dumba, and Jonas Brodin, there are more than enough capable defensemen to share in the workload. At the same time, having Suter take on a lesser workload will allow him to be more effective in the minutes he plays.

Boudreau believes Suter will be better off playing 23-25 minutes per night, allowing him to go "all out" during his shifts. Managing his ice time will be a key assignment for new defensive coach Scott Stevens.

Suter led all Wild defensemen in points last season, notching 51 points in 81 games, and finished third in team scoring behind Koivu and Parise. He'll have a good opportunity to improve on those numbers this season.

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