Grades are something I know very well. I’d also like to think, that I know hockey pretty well too. As a teacher I award grades all of the time, its part of the job. It can be stressful for both the student and the teacher. Grades are expected to be both accurate and done expeditiously but add into that a student’s and their respective parent expectations and you have a formula that can produce some considerable tension. I am not afraid to defend my grades, but any teacher will tell you the nagging phone calls and / or e-mails can get rather tiresome. You attempt to stay objective despite a parent and / or student’s criticism but its tough to stay that way when they’re telling you that somehow you must have made a mistake. Call it ego or whatever you wish, but no one likes to be told they’ve done something wrong, especially when you’re the one with the expertise and the college degree in that subject. But hey, that’s all apart of the job right? I wonder if that is how the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman felt when he gave his annual State of the League address and press conference this evening. As he gave his progress report where he discussed league revenues which he said was on track for 6th straight year of record-breaking revenues as well as the topic of concussions that were discussed at the Board of Governor’s meeting. He also stated that the amount of concussions have increased, but that the amount of concussions by head hits have decreased since the implementation of rule 48 which addresses blindside hits. Interesting data and food for thought to be sure. I have to admit, as the reporters questions started I took a little joy that the first question was about the banishment of a blogger by the New York Islanders. However, as one would expect there were a wide variety of topics brought up concussions, the possibility of having more teams starting the 2011 season playing in Russia, and ownership issues in Buffalo, Atlanta and Phoenix respectively. 30 minutes hardly seemed adequate to cover it all.
Going back to the Minnesota Wild, the first half of the 2010 season has had lots of peaks and valleys. It featured winning streaks and losing streaks. It had fans creating a pool over at wild.com attempting to predict when Wild Head Coach Todd Richards was going to be fired. Needless to say its been a pretty crazy season thus far but as of right now the Wild find themselves in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 25-19-5 record and just 1 point out of the 8th place spot currently held by the San Jose Sharks. For the first time ever, I am going to grade the entire organization from the farm system to the front office and scouting to the coaches, special teams and of course the individual players themselves.
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Front Office & Scouting: He has not had to do much this year but Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher refrained from the public pressure wanting Wild Head Coach Todd Richards’ head on a pike early on, and it looks as though his patience was rewarded by the team rebounding from a woeful start and poor pre-season. The organization made some alterations to its coaching staff as well as its scouting staff and it looks as though that has paid dividends as the team has improved defensively and the scouts have managed to find some talent to help re-stock what was a rather sparse prospect pool. They’re certainly not finished just yet but they had have made significant progress. With promising prospects like Brett Bulmer, Jason Zucker, Mikael Granlund, Marco Scandella, Darcy Kuemper, Matthew Hackett and Erik Haula the Wild prospect pool is on its way to becoming a source of strength. The move to add Jose Theodore on a one-year deal for a scant $1.1 million effectively filled a hole made by the season ending knee injury to Josh Harding and gave the team a potential bargaining chip at the trade deadline. Grade: B+
Farm System: The season of the team’s American Hockey League affiliate the Houston Aeros in many ways has mirrored that of the Wild. Not too long ago the Aeros were near the bottom of the West division, but that wasn’t for a lack of trying as tight as the NHL Western Conference is West Division is even tighter from top to bottom where just 5 points separates 1st place from 7th place. The Aeros have used a 8-1-1 surge to climb from the cellar to right below the top as they are in 2nd place in the West Division. New Aeros Head Coach Mike Yeo has Houston playing its best hockey right now and giving valuable ice time to the team’s young players like Casey Wellman, Colton Gillies, Tyler Cuma, Cody Almond, Justin Falk, Nate Prosser and Matthew Hackett. The Aeros have not been leaned upon as greatly as they were last season, but for the most part the call ups have given the Wild solid minutes especially from the blueline and between the pipes where Anton Khudobin excited fans with his unorthodox style. The Aeros also continue to be a success at the gate, good for 6th in the AHL averaging over 6,000 fans per game which is something the Wild love to see since they own them as well. Grade: A-
Coaching: This could be the toughest one to judge of all the categories. The team started very slow out of the gate and had one of its worst pre-seasons in franchise history. The Wild was terrible in its first two games in Finland and there were rumblings that upper management was starting to lose patience. Yet the team refocused and committed itself to playing a more defensive style of hockey that befits its personnel and the results was more wins. Offensively the Wild are still in the bottom half of the league, but the biggest improvement has been the team’s defensive play where the backchecking and ability to defend leads has been a major reason the team finds itself knocking on the playoff door. Assistant Coach, and noted defensive guru Rick Wilson has helped Brent Burns rediscover himself to being a force at both ends of the ice. Minnesota’s defenseman are pinching a bit less, but they are not just retreating either and the club has found that magical balance between supporting the attack and not taking unnecessary risks. The team has made improvements in match ups which was a sore spot last season. The team still has struggled at home which is strange since traditionally it has been a strength, but those struggles at home have been offset by the team’s strong play away from Xcel Energy Center as Minnesota has enjoyed its best road success in franchise history. Todd Richards still does not have a ton of support amongst Wild fans, but with the team doing well the criticism has toned down considerably from where it was early in the season. The team still hasn’t managed to solve its 2nd period woes. Grade: C+
Special Teams: If the Wild have had an X-factor this season it has been its power play. Its power play was crucial for the Wild to climb out of its slow start. Currently rated 6th in the NHL at 21.1%, the Wild have bounced around the Top 10 in power play all season long. Good puck movement, and the arrival of Pierre-Marc Bouchard has been key at staying near the top of the NHL. Matt Cullen started out hot early as the power play quarterback but has been relegated to the 2nd power play unit since. Meanwhile the team’s penalty kill has had its moments of prolonged success but also has been riddled for some goals on a few occasions. Currently the Wild’s penalty kill is 15th in the NHL at 82.3%. The penalty kill unit has used a lot of different players and in most games they have played pretty well where they are aggressive and challenging the puck carrier but when the team is having a bad night they usually stand and just reach and give up a bunch of power play goals. Grade: B
Forwards:
C – Mikko Koivu (14G , 29A = 43pts) It has been a typical solid season for the Wild captain. A player who is leaned upon heavily at both ends of the ice as well as the one who is tagged to take key draws is 2nd on the team in scoring. At times Koivu looks a little fatigued on the ice, but has been much more involved lately as the team has been more effective in scoring at even strength. Koivu is currently tied for first in power play goals with 6 out of his 14 coming on the man advantage. Scoring at just under a point per game the expectations for Koivu have been raised by his very large 7-year contract extension which kicks in next season. Whether that is fair or not, but he’s going to be doubling his pay in the very near future and fans are naturally expecting more from the Turku, Finland-native. Grade: C+
C – John Madden (7G 8A = 15pts) The team hoped to improve its penalty kill by adding one of the premier penalty killers over the last decade in John Madden and he has had both his good and bad moments. Madden at times can really have a ton of jump in his skates and he really flies around the ice, but sometimes he looks like a player who is nearing 40-years of age and struggling to get around on the ice. Madden has chipped in a fair amount of offense considering he has spent most of the season as the 4th line center. His -8 is a bit disconcerting but he has a championship pedigree and his experience will be invaluable if the team can manage to claw its way into the post season. Grade: B-
C – Kyle Brodziak (9G, 10A = 19pts) I have to say, I’ve been really impressed with how well Kyle Brodziak has played this season. His hustle, and at times his creativity with the puck has been impressive as he has been a nice addition as the 2nd line center where has given the line some much-needed grit. He is not a great finisher but his effort is contagious and he’s the type of player that will give you everything he has each night. Brodziak has been a solid penalty killer as well and is a +4 and his 19 points have been a pleasant surprise. Grade: A-
C – Matt Cullen (10G, 21A = 31pts) Originally tabbed to be the team’s 2nd line center, Cullen has been pushed back down the team’s energy line where he serves as the line’s center. The former Moorhead star had a great start but cooled off until managing to find his way back to the scoresheet in the last few games. Cullen’s best asset is his versatility and he’s been a contributor on both the power play and the penalty kill where he leads the team with 3 shorthanded goals. He is on pace to contribute offensively as much as he does most seasons, but I think the Wild were hoping for a bit more considering his increased amount of ice time. Grade: B
RW – Martin Havlat (14G, 30A = 44pts) The Wild are finally seeing the talent of Martin Havlat on a consistent basis. After a slow start, and some ugly comments from his agent Allan Walsh the 2nd year Wild winger began to pick up his game and quickly emerged as the team’s go-to offensive threat. With the ability to dangle and a deadly accurate shot Havlat has taken over some games to become the team’s top scorer. When Havlat has initiative offensively he plays better defensively as well. His inclusion to the All Star game was as a bit of an afterthought by the league but his strong play was deserving of recognition. Grade: A-
RW – Brad Staubitz (0G 5A = 5pts) The heir apparent to enforcer duties for the Wild, Brad Staubitz has been busy this season. He will never be as intimidating as Derek Boogaard was, but his ability to skate a regular shift has been rather welcome. Like Boogaard, Staubitz will never be a prolific scorer but he has kept teams honest and from taking liberties with the rest of the Wild’s smaller skilled forwards and that is really all the team wanted in the first place. Staubitz has compiled a fairly solid fight card this season and has done well in most of his skirmishes. Grade: B+
RW – Chuck Kobasew (9G, 4A = 13pts) Chuck Kobasew is a player who gives the team some much needed speed on the wing, but offensively he has underwhelmed since the team traded for him last year. Injuries played a role to his slow start this season but when he was given the opportunity to play on the top line he demonstrated he could be effective as a trigger man. However his production still does not justify his $2.5 million salary. Grade: C-
RW – Antti Miettinen (9G, 14A = 23pts) Antti Miettinen is another player similar to Chuck Kobasew who provides some speed on the wing, but isn’t quite productive enough offensively to make him a person you want on the top line. Miettinen is ideally suited to be a 3rd liner, because he lacks the finishing ability needed to be a reliable triggerman for the playmaking of Andrew Brunette and Mikko Koivu. He is another $2.5 million player who doesn’t produce enough to justify his salary nor the amount of ice time he receives. Grade: C-
RW – Cal Clutterbuck (14G, 8A = 22pts) A player who plays much bigger than his stats Cal Clutterbuck is a much-needed dose of sandpaper and edgy play that forces the opposition to take notice. Yet he’s more than just the NHL’s leader in hits (223), but he is an important penalty killer as well. This season he’s also been clutch offensively, providing timely goals with 3 game winners to his credit. His high energy game does not come at the cost of being a defensive (+5) or penalty liability with just 30 penalty minutes. The Welland, Ontario-native is 3rd on the team in shots with a 123, and is one of the few Wild players who takes any opportunity to shoot the puck. Grade: A
LW – Eric Nystrom (1G, 5A = 6pts) I have to admit, in some ways I really like what Eric Nystrom brings to the ice each night. He is a hard working player who loves to dish out hits and is 2nd on the team with 119 to his credit. Nystrom plays well on the penalty kill and uses his frame effectively to protect the puck. However, he has been a major disappointment offensively as he has suffered through one of his least productive seasons. The Syosset, New York-native has been in a major drought and unless he can find a way to chip in more offensively his $1.4 million a season salary is an albatross. Grade: D+
LW – Pierre-Marc Bouchard (4G, 12A = 16pts) I have to admit, I was one of those people who did not believe Pierre-Marc Bouchard was going to be able to return. After a few games where he looked a bit timid on the ice, Bouchard has rediscovered his confidence and has been a major catalyst offensively giving Minnesota two reliable scoring lines. Since his return, after losing over 100 games due to a concussion sustained during the 1st game of last season, he has shown much improved strength on the puck and his ability to create time and space has really sparked the emergence of Kyle Brodziak and Martin Havlat. Grade: A-
LW – Andrew Brunette (12G, 16A = 28pts) As much as the players around him have changed, Andrew Brunette’s game is precisely the same. Though a painfully slow skater, he is still outstanding when working behind the opposition’s goal or working near the goal crease. A good leader off and on the ice he is important to the Wild’s power play but does not give the team much at all in the way of defense. Some question whether Brunette brings enough offensively to make up for his deficiencies but its hard to deny that he is still very effective at what he does. His 7 power play goals are the tops on the team but his -12 make you wonder if keeping around is worth it as he is in the final year of his contract. Grade: B-
LW – Guillaume Latendrese (3G, 3A = 6pts) I will warn you right now, but this grade is going to hurt. Last year, Guillaume Latendresse was a bright spot on what was a disappointing season. The Wild and Latendresse managed to agree to a fairly sensible contract that would award him a reasonable $2.5 million a season for a guy who looked poised to score 30 goals. However, after showing up for training camp terribly out of shape things went downhill from there as he suffered a groin and sports hernia injury early that required surgery. The Wild miss Latendresse’s penchant for scoring goals and willingness to shoot the puck in general. As much as it hurts the Wild it also hurts Latendresse who was hoping to build his case for a much bigger contract by having another strong season offensively. He may be able to return later this season but his lack of focus to have himself in shape really makes you wonder about his level of commitment. Grade: F
Defense:
Greg Zanon (0G, 3A = 3pts) His game is still one that will make you cringe as you watch him stand in front of shot after shot but he keeps battling and blocking as many as he can. Leading the team with 119 blocked shots, but at times Zanon has been a little suspect in his own end. The former University of Nebraska-Omaha star has worked in tandem with Clayton Stoner and the pairing has been good at shutting down the opposition. His safe and steady game still makes him an underrated part of the Wild’s blueline. Grade: A-
Nick Schultz (3G, 10A = 13pts) The team’s longest serving player continues to play in most of the important minutes of the game and he has the complete trust of Todd Richards. He’ll never be a big offensive producer but has gotten off to one of his most productive seasons thus far. Schultz has been one defenseman that is not afraid to pinch a bit to keep the puck in the offensive zone and the old offensive instincts he had in junior are starting to show again. Grade: B+
Cam Barker (1G, 4A = 5pts) I am not a Nick Leddy fan, but the Wild may be rethinking their trade of Leddy and Kim Johnsson for Barker. Barker has been remarkably inconsistent and only until Marek Zidlicky and Marco Scandella got injured, the former 3rd Overall pick was a regular healthy scratch. At times, Barker plays with an edge and is physical and involved. However this is the exception, more often than not he hesitates and has a bad tendency to make some very risky plays with the puck. His effort is equally inconsistent and certainly not worth his $3.25 million pricetag. Grade: D-
Clayton Stoner (1G, 2A = 3pts) Patience is a virtue Clayton Stoner knows well. After putting 3+ seasons in the minors in Houston, he finally got his big shot last year only to have it foiled by injury. After managing to earn a one-way contract he was assured a spot on the team, but not necessarily a place in the Wild lineup each night and early on he was a healthy scratch. However he waited patiently for his opportunity and now averages just under 16 minutes per game. Stoner has used his 6’3″ 222lbs frame very effectively, and does a terrific job at sealing off opposing forwards along the wall and then making a quick outlet pass. The Port McNeill, British Columbia-native leads the wild in +/- with a +7. Grade: B+
Marek Zidlicky (4G, 16A = 20pts) The team made the expensive decision of re-signing Marek Zidlicky to a 3-year extension that pays him $4 million per season. Zidlicky plays a key role on the power play and one of the team’s best puck movers, as he’s a classic high-risk high-reward player. Only a shoulder injury has stopped what was looking to be another impressive offensive season. The Wild have struggled to replace him and on the power play the team has resorted to using forwards more or less to replace Zidlicky as the team’s top power play quarterback. Grade: B-
Jared Spurgeon (0G, 1A = 1pt) He looks like your average high schooler, but the 21 year old Spurgeon has earned rave reviews from the Wild coaching staff who love his great poise with the puck. Early on, Spurgeon played like a deer in headlights, but his confidence has grown steadily the last few weeks and he has been entrusted to be out on the ice during the game’s most important moments. It took him 21 games to register his first point but he has managed not to be a defensive liability. Not too shabby for a guy who wasn’t on anyone’s radar coming into the season. Grade: B
Marco Scandella (0G, 2A = 2pts) Another call up who managed to win over the Wild coaching staff, Scandella’s skill level is what separated himself over the more experienced Justin Falk. Scandella’s late game rush up the ice that set up an overtime winner for Antti Miettinen really made it difficult for the Wild to send him back down to Houston. Despite the dramatic start he started to show his inexperience and was prone to bad turnovers which are the sort of mistakes you’d expect a rookie defenseman to make. He has been out of the lineup the last few games after nearly having one of his ears torn off by a puck. The potential is obvious, but perhaps more AHL seasoning is best for him. Grade: B
Brent Burns (14G, 17A = 31pts) It has been an amazing turnaround over the previous two seasons where Burns was an erratic player who’s high-risk, high-reward style ended in disaster more often than not. This season Burns has found the perfect balance of jumping into the play offensively without ignoring his defensive responsibilities. Burns has been the team’s best defender most nights, where he uses his stick effectively but isn’t afraid to use his strength to take the opposing forward off the puck. Currently 2nd in the NHL in goal scoring by a defenseman, his goals have been timely as well as he has 3 game winners to his credit. He is a -3 but that is no indictment of his play as he has been paired against the oppositions top lines more often than not. The Ajax, Ontario-native is one of the few players on the Wild who can initiate a rush all by himself and was very deserving of an invitation to this year’s All Star Game. Grade: A
Goaltenders:
Niklas Backstrom (15-11-3, 2.52GAA .922%SP) Backstrom has thrived under the more defensive style the team embraced earlier this season. No longer is he facing the odd-man rushes that were the result of overaggressive defenseman getting caught out of position. As much as his statistics have returned to what Wild fans expect from Backstrom, he also seems to be calmer in his crease and is spending less time lobbying officials than he did a season ago where he just seemed frustrated and unfocused. His return to form has been good news for the Wild as he has been far less prone to giving up the soft goal that demoralizes the team. Grade: B+
Jose Theodore (8-7-2, 2.66GAA .913%SP) Perhaps the best pickup of this season, Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher managed to procure the services of the former Vezina trophy winner for a very reasonable $1.1 million. Theodore has been very solid between the pipes, and at times has made a case to be given more starts. His solid performance also makes him perhaps the Wild’s best bargaining chip at the trading deadline since he would be a very affordable rental for any team in need of experienced goaltending for the post-season. If the Wild fall out of the playoff hunt I think the team would be shopping Theodore big time. I don’t really want to see him go, but he has been a nice counterpart to Backstrom and his high level of professionalism is obvious. Grade: A-
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