Article: The Hughes-Faber Pairing Might Be the Minnesota Wild's Superpower

[Tony Abbott]

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[Up North Guy]

here's hoping the holiday break will allow both to recharge and get at it in the second half.

[hydguy75]

Almost like Christmas... in December!

[IrritatedFan76]

What am I missing? Why were the boo birds giving Hughes the business tonight? Did he call the Assiniboine Zoo a dump?  Cuz it is….. just sayin.

[Sam]

40 minutes ago, IrritatedFan76 said:

What am I missing? Why were the boo birds giving Hughes the business tonight? Did he call the Assiniboine Zoo a dump?  Cuz it is….. just sayin.

Yea, I was wondering that too.. maybe Canadians feel betrayed by Hughes leaving Vancouver?

[Patrick]

Let's get him resigned!

[Pewterschmidt]

Unpopular take incoming: watching last nights game with 13 shots in the 3rd and the 4th or 5th game I’ve watched with Hughes I had a thought.  While Hughes is special in his ability to break out of our d-zone and he’s great at getting puck thru neutral zone it doesn’t seem like this group has gotten any more dynamic offensively.  I’m beginning to think Q and Zeev are same player, but Zeev is bigger.(I won’t mention the three other firsts we gave up)  Q is closer to spurgeon than Zeev sizewise.

How does this story have a happy ending P-Cringle? If after 10-20 more games Q finds a chemistry with 97 and 12 and unlocks a new level for this group (same way 36 unlocks 97 and vice versa).  If that chemistry doesn’t emerge and Quinn remains the one man breakout, but nothing more then we’ve traded FOUR firsts for a high end cardiojo.  This group will get face washed right out of round one. 

[Pewterschmidt]

Hughes gets pushed around the same way Granny used to.  If not for the delayed penalty preventing the ENG on Quinn’s flub which led to the miraculous ot win today’s conversation would be very different.  Winning cures all ill’s.  

[mnfaninnc]

1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Unpopular take incoming: watching last nights game with 13 shots in the 3rd and the 4th or 5th game I’ve watched with Hughes I had a thought.  While Hughes is special in his ability to break out of our d-zone and he’s great at getting puck thru neutral zone it doesn’t seem like this group has gotten any more dynamic offensively.  I’m beginning to think Q and Zeev are same player, but Zeev is bigger.(I won’t mention the three other firsts we gave up)  Q is closer to spurgeon than Zeev sizewise.

How does this story have a happy ending P-Cringle? If after 10-20 more games Q finds a chemistry with 97 and 12 and unlocks a new level for this group (same way 36 unlocks 97 and vice versa).  If that chemistry doesn’t emerge and Quinn remains the one man breakout, but nothing more then we’ve traded FOUR firsts for a high end cardiojo.  This group will get face washed right out of round one. 

Results usually lag, in this case, results would be points. I assume that the reads and system are pretty different from Vancouver, and definitely the chemistry is. To me, this is most evident on the PP.

Q on the PP is, well, very close to Zuccarello. I'm thinking we need a guy who's more of a shooter in Zuccarello's position. Maybe that guy isn't here yet, or, maybe that guy is Tarasenko? This isn't meshing like I had thought it would. But, out of all the things that Q does, the PP will likely be the more challenging part to come together. 

6-5 is the next thing that isn't really clicking. My thought process is that Faber should be on that unit. Q and Faber are working very well together, and there is something in Faber where he has another gear at crunch time. Why can't we go with Faber, Q, Zuccarello, Ek, Boldy & Kaprizov on that unit? Both Q and Faber can play wildcard in that setup. I guess the main point is don't overlook Faber's tendency to score big goals at big times. 

Where I disagree with P-Cringle is that watching Hughes means watching the whole team with Hughes on his shifts. As Tony has pointed out, the whole team with the eye test seems to have an extra step of speed. Buium did not provide this spark, Hughes did. It's like switching this train from a steam engine to a diesel engine. 

I still think the team as a whole has not quite adapted to Hughes' strengths. They struggled with Buium carrying it up too, and most did not rush with him. The Wild are now on a 7 game 14 day road trip. This allows far more time for practicing. The Wild coaches have got to figure out how to unleash Q and have the team thrive. Faber has already done this. That pairing should scare every team in the conference. Faber is probably the only Wild defender who can keep up with Q and together, it's like having 5 forwards when they rush. 

The other important thing that comes with this road trip is welcoming Hughes into the team structure. He was a captain on Vancouver, not here. But, we've heard how close this locker room is. Now we need to see it embrace Hughes. This simple detail, I think, will go a long way in being able to re-sign Q. It could also go a long way in bringing his brothers into the fold when they hit free agency, or, simply ask for a trade to come here (yeah, wishful thinking). 

I still think we're missing a piece, maybe 2. I keep looking at Tuch not signing in Buffalo as a sign that he wants out. The Sabres have just tied for 8th place in the east with their win last night, and are technically 9th with tie breakers to Florida. If ever there was a time for Tuch to see hope, this would be it. I think we're missing an RHS forward, and quite possibly a 200' center who can put up 60 points. 

For me, last night's game was a chance to knock out the Jets as far as the top 3 spots in the Central. Sure, they were 17 points back, but Hellebuyck is back and they could easily reel off 7 game win streaks. I just think 18 points is too tough for them to gain. 

Last season, the Wild were 26-13-4 after 41 games, good for 56 points before they had a couple of really tough months....and injuries. We hit the 41 game mark on 12/31 this season. At the 50 game mark, we only had 62 points. To me, this will be a benchmark. This will happen on Jan. 19th. To me, that's when we'll need to have the final pieces in place. Guerin's got his work cut out for him.

[mnfaninnc]

2 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Hughes gets pushed around the same way Granny used to.  If not for the delayed penalty preventing the ENG on Quinn’s flub which led to the miraculous ot win today’s conversation would be very different.  Winning cures all ill’s.

What I've noticed is that Hughes has more of a willingness to take the body. His spinarama move last night just didn't work. Yes, he's been pushed around a little, but it hasn't had him not engaging in contact. By the way, that play, even though it didn't count is exhibit A as to why I would also have Faber in the 6-5 shift.

But, on a bright side, Yurov seems to have a little more physicality to him. He's got that big hockey butt that he uses to guard the puck and hit other guys. I know he's still learning, but I've really liked what I've seen from him. 

[Pewterschmidt]

17 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

But, on a bright side, Yurov seems to have a little more physicality to him. He's got that big hockey butt that he uses to guard the puck and hit other guys. I know he's still learning, but I've really liked what I've seen from him. 

Agree.  Yurov is the low key Christmas morning of this season

[Pablo]

Great article!! Its a small sample size with 2 elite guys that is only going to get better. Last night was a grind in Winnipeg. They looked faster than the wild for most of the game yet we had great shot opportunities. Q with three assists is going to be a regular thing as everyone elevates their game with him on the ice. QH & BF are a problem. A very bad problem for everyone in the NHL to deal with. 

[Burnt Toast]

25 minutes ago, Pablo said:

QH & BF are a problem. A very bad problem for everyone in the NHL to deal with. 

The Brughes Brothers. 

[Sam]

58 minutes ago, Burnt Toast said:

The Brughes Brothers. 

Better than the QuiF sisters.

[Pewterschmidt]

I guess I’m seeing Hughes as slightly better than Zeev, and maybe Zeev catches Hughes by end of season.  The gap is not that wide.  And because it’s Guerin we sent 3 more 1st’s along with Zeev.  So it’s now or never. This season or bust.   If Quinn decides he wants to test the open market summer after next (and why wouldn’t he) do you think Guerin gets 4 first’s back in a rental trade next TDL?  UNLIKELY.  so it’s this season or bust.   Is this group ready to make a cup run?  If no, how many top 6’rs need to be added?  And who not named tage or mcdavid?

[Burnt Toast]

1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

This season

Kap at $9M this year too. It makes sense to make a hard run now. We’ve got solid goal tending, excellent contracts (Ek Boldy), ELC breakouts, there’s a lot to like. I’m not sure who will be available at the Trade Deadline but it’s going to be very important.

[Pewterschmidt]

Guerin has inherited the needle mover pieces (97, 36, 12,14,46,38,25) so he doesn’t deserve credit for building that.  He made mistake of paying up for Foligno and trenin even though he said the league covets players like this.  Other teams pay league minimum for these potatoes and their 12 pts per season (combined).  Billy Meatball deserves credit for flipping Talbot for Gus and big Khak for Midsy.  Fiala’s 85pts for faber + ogz is a push and that’s very debatable.  Meatball’s signature moves are an entire draft for the Jiri project™️a 3rd pair baby giraffe on skates and FOUR 1sts for a season and half (maybe) of generational talent 5’10” Quinn.  Remember Billy meatballs first seven years here where there we zero prospects in the pipeline due to Fletcher’s mismanagement?   We’re right back there sports fans

[MNCountryLife]

23 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Unpopular take incoming: watching last nights game with 13 shots in the 3rd and the 4th or 5th game I’ve watched with Hughes I had a thought.  While Hughes is special in his ability to break out of our d-zone and he’s great at getting puck thru neutral zone it doesn’t seem like this group has gotten any more dynamic offensively.  I’m beginning to think Q and Zeev are same player, but Zeev is bigger.(I won’t mention the three other firsts we gave up)  Q is closer to spurgeon than Zeev sizewise.

I have little doubt that Zeev will become an elite player like Hughes.  I actually think Zeev will be better.  But that is also 2 to 4 years down the road.  BG needs this team to win now with Kirill.  Hughes does all those little things that makes everyone around him better... and he does it today.  Of course I am making the assumption that we sign Hughes in the off-season.  If we do not... then either we win the cup in the next 2 years or this trade will be the Hershel Walker trade all over again.

[MNCountryLife]

Faber has an extra gear.  For whatever reason... playing with Hughes appears to engage this extra gear far more frequently.... and Faber is able to do it without losing his defensive discipline.  Sure has been fun to watch.

[FredJohnson]

14 hours ago, Burnt Toast said:

Kap at $9M this year too. It makes sense to make a hard run now. We’ve got solid goal tending, excellent contracts (Ek Boldy), ELC breakouts, there’s a lot to like. I’m not sure who will be available at the Trade Deadline but it’s going to be very important.

Simple…trade KK97.

D’oh! 

[Burnt Toast]

8 minutes ago, FredJohnson said:

Simple…trade KK97

He’s got a lifetime “Can’t Touch This” clause. 
Agents reference it as the MC Hammer. 

[MNCountryLife]

Wasn't able to watch the Saturday game until Sunday night.  I thought we got outplayed.... by a Jets team that shouldn't outplay us.  We were fortunate with  the Jets hitting multiple pipes.  We gave away too many good scoring oppurtunities.  Thankfully the Jets are not used to scoring right now.  We did not have our layered defense like I saw in November.

The very fortunate late penalty allowed us to get a 6 v 4 last minute goal.  A stellar save and a beautiful Boldy goal in OT to finish it made for an exciting game.  Good to see we can win in a lot of different ways.  It's a must to be able to win when you don't play the game you want.  Hope to see the feet moving well tonight.

[mnfaninnc]

4 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Guerin has inherited the needle mover pieces (97, 36, 12,14,46,38,25) so he doesn’t deserve credit for building that.  He made mistake of paying up for Foligno and trenin even though he said the league covets players like this.  Other teams pay league minimum for these potatoes and their 12 pts per season (combined).  Billy Meatball deserves credit for flipping Talbot for Gus and big Khak for Midsy.  Fiala’s 85pts for faber + ogz is a push and that’s very debatable.  Meatball’s signature moves are an entire draft for the Jiri project™️a 3rd pair baby giraffe on skates and FOUR 1sts for a season and half (maybe) of generational talent 5’10” Quinn.  Remember Billy meatballs first seven years here where there we zero prospects in the pipeline due to Fletcher’s mismanagement?   We’re right back there sports fans

I disagree with the inherited part. He did have to re-sign several of those guys which he did. He does deserve credit for that, but he also gets credit for the $4m guys, good or bad. I'd boost up the Faber/Fiala trade a little because we gained a lot of cap space too.

Let's not forget, he promised the fans and promised (maybe even double promised) OCL that this team would be competitive throughout the buyouts. He did follow through with that promise completely. 

I generally would not like to have a 5'10" 185 defender. In this case, Hughes is a proven commodity. Drafting guys like this are a waste of time, since most get sent to the recycling bin. But, Judd finally got his version of Hughes by trading for him. 

For those who think we gave up too much, and let's face it, 4 1sts is like an RFA offersheet in the top tier. Is Hughes worth a top tier offer? Probably yes. My bet is he re-signs here. Eventually, I could see the Hanson brothers....woops, the Hughes brothers making their way to the great Midwest. Let's make sure everyone waters their grass and makes our grass look greener than Jersey's. 

As for other guys: I was on the B. Tkachuk bandwagon really early, and would love to add him. I think our resources are gone for that, but, perhaps, after playing under Guerin in the Olympic games, he demands a trade to no other team but MN? It could happen! 

I really think we're missing an RHS with the S standing for Sniper. It'd be nice if he were rugged. To me, Tuch fits that mold, but it looks like Buffalo is going full steam ahead trying to make the playoffs. I didn't know a new GM bump would be so significant. I'd love to get a Marchenko or Voronkov from CBJ. And another name on that list that I thought of was Nino after playing Winnipeg. 

Of course, I still believe that Spurgeon's contract is too heavy (his play is not) and wouldn't mind swapping him for Danielson. Danielson's stat line looks very similar to Yurov at this present time. Red Wings are on top of the Atlantic Division at present time with 49 pts. Currently the Red Wings have Sandin-Pellikka playing 2nd pairing RD. He has more pts. than Spurgeon, but his underlying numbers appear to be far less. We know that Detroit was looking for a guy who fit Spurgeon's resume, and I believe it is still a weakness. Can they rely on Sandin-Pellikka down the stretch? Could another collapse cost Yzerman his job? But, more importantly for us, with this team cooking right now, would trading out the Kaptain be a wise move? Danielson fits replacing Rossi, though he's about 2 years behind. Yurov does that too. But, Danielson also lets Hartzy move to wing or be part of another trade package. I don't think Guerin will do it, relying on his instinct that older guys can still perform near career levels. 

Speaking of Marchenko and Voronkov, it is looking like CBJ is starting to fall back. Currently, they are the only Eastern Conference team below 40 pts. and every Eastern Conference team is above .500, that's CRAZY!!!!

Perhaps we need to focus on the Western Conference. Does Calgary have anything? Kadri, yuck, Huberdeau? At 32, a trade could be the change of scenery he needs, but is a wing and we'd need cap retention. Kraken? I sure wouldn't mind Shane Wright. McCann has had a brutal year, likely due to injury but might make a nice piece. Going back to the well, Vancouver? Well, perhaps Pettersson (c) misses his defender and begs to be moved to only MN (I hear he likes the cooking here). Sure, there is salary retention, we give Vancouver the rest of our '20's 1st rounders and they retain half salary moving completely into tank mode and rebuild! Hey, Rutherford and Guerin are friends, perhaps he does his underling a solid as he goes into what needs to be done in Vancouver, a full blow up! Rutherford's parting words: "Speak well of me Billy when I retire!" 

And lastly for Pewter: I know it is a sad day but we shall 🥂 toast to Mikey Milne who was traded to Tampa yesterday for Boris Katchouk. Hey!!!! We got a Tkachuk spelled wrong. Boris should change his spelling now!!! I guess any Katchouk will do 😎

 

[mnfaninnc]

47 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

Wasn't able to watch the Saturday game until Sunday night.  I thought we got outplayed.... by a Jets team that shouldn't outplay us.  We were fortunate with  the Jets hitting multiple pipes.  We gave away too many good scoring oppurtunities.  Thankfully the Jets are not used to scoring right now.  We did not have our layered defense like I saw in November.

The very fortunate late penalty allowed us to get a 6 v 4 last minute goal.  A stellar save and a beautiful Boldy goal in OT to finish it made for an exciting game.  Good to see we can win in a lot of different ways.  It's a must to be able to win when you don't play the game you want.  Hope to see the feet moving well tonight.

This happens with 3 days off an no practices coupled with having to travel on game day at 6:30 am (hey, at least it was 7:30 EST) having packed for a 14 day road trip. Typically, we do not look so good on the game after Christmas and having to travel, and I do remember some higher scoring games. 

We were simply not playing that defensive game that Hynes wants. Is that part of the Hughes effect? There was no doubt that Ek got hammered with a cross check late in that game. I applaud the gutsy call by the officials at that part of the game, usually they have whistlitis ™️. But, also, the referees owed us one. 

But, let's be real. You cannot look at Winnipeg's numbers in the standings. Having to play a month or so without all world goalie Hellebuyck has affected their numbers. I do think they can catch the WC teams, but I think we're out of distance from them. It would not be unbelievable for them to real off 7-10 straight wins. Hellebuyck is still catching up trying to find his game. It'll probably take about 5 starts for him. This is essentially, now, the team that started 9-3 and won the President's trophy last season (without Ehlers now). They are dangerous and do not belong among the West's also rans. 

[mnfaninnc]

🤦‍♂️ Forgot to mention ROR with Nashville