Is This the Worst Minnesota Wild Team Ever?

Two days ago, we looked at a conundrum of faith. Not a crisis, but a conundrum. Should Wild fans be angry enough to fire people, or should they be more vocal? These questions were presented by Patrick Reusse, a man fans love to hate. The problem with columnists is they fire people up. The best thing about columnists... is they fire people up.

So let's ask the question. Is this the worst Wild team of all time?

The problem with hockey, is a loss isn't always a loss. So we go to points. The Wild have won 21 points in the past 36 games, due to some charity points awarded. Twenty one points in 36 games in 29% of points available, but it is a pace of .58 points per game. (How about those numbers, eh Wilderness?)

Earning .58 points through the remaining games gives them a little better than 9 points. We'll keep the numbers real and and say nine. That puts them at... 75 points.

The historical record shows this as the Wild's finishing point totals:

Using those simple counting techniques I learned way back when, whether it is 82 or 75 points, the 2011-12 will finish as the 3rd worst Wild team in franchise history by point totals.

So, will they be the worst Wild team in history? No. Or... will they?

The 2000-01 Wild teams looked like this:

Forwards

Defense

Goalie

The 2001-02 Wild looked like this:

Forwards

Defense

Goalies

The 2011-12 version of the Wild have high paid, high power players with limited expectations, and yet, somehow when you look at the teams they are about barely beat, you have to wonder if the expectations shouldn't have been just a bit higher than that.

Four of the previous season are certainly within reach. The seasons of 83 and 84 points aren't out of the question. The Wild would need to increase from their .58 points per game to a 1.175 points per game to beat the 84 point mark. That would be doubling (and then some) the production of the past 36 games. That would be nine wins and a OT loss, or 19 points. Nine wins in the last 16, when they have won 8 of their past 36?

Anyone putting money on that?

So, Wilderness, speculation time. Given the current path, is this the worst Wild team of all time, all things considered? If not, which teams were worse and why? Does it matter?