I’ll be taking the next few blogs to concentrate on the Central Division and attempt to evaluate the moves made by each team. Did they address their needs effectively? Are they better or worse after the moves made? Writing this in July makes this a dicey proposition but what else am I gonna do… watch indoor lacrosse? Winnipeg was first… next up? The Minnesota Wild.
The Minnesota Wild are coming into the season with the weight of great expectations after dropping a ton of money on free agents over the past few seasons. The Wild have almost $40 million in salary wrapped up in five players this season… none of those are in goal. That may be the Wild’s undoing.
The key addition to the Wild is Thomas Vanek. The 30 year old left wing has posted seasons of 43, 40, 36 and 32 goals in his 10 NHL seasons. He had 23 goals last season between the Islanders and Canadiens and some significant playoff experience. A concern for this player could be that his last 30+ goal season four seasons ago. It does make you wonder how much is left in the tank.
Let’s start in goal, which as I mentioned above, may be the Achilles heel of this team. Why do I say that? Quick… who’s the starter for this team?
See… there is no clear number one between the pipes. Niklas Backstrom should be considered the man in net… but he has shown to not be as durable as Minnesota needs in a starter. While he stayed healthy in the lockout shortened 12-13 season, he only played 21 games last season, 46 in 11-12 and 51 in 10-11. Backstrom has great stats and is hoping to return to full health after three surgeries in the last 14 months, but the timeline for his return is still up in the air as he rehabs from his latest surgery.
Josh Harding could be considered a starter, but again health is an issue. Harding’s battle with MS is well documented and very inspiring, but from a purely hockey perspective… it has impacted his durability. He had a spectacular start to the season last year, but was only able to play in 29 games… oh, but the stats he posted, 18-7-3-3, .933 Save Percentage and a 1.65 GAA… the best season stats of his career.
Then there is RFA Darcy Kuemper, the 24 year old played in six games last season and posted decent numbers. Neither side decided to go the arbitration route this summer so it remains to be seen how this player is brought back, but the jury is out on if he is the future of the goal in Minnesota.
Defensively, this team is built around Ryan Suter, who is beginning his third season with the Wild. There is some very talented youngsters on this blueline, including 21 year old Jonas Brodin and a pair of 24 year olds, Marco Scandella and Jared Spurgeon. I would like to see the stay at home veteran added to this team but this defensive corps is growing together and has the potential to be dominant. It may… may be enough to cover the shortcomings between the pipes. After all, this is a team that took Chicago to the wall in the second round back in May.
Offensively, the Wild have definitely improved with the addition of Vanek and the subtraction of Dany Heatley. This team should pack a better offensive punch, Jason Pominville tallied 30 goals last season and Zach Parise potted 29 to lead the team, but the dropoff is dramatic after those two players with only six more players breaking double-digits in goal. Vanel will help here but secondary scoring is a concern.
To sum up the Minnesota Wild… this is a team that tied for 24th in the NHL in goals scored last season… tied with the Edmonton Oilers and below non-playoff teams like Calgary, Carolina, Phoenix, Nashville and the New York Islanders. They were middle of the pack in power play conversion and positively terrible on the PK, ranking 27th in the league. Minnesota got off to an incredible start last season, a testament to what excellent goaltending can do for you. Twenty games into the season they were 12-4-4 and only two points out of first in the ultra-competitive Central Division, by New Year’s Day they had dropped to 5th in the division then recovered to finish 4th in the division capturing the first wild card in the conference.
As I look at this team, I’m not sure they have truly addressed their needs so far this offseason. There is talent on this team that really needs to step up offensively… and the GM needs to address the goaltending issue to prevent the revolving door of goaltenders that the Wild experienced last season.
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Random Notes
- The Predators are having an Adult Hockey Skills Development Clinic on Sunday 8/10/14 at Bridgestone Arena.
Click Here for more information and to register.
- The Milwaukee Admirals have released their preseason schedule, opening at home against Rockford on Friday 10/3 then travelling to Chicago the next night to conclude their two game preseason sked. The Baby Preds home opener is the following Friday, 10/10.
- The arbitration battle is set for Nick Spaling and the Penguins. The hearing is scheduled for tomorrow and they seem to be pretty far apart on asks. Accoridng to Ken campbell’s Tweet, the Pens are offering $1.65 million, Spaling is asking for $2.85.
- Former Pred Matt Halischuk has been re-signed by the Winnipeg Jets to a one year, two-way deal that pays $725,000 at the NHL level.
- It took a little while, but Justin Abdelkader has been suspended for three games by the IIHF. This is in response to Abdelkader’s nasty hit on Vladimir Sobotka in a World Championship game.
- Teemu in the KHL??? Say it isn’t so… but… if Teemu Selanne decides to play for Jokerit in their first KHL season, I can understand it.
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