WildHBcommunity: Wild Powerplay has EARNED Boos from Fans so Fix it
The Minnesota Wild Have Certainly Improved but How Much?
I think the day one of the franchise Minnesota Wild season ticket holder like my colleague here at Hockeybuzz Brad Ratgen can attest to the night and day difference in the brand of hockey and depth of talent now in 2014 compared to 2000. Nobody is a bigger admirer of Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher and his entire front office staff and scouting department than I. I will even admit that nobody had been a bigger critic of Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo until this team rallied around him down the stretch last year and made it clear he was their leader.
That being said this 2014-15 Wild club has outplayed opponents in nearly every game they have played this season by my own personal eye test and the opinions of people that matter in my mind that generate content and that I speak with about hockey in general. The problem exists in the fact that they have given away many victories this because of what can be best described as a lack of killer instinct, urgency, and complacency.
Compounding the evolution and maturation of a first year full time 23 year old netminder is some highly inconsistent defensive play by the time as a whole especially with the lead. Darcy Kuemper has to be better and his play has just not been consistent this season especially for a kid that force the franchise to accelerate his elevation to the number one guy with some leveraging by his agent this summer as a restricted free agent.
I tend to be taken to be a Kuemper apologist because I really believe this kids has the skill set and make up to be the #1 guy at the NHL level but honestly anyone that watches every minute like I do has to acknowledge that this team has failed Kuemper about as many times as he has them. The odd man rushes in the Thanksgiving Eve Massacre by the Kings were an embarrassment.
That Ryan Suter giveaway on a weak dump to the center of the ice against the Blues was atrocious. Go back and watch that Rangers meltdown and you will see Suter standing still accomplishing little leaving his netminder on an island. Kuemper is certainly a powder keg topic for Wild fans who either support him and believe in his abilities or the other side that is still calling for Ilya Bryzgalov as the savior.
Often this year the battle level and work ethic of this team has been suspect especially on the back check and on extended possession where it seems the lack of big physical players on certain lines allows for opponents to pin them in and take advantage. This team is frustrating to watch wilt with the lead. Time to address that among the players because this is no longer a talent bankruptcy issue.
Wild Fans Should Boo This Power Play Until it gets Fixed!
I was disappointed in Zach Parise for deviating from his normally candid accountable self when address the media after a 2-1 win over Montreal. The fans booing doesn't make the players play worse. I think if it was the case that the Wild was pressuring and playing aggressive on the power play and just unlucky, the fans would react much differently to their struggles this season.
From the Star Tribune:
“It doesn’t help. Sometimes we feel like booing ourselves, it’s that bad, so I can’t disagree with them. They’re frustrated, and I understand that. And they have a right to be frustrated. We’re frustrated, and then when we get booed, we get more frustrated, and then it snowballs.”
I think Parise was in the moment when it took issue with the fans after the game though because the next day he had this to say to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune:
Parise said of the booing, “It doesn’t help. They’re frustrated, and I understand that. And they have a right to be frustrated. We’re frustrated, and then when we get booed, we get more frustrated, and then it snowballs. But sometimes we feel like booing ourselves, too, it’s that bad, so I can’t disagree with them.”
In depth on the power play, Parise said, “We’re frustrated, too. We probably deserved to get booed. It’s been a sore spot for us and we need to work on it. It’s the only way you get out of it. It’s not just going to change.”
The next game the power play produced two goals versus the Anaheim Ducks in a 5-4 loss which plays right into what Parise was originally talking about after the win versus the Canadiens but truth is that this squad has been up multiple goals in games they have dominated which caused opponents to take penalties. On those power plays up a couple goals this team showed ZERO urgency and accomplished next to nothing which is alarming.
Maybe worse of all with regard to the power play is that Yeo brought a fan favorite legacy player Andrew Brunette in to be the remedy to a power play that may have cost this team a shot of getting out of the 2nd round of the playoffs last year. In doing so not only has the power play been worse but fans don't want to call for Bruno's head because he is beloved here.
This a real problem that must be addressed and remedied should this team ever catch and pass the teams they are chasing in the loaded Central Division of the Western Conference. It is kinda mind boggling that Yeo and Bruno somehow avoided power play time for Nino Niederreiter and Jason Zucker the two most prolific and aggressive shooters currently on the roster.
It is Time to Move on From a Couple of Veterans
Beyond a couple of very well executed old school hip checks this season, Keith Ballard has been a liability for the Wild. The bottom pair has been costing the Wild with inconsistent play while on the ice and causing Suter specifically to have to play too many minutes already this year. The callup of Christian Folin after some time with the 'Baby Wild' was a welcome addition after the pair of Ballard and Nate Prosser struggled together in limited minutes.
Prosser at times this season has elevated his play but we have seen him struggle for multi-game stretches this season which has been an indicator to me he should be apart of a rotation not an every night defender. Mathew Dumba never launched this year and because he was playing limited minutes on the third pair trying to do everything in his power to not make a mistake his game was watered down and unimpressive.
I am lost by the insistence to use Ballard by Yeo, honestly I though Justin Falk added more in the defensive end and was better with the puck on his stick. Also this team has Jon Blum at their disposal in Iowa so why not mix in one or both of those guys with Folin and Prosser? Ballard should be out of the mix and that third pair with him in there is a liability for the Wild which has been a reason Kuemper has faltered.
Terrible news out of Des Moines on Josh Harding who was forced to a leave a game for the 'Baby Wild' and then he landed in the hospital with a dangerous case of dehydration that has been associated to his MS. Harding has been shutdown until they are able to identify how his MS symptoms and the dehydration can be managed but it sure feels like this could be the last time Harding wears a jersey associated with the Wild
The Curious Case of Thomas Vanek
I was very convinced that all of the posturing by Thomas Vanek towards becoming an unrestricted free agent was leading him back to Minnesota. Now that it has happened I am very interested to see what it will take for him to begin lighting the lamp like he was brought here to do. Every time I speak about Vanek I mention that he has obviously lost a step or two with regards to his skating so that is clearly changing his windows of opportunity with the puck.
I also though can not turn a blind eye to the fact Vanek has been turning down many shots this year which has to be a symptom of something wrong. Now we find out that Yeo has called Vanek out in an attempt to get him going which is a good thing. Vanek's solution is for him to get the opportunity to play on the top line with Mikael Granlund the top center and distributor for the Wild and his good friend Jason Pominville.
We have seen Vanek be at odds with his bench boss previously over his assignment and linemates when addressing his lack of production. Most recently he took issue with Michel Therrien the Montreal Canadiens Head Coach for his demotion during the playoffs and his usage during the end of the regular season. Vanek played on the top line on Long Island after his arrival in a trade between the Islanders and Sabre last year. Vanek put up 17 goals and 44 points while playing with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo on what was arguably the best line in hockey during that stretch.
Also of note here is that Yeo has played Granlund with Parise and Pominville for the majority of this year. That line has been dominate possession wise during many games this year but Granlund is NOT producing offense up to his sky is the limit potential so giving Vanek the opportunity to turn around his goal scoring while putting some added pressure on 'Finnish Jesus' Granlund it certainly provides a compelling storyline to follow in the next couple games for the Wild.
I think Vanek has shown great Hockey IQ this season and his vision has been creating offense for this team via his playmaking skills but I do understand the frustration from the fans. Vanek is making all the money and he was billed to be the goal scorer this squad was missing while Dany Heatley was making all the money and not scoring goals last season. This show and prove move by Yeo to give Vanek the opportunity to play with Granlund and Pominville should mean the Top 6 is rounded out by Parise with Kaptain Koivu and Nino.
Yeo needs to play Coyle on the third line he just has failed to be able to produce scoring and contribute much more than energy while playing on the right wing of Granlund and Koivu. The other tough thing about giving Vanek a shot with Granlund and Pominville is that you are pushing Zucker or Nino out of the Top 6 at a time when they are the only consistent shooters/scorers in your lineup.
It certainly feels like this current roster has a bunch of very nice pieces that dont quite fit together. I wonder if Fletcher feels the same way. If it became clear that an external move was needed to make this roster better compliment itself I would hope its Coyle that goes being honest. I think everyone loves Charlie because he is a big strong nice kid but I am not sure Nino, Zucker, and Haula are more valuable going forward. It also hurts that Haula has looked like he is deep in a sophomore slump.
Explanations No Excuses
On a personal note I want to apologize for a lull in my content this has been a HUGE week for me personally. I made a huge aspiration leap in my career in law enforcement that has required me to be 1000% committed the past 4 months. Beyond that after 2 1/2 years of trying to get pregnant we are expecting a baby boy in March! I am very appreciative of the opportunity to create Minnesota Wild content here for the #WildHBcommunity so I dont take my obligations lightly.
Thank you for all the support and for helping me to grow the community here and my following in general! I aspire to have integrity in my content and the ideas I put forth. I hope to always spark the conversation here with my Wild related content. The #WildWednesday Jeff Dubay Show has been growing and gaining attention like we could have never imagined but I am a writer and this is my priority for content! My bad!
Just My Take,
Tony Dean
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