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We’re only two weeks into the regular season schedule, but the Calder Trophy race is already shaping up to be thrilling. Three names stand out above the rest: Montreal Canadiens winger Ivan Demidov, New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Zeev Buium. The first two were already seen as early Calder favorites before the season began, and they’ve lived up to the hype. Ivan Demidov Demidov has been excellent for Montreal, recording 9 points in 10 games while averaging just 13:58 of ice time per night. Head coach Martin St. Louis has been easing the 19-year-old Russian into a bigger role, careful not to overload him with responsibilities too soon in his first true season with the Canadiens. Still, his production has been impressive, especially considering he only joined the top power-play unit in Montreal’s most recent game against Vancouver, where he notched three points, including two on the man advantage. Demidov also ranks tied for fourth in the league in primary assists with six. In fact, six of his seven total assists have directly led to goals. His evolution and usage will be fascinating to watch in the coming weeks and months, and his trajectory seems entirely positive. Barring a major injury, Demidov looks like a near-lock to be among the Calder finalists. Matthew Schaefer While many expected a strong start from Demidov, the same can be applied to Matthew Schaefer, even though his expectations were not as high as Demidov’s. The Islanders took him as the first overall pick in the latest draft, and he has enormous potential. Still, few predicted he’d post 7 points in his first 8 NHL games while averaging 23:12 of ice time per night, the 37th highest in the entire league and the most among rookies. Schaefer has impressed not just with his offensive numbers, but with his remarkable poise and maturity for an 18-year-old. He plays like a ten-year veteran, making few turnovers, driving clean breakouts, supporting his forwards, and showing an elite work ethic. Patrick Roy has already given him major responsibilities, and Schaefer has handled them like a pro. Long known for their dull, defense-first style, the Islanders are third in the NHL in goals per game (3.75), and Schaefer’s smooth skating and efficient zone exits have been a key factor in that transformation. Buium is a dark horse If Demidov and Schaefer seem like near-certainties for Calder contention, Zeev Buium is more of a dark horse, but he’s quietly building a strong case. The Wild defenseman has 8 points in 10 games, a -8 rating, and averages 20:01 of ice time per night, solid numbers for a rookie blueliner. Like Demidov, Buium joins a team that already has established talent on both ends of the ice. Therefore, his role isn’t as prominent as Schaefer’s, who benefits from a larger opportunity on a rebuilding Islanders squad. Buium ran Minnesota’s top power-play unit for his first eight games before giving up that spot to captain Jared Spurgeon and occasionally Brock Faber, as the Wild tried to spark their offense amid a losing streak. Still, as mentioned earlier, Buium is in a learning phase. Therefore, his development curve will likely be slower than Schaefer’s because their team contexts are so different. Minnesota is fighting for a playoff spot, while the Islanders are focused on rebuilding, despite their unexpectedly strong start. Buium continues to do an excellent job defensively. He rarely gets caught in his own zone by turnovers, loves to jump into the rush, and carries the puck confidently through the neutral zone. The Wild have long struggled to generate offense from the back end, but with Buium, they finally have a young gem on defense. The key for him is patience. Buium sits second in rookie scoring, just behind Demidov. Expectations among Wild fans are high, and frustration is growing as the team has managed only 3 wins in 10 games. Still, Buium isn’t to blame, and fans know it. They recognize that he’s been one of the team’s bright spots, and if he keeps this up, he could very well find himself in the top three Calder finalists by season’s end.

There’s no sugarcoating it; the Minnesota Wild stink so far this season. The reasons for that are up for debate, but the results are not. A 3-5-3 record through eleven games and a humbling start to the home stand has left both the team and its fans searching for answers after their most recent defeat, a 4-3 overtime loss to the rival Winnipeg Jets. Whenever an NHL team is struggling, one of the first places to look is the team’s minor league affiliate. Fans might be wondering if any players in Iowa are ready to make the journey up I-35 and provide reinforcements for the big squad. The Iowa Wild also had a rough start to the season, dropping their first four games while their opponents outscored them, 20-6. However, the team seemed to find their game over the weekend, heading down to Austin and convincingly sweeping the Texas Stars. They followed that up with an overtime loss to the undefeated Grand Rapids team last night, falling 4-3 despite outshooting the Griffins 40-29. I tuned in over the weekend to check in on the “Baby Wild” in action versus Texas and saw a team that is starting to find an identity. Iowa had a dominating performance on Friday, outshooting the Stars 31-12 and winning 3-1. On Saturday night, they produced a defensive clinic, winning 2-0 to complete the weekend sweep. Samuel Hlavaj was between the pipes on Friday, while Cal Petersen earned the victory on Saturday with his 13th career AHL shutout. New additions boost offense Several recent additions have bolstered the team, including Liam Ohgren and Hunter Haight, who the Wild recently sent down to get more playing time and, in Ohgren’s case, find some much-needed confidence. They also recently acquired 22-year-old former first-round pick Oskar Olausson from the Colorado Avalanche in a change-of-scenery trade that sent Kyle Masters packing. Iowa also signed free agent forward Gerry Mayhew to an AHL contract, reuniting with the former fan favorite who is still Iowa’s all-time leading goal-scorer. Mayhew and Olausson provided an immediate boost on the scoresheet. Mayhew opened the scoring on Friday night with a power play goal, assisted by Olausson and Ohgren. Olausson found the scoresheet again on Friday when he scored a beauty of a goal on a blistering wrist shot from the high slot. The Swede’s superb debut performance earned him the game’s first star. Each of them turned in another two-point performance against Grand Rapids last night, with Mayhew scoring twice and Olaussion getting two assists. More importantly, Olausson and Mayhew, along with Haight and Ohgren, have given Iowa some much-needed depth and versatility at forward. The team’s new-look lineup has looked formidable, showcasing three scoring lines and balanced defensive pairings. Heidt-Kumpulainen-Olausson formidable The Heidt-Kumpulainen-Olausson line was Iowa’s best throughout the Texas series last weekend, controlling play on many shifts. The trio read off of each other exceptionally well and look like a line that could provide significant play-driving value and scoring depth. Olausson has been a difference-maker with his skating and hockey sense, and has shown glimpses of the skill set that made him the 28th pick in the 2021 draft. He looks rejuvenated by the opportunity for a fresh start, and while it’s still early, he could be a sneaky good addition by the organization. Kumpulainen demonstrated that he can be an effective puck transporter and possession driver in the AHL, as he has been at other levels. He was consistently driving through the neutral zone with the puck, using his size and range to hold onto it and look for passing lanes. While he tends to spend too much time on the perimeter, he played a responsible, two-way game and avoided the egregious turnovers that he has been prone to make in the past. Heidt scored a goal on the tail end of a power play on Saturday, converting on a feed from Aube-Kubel after a nice passing sequence by the second power-play unit. Heidt is in his first pro season and was clearly lacking confidence during NHL training camp. Still, he’s shown flashes of his characteristic hard-skating, tenacious puck pursuit, and ability to make quick, efficient puck touches, especially effective in transition. Ohgren set up to succeed Ohgren is still trying to find his game after a humbling start to his NHL season, so it makes sense to place him on a line with two straight-line players like Haight and Aube-Kubel. They play with a pace that Ohgren will have to match, which should be beneficial, as Ohgren struggled to play with pace and be decisive with the puck during his stint in Minnesota. He should have the opportunity to handle the puck a lot more with two possession drivers on his line. Other notes Aube-Kubel looks like Iowa’s best all-around forward right now. The veteran with over 300 NHL games to his resume may have positioned himself to be the next call-up should the organization want to get a different look in their bottom six. Haight learned how to be a difference maker in the AHL last season and has already demonstrated the ability to play depth minutes in the NHL if needed. However, playing a lot in Iowa might be the best thing for getting him ready to hit the ground running on his next call-up. Bankier continues to improve, but it’s fair to wonder if he has the skating necessary to play at an NHL pace. He’s a smart player with good hands and a heavy stick, but he will have to continue to improve his footwork and quickness. Still, he’s developed into a valuable piece for Iowa and looks confident with the puck. Bankier is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, and he’ll need to have a strong year to earn another contract with the organization. Foudy is in his sixth AHL season and is an excellent skater who battled injuries and a deep depth chart during his time in Colorado. If he can stay healthy, he looks like a good fit on a line with Mayhew. Gleason Stands out on D While the Minnesota Wild look set on defense for now, should they run into injury trouble or decide to send someone down, Ben Gleason may be the best option to fill an NHL role temporarily. He looks good quarterbacking the top power-play unit and has been a solid point-producer in the AHL over his career. The 27-year-old moves well and could provide some mobility in Minnesota if needed. Iowa captain and Elk River native Matt Kiersted could also be a candidate for a call-up. He and Gleason played strong minutes all weekend, and Kiersted is also a proven veteran. Spacek looks more comfortable walking the blue line on the second power play unit than he did last year. Still, he’s working to improve his outlets in his own zone and isn’t a reliable enough puck-mover to warrant serious NHL consideration at this time. Lambos appears to have played himself out of the organization’s favor, and it would not be surprising if he finds himself with another organization next season. He’s a great athlete with excellent puck skills, but he’s a wild card in terms of decision-making. Still, he turned in some really solid shifts on the penalty kill this past weekend. Perhaps that’s his ticket to playing his way back up the depth chart. The Iowa Wild will be back at it this weekend when they host the Tucson Roadrunners for a weekend series. It looks like they may have found their footing in Texas, and a solid run of play would be a welcome source of positivity for the Wild organization.

That's Wild The Minnesota Wild clearly want something else on their blue line. Yes, there are so many good and solid players on it but they want that extra grit and grind and physicality and roughness to it that can take them to the next level. It is an issue that started to become more prominent once Minnesota allowed Utah to walk right over it. [The Athletic] The Wild hosted the Winnipeg Jets as part of NHL's Frozen Frenzy on Tuesday and lost in dramatic fashion in overtime. It was a back-and-forth affair, as the Jets and Wild both had moments of tying the game through regulation, but nothing really stuck and the Wild had to be alright with just earning one single point. But hey, at least they looked cool in the new jerseys. [NHL.com] Marcus Johansson has become the poster child of the Wild's offensive depth issues. [Hockey Wilderness] Marian Gaborik goes down memory lane. [StarTribune] More on the heartbreaking loss to the Jets. [BMTN] Off the trail... A quick note on all 32 NHL teams and how their seasons have gone so far. [Sportsnet] Looking at all the new food are various NHL arenas. [ESPN] Connor Bedard scores his first career hat trick as the Chicago Blackhawks take down the Ottawa Senators. [NHL.com]

The Minnesota Wild lost 7-6 in overtime to the San Jose Sharks last Sunday, despite being heavily favored at -220 (FanDuel listed the Sharks at +185). The Sharks entered the game and were 1-5-2, dead last in the standings. The Wild also had a tough start to the season, having lost 5 of their last 6 games, including a 6-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth the night before. Beating San Jose would’ve been a chance to get back on the right track. Against San Jose, head coach John Hynes paired young defensemen David Jiricek, 21, and Zeev Buium, 19, together. Jiricek has 65 career games, 2 goals, and 11 assists. Buium has 8 points in 10 games and a strong offensive mindset that occasionally gets him into trouble. Potentially a risky move, but ultimately forward-thinking. The Wild need to win in the regular season, but they also need to develop a playoff-caliber roster. If you’re going to throw inexperienced players into the metaphorical deep end, now is the time. Buium and Jiricek aren’t going to develop on the bench, and the other players are more likely to stay healthy if the Wild don’t overwork them. Minnesota has plenty of time to claw back the points later. Hynes was also cautious about playing the pair together, and they both played roughly 4 minutes less than their average TOI/G this season against San Jose. When Buium or Jiricek play with a veteran, they’re more likely to be bailed out by their defensive partner, and they have to be less wary of mistakes their partner might make. By pairing them, Hynes forced them to take greater responsibility for themselves and their partner. With one minute left in the first, Jiricek loses a puck battle in the offensive zone, and Alexander Wennberg gets what would’ve been a breakaway if Buium hadn’t caught up and knocked the puck away. This game gave Buium more opportunities to react quickly and make up for the turnovers, since he has had to cover more for Jiricek than he would for Faber or Jared Spurgeon. With 9:53 left in the second, Buium passes to Jiricek, who tries to stickhandle the puck. Collin Graf knocks it free, and the Sharks get a 2-on-1 against Buium. Graf shoots wide of the net, and it becomes a learning moment instead of a goal against. The lesson? You can’t stickhandle on the blue line. To his credit, Jiricek doesn’t make this mistake again. One of the biggest differences between the Buium-Jiricek pairing and the more experienced defensive pairings is how quickly they move the puck. They’re faster physically, but they also have better awareness, which is ultimately what makes their plays so much faster. I could consistently see Buium and Jiricek looking for a pass, weighing options. Spurgeon and Brock Faber have often made a pass before I've had a chance to process what I’m watching. Matt Boldy picks up the puck down low in the offensive end and sends it up to Faber, who catches and releases it to Kirill Kaprizov. Kaprizov one-times it to Ryan Hartman out front, who also catches and releases the puck into the net. Stickhandling is important, but being able to gain control and move the puck so quickly is what turns this play into a goal. Kaprizov’s quick passing and awareness are part of his brilliance. Vincent Desharnais receives a pass, but the puck bounces off his stick, and Kaprizov has it before Desharnais can react. Kaprizov gets a breakaway and has full control of the puck right out front, and could take the shot before the San Jose defensemen reach him. Marco Rossi is diagonally 15 feet back, not even in Kaprizov’s field of vision. Nine out of ten NHL players are taking that shot, but Kaprizov knows Rossi is there. He knows Rossi shoots with his left hand, and he executes a flawless pass that Rossi nets in an instant. The presence of mind to pass instead of shooting here is what sets Kaprizov above the rest. Meanwhile, consider this play by Buium on the power play. He picks up the puck and has Wennberg right on him. He stickhandles the puck and stops moving his feet as he decides what to do with it, then quickly backhands it back to Faber when Wennberg is about to knock it away. It’s a good play, and the Wild end up scoring, but it’s also a good example of that extra second Buium sometimes needs. He also makes the play once he’s already backed into a corner. Buium tends to carry the puck more than headman it immediately. He’s a great player because of his offensive mindset, but sometimes he’d create more offense by using his teammates rather than carrying the puck himself. The more experienced players are also more effective at keeping the puck in, which is critical to reducing offensive and defensive zone time. The ability to step up effectively diminishes the other team’s opportunities to break the puck out. Spurgeon had several close calls where he was able to keep the puck in the offensive zone, like when he managed to bat it down and handle it here. The less experienced players are less likely to take these chances or succeed when they do. Jiricek and Buium got beaten a couple of times, but they also managed to recover. Pairing Jiricek and Buium highlighted the gaps in both players' games, and they cleaned up some of their mistakes as the game progressed. I don’t see Hynes keeping this pairing long-term, but it was a good experiment without long-term risk because it fostered player development.