Jason Pominville’s Return to Buffalo
The story of Jason Pominville’s return to Buffalo is a triumphant tale in which the former Sabres captain sporting a fresh 5yr/$28Mil contract extension also swooped in to net the game winner. The winless Sabres battled to make the Wild their first victim of the season, fighting out of a one goal deficit to tie the game. The second period was especially muddled as the Sabres were able to stifle the Wild in the neutral zone leading to very little in the way of offensive opportunity. The Sabres are in rebuilding mode but they have some dynamic young players in their pipeline so despite this season looking to be a long painful one for the franchise, the hope for the future is present in Buffalo. The overwhelming storyline was current Sabres co-captain Thomas Vanek playing against his team presumed to be his free agent destination. I think everything I seen quoted from Vanek and Pominville with regard to their relationship and possible future playing on a line together for the Wild was respectful and honest which in this day and age of mega ego athletes is rare.

Former Captains Still Influential
Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher and his front office staff have done very well to add skilled players with leadership experience at the NHL level. This has been especially important to the young prospects the Wild is looking to graduate in the next two seasons. The influence of adding former captains Zach Parise and Jason Pominville is not measureable with advanced statistics but I believe it is immediately clear this season this Wild team is bought into the system and making themselves accountable to their responsibilities. Finding players as skilled and hard working in both ends as Parise and Pominville, has been contagious for the Wild already through six games. Pominville specifically has been influential since dropping down to the second line and has developed wonderful chemistry with young center Mikael Granlund. The second line has been able to possess the puck in the offensive zone and generate scoring chances at even strength which was a major concern upon the departure of veteran free agent Matt Cullen. My belief is upon the return of Charlie Coyle from the sprained knee he sustained, he will be slotted in between Granlund and Pominville with Dany Heatley being the odd man out.

El Nino Following Plan Similar to Coyle
Currently Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo has assigned Swiss Winger Nino Niederrieter to top line playing with Wild captain Mikko Koivu and Parise. Yeo used Coyle last season on this line with success both in results and helping the young winger to better develop his game at the NHL level. The same sort ideology is being applied this year with Niederrieter giving great responsibility and opportunity with arguably the Wild’s two most influential and hardworking players on the roster. Any sort of attitude issue or lack of accountability to play within the system and coaching that was rumored to be the reasoning around his Islanders career stumbles has been non-existent thus far while he has been in a Wild sweater. Niederrieter has been very focused on playing a conservative complimentary brand of hockey which has allowed him to make the team out of training camp but the Wild will be looking for him to contribute with his goal scoring ability and heavy shot. Niederrieter each game played in a Wild sweater has battled in both ends and flashed a surprising ability to see the ice and put to puck on line mates sticks in scoring areas. Niederrieter hasn’t let loose with his break away ability that is so present in his Bridgeport highlight reel on the internet.



Clutterbuck Gone Enter Cooke

I just can’t talk enough about the impact Matt Cooke has made already for the Wild through six games. Last night Kyle Brodziak got on the score board with his first goal of the year on an aggressive driving play that was absent from his game for the entirety of last season. Cooke has been smart and aggressive playing very strong physical minutes teamed with Brodziak at full strength and on the penalty kill. On that line they currently have Justin Fontaine but it is very likely that the other winger spot on the third line will be a rotational fill depending on the need and health of the Wild. Cooke and Brodziak have worked very well to extend possessions and generate scoring chances in the dirty areas which is something the Wild’s 3rd line failed to do last year. I think a lot was made about the departure of Cal Clutterbuck and how it would impact the 3rd line and energy of the Wild in general but I think arguably the team and the third have been more affective this season compared to last. Being honest Clutterbuck had an off year last season struggling with his offensive game and failing to create many turnovers despite hitting everything that moved. Wild fans will always have great memories of Clutterbuck’s time here in Minnesota but it is pretty remarkable a player with the high end potential of Niederrieter could be generated in return.

Just My Thoughts,
Tony Dean
@AWKD

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