[Da link](https://theathletic.com/4904988/2023/09/30/minnesota-wild-season-preview-2023-24/)
Highlights: Projected for 96.6 points, good enough for 12th in the league. Quick and dirty math is they’ll finish third or be a wild card team. They also give them a 71% chance to make the playoffs. Those are both down from the previous season.
The forwards are ranked as the 24th best offensive group, 1st defensively, and net as the 16th best group in the league. Defensemen are 27th offensively, 2nd defensively, and 13th overall. Overall is 27th for offense, 1st for defense, and 14th overall.
STRENGTHS
> After two seasons of tricking the hockey world into believing they were an exciting team again, the Wild have reverted back to their old ways: defensive juggernaut. Minnesota’s No. 1 strength is defense. Its No. 2 strength is defense. Its No. 3 strength is defense. Defense, defense, defense.
Also: WEAKNESSES
> Here’s what the Wild are good at: defense. Here’s what the Wild are bad at: offense. It is pretty much that simple, and the dearth of expected scoring is a big reason the Wild don’t rank higher.
Marco Rossi is the wild card.
There are a lot of breakdowns in the preview. While Dom Luszczysyn, Shayna Goldman, and Sean Gentille use a ton of analytics for the preview, the writing doesn’t require a deep understanding of them. It’s a good read if you’ve got subscription, or have figured out the workarounds that I’m sure someone will fill you in on.
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by PaxDragoon
2 Comments
Such a stacked defensive forward roster and no Selke love. We hate to see it.
Hmmm… does water still make things wet?
First round exit. Lose first game, win second, lose three more.