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Doug Risebrough used to say that James Sheppard was the only member of the Wild's five-player "core" who had yet to experience "crisis."
Whether it was being ridden by former coach Jacques Lemaire, or being a defenseman forced to play forward, or being small in stature, the former Wild general manager felt that "core" players Mikko Koivu, Brent Burns, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Nick Schultz had overcome early-career adversity that made them stronger as players.
Sheppard, on the other hand, hadn't gotten that -- let's call it, privilege -- yet.
"He hasn't really been pushed yet, but believe me, he will be pushed," Risebrough said before last season. "I'm comfortable to say he's going to come through it, but his growing pains need to still occur."
Fast-forward exactly one year, and Sheppard is experiencing "crisis," and yes, as Risebrough predicted, it's been painful.
The third-year, 21-year-old center is under enormous pressure to improve his game. In 14 games, he has no points, 13 shots, has won only 39.6 percent of his faceoffs and isn't winning enough battles to keep coach Todd Richards satisfied.
Yet Richards continues to go with Sheppard while scratching Benoit Pouliot the past three games. Pouliot might get a chance tonight, especially if injured Eric Belanger can't play.
But every facet of Sheppard's game continues to be scrutinized by the fans, media, coaches and -- in last Sunday's Star Tribune -- even by Tommy Thompson, the assistant GM responsible for drafting him ninth overall in 2006.