Minnesota 2024-2025 Affiliates Thread (Iowa Wild, Iowa Heartlanders)

[Jbcraig1883]

Just scoreboard watching here, but Ewegrin assisted on both IA goals. He now leads the team in Pt/G, which is what we want to see, no? The whole point of him being down in the A rather than playing 4th line in the NHL is so that he can work on his offensive skills- we want him to be a middle six winger, eventually, with some scoring to his game.

It was old home week last night. Cal O'Rielly, O'Leary, Luchinni, Ottenbreit recent IA players on the Admirals.

I prefer him being down there getting the minutes he's getting for the reasons you listed. I have no doubt he can be a bottom 6er with just his physical capabilities. Might has well give him some time to figure out to further refine his offensive game.

 

[57special]

I prefer him being down there getting the minutes he's getting for the reasons you listed. I have no doubt he can be a bottom 6er with just his physical capabilities. Might has well give him some time to figure out to further refine his offensive game.

Yeah, the shot especially intrigues me. Beckman's was ineffective once he left juniors, but I think Liam can make it work in the NHL. We could really use an unapologetic, shoot first, winger.

 

[Sweetnut]

I prefer him being down there getting the minutes he's getting for the reasons you listed. I have no doubt he can be a bottom 6er with just his physical capabilities. Might has well give him some time to figure out to further refine his offensive game.

Yes. Some people seem to forget where he's coming from. 2 years ago he was playing in Swedens second tier league, Allsvenskan. Then he got hurt in the back and had a long rehab, missed out on the summer training. Missed the first few months of the season. Last year he was playing in the SHL. From there to NHL is a big, giant step. Plus the smaller rink size and another culture. It can overwhelm young people.
Sweden is so different from USA in many ways.

Allsvenskan - run and gun style, not that much structured defensively.
SHL -very defensive, low scoring league. Skate,skate,skate. Play within the system. Team first, structure. No egos allowed.
AHL - the place where nobody wants to play, everyone has the NHL as the goal. Every man for himself, FIGHT if you can't do anything else. Grit first!

 

[57special]

Yes. Some people seem to forget where he's coming from. 2 years ago he was playing in Swedens second tier league, Allsvenskan. Then he got hurt in the back and had a long rehab, missed out on the summer training. Missed the first few months of the season. Last year he was playing in the SHL. From there to NHL is a big, giant step. Plus the smaller rink size and another culture. It can overwhelm young people.
Sweden is so different from USA in many ways.

Allsvenskan - run and gun style, not that much structured defensively.
SHL -very defensive, low scoring league. Skate,skate,skate. Play within the system. Team first, structure. No egos allowed.
AHL - the place where nobody wants to play, everyone has the NHL as the goal. Every man for himself, FIGHT if you can't do anything else. Grit first!

You're so wrong. Des Moines is just like Europe, except more cultured.

 

[Sweetnut]

You're so wrong. Des Moines is just like Europe, except more cultured.

Hmmm....Nope, Des Moines sounds french, so I'm pretty sure that's a part of Europe. And we all know France is the most cultivated place on earth, but nice try though.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Hmmm....Nope, Des Moines sounds french, so I'm pretty sure that's a part of Europe. And we all know France is the most cultivated place on earth, but nice try though.

Oui

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Haight with a nice play that led to a goal. Enters zone with puck in middle of ice with Boyd, Jiricek and one other against 3 Rockford players. Does a little spin and dumps it to Boyd but Boyd has to play it of his skate in stride, sends it back to Haight who has easy put away. Haight follows it up with a nice outlet play.

1-1, 9 minutes left in 2nd. Ferguson in net. Shots 18-17 Iowa.

Rockford comes back and scores. Iowa forwards not backchecking hard (were close enough to help), ROR kinda went out too far for his guy and Jiricek didn't close gap enough which let Rockford forward walk in and windup the wrista.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Sounds like Jiricek has a rough game?

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Sounds like Jiricek has a rough game?

I wouldn't say that - Iowa got outplayed all over the ice the two periods I was following. I didn't see much of the third. I was just writing out what happened on that 2nd goal. Jiricek was no more at fault than the forwards or ROR...just everything kinda broke down. He's raw, he needs time, but he has certain abilities that are unique for a RH D of his size.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Ohgren scores from the same spot that he scored his last 2 or 3 times. Left dot. Don't think the goalies are set/expecting it and then it's by them. 4-0 Iowa. Haight, Sop, and Bankier with the other goals. Hlavaj kept them in it in the first and Rockford has slightly outshot them but Iowa has converted.

Spacek and Jaricek are on the 1st PP. Looks like Spacek is playing point and Jiricek is playing more of the half-wall.

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

From a box score and highlight watcher, I have been pleasantly surprised by Ohgren's production in the AHL. I know he was highly drafted and has had some of the tools to be a solid finisher with his straight line speed and shot -- but it's nice to see him producing as well as he is at the AHL level as "young" as he is.

That makes me optimistic he could be closer to a top 6 winger than a middle 6 winger. I kind of see him scoring/playing a similar style to Ryan Hartman and when playing with skill being able to produce pretty strongly while also able to play a checking game.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Just tuned in due to Wild getting stomped by the Jets.

Spacek makes a phenomenal defensive play and then follows it up next shift with a nice goal, little give and go, gets in close and shelves it. 1-1 with 1 minutes left in the second.

Spacek just stopped a 3 on 1 and even the opposing commentators are talking him up.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Jiricek tried to skate it out of the zone (started well) but then tried to go through people in the neutral zone but got pickpocketed (then blew a tire) which led to a 4 on 3 and Ferguson couldn't control the rebound.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Bankier made some nice plays in offensive zone, went back to cover for pinching D, but then came in himself (ill-advised) to get to puck slowly exiting zone but got beat by the Chicago player who poked it by him which led to a 2 on 1 and Chicago scores. 3 - 1.

As I am writing this, Spacek makes another big stop on a little 3 on 2. Spacek looking like the best D out there easily.

Ohgren just had an empty net but tried to backhand it to a teammate...makes no sense. Put it back through traffic. Even commentators are calling it out.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Jiricek just rips one from the blueline 1 minute into game and it beats the goalie. Think Walker was coming out form behind the net and just banked it off half wall and Jiricek ripped it flat footed. Haight was near the net but not screening, so think it just beat the goalie clean. Right before that Haight had fed Cecconi all alone.

Iowa gets 4 minute PP. Spacek running point, gets it over to Gaunce, Gaunce shoots it and Ohgren was screening goalie. 2-0 Iowa. Jiricek and Peart running 2nd PP. Did not score on the remaining minor penalty.

Iowa outshooting 6-1 10 minutes into first.

 

[north21]

As I am writing this, Spacek makes another big stop on a little 3 on 2. Spacek looking like the best D out there easily

Good to hear! Feel like he might turn into something and we might even need him soon.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Iowa 1 - Ontario 1 at end of 1 despite being outshot 15-8. Highlights are Boyd scoring, Ohgren and Clarke had a little 2 on 1 with Ohgren making the pass, Clarke shooting, and then the rebound bouncing over Haight's stick. There was an open net with some D trying to get into the way so likely would have been a easy goal had he gotten a flat puck or been able to bat it in.

Ohgren had a breakaway during a 4 on 4 but flubbed it 3 feet wide. Lambos had a nice drive to the net that almost led to a goal.

Oh, Haight had a pretty good hit around center ice. Ontario player wanted to fight afterwards but Haight went down with the puck and dropped it between his legs for Clarke to get a shot off.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Lambos fights and gets dropped, lucky he didn't get KO'd Appreciate him sticking up and being gritty but this is the third or fourth time in the last two years where he has gotten easily beaten.

Cecconi with an easy put away. Cecconi breaking in with Ohgren with a 2 on 1, feeds it to Ohgren, Ohgren back to Cecconi, empty net. Nice play. Wild leading 2 to 1.

Hlavaj stops a breakaway, now has saved 21 of 22. Been very solid lately.

Jinxed Hlavaj - he actually made a few more saves but has gotten beat twice in the last few minutes. D breakdowns. Ontario 3 Iowa 2 with 3 minutes left.