If someone were to have told me back in September the Wild would be 11-3-3 seventeen games into the season, I would have given them a hug, thanked them for their optimism, and then called someone in their family to tell them to keep an eye on them and get them some professional assistance to make sure they didn't slip further into insanity. But we are 11-3-3… and yet I fret that we left some points on the table thus far. At times like these, I take some deep, cleansing breaths and go back and watch clips from the first nineteen games from the 2023-24 season.
The Wild had a light schedule this past week, splitting two games at home to go 1-1-0. The loss to the Dallas Stars stung, but we had a legitimate shot to win despite the injury issues. Given the situation, you can deal with the loss… but then again, it's the Stars… I really don't like the Stars… I don't like them a lot—they are in the same category as the Avs, Blackhawks, and Blues. So to the four teams I like the very least, I give you four thoughts in this week's edition of "The State of Hockey… In The State of Hockey."
-The Stars' mastery of our beloved Wild continues, but for the first time in a while, I believe Dallas is not necessarily better than us. If the Canadians game didn't cost us the services of Zuccarello and Erikkson Ek, I am of the opinion that we win the game. Gustavsson was lights out (again) and gave us a legitimate path to victory, but I truly hated to see us ultimately waste his effort. Skating without Zuccy and Ek was too much, but injuries happen, and getting some of these other guys a look isn't necessarily a bad thing… Don't get me wrong, hearing of Erikkson Ek's return for the upcoming road trip didn't hurt my feelings. However, I regret talking about our depth in last week's piece, but I take no responsibility for the events that tested said depth.
-Hi, Iowa Wild Head Coach Brett McLean… Can I ask you a hypothetical question? Let's say someone had a struggling prospect in goal for an AHL-level team. Said goalie is not playing up to expectations as many view him as a long-term featured NHL netminder as he recently signed an extension… let's just throw a number out here… a two-year, $4.4 million deal that kicks in at the end of his entry-level… this while only playing say three NHL games and just turning… um… ah… let's say 22. Let's say the goalie has played very well at the AHL level for a couple of seasons and was to the point that there was a belief that they may be in the NHL some this season, perhaps even early on. It didn't happen for the goalie, and since then, their play for the AHL team has been spotty… to be nice. Let's also say there was a recent back-to-back where this young goalie played pretty well on a Friday night… at least much better than he has of late, so perhaps he might have built a little bit of confidence he had lost. And then the coaching staff decided to play him again less than 24 hours later, and he gets lit up, pretty much shattering any benefit gained from the night before. Would you consider that coach to be of sound mind, or would you see their decision was misguided and harmful? Asking for a friend…
-I am glad I am hearing that Marc-André Fleury is getting a game in goal during this three game road trip. For a netminder who has spent much of his career as "the guy," I worry about the long layoffs between games and how it might affect him. I get the impression he must be comfortable with the situation, and he always looks engaged and ready to go from the bench. But, in the wild world of hockey, you never know when a backup goalie will be needed for an extended period, so a delicate balance between keeping him fresh and sharp is in play here. I like the Wild's combo in net, especially when Gus is locked in, and one of the greatest of all time is backing him up. Concerning my last point… what are the odds we could entice another season out of Fleury? I'd gladly take a 2.70 GAA and a .904 save percentage from a backup. Get Fleury back for 2025-26, continue to pair him with Gus (and stay with me), and trade Wallstedt for a piece that benefits us the next few seasons. Each time Filip takes the ice (even with his hiccups), I am getting increasingly convinced that this is our guy, which is a far cry from where I was with all of this last Spring.
-We will be missing Zuccy for a couple of weeks, and not seeing him for most of the last two games, I fully realized how much I enjoy him as a hockey player. I equate it to seeing your favorite rock band, and the lead singer (Krill Kaprizov) is there in all his glory, but for some reason, their spectacular and endearing lead guitarist (Mats Zuccarello) is absent. The band is still enjoyable, but they just aren't the same. Think of Guns N' Roses (Use Your Illusion Era) without Slash… So that obviously makes Kirill Axl… Boldy is Duff… Spurgeon is Matt Sorum… and so on. But no Slash/Zuccy… It just isn't the same.
Results From Week Five Predictions
Prediction #1: We are winning both games this week, including the Wild reintroducing themselves to the Stars in spectacular fashion.
Result: Wrong… I had big hopes for this one. Big hopes. We'll catch you down the road, Stars, and expect a different result.
Prediction #2: Mats Zuccarello gets back above a point-per-game pace.
Result: Wrong… and I will never hold a bit of ill will towards Zuccy because no hockey player should endure what he did.
Prediction #3: Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) used the power of the Internet to post on X special secret information bestowed upon him by hockey powers that Gustavsson was tapped to be in net versus the Habs on Thursday. Seems reliable… So, I proclaim that Gustavo Fring (good Gus) will show up at the Xcel Energy Center and hold the away team from Montreal to one or fewer goals en route to his eighth win of the 2024-25 campaign.
Result: Correct… Gustavo Fring… Good Gus… The Gus Bus… stopped all nineteen shots he faced against Montreal on the way to a shutout and his eighth win. Two nights later, his dazzling play gave the depleted Wild a legitimate shot to get past Dallas.
Prediction #4: Yakov Trenin at least doubles his points total for the season (he currently sits at one).
Result: Wrong… Trenin… I just needed a point. One.
Prediction #5: Brock Faber ends the week at a +10 for the season.
Result: Wrong… After pushing his +/- to +9 after the Canadians game (making it look like I was going to nail this one), Brock went -2 against Dallas, putting this season's total at +7. So close… but yet so far away.
Pending Prediction: Jake Middleton becomes the next Wild player to break the ten-point barrier for the season.
Result: Still Pending… Middleton and Faber sit at nine points for the season… and now Frédérick Gaudreau has joined them, with Joel Erikkson Ek is close behind with eight. Middleton… score a quick one on St. Louis, please.
I may have little value as a predictor at this point. My 1-4 week was abysmal, and I am having a hard time looking my loved ones in the eyes. Now sitting at an overall season total of 14-10, with one prediction from two weeks back still up in the air, I need a strong week to keep my last shred of credibility.
Next Week's Five Predictions…
-Gustavo and The Flower (sounds like a cool name for a folk band) both pick up a win this week.
-Matt Boldy remains on the golden side of point-per-game production.
-Hockey Lord Johnny Stache Merrill gets back to a +/- of even or above this week.
-Jacob Middleton breaks the 45-block barrier, while Marcus Foligno breaks the 65-hit barrier.
-John Hynes does not choose this week to grow out his hair.