Minnesota Wild: What is the deal with Brad Hunt playing the wing?
By Luke Ryan
The Minnesota Wild surely acquired Brad Hunt to play as a defenseman, the position he has played in for several seasons in the NHL. Why is it then that they’ve been using him as a makeshift winger?
Whether it’s just on the announced game-day lines or in practice, it’s still too often for the Minnesota Wild to have Brad Hunt filling a spot on the wing that could just as easily be given to one of the youngsters with the Iowa Wild.
Whilst obviously it’s a challenge when you have players going down with injuries, it’s rather absurd usage of the career defenseman.
Recently, Cal O’Reilly was called up from the Iowa Wild; a veteran forward that has deserved the call most of this year if only for the presence he has brought to the room in Iowa and leadership for the Minnesota Wild prospects down there.
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It’s just reward that he’s found his way back to the NHL and will hopefully see the experimenting of giving a 28 year-old a new position that late in his career to bed.
Right now, the usage of Brad Hunt brings into question both the roster management of Minnesota Wild General Manager Paul Fenton, but also the tactical decisions of head coach Bruce Boudreau.
Surely it’s a better option for him to run with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen than it is to run with 11 forwards plus a makeshift one?
What’s even more confusing about the whole scenario is that it’s clearly not just out of need, it’s somewhat out of want as Brad Hunt has also been seeing power-play time and not as a blue-liner!
Maybe it’s all actually part of a ‘tank job’ to ensure the Minnesota Wild don’t make the play-offs this year and get a shot at the Jack Hughes sweep stakes? Maybe it’s Boudreau doing his best to get out-of-town!
Either way, the deal of playing a defenseman on the wing is one that is somewhat lost on me, and doesn’t seem to be doing the team any favours, as they’re right now in a massive slump of form and very much in danger of dropping out of any sort of play-off contention.
dark. Next. Could the Boston Bruins be in for Charlie Coyle?
It’s now a watch this space to see whether Brad Hunt, NHL fourth line winger continues to be a phrase that people utter or whether he’s back to being Brad Hunt, NHL third pairing defenseman, sooner rather than later!