On today’s episode of Locked on Wild, we wonder WHY WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE SAME DEFENSIVE 3RD PAIRING DESPITE CONTINUED PROBLEMATIC RESULTS. We rewind to the initial signing of Jon Merrill, and wonder why the decision was made to sign him to a 3 year extension when the results have dropped off every season since. We make the case for Dakota Mermis to just take the job, and talk about why locking in a 3rd pairing is never a desirable outcome. We talk about the rush to sign players to extensions as opposed to simply letting the process play out. We move to the Wild handling their first adversity under John Hynes, and why he said last night’s game presented an opportunity for a lesson learned about forcing plays that simply aren’t there. We look at the Edmonton Oilers, how they have put themselves back on track since firing Jay Woodcroft, and the keys for a Wild win, which include:
1. Don’t hand out Power Play opportunities to McDavid and Draisaitl
2. Make Skinner or whoever is in net for Edmonton earn it
3. Make THIRD PAIRING CHANGES OR RISK ANOTHER BLOW UP
Make sure to join us after the game for another Locked on Wild Postcast where we will break down all of the action!
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17 Comments
The situation with our 3rd pairing reminds me of when an NFL team has an exploitable corner trying to play single coverage. If team management continues to use JM and AG they need to scheme up a way to hide them especially on the road. Hopefully tonight they find a way to do so against the hottest scorers in the NHL.
Sup with the palm tree?
Seth, when does the turnover you’re referring to occur?
Mermis should EASILY be in over Merrill
MERRILL CANT be waived and sent to Iowa. The most money the NHL can "bury" in the AHL on a single player in 2023 is $1.15M. (I think)
So a waiver is possible on Merrill but BG won’t do it out of loyalty. What??? Send his ass down immediately and then u could bring up Hunt. What is going on
Good Lord MERRILL is in the lineup again tonight? What is going on? Is Mermis hurt?
They should package a trade of Firstov. ( he won’t play here anyway). Throw in Merrill, Begosian and Hartman ( he looks to be kind of pouting on the 4th line). They just need to use a couple Iowa Dmen and let it rip. That way Beckman could come up as well.
What’s are the odds. that the 3rd pairing gets scored on atleast 3X I’m betting 4. In 9 mins of ice time 😂😂😂
I think Edmonton is finally healthy. I don’t think they were 100% at the beginning of the year. McDavid is doing McDavididy things.
Time for the pitchforks and torches! Seth is amost apoplectic with Wild keeping Stump Merrill and Alex GOAL-O-Cough-Sky…and I don't blame him one bit. Give us answers Billy!!!
The sad part is instead of holding Dean ass to the fire we first had to trade Addison. Would of love to see him play under a different coach here.
I don’t even know if Merrill would do well in the ahl with how he has played. This needs to end. Mermis was playing like an all star in comparison.
Let’s go tonight boys. Very tunes in and tuned on for a fascinating game tonight concerning two teams that have undergone early starts to the season that have played massive impacts on their numbers. I will be watching mcdavid, the Mn D pairing – in particular their skating because that is our strength especially at second pairing. Let’s go boys. let’s send some love to both sides for theee teams that have raised up against some serious controversy. Quinn hughes is the best defender i have seen aside from Makar that is truly the real deal. So much to elaborate on and I think someone already mentioned it but he is other worldly on his edges and such a feel for that spot. such a joy to watch. stoked to see some wild speed and skill tonight against a true measuring point. Shoot early and often . goaltending is their weakness. Chase skinner out early and let’s get those killers thinking Mn is the better team in this similar spot. No easy task for the wild but i believe this team is sneaky good and they can put up a w. Let’s go boys!!!!
Sounds like Goli out Mermis in
6 – 4 loss tonight, gonna be a fast & sloppy game, lots of penalties. Write it down!
Every team has a Merrill…what do you expect…6 Makars… honestly he doesn't deserve your BS… If you think that he goes away then all is golden and the west is ours…REALLY…It doesn't work like that.. I get it..,Merrill is not that good…Duh…
So what?? It's about money. .what do you expect?? FINE..call a guy up from Iowa..and for what?? You call him out on his turn over but let other pass on theirs. ….your man love on Rossi who hasn't won a draw in forever. .How many turn overs has kaprizov has..or bad pinches Brocks has…you don't want that narrative. ..just be consistent