Article: The Wild's Perfect Storm Is Part Of the Process

[Chris Schad]

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[Citizen Strife]

Just take everything one game at a time.  Sports are fluky things.  If the Wild survive Ek, Brodin, and Zucc's injuries (and the myriad of short term ones) it shows there was something to that whole "focus on defense first" thing all off-season.  The Wild get enough scoring to win.  They are just refusing to let themselves lose and let other teams beat them instead.  Big difference.

[hydguy75]

It is far too early in the season to begin dreaming about anything post-season.  Take a look at the Jets, opening the season on a hot streak, now have lost 4 in row.  We still have season distractions such as 4 nations, All State break, not to mention teams peaking later in the season.   The Wild have been in this situation before, 2 or 3 years ago they peaked way early in the season, and ran out of juice by April.  

When you gauge 2023-24 Wild against 2024-25 Wild, not much has changed in terms of the roster.  A couple coaches replaced, a few roster adjustments, and a couple guys out on Injury. 

The biggest change I see thus far is Leadership.  Whatever Hynes brought with him, is summed up to Leadership.  He has most of the same resources Evanson had, however Hynes's ability to lead shows now that the Wild are playing as a team, not a hockey roster recipe change every game.  Last season I mentioned this was lacking, but pinned it to GMBG instead of the coach.  I'm starting to see the BG does have a vision, and it could be successful.  

Nonetheless, they are an exciting team to watch and follow, even better when they play for each other and win many more games than not.  

[Pewterschmidt]

8 minutes ago, hydguy75 said:

The biggest change I see thus far is Leadership.  Whatever Hynes brought with him, is summed up to Leadership.  He has most of the same resources Evanson had, however Hynes's ability to lead shows now that the Wild are playing as a team, not a hockey roster recipe change every game.

*truth bomb detonation *

[mnfaninnc]

I was concerned about Ek being out week to week. I saw the video that Russo posted and took my time watching it. Knowing Ek, this probably won't be long, assuming that the injury is from the DeBrusk check. Russo said it was his right leg taking the brunt of the check, but the good news is that his whole right leg was off the ice. I'm wondering if he got kneed in the thigh like Kaprizov did? 

Ek has a long history of fast healing. 

Brodin-for a couple of years now, I've got arthritis in my hips and back. I've got to take cortizone injections about every 8 weeks to calm it down. We're told that Brodin's injury is upper body. I would say the hips are lower body excluding that area. So, we're looking at the back. Russo said he got shots, I'm assuming they are cortizone shots. It takes about 3 days to take full affect. 

Hits in the NHL can be accumulative. Brodin is not an overly physical player. I think we were told that he had a wrist injury last year after Evander Kane stapled him to the back wall unnecessarily. It is very possible that he tweaked that area again, and backs are really weird with a bunch of nerves.  With them talking about surgery, though, that sounds more like a slipped disk type of thing. I didn't see how he got hurt this time around, but we need to understand that Brodin is getting older too. 

To me, I believe he is still an elite skater, but that catchup speed just isn't there anymore. Either he has lost a step, or the rest of the league has gained a step. He still gaps really well, but those days of nobody being able to turn the corner on him are over. 

Reese Johnson I watched play in Charlotte. He looked a little bigger than the other guys (6'1" 193). He fought that afternoon and after outlasting his opponent, he finished the fight with 3 punishing rights flush to the opponent's face. I liked him, he played the game with a bit of an edge. I'm not sure what kind of speed he can provide at the N level, but it's a good callup. 

 

[MNCountryLife]

18 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

To me, I believe he is still an elite skater, but that catchup speed just isn't there anymore.

Brodin is only 31.  Not sure what you mean by catchup speed.  There is no perfect D man out there and Brodin is no exception.  Everyone makes mistakes every game.  But I don't remember any player consistently getting around him because of speed.... and that includes McDavid.  I thought he was playing exceptional hockey.

[Up North Guy]

31 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I was concerned about Ek being out week to week. I saw the video that Russo posted and took my time watching it. Knowing Ek, this probably won't be long, assuming that the injury is from the DeBrusk check. Russo said it was his right leg taking the brunt of the check, but the good news is that his whole right leg was off the ice. I'm wondering if he got kneed in the thigh like Kaprizov did? 

Ek has a long history of fast healing. 

Brodin-for a couple of years now, I've got arthritis in my hips and back. I've got to take cortizone injections about every 8 weeks to calm it down. We're told that Brodin's injury is upper body. I would say the hips are lower body excluding that area. So, we're looking at the back. Russo said he got shots, I'm assuming they are cortizone shots. It takes about 3 days to take full affect. 

Hits in the NHL can be accumulative. Brodin is not an overly physical player. I think we were told that he had a wrist injury last year after Evander Kane stapled him to the back wall unnecessarily. It is very possible that he tweaked that area again, and backs are really weird with a bunch of nerves.  With them talking about surgery, though, that sounds more like a slipped disk type of thing. I didn't see how he got hurt this time around, but we need to understand that Brodin is getting older too. 

To me, I believe he is still an elite skater, but that catchup speed just isn't there anymore. Either he has lost a step, or the rest of the league has gained a step. He still gaps really well, but those days of nobody being able to turn the corner on him are over. 

Reese Johnson I watched play in Charlotte. He looked a little bigger than the other guys (6'1" 193). He fought that afternoon and after outlasting his opponent, he finished the fight with 3 punishing rights flush to the opponent's face. I liked him, he played the game with a bit of an edge. I'm not sure what kind of speed he can provide at the N level, but it's a good callup. 

 

I ahve to admit that I know nothing about Reese Johnson. I do wish we had someone on here that followed the Baby Wild and could gove us updates. Their website is basically useless and the Wild's prospect updates are not much better.

[Pewterschmidt]

57 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Ek has a long history of fast healing.

Ek = Wolverine

[mnfaninnc]

4 hours ago, MNCountryLife said:

Not sure what you mean by catchup speed.

Maybe as long ago as 2 years, Brodin could pivot and when someone tried to beat him wide, he'd simply cut them off before anything happened and steer them to the wall. This year, however, I've seen a couple blow by him on the outside and cut back in, he's ridden them behind the net, but that extra gear just wasn't there. Both of the guys who did it were younger players, so that may have something to do with it. 

I'm not saying he's washed up or anything by the statement, but he is aging. Sure, he's only 31, but there's a lot of miles on those 31 year old legs. I remember thinking when I saw it happen, "that's odd, that never happens to Brodin." 

I do believe he needs to put on some upper body weight because he cannot simply rely on his wheels going forward. Just like Jagr would say, over time you have to reinvent yourself.

[Protec]

Notice Nashville and Dallas lost last night. WPG currently down one to, Buffalo. 

The Wild are having a too good to be true season so far. I like it, but I hesitate to believe whole-heartedly. 😁

NHL reluctantly has MN at the top of the power rankings. Almost like they don't wanna do it despite MN's record. We on the other hand are cautious to believe. 

[Protec]

Of course WPG ties it, since I said something. 

https://www.nhl.com/news/super-16-nhl-power-rankings-december-5-2024

[Enforceror]

44 minutes ago, Protec said:

Of course WPG ties it, since I said something. 

https://www.nhl.com/news/super-16-nhl-power-rankings-december-5-2024

Damnit Protec. You got a win for the Jets, lol.

[Protec]

1 hour ago, Enforceror said:

Damnit Protec. You got a win for the Jets, lol.

I think we all saw that coming. Nashville getting blanked by MTL is tough. They are pretty much toast this year. Look at their big guns before ya complain about Fred, Foligno, Midds, or Big-Yak.

[Protec]

No doubt, that win over Buffalo will propel the Jets to the top of the power rankings again and the NHL will rule MN has too many injuries with a retroactive rule that forces Kaprizov to be traded to NYR for Trouba. 😁

[MacGyver]

19 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

Ek has a long history of fast healing. 

Which also means a long history of injuries. I do believe his career may be shortened and he will become less effective due to the way he plays and the punishment he takes. The frequency of his injuries seems to have accelerated the last three years or so from early in his career. He is only 27 now but frequent injuries have a way of becoming nagging injuries like we are starting to see with him now. Hits given are also hits taken. When he crushed the Winnipeg player in the boards the other night there is a certain amount of that hit that is backlash. It cuts both ways. He has drive and determination not many players have and he may be rushing himself back too soon too often.  Jake Middleton in a podcast (can't remember which one) may have let something slip on Brodin. His quote was Brodin's back is done. 

Edited December 6 by MacGyver

[Pewterschmidt]

9 hours ago, Protec said:

Big-Yak

🤮-ov 

[Up North Guy]

4 hours ago, MacGyver said:

His quote was Brodin's back is done. 

That sucks but checks with what I have been seeing. He is still a quality player but his time is closing rapidly in my opinion.