The Iowa Wild Are Starting To Create A Positive Developmental Environment

There’s no sugarcoating it; the Minnesota Wild stink so far this season. The reasons for that are up for debate, but the results are not. A 3-5-3 record through eleven games and a humbling start to the home stand has left both the team and its fans searching for answers after their most recent defeat, a 4-3 overtime loss to the rival Winnipeg Jets.

Whenever an NHL team is struggling, one of the first places to look is the team’s minor league affiliate. Fans might be wondering if any players in Iowa are ready to make the journey up I-35 and provide reinforcements for the big squad.

The Iowa Wild also had a rough start to the season, dropping their first four games while their opponents outscored them, 20-6. However, the team seemed to find their game over the weekend, heading down to Austin and convincingly sweeping the Texas Stars. They followed that up with an overtime loss to the undefeated Grand Rapids team last night, falling 4-3 despite outshooting the Griffins 40-29. 

I tuned in over the weekend to check in on the “Baby Wild” in action versus Texas and saw a team that is starting to find an identity. Iowa had a dominating performance on Friday, outshooting the Stars 31-12 and winning 3-1. On Saturday night, they produced a defensive clinic, winning 2-0 to complete the weekend sweep. Samuel Hlavaj was between the pipes on Friday, while Cal Petersen earned the victory on Saturday with his 13th career AHL shutout.

New additions boost offense

Several recent additions have bolstered the team, including Liam Ohgren and Hunter Haight, who the Wild recently sent down to get more playing time and, in Ohgren’s case, find some much-needed confidence.

They also recently acquired 22-year-old former first-round pick Oskar Olausson from the Colorado Avalanche in a change-of-scenery trade that sent Kyle Masters packing. Iowa also signed free agent forward Gerry Mayhew to an AHL contract, reuniting with the former fan favorite who is still Iowa’s all-time leading goal-scorer.  

Mayhew and Olausson provided an immediate boost on the scoresheet. Mayhew opened the scoring on Friday night with a power play goal, assisted by Olausson and Ohgren. Olausson found the scoresheet again on Friday when he scored a beauty of a goal on a blistering wrist shot from the high slot. The Swede’s superb debut performance earned him the game’s first star. 

Each of them turned in another two-point performance against Grand Rapids last night, with Mayhew scoring twice and Olaussion getting two assists. More importantly, Olausson and Mayhew, along with Haight and Ohgren, have given Iowa some much-needed depth and versatility at forward. The team’s new-look lineup has looked formidable, showcasing three scoring lines and balanced defensive pairings.

Heidt-Kumpulainen-Olausson formidable

The Heidt-Kumpulainen-Olausson line was Iowa’s best throughout the Texas series last weekend, controlling play on many shifts. The trio read off of each other exceptionally well and look like a line that could provide significant play-driving value and scoring depth. 

Olausson has been a difference-maker with his skating and hockey sense, and has shown glimpses of the skill set that made him the 28th pick in the 2021 draft. He looks rejuvenated by the opportunity for a fresh start, and while it’s still early, he could be a sneaky good addition by the organization.

Kumpulainen demonstrated that he can be an effective puck transporter and possession driver in the AHL, as he has been at other levels. He was consistently driving through the neutral zone with the puck, using his size and range to hold onto it and look for passing lanes. While he tends to spend too much time on the perimeter, he played a responsible, two-way game and avoided the egregious turnovers that he has been prone to make in the past.

Heidt scored a goal on the tail end of a power play on Saturday, converting on a feed from Aube-Kubel after a nice passing sequence by the second power-play unit. Heidt is in his first pro season and was clearly lacking confidence during NHL training camp. Still, he’s shown flashes of his characteristic hard-skating, tenacious puck pursuit, and ability to make quick, efficient puck touches, especially effective in transition.

Ohgren set up to succeed

Ohgren is still trying to find his game after a humbling start to his NHL season, so it makes sense to place him on a line with two straight-line players like Haight and Aube-Kubel. They play with a pace that Ohgren will have to match, which should be beneficial, as Ohgren struggled to play with pace and be decisive with the puck during his stint in Minnesota. He should have the opportunity to handle the puck a lot more with two possession drivers on his line.

Other notes

Aube-Kubel looks like Iowa’s best all-around forward right now. The veteran with over 300 NHL games to his resume may have positioned himself to be the next call-up should the organization want to get a different look in their bottom six.

Haight learned how to be a difference maker in the AHL last season and has already demonstrated the ability to play depth minutes in the NHL if needed. However, playing a lot in Iowa might be the best thing for getting him ready to hit the ground running on his next call-up.

Bankier continues to improve, but it’s fair to wonder if he has the skating necessary to play at an NHL pace. He’s a smart player with good hands and a heavy stick, but he will have to continue to improve his footwork and quickness. Still, he’s developed into a valuable piece for Iowa and looks confident with the puck. Bankier is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, and he’ll need to have a strong year to earn another contract with the organization.

Foudy is in his sixth AHL season and is an excellent skater who battled injuries and a deep depth chart during his time in Colorado. If he can stay healthy, he looks like a good fit on a line with Mayhew.

Gleason Stands out on D

While the Minnesota Wild look set on defense for now, should they run into injury trouble or decide to send someone down, Ben Gleason may be the best option to fill an NHL role temporarily. He looks good quarterbacking the top power-play unit and has been a solid point-producer in the AHL over his career. The 27-year-old moves well and could provide some mobility in Minnesota if needed.

Iowa captain and Elk River native Matt Kiersted could also be a candidate for a call-up. He and Gleason played strong minutes all weekend, and Kiersted is also a proven veteran.

Spacek looks more comfortable walking the blue line on the second power play unit than he did last year. Still, he’s working to improve his outlets in his own zone and isn’t a reliable enough puck-mover to warrant serious NHL consideration at this time.

Lambos appears to have played himself out of the organization’s favor, and it would not be surprising if he finds himself with another organization next season. He’s a great athlete with excellent puck skills, but he’s a wild card in terms of decision-making. Still, he turned in some really solid shifts on the penalty kill this past weekend. Perhaps that’s his ticket to playing his way back up the depth chart.

The Iowa Wild will be back at it this weekend when they host the Tucson Roadrunners for a weekend series. It looks like they may have found their footing in Texas, and a solid run of play would be a welcome source of positivity for the Wild organization.