Article: The Wild Must Find A Way To Keep Their Top Line Together

[Tony Abbott]

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[MNCountryLife]

I'm glad the top line is back together.  Rossi has played responsible hockey while still being creative and aggressive.  He is turning into a very good top 6 forward.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

Quote

The Wild Must Find A Way To Keep Their Top Line Together

I disagree with this premise as long as they continue to play Johansson with Eriksson Ek and Tarasenko. That line has zero setup guys. It has 2 finishers and a puck "transporter" who seldom sets up anything unless he has a bunch of open ice to work with--I'll give him credit for a couple of OT passes last year.

Boldy and Kaprizov are going to play on the top power play line together, but splitting them up could increase offensive opportunities by having multiple lines winning their individual matchups rather than 1 scoring line, 1 defensive line, and 2 lines you don't expect to get much from. We'll see, but they certainly miss Zuccarello's craftiness when it comes to setting up scoring chances.

[MNCountryLife]

I was a bit disappointed when I looked at the lineup.  Was hoping to see Haight called up to replace Marcus... or at the very least to slide him down to the 4th line.  

I also wanted to see Jiricek in the lineup in place of Bogo or Mids.  We really need that to happen soon.

[mnfaninnc]

One thing I'd like to see is Kaprizov and Boldy getting some double shifts. I'd almost be willing to go with an 11/7 lineup and let OgZ and Yurov get an extra shift of Kaprizov and Boldy on their line. 

Why? Because I don't think Hynes will move either up to play with them. If there is some chemistry there, that would be great. We've seen the line blender go at it already, but the kids haven't gotten the chance. Why not give them that chance? 

Early on in the season, everyone should be playing with everyone anyway, just to get used to how they play. Plus, if Kaprizov or Boldy plays with those 2, don't we really want to get them going?

Who cares if Johansson is going? Nobody! Who cares if Tarasenko gets going? Slightly more than Johansson. What we really need is the future going and the quicker they can get going the better. 

To do this, Hynes has got to think differently, think outside of his box, think uncomfortably. When they had the 3-0 lead against the Kings, that was a time to see if it would work. Same with the Blues when up big. You can pick some spots, but you've got to think differently. And, if you're down big, that's another time where you play the kids and try to get them going. 

[MNCountryLife]

I am looking forward to getting either Zuc or Sturm back.  I have to think that either of those 2 will replace Marcus.  If it's Zuc he slides right to the 2nd line.  If it's Sturm he slides onto the 4th line and Ohgren or Yurov can slide up next to Ek.  Crossing my fingers on either of those scenarios happening soon.

[Beast]

I think they need to find a way to separate them.

They don’t really have any top 6 wingers outside of Kaprizov and Boldy right now.  But, getting someone to plug in next to Kaprizov and Rossi would allow them to put Boldy with Ek, and eventually Yurov or Zuccarello, would be ideal.

I think Boldy is good enough now to carry a line without Kaprizov.  We also know Kaprizov can elevate nearly anybody (seen it with Hartman, Zuccarello).  They can deploy a monster possession driver, play maker, and scorer on multiple lines in that scenario (I think Boldy is that good).  

Ideally that top 6 winger would’ve come this offseason, but maybe it will before the deadline.  There’s not much they can do internally to fix it at the moment.  But, they can’t effectively run 3 checking lines all year and expect to even make the playoffs (let alone a deep run).

[Burnt Toast]

I think the solution is to bring in an elite of a scorer as possible. They don’t come around very often and they usually get offers from multiple teams. I think the fact that the Wild were broke (financially) the last 4 years is still effecting their roster. Sure they have the money but now they’re waiting for a decent player to become available. It’s a little strange that the roster is very similar to last year but I just don’t see a lot of chemistry beyond the first line. Does Zucc carry more locker room leadership than folks attribute to him? 

[Citizen Strife]

I want the top line to stay together, but Hynes has swapped wingers to make SOMETHING work with that 2nd line.  It is clear Ek and Tarasenko just do not mix.

I think the third and fourth lines were the best last night. Ohgren and Yurov may feed off each other more than others.  Maybe do something crazy like have them with Boldy.on the second line.  Ek is still very valuable for PP.  Issue there would be cutting into the 3rd line's effectiveness

Cause they definitely need "something.". I get that Washington dictated the pace.  But that doesn't excuse several 3-5 goal games given up defensively.

 

 

[mnfaninnc]

I thought Yurov had another strong game last night even though he still has no points. He should have had a couple of assists but the guy he passed it to could not convert. 

OgZ looks much faster. His stick still seems to be a little behind, but his speed is evident. I was upset with Johansson most of the night, even though he's the one who had the goal. It's like he blows into the offensive zone with speed and then just tosses the puck to a spot where someone has to retrieve. He doesn't really pass to players, he passes to spots hoping a player is nearby. 

Here's the thing. I see pieces of Johansson's game which are very good, but then comes the pieces that just are not. He's got a lot of speed, yet, he's got very low hockey IQ. He carries the puck well into the zone until it becomes a hot potato and he must get rid of it. He has some pretty good hands, but when it comes to shooting he rarely gets all of the puck. He loves the perimeter yet rarely tries to get to the homeplate area. The sum of his parts are actually less than some of his talent. 

As a coach, you see the good, and you look at the almost. The problem is that he can rarely get past the almost. It's like every line he is on turns to lead, or fools gold for awhile before it becomes lead. He's got to be demoted off the 2nd line. I wouldn't mind bringing up Haight again to center the 4th line, and promoting Yurov to the 2nd line. He doesn't need to play center there, but I do think he can form some chemistry with Tarasenko. If he slips the passes he's given to Hinnestroza to Tarasenko, Tarasenko probably buries them. 

If I am Bill Guerin right now, I've got to sit down in Hynes' office and just tell him plainly: "You're not getting fired for playing the kids. In fact, I expect it. However, you can get fired for not playing the kids." And then roadmap for Hynes the long term plan and goal of the team. Let him know more kids are coming, and he's got to get comfortable playing them. The only way they will learn is to have plenty of TOI and make mistakes, then coach it out of them.

[Citizen Strife]

Jiricek and Pitlick up,  Ohgren sent down.

Ohgren just can't seem to find a spot that works.  Not a scorer, not a physical presence, not a speedy change of pace guy.  He and Yurov has "something," but I can understand Ohgren getting sent message here.  Nothing seems to have progressed since last year.

 

[Up North Guy]

19 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Jiricek and Pitlick up,  Ohgren sent down.

Ohgren just can't seem to find a spot that works.  Not a scorer, not a physical presence, not a speedy change of pace guy.  He and Yurov has "something," but I can understand Ohgren getting sent message here.  Nothing seems to have progressed since last year.

 

Ohgren scored in his first game with Iowa. I think (hope?) that he will find his game and be back up in good order.

[mnfaninnc]

19 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Nothing seems to have progressed since last year.

I disagree, he has improved over his final callup from last year. It's just not enough. While I don't think he should have been sent down, I do think he needs to be way more physical. He's probably been told that and hasn't delivered, so this reinforces that message.

 

[mnfaninnc]

I didn't get a chance to see the Wild here in Charlotte 😒

Nobody has talked about the big trade: Masters for Olausson. Olausson has the chance to bulk up and be a player. He has not done so yet. He's a former 1st rounder for Colorado.

[1Brotherbill]

On 10/17/2025 at 3:57 PM, mnfaninnc said:

One thing I'd like to see is Kaprizov and Boldy getting some double shifts. I'd almost be willing to go with an 11/7 lineup and let OgZ and Yurov get an extra shift of Kaprizov and Boldy on their line. 

Why? Because I don't think Hynes will move either up to play with them. If there is some chemistry there, that would be great. We've seen the line blender go at it already, but the kids haven't gotten the chance. Why not give them that chance? 

Early on in the season, everyone should be playing with everyone anyway, just to get used to how they play. Plus, if Kaprizov or Boldy plays with those 2, don't we really want to get them going?

Who cares if Johansson is going? Nobody! Who cares if Tarasenko gets going? Slightly more than Johansson. What we really need is the future going and the quicker they can get going the better. 

To do this, Hynes has got to think differently, think outside of his box, think uncomfortably. When they had the 3-0 lead against the Kings, that was a time to see if it would work. Same with the Blues when up big. You can pick some spots, but you've got to think differently. And, if you're down big, that's another time where you play the kids and try to get them going. 

I remember in the 80's and early 90's the stars would play a lot.  I remember Dough Gilmore single handedly winning a playoff series dude played like 40 minutes.  Kirill and Boldy play like 20 to 25 minutes a night.  Would five more minutes kill them?  Are they just waiting around to get a power play chance.  

I get that work load is a thing but if you are basically giving up a three on zero chance every time the fence posts are on the ice maybe they should get a few more shifts a game. 

[FredJohnson]

But Anthony Lapanta says NoJo has earned the 2nd line wing spot!

[FredJohnson]

On 10/17/2025 at 3:53 PM, MNCountryLife said:

I also wanted to see Jiricek in the lineup in place of Bogo or Mids.  We really need that to happen soon.

Jiricek needs to be in Iowa until he proves he can stop turning the puck over leading to high danger chances ever game.

[MNCountryLife]

10 hours ago, FredJohnson said:

Jiricek needs to be in Iowa until he proves he can stop turning the puck over leading to high danger chances ever game.

I can't deny what you say.  Jiricek is making some bad turnovers.  I still want him playing up.  He needs ice time to learn to play against the big clubs.  Yes, there is a learning curve.  But I think Jiricek has learned about as much as he can from the "A".  Hynes should be talking to him and making small tweak suggestions.  Most 1st year players need about a half a season to really figure out the speed of the game.  Give the guy 20 to 30 games and see if he is improving.  If he is improving you have a player.  He doesn't have to be perfect after 30 games... just has to show some improvement. 

If he isn't showing improvement then you have another Dumba ... not sure what you do with him then.  Probably trade him away for less than what you spent.

[Pewterschmidt]

9 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

If he isn't showing improvement then you have another Dumba ...

Too early to call this one but this is a great comparable.  I always considered Dumba a net negative player.  His offensive upside never offset his constant defensive foibles

[mnfaninnc]

11 hours ago, FredJohnson said:

Jiricek needs to be in Iowa until he proves he can stop turning the puck over leading to high danger chances ever game.

Normally, this is what we would recommend. But, with The Wall, and with Jiricek, some of the things that they do are things that cannot be fixed in the A because they could get away with them. 

In Jiricek's case, there was one turnover in particular I hated, a 1 touch pass toward the middle of the ice that was picked off. Actually, the defender was sitting on it. He's not the only one who has had this happen, Hartman had the exact same thing happen. Teams have tape on this and are jumping that pass. 

In The Wall's case, he has to quickly put that pad on the post. That he did it somewhat slowly is a difference between the A and N. It doesn't happen all that often in the N, though there are players who can hit that skate and bank it in. This is part of the learning curve and I thought The Wall has played to pretty good games. 

 

[FredJohnson]

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

with Jiricek, some of the things that they do are things that cannot be fixed in the A because they could get away with them.

This is a good point. It’s definitely a challenging decision to figure out where to play him (N vs. A).