Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
That "bad" Florida defense held us to 40 shot attempts and 21 shots on goal at home. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for our own team.
Minnesota Wild General Discussion - 2023-24
- Thread starter TaLoN
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TaLoN
Red 5 standing by
Circulartheory
Registered User
How is everyone feeling about Addison?
I've been quite impressed with him thus far - as in - I haven't noticed anything glaring wrong with his defense but his ability to QB the PP is definitely standing out. I think he's looking like a great 3rd pairing defenseman but perhaps young enough to suggest there's more to develop. But so far so good.
I've been quite impressed with him thus far - as in - I haven't noticed anything glaring wrong with his defense but his ability to QB the PP is definitely standing out. I think he's looking like a great 3rd pairing defenseman but perhaps young enough to suggest there's more to develop. But so far so good.
MuckOG
Registered User
- May 18, 2012
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I'm not sold on Addison being improved just yet. He does look more motivated, but I want to see him sustain good all around play before I change my opinion on him
TaLoN
Red 5 standing by
What are your expectations for him?
Mine aren't all that high, so I think he's doing ok. If you expect a top 4 D-man? He's not it.
I haven’t noticed him much at even strength. Usually that’s a compliment for defenders, so I’ll take it he is doing better than last year.
Dach is out for the season. orn ACL.
Wild are in a bit of a pickle when it comes to him, because he is a clear asset on the PP, but he simply isn't showing much improvement otherwise. He's much different than Dumba, who had all sorts of energy, but made errors in judgement. Addison plays like he doesn't give a shit... I'm beginning to see why Evason has issues with him. I think he will be gone in a year or two, unless something clicks. Maybe what looks like laziness is really lack of confidence, and this year he somehow gets that confidence, but really, what i am seeing now is what he did in the AHL, though there he actually did make more mistakes. At least that has improved.
He has a particular skillset that this team needs, though. I can't think of another Dman in the system who has is as good when it comes to PP QB, nvm a RH PP QB. Spacek, possibly, in the future, but that's projecting quite a bit?
It could be that he is made to look worse because he is playing with Merrill, but really, you're seldom going to be playing with a world beater of a partner on the 3rd pairing.
Bad, actually. i was a supporter, and while I still think he is an asset in the O zone on the PP, it's finally dawned on me that the reason that he isn't even mediocre otherwise is that he simply doesn't try very hard. I saw the same thing down in the AHL. He's the opposite of a Nate Prosser, who had very limited gifts, but worked his ass off. Addison simply doesn't skate back hard to retrieve pucks, or close out on puck carriers. He's a decent skater...not a plodder like Middleton... but somehow only perks up when he is involved offensively in the O zone.
Wild are in a bit of a pickle when it comes to him, because he is a clear asset on the PP, but he simply isn't showing much improvement otherwise. He's much different than Dumba, who had all sorts of energy, but made errors in judgement. Addison plays like he doesn't give a shit... I'm beginning to see why Evason has issues with him. I think he will be gone in a year or two, unless something clicks. Maybe what looks like laziness is really lack of confidence, and this year he somehow gets that confidence, but really, what i am seeing now is what he did in the AHL, though there he actually did make more mistakes. At least that has improved.
He has a particular skillset that this team needs, though. I can't think of another Dman in the system who has is as good when it comes to PP QB, nvm a RH PP QB. Spacek, possibly, in the future, but that's projecting quite a bit?
It could be that he is made to look worse because he is playing with Merrill, but really, you're seldom going to be playing with a world beater of a partner on the 3rd pairing.
I thought Spacek had always played more of a trigger role than QB, but I could be wrong.
Circulartheory
Registered User
Judging from the replies, I think I may have worded it wrongly and suggested huge optimism. My expectations was a pretty bad failure - fine on the PP just because we have no other options and a trainwreck on the 3rd pairing with other dark spots in Merrill and Goligoski. And I wanted him gone to start the season, traded for a 3rd round pick.
But could just be recently bias but he LOOKS more assertive and in control of the new PP system, which I think is fitting him quite well. As opposed to looking just fine, I like him QBing the PP and am actually excited for us to get a PP vs last year. And I know its small sample but we are 6th in league PP% so I am encouraged with the new system.
Sum up: I expected bad all around, I'm getting meh EV and very good on PP#1.
RE: @57special, that was my view last season but i guess the difference is I am liking what I am seeing on PP this year and he's QBing the new system with pretty good efficiency. I think he's a good #6 dman to have and at his AAV.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
There was only 1 game where the results of poor defense were notable; could be that he just blended in with the other 3 dumpster fires that game.
Yeah, the first two, possibly. It's just that Addison ended up QB'ing the very strong Canadian WJC team with success after being drafted, then did a good job on the PP in the AHL, though i think Hicketts shared time with him? Lambos got cut from the Canadian WJC team after being drafted, and Peart seems to be more of an all round guy, though i think he did run the STC PP last season after an injury removed the original QB.
I am excited about both players, especially Peart, but in more of a total sense. Both players are bigger, stronger, and faster, with better defensive acumen.
At this point, it's more what we have, rather than what we might have. Development can happen fast(i.e. Faber), a lot slower (Beckman), or not at all(take your pick).
I guess I was more optimistic last year, and thought that he might grow with support from the coaching staff. I now have my doubts that he will improve much, but ya, especially for this team, having a PP QB who moves the puck quickly and shoots quickly is a welcome change from what we have had in the past.
For all of his faults, btw, he's worth far more than a 3rd rounder. A young, cost controlled RHD with a defined NHL skillset is worth at least a late 1st, IMO.
I mean, it would be nice if we had a Scandella/Soucy type to pair with him. A young Scandella, that is.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
Who got paid to blast a puck at his foot? That is the question.
Mookie Blaylock
The in between is mine
Circulartheory
Registered User
Oh thank F***ing god - I honestly thought there was a high change Khaira or Lucchini would be called up. Both had good camps and I was actually looking forward to signing Khaira as a Maroon/Duhaime replacement for next year ... but let's test out some of our offensive prospects please ...
- Mar 19, 2023
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This is interesting. I have not seen Walker play in NHL, at least not what I remember. Hate to see players get injured though, no matter who or whatever team they play.
Hope Sammy gets his head out of his ass. After some really good camps this fall, looked pretty ordinary down in Iowa. Don't know if he was sulking, or what.
In any event, he is pretty well the best we have to replace Boldy. Has some speed, and looks for offense. I think the play might be to match him with Rossi, as they know each other's game.
Now, we are running Addison and Mermis on the 3rd pairing. Mermis is a good, not great AHL Dman...kind of a tweener. He's better than Addison defensively, but that's damning him with faint praise.
In any event, he is pretty well the best we have to replace Boldy. Has some speed, and looks for offense. I think the play might be to match him with Rossi, as they know each other's game.
Now, we are running Addison and Mermis on the 3rd pairing. Mermis is a good, not great AHL Dman...kind of a tweener. He's better than Addison defensively, but that's damning him with faint praise.
- Dec 10, 2012
- 41,681
- 19,744
I'm glad Walker got the call, but I really need to see more from him this season. Last season he was fast, but he didn't really bring much else in regards to sticking in the NHL long term.
Agreed, but I think Beckman is worse, Petan has shown his inability to make a dent in the NHL, Milne is injured, which leaves Letierri, who looks decent, but not better than Walker.
Walker has some jump, at least. I don't expect him to be playing the PK, or get a lot of time, though i can see him playing PP #2 with rossi
Walker has some jump, at least. I don't expect him to be playing the PK, or get a lot of time, though i can see him playing PP #2 with rossi
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