Minnesota Wild: Coyle and Granlund Much Better on the Wing

It became very apparent last season that the Minnesota Wild were better off playing two of their regular centers on the wing as their outputs skyrocketed. Mikael Granlund and Charile Coyle should have the chance to play the wing again this season, and expectations are there for career years for both young players.

One of the best things to come from the signing of Eric Staal by the Minnesota Wild is the simple addition of another top center. That fact alone was enough to upgrade the team despite what you might think about Staal’s ability to rebound from his tough season last year. The ability for the Wild to play Charlie Coyle and Mikael Granlund on the wing is huge and will more than likely have the same effect as if the Wild had made an acquisition as both players seem to have another aspect to their game come out when relieved of the burden of playing up the middle.

Coyle had a career year in points and goals in 2015-16. My impression was that the relief of not having to be so focused on playing the two-way game that a center must play, and being elevated to play with better players like Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu helped awaken the offensive talent Coyle had. So much so that in March Coyle was actually leading the team in goals, and finished the season second behind his line mate Parise.

Coyle it seems throughout his playing career has never seen that much output not even when he played for Boston University or in the QMJHL. That to me says that in his career he’s never been given this chance to show his pure offensive chops. More intriguing is that he’s done it at this highest level in the NHL. The Wild need to continue to nurture this transformation and see where Coyle can go as a strong power scoring winger.

November 9, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Mikael Granlund (64) skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Center. The Minnesota Wild defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Granlund’s time on the wing was actually a smaller sample size as he really didn’t move to the wing until just before Game 2 of the playoff series with the Stars. It just seemed that he played harder and more aggressive pressing the play up ice, and kept his sights on offense only. As Granny described to Dan Myers of nhl.com “as a center, a lot of times you need to be ready to go back into your own end and be responsible with that, but as a winger, you can go more in and maybe that has changed that a little bit as well.”as a center, a lot of times you need to be ready to go back into your own end and be responsible with that,” Granlund said. “But as a winger, you can go more in and maybe that has changed that a little bit as well.”

Like Coyle, Granlund also seemed to benefit from playing on a line with great players. More specifically playing with Mikko Koivu. In the playoffs especially Game 5 the two Finns seemed to just click more that most and it seemed that they just knew how to play with each other instantly. Koivu explained to Myers that in his time playing with Granlund it was “fun to see when you have a player like him. Not only make plays, but all the ways he blocks shots and is responsible defensively. Makes it easier for center guy to really trust what he’s doing.”