SEASON TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Nov 30, 2016By Tom Witosky | Follow @toskyAHLWild
With a quarter of the Iowa Wild’s season completed, it’s time to take a quick look at the fourth version of the AHL Wild.
Here are five thoughts about why this season already is better than the past three. Make no mistake – the 2016-17 version of the Iowa Wild hockey team is an improved product over the previous three versions.
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1.The evidence
The best evidence always is the scoreboard. The Wild claimed its ninth win and 20th point with a 5-1 victory over Charlotte on Sunday. That represents the earliest date in four seasons for the Wild to make the nine-win mark. Last year, the injury-plagued Wild didn’t claim its ninth until Jan. 22 and not until mid- to-late December the previous two years.
Add on the fact the Wild has scored 55 goals in those 21 games, the highest number of goals at this point in the season in four years and has given up 68 goals – second lowest in four years – there is pretty good evidence to say this year’s start has been a good one despite a sub .500 record.
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2.Improved quality of veteran players on this year’s roster.
When Derek Lalonde succeeded John Torchetti as the Wild’s new head coach, the Minnesota Wild front office clearly made a commitment to raise the quality of the veteran players who would make up Iowa’s backbone. Veteran players are often the key to a successful American Hockey League season because of their experience, but also their leadership of rosters heavy on younger draft choice and free agent signings.
In Iowa’s case, the signings of veteran center Pat Cannone, goalie Alex Stalock and defenseman Victor Bartley gave Lalonde a good start on building a veteran roster that already included Max Fortunus and an array of forwards like Jordan Schroeder, Tyler Graovac and Zach Mitchell. Unfortunately, Bartley tore his triceps in the preseason and has been on injured reserve ever since. His return isn’t expected soon, but the good news is he has not been ruled out for the year.
Just before the season opened, the Wild bolstered that portion of the line-up with the additions of veteran forward Jeff Hoggan, defensemen Mike Weber and Scott Czarnowczan, who replaced an injured Bartley. Hoggan, 38, has earned a lot of playing time, according to Lalonde, simply because he provides a spark to the first and second lines at key moments.
Weber, a six-year NHL veteran, is looking for a way to get back to the NHL. He also has provided leadership to a relatively inexperienced blue line that includes rookies Nick Seeler and Hunter Warner as well as second-year players Gustav Olofsson, Zach Palmquist, Dylan Labbe and Mike Reilly.
Almost unsung has been center Jordan Schroeder and forward Colton Beck, who have been major contributors to the team’s speed and energy. Schroeder leads the Wild with 15 points, four goals and 11 assists, as the center replacement for Tyler Graovac, who is now with Minnesota. Beck has just seven points, but has been one of the club’s most effective checkers in the offense zone and on the penalty kill.
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3.The #PullCannon.
The value of sharp-shooting veteran Teemu Pulkkinen to the Iowa Wild is just beginning to show. With two goals in Sunday’s game, Pulkkinen is now the Wild’s leading goal scorer with eight, six of which he has netted in his last seven games.
Pulkkinen arrived in Des Moines after the start the AHL season, after he was placed on waivers by Minnesota. Left with little alternative, Pulkkinen agreed to earn his salary in Iowa with the steadfast belief he can make it back to the NHL.
After some adjustment to the Wild’s attack, Pulkkinen, a prolific scorer with Grand Rapids in 2013-14 (59 points) and 2014-15 (61 points), has become a central figure on the Wild’s top line.
4.Goalies
Prior to the recent return of Alex Stalock from a major sinus infection, the goal-keeping load fell heavily on Steve Michalek, who was on the ice for seven games over a 15-day stretch. Lalonde called Michalek the team’s early candidate for most valuable player as he dealt with shot after shot caused by defensive problems of inconsistency and poor judgment.
“We’ve been a fragile defense at times, there is no doubt,” said Lalonde, who has blamed several losses to poor defense at key moments. “Steve has done the job of keeping us in games.”
Stalock began the season with a series of losses, but appears to have returned to form with back-to-back wins in Manitoba and a win and OT loss in Charlotte. In those games, Stalock posted a 1.25 goals against average and a .960 save percentage.
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5.The Rookies
Wild management predicted this year’s rookie class would impress and it has.
First-round draft choice Alex Tuch ranks third in scoring with four goals and six assists, as he steadily becomes a presence in front of the opposing net. At 6-foot-4 inches and 220-pounds, Tuch has the potential to dominate the offensive zone with improved stickhandling and passing skills.
Other rookies that have made positive impressions are Tuch’s former Boston College teammate Adam Gilmour and forward Mario Lucia. Gilmour has become the club’s fourth-line center and has shown ability on defense as well as deft passing skills.
Lucia, who played briefly last season after finishing his collegiate career at Notre Dame, has seven points in 16 games, but has shown improvement in his work in the corners, particularly in the offensive zone.
With three-quarters of the season remaining, just how the Wild will end-up in April will be based mostly on injuries and what players are called-up to Minnesota. But the start, everything considered, is a good one. By Tom Witosky | Follow @toskyAHLWild
With a quarter of the Iowa Wild’s season completed, it’s time to take a quick look at the fourth version of the AHL Wild.
Here are five thoughts about why this season already is better than the past three. Make no mistake – the 2016-17 version of the Iowa Wild hockey team is an improved product over the previous three versions.
BECOME A WILD 365 MEMBER TODAY!