The Wild left today for a matchup tomorrow in Calgary against the Flames on Monday night. After a complete let down against Vancouver on Thursday night, the Wild bounced back with overtime win against the red hot Predators on Saturday night. The Wild needs to go on a run here to solidify their position in the standings and the Flames could help to build on the momentum this Wild team needs to build. The Flames have traditionally had a lot of success against the Wild but this year's team seems to be on the verge of being blown up to begin a rebuild similar to how the Wild has. The Flames still feature Wild killer Jarome Iginla and longtime backstop Mikka Kiprusoff but the rest of the roster is filled with journey men veterans and marginally talented players. The Flames signed middle of the road free agents Jiri Hudler and Dennis Wideman this summer and are attempting to cultivate young players Sven Baertschi and Mikael Backlund. On defense the Flames are led by Jay Boumeester who has underwhelmed since coming in trade from the Panthers. The Flames last played Saturday versus the Canucks losing 5-1. The Flames currently have both Backlund and Baertchi on injured reserve along with Kiprusoff. Also Mike Cammalleri looks to be out of the lineup versus the Wild. The Flames made a move claiming goaltender Joey MacDonald off waivers from the RedWings. I think Leland Irving will be in net against the Wild.
There were some very promising elements in the Wild's 2-1 overtime victory of the Predators. They will need to build from what worked Saturday night. The Wild was able to gain the offensive zone and setup offense against a very sound defensive team. The first line of Zach Parise-Mikko Koivu-Charlie Coyle again proved to be complimentary and vibrant. Coyle looks to fit very well on the top line and has done just about everything you can ask from a 20 year old. Coyle looks here to stay and his presence has allowed Coach Mike Yeo to pair up former San Jose Sharks Dany Heatley and Devin Setogucci on the 2nd line with rookie center Mikael Granlund. Granlund and Setogucci spent the Phoenix game demoted to the 4th line followed by a healthy scratched for Granlund. Saturday night versus Nashville Setogucci was the most dangerous player on the ice for the Wild and he finally was able to make it count by netting the game winner in overtime. Setogucci has been scrutinized for much of this young season to which I have argued in many of my blogs that he has played hard and physical despite not getting on the stat sheet. Setogucci and Heatly being matched up on the second line allows for them to continue developing the chemistry the two had showed when matched up last season and with a gifted playmaker like Granlund centering their line I expect them to continue to show positive results. Granlund and Setogucci can fly and both seem to know where each other is at on the ice. Heatly's size and physicality are exactly what they both players have been pushed off the puck and have struggled in tight quarters this season. Heatley is no longer a sniper but he has shown the capability of still being a viable scoring threat in tight and he has been more physical in games which the Wild needs.
The maligned 3rd line for the Wild has feature staples Kyle Brodziak and Cal Clutterbuck matched up with multiple players on the left wing. The most recent and frequent has been Matt Cullen who I have time and again savaged for not being capable of playing the wing and no longer being better than any of the Wild's current centers. Cullen still can be effective as a specialist on the penalty kill and power play. Cullen also has been okay in the faceoff circle this year but he has been physically destroyed in multiple games and has bad turnovers being out muscled attempting to play a winger role. I think the Wild should make every effort to look into moving Cullen as his role as a leader has been supplanted by Parise and Suter. Brodziak has arguably the worst statistics of any of the Wild's players and his offense has been almost non-existent this season. Brodziak is an extremely important player to the Wild playing a very solid two-way game being asked to matchup against opponent’s top line. He has been more aggressive on the fore check the last two games which has generated scoring chances for him but there has been no payoff as he has looked uncomfortable. Brodziak is at his best when he is shooting the puck and the Wild needs him to break out of his funk. Clutterbuck can energize the crowd and the team when he is buzzing around the ice laying big hits and firing shots on the fly. Clutterbuck has been okay this season accounting for a pair of deflection goals and an assist of a hard shot rebound. Clutterbuck takes a ton of shots because he is aggressive and he currently is third in shots for the Wild. The offense from the 3rd line just hasn’t been there so far. I think a lot of Wild fans really want Jason Zucker called up from Houston and playing the left wing with Brodziak and Clutterbuck. Standing in the way of this is Cullen and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Both in the last season of their deal unless either is injured or traded they will continue to eat ice time that could belong to Zucker.
The 4th line has seen multiple combinations this season as well with the glue being free agent addition Zenon Konpka. Konopka has centered the Wild's checking line with varying results so far this year. Konopka has fought, won face-offs, and provided glimpses of his unique fiery personality. Another free agent addition Torrey Mitchell has showed his versatility and effort already this season being elevated to the 3rd line at points and playing a very influential role in the Wild dumping Darroll Powe after a disappointing Wild career. Mitchell plays in all situations and can really skate. Mitchell brings great energy and will continue to be a heart and soul guy for the team. Bouchard is currently lining up on the 4th line while being used on the 1st team power play unit. Bouchard like Cullen is a player without a role only valuable to the Wild as a specialist offensively. In trading Powe to the Rangers the Wild got in return Mike Rupp who through two games has shown his best hockey is obviously behind him. Rupp has played hard and hit opposing players while clearly he is a presence on the ice I am not sure how much he brings to the team. Rupp will likely be in and out of the lineup but he may be able to develop some chemistry with Knopka and Mitchell in time. Matt Kassian has cracked the lineup and should soon hit the waiver wire. I am not sure if he makes it to Houston unclaimed but he could be a very good addition to an Aeros team savaged by injuries.
The defensive pairings have stabilized since the callups of Jonas Brodin and Marco Scandella from Houston. Ryan Suter before the arrival of Brodin, struggled to match up with a defensive partner that allowed him to play his two-way brand of hockey. While I think Suter needs to be paired up with a thumper type of stay at home defenseman, being paired with Brodin on the top pairing has be good for Suter and the Wild. Tom Gilbert has experienced success offensively being paired with Clayton Stoner. Gilbert has jumped into the offensive zone more frequently and has fired the puck at every opportunity. When Gilbert has his offense going he is more aggressive in the defensive zone and more willing to throw his body into checks. Stoner is the epitome of an overachiever and is more effort and attitude than talent and skill. Stoner has glaring weaknesses in his game but he is willing to do what the Wild coaching staff needs and has made a living filling that role. The Wild's greatest need that it is unable to fill with a player currently under contract with the organization is a big physical state at home defensemen with skill. When Simon Depres was rumored to be the target of a Setogucci trade, he is about the exact definition of they type of player that would fill the Wild's need. Other young defensemen Justin Falk, Marco Scandella, Jared Spurgeon, and Nate Prosser have been matched up in different pairings and scenarios throughout the first 11 games. Spurgeon currently on injured reserve will return soon and GM Fletcher will be forced to decide who stay and who goes. Against Nashville on Saturday, Prosser played for the first time in 6 games and was adequate but I think he is a prime candidate for waivers. Scandella was a healthy scratch Saturday but I think that was more about giving Prosser a final look before a decision must be made. Scandella can be returned to Houston without waivers be he is a player who's talent has never been in question, it is his confidence that has derailed his NHL career. Not sure it benefits the Wild to stunt his development to hold on to a very marginal defender in Prosser. Spurgeon's return will be interesting as well because before he went to injured reserve he was playing with Suter on the top pairing. I dont think he returns to that pairing but where he does land will dictate alot about who is scratched. Gilbert has been good with Stoner but I think Falk could replace Stoner in that stay at homw role with better puck skills than him. Scandella and Spurgeon have played together before and could be a natural fit. Both are skilled in both ends but Scandella would be required to be the more physical defender to compensate for Spurgeon's size.
The brand of hockey the Wild played Saturday night is what they will need to bring with it on the road to get wins in Calgary and Vancouver. In Wild losses on the previous road trip the featured dump and chase hockey and the never ending grinder board play. I clearly have stated previously I blamed the lack of offensive potency on less than complimentary skill sets on the line combinations for the Wild. Coach Yeo was forced to address lack of chemistry and role issues by moving Heatly from the top line and replacing him with Coyle. Since that change the Wild has carried the puck more and it has empowered players like Setogucci and Granlund to return to the Top6. Calgary will provide a great measuring stick for the Wild’s capability of continued success before a no love lost matchup against the Canucks who embarrassed the Wild at the Excel Energy Center last week. The Wild after beating Chicago in a shootout felt good about themselves before going on the roads and losing two games handily. The Wild needs to take their show on the road and be successful in the next two games against division opponents. It has been said in this shortened season regulation wins are worth 4 points, to get two wins on this road trip would be basically a 10 point trip and the Wild better play like their season depends on it.
Just my Thoughts
Tony Dean
@AWKD
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