With one preseason game in the books for the Minnesota Wild, I am becoming convinced that the season ahead for the team will be a bridge year adjusting to their new division and allowing their young players to acclimate. In speaking last night with Brad Ratgen my fellow Wild HB writer, it is just apparent that this season is shaping up to be more pain than pleasure. The reshaping of the roster and graduation of young players to the NHL will be adversity Wild will need to overcome every night this season.

A player I am very worried about is Kyle Brodziak who struggled in every aspect of his game last year. Brodziak has steady numbers in his NHL career with the exception of last season. It has been written by Wild beat writers that the 3rd line appears to be set with Brodziak centering a line with Torrey Mitchell and Matt Cooke playing on the wing. If that proves to be an accurate opening night 3rd line, it would mean forcing young players to the AHL to begin the season. The positive of this line has been the chemistry between Cooke and Mitchell already in this early stage of training camp. I just believe this line profiles as a top tier 4th Line with the 3rd line being filled with which ever young forwards are not included in the 2nd line. I am sure nobody is putting more pressure and emphasis on fixing what ills him than Brodziak himself, but his implosion of confidence and performance has been to the detriment of the team.

A player I am very excited for Wild fans to see in person is Keith Ballard. After seeing him on the ice in action twice already this fall, I am convinced he will find his success and be a key member of the veteran leadership of this team. Ballard last night showed he is willing to mix it up with opponents should they take liberties with him or his teammates. Ballard also showed he will be a good partner for one of the Wild’s young defensemen once the season begins. Ballard has good instincts and showed he will jump into the play in the offensive zone. He battled his tail off all night in both zones and while paired with Mathew Dumba, provided the Wild with a bruising pairing. Ballard shrugged off the hometown return story when he spoke with the media last night instead focusing on the work this team has ahead of it.

Mathew Dumba was a bright spot for the Wild last night in my opinion despite some mistakes. Dumba was more than willing to mix it up in front of the net and in the corners. Dumba was strong with the puck on his stick and moving the puck out of the zone on a night when Wild defenders struggled in that area. Dumba showed playmaking ability from the point in the offensive zone and created opportunities for others. Dumba was chirping and following through with body checks on players all night. The major doubt I have in my mind about Dumba making this team is his strength and size right now. I think at minimum General Manager Chuck Fletcher and Head Coach Mike Yeo will give Dumba the 9 game minimum before returning him to Red Deer of the WHL. Dumba plays such a fast and physical style of hockey it would be a shame to have him stunt his development being unable to stand up to the demands and maintenance a full 82 game season requires.

In reading other writer’s take on the Wild’s young forward versus the Bluejackets last night I came away thinking did we watch the same thing? In reality the lineup the Wild rolled out last night had very little experience playing together and in Yeo’s system so the take way from last night should be about effort mostly. I just worry that as much as the likes of Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund, and Jason Zucker have been built up with prospect analysis there hasn’t been a step forward by any of the three in their development headed into this season. Granlund garnered praise from Yeo and others for playing faster and his compete but this is a 21 year old all world prospect we are talking about. Granlund was good at times but the most dominating player on the ice last night was in a Bluejackets sweater and his name in Cam Atkinson. Atkinson is smaller than Granlund and has experienced success at the NHL level that Granlund has not. Don’t get me wrong I respect and am excited for what Granlund could be in his NHL career but he needs to be pushed NOW to find his killer instinct with the puck and show that he can score goals and be a Top6 forward every night.

A player I find myself defending and rooting for is Marco Scandella as I have viewed him as having the best opportunity of any of the young defenders(Dumba not included)to provide the Wild a defender that can punish opponents in the defensive zone while being relevant in the offensive end. Scandella has truly been his own worst enemy allowing attitude and confidence to sidetrack his NHL career and development. Scandella has enjoyed long stretches of being arguably the Wild’s best defender to then find himself buried on the depth chart and in the AHL. Last night Scandella was truly brutal turning over the puck numerous times in his own zone and losing his composure. Scandella is a player the Wild must have put in a full season of solid hockey if they are going to compete in the very offensively talented Central Division. Scandella and tiny defender Jared Spurgeon have been a popular pairing for Mike Yeo during camp this year and dating back to last year. Spurgeon will need Scandella to play the hammer role in their pairing for them to thrive in the defensive zone this season. Scandella will need to prove his has found his game and continue to develop his chemistry with Spurgeon to find himself in the Top4 pairings on opening night for the Wild.

Just My Thoughts,
Tony Dean
@AWKD

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