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MNWild Young Talented Defensive Corps Where They Fit (Updated w/Podcast)

July 24, 2014, 1:46 PM ET [42 Comments]
Tony Dean
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WildHBcommunity: MNWild Young Talented Defensive Corps Where They Fit



The Top Pairing of Suter and Friends

Since his arrival in Minnesota summer of 2012, Ryan Suter has been the anchor of the Wild’s top pairing playing more minutes than any other defender in the NHL. Suter is big, strong, skilled, and smart in all three zones to the point that he pairs well with just about any of the Wild’s other defenders which is a huge strength for him and Head Coach Mike Yeo.



During the lockout shortened 2012-13 campaign Suter was paired up with 18 year old rookie Jonas Brodin. Suter and Brodin are both effective puck handlers and movers but maybe their greatest strength together in a pairing is positioning and skating ability. Neither of these guys is an imposing physical presence but it doesn’t mean they don’t pair effectively to eliminate their opponent’s opportunities. Suter is so good at positioning himself to keep the play funneled to the outside and then simply poking the puck away to end the possession.

Brodin to begin last season looked to be taking the next step forward in his development and overall game at the NHL level. Brodin was carrying the puck with confidence deeper into the offensive zone than ever before and he was firing shots on the opposing netminder. Brodin doesn’t necessarily profile to become a 20 goal type but certainly he flashed an ability to create offense on his own before taking a wicked dump in off his face shattering his cheekbone.

When Brodin went down with a broken face it meant the elevation of Jared Spurgeon to pair with Suter. Spurgeon is a small in stature fire plug who despite the adversity presented by his size went on to be the Wild’s best overall defender in both ends of the ice last year. Spurgeon has very good hockey IQ and even better hands so although he lacks the size and strength to destroy an opponent, it doesn’t mean he will not snuff out just about every promising score threat.


Spurgeon like Brodin can carry the puck and create offense with his very good speed and vision. Both these young defenders have proven capable of driving possession and using their stick skills to separate opponents from the puck. Brodin struggled to get his confidence and calm back last season after the broken cheekbone which opened up the door for Spurgeon to spend a majority of the year paired with Suter. To enter this season I would look for Yeo to give Brodin the first shot to lock in his spot with Suter on the top pairing. Spurgeon could still find himself up on the top pairing but he has very good chemistry with Marco Scandella so I think they tend to gravitate towards each other.

For Brodin to get back on track towards fulfilling his elite level potential that he has flashed in the past 2 years, he must return this fall with more weight on his frame and strength. Brodin has to reach for the puck less and eliminate opponents with his body more. Brodin is still just 20 years old so it is easy to lose sight of him being just a kid still. Brodin is a smart talented kid and should return to Minnesota fired up to win his spot back on the top pairing.

Second Pair Anchor Scandella Plays Rough With Others



Marco Scandella was not guaranteed to find success at the NHL level despite being selected in the 2nd round of the 2008 NHL draft. In fact the Wild’s 1st round selection 23rd overall in 2008 was used to select Tyler Cuma who the organization just declined to retain making him an unrestricted free agent. Scandella had cracked the NHL lineup in each of the past 4 seasons but last year was a breakthrough for him. Scandella put together largely successful season anchoring the second pair achieving the consistency in his play that caused him to be shipped back and forth to the AHL.

Scandella played so strong in the defensive zone using his 6’3” 200lb frame to bring physicality to a largely finesse blue liners group. Scandella received very little fanfare for his play last season but his impact was significant. I think Scandella’s ability to remain focused and eliminate the turnovers and lapses that had plagued him shows how great maturity and awareness of how close he was to squandering his opportunities with the Wild.


Scandella is much more than just a stay at home defender but last season he sacrificed some of his offensive game to empower his defensive partners Spurgeon, Brodin and even Nate Prosser. Scandella still flashed at times his ability to carry the puck end to end though which is a very under-utilize part of his game. Scandella this season should be more comfortable and confident in his role with the Wild and slowly start creeping deeper into the offensive zone with his play.



The second pairing with be anchored by Scandella with either Spurgeon or Brodin to begin the season. I think it will be Spurgeon because of Brodin’s potential and size being a better fit on the top pair but both of those guys benefit from Scandella’s strong two-way ability and unselfishness. In pairing Scandella and Spurgeon it gives Yeo two young defenders that have grown up in the Wild’s system together with tremendous chemistry.

Brodin is obviously talented enough to play with either Suter or Scandella but the same can be said for Spurgeon so basically the Wild’s Top 4 are interchangeable which is a huge strength for the organization. We could even see Mathew Dumba come up from Iowa and fill in for any of these four defenders as well.

The Bottom Pair More Skilled Than Ever Before



I know there exists some very reasonable criticism of Keith Ballard’s play last season which in my mind comes as no surprise given his return to the State of Hockey came by way of a compliance buyout by the Vancouver Canucks last summer. I will say though that Ballard had moments where he reminded us that he can still play the game in both ends and when he is healthy and aggressive he can be a difference maker.

Ballard is in the last year of his deal with the Wild and he is now the elder-statesman of the blue line. In Ballard the Wild will have a mentor for the young defenders and a player that adds a bit of nasty and attitude on the back end. Ballard is no longer a top 4 defender but he has the skill and experience to make the most of his opportunities with the bottom pair here in Minnesota. Ballard must do a better job being consistent with his play and emotions. Ballard must better manage his healthy to stay in the lineup but he will have help dealing punishment to opponents this season with the arrival of Christian Folin.



With Ballard entrenched as the bottom of the roster veteran presence with ability to do a little bit of everything the question now becomes who does he pair with? I would venture to guess that the third pair will be a rotation of Ballard, Folin, and Jon Blum for most of the 2014-15 season. Obviously that is just an educated opinion by me and a lot can change but that is what it looks like as of right now.

The others in the mix to get some third pairing minutes this upcoming season are Dumba, Gustav Olofsson, and maybe just maybe Guillaume Gelinas. The primary young defenders I see making the NHL roster and spending most of the year playing bottom pair minutes though are Folin and Blum. Those two defenders are farther along in their hockey development and are more physically mature to be able withstand the physical requirements and punishment that comes from playing rugged minutes in the NHL.

Folin is still very raw as a hockey prospect given the late bloomer nature of his path to the NHL but what he is so successful in doing is creating calm with his play. Watching him at UMass-Lowell and then again this summer I came away so impressed with how few opportunities he allows opponents. Folin uses his 6’3” 215lb frame to separate opponents from the puck and he covers a great deal of space with his strong positionally responsible play. Folin also use his frame to carry and shield the puck driving the possession with a very good breakout pass. Folin looked like he was trying to prove a point with his physical play during both prospect scrimmages which the Wild coaching staff has to be thrilled about after losing Clayton Stoner.

Blum is a player that adds an aggressive element on offense but it was clear last season in his limited window of opportunity with the Wild that he was trying to be more physical in the defensive zone. Blum is 6’2” 195lb so he has the opportunity prove more stout in the defensive zone and I honestly think he understands what it will take for him to be a regular member of the Wild’s bottom pair this season.



Blum had the Nashville Predators move on from him despite being a 1st round selection in the 2007 NHL draft and a highly thought of prospect. Blum signed with the Wild as a free agent last summer and although he didn’t make a huge impact at the NHL level he handling the change of scenery very well being named ‘IOWA WILD IOA SPECIALTY MAN OF THE YEAR’ for his work with the community and professionalism.

Blum was the first of the Wild’s restricted free agents to re-sign this summer to what can surely be assumed is a prove it type of one year deal. Blum will be an asset to the Wild if he can shore up the defense zone portion of his game and add some offensive opportunity to the bottom pairing playing with Ballard and Folin this year.

Depth and Talent in Defensive Corps Allows Patience for Top Prospects



I think so many of us are eagerly anticipating the launching of Dumba’s NHL career because of how dynamic this kid is but having seen him play so apprehensive in his 13 game first professional season with the Wild. Dumba must be confident in his assignment and responsibilities defensively at the NHL level before his dynamic game breaker type of ability will translate and last season that just was not the case. Dumba wants to make the NHL roster now and which top talent type kid would say anything other than that right?

What Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher proved to Dumba last season was that he can succeed outside of the NHL against top competition. This year will be no different as although it is clear that Dumba has NHL talent he must take on a leadership role with the ‘Baby Wild’ this year and concur the AHL. Dumba showed great humility and maturity last season in dealing with his failure to launch type first professional season that led him to Team Canada for the WJHC and the back to the WHL this time with the loaded with NHL prospects Portalnd Winterhawks. Dumba now must hit the AHL head on paired with the Wild’s other top defensive prospect Olofsson in Des Moines.



Olofsson is just a baby at 19 years old but he is still growing even though he is currently 6’4” 190lb already. Olofsson is a player that has snuck up on just about everybody except the Wild’s scouting department and Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr. Olofsson earned praise for his play with Team Sweden during the WJHC and it was even rumored that he was being pushed to depart the lowly Colorado College program early to join Dumba in Portland of the WHL.

Olofsson was the most impressive defender during both Wild prospect scrimmages this summer in my mind. Olofsson used his big frame to lean on opponents and direct them into the corners to separate them from the puck. Olofsson displayed great vision and patience with the puck on his stick using some Brodin-esq agility to avoid fore checkers pressure and drive the possession. Olofsson is still very inexperienced but he profiles to be so talented in both ends because of his size/skill combination with very good skating and hockey IQ.



The Iowa Wild battled through a brutal first season of existence after moving to Des Moines from Houston last year. This coming season will be a celebration of young dynamic talent for the ‘Baby Wild’, that starts with the pairing of Dumba & Olofsson in my mind. These kids both have high NHL ceilings and neither has much if any AHL seasoning so it will be a prime opportunity for them to learn what it takes to be successful game after game against grown men chasing or extending their NHL dreams.



Gelinas is a kid that may never make the NHL as he was signed this summer as an overage free agent from Canadian Juniors by the Wild. Gelinas will be an immediate fan favorite in Des Moines though because he is all heart and aggression despite his 5’9” 175lb frame. Gelinas is opportunistic in his play and will make opponents pay for not accounting for his presence on the ice. Gelinas will surely improve a lack of scoring production for the ‘Baby Wild’ this coming season at minimum.

Fletcher Standing Pat will Speak Volumes about Blue Line



I could be off the mark with how I view the blue line group currently and going forward because it has happened before and will again. I am confident though I have pinpointed where each of the NHL roster possible defensemen are in their development and standing within the Wild’s plans. That can obviously change between now and October but I don’t see Fletcher making a move for a defenseman despite the rumors floated they would look to add a physical defender.

Because the next tier of defensive prospects (Dumba, Olofsson, and Folin) appear to be so close to ready, I would wager adding another one way contract is more risk than reward to Fletcher after all three of those kids turned in impressive performances at the prospect camp. Also it must be taken into account how well Spurgeon played last year on the top pairing where the previous year Brodin thrived. Any addition should be a no-doubt upgrade over the Wild’s early 20’s NHL defenders so really we are talking about a huge swing for the fences type of trade.

That’s all for now haha, sorry it is so much but that is just how my mind works. Please check out the State of Hockey Talk podcast Featuring:

Derek Felska of State of Hockey News

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