Welcome Back State of Hockey 2015-16 MNWild Preview Good, Bad, and Ugly
The Good for MNWild Headed into the 2015-16 NHL Season
The first thing to cross my mind as being a huge positive for the State of Hockey's favorite team is having Devan Dubnyk penciled in between the pipes. While I was vocal all offseason leading into the open of free agency that Dubnyk's contract demands were lofty and without a proven track record of success, I was impressed by General Manager Chuck Fletcher's accepted contract offer to the netminder. Obviously it is another Fletcher commitment with his back against the wall to a veteran who possessed all the leverage but I really believe that Dubnyk wanted to be here in Minnesota long term and realizes how much playing for this team assisted his tremendous run last year.
Almost by default it seems, Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo will be forced to depend on his young players in elevated roles this season. Last year Yeo displayed that stubbornness that probably saved his job in back to back season refusing to shuffle his power play personnel on the top unit and scale back the roles of key veterans. This season though Yeo will break camp with a possible outlook of Mikko Koivu playing a lesser role, Thomas Vanek on the third line, and Ryan Suter paired with a defensemen such as Jared Spurgeon who will assume the role of activating and pushing the offensive play.
Believe me I still have my doubts about Yeo's ability to allow Jason Zucker, Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund, Matt Dumba, and Charlie Coyle the opportunity to expand their roles. I think what we have seen though from the core veterans on this roster especially in their post season play is that they are now supplemental pieces to these young guns who must be the driving forces on a game by game basis.
The defensive corps for the Wild has never been more talented and the depth and diversity of the unit is truly impressive. Suter obviously will be the leader of this group and will be looking to bounce back from his least effective year as a member of the Wild. It has been the case for two seasons now, that Spurgeon has been the most productive and consistent defensemen for the Wild in both ends of the ice. Last season Marco Scandella and Matt Dumba both flashed game changing offensive abilities that hopefully will carry through again this season. Scandella really used his size and skill combination to be a strong physical presence in the defensive zone while showing an ability to carry the puck end to end. Scandella's heavy shot created walk off moments and memorable goals for the Wild last season so it will be important to take advantage of that weapon this year.
The newcomers or better yet up and comers in the defensive corps all bring specialized skill sets to the table and should provided the Wild with its best third pair talent wise in franchise history. Christian Folin, Mike Reilly, and Gustav Olofsson each have Top 4 pairing potential and will all find themselves playing sheltered and specialized minutes. Folin should have provide a physical presence while being skilled enough to contribute to the hockey game. Folin is entering his third season as professional but in reality this is just his second training camp and full season at the NHL level. Reilly will add some secondary scoring from the third pair and could find himself between Saint Paul and the Baby Wild in Des Moines this year which will be to the benefit of both squads. In Olofsson, the Wild has a size/skill kid that is just scratching the surface of his talent and abilities due to a missed rookie season due to a shoulder injury. Olofsson was a non-traditional prospect anyways with regard to him being a European born kid coming to America to play USHL anyways. Olofsson has the body and skill to be a top pairing compliment for the next decade along side Dumba which is truly something to look forward to.
The last thing I will mention inn the good column is the competition and urgency for a roster and a role playing out for Erik Haula and Tyler Graovac. This pair of 7th round draft pick pivot men are currently vying for an opportunity to push Coyle back to the wing. The best case scenario for the Wild would be for both of these young centers to make the roster and contribute out of training camp. Each of these guys was the best player on the roster in Des Moines the past two years. Haula suffered through a putrid 2014-15 NHL season after flashing a ton of speed and skill the previous season which included him being arguably the best player on the ice during the post season for the Wild. Graovac has been steadily climbing the ladder in the Wild organization from relative unknown commodity in Canadian Juniors to NHL roster hopeful.
The Bad for MNWild Headed into the 2015-16 NHL Season
The opportunity to improve this roster for the Wild externally was hamstrung by several veterans contracts that hindered Fletcher's ability to maneuver. The Niklas Backstrom fiasco is a prime example of how the business of hockey is as important as the actual game of hockey now in the NHL. Backstrom used his leverage both at the time he signed his current three year extension with the Wild and really to be honest about it he has leveraged the franchise every offseason since.
Backstrom in back to back offseasons faced the certainty of Fletcher buying out his contracts due to his diminished role and contributions to the team. Backstrom required offseason surgeries which blocked any opportunity for the Wild to buy out his contract which in truth completely benefited him financially. Backstrom's the franchise's most successful backstop in history but he has failed mightily to contribute production that would justify his contract and even his roster spot.
Backstrom was not the only veteran to fail to meet expectations which has created a rock in a hard place scenario for Fletcher because of no movement clauses and inflated salaries. Koivu is a prime example of a player who is more valuable to the Wild that anything they would return for him in a potential swap. Koivu's role must evolve to better suit his contributions this season though for him to continue to be an effective part of the Wild's lineup in my opinion. I have always contended that Yeo is guilty of avoidance when it comes to prominent veterans on the Wild roster. Koivu's role and deployment will be a fire starter topic again this season.
Jason Pominville and Thomas vanek both took a huge step back last year in the goal scoring department. Vanek prior to his arrival to Minnesota was a number one option type of goal scorer but now his offensive game looks to be much more complimentary in nature. Pominville flat out failed to justify his roles last season both even strength and on special teams. Pominville should bounce back and he seemed to be in his own head far too often last season. Both of these veteran wings must adjust their game to rejuvenate their offensive production in 2015-16 which is definitely going to be something monitored closely this year.
I am really frustrated with the idea that Jonas Brodin must be paired with Suter and must play right defensemen. That pairing is soft and it throws the rest of the pairings out of balance. I really believe that Spurgeon and Dumba would be more effective better fits to play with Suter who should now be a safety blanket for and aggressive defensive partner capable of pushing the play. Spurgeon has more hits than any other defender the past two seasons and Dumba has a nasty edge and dynamic play that needs to be unleashed in 2015-16.
Scandella also is a natural partner for Spurgeon or Dumba, which leads me to why I believe the Swedes should be playing their minutes paired up early and often this season. I have been really mystified by the lack of Brodin and Folin together last because they seem to fit like a glove. Folin can skate and pass but his physical game and size really would help to protect Brodin who is much more finesse. Brodi has flashed an ability to drive the offense and score some goals but playing with Suter has caused him to be an after thought offensively.
The Ugly for MNWild Headed into the 2015-16 NHL Season
The reality is here in the State of Hockey, the apologist passive aggressive fandom is the overwhelming majority. Fans get shamed for booing a power play that generates zero shots on goal and anything dynamic offensively. Fans get shamed for calling into question why a player is treated and paid like a franchise player while contributing so little offensively especially in comparison to other NHLer with similar stature. Fans are shamed and chastised by the main stream media and a couple snarky blogger types for wondering a loud if Yeo's decision making and bench boss persona have not reflected the definition of insanity after three post season exits in a row after sneaking into the playoffs on the strength on improbable stretch runs.
The Backstrom thing is just ugly, no different really from the Harding situation last year. Backstrom should not be faulted by doing right by himself business wise because the world of professional sports is cut throat and athletes have a limited window physically to capitalize. I certainly believe though it is reasonable to question whether Backstrom is responsible for not getting surgery when it was more appropriate in season because he has admitted the injury occurred in the pre-season last year. Also it is relevant that two years in a row Fletcher and Yeo seem to have mismanaged Backstrom which created a situation in which he was ineligible for buyout due to surgeries that could have been dealt with before those deadlines based upon health were reached. Truth is Backstrom was not a contributor of anything that mattered the past two regular season so getting him healthy for buyout time should have been priority especially after what happened with Dany Heatley in the end of that San Jose game.
I have this nasty gut feeling that the Wild will take a step back this season and miss the post season. If the Wild finds themselves out of the playoff picture come NHL Trade Deadline it will be interesting to see how much ability to clean up this roster going for Fletcher is afforded. Fletcher has committed to a veteran core that disappears in the playoffs and is trending towards what appears to be a missed window of opportunity to compete for Lord Stanley's Cup. This entire season is riding on the young core fulfilling their potential super star potential.
Bottom line for 2015-16 Wild season is that if we don't see Granlund, Nino, Zucker, and Dumba breakout as primary contributors offensively, this season could take a turn for the worse very quickly. I think the Wild can definitely grind out wins and play 200 foot forechecking type of style but arguably each team the division made improvements on their rosters from last year and the Central will be a dog fight in 2015-16.
A Personal message From Me:
@GopherHockey @ginoguy7 He will be same class as my little monster! #SkiIMah pic.twitter.com/5Z0FEW6ecK
— Tony Dean (@TonyDeanHB) June 3, 2015I feel very fortunate to be returning for another season of covering the Minnesota Wild and talking hockey here at HockeyBuzz. This has been a crazy year for me personally and professionally. I got hired to be dream gig so my career has kept me extremely busy. My personal life has been just as crazy with the birth of my little man! I have asked that HB add another writer to the team just because I never want to fail the WildHBCommunity content wise!. Thank you for reading and always supporting my content.
Love TD!
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