I remember a report about a week ago.  I forget if it was Russo/Smith or someone else that mentioned the idea that Faber/Chisholm are going to be the likely PP guys, leaving Spurgeon to focus on PK.

I'm all for that.  Spurgeon is a decent offensive threat, but the backend needs all the focus it can get.  I'm also happy Middleton/Spurgeon are back together.  Middleton played his best in that situation, and that leaves Brodin/Faber to shine.

7 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

that leaves Brodin/Faber to shine.

One of the best pairings in the league. Watching Brodin and his ability to cover McDavid like no one else can is a thing of beauty.

I shudder to think how good this defense is if Spurgeon and Brodin stay good for a couple more years, Faber gets better than he is already, and if Buium is as advertised.

Sure, Spurgeon may not be long for the team or the league, but I won't write him off until I see it firsthand.

I did some stat crunching the other day as I was curious how the team "would have" performed if Spurgeon had remained healthy last year. Essentially, I took what I figured to be Spurgeon's fill-ins (Merrill, Chisolm and Mermis if I remember correctly), removed their stats and replaced with Spurgeon's 2022-2023 year. Calcs were based on comparable ice time and used a mix of stats such as blocked shots, takeaways, giveaways, various levels of low/high danger goals, etc. All a bunch of voodoo and meaningless numbers without a doubt but when I was done I had arrived at a number of +19 in goals for/against. 

This would have tied us with the Penguins and allowed us to pass the Sabres.

.....yeah I don't have a life, lol.

1 hour ago, Enforceror said:

I did some stat crunching the other day as I was curious how the team "would have" performed if Spurgeon had remained healthy last year. Essentially, I took what I figured to be Spurgeon's fill-ins (Merrill, Chisolm and Mermis if I remember correctly), removed their stats and replaced with Spurgeon's 2022-2023 year. Calcs were based on comparable ice time and used a mix of stats such as blocked shots, takeaways, giveaways, various levels of low/high danger goals, etc. All a bunch of voodoo and meaningless numbers without a doubt but when I was done I had arrived at a number of +19 in goals for/against. 

This would have tied us with the Penguins and allowed us to pass the Sabres.

.....yeah I don't have a life, lol.

Maybe the most important number in all of that is #28. Zeev's number.

Hynes should limit Spurgeon's ice time to around 20 minutes per game.

i would try to keep his ice time down to about 16 minutes the first ten games or so.

Chisolm has looked pretty solid, Bogo has the needed size.... Middleton actually has pretty good numbers as well as size. So who's the odd man out if Hunt or Lambos continue to climb?

39 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

So who's the odd man out if Hunt or Lambos continue to climb?

 Barring injury that’s a problem that can wait until next year. If one of the top six hits some kind of unexpected regression that question will answer itself. 

20 minutes ago, Burnt Toast said:

 Barring injury that’s a problem that can wait until next year. If one of the top six hits some kind of unexpected regression that question will answer itself. 

Well, looks like Lambos is headed back to Iowa. 

Heidt back to WHL which I think we all knew was going to happen. 

1 hour ago, Enforceror said:

Lambos is headed back to Iowa. 

Not really surprised D usually take more time/ age to develop. The “ future is now?” Not quite yet. I’m thinking it’s pretty close though. 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/10137298-how-blackhawks-could-pair-kirill-kaprizov-with-connor-bedard-with-trade-with-wild.amp.html

Silly clickbait trade time.

Kaprizov to CHI for Moore or Nazar, 1st&3rd, and another prospect.

Might be the reality sooner than later.  Probably won't ever get equal or near enough for Kap, but Nazar or Moore and a likely 6-15 pick later may be around the return, outside of the, "multiple late firsts by a contender."

I just wonder how much the Wild can get to avoid the "Kap to a Central team" nightmare.

1 hour ago, Burnt Toast said:

Not really surprised D usually take more time/ age to develop. The “ future is now?” Not quite yet. I’m thinking it’s pretty close though. 

I wouldn't buy that Lambos jersey just yet.  He still looks rough around the edges to me.  The way an undisciplined player looks.  With our growing arsenal of D-men (Faber, Zeev, Chisolm, Hunt) I'm not sure there's going to be room for Lambda Lambda.  Not unless he tightens things up because he doesn't have the offensive skill set (ie Chisolm) for a coaching staff to be patient watching Dumba-esque turnovers.

#Lamboshottake

Quote

Moore or Nazar, 1st & 3rd, and another prospect.

Yeah, even if someone made that Moore & Nazar, not sure there'd be interest.

How is Chicago closer to a legitimate cup run than the Wild  ?   Bedard is being treated with kid gloves but wont be that way if Chicagos a threat  .

Can the Wild Keep Jared Spurgeon Healthy This Season?

The real question is whether the Wild can catch a break and NoJo gets injured with season-ending diarreah.

41 minutes ago, Protec said:

Can the Wild Keep Jared Spurgeon Healthy This Season?

The real question is whether the Wild can catch a break and NoJo gets injured with season-ending diarreah.

Or maybe just allergic to his hockey gear. It would be fun to play Chicago routine on this one.

The main thing here is how solidly is Spurgeon reput back together? Is he humpty dumpty just glued together, or is it actually sturdy? 

I'm not optimistic that this plan is going to keep him healthy. I don't think icetime will be the determining factor. I think he and Middleton will move down to 2nd pairing, but it just takes one overzealous big bodied guy testing if the surgery was a success or not to send Spurgeon to LTIR. 

No team can plan for that. 

There seems to be a little double talk in Kalisha's article. If they do what she recommends with Spurgeon, he's really no longer Kaptain material. Why? Because leading by example requires him to be a leader in TOI and in efficiency. If they limit him to 20 minutes, you just don't get that rugged, gritty side of Spurgeon, and he's kind of lost what made him Kaptain. 

I love(d) watching him play. He defies the odds. However, as for the Kaptaincy, really, I think it's time to pass the torch. Being Kaptain isn't like the Supreme Court, it's not a position for life or trade. It's hard to still have a player on the team when he's no longer Kaptain, but, really, the transfer of power needs to happen. 

ODC recommends Kaprizov for the job. I think the type of game we want to play really is more geared towards Ek's play, I think Ek should be the next man up. 

To me, this is the elephant in the room. The rest of the plan fits together well, putting him on the 2nd pairing, limiting the minutes and perhaps resting him a game in 3/4. If this happens, really, we need better than Merrill as #7. 

47 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

If this happens, really, we need better than Merrill as #7. 

No matter what we need better than Merrill.

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

The main thing here is how solidly is Spurgeon reput back together?

Hopefully spurgzy’s smaller more compact frame makes his core/hip reconstruction more solid.  This repair on Middleton s longer frame might be more precarious.  
im not a doctor, but I did stay at a holiday inn express last night

3 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

I think the type of game we want to play really is more geared towards Ek's play, I think Ek should be the next man up.

I've been saying this for a while.  Who better to have the kids coming in look to? 

Sure Spurgeon worked his way up too, but Ek also works butt off every offseason to come back stronger and better - and he's improved every season as a result.  I'd rather these new kids come in and see that as their captain rather than "nice guy" Spurgeon.  I'd keep an A on Kaprizov and Foligno, but I'd definitely give the C to Ek.  I could also see Spurgeon getting an A over Foligno, but I think Kaprizov and Foligno are better choices.

8 hours ago, Up North Guy said:

No matter what we need better than Merrill.

Merrill isn't terrible in an emergency. That way the kids can still be playing in the A. The thing is, Merrill is probably a 9, so if something happens, he can fill in for a game until the others can get there.

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

Merrill isn't terrible in an emergency. That way the kids can still be playing in the A. The thing is, Merrill is probably a 9, so if something happens, he can fill in for a game until the others can get there.

Not sure I agree with that anymore. If he is in the lineup the chance of winning is greatly diminished. Iowa is so close that they really don't need to have a spare when they are home. Bring someone up for a spare on the road.

On 9/30/2024 at 10:29 AM, Citizen Strife said:

leaving Spurgeon to focus on PK.

I think this would be more likely to hurt Spurge, no?

On 9/30/2024 at 10:45 AM, Citizen Strife said:

and if Buium is as advertised.

I want to see how he reacts to being "the man" now. He was a surprise last season with other older teammates leading the way.

Can the Wild Keep Jared Spurgeon Healthy This Season?
 

It's mostly up to chance and Spurge (did he rehab well enough). Yes, the team can protect him a little.