WildHBcommunity: MNWild The Wild Ride Begins Tonight Avalanche in town for Season Opener
Here is #WildWednesday Jeff Dubay Show Podcast Week 2 Featuring @TonyDeanHB
No Love Lost Between Wild and Avalanche
I think the images above paint the picture of how emotionally charged this 2014-15 NHL season opening game at the Excel Energy Center between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild will play out. These franchise seem forever tied to each other by classic moments of brilliance and ugliness. Tonight each franchise will be looking to impose their will and gain some early season momentum in a loaded for bear Central Division of the Western Conference.
Universally I think the hockey world(Media and Fans) have overlooked the Wild in season preview write ups and predictions. Honestly that is fine by me and I am sure the rest of the WildHBcommunity could give a rip about where people outside the 'State of Hockey' believe this team will finish. Its really no different from being overlooked before and during last season.
This Wild team is built with a strong, talented, and versatile veteran core of players and leaders. Our captain Mikko Koivu leads by example playing a strong two-way brand of self-less almost to a fault 200 foot hockey. Our superstar free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter only serve to reinforce for the young core that to play within Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo's system each player must be active in and responsible in the defensive end.
Breakout Candidates and Young Forwards a Plenty for the Wild
Speaking of the young core, having so many early 20-something kids with legitimate NHL experience in prominent roles for this squad should translate this season to elevated production for several of them. Mikael Granlund is a wizard with the puck on his stick and is on the verge of taking another large step towards fulfilling his top prospect in the world potential as the top centermen in the Wild lineup.
Nino Niederreiter is his second season with the Wild is frsh of signing a new three year pact with the franchise and posed to breakout offensively. Nino aka #KnightRider played a very important role last season in a largely defensive role along with fellow 3rd liners Kyle Brodziak and Matt Cooke. This season Nino is beginning the year again on the 3rd line but with new linemates Erik Haula and Charlie Coyle. I believe Nino will get elevated to a role in the Top 6 sooner rather than later this season because of his offensive upside but I am excited to see him play with two speedy talented youngsters like himself.
Speaking of Haula and Coyle each is versatile in that they can play in every situation on the ice and both have positionally flexibility playing both the pivot and the wing. This new look 3rd line from Yeo is by design a matchup nightmare for opponents because all three of these guys are good in both ends with size, talent, and speed.
Oh Yeah Chuck Fletcher Added This Guy too
The addition of Thomas Vanek looked like it would be a huge storyline but honestly he has at least to this point been overshadowed by the likes of Mathew Dumba, Josh Harding, Darcy Kuemper, and ........... Ilya Bryzgalov! Vanek is going to be a polarizing figure all season long for the Wild. Vanek is gonna light the lamp in bunches and should do so early and often for a power play that sputtered from about mid-season through their playoff run.
Wild Blue Line is a Super Big Deal
I love the Wild defensive corps right now and I have that this group of six defensemen has longevity this season. To begin Suter will be paired with Jonas Brodin leaving the Top 4 rounded out by Jared Spurgeon and Marco Scandella. The bottom pair is all excitement and potential with Dumba and Christian Folin to begin the year together after beating the odds to make the NHL roster.
I am in the camp that believes Dumba is maybe the best suited to pair with Suter because of his upside, style, and skillset. Taking nothing away from Brodin who just 2 seasons ago arrived in North America from Sweden as the youngest defensemen in the NHL to play 30+ minutes a night with Suter. I just am not sure Brodin is ever going to be the type of defender to activate himself and create offense like it appears Dumba has the mentality and ability to. Also I really think Brodin playing on the left side of Folin would foster chemistry and best take advantage of their complimentary skillsets and body types.
It is is for people outside of the 'State of Hockey' to overlook and fail to acknowledge how important and talented both Spurgeon and Scandella are. These two have played together both here in Minnesota and the American Hockey League in the past 3 seasons. These two fit like peanut butter and jelly which really provides Yeo the opportunity to give Brodin and Dumba long looks with Suter this season. Both Spurgeon and Scandella are capable of taking the puck end to end which makes them effective in eliminating opponents opportunities and driving the Wild's possession numbers.
I am not sure people even here in Minnesota realize how solid and effective Scandella was last season playing important minutes as an anchor especially in the defensive end. Scandella has a big frame that he finally used to his advantage eliminating opponents with very good positioning and banging around some bodies while paired with the smaller Spurgeon and more finesse Brodin. Scandella has proven capable of playing heavy minutes not unlike Suter and his role should increase this year lightening the load on Suter.
Fatal Flaw or Just Fine Between the Pipes?
The elephant in the room is the goaltender position for the Wild because of the tumultuous relationship and injury history of Darcy Kuemper. The backup for the 23 year old netminder as it stands right now is Niklas Backstrom. Because of Backstrom's age and history of injuries, it is easy to see why most fans of the team and the hockey world in general has pointed to the position as a clear weakness and possibly fatal flaw.
I think it has been the case the past 2 season for the Wild that Josh Harding WHEN healthy is the most talented netminder under contract currently for the franchise. Harding has battled multiple sclerosis symptoms and side effects of treatment though causing him to miss lengthy stretches. Now the latest set back for Harding is the injury to his foot caused by him kicking a wall. Harding was suspended by the team and being honest about it, I doubt he will ever suit up for the franchise again unless a repeat of last season's triage scenario between the pipes occurs.
What is so strange and captivating to me is the love affair with Bryzgalov for Wild fans this fall. I will never underplay how important he was last season but I just dont see a way for him to squeeze into lineup with the Wild being in a really bad way. The Bryz is entertaining figure in the hockey world and I think he genuinely loves this group for the Wild as they do him. I am not going to turn the lights out on a reunion but I am certainly not rooting for it because it would mean a collapse by one or both of Kuemper, Backstrom and possibly Harding during this season.
I think everyone will grow to love Kuemper this season as he takes on the role of a #1 NHL backstop. This kid when healthy plays at the top of the crease with an aggressive nature. Kuemper is the future of the position as the sun sets on Backstrom and probably Harding. Kuemper will be supported by the most talented defensive corps in franchise history and probably most productive offense as well. Its a nearly ideal situation to insulate a young talented netminder looking to cement his role.
That's all for now thanks for reading!
Just My Take, Tony Dean
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