WildHBcommunity:Whose to Blame if Nobody Deserves the Blame? #WildWednesday
The riddle of what it means to be a Minnesota sports fan just never seems to be devoid of complication and distraction. What I am getting from the interwebs and specifically Wild Twitter, is that this brutal season is definitely not the fault of the coach, captain, veterans, or really anyone except the goaltending. To be clear both of the goalie son the roster and the one missing due to injury and illness are certainly the #1 reason this Wild season is circling the drain.
I just have a tough time wrapping my mind around a team so fragile mentally, that they are expecting let down nearly every time they are protecting a lead. Hard not to squarely pin this issue right in the wheel house of the bench boss or the captain. I have a tough time understanding how a team so uneven effort wise and confidence wise is not suffering from a lack of leadership?
The interesting thing that happens when anyone calls into question the performance and impact on this floundering team with hefty expectations is backlash. Any attempt to mention that Mike Yeo has over committed to veterans and it is shot down with statistical justification that guys like Mikko Koivu or Jason Pominville have been or just are unlucky this year while the likes of Jason Zucker, Nino Niederrieter, or even Justin Fontaine score goals with much less ice time and opportunity.
Any mention of Ryan Suter playing too many minutes which it turns out is entirely at his own discretion according Yeo, and the backlash comes even though it is quite obvious that his play in the defensive end and in general has been less effective and consistent this year.
Anyone that wondered out loud about why Zucker and Nino weren't plugged in on the power play during the first 2 months of the season when it was among the worst in the NHL or why each of these guys were getting next to no ice time with the game on the line in overtime. You guessed it backlash.
Anyone mentioning that maybe Pominville is better suited to play closer to the net on the power play rather than the point or if he should be dropped down to the 3rd line when struggling has been mocked by those that point to how the veteran was a 30 goal scorer last year. Certainly Pominville is a talented player and he has proven to be a point producer but often he loses puck battles, turns the puck over, and gets eliminated often by physical play from opponents.
When will this Stockholm Syndrome Minnesota Fanology end? You know who we should not be making excuses for? The organization itself set the expectations as this being the season it would elevate it's brand and on ice performance to the top of the Western Conference and to being a Stanley Cup Contender. Fans should expect answers and action, not snipe each other and make excuses for the team, coach, captain, and individual players.
I certainly believed that this team was capable of competing with any in the NHL based upon talent and prior performance. Honestly though that is why any attempts to explain away the failures of this team can not be simply labeled as poor goaltending. This is certainly a leadership issue and an accountability issue. So if players say it is not Yeo's fault, than how can it not be the captain and veteran core at fault?
I understand the shifting blame and pubic relations spin from the organization because they have financials to protect but to feel like your a "Bad Fan" or not loyal for demanding accountability during this putrid season is a mind screw in and of itself.
I for one, refuse to back down from the legitimacy of calling into question the leadership of general manager on down the line. Koivu can be the tremendous player and have his team lose 12 of 14. His limiting of opponents doesn't matter if the whole thing is crumbling around him. Yes it is on him because maybe the C on his chest is just for show but you don't get to sell him as a guy that leads by example and does it the right way if his team is losing games due to reasons other than talent and ability!
The #2 problem in my mind that has destroyed this season is several of the young core under-performing in roles. yet again Mikael Granlund and Charlie Coyle were entrusted with prominent positions and responsibilities by Yeo and they failed to elevate their play. Erik Haula in particular has been by far the most disappointing of young players having accomplished so much last seen in such a short period in the NHL.
Young players like Granlund, Coyle, and Haula were supposed to be on the verge of taking the next step in their development at the NHL level and it never happened this year. On the back end Mathew Dumba also failed to launch which was significant blow to his opportunity to contribute at the NHL this year especially given how futile the power play was during the early goings. Dumba was getting less than 10 mins a game ice time though and very infrequent power play minutes so it is hard to pin his lack of impact on him specifically.
Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher is certainly culpable for not having a #1 goalie on this roster. Fletcher gambled and lost on all 3 netminders currently on one way deals for this organization. Fletcher also has acquired a great deal of young and veteran talent but the pieces just dont fit here and he has been a supporter of Yeo in saying that coaching is not the issue here so.......
Fletcher has also stated publicly that this roster should NOT expect a major move or an addition to come in here and save the season. That declaration was met with more losses and arguably worse performance. Fletcher although he has done a very good job of turning around the talent bankrupt franchise, certainly should not feel secure in his position because if he is not going to fire Yeo than all roads lead back to the architect of this roster. Honestly even if he fires Yeo it probably should lead back to him anyways.
I am sure you can find several sources across the interwebs that have written today about whose fault it is not. I am sure you can find several people who have chosen to hedge their bets until Minnesota Wild Owner Craig Leipold takes action. That is just not my style. I would rather be ahead of the curve than part of the mediocrity of SAFE content and opinion.
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Just My Take,
Tony Dean
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