Article: The Wild Must Think Bigger Than Brock Nelson

[RedLake]

Zuccerallo Euro is stuffed on the 4th line and limited PP2 time. Rossi traded for a north American guy that 

[ArizonaWildFan]

Aside from the personnel matters this off season, the Wild really need to focus on a few changes to how they play the game in general. The Wild typically play well and have a good record versus the Eastern Conference teams and really struggle with all Western Conference teams but especially the Central Division. Struggle is an understatement for how they play in the playoffs when they play the best of the Western Conference teams multiple consecutive games. Why is that?

Predictability. The Eastern teams don't play the Wild enough to identify, recognize, adjust and react to the style of play but the West teams do, especially in the playoffs.

Typically, the Wild's D-men do not aggressively attempt to exit their zone when they gain puck possession. The Wild move wingers to the blue line along the boards to wait for a pass and the D-men often move behind the net and pass to each other waiting for an opportunity to pass or skate. If they do slide the puck up the boards to a winger on the blue line, he is always defended, because the other team knows that's what is going to happen.

The Wild are one of the most aggressively forechecked teams in the league because they allow themselves to be. That adds to constantly being outshot and adding work to the goalie and I think it has a negative impact on the health and durability of their defensemen. Look at how many unnecessary hits they absorb. I would love to know how many goals the Wild gave up this year after they had gained puck possession in their defensive zone and failed to exit.

Also, the Wild are predictably bad in the face off circle. Other teams make plays and score goals off of the faceoff, not our guys. That is an individual skill that can be improved upon, make winning face offs a priority and don't just limit making it a priority with the centers. How often does a center get tossed from the dot and the winger steps in and just goes through the motions. Not acceptable. Make face off percentage a priority.

Finally, engage the defensemen offensively regularly. Don't predictably stand on your offensive blue line all the time, or in the neutral zone behind it. When a team maintains that structure, they are effectively playing 3-on-5 hockey in the O-zone.

The Wild are looking to score a half or more goals per game on average or to give up a half goal per game less on average to be more successful in the regular season and the playoffs. Those three changes or improvements would do that. And it doesn't require a major roster addition or spending big money.

 

[Willy the poor boy]

15 hours ago, Enforceror said:

What does it take to get those two goals?

Rossi on the first or second line...

[Burnt Toast]

3 hours ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

Predictability

Awesome detailed comments!! I think this is exactly what happened against Vegas and one reason the matchup strategies started to backfire in games 4-6. Like you mentioned, the difference between winning and losing in the NHL can be a fine line. ZB and Jiri have the potential to bring a missing element to our D core, offense. 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

15 hours ago, MacGyver said:

CL would have been well advised to read The Art Of The Deal before making a statement like that.

I have doubts that the person pictured on the cover of that book has actually fully read it. It was written by Tony Schwartz. The person on the cover of that book "did not write any of the book".  He did choose to remove a few critical mentions of business colleagues at the end of the editing process.

[Willy the poor boy]

1 hour ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

I have doubts that the person pictured on the cover of that book has actually fully read it. It was written by Tony Schwartz. The person on the cover of that book "did not write any of the book".  He did choose to remove a few critical mentions of business colleagues at the end of the editing process.

Ya, but at least he knows, understands and actually signs the laws he's signing...So there's that...

[Protec]

Cross-Eyed Bill might need an autopen cause he writes in parallax. 🤪