[Wild About Numbers]: What Are The Wild's Strengths & Weaknesses In 2014?

The most predictive stat to use for team success is "Score Adjusted Fenwick". It's proven to be marginally more predictive than Fenwick Close and Fenwick Tied after 60 games and much more predictive early in the season.

-Here is every NHL team ranked by their Score Adjusted Fenwick so far this season:

-The other stat that's important here is PDO. Teams with a high PDO at ES can over-achieve beyond their poor puck possession numbers while teams with great underlying numbers can struggle due to the percentages:

-Here is how the Wild performed at 5v5 at home vs on the road. These numbers are just regular 5v5 because home/road spilts aren't available for Score Close situations or Score-Adjusted:

-Here are the Wild's shot attempt generation and suppression rates (C=Corsi/Shot attempts, F=Fenwick/Unblocked shot attempts, S=Shots on goal) at 5v5 Close:

-Here is every team ranked by their FF/60 at 5v5 Close:

-Finally, here is how the Wild have performed at special teams in the last 3 seasons:

In summary, the 2014 Minnesota Wild have been a mediocre puck possession team that lacks somewhat in shooting luck but has benefited from extraordinary goaltending. They're bad at generating shots but great at suppressing them. Their special teams are unimpressive.

It might seem a little bit hasty to expect them to go from a Wildcard team to nearly a contender in the space of a season but I think that it's possible with the talented roster they are likely going to ice in October. They have a large mountain to climb to compete with the best teams in the league and they don't have much time to slowly build as the core ages and likely declines. Next year will be hugely important and will be all about taking a big step forward from "happy to be there" Wildcard team to trying to hang with the Blues and the Blackhawks. Drastically improving the numbers I highlighted in this article will be key.

The necessary improvements might just happen naturally with a more talented roster, or it might take some good coaching. I've been critical of Mike Yeo recently for some of his roster decisions and the team's stagnant offence, but he showed at times this season that he can get this team playing with an aggressive dominance along the boards, quick zone entries and all round solid puck possession play. He will need to work that magic again next season and, if he can't, then a different coach will be required.

What are your thoughts on this Wilderness?

(P.s. I'm gonna be out of town for a few days so I don't think there will be a 'Wild About Numbers' article on Thursday. You'll have to make do with this one until next week.)