In light of recent development read also …………..
A Threatening Identity Crisis Amidst The Wild……………
The Minnesota Wild built their well-deserved reputation for stingy defense over the course of nearly two decades, thanks in large part to Jacques Lemaire’s defense-first philosophy. They had an even more well-earned reputation for being dull as well. They have somewhat defied that trend after Kirill Kaprizov joined in 2020, finishing ninth in goals per game in 2020–21 and fifth in 2021–22.
When the Wild matched their stellar scoring with their defensive reputation in 2021–2022—it was something truly unique. Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Fiala, and Kaprizov dominated their opponents offensively, finishing 16th in goals allowed per game. With 113 standing points, they were among the NHL’s top five finishers.
The foundations of Minnesota’s defensive identity have crumbled in the seasons that have followed. Despite being important supporting players on that 21–22 team, Alex Goligoski and Jon Merrill currently spend the most of their time in the press box. In the 2023 offseason, Matt Dumba departed, taking his physical presence with him. Going even further back, Ryan Suter was acquired by the Wild in 2021. Suter may not be the most well-known person in the community, but the team’s culture and salary cap benefited more from his buyout than his on-ice accomplishments.
Devan Chisholm, Brock Faber, and Zach Bogosian were named Minnesota’s defensive replacements. Chisholm plays his part effectively and is entertaining to watch, although he is primarily a role player. Even if he performed admirably in his first full-time game, he is now 24 years old. A guy that enters the NHL so late and develops into one of the top four defensemen is uncommon.
In his minutes this season, Bogosian was likewise competent. He turns 34 in July, although his 2023–24 performance was his best of the previous three years.
That usually means a decline is on the way, and in 2021–2023 his skills hardly made the cut to be on an NHL roster. This kind of long shot typically sparks criticism from fans. Marcus Johansson, Merrill, and Goligoski are a few from ’23–’24.
That gives Faber a lot of room to maneuver. Even so, it wouldn’t be sufficient if he develops into a player who can replace the role players the Wild have lost. The other four defenseman in Minnesota seem to be regression candidates.
Every one of Spurgeon, Middleton, and Brodin has an enduring tale. The irrepressible underdog is Spurgeon. He is among the top 20 defensemen in the league regardless of height and is arguably the finest active NHL player who is 5’9″ or shorter. The relic is Jake Middleton. His upbringing was traditional, and during the off-season he worked as a bricklayer. Perhaps for that reason, he has the build of a brick outhouse. And then there’s Jonas Brodin, the graceful skater from Sweden.
Although the top three in Minnesota feel almost legendary, they are almost done. Brodin will be 31 next season, Middleton will be 29, and Spurgeon will be 35 in November. Although that may not seem like a long time, these guys will most likely age. The offensive, defensive, and shorthanded peaks of a defenseman occur at ages 22, 25, and 27, respectively, according to data from HockeyViz.com.
It’s unlikely that these three athletes will age well. They’ve all already experienced injury issues.
The previous season, Brodin sustained two injuries. He was out for approximately a month due to an upper-body injury, and it seemed like he had a leg injury where his knee twisted up beneath him. In the long run, this could be problematic since he could suffer ligament damage, which would affect his skating.
Due to a shoulder injury he received in a preseason game, Spurgeon missed the first part of the previous campaign. The surgery on the hips and back was then much more worrying. Even if Spurgeon was playing at an elite level prior to the procedure, major surgery at this age poses a risk for the athlete both now and in the future.
Although Middleton had “a knee injury that was cleaned up after the season,” according to The Athletic, it’s difficult to predict how often his upper-body injury from late in the previous season may be. Knee issues recur more frequently than other injuries and frequently have side effects even after therapy. Moreover, his manner of play resembles a lunch pail, which makes it unlikely that he will avoid cuts and bruises.
There are two sides to an injury. In addition to being more difficult to recover from later in life, there are indications in a number of sports that injuries are the main factor contributing to age-related deterioration.
It wouldn’t be a problem to run back a late-stage defense corps if the Wild were in the middle of a Stanley Cup run. But they have a roster that has often lost in the opening round, and they are coming off of an 87-point campaign.
The Wild won’t be a Stanley Cup contender in 2024–25, even with the addition of a second-line winger and improved health. The Infinity Stones won’t be in this top four when this team gets a chance to contend. They’ll be a few elderly men and Brock Faber.
It’s also unlikely that reinforcements will arrive by then. Over the last ten years, Minnesota has only selected two defenseman in the first round: Filip Johansson in 2018 and Carson Lambos in 2021. Surprisingly enough, they have only selected three other defenseman in the second or third round: Daemon Hunt (third round, 2020), Louie Belpedio (third round, 2014), and Ryan O’Rourke (second round, 2020). These players don’t have the potential to be top-pairing defensemen, which will leave a huge long-term void on Faber’s left side.
The intriguing forward group that is expected to blossom in the coming two to three seasons is severely hampered by all of this. Someone has to protect the net front, even if the front office scores a perfect 1.000 by bringing over Danila Yurov, re-signing Kaprizov, adding a second-line forward this winter, and developing Marat Khusnutdinov and Liam Ohgren. Jesper Wallstedt would also need to elevate his game as a goaltender.
Not convinced by me? Let’s look at the postseason clubs that a strong defensemen plays for. The New York Rangers with Adam Fox is the ideal situation. Igor Shesterkin, one of the top five goalies in the NHL, and five forwards make up their six greatest players after Fox.
Even if the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins are similar, there isn’t another ideal comparison. They have three or four very good forwards, plus Linus Ullmark and Thatcher Demko, their respective goalies, both had outstanding regular season performances.
These playoff contenders are all in the bottom, fighting for their lives in a match. In The Athletic’s player analysis model, Jake Sanderson of the Ottawa Senators, Vince Dunn of the Seattle Kraken, Zack Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Noah Dobson of the New York Islanders all had excellent all-around statistics. By April, though, none had a genuine chance to win a Stanley Cup.