Minnesota Wild General Discussion - 2023-24

[Dr Jan Itor]

A lot of the PK woes are not being able to get a save imo

Or getting the first save but the puck leaking out for somebody to whack in.

 

[Wabit]

Nah. The "ideal" defense that @AKL put out before would be fine:

Better than Spurgeon - Spurgeon
Brodin - Faber
Middleton - Better than Middleton

A 3rd paid D is somebody I don't want playing close to 20 minutes under most any circumstances (except positive blowouts). Faber does not apply.

Yep this is Faber. I don't want him near the PK or PP. His game isn't a top-4 dman quality. Spurgeon is 2nd pair d-man (BB said it last year). Faber isn't close to that.

Take Faber away from Brodin and his adv stats are in the same range as Addison's (the that was just run out of town).

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Yep this is Faber. I don't want him near the PK or PP. His game isn't a top-4 dman quality. Spurgeon is 2nd pair d-man (BB said it last year). Faber isn't close to that.

Take Faber away from Brodin and his adv stats are in the same range as Addison's (the that was just run out of town).

Well if "BB" said it, it must be true.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Yep this is Faber. I don't want him near the PK or PP. His game isn't a top-4 dman quality. Spurgeon is 2nd pair d-man (BB said it last year). Faber isn't close to that.

Take Faber away from Brodin and his adv stats are in the same range as Addison's (the that was just run out of town).

I don’t think you know how to read advanced stats if that is your takeaway. And if that is your eye test of his play then one of us needs glasses.

 

[Wabit]

I don’t think you know how to read advanced stats if that is your takeaway. And if that is your eye test of his play then one of us needs glasses.

I know how to read them. I also know what my eyes see. Faber isn't anything more than a 3rd pairing d-man. He's just a golden child so anything negative is missed. Also the rest of the d-corps is a tire fire so he looks better by comparison just by being slightly competent.

He's a quality Scandella player (different game) right now. Meaning he's a guy you put on the ice ~18 mins a night and have a good 3rd pair.

Well if "BB" said it, it must be true.

Well if I say it then I'm told I'm just biased against Spurgeon. But if someone that has the resume says something similar then it adds come creditability to the statement.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

I know how to read them. I also know what my eyes see. Faber isn't anything more than a 3rd pairing d-man. He's just a golden child so anything negative is missed. Also the rest of the d-corps is a tire fire so he looks better by comparison just by being slightly competent.

He's a quality Scandella player (different game) right now. Meaning he's a guy you put on the ice ~18 mins a night and have a good 3rd pair.



Well if I say it then I'm told I'm just biased against Spurgeon. But if someone that has the resume says something similar then it adds come creditability to the statement.

I strongly disagree with you, I will just leave it at that.

 

[Wabit]

I don’t think you know how to read advanced stats if that is your takeaway. And if that is your eye test of his play then one of us needs glasses.

It's not me. I'm pretty much neutral towards this Wild team. I don't really have anyone I like or anyone I dislike on the team. I don't care if they win or lose. It's just watching hockey to watch hockey. So far it's just been watching a lot of bad hockey.

I'm fine being the dissident voice, it's nothing new. Rossi out of camp last year, Boldy's shot, etc.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Well if I say it then I'm told I'm just biased against Spurgeon. But if someone that has the resume says something similar then it adds come creditability to the statement.

I don't know who you meant by "BB".

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

It's not me. I'm pretty much neutral towards this Wild team. I don't really have anyone I like or anyone I dislike on the team. I don't care if they win or lose. It's just watching hockey to watch hockey. So far it's just been watching a lot of bad hockey.

I'm fine being the dissident voice, it's nothing new. Rossi out of camp last year, Boldy's shot, etc.

Rossi out of camp last year and Boldy’s shot are things that you and I both saw eye to eye on. Faber, we apparently do not.

Edit: for reference, my comments on Boldy’s shot last year was that he has potential but he is not there yet, I was the dude complaining that he never scores from beyond the hash marks.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I don't think that Faber has been a rockstar or anything, but his right current place would be a fine #4.

 

[Webster]

Just off the plane in Sweden, Kirill smiles again...

 

[Wabit]

I don't know who you meant by "BB".

Wild head coach before Evason.

I don't think that Faber has been a rockstar or anything, but his right current place would be a fine #4.

His right, current place is a 5/6. Or that's where it would be on a contender. Hartman, Rask and Steel were the 1Cs for MN at different points in the last few years. It doesn't mean it's their right place. Risto was the 1RD in BUF for years, it doesn't mean it's where he belonged.

If this d-corps was still Suter/Spurgeon and Brodin/Dumba (1 top pair d and 3 2nd pair d), Faber is on pretty easily the 3rd pair.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Wild head coach before Evason.


His right, current place is a 5/6. Or that's where it would be on a contender. Hartman, Rask and Steel were the 1Cs for MN at different points in the last few years. It doesn't mean it's their right place. Risto was the 1RD in BUF for years, it doesn't mean it's where he belonged.

If this d-corps was still Suter/Spurgeon and Brodin/Dumba (1 top pair d and 3 2nd pair d), Faber is on pretty easily the 3rd pair.

I understand all this, and I still think that Faber would currently be a fine #4 if the rest of the group wasn't a trash heap. He's been asked to be a top pair D since the start of the season, and that's not currently the right place.

I guess, sure, if we are talking about when Dumba was actually really good, then yes, that would probably put Faber on the 3rd pair.

 

[AKL]

Take Faber away from Brodin and his adv stats are in the same range as Addison's (the that was just run out of town).

Luckily I had him with Brodin on the second pair

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Luckily I had him with Brodin on the second pair

I’ve got no major issues with Faber as a #4 currently.

I’d like to see another defender up from Iowa and given a chance to play. Doesn’t matter who. The cast on the third pair and next to Spurgeon are huge problems.

 

[TaLoN]

Can we all agree that the problem is team defense, not just a couple of Dmen or goalies? The GF's are decent, GA's... we are almost as bad as SJS(who are horrendous), and far worse than most other teams.
I do think that our goalies have to be much, much, better, but the first thing that needs to be fixed is the PK. I don't know if it's personnel, scheme, ...I suspect the latter more than the former, though having Spurgeon out hasn't been helpful. We are the worst in the league on PK's and it's not close. We stink. Being so woefully unprepared going into the season in this area is bad, but not fixing it is unacceptable, and grounds for being fired, IMO. The new special teams coach should be polishing up his resume, and whoever hired him should be looking over his shoulder, also.

We seem to be trotting out the same players and doing the same thing on the PK. Is anyone looking at successful PK teams in the league, and trying to imitate what they do?

Oh, and can our idiot GM maybe prioritize getting someone who can win a FO, rather than talk about about how the Center position isn't that important ? Maybe have a coach who teaches them how to win FO's?

When every practice is optional, it's hard to scheme anything and get the guys used it it. Dean doesn't believe in practice remember?

 

[63firebird]

Can we all agree that the problem is team defense, not just a couple of Dmen or goalies? The GF's are decent, GA's... we are almost as bad as SJS(who are horrendous), and far worse than most other teams.
I do think that our goalies have to be much, much, better, but the first thing that needs to be fixed is the PK. I don't know if it's personnel, scheme, ...I suspect the latter more than the former, though having Spurgeon out hasn't been helpful. We are the worst in the league on PK's and it's not close. We stink. Being so woefully unprepared going into the season in this area is bad, but not fixing it is unacceptable, and grounds for being fired, IMO. The new special teams coach should be polishing up his resume, and whoever hired him should be looking over his shoulder, also.

We seem to be trotting out the same players and doing the same thing on the PK. Is anyone looking at successful PK teams in the league, and trying to imitate what they do?

Oh, and can our idiot GM maybe prioritize getting someone who can win a FO, rather than talk about about how the Center position isn't that important ? Maybe have a coach who teaches them how to win FO's?

Dallas went right back to where they left off in playoffs. Wait for a Wild penalty=goal.

Defence corp is third tier and goalie play has been very weak. The Gus bus in the shop? Fleury can be good but not every night.

The Avs-Kraken game last night looked like a different league in terms of playmaking and speed. Wild-Sabres looked like slow motion in comparison.

When every practice is optional, it's hard to scheme anything and get the guys used it it. Dean doesn't believe in practice remember?

OPTIONAL? really? Cant kill a f*?! penalty???
I get the idea that Darby or whatever homer clown runs the PK have no idea.
Or is the GM tanking for some high pic?

 

[AKL]

I could be wrong, but I really thought I remembered Guerin talking a lot of about youth and speed when he first got here. I feel like I must be remembering wrong because there's no possible way a guy who talked about youth and speed has this roster looking like this four years later.

 

[63firebird]

I’ve got no major issues with Faber as a #4 currently.

I’d like to see another defender up from Iowa and given a chance to play. Doesn’t matter who. The cast on the third pair and next to Spurgeon are huge problems.

Why not? Not going anywhere so maybe give some guys some ice to develop.

I could be wrong, but I really thought I remembered Guerin talking a lot of about youth and speed when he first got here. I feel like I must be remembering wrong because there's no possible way a guy who talked about youth and speed has this roster looking like this four years later.

Did I hear the Wild is the second oldest roster?

 

[AKL]

Did I hear the Wild is the second oldest roster?

If this is correct, not technically, but right up there yeah

 

[Wabit]

I could be wrong, but I really thought I remembered Guerin talking a lot of about youth and speed when he first got here. I feel like I must be remembering wrong because there's no possible way a guy who talked about youth and speed has this roster looking like this four years later.

The Wild had youth and speed at the time. Donato, Dumba, JEE, Fiala, Greenway, Hartman, Kahk, Kunin, Soucy, and Sturm were all 25 or younger when he took over. Brodin was 26. Boldy was just drafted. Kap was in his final KHL season.

 

[AKL]

The Wild had youth and speed at the time. Donato, Dumba, JEE, Fiala, Greenway, Hartman, Kahk, Kunin, Soucy, and Sturm were all 25 or younger when he took over. Brodin was 26. Boldy was just drafted. Kap was in his final KHL season.

Yeah I know, that's kinda my point. If he had harped on youth and speed and I'm not just misremembering, it'd be pretty pathetic if we dumped all that youth and speed for guys like Goligoski, Fleury, Foligno, Zuccarello, Johansson, Maroon and Bogosian. All Guerin has done is made us older, slower and worse. But hey, at least we're tougher and more leadery?

 

[Wabit]

Yeah I know, that's kinda my point. If he had harped on youth and speed and I'm not just misremembering, it'd be pretty pathetic if we dumped all that youth and speed for guys like Goligoski, Fleury, Foligno, Zuccarello, Johansson, Maroon and Bogosian. All Guerin has done is made us older, slower and worse. But hey, at least we're tougher and more leadery?

TBF Foligno and Zucc were already on the roster. Zucc is the last Fenton contract on the team.

The first re-signing of Foligno by GMBG was okay (I thought it was a little high at the time). It's the most recent re-signing that hurts.

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

It is funny to me that Guerin has brought this team essentially full circle since he got here. Fenton got rid of the “old gaurd” and had a bunch of young guys on the team, even if it was a detriment to performance. Guerin got rid of most of the young guys and extended a bunch of 30 somethings for the foreseeable future.

 

[AKL]

TBF Foligno and Zucc were already on the roster. Zucc is the last Fenton contract on the team.

The first re-signing of Foligno by GMBG was okay (I thought it was a little high at the time). It's the most recent re-signing that hurts.

Yes they were both here, and as they continue to get older and slower and worse, a GM with a more deft touch might have looked into how he can turn what's left of their value into a long term gain, but Guerin has seemingly done the opposite, most of the time