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Minnesota Wild’s Top 5 Offseason Goals
The Minnesota Wild should view the previous season as a learning opportunity because it was full of highs and lows. In addition to a managerial change, they suffered numerous injuries to several important players. While all of these factors contributed to their failure to make the playoffs, there are still more issues that need to be addressed this summer.
Since the Wild’s founding in 2000–01, many of the things that will be discussed have consistently been a pain in the side. Things like faceoffs, special teams, and taking more shots are a few examples. The first thing that springs to mind is their faceoffs—or lack thereof—so let’s begin this piece there.
Wild’s Faceoffs Are An Ongoing Battle
They have only had one player in their franchise who was particularly notable for his faceoffs; neither the previous nor the current player compares to him. It was Mikko Koivu, the player. He faced off in 19,290 faceoffs over that period, winning 10,354 of them, for a 53.7 percent win rate. Joel Eriksson Ek, the top faceoff specialist for the Wild right now, has only won 3,432 faceoffs out of 7,208 opportunities, for a 47.6 percent faceoff rate.
The Wild need to enhance their faceoff game, whether that means adding a guy who can do it for them or finding ways to make the players they already have better at it. In all likelihood, they ought to be practicing faceoffs as frequently as possible already, but they must act differently. They finished near the bottom of the league with a 47.3 percent faceoff win rate, and they need to improve if they are to win games.
In the offensive and defensive zones, and much more so on special teams, faceoffs are vital. I frequently cite this as an example, but during the Wild’s 2023 playoff matchup with the Dallas Stars, their penalty kill nearly consistently dropped faceoffs, which placed the Stars in a great position to score, which they did. The Wild must improve in the upcoming season and faceoffs are important. Though Marat Khusnutdinov, their recent arrival, offers promise, they cannot rely solely on him.
Special Teams for Wild Must Perform Better
Special teams play for the Wild is another area that need continuous development. Even though their players should have been performing much better, they were unable to succeed for some reason. Despite ranking 10th in the league, their power play was evident as they scored only 63 goals out of 273 opportunities. Although that is respectable, they had many wasted opportunities and have players who could be better.
The goalie and defensemen were in position to block since they passed too much most of the time in their attempt to build up that ideal play. Kirill Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek, Matt Boldy, Brock Faber, and whoever they decide to place in the final spot are their scoring options. Mats Zuccarello was their previous occupant in that position, but Ryan Hartman or perhaps Marco Rossi would be a wise choice.
However, they also require assistance with their penalty kill. They were hurting without Jared Spurgeon, but they had good penalty killers in Faber, Jonas Brodin, Eriksson Ek, and Marcus Foligno. Another excellent penalty killer is Frédérick Gaudreau, but his inconsistent play at times is perhaps their worst problem. Additionally, they frequently let opponents use the weak side wing, which has cost them dearly this season.
They must strive to stop as many shots as they can and improve their general coverage when playing shorthanded. They will still suffer if they don’t improve both their penalty kill and power play in the upcoming season, regardless of how they go about it.
Wild Needs Additional Shots
Taking more shots is something else the Wild need to work on for the next season. Although their average of 30.1 shots per game this season placed them 18th in the NHL, the Wild need to improve given that the Edmonton Oilers, who lead the league, average 33.8 shots per game.
Even while an extra four shots a game doesn’t sound like much, considering their 82-game schedule, it does. The Wild can make the most of every shot they get, especially with their power play, as it comes to a total of nearly 328 more shots every season.
Over the last three seasons, they have given up shots. In 2021–22, they achieved a franchise high with an average of 32.5 shots per game. Numerous players on the squad also set career highs during that season. Although everything appeared to be going well, the Wild’s shooting totals started to decline.
They decreased to 30.9 shots per game the next season, and this season they declined even further to 30.1. They must let this decline to continue, or they will keep failing to meet their objectives. With 277 shots, which ranked him 16th in the league, Kaprizov led the club in production. Matt Boldy had 227, and Eriksson Ek was only ten shots behind him at 267. The output drastically declines after those three players, thus the Wild will require greater output there in the upcoming season.
The Wild Is Not Most Penalized
Since it’s one of the most avoidable if they maintain their discipline, this is perhaps the area that frustrates Wild supporters the most. It cost the club to take as many penalties as they did this season, particularly considering how poorly they executed the penalty kill. With 938 penalty minutes, they were the fourth most penalized club in the league.
When it comes to assigning responsibility, Ryan Hartman came in second with 72 penalty minutes, closely behind Jake Middleton with 77. It’s also crucial to keep in mind that Hartman received a three-game ban and a 10-minute punishment for throwing his stick onto the ice toward the end of the Wild’s season due to frustration over a missed call. One Wild player who tends to lose his temper easily is Hartman, and it’s beginning to catch up with him.
The Wild require players who are sensitive, but they also need to control their emotions. It becomes an issue when it starts to cost the team. Hartman needs to learn to control his anger and keep it in check because he signed an agreement to remain with the Wild. Hopefully, he can maintain his competitive edge without getting into the penalty area.
Wild Need Regularity
The last thing on this list is consistency, which is another area where the Wild have had difficulty. They are unable to find a means to regulate their game, and their play is constantly erratic. Finding a method to play well and sustain it will likely be the Wild’s biggest challenge in the 2024–25 season.
Even if it’s easier said than done, the Wild must concentrate on what works and discover ways to replicate it when they manage to win. What are they doing well to score goals when they are scoring them? Do they use the weak side, screen the goalie, or take shots from the point? They must take note of and replicate all of these things.
The Wild need to find strategies for success and break free from their pattern of making poor decisions. If they err and permit a goal, identify the error and take steps to prevent it from happening again. Again, easier said than done, but capable teams manage to learn from their mistakes and avoid repeating them.
The Wild need to find strategies for success and break free from their pattern of making poor decisions. If they err and permit a goal, identify the error and take steps to prevent it from happening again. Again, easier said than done, but capable teams manage to learn from their mistakes and avoid repeating them.