By Kalisha Turnipseed -
The Minnesota Wild can improve next season by using a new system, but Liam Ohgren and Marat Khusnutdinov must break out into top-six roles to maximize it. In my blueprint, the Wild can use Ohgren and Khusnutdinov with Joel Eriksson Ek to form a shutdown line that can play top-six minutes. That should create more consistency on a nightly basis.
However, the Wild can create a bigger role for Ohgren. Would they be willing to give Ohgren ice time with Kirill Kaprizov immediately? We've seen Ryan Hartman and Victor Rask be productive alongside Kaprizov. So how does Kaprizov affect Ohgren, who scouts project as a middle-six 20- to 30-plus goal scorer? Why wouldn’t Minnesota accelerate Ohgren’s potential by playing him with Kaprizov when they’ve played Hartman, Rask, and Frederick Gaudreau on his line?
Ohgren looks like a player fans will fall in love with, but he will frustrate opponents. He plays like Jamie Benn but is more disciplined. Benn is currently a 6-time 20-goal scorer, 4-time 30-goal scorer, and 41-goal scorer in 2015-16. He's a 3-time 70-point scorer and a 2-time 80-point scorer and averages more than a point per game.
Does Ohgren have Benn's offensive upside as his highest ceiling? That has yet to be determined, and we should temper expectations. However, we can go with a safer comparison regarding Ohgren’s scoring potential.
Loui Eriksson was an offensive force in his prime, becoming one of the NHL’s best Swedish scorers. Eriksson was a two-time 30-goal scorer and a three-time 70-point scorer, which was equally impressive. He didn’t just have a dangerous shot but also had above-average puck-handling skills, allowing him to pull off some fancy plays.
What if Kaprizov can use his powers to unlock an underrated Swedish rookie player who will be able to bring those skills to the table along with a thicker frame? What the Wild need before Danila Yurov’s projected arrival in 2025-26. Ohgren can be a good substitute alongside Kaprizov.
Why can't Ohgren's potential increase to a 30- to 40-plus-goal top-six scorer with Kaprizov? Isn't that what the Wild should ultimately want? Ohgren has a face that would anger opponents once he gets comfortable, much like Joel Eriksson Ek, so he needs to establish himself as a reliable top-six producer.
Ohgren showed the willingness to drive the net and go into the corners. He has a goal scorer's touch that they should maximize. Rossi needs more time to establish himself alongside Kaprizov and come in with more mass, allowing him to battle with bigger forwards and help Kaprizov set up shots for Ohgren. Ohgren can also play with Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek on the top power-play unit because Eriksson Ek thrives playing in front of the net. Kaprizov and Rossi can set up Ohgren from the half walls, or Ohgren can play at one of the half walls with Rossi playing bumper so that he can utilize his shot more and line up for deflections.
Ohgren can help with zone exits because he’s a smart player who plays a simple game. He can give Rossi the puck in the neutral zone to set up the transition game so that Kaprizov can handle the rest entering the offensive zone. The Wild should position Ohgren in the slot or around the net to win battles in the offensive zones. However, he isn't Eriksson Ek's size, so let’s temper expectations there. You'll see a lot of hunger in his game, though. Kaprizov will be facilitating from the perimeter with Rossi’s support. Ohgren will have more energy knowing that Kaprizov will feed him the puck, especially no-look passes.
The Wild can always go back to playing Kaprizov with Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy, as they don’t necessarily need to break the trio up. Still, at the very least, they will establish scoring depth behind them with Ohgren, Rossi, and Yurov. Minnesota’s goal shouldn’t be to win the Stanley Cup in 2024-25. It should be to establish more scoring depth to prepare for the Wild’s run once they get better depth. The time is now. Minnesota needs to take drastic measures and create star players instead of passengers.
Ohgren won’t likely get much time playing with Kaprizov, but it doesn’t hurt for Kaprizov to play with new talent. Kaprizov has already acted as a mentor for Khusnutdinov, so there’s no reason why Kaprizov can’t take Ohgren under his wing. Kaprizov can help Ohgren reach a new level that fans didn’t expect. If the Wild want more established goal support, it’s time to let Ohgren establish his scoring game. Minnesota has more ways of establishing a new system for the better, but Ohgren playing with Kaprizov is a start.
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