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  • David Spacek’s Days With the Wild Are Numbered


    Image courtesy of Bruce Fedyck-Imagn Images
    Neil Urbanski

    Before the start of this past season, Minnesota Wild defensive prospect David Spacek achieved a slow, steady ascension up Minnesota’s defensive prospect ladder. 

    After the Wild took him in the 5th round of the 2022 NHL draft, he passed older players like Ryan O’Rourke (2nd round, 2020), Jack Peart (2nd round, 2021), and Kyle Masters (4th round, 2021), who Minnesota drafted higher than him. He wasn’t far behind Daemon Hunt (3rd round, 2020) and Carson Lambos (1st round, 2021) in the organizational pecking order.

    But after a blunt, scathing interview his father gave to Czech media outlet iSport on Tuesday, it appears that Spacek’s days as a Wild prospect are numbered. David is from Czechia and is the son of former NHL defenseman Jaroslav Spacek. The NHL veteran of nearly 900 games has been a prominent figure in Czech hockey since his retirement in 2012.

    David plays a key role for the Czech national team at the IIHF World Championship, playing on the second pairing and quarterbacking the second power-play unit. His father, Jaroslav, appeared on the Zimak podcast to discuss the team’s chances. 

    When asked about his son’s progress in professional hockey, Jaroslav decided to let loose with his opinions of David’s experiences in the Wild organization (all quotes translated with Google Translate):

    I’m not happy about it at all…David’s game at the World [Championship] is to push to get out of here. … David didn't get a sniff up there [in the NHL], not a game, and they didn't even call him up. While the guys who played much worse than him were taken up there. They went there for a few days at least. David hasn't received a single call-up in two years. I'm very disappointed with the entire organization.

    The players whom the Wild called up to the NHL ahead of Spacek included Iowa Wild captain Cameron Crotty, who appeared in one game, and Lambos, who didn’t play for the big club but spent six days with the team in early January.

    David Jiricek, Spacek’s former Czech junior teammate, is also included on that list. The Wild acquired Jiricek in a blockbuster trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets in November (for a package that included Hunt). Minnesota called him up twice: once in January, when he played six games, and again for three weeks in March, when he didn’t play but practiced and traveled with the team.

    Jiricek’s arrival pushed Spacek lower on the organizational totem pole, which irked his father. However, not as much as when Zeev Buium joined the NHL team straight out of college as a 19-year-old and played four games in the Wild’s playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, bumping Spacek another down another notch:

    The playoffs came, a young kid comes in, drafted in the first round last year, who didn't even play a game on the farm, they signed him right away, and he's going to play a game against Vegas right away. At that moment, it assures you that David has no chance at all in this organization. … There are over 30 teams in the NHL, I believe that he will get a chance somewhere. Now the biggest job will be to find a club that will care about him and give him a chance.

    Now, a prominent father speaking out on behalf of his son is certainly not unheard of, and there’s no guarantee that one speaks for the other. Still, it’s hard not to think that Spacek also feels his father’s blistering criticism of his experience in the Wild organization to some degree.

    So, where do the Wild go from here? Spacek is only 22, an age at which most defensemen are still developing as professionals. This past season, he led all Iowa Wild defensemen in scoring while mainly playing on the second pair.

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    He also spent significant time as a power play quarterback, often on the first unit. That said, the Iowa Wild had the worst power play in the AHL, with a measly 13.8% success rate. Iowa was not a good team this year, so the special teams struggles are certainly not an indictment on Spacek alone. 

    However, at this point, it’s fair to wonder how high Spacek’s ceiling is as a prospect. I’ve seen him play a fair amount over the years between his two appearances at the World Junior Championships, three Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcases, and two full AHL seasons. I’ve seen a player who does many things well but isn’t exemplary in any area.

    • Spacek is a good skater with solid lateral movement and a smooth stride, but he doesn’t get a lot of power off his edges, and there’s a real possibility he’ll struggle to defend with his feet in an increasingly fast NHL.
    • He has decent size (6 feet, 190 lbs.) and engages physically, but he’s not enough of a force to make a difference in physical play.
    • Spacek plays with poise with and without the puck and usually displays solid positioning. Still, he often takes bad angles when backtracking, which gives attackers options and makes it harder for him to recover.
    • He’s responsible with the puck, but sometimes to a fault, as he almost always defers to the safe, simple play rather than testing the opposition with a stretch pass or by moving to exploit a seam.
    • He moves well across the line as a power-play quarterback and distributes the puck with simple efficiency. Still, he’s not a significant threat to break down defenses or create his own chances, and there’s no way I can see him eventually quarterbacking an NHL power play.

    All of this adds up to Spacek being a good professional hockey player without a defining quality that will make him stand out enough to become a full-time NHL player. I like his game a lot, and I can envision a scenario where he gets in a good situation and sticks as a sixth or seventh defenseman for a few years. Still, I think he will top out in the AHL and eventually head to Europe to continue his career. 

    Given the Wild’s move to acquire Jiricek and immediately slot him above Spacek on the right side, it’s starting to seem like the organization views Spacek similarly. And given his father’s recent comments, it seems apparent that Spacek isn’t satisfied with being an organizational depth piece that watches more highly touted prospects zoom past him on their way to NHL careers.

    What should the Wild do? 

    It’s hard to imagine Spacek has immediate trade value beyond a late-round draft pick or a similar fringe prospect looking for a change of scenery. This isn’t like the Calen Addison situation, when the Wild gave up on the enigmatic defenseman and traded him to the San Jose Sharks for fringe prospect Adam Raska (who played a total of 13 NHL games before settling in as a minor leaguer) and a 5th-round pick. 

    Addison was a former second-round pick who played over 90 NHL games. However, after cycling through three organizations this season, he seems destined for a career in Europe. Spacek has yet to appear in the NHL.

    Adam Beckman might be a better recent comparable. Beckman was a forward who was once viewed as a legit NHL prospect before his growth as a player stalled. At age 23, the Wild traded him to the New Jersey Devils for forward Graeme Clarke, who was the same age and had a similar player profile as a former prospect turned NHL longshot. Beckman and Clark players have been in the AHL since the deal, and the Devils saw enough of Beckman to trade him to the New York Islanders.

    If the Wild move on from Spacek, they could try to swing a trade that brings back a late-round pick and hope that Judd Brackett uses it to unearth a gem. However, a return like that would probably require the Wild to part with more than Spacek alone. So, the more likely option is to trade for another prospect looking for a fresh start, hoping they can develop him into a valuable organizational piece. Either way, it’s unlikely they’d get a significant return, especially given that his displeasure with his current circumstances is now known to all.

    Perhaps the Wild’s best bet would be to hang on to him and tell him that his best chance for finding a new home (or earning a call-up to Minnesota) is to show up to training camp ready to go, hit the ground running next season, and showcase his abilities for any potential suitors.

    That seems like the best scenario for all involved. Iowa will need reliable defensemen next season, and Spacek should play a prominent role there. If he can provide solid production and demonstrate an ability to be a difference-maker in professional hockey, it would give the minor league squad a much-needed boost and Spacek the best chance to develop interest from other teams.

    Either way, if there’s any truth to what his father said on Tuesday. It’s probably only a matter of time before David Spacek finds a new employer.

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    Excellent article. Being outside the room it’s hard to know how much communication takes place between player, agent and in this situation a father who’s been in the pros. The NHL sure seems like a very competitive league. On the other hand some of the AHL players still make a good living. Hope DS finds a good home. 

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    With Bogosian nearing the end of his contract, and Spurgeon aging, I imagine Spacek could have a shot for regular roster time at the NHL level as early as 26-27. One or two injuries and he could elevate to the MN Wild in 25-26.

    Sounds a bit like a developing RHD version of Declan Chisholm--also a 5th round offense producing player as a minor league defenseman. Could fit in alright on the 3rd pairing, but not necessarily a key contributor.

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    6 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    The list of Brackett picks that aren’t winning nhl spots continues to grow

    Lambos, o rourke, peart, spacex, hunt, khuz, Rossi (soon to be cast off), ogz (likely will be cast off as a trade sweetener) and the list goes on.  Well at least we have the top prospect pool.  Who again are the needle movers in brackett’s prospect pool?   That 1st round pick used on Stramel is going to be scrutinized if Stramdingle is brazz 2.0
    Prediction: Brackett is the first high profile firing as bill’s seat gets hot 12 months from now

     prospects next up: wall-e, z boo, and the savior yurov

    Edited by Pewterschmidt
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    6 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    Lambos, o rourke, peart, spacex, hunt, khuz, Rossi (soon to be cast off), ogz (likely will be cast off as a trade sweetener) and the list goes on.  Well at least we have the top prospect pool.  Who again are the needle movers in brackett’s prospect pool?   That 1st round pick used on Stramel is going to be scrutinized if Stramdingle is brazz 2.0
    Prediction: Brackett is the first high profile firing as bill’s seat gets hot 12 months from now

     prospects next up: wall-e, z boo, and the savior yurov

    Haight, Lorenz and Milne all high picks in 2022 that need to show signs of forward progress soon before they are labeled Tyson Jost 2.0

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    If the player isn't good enough, he isn't good enough.  This sounds like a father shooting his own son's career in the foot.  The team isn't going to sit back and wait for prospects to "someday maybe.". Do they just "not" take Buium at 12, what the fuck?

    Picking on Buium and Jiricek is rich, considering both showed promise in limited doses in games with actual stakes.  Spacek showed squat in preseason games.

     

    Edited by Citizen Strife
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    2 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    Prediction: Brackett is the first high profile firing as bill’s seat gets hot 12 months from now

    It all starts in Iowa and Iowa is a train wreck. So ultimately everything points back to Billy. This is his show, he's running everything and failing spectacularly.

    Leipold is a horrible judge of character and keeps hiring incompetent GM's that he has to fire...early. I'm sure he's sick of wasting money in that role (paying two or more GM's and coaches all the time), therefore sticks it out instead of making a move sooner. But he can only blame himself.

    I personally think this franchise is a dumpster fire on the inside. If you compare them to other teams that are perennial winners, it is so poorly managed/coached and has been pretty much from the start. Minus Lemaire. He did more with less.

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    1 hour ago, Scalptrash said:

    making a move sooner

    I’ve been watching trends of things looking hopeful,  followed by lack of playoff success, followed by regression for a while. The current GM has to around 2027 to see if he can build a team/ culture that can break the mold. He’s had success as a player and assistant GM. I don’t think firing him now would lead to faster/ better results no matter who gets brought in. If this current iteration of the Wild bombs I really hope the current owner sells the team and gives someone else a chance to build a winner. That being said this is the best looking trend I’ve seen since the team started.

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    3 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

    If the player isn't good enough, he isn't good enough.  This sounds like a father shooting his own son's career in the foot.  The team isn't going to sit back and wait for prospects to "someday maybe.". Do they just "not" take Buium at 12, what the fuck?

    Picking on Buium and Jiricek is rich, considering both showed promise in limited doses in games with actual stakes.  Spacek showed squat in preseason games.

     

    When I heard the news, I immediately thought they were following the Talbot playbook.  Publicly criticize Billy, who can’t take it, watch him throw a fit and hope he either trades the player or releases him.

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    Why does Spacek get so much press?  He was a 5th round pick who has had modest success in development.  His absolute ceiling is a fringe NHL player.  Completely replaceable.  Weird.

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    9 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    Lambos, o rourke, peart, spacex, hunt, khuz, Rossi (soon to be cast off), ogz (likely will be cast off as a trade sweetener) and the list goes on

    khuz is playing NHL minutes, Rossi has put up seasons of 40 and 60 pts, Ohgren has a really good shot to make the team next year which is a pretty regular development period. Outside of Lambos, the rest were picked out of the first round.

    Only 74% of players picked in the first round go on to play over 100 games. That drops to 34% in the second round.

    If Wallstedt has a good offseason that will be all our first round picks outside Lambos playing NHL games from 2020 when Brackett arrived to 2022 as those kids are just outgrowing junoirs now. In fact if Yurov and Wallstedt stick we will be 4/5. Over average. Considering we have a second and a third rounder playing NHL games Brackett has done his job. Many of these youngins are just about to get their first taste at an NHL level. I suggest we let them play before bringing out the bust stamp.

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    So the evaluation of the player seems like he is a Jared Spurgeon without the good things.  The Wild seldom make a bad evaluation of their prospects.  You could argue that they draft terrible players.  However, those that have left really haven't done anything in other organizations.  Spacek might be able to make the roster in a few years but do we want another Jon Merrill on the roster.  I would rather have a Jiricek who makes defensive mistakes and scores than someone who doesn't score and makes more defensive mistakes.  

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    14 hours ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

    khuz is playing NHL minutes, Rossi has put up seasons of 40 and 60 pts, Ohgren has a really good shot to make the team next year

    My point is that these prospects are so hot we (first round flounder team.  This ain’t the Dallas Stars/Canes lineup) didn’t bother to keep them around.  Couldn’t take a spot from Fred or NyQuil or NoJo.  
    prediction:100% probability Rossi is gone.  Better than 75% ogz is gone. Khuz already gone.
    when does Brackett find our Wyatt Johnston or Stanky Leg?   Wall-E probably gets a longer runway as a goalie but yurov has to show something right away. 

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    25 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    My point is that these prospects are so hot we (first round flounder team.  This ain’t the Dallas Stars/Canes lineup) didn’t bother to keep them around.  Couldn’t take a spot from Fred or NyQuil or NoJo.  
    prediction:100% probability Rossi is gone.  Better than 75% ogz is gone. Khuz already gone.
    when does Brackett find our Wyatt Johnston or Stanky Leg?   Wall-E probably gets a longer runway as a goalie but yurov has to show something right away. 

    Stankoven's best season is 38pts. What are you talking about? Rossi at the same age had a 40pt season. Stankoven is 5'8" and 165lbs, he is smaller than Rossi. Billy G would be tossin him out with the bathwater too. Wyatt is a year younger but literally had almost identical point totals to Rossi. First season 41 and second season 65. Rossi is our Stankoven or Wyatt, Billy would just rather another big slow gritty veteran.

    I think it is a more an inditement of our GM than Brackett that we are getting rid of a young developing center because he doesn't fit BG's mould. The lack of development of prospects isn't on Brackett, it is on Billy and his clown show in Iowa. It seems like every indication points to Iowa beign a black hole for development and that organization not doing what it needs to for our prospects to grow.  

     

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    I know Iowa is bad, but did anyone notice his =/- is -17? That is by far the worst on that graph. That does not scream "move him up to the big club" to me. And yes i know =/- is not the best indicator. But the comparison to others on that graph is startling.

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    22 hours ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

    Rossi at the same age had a 40pt season. Stankoven is 5'8" and 165lbs, he is smaller than Rossi.

    Yet he plays big minutes and makes big plays on teams that make cup runs.   Next let’s compare Lindell’s pts to Rossi’s regular season pts.  Meanwhile Rossi gets hidden on 4th line on one and done playoff team.  
    Re: Iowa. It’s not like there’s a magic development formula.   It’s garbage in garbage out on the farm

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    22 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    Yet he plays big minutes and makes big plays on teams that make cup runs.   Next let’s compare Lindell’s pts to Rossi’s regular season pts.  Meanwhile Rossi gets hidden on 4th line on one and done playoff team.  
    Re: Iowa. It’s not like there’s a magic development formula.   It’s garbage in garbage out on the farm

    So the 3 goals 2 assists he has this playoff run, after getting traded off? That is in 10 games in his 2nd long run in the playoffs. That is .5 points a game, Rossi who is trash who scored 2 goals, 1 assist in 6 games..... so a .5 pts/game in his FIRST taste of playoffs, while being on the 4th line where Stankoven is on line 2 with Roslovic and Hall. Stankoven scored 2 of those 3 in game 1. Seems he went pretty silent after with a .33 pts/game there after. If Rossi put up the same numbers people would lost their minds at how inefficient he is, how could he play 2nd line minutes. 

    With Lindell since you asked, though I am guessing you mean Lundell in Florida since that is who most are made we didn't take. In 23/24 Lindell had the stat line of 13g 22a for 35 pts, in 78 games, which is year 3 of full time NHL hockey. Rossi struggled with 21 g, 19 a for 40 pts in 82 in what was his first NHL stint. This year? Lundell 79 games played, 17 goals, 28 assists for 45 pts, Rossi again in a year he didn't do enough 24 goals, 36 assists, for 60 points. Lundell in his first playoff run scored 2 goals and 8 assists in 21 games, 2 goals, the same as Rossi in 6 games, and at a .5 pts per game clip, which is the same.

    So just so I am understanding, you want people who produce the same in the playoffs and worse in the regular season playing on better lines? I think we are too far into the grass is always greener way of thinking. Those teams are not rolling out guys like Nojo, Braz, Freddy G, Nyquil, which may have more to do with making runs. 

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    7 hours ago, IllicitFive said:

    So the 3 goals 2 assists he has this playoff run, after getting traded off? That is in 10 games in his 2nd long run in the playoffs. That is .5 points a game, Rossi who is trash who scored 2 goals, 1 assist in 6 games..... so a .5 pts/game in his FIRST taste of playoffs, while being on the 4th line where Stankoven is on line 2 with Roslovic and Hall. Stankoven scored 2 of those 3 in game 1. Seems he went pretty silent after with a .33 pts/game there after. If Rossi put up the same numbers people would lost their minds at how inefficient he is, how could he play 2nd line minutes. 

    With Lindell since you asked, though I am guessing you mean Lundell in Florida since that is who most are made we didn't take. In 23/24 Lindell had the stat line of 13g 22a for 35 pts, in 78 games, which is year 3 of full time NHL hockey. Rossi struggled with 21 g, 19 a for 40 pts in 82 in what was his first NHL stint. This year? Lundell 79 games played, 17 goals, 28 assists for 45 pts, Rossi again in a year he didn't do enough 24 goals, 36 assists, for 60 points. Lundell in his first playoff run scored 2 goals and 8 assists in 21 games, 2 goals, the same as Rossi in 6 games, and at a .5 pts per game clip, which is the same.

    So just so I am understanding, you want people who produce the same in the playoffs and worse in the regular season playing on better lines? I think we are too far into the grass is always greener way of thinking. Those teams are not rolling out guys like Nojo, Braz, Freddy G, Nyquil, which may have more to do with making runs. 

    I like it. Very practical assessment. 

    At the same time Rossi has to pass the eye-test, role-fit, and cost-benefit. 

    I think he's a good, young player. Perhaps he and Zuccy could continue if the Wild upgraded Fred, NoJo, and Nyquist or Vinnestroza with some more powerful forwards but their finesse-style of European hockey isn't great for the playoffs. 

    Yes those guys can score on grade A chances but you can't expect many of those against Vegas, Dallas, or EDM. I believe the real issue is what Rossi generates by himself and his ability to thrive in the toughest games. Can he be a critical tool for a coach to send out against Benn, Draisaitl, Eichel, Schieffle, etc., or is he gonna get limited cause finesse isn't what ya need at that moment. If you moved him to the wing, is he fast or puck-doggin many defenseman? Not so much, and his PP prowess isn't so amazing that he made the Wild's percentage perfect. 

    Maybe the hot girlfriend analogy works? Some elements are there, but can't cook, has a terrible mother, hates kids, or has six-toes. Your buds might say, "No she's hot, why would you wanna trade?" Since you know ALL the pros & cons being most in-tune to the scenario, you might be thinking, "I'd accept a hotness reduction for gains in other categories." Rossi might fill out a huge brazier in the regular-season points category but can't get out of debt or drinks too much wine with horrible friends that openly share lousy opinions. Might be time to go in a different direction kinda thing. That's kinda how I see the Wild handling it with a bit of uncertainty around how or whether to bite the bullet and execute the breakup & transition. Self-inflicted and awkward but either do it, or get over the extra toe and sloppy-drunk philosophical-rants. 

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    I tend to think getting rid of Rossi is a bad idea, but unfortunately BG seems to have lost my number. So I guess my opinion won't get the needle moved. With that in mind, we probably need to start looking a what can be gotten for Marco. The team front office has done a great job of lowering Rossi's value. That means getting even top draft picks will be like pulling teeth. We don't have a need to get a thug/grinder/meat type player. We already have those in spades. That seems to leave a trade for another (or two) player(s) who are also damaged goods. The only ones that come to mind are Zegras (Ducks) and LaFreniere (Rangers). There are others I am sure. Not sure how I feel about this, but it may be a best case outcome.

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    17 hours ago, Will D. Ness said:

    Elias Pettersson is feeling left out.

    Pettersson isn't being dangled by "Nucks as far as I know. There are lots of rumors about the Ducks and Rangers dangling the other two.

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    I hope he stays. I'd project him as the 3rd pairing guy in '26 and 1st RHS callup on defense this next season. 

    IMO, watching him, he does a decent job defensively and offensively. I don't think the baby Wild's PP issue is because of Spacek. I honestly am looking the coach right in the eye and calling for a change to the whole staff. 

    Get in someone who has some experience, and can really develop guy, and certainly bring in a defensive guy on the staff who can coach and run the defense, a guy who the bench can respect.

    His dad can be as mad as he wants, but the truth is, from my eye test, he was not yet ready for the N.

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    Not a bad problem to have. If he does well in worlds, that would elevate his value. If other players are calling him NHL ready (as a 5th rounder), he's a good pick and could be used as a chip if there is no room for him.

     

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