Article: Wilderness Walk: Is It Time For Jesper Wallstedt?

[Thomas Williams]

View full article

[Beast]

Don’t bring up Wallstadt, subject him to the awful team in front of him, and potentially derail the positive career momentum he has going.

Whatever Gustavsson pulled out his rear end last year is long gone.  He stinks.  Take his opening day shutout out of his stat line, and he’s absolutely abysmal.  In those games, he’s posted a .900+ save percentage once….while allowing 5 goals on 54 shots.  Talk about the team in front of him all you want (and rightfully so),  but he’s also stopping absolutely nothing.

Fleury was doing OK until allowing 8 goals on 37 shots last night.  Holy cow was that an embarrassing game.  Not just for him, for the whole franchise.

This feels like the end of the Yeo tenure.  Uninspired, boring hockey to watch.  Even when they have brief moments of solid play and out chance their opponent, they still find a way to get out scored.  Running the same old crusty lineups and players out there when it clearly is not working, but no real changes are made.

The special teams are so friggen bad.  Last night, we had a a PK group out there of Bogosian, Zuccarello, Mermis, and Hartman.  Pat Maroon is on the PP.  What the hell are we even doing here.  That is not something a serious hockey team does.

DeBoer was in the media after the game torching this team again.  “Chasing hits and taking stupid penalties,” were his words.  He’s absolutely right.  He has Dean in a gimp mask on a leash.  Absolutely owns him.

Kaprisov is a -11 right now.  Among the worst in the NHL. I know that stat doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot, but he’s yet he a minus player in his career.

This thing is completely off the rails.  Guerin has absolutely butchered the roster.  Dean can’t coach it.  Incompetence all around.

Edited November 13, 2023 by Beast

[mnfaninnc]

1 hour ago, Beast said:

This feels like the end of the Yeo tenure.

Does this mean we will have a scripted Evason tantrum where he breaks his stick over the boards in practice and storms off?

[Citizen Strife]

*Insert Office No meme*

No, no, no, no, a million times no.  The problems with the Wild are more than any goaltender can deal with.  Bring him up if Fleury is willing to be traded somewhere.  It doesn't sound like he will, and that means Wallstedt can steer clear of this dumpster fire.

[mnfaninnc]

I haven't gotten to see much hockey the last couple of weeks. I'll try and catch up. To answer the question up top, I say NO to calling him up full time, but yes to him making his debut. Absolutely get that out of the way and then send him back down. He could use a taste of the N (and an N paycheck).

On to other things. Deano needs to go. He should be practicing this team out of this problem. We have communication issues on defense, in our own end and on the PK. This gets solved through repetition, practice and teaching. If you're not doing that, and doing it aggressively at this time, you're failing the team. 

This team needs to simply work harder. They need to be the hardest working team on the ice. I was remembering the old Vikings' mantra from yesteryear, 40 for 60, last night. What we need is a 20 for 60 (or 65 in some cases) mantra. Another mantra to adopt is "Do your job." This means don't try to do too much (something I think Middleton has tried to do). 

We are doing a lot of running around, especially on the PK, without purpose trying to make plays....chasing plays. We need to settle down and let the plays come to us. But, when you look this bad, it's like scorers who aren't scoring gripping their sticks too tight. They end up trying to do too much and get outside of their game. Our game is disciplined and structured but it has looked anything but. 

As for Goose2, from what I've seen, he has been playing with no confidence. This is an easy thing to see in him. He has a tendency to back in and play deep when he isn't confident. Simply put, he needs to attack the puck and be pushing out, cutting down angles and being aggressive. That's when he's at his best. Goalies on their heals are very susceptible to bad bounces and tips. Goalies on their toes seem to get the bounces. Come on Goose2, go out and own the top of the paint!

[Imyourhuckleberry]

The idea of bringing him only for the Sweden games doesn't sound terrible, but it is up to the two goalies being paid $3.5M each to simply play better, and if they don't, I guess the Wild get a chance at a high end draft pick.

[Pewterschmidt]

22 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Does this mean we will have a scripted Evason tantrum where he breaks his stick over the boards in practice and storms off?

Great prediction!  Dean is becoming predictable for couple reasons.  1) he’s not very creative 2) he’s not a dynamic person (ie breaking up 1st line lasted 5 periods.  Back to lineup #1 already)

Dean Watch is officially on.  

[Protec]

Has everyone noticed the number of quick goals being surrendered at the beginning of a period or a late goal?

The team isn't doing any fundamental stuff, disjointed, and no individuals are impressing because there's no team game. 

I won't fault Fleury too bad from yesterday because the breakaways and chances were so many. He had some nice saves, but the Wild faced the 26th best PP going at 11% prior to yesterday. 

Maybe they need a PR video?

[Protec]

6 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Great prediction!  Dean is becoming predictable for couple reasons.  1) he’s not very creative 2) he’s not a dynamic person (ie breaking up 1st line lasted 5 periods.  Back to lineup #1 already)

Dean Watch is officially on.  

Yeah, the team is the same as last couple years for the most part. So between special teams, poor results against PHI, CBJ, BUF, etc. is going to put a microscope on coaches. 

We didn't expect the Wild to lead the Central but the Wild were good in the preseason, all of the sudden after some adversity they're falling apart???

Mojo or #97 effort issues are troubling. The hard part about he and Zuccarello is they had become easy to defend against too because they kinda only had one trick which was the sneaky passes and clever cuteness. Physical d and take away space and they're not as effective. 

There certainly needs to be a players only meeting or a coach-firing. Guerin is not doing nothing, I'm sure of that.

The Mojo and Foligno deals look the worst right now, with Gus a near 3rd worst based on what they're showing us.

DeBoer is a way better coach than Evason despite a much better forward group. Their balance and usage is very good. Their old guy Pavelksi is a 30 goal guy all the time. 

Maybe the Wild should just stink and get a lottery chance.

[MrCheatachu]

33 minutes ago, Protec said:

The Mojo and Foligno deals look the worst right now, with Gus a near 3rd worst based on what they're showing us.

Honestly this season Foligno's looked like a different player who's engaged and leading by example.  Dude looks like he's playing harder than the top line is, and has not taken any passionate penalties that were frustrating last season.  I'm aligned it might not age well, but these past couple games seeing somebody actually generating chances by putting the work in is refreshing.

Mojo at $2Mx2, is a contract that should be in the noise for a team not paying country club dues.  I mean, didn't they carry $2M of cap space the majority of last season to 'weaponize' at the TDL?  Mojo aint a game breaker, but I'm not sure who you're signing at $2x2 who's going to provide more impact...

33 minutes ago, Protec said:

There certainly needs to be a players only meeting or a coach-firing. Guerin is not doing nothing, I'm sure of that.

They didn't respond to Addison getting shipped out...maybe the retirement home needs to make sure the batteries in the hearing aids are turned up, because the stinker they laid last night shows nobody heard the message.

[Protec]

^^^

Reasonable view. I don't think Foligno or Mojo are necessarily terrible deals, or Gus. More that the Wild need more from these guys.

Is it more players or coaches right now to place blame? Or is it even? 

[Protec]

Looks like Wallstedt getting the callup for Sweden. Maybe MN's elite Swedes can go above and beyond on home turf. Gus, Mojo, looking at you guys...

[Dean]

Walls should not play a game in Sweden. It would be unbelievably stupid too.  You don’t throw a stud in with that clown show playing in front of him . They could mentally mess him up with their terrible play. He deserves to play this year in nhl but not when the team is self destructing. Keep the kid out of Billy and Deans mess. 
  I get some like or are ok with the extensions but I’m not. I think they are all terrible. Merrill and middles didn’t need an extension.  Bogo is making 850$ and better than both. Fred’s 5 yr nmc contract is insane . Who gives out contracts like that to players like that. He’s done nothing to deserve it or to be on team. He’s not going to fix anything when back. Goose another terrible contract overpaying a guy not to play. He’s done nothing in his time here.  Hartmans contract is bad. He is lackadaisical half of the 82 games. He’s a decent player but not at 4 mil  Duschene is a center that’s making 3 mil. Was a free agent this summer. Rather have him then Hart for a million less . Zucc. I was kinda ok with to keep kappy happy. However after watching them cash in and sell out. I’m wrong . Terrible contract.  He’s lackadaisical and checked out. Folignos contract is so bad it is staring you right in the eyes. . He’s playing with 850$ Maroon who does everything he does and better for 3 mil less . Sprinkle all these contracts  with nmc and ntc s and you have really stupid contracts!  What’s the solution? Idk. Except for learning from your mistakes. However the parise and suter buyouts should have taught you something. So now wild have to relearn something they already know. Insane! 
     Free agency this year teams weren’t give out big contracts with term. So why Billy didn’t shop for more value with his money is mind boggling. He saw free agents weren’t getting anything and he goes and doubles down on  his guys who have proven  nothing except they give up easily . With these big , long  nmc/ntc contacts.  It’s crazy and now it’s playing out on the ice. His character guys don’t have character. He did them right and they do him wrong. Winning culture ! 
    They need to fire Dean and get a fresh set of eyes to figure out what you really have on this team. Then move out dead weight by next year . How you do that with those contracts? Idk. I do know if Vegas wants something they get it. So there are ways. Bill needs to shake up all the yes men telling him he’s so successful. You’re not successful so  get some people to help you be successful . Stop signing dumb contracts. Rethink your idea of what character and locker room guys are . Fix things.  It’s your job! 

[MNCountryLife]

I wanted the Wall up so that we could save some money from signing Filip.  It would have given us some money in free agency to get another solid player in the lineup.  Bringing up the Wall in this scenario probably not the best idea.  

This team is a catastrophe.  Opposing teams have our PK on tape and can beat it easily.   If we keep doing the same thing expect the same result.  It stuns me when I see us with that lone high player chasing the puck around the top.  Isn't the definition of insanity to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.  This is insane.

This starts with the coach.  Players have zero faith in the PK and until you fix that players will feel that it won't matter what they do because one penalty causes a loss.  If Dean can't fix it get him out.  If I am tired of being scared of our PK... imagine how the players feel.  There is zero confidence in our PK as fans and players... and you can see it.  You can't play scared of a PK.  It affects your 5v5 play and puts additional pressure on the PP to perform at unrealistic numbers. 

[raithis]

21 hours ago, Dean said:

Duschene is a center that’s making 3 mil. Was a free agent this summer. Rather have him then Hart for a million less.

I hear what you are saying, but the same player signing a contract for a team considered a cup contender may not sign for the same amount to a team that constantly comes up short in the playoffs.  While we are a hockey market, we aren't a big market team.  Some players just won't be interested unless we pay them more or are on the short list of contenders.

That said, we also did not have the cap space to sign anyone for 3 mil since we closed that window with the Johansson, Duhaime, Gustafsson and Addison contracts.  Hartman's, Zuccarello's, and Foligno's new contracts don't even start until next year.