Minnesota Wild General Discussion XIX

[Dr Jan Itor]

If they trusted Dumba to play the top of the PP, he'd probably be an asset there, but they've continually showed that they don't. I think they even put f***ing Kulikov there before Dumba.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

If they trusted Dumba to play the top of the PP, he'd probably be an asset there, but they've continually showed that they don't. I think they even put f***ing Kulikov there before Dumba.

They did, and our pp was quite shitty under the current coaching. maybe they need to get out of their comfort zone and go fully offensive on the pp rather than playing safe and having the 5th man be defensively responsible instead of an extra attacker.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

If they trusted Dumba to play the top of the PP, he'd probably be an asset there, but they've continually showed that they don't. I think they even put f***ing Kulikov there before Dumba.

Dumba doesn't have the distribution skills to play the top. Makes it too easy to shut down his shot.

 

[Spurgeon]

Dumba QBing a PP would not go well. Way too error prone to trust him as the last line of defense to a short handed breakaway.

Would’ve liked to see him get a more opportunities in the Ovi spot though. I almost wonder if having Spurgeon on the point with Dumba would’ve worked out better. Right handed passes to the left side are a little more deceptive. Having two righties on the ice with a decent shot would’ve been nice as well.

It really doesn’t make sense how much this team struggled on the PP, while also being incredibly successful at 6v5.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Dumba QBing a PP would not go well. Way too error prone to trust him as the last line of defense to a short handed breakaway.

Would’ve liked to see him get a more opportunities in the Ovi spot though. I almost wonder if having Spurgeon on the point with Dumba would’ve worked out better. Right handed passes to the left side are a little more deceptive. Having two righties on the ice with a decent shot would’ve been nice as well.

It really doesn’t make sense how much this team struggled on the PP, while also being incredibly successful at 6v5.

they did have Dumba and Spurgeon on the ice together at one point. The 6v5 success vs pp fails kind of seems like a lack of urgency. loose puck battles on the pp seemed non existent.

 

[57special]

IMO, the failures of the PP aren't so much about personnel(at least on the #1PP), but of scheme. When it looked good, it was because the players moved around and gave the D new looks to worry about defending. When it's at it's worst, it is predictable, static, and easy to defend.

The #2 PP was more about a lack of skill, OTOH. Not enough guys who know how to handle the puck. Thats one place where Rossi(and naybe Addison), would be a help, though i don't know if you can depend on him to win a FO. Rossi has some Granlund vibes to him.

 

[Digitalbooya]

i dont see why, he didnt look bad when he was up here. he looked decently comfortable with the puck, moved it well, was steady in the offensive zone and has quality skating. He should be on this team and Dumba should be available for the right price.

Then why wasn't he playing for Minnesota when Dumba was out for 25 games last year?

Why Middleton? And if you do “fire him into the sun”, How are you going to compete with a D that averages about 180 lbs per?

I don't see what others see in him. He's not good at moving the puck. Meh speed. Zero offensive instincts. His one redeeming quality is that he is physical and his partner is a midget.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Then why wasn't he playing for Minnesota when Dumba was out for 25 games last year?

Jordie Benn is a good guy. They wanted him playing all minutes in Iowa developing rather than thrown to the wolves next to Brodin. That is my assumption along with their want to have stay at home strong defensive defenseman. I don’t agree with it but it seems like their mo.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Jordie Benn is a good guy. They wanted him playing all minutes in Iowa developing rather than thrown to the wolves next to Brodin. That is my assumption along with their want to have stay at home strong defensive defenseman. I don’t agree with it but it seems like their mo.

I don't buy that at all. They could easily have run:

Brodin-Kulikov
Goligoski/Middleton-Spurgeon
Merrill-Addison

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Dumba doesn't have the distribution skills to play the top. Makes it too easy to shut down his shot.

And Spurgeon doesn't really have a shot. Makes it easy to shut down his distribution skills. Quite the pickle.

 

[Wabit]

Spurgeon is dog shit on the power play. What are you on about? Dumba in the Ovi spot would be perfect. You referenced that he had 6 goals and 12 pp points three times. Yet, you failed to mention that one of those 6 power play goals 12 power play points was only through 32 games. Spurgeon being on the 1st power play unit at all is a joke in itself.

I could care less that one of those seasons was 6g in 32 games. It happened 3.5 seasons and a major injury ago and hasn't been close to being repeated. He's had 3 total ppg in the last 3 seasons (390 mins pp ToI). His ppp/60 has been 2.6, 2.9, and 3.0 the last 3 seasons. Just to put that in perspective the 3 years Brodin has gotten over 100mins in a season he's had 3.5, 3.8, and 3.5 ppp/60.

Dumba is not a powerplay weapon anymore. His slapper accuracy is gone and he's never had a dangerous wrister. He doesn't have great vision or passing ability. Really nothing in his game is suited to be in the umbrella setup.

Dumba's game (now) is suited for the traditional 2 d-men high, net area, 2 on the halfwalls, and low-high cycle setup; but that isn't really used much anymore because it's easy to just keep to the perimeter. MN doesn't have the net area guy that can both screen shots and distribute from behind the net. They also don't really have another shooting threat from the other point.

Spurgeon needs to be on the halfwall, not the point. It's where his skillset makes the most impact. Keep him there until a decent RHS FWD falls into MN's lap.

Addsion is the one who needs to be on PP1 over both Spurgeon and Dumba. From my limited viewing of him, he looks at home running the point and things look so much faster.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

I don't buy that at all. They could easily have run:

Brodin-Kulikov
Goligoski/Middleton-Spurgeon
Merrill-Addison

Well when media asked their response was that he fit spurgeon stole in their minds so with spurgeon not out they wanted him top minutes in Iowa. Anyone who watched could see he was better than Benn but shutdown with Brodin is not what they want him to be I guess.

 

[Webster]

Zuccarello just had a chat with the media.

---

About his health status...
I had groin surgery and got it fixed on both sides, now I'm in top shape.

About a possible trade...
It can of course happen, and then I'd be very disappointed. I really hope to stay with the Wild for as long as I can, I've found my place on the team and in the community, and I kind of need that to play well. I love it here.

Worried that you in theory can be traded?
No, I don't think much about that. It's sad if it happens because you have friends and a close bond to the team, and it could all be gone in a day. But I can't see myself playing somewhere else now.

---

I guess that's one way to say what Guerin told him in their one-on-one meeting

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Zuccarello just had a chat with the media.

---

About his health status...
I had groin surgery and got it fixed on both sides, now I'm in top shape.

About a possible trade...
It can of course happen, and then I'd be very disappointed. I really hope to stay with the Wild for as long as I can, I've found my place on the team and in the community, and I kind of need that to play well. I love it here.

Worried that you in theory can be traded?
No, I don't think much about that. It's sad if it happens because you have friends and a close bond to the team, and it could all be gone in a day. But I can't see myself playing somewhere else now.

---

I guess that's one way to say what Guerin told him in their one-on-one meeting

huh

 

[Parax]

Russian NHL stars traveled home; will they all be back? 'It's a big unknown'

Work visa complications, war in Ukraine create anxiety among some who worry high-profile stars will face obstacles when trying to return.

theathletic.com

Pretty interesting that Guerin actually tried to convince Kaprizov to stay in the US or go to Norway with Zuccarello instead of returning to Russia. I can think of few things more Minnesota sports than Kaprizov becoming the biggest star to ever play for the franchise then immediately being unable to rejoin the team due to a f-ing war breaking out and Putin calling Russians living in the west traitors.

 

[Webster]

Russian NHL stars traveled home; will they all be back? 'It's a big unknown'

Work visa complications, war in Ukraine create anxiety among some who worry high-profile stars will face obstacles when trying to return.

theathletic.com

Pretty interesting that Guerin actually tried to convince Kaprizov to stay in the US or go to Norway with Zuccarello instead of returning to Russia. I can think of few things more Minnesota sports than Kaprizov becoming the biggest star to ever play for the franchise then immediately being unable to rejoin the team due to a f-ing war breaking out and Putin calling Russians living in the west traitors.

Above all...Kaprizov wanted to see his family, and can you blame him?

I believe the Norway option was very real. But his parents are probably scared, even though they would be able to get a visa to visit him, they want to stay in Russia. It's also a big deal to travel in and out of the country because of the flight restrictions, tough for old people.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

I don’t know if there’s a team in a more peculiar position than us. Unrealistic to think we can compete given the lowered cap (unfortunately, Guerin doesn’t seem to think this), so we should be rebuilding. But, you also can’t really rebuild with Kaprizov in the fold.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

I don’t know if there’s a team in a more peculiar position than us. Unrealistic to think we can compete given the lowered cap (unfortunately, Guerin doesn’t seem to think this), so we should be rebuilding. But, you also can’t really rebuild with Kaprizov in the fold.

Maybe if we get unlucky and Russia wont let him back in we have that opportunity to tank without "wasting" a year of him.

 

[thestonedkoala]

This is interesting

UPDATE: Philadelphia Flyers player Ivan Fedotov detained in Russia ´for fake military ID´

Update 2.50.pm (July 5) Philadelphia Flyers hockey player Ivan Fedotov could have been detained following the illegal purchase of a military ID. According to a report by Russian news channel Baza…

euroweeklynews.com

 

[Parax]

Maybe if we get unlucky and Russia wont let him back in we have that opportunity to tank without "wasting" a year of him.

I really hope it doesn't happen but that could be an interesting silver lining. Ship out Dumba and Kulikov, maybe Talbot. Pretty much any non-RFA with a contract expiring in the next 3 seasons could be moved. Imagine Kaprizov over in Russia watching all of this happen. Wild end up drafting top 10 with one or two extra later first round picks and a few additional later round picks.

edit- I guess Kulikov is Russian too and I assume goes back during the summers so probably can take his name out.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

I really hope it doesn't happen but that could be an interesting silver lining. Ship out Dumba and Kulikov, maybe Talbot. Pretty much any non-RFA with a contract expiring in the next 3 seasons could be moved. Imagine Kaprizov over in Russia watching all of this happen. Wild end up drafting top 10 with one or two extra later first round picks and a few additional later round picks.

edit- I guess Kulikov is Russian too and I assume goes back during the summers so probably can take his name out.

yeah i dont hope for it but if it were to happen, id hope to be in selling mode come TDL.

 

[57special]

To those of us of a certain vintage, the idea of Russian(and other)athletes being kept in Russia against their will doesn't seem strange at all. That used to be normal.

 

[123TripleDoge]

If our D prospects pan out, along with Wallstedt, I say we bring back the trap! Instead of chasing the trendy cup team's style of play (which we can't cuz we never bottom out), we can be the trend setters and go pure defense!

 

[BagHead]

To those of us of a certain vintage, the idea of Russian(and other)athletes being kept in Russia against their will doesn't seem strange at all. That used to be normal.

In so many ways it feels like the world jumped backwards in time 40 years this year.

 

[57special]

In so many ways it feels like the world jumped backwards in time 40 years this year.

If only that would happen to my waist line.