Minnesota Wild: Just how underrated is Jared Spurgeon?

By Cody Defoe | Nov 17, 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 8: Jared Spurgeon #46 of the Minnesota Wild skates with the puck during the first period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on November 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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WINNIPEG, MB - APRIL 20: Goaltender Alex Stalock #32, Jared Spurgeon #46 of the Minnesota Wild and Paul Stastny #25 of the Winnipeg Jets keep an eye on the play during second period action in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

WINNIPEG, MB – APRIL 20: Goaltender Alex Stalock #32, Jared Spurgeon #46 of the Minnesota Wild and Paul Stastny #25 of the Winnipeg Jets keep an eye on the play during second period action in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Elite shot-blocking is Spurgeon’s calling card

Most importantly, is a stat that is much tougher to compare and quantify in the NHL. Spurgeon is a master shot blocker, and any Minnesota Wild fan knows that he will throw his body in front of any puck to stop it getting to his goaltender.

Spurgeon has accumulated 872 blocked shots through his time with the Minnesota Wild. I was unable to find a comprehensive list of blocks by NHL D, but a quick spot check on hockey-reference.com of the last 8 Norris Trophy winners found that he is on pace with some of the league’s best defenders in shots blocked.

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Since 2010-11: PK Subban has 832 blocks, Duncan Keith has 961, Drew Doughty has 820, Brent Burns has 829, Erik Karlsson has 839, and Victor Hedman has 900. I’m sure you can see the point from that. Spurgeon is no slouch on the defense either, and should be in the Norris Trophy conversation more often than he gets credit for.

There has been plenty of talk this year about Spurgeon being on the trading block, but his value should be sky high. The Minnesota Wild have the luxury of a Top pairing defender on their second pairing, and that is not something they should trade away without adequate value coming back in return.

Jared Spurgeon is still only 29 years old and has plenty of hockey left in him, trading him to a rival team or a top contender could easily backfire. His dedication and service to the Minnesota Wild is valued among fans, and should continue to warrant a roster spot with the team that brought him to the NHL.

Next. Ivan Lodnia unlucky to be overlooked. dark

It’s time to start taking the 5’9″ defender seriously. His short stature is no excuse for NHL ‘experts’ overlooking his accomplishments and qualifications, and it’s time to start looking up to the little man on the Minnesota Wild blue-line.