On the Minnesota Wild …
The Bruce Boudreau era in Minnesota is off to an excellent start as the Wild own a 6-3-1 record through 10 games and sit atop the league’s toughest division.
The Wild probably aren’t deserving of the record they have, though, as they’ve been out played in more games than not.
Despite already playing the Buffalo Sabres – the league’s worst possession team – twice, the Wild’s underlying numbers leave a lot to be desired in the early going.
As it stands the Wild are controlling ~46.6% of the shot attempts at 5 v 5. They rank 4th last in that category and the only teams below them are the four-win Buffalo Sabres, the four-win New York Islanders, and the Detroit Red Wings. The first two teams have been far from impressive in the early going, while the latter has ridden unsustainably high shooting/save percentages to their solid start.
So why are the Wild 6-3-1?
The most obvious answer would be goaltending. Devan Dubnyk just posted three consecutive shutouts and has allowed just two goals over the last four games. They were outplayed in some of those contests (Buffalo out shot them 38-22 the other day) but goaltending earned them some points they didn’t deserve.
Boudreau is one of the best coaches in hockey, so I believe he’ll get the team playing legitimately good hockey sooner than later. If their 5 v 5 play doesn’t improve soon, however, the wins won’t continue to pile up like they have thus far.
On the Vancouver Canucks …
We’re a month into the 2016-17 season and, to nobody’s surprise, the Vancouver Canucks are the league’s lowest scoring team.
As such GM Jim Benning is already scouring the trade market in search of a top-6 forward.
LeBrun: If #Canucks could find a trade partner over next little while/month or two, "they'd like to add a 20-goal scorer to that lineup."
— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) November 1, 2016
There’s only one problem: teams aren’t openly shopping 20-goal scorers 10 games into the season.
The sad thing for the Canucks is they had ample opportunity to add 20-goal scorers to their lineup for pennies on the dollar.
Last season P.A. Parenteau tallied 20 goals, 41 points and drove possession at an excellent rate for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was on waivers a few weeks ago and the Canucks could have picked him up (they had higher priority than the New Jersey Devils). He has three goals and four points in eight games to date.
Forward Brandon Pirri has averaged ~24 goals per 82 games throughout his career and could have been had for just $1.1 million on a one-year deal. He has four goals and six points in 10 games with the New York Rangers thus far.
Either of those guys, or both, would have really helped the Canucks’ offense, but they elected to pass them up. Now they’re going to pay the price – in terms of losses or parting with assets – as a result.
On Zach Werenski …
Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine have gotten all the headlines, but they’re not the only rookies off to fantastic starts.
Zach Werenski has flown way under the radar, in part due to the market he plays in, but he has been playing excellent hockey for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He has eight points through eight games, while logging big minutes in all situations and driving possession.
With Werenski on the ice, the otherwise below average Blue Jackets are controlling 52.45% of the shot attempts, 55.07% of the shots on goal and 52.34% of the scoring chances.
He has not only been Columbus’ best defenseman to date, but has been one of the best in the entire NHL.
If he keeps this up Matthews and/or Laine may not be such locks for the Calder Trophy after all.
Written by Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell)