Sure would be nice if one of the young players from the AHL came in and actually showed a pulse. We've had Boldy, then Rossi do it, though the latter took quite a while. Duhaime and Dewar, I guess. Walker didn't do it, nor Beckman, Hunt isn't, Milne, or Ohgren.
Minnesota Wild General Discussion 2024-25
- Thread starter TaLoN
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BagHead
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- In Eriksson Ek's last 4 years (before this one) he scored even strength points at a rate of 0.476 per game.
- If we use the last two seasons only, his two best offensive years, it was a rate of 0.497.
- This year he's scoring them at a rate of 0.388 per game.
- The problem is that the sample size is only 18 games, and these stretches happen for him, as they happen for anyone. Last year was his best offensive season and he only scored 6 even strength points between the 18 games spanning November 9th - December 19th, 0.333 per game.
- Dec 10, 2012
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Dr Jan Itor
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I think it'll increase. Still doesn't change the fact that he has been the 3rd best producing center on the team for what is now a quarter of the way through the season, and anywhere from 23% to 28% less than what we've been accustomed to over the last 1-4 years. He shouldn't get a complete pass on that just because we're winning and he plays some defense.
All of this is because somebody was using Gaudreau to pull Rossi down, and I just pointed out that both are comfortably ahead of Eriksson Ek so far.
Our PK% has actually got down by a point, but at least we've improved by 3 spots.
- Dec 10, 2012
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I'm not sure he's actually been either of those things relative to what we've had in the past, but the one thing I do know he is is way more expensive than a fourth liner should be
BagHead
Registered User
No, I agree he shouldn't get a complete pass from that, I just wanted to be clear that I don't think this is typical JEE, this is just his low-end. I also have been thinking he might be injured because he's looked slightly off to me recently.
But yeah, I think it's cool that Gaudreau has pulled himself out of his funk from last year. I'm not sure why anyone should want to act as though that diminishes what Rossi is doing rather than adds to what the team is doing, but sometimes people can't help but compare players against each other. It's pretty normal human behavior to make comparisons, even if I don't agree with them.
No line with Eriksson Ek on it has higher than 1.27 goals against per 60 minutes.
I’m not pulling Rossi down. Just sick of the “he’s a victim” mentality.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
I don't think he's a victim either. I just think anybody that plays with Kaprizov is going to do better than they would otherwise, so it's a moot point bringing it up.
So unless anybody doesn't think Rossi is also passing the eye test, which I would disagree with, I'm not too worried if he's being "propped up" by Kaprizov (because anybody would be), I'm more concerned if he's taking things off the table compared to anybody else.
But, he's also not currently playing with Kaprizov so maybe it's all moot right now.
At least Foligno has shown up on the score sheet several times. I know that players can make an impact in other ways beyond getting on the scoreboard, but he has ONE point. Foligno may not be worth his contract either, which makes it even more ridiculous that Billy again handed out an even worse contract to Trenin.
We had 44 shots on goal last night. Trenin was one of only two players who had zero shots. Not cool.
- Dec 10, 2012
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I'm still not even sure Trenin is doing this above a replacement level
Trenin's contract makes Foligno's look like a steal
Not quite true. Last night, he got the Ek treatment from earlier this year (separate 5v5 line, PP1 unit).
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
I meant 5v5 since we have been talking about ES points. He's only on PP1 right now because Zuccarello is out.
Circulartheory
Registered User
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
- Dec 10, 2012
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When it works I don't care, but it's so incredibly predictable, it's the only thing they try, and when it isn't working it's the most frustrating thing in the world to watch them keep attempting
Which is how it should be when everyone is healthy. Sucks for Rossi, but there isn’t a single player he deserves to play over in their power play role.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
Our PK is 27th in the league, and i would say that you have a very low bar for the word, "great".
His play last night on the 2nd GA, where he hung back with JEE and WPG player at the far end of the ice, effectively leaving his team in a 4 on 3, was astonishingly stupid.
Circulartheory
Registered User
That's where I am at. The concept isn't bad, it's a tool. But it seems like the ONLY tool they are using when there are so many chances to gain the zone by simply skating the puck in. And it's not like we are void of talent to go in with speed.
So I'm not the only one rolling my eyes
I'd like to see them double it up at times. Drop pass like now to Kaprizov but have a guy making in soccer terms "a shadow striker" run towards one of the flanks when their check moves in on the first pass. Eventually coaches will start to accept that as a possibility, so you can keep running that play but don't have to make the second pass each time.
Would be easier to explain visually but, eh, it's not a move unheard of.
Would be easier to explain visually but, eh, it's not a move unheard of.
