The season is more than half-way done. The season started with a new coach, a new system, a new Captain and no Marian Gaborik. After an October that saw the Wild get off to a 3-9 start, general manager Chuck Fletcher traded the Wild’s 2011 2nd round draft pick, Craig Weller and prospect Alexander Fallstrom for gritty right-winger, Chuck Kobasew. Chuck Kobasew brought work-ethic, grit and speed to a team trying to re-define itself. The move for Kobasew, as well as obtaining Latendresse for Pouliot and claiming Andrew Ebbett of waivers, has shown Fletcher’s willingness to be active. These moves have not turned the Wild into contenders by any means but they have become a part of a new Wild that currently sits 20-20-3, 10 points out of a playoff spot. And, the Wild has done this with injuries to core pieces Brent Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard.
Here is my mid-season report on the current roster:
LW:
Andrew Brunette: He has been nothing short of fantastic. He and Koivu hold down the first line, which allows Bruno to maintain his office down low. He leads the Wild in goals (13 goals), is second in points (35) and has not missed a game the whole season. He is well respected in the locker room, provides experience and will most likely find himself staying with the Wild as he has one year left on his contract.
Guillaume Latendresse: He has been an injection of size and skill to the Wild. He has 7 goals and 1 assist in 18 games with the Wild. He is 22, a restricted free agent and has shown chemistry with Havlat on the second line. He will continue to grow as a player and would benefit from Fletcher and Richards finding a #2 center.
Martin Havlat: The big off-season acquisition, right? Havlat had a tough start to the season, even being benched a few times. But, as of late, he has been putting up almost a point-per-game. He brings a lot of creativity to a team that lacks it. He is more of a playmaker than a finisher; he needs a #2 center to finish his and Latendresse’s passes. I’m not worried about Havlat and am glad Fletcher signed him. As long as he doesn’t get injured, he is worth every penny. He is definitely a part of the future as he is signed through 14/15.
Derek Boogaard: We all know him. Many Wild fans love him. I understand the point of an enforcer but in today’s game, particularly the system that Richards has implemented, Boogaard is a liability. The left winger averages 6:49 minutes per game, has 2 assists and is -12 in 31 games. He hasn’t scored forever and not too many people will fight him. He will be a UFA at the end of the year but I would not be surprised to see him re-signed. The Wild have no one that can stand with most of the middle weights out there, let alone heavyweights. Matt Kassian has shown nothing in the AHL and I highly doubt John Scott will be returning. I would be happy but surprised to see him traded or let go.
C:
Mikko Koivu: There isn’t much to say about this guy except he is the engine of the Minnesota Wild. He has earned the captaincy and run with it. He has 41 points in 43 games, is on pace for a career year and continues to play all three zones. He is the future of the Wild and is signed through next season.
Kyle Brodziak: He was brought in from Edmonton to be Richards’ go to guy for the PK, face-offs, etc. While he has been decent, both Koivu and Belanger have been superior in face-offs. Brodziak has good size and a decent shot but does not have top-6 skills. He was signed to a multi-year deal and is versatile so he won’t be going anywhere.
Eric Belanger: Eric Belanger is on pace for a career year, sitting at 9 goals and 13 assists, for 22 points in 42 games. He is in a contract year and is looking to stay with the Wild. He is fifth in the league in face-offs with a 58.9 winning percentage. He has been shuffled up and down the lineup but has been consistent. It will be interesting to see if he is moved near the deadline for his versatility, ability to win face-offs and experience. Unless the Wild can obtain a proven #2 center, I think Belanger is more valuable to the Wild than he is on the open market.
James Sheppard: It is now obvious that he was rushed into the NHL and a part of the previous regime’s failure to groom prospects. Sheppard has played center and the wing this year. He does look much better as a winger as he has size and is decent along the wall. The problem with Sheppard is that he doesn’t have the speed to be a great forechecker in Richards’ system and he doesn’t have the skill to play on the top 2 lines. He can’t be sent to the minors either because someone would claim him on waivers. I will say that his attitude appears to be much better than in recent years, which is a part of maturing and realizing that being a 1st round draft pick does not guarantee a long NHL career. Sheppard is still young and has some value but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fletcher make a similar trade he did with Pouliot for Latendresse. If Sheppard finishes the season the way his first half went, Fletcher will be lucky to get anything for him.
Andrew Ebbett: He was claimed off waivers as a low-risk, medium-reward player. He had some success last year with the Ducks but was placed on waivers early on in the 09-10 season, only to be claimed by Chicago. After 10 games and only 1 goal, Chicago placed him on waivers again. Ebbett has some hockey sense, decent hands but is small. He has 3 goals in 16 games with the Wild. Richards tried him between Latendresse and Havlat but had no success. Ebbett is a UFA at the end of the season and I doubt he is re-signed by the Wild, unless he magically develops chemistry with Latendresse and Havlat because he is too small to play a checking role.
RW:
Miettinen: He has chemistry with Koivu and Brunette but is not the answer on the top line. He is an NHL player but not a 1st line RW. He does bring effort every night and is versatile but is not the future of the Wild. Kobasew, and I’d even argue Clutterbuck, can provide the same skills that Miettinen can, while also providing grit. If the Wild could get something for him, I would trade him. I doubt that there would be any takers for him considering he is signed through next year at 2.5 million.
Owen Nolan: Oh, how I wish he was 10 years younger. This guy is an absolute warrior, still going to the net hard game after game. He still has his soft hands and goal-scoring touch but age and injuries have slowed him down. He provides leadership and grit which will be sought at the trade deadline as Nolan is a UFA and doesn’t have much left in the tank. His old-school style of play and leadership will be missed by fans and fellow teammates.
Clutterbuck: His play doesn’t always show up on the scoresheet but his energy and physical play changes games. It is not uncommon for Richards to praise Clutterbuck after a Wild victory. The NHL’s reigning hit leader (leading again with 163)does not take a shift off. He also has a hell of a wrister. He is a RFA, is the Wild leader in jersey merchandise and a part of the Wild core.
Chuck Kobasew: He has brought energy and grit to a team that has turned from a 2-2-1 to a 2-1-2 system. He is currently injured but is re-signed through 10-11. He is versatile and young, which makes him a top 6/bottom 6 guy, something that every team needs.
Bouchard: He played one game but has been on the LTIR with a concussion ever since. It would be nice to see how Bouchard would play under Richards but no one knows if he will even return this season. Signed until 12/13, it is hard to say what the future holds for Butch. I hope for the Wild’s sake that he returns, transitions easily to a center and has instant chemistry between Latendresse and Havlat. If not, it will be a big contract weighing down the Wild for the near future.
Petr Sykora: Brought in to provide goal-scoring, Sykora does not look like he will again reach the 20-goal plateau, something that has not happened since 97-98 when he scored 18. Part of this is due to him being injured for most of the year, as he has only played 12 games, scoring 2 goals. The other part is he hasn’t shown any chemistry with anyone outside of Havlat, but Havlat has been proving his worth when playing with Latendresse. He will be a UFA at the end of the year and, unless he turns it around, probably won’t be sought after come trade deadline.
D:
Brent Burns: Another Wild player who has had 2 serious concussions in the past year. He has all of the tools to be a #1 defensman. The problem is consistency and injuries. If he can come back injury free, it will help Fletcher determine what will become of Zidlicky or Johnsson, perhaps both. If he can play 20+ minutes, play the powerplay, then I’d say Zidlicky is expendable as Burns has the right-handed shot and Johnsson provides a much more all-around game than Zids does.
Greg Zanon: Mr. Reliable #2. He isn’t as good as a skater as Schultz is, nor does he have as good of a first pass (and I wouldn’t even say Schultz has a great first pass), he does block shots, plays hard every night and is worth every penny for a #5/6 defenseman. He is signed through 11/12, provides leadership and experience. We knew what we were getting with Zanon and he is a guy every team needs.
Marek Zidlicky: He is having another solid year by offensive standards, with 3 goals and 22 assists through 43 games. He ranks third on the team in ice time with 23:27 minutes per game. He is 32 and a UFA at the end of the season. The problem with Zidlicky is he will be valued at the trade deadline but if Burns cannot return, the Wild do not have someone that can be an offensive threat from the blue line, especially someone with a right-handed shot. The only prospect that appears to have offensive potential from the blue line is Noreau in Houston, but he is small and unproven.
Kim Johnsson: Many Wild fans, myself included, feel he has been overpaid the past four seasons. However, he is the best all-around defenseman the Wild have. His skating ability is top-notch, he makes great outlet passes and leads the team in ice time at 23:35 per game. He, like Zidlicky, will be sought after come trade deadline as he is a UFA. But, again, Fletcher will have to evaluate where Burns is healthwise, how much Johnsson will be looking for if he were to re-sign with the Wild, and whether he could get a high pick(s) or a young prospect at the deadline. In my opinion, Zidlicky is more expendable but if Johnsson is looking for $4+ million a year, I’d consider trading him.
Shane Hnidy: He has been average at best. He is slow, makes poor reads and hasn’t brought the grit I expected. He can’t be faulted for lack of effort but he is old and there has to be better #6/7 options out there. I would much rather have Clayton Stoner on the team than Hnidy or Scott.
John Scott: His role has diminished with the play of Clayton Stoner. Richards has tried playing him at forward but he isn’t as feared as Boogaard and offers nothing more offensively/defensively. He is a UFA at the end of the season and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is put on waivers and sent to the minors before all is said and done.
Clayton Stoner: Since the Wild have drafted him, I have been waiting for him to make the NHL. Maybe it is because he is from the same town as Willie Mitchell but I have always heard he is big and brings a physical element to whatever team he plays on. Well, he has only had 8 games thus far but he has been mobile, responsible defensively, and even has shown some touch, earning 2 assists. He is a RFA but will be re-signed as he is only 24 and cheap. The only thing hindering Stoner is that he has had a history of injuries.
G:
Niklas Backstrom: He has been arguably the best Wild player not named Koivu. He has continued his poise in the crease, even early on when the Wild were giving up numerous odd-man rushes. He is the Wild’s goalie through 12/13.
Josh Harding: He has had a rough year thus far. I have always felt Harding has the athleticism to be a starter in the NHL but he needs to play. But it is hard for Richards to justify playing him when Backstrom has given Richards no reason to. And when Harding has gotten starts, he hasn’t played at the level needed to earn more starts, or raised eyebrows of other teams’ scouts. He is not getting younger but is a RFA and will continue to be shopped by Fletcher.
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