Wilderness Walk: Can the Wild Still Make the Playoffs?

Getting head to head wins against Central teams this season hasn't been bad. There is a chance to make up ground on these games coming up if they can keep winning while still setup okay in their division.

It will be interesting to see how they do against the Canucks and Edmonton WITH McDavid. They're gonna need more from Johansson, Hartman, Fred, and the vets. 

All of the sudden though, the Wild look okay. They're not taking tons of penalties, PK is fine for the last handful of games. Scoring goals hasn't been a major issue. The PP converts once in awhile. It's good but weird cause everything we were complaining about appears to be way better but we are skeptical about calling it the real-thing.

It's been 4 games, so what's different?

• Wild start games on time (mentioned above)
• Wild seem more structured
• Wild PK looks much better
• Wild PP looks better (more below)
• Wild shooting % is evening out
• Wild goalies are seeing beach balls now
• Wild look to be playing much faster
• Wild are getting many more odd man rushes

That's quite a list! I am thinking that some of these have to do with strategical emphasis from Hynes. And, the shooting % evening out is a part of that as I believe they are getting better chances. 

One thing I noticed, especially with PP1 is that there is much more movement under Hynes. I see Kaprizov and Boldy changing positions and I see far more skating through zones. This opens things up and breaks down boxes. I don't think our PP has had the results kick in yet on this.

I also believe that demanding players start on time is part of Hynes' demands. Getting the 1st goal has gone a long way in helping the last 4 games, and starting on time often gets you the 1st opportunities. Another tweak has been the cleaner breakouts and using multiple short to medium range passes instead of looking for home run passes all the time. One other thing, it seems like there is less standing at the blue line waiting by wings, they're moving more. 

My conclusion is that Hynes is a better Xs & Os type of coach than Evason is. It also may be that Woods was part of the problem too. I'm not sure why Guerin's gut told him Woods needed to go, but I believe it was a right feeling. I think we're missing something that maybe season ticket holders may have been able to pick up on with Woods? Any season ticket holders out there who could comment?

And now we take a look at the prospects-

1. Riley Heidt is killing it: 26gp 14-39-53
2. Hunter Haight has been hot too 25gp 11-20-31
3. Danila Yurov continues to impress 35gp 12-15-27
4. Adam Beckman??? 20gp 5-7-12
5. Sammy Walker??? 18gp 2-7-9
6. Daemon Hunt putting up points 11gp 1-7-8 (most of this is coming from after being sent back down, I think he learned something up here)
7. Peart slow start 14gp 1-2-3
8. Masters has also been sent to the Heartlanders
9. Still no Bankier, Milne, Hentges
10. I thought Charlie Stramel would break out this season, 1 goal in 10gp is not breaking out. Something is off here. Ohgren has played in 3 games so far, nice to see him back.
11. The Wall is the wall. I'd expect him to win the A Vezina this year.

I think the Wild need to forget about October and most of November. This is a new coach and the Wild look like they did last year. All the guys have a clean slate with the new coach. 

Canucks road game will be a very good measure and what happens against Edmonton on night two should give us a better idea of whether the Wild are actually a pretty good team.

Remember when Dean once said they were fragile? He meant that they were mentally weak and they were struggling at that time similar to the early part of this year. If that is true could the Wild's lack of mental grit be the REAL problem. If so, Hynes won't solve that automatically. He could help remedy it but the Wild ultimately have to play the games. The players need to gut it out on the ice, so right now when they need road wins, will they be able to do it?

49 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Adam Beckman??? 20gp 5-7-12

Can we all agree to take a wait and see approach on Beckman?  Can we agree it's not a 'the kid is getting robbed of his opportunity' Bob Labla....situation?

#shitonthekidThursday

12 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Can we all agree to take a wait and see approach on Beckman?  Can we agree it's not a 'the kid is getting robbed of his opportunity' Bob Labla....situation?

#shitonthekidThursday

These statistics aren't meant to call the kid a bust. They are meant to say that he isn't playing very well right now. Same thing with Walker. In Beckman's case, I think it has a lot to do with a lack of strength and he really needs to go on the Rossi program. He's good enough to compete in the A, but the N is totally different!

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

These statistics aren't meant to call the kid a bust. They are meant to say that he isn't playing very well right now. Same thing with Walker. In Beckman's case, I think it has a lot to do with a lack of strength and he really needs to go on the Rossi program. He's good enough to compete in the A, but the N is totally different!

Ok, fair.  Then I'll say it.  I think we've got enough tape on Beckman to start whispering bust.  

57 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Ok, fair.  Then I'll say it.  I think we've got enough tape on Beckman to start whispering bust. 

Agreed.  Those are unacceptable numbers for Beckman and Walker.  The moniker AHL Journeyman is close at hand.  Maximum effort is needed.

4 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

It's been 4 games, so what's different?

• Wild start games on time (mentioned above)
• Wild seem more structured
• Wild PK looks much better
• Wild PP looks better (more below)
• Wild shooting % is evening out
• Wild goalies are seeing beach balls now
• Wild look to be playing much faster
• Wild are getting many more odd man rushes

That's quite a list! I am thinking that some of these have to do with strategical emphasis from Hynes. And, the shooting % evening out is a part of that as I believe they are getting better chances. 

One thing I noticed, especially with PP1 is that there is much more movement under Hynes. I see Kaprizov and Boldy changing positions and I see far more skating through zones. This opens things up and breaks down boxes. I don't think our PP has had the results kick in yet on this.

I also believe that demanding players start on time is part of Hynes' demands. Getting the 1st goal has gone a long way in helping the last 4 games, and starting on time often gets you the 1st opportunities. Another tweak has been the cleaner breakouts and using multiple short to medium range passes instead of looking for home run passes all the time. One other thing, it seems like there is less standing at the blue line waiting by wings, they're moving more. 

My conclusion is that Hynes is a better Xs & Os type of coach than Evason is. It also may be that Woods was part of the problem too. I'm not sure why Guerin's gut told him Woods needed to go, but I believe it was a right feeling. I think we're missing something that maybe season ticket holders may have been able to pick up on with Woods? Any season ticket holders out there who could comment?

I think the biggest change is the switch over from emphasis on GRIT to speed and system.

Deano and his preaching grit had us as one of the more penalized teams in the league. Top 15 every year, including 11th this year, 13th last year, 4th the year before. Our PK has been atrocious for quite some time. Taking penalties was always a formula for us to fall behind. Being on the smaller end of teams and the second oldest team in the league it doesn't seem prudent to go to the mat every game. Perhaps it is one of the reasons we go into playoffs injured every year. 

Hynes and his focus on speed, skill and player placement has done wonders for this team. They no longer languish in the D zone waiting for everyone to set up, instead they breakout with speed. His style is more suited to the players we have instead of modelled after his own playing career. His career emphasis is on being a coach, not a player and I think that does wonders for his interpersonal relationships on the team.

I have not heard grit fall out of his mouth yet in any presser and I am a happier man for it.

I'm not totally sure Beckman is toast. He had always played well and his goal scoring pedigree was nearly carried into NHL hockey when he has been with the Wild. WHL goal-scoring has always been a nice sign of NHL potential. Of course AHL success or not is important. Junior goalies are not AHL goalies, that much is true. Statistically you won't get all your picks to the NHL so a 70th overall guy not becoming a 20-goal scorer in the NHL isn't a surprise. Just that we kinda hoped that would happen. 

Perhaps Beckman is the next change of scenery guy or part of a deadline deal to add a player or hold back salary on a rental. 

BUT, Pat Maroon played plenty of AHL before becoming a mainstay in the NHL.

3 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Ok, fair.  Then I'll say it.  I think we've got enough tape on Beckman to start whispering bust.  

I disagree. I think Beckman was far too one sided and it is one of the reasons he was not in line for a call up this year. Looking at his plus minus this year he has really cleaned up his game and learned to be a two way player while still maintaining some decent offensive output. He has put up 12pts in 20 games but still has a solid +2 playing on a line that has Petan(-6) and Walker(-1). He is no longer playing powerplay mins but in now killing where he has one shorthanded goal. He is only 22 and has some runway left. 

He likely isn't a second line guy but may still serve a solid role on a third scoring line. He's not going to be a star but it is far too early to write him off completely.

2 hours ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

His career emphasis is on being a coach, not a player and I think that does wonders for his interpersonal relationships on the team.

This is a good way to put it. I think one of Dean's biggest thorns was that he didn't seem to want (or feel the need) to adapt/alter his coaching style to the modern game and looked at the game through an old-school players mindset and not a coach. 

5 hours ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

I think the biggest change is the switch over from emphasis on GRIT to speed and system.

Deano and his preaching grit had us as one of the more penalized teams in the league. Top 15 every year, including 11th this year, 13th last year, 4th the year before. Our PK has been atrocious for quite some time. Taking penalties was always a formula for us to fall behind. Being on the smaller end of teams and the second oldest team in the league it doesn't seem prudent to go to the mat every game. Perhaps it is one of the reasons we go into playoffs injured every year. 

Hynes and his focus on speed, skill and player placement has done wonders for this team. They no longer languish in the D zone waiting for everyone to set up, instead they breakout with speed. His style is more suited to the players we have instead of modelled after his own playing career. His career emphasis is on being a coach, not a player and I think that does wonders for his interpersonal relationships on the team.

I have not heard grit fall out of his mouth yet in any presser and I am a happier man for it.

The Wild traded Addison away and traded for Bogosian less than a month ago. Is that speed over grit?

I highly doubt BG let Evason go and went after Hynes to go from grit to speed. The Wild are playing right now how they played quite a bit of the last two seasons when they were going good.

Speed over grit seems to be the popular opinion right now, but nothing has changed. These guys are no faster then they've ever been, Foligno is still dropping the glove on a regular basis, Hartman is being his gritty self, Ek is still getting under the skin of his opponents the Dewey's are still looking for dance partners.

On 12/7/2023 at 8:07 PM, Disco Strangler said:

The Wild traded Addison away and traded for Bogosian less than a month ago. Is that speed over grit?

I highly doubt BG let Evason go and went after Hynes to go from grit to speed. The Wild are playing right now how they played quite a bit of the last two seasons when they were going good.

Speed over grit seems to be the popular opinion right now, but nothing has changed. These guys are no faster then they've ever been

Their personal speed isn't any faster, but what I've noticed is they aren't stopping at the blue line waiting for entry, they are skating away from the puck making the play move faster. 

Bogosian wasn't traded for because he was grittier, Bogosian was traded for because he could defend and clear the front of the net. Addison could do neither no matter how fast people think he was. His game just simply never translated to the NHL.

Some will point to his PP prowess. For the most part, he got easy assists for just making the right simple pass. They weren't any crisper than Spurgeon's. I have liked seeing what I've seen from Faber on the PP too. 

After 25 games, who had Faber leading the defense in points with 12? In 12 games, about half, Addison had 5 assists. In 15 games for San Jose, he's added another 5. And, coupled that with a -11 on the season. 6 of those assists are on the PP. For Faber, 1 pt. is on the PP and he's a +7 on the season. He also defends quite well. Addison simply ran out of runway here because he was so incapable of defending. Others were passing him up on the depth chart shortly, Guerin probably did him a favor to get him a change of scenery. 

On 12/7/2023 at 7:07 PM, Disco Strangler said:

The Wild traded Addison away and traded for Bogosian less than a month ago. Is that speed over grit?

I highly doubt BG let Evason go and went after Hynes to go from grit to speed. The Wild are playing right now how they played quite a bit of the last two seasons when they were going good.

Speed over grit seems to be the popular opinion right now, but nothing has changed. These guys are no faster then they've ever been, Foligno is still dropping the glove on a regular basis, Hartman is being his gritty self, Ek is still getting under the skin of his opponents the Dewey's are still looking for dance partners.

That trade happened before Hynes took over. Not to say that Guerin's mindset has changed but the emphasis has.

The personell have also stayed the same yes but a team focusing on different things can look a whole lot different. When you are more focussed on throwing that big hit than you re breaking out with speed, you play differently and the gme has a different pace. 

Not to say a single person is different but the focus has shifted notibly. Including the language used before and after the game by the coach. He is holding the players to a new standard too while guy figure out what he likes to see from his players. Are you going to be critized if you have 5 giveaways but 3 points? If the most you contribute is 2 fight and 4 hits, does that constitute an acceptable game.