Dan Wallace: COVID-19 Hits Wild Ahead of 1st Seattle Visit

This will turn out to be a big problem for the Wild, They just don't have the depth to compete when there are Injuries and or Covid Issues, So now suddenly the Ice surface for tonight's game Is tilted toward the Kraken.

Good test of the teams depth tonight. Wins in 5 of 6 and 10 points. Pick up another 2 points tonight boys. Grind it out against a new team.

And we failed the first depth test, Our next guy up Is an Inexperienced youngster when It should be a guy who has a ton of experience and spends most nights In the press box. I won't say I told you so, It's to early. By Thanksgiving the Wild will be thick In the NHL rumor trade mill. I GUARANTEE IT.

By the way the Wild aren't tough, It's embarrassing that anytime the kids aren't getting along on the playground It's Foligno who shows up, Where's Greenway? He needs to do something! He's Invisible so far this season.

Well, I guess the Fiala/Kaprizov experiment failed. Neither looked all that interested in playing with each other. I am starting to wonder if those 2 don't really get along with each other. And the lack of a true #1 C is already starting to become a big problem again. I know the Wild really want to keep Rossi in Iowa for the year to save on his contract, but I don't think that is going to be able to happen.

I honestly think Kaprizov almost looks like he is pouting because his buddy Zuccarello is not on the ice. Evason needs to nip that in the bud immediately. We shouldn't be saying the sky is falling, since the Wild are 5-2. I will take that out of every 7 game stretch in any given season. The big picture I think for that game against The Kraken (I love saying that) was the fact that the Wild were missing 2 key defensemen. So you had 2 of 3 pairings not playing regularly together, and it showed. I do think Talbot will be a almost a complete stud the entire season. But we, as fans, also need to quite complaining about Kaprizov as much as we are. He is the 2nd leading scorer on the team. What has Fiala done so far this year? He's supposed to have a fire burning in him to prove he's worth a big contract. Haven't seen it yet. And enough of Rask...now.

Ok, the positives...I think the Wild have the players, they just are set up the right way. Once players get back from covid and injuries, time for the overhaul and build this thing right.

Zuccarello/Rossi/Kaprizov
Beckman/Gaudreau/Fiala
Hartman/Eriksson-Ek/Foligno
Greenway/Sturm/Bjugstad

And would some team, any team, please take Rask from the Wild. I can personally guarantee that he will score if you put him on a line with your team's superstars. Not often, but he wil score.

The team is fortunate to be 5-2 with a dismal GF/GA of -1. All 5 wins were squeakers and they got outplayed and out worked in both losses.Now Goligoski is out 1-2 weeks with injury, Zuccerello and Pitlick are out at least 10 days with COVID and Greenway is on IR. Beckman and Addison have been recalled.

JEE, Zucc,KK, and Fiala are the only players skilled enough to warrant top 6. Like other teams, the expansion has left teams having players slotted above where they should be. JEE is a stud 2C and Sturm is a stud 4C. When Sturm moves up he is less effective playing against better players. Neither Hartman nor Gaudreau are a 2C. They both work hard but neither can finish well or set guys up. This is a lunch bucket team that has to outwork the other team and take away time and space.

For a chance to make the playoffs, the top 4 D have to stay healthy. Yesterday showed us that Lizotte is not NHL ready and Benn is no longer NHL worthy. The limited time I’ve seen Addison showed me that he doesn’t defend well in his own end.

Rossi is probably being held back because he is undersized and they would like him to develop and get stronger to withstand the physical play. Greenway and Rask have been passengers. Neither can catch a pass cleanly and neither can make a pass that doesn’t get picked off or end up in a teammates skates. The rare times Greenway is using his body effectively to get the puck, his poor awareness causes him to lose it or give it away. Does Rask have pictures of Evason doing something inappropriate? I don’t think so. Why is he playing?

Wow, would have thought at first blush the Wild were playing the lightning last night by the way their opponent was thoroughly destroying them in every facet of play…. But no, it was a brand new franchise.

That is pretty much what I expected to see for the majority of the season to be honest. Although Talbot was very good.