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Forums :: Blog World :: Tony Dean: MNWild: Punchless Wild On Vacation in Florida
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Tony Dean
Minnesota Wild
Location: Saint Paul, MN
Joined: 09.20.2008

Oct 19 @ 7:24 PM ET
Tony Dean: MNWild: Punchless Wild On Vacation in Florida Quick One here maybe more later tonight!
SotaPopinski
Minnesota Wild
Location: Minny
Joined: 02.21.2011

Oct 19 @ 10:10 PM ET
Well that was ugly. I like what Granlund had to say postgame about needing to be a little more creative with their shots. Seems like their only play is to hopelessly cycle the puck behind the opposing teams net and either attempt to bury it from the side of the crease or make some weak pass to the front of the net where it is either stolen, re-directed, or no one from the Wild is there to take a shot.
What a frustrating team to watch so far
BoltsFan4Life
Tampa Bay Lightning
Location: Tampa, FL
Joined: 07.05.2013

Oct 20 @ 2:06 AM ET
Well that was ugly. I like what Granlund had to say postgame about needing to be a little more creative with their shots. Seems like their only play is to hopelessly cycle the puck behind the opposing teams net and either attempt to bury it from the side of the crease or make some weak pass to the front of the net where it is either stolen, re-directed, or no one from the Wild is there to take a shot.
What a frustrating team to watch so far

- SotaPopinski


frustrating? try being a Lightning fan tonight.
Tweaterben
Minnesota Wild
Location: PROFESSIONAL CHOKE ARTISTS, MN
Joined: 10.19.2008

Oct 20 @ 4:44 AM ET
Good god, does Minnesota just have a curse? Why on earth can't we just have one good consistent season were they don't dig themselves a hole
Chinaski
Minnesota Wild
Location: Lakeville, MN
Joined: 04.10.2007

Oct 20 @ 7:30 AM ET
Well that was ugly. I like what Granlund had to say postgame about needing to be a little more creative with their shots. Seems like their only play is to hopelessly cycle the puck behind the opposing teams net and either attempt to bury it from the side of the crease or make some weak pass to the front of the net where it is either stolen, re-directed, or no one from the Wild is there to take a shot.
What a frustrating team to watch so far

- SotaPopinski

Their confidence looks shot. They look like they are playing with a mindset where they know it will be difficult to score, so it is. I'm not sure they could shoot it into an empty net right now.

And what's up with Koivu and his shooting? Mother of God, he needs to work on shooting the puck. Maybe that's why he has been so reluctant to shoot it the last several years - he's not good at it.

I'm tired of hearing about the hard work as well. I see too many opportunities wasted because they don't pass or shoot quick enough. If you work hard and these are the results you are getting, then you're not working hard in all the right areas of the game.

I don't think they need drastic system changes, just a few tweaks. More speed, more shots, less perimeter possession. Get to the middle of the ice and get to the net. Maybe instead of practice, they need to play shinny for 3 days.

I'd really like to see them pair Parise with Granlund too. Even though Granlund isn't piling up points, he looks like a guy whose offensive game would mesh better with Parise. Kind of like Cullen, he just looks to me like he reads his options more quickly than Koivu and tries to make a play. If Parise played with a center that recognized those offensive opportunities more quickly, I think his scoring chances would go up significantly.
I hope that's what Yeo meant in his presser when he said Granlund's play (and Niederreiter's) is earning him more opportunity and he's prepared to give it to him. Give him the chance to play with the best player on the team.
blizzzard
New Jersey Devils
Location: Orillia, ON
Joined: 07.02.2011

Oct 20 @ 7:54 AM ET
Well that was ugly. I like what Granlund had to say postgame about needing to be a little more creative with their shots. Seems like their only play is to hopelessly cycle the puck behind the opposing teams net and either attempt to bury it from the side of the crease or make some weak pass to the front of the net where it is either stolen, re-directed, or no one from the Wild is there to take a shot.
What a frustrating team to watch so far

- SotaPopinski

As I was reading this the only thing I could think of was Parise. That sounds exactly like the way he likes to play.
Chinaski
Minnesota Wild
Location: Lakeville, MN
Joined: 04.10.2007

Oct 20 @ 9:32 AM ET
As I was reading this the only thing I could think of was Parise. That sounds exactly like the way he likes to play.
- blizzzard

I would tend to agree with that from the standpoint that he seems to keep it simple. From what I can see, Parise's options in his mind when he gets the puck are, 1) go to the net and shoot, 2) throw it in front, 3) cycle along the wall. I don't think that's the order all the other forwards on the Wild have in mind.
blizzzard
New Jersey Devils
Location: Orillia, ON
Joined: 07.02.2011

Oct 20 @ 9:36 AM ET
I would tend to agree with that from the standpoint that he seems to keep it simple. From what I can see, Parise's options in his mind when he gets the puck are, 1) go to the net and shoot, 2) throw it in front, 3) cycle along the wall. I don't think that's the order all the other forwards on the Wild have in mind.
- Chinaski

Yea for sure ! and it wasn't a stab at him not sure if you took it as that or not. He is a hell of a player with a ton of hustle he doesn't have the greatest shot but I wouldn't call it bad either. He works is magic in tight.
Chinaski
Minnesota Wild
Location: Lakeville, MN
Joined: 04.10.2007

Oct 20 @ 9:48 AM ET
Yea for sure ! and it wasn't a stab at him not sure if you took it as that or not. He is a hell of a player with a ton of hustle he doesn't have the greatest shot but I wouldn't call it bad either. He works is magic in tight.
- blizzzard

Nope, I didn't take it as a shot. He's never been flashy, just straight ahead and relentless. But I think if he played with more gifted offensive players, you'd see him score a few more pretty goals.
blizzzard
New Jersey Devils
Location: Orillia, ON
Joined: 07.02.2011

Oct 20 @ 9:50 AM ET
Nope, I didn't take it as a shot. He's never been flashy, just straight ahead and relentless. But I think if he played with more gifted offensive players, you'd see him score a few more pretty goals.
- Chinaski

He has the ability but for whatever reason doesn't play with the amount of skill he shows in shoot outs.
Chinaski
Minnesota Wild
Location: Lakeville, MN
Joined: 04.10.2007

Oct 20 @ 10:06 AM ET
He has the ability but for whatever reason doesn't play with the amount of skill he shows in shoot outs.
- blizzzard

I think he understands that he rarely has the time and space for that. I don't think he cares either. He'll take what's there and try to put it in. If it counts, he's happy. Personally, at least here with the Wild, I think it's due to the linemates he plays with that we don't see that creativity.

The one thing that I think he could change a bit is that power play move off the back wall where he just goes to the net and tries to jam it in. He always seems to be sliding the puck along the ice. I'm not sure if that's intentional or not - try to beat the goalie to post and if he doesn't there's a chance for a rebound. I'd like to see him change that up a bit from time to time and instead of going all the way to the net, go about half-way and try to roof it on the short side.
blizzzard
New Jersey Devils
Location: Orillia, ON
Joined: 07.02.2011

Oct 20 @ 10:11 AM ET
I think he understands that he rarely has the time and space for that. I don't think he cares either. He'll take what's there and try to put it in. If it counts, he's happy. Personally, at least here with the Wild, I think it's due to the linemates he plays with that we don't see that creativity.

The one thing that I think he could change a bit is that power play move off the back wall where he just goes to the net and tries to jam it in. He always seems to be sliding the puck along the ice. I'm not sure if that's intentional or not - try to beat the goalie to post and if he doesn't there's a chance for a rebound. I'd like to see him change that up a bit from time to time and instead of going all the way to the net, go about half-way and try to roof it on the short side.

- Chinaski

Yea I think teams know he is going to do it by now since he has been doing it since his devil days. Be nice if he went to the net and passed it when the opposing team thought he was going to jam it in.
MnGump
Minnesota Wild
Location: Columbus, MN
Joined: 06.21.2012

Oct 20 @ 5:58 PM ET
Wild slowly but surely reverting back to dump and chase hockey. Hard to believe with the talent on this team that they can't score more than a goal a game. Even the shoot out is 0 for 2 so far this season...
Harding continues to give this team a chance to win only to be let down by the offense...
SotaPopinski
Minnesota Wild
Location: Minny
Joined: 02.21.2011

Oct 20 @ 7:09 PM ET
frustrating? try being a Lightning fan tonight.
- BoltsFan4Life

Stanley Cup in the last decade, just beat the Wild, and you have an awesome HD jumbotron that is about the size of Lake Minnetonka.
You will get no sympathy from me
SotaPopinski
Minnesota Wild
Location: Minny
Joined: 02.21.2011

Oct 20 @ 7:37 PM ET
Their confidence looks shot. They look like they are playing with a mindset where they know it will be difficult to score, so it is. I'm not sure they could shoot it into an empty net right now.

And what's up with Koivu and his shooting? Mother of God, he needs to work on shooting the puck. Maybe that's why he has been so reluctant to shoot it the last several years - he's not good at it.

I'm tired of hearing about the hard work as well. I see too many opportunities wasted because they don't pass or shoot quick enough. If you work hard and these are the results you are getting, then you're not working hard in all the right areas of the game.

I don't think they need drastic system changes, just a few tweaks. More speed, more shots, less perimeter possession. Get to the middle of the ice and get to the net. Maybe instead of practice, they need to play shinny for 3 days.

I'd really like to see them pair Parise with Granlund too. Even though Granlund isn't piling up points, he looks like a guy whose offensive game would mesh better with Parise. Kind of like Cullen, he just looks to me like he reads his options more quickly than Koivu and tries to make a play. If Parise played with a center that recognized those offensive opportunities more quickly, I think his scoring chances would go up significantly.
I hope that's what Yeo meant in his presser when he said Granlund's play (and Niederreiter's) is earning him more opportunity and he's prepared to give it to him. Give him the chance to play with the best player on the team.

- Chinaski


I agree, the team seems to be playing extremely tight, especially in the offensive zone. It just seems so easy for the opposing team to defend against the Wild. Shut down the area in front of the goal and let them burn up all their energy chasing the puck back and forth along the boards, onlyf to get one or two half-ass shots off...but wait, they're a SOG so thats a small victory!
Hate to say it, but a lot of that is coaching. Maybe with a few more practices they will be able to correct their tendencies. Because it has not been working.
Chinaski
Minnesota Wild
Location: Lakeville, MN
Joined: 04.10.2007

Oct 21 @ 6:51 AM ET
I agree, the team seems to be playing extremely tight, especially in the offensive zone. It just seems so easy for the opposing team to defend against the Wild. Shut down the area in front of the goal and let them burn up all their energy chasing the puck back and forth along the boards, onlyf to get one or two half-ass shots off...but wait, they're a SOG so thats a small victory!
Hate to say it, but a lot of that is coaching. Maybe with a few more practices they will be able to correct their tendencies. Because it has not been working.

- SotaPopinski

It seems like last season, Yeo was frustrated because of the lack of shots and intimated they were imploring the forwards to shoot more. I haven't heard him say that yet. Maybe he sees they have the puck most of the time and just expects it will eventually lead to goals.

I think there is a fine line between playing an effective possession game and playing a meaningless possession game. If the possession doesn't lead to consistent pressure and scoring chances, I wouldn't classify it as meaningful. I'd rather see them have the puck less and if it means they attack the net more aggressively.

In trying to look for positives, though, it's possible that Yeo is trying to build up a foundation for a possession game here in the early going - getting them to gain the zone with possession and develop chemistry with each other where they can hold the offensive zone for extended periods of time, i.e., cycling. The next step may be to point out that they have to make a move to the net off that cycle earlier or use the cycling to open up passing lanes to guys who are in good shooting positions. Not that there's no coaching on that right now, but maybe there is more of an emphasis on it going forward.
panfish
Joined: 10.21.2013

Oct 21 @ 9:42 AM ET
Yeo has the talent ...he needs the balls to make the right moves... first off I love mikko...but.....he is a very good 2nd or 3rd line checking center, and not the best choice for captain of this team either. heater COULD be productive if paired with the right line mates. we have young guys that should be trusted in different roles than they are .... how bout our shootout ... mikko really? zack ok , but what about brodin or grandlund, lets see what they do .. maybe zucker ...oh wait he's not up on the team ...see what I mean ...Yeo get some balls and get the right players here and make the right lines ...you have the talent Mike Yeo do something with it ..... Backy ...wow I always have liked him ...but he has looked shaky in his starts so far...harding and backstrom splittin duty ...sounds good
MnGump
Minnesota Wild
Location: Columbus, MN
Joined: 06.21.2012

Oct 22 @ 11:53 AM ET
Yeo has the talent ...he needs the balls to make the right moves... first off I love mikko...but.....he is a very good 2nd or 3rd line checking center, and not the best choice for captain of this team either. heater COULD be productive if paired with the right line mates. we have young guys that should be trusted in different roles than they are .... how bout our shootout ... mikko really? zack ok , but what about brodin or grandlund, lets see what they do .. maybe zucker ...oh wait he's not up on the team ...see what I mean ...Yeo get some balls and get the right players here and make the right lines ...you have the talent Mike Yeo do something with it ..... Backy ...wow I always have liked him ...but he has looked shaky in his starts so far...harding and backstrom splittin duty ...sounds good
- panfish

Not sure why you think Mikko is a bad choice, historically speaking he's been one of the best in the league in SO's. Couldn't find an updated stat sheet, but as of 2011 Koivu was tied for 5th in the league for most shoot out goals scored with 23.

edit; According to NHL.com, among active players Parise is tied for 2nd in the league and Koivu tied for 4th in the league overall in SO's. Parise's career SO numbers are 32 of 71 attempts at 45.1% and Koivu's are 30 of 71 at 41.7%. Seems like pretty good numbers to me...