Wilderness Walk: The Playoffs Are Here!

I said I'd do it and here it is.

Matt Dumba: Offensive Threat to Defensive King (Comparing Against Partner Brodin.)

• Most Games Played since 2017-18 with 79. (Last Played 82 games in 18-19)
• Record number of blocks at 116. Tied for average blocks per game last year at 1.47. (More Blocks at 130 and far higher average at 2.17)
• 3rd highest number of hits with 104, average of 1.31, after 17-18 and 21-22. Rather him hit less if it means he's injured less tbh. (Far fewer total and average at 50 and .83) Also... hits are recorded extremely subjectively game to game...
• Record low average giveaways per game at .44 (Fewer at .38)
• 2nd highest total PK TOI at 144m after 17-18, with and 2nd highest PK ATOI at 1.82m after 21-22. (Blows him out of the water at 177m and 2.95m)
• 2nd lowest oZs% at 46.1% after 21-22. (Much lower at 41.7%)
• 2nd best On Ice Save Percentage at .913 after 16-17. (Slightly better at .915)
• Record low On Ice Goals Against average per game at .97. (Still close, but slightly worse at 1.0)
• This shouldn't be a brag... but it does show Dumba getting physical... record PIMs and average PIMs at 81m and 1.03m... (Far lower at 30 and .50)
• I don't particularly like CF and FF for defensive defenseman... but it was a record low at 46.4 and 46.3 (Damn near tied at 46.5 and 46.6)

Not even going to mention his offensive numbers this year... they absolutely tanked. But that's not how he was deployed anymore so it doesn't bother me.

For the record. The Brodin-Dumba pairing (821mins) was 3rd best for GA/60 at 1.61 and 4th best for On Ice Save % at .944 for pairings >500mins. (Spurg and Mids were just behind on both counts in 4th and 5th place respectively at 1019mins.) I would personally put them both as the best defensive D-pair ahead Nemeth-Moser (35% oZs) who were 1.83 and .944 (slightly higher .944). The other D-pairs that are higher in both catagories have 58% oZs.

Stop crapping on Dumba plox... and here's hoping he bring that d-power in the playoffs.

I'm not sure if Dumba's defense is as good as that, but it's also against a years-old vow I made to always defend Dumba to point that out.

What about Eriksson Ek skating now, eh? You can't convince me he's human.

7 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

I'm not sure if Dumba's defense is as good as that, but it's also against a years-old vow I made to always defend Dumba to point that out.

I think it's more Brodin-Dumba compliment each other. Dumba plays the physical game, while Brodin takes away passing and shooting lanes. Of course they've been paired with each other for what, 5 years or more now? Dumba had to transition his game, guess he learned a thing or two while playing with Brodin.

Which is why I said (and statistically it's correct) they're the best defensive D-pair out there.

I suppose I forgot to include their oZs, but it's 39%.

Oh, for sure. They don't give up many goals, and while their expected numbers are worse, it's not that much worse, and it's still really good. They'll need to keep it up.

Anybody know if the game will be accessible on ESPN+? The way I understand it is it should be as long as espn, tnt, nhln don’t have exclusive rights. 

My guess is so, but who knows? If I'm blacked out I'm fighting the league. 

7 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

My guess is so, but who knows? If I'm blacked out I'm fighting the league. 

I’ll hold your beer

51 minutes ago, Skolwild said:

Anybody know if the game will be accessible on ESPN+? The way I understand it is it should be as long as espn, tnt, nhln don’t have exclusive rights. 

The first two are and the two home games look like they aren't going to be.

IMO: Our entire D-core is a major reason why we are where we are.  Our top 4 of Spurgeon, Middleton, Dumba and Brodin have all been fantastic.  Merrill and Goligoski have been a solid 3rd pair.  I really do hope we find a way to keep Dumba for next season.  A solid hockey team starts with D.

3 hours ago, Millante said:

Not even going to mention his offensive numbers this year... they absolutely tanked. But that's not how he was deployed anymore so it doesn't bother me.

Very nice post and well done research.  I don't think it is a matter of strategy for the way Dumba is deployed this year, I think it is more a matter of what he's able to do.  When Brodin got hurt, the 1st couple of games with Goligoski in there, Dumba had to completely change his game and he has kept up that defensive mindset since Brodin's return.  I imagine that Dumba's stats also include the Goligoski partnership and were probably worse in that pairing.

But, what has me very concerned is that Dumba used to have a shot prior to the Tkachuk fight, and still had some offense prior to his shoulder injury late last season.  To me, he doesn't look right.  I don't know if this is permanent or if he's still recovering, but I think his offense tanking is a direct cause of last year's injury.  

Time will tell if he can get his offense back, but, for now, something just isn't working right. At least, that's what the eye test tells me.  He simply can't load up and fire quickly right now.  When he loads up, it's typically blocked. I'd also bet his velocity is down about 10 mph. Perhaps that can be tinkered with by having a slightly looser shaft with a touch more whip?  

20 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

IMO: Our entire D-core is a major reason why we are where we are.  Our top 4 of Spurgeon, Middleton, Dumba and Brodin have all been fantastic.  Merrill and Goligoski have been a solid 3rd pair.  I really do hope we find a way to keep Dumba for next season.  A solid hockey team starts with D.

If Dumba will take a pretty substantial haircut for the next 3 years, I think that is doable.  If not, I don't see how it will work out.  In any case, I think Addison has played his way onto the trade block this season. He's got something to work with, but a lot of negatives in this locker room.

Agreed.  A team friendly contract with Dumba will be needed.  We've done a lot to keep him.  I wonder if he will return the warmth.    Addison is done.  He has been an obvious weak spot when on the ice.  I don't see any scenario where he is on the team next year other than a 7th D man that plays in a very limited capacity.

Baby Wild are playoff bound-While most everyone knows this news by now, I actually followed some of the scenario yesterday.  

1. The Chicago Wolves had to win and hope for a Wild or Rockford loss in regulation. They took care of business in an early game, coming from behind after 2 to do it.
2. The Wild and Rockford had 5pm games. If both win, they're in. The Wild have had trouble with Texas for the past few seasons, and did on Saturday night losing in OT.
3. Was it the way the rotation worked out, or was it on purpose? McIntyre played Saturday night, The Wall got the start on Sunday.
4. Wild win 5-2 in a gutsy road win against a Texas team that had little to play for but had owned them pretty much this season.  
5. If you'll remember last season, baby Wild went down to the final weekend and failed to make the playoffs. They coughed up a standings lead to choke it away.  This season was different and they can check that box.

I haven't watched the highlights yet, but one thing I've noticed coming down the stretch, the baby Wild defense allow a lot of players to jump on rebounds.  Most of the ones The Wall has let in have come that way.  Perhaps The Wall must do a better job of locking the puck down? But I think the young defense needs work and Hunt/Johansson/O'Rourke are not ready to jump up a level.  Not only do they need to clear better, but extra size/filling out is probably necessary too.  

Beckman is back and had a huge goal on Saturday night.  Sometimes you can tell by a celly the passion of a player.  Beckman is not a passive celly guy.  I think he'll be ready for a role with the big club next season.  I could see him as a participant on the Zucker expressway!

I did happen to see some of Rossi in the highlights. It's frustrating for me to watch, but more standing around and passive skating.  I'm not sure when the urgency/effort button is going to click on, but it needs to.  He picked up an apple yesterday, I hope is was a nice play and not your cursory secondary assist.  

6 hours ago, Tony Abbott said:

What about Eriksson Ek skating now, eh? You can't convince me he's human.

Foligno said Ek’s got “Wolverine blood in his veins”.  Love it!!!

#doitforShawzy