With seven losses in their last nine games the Good Ship Wild of Minnesota is taking on water at a rapid rate and what was once considered to be a team on the rise is now a team on the brink. And with the recent firings of Paul MacLean of the Ottawa Senators and of Peter DeBoer of the New Jersey Devils speculation is already starting, again I might add, that Mike Yeo is not for long as head coach of the Minnesota Wild. But Yeo cannot be blamed entirely as he has had the misfortune of not having a quality number one goaltender.
An Ironic Crisis
Going back to day one as an expansion team under head coach Jacques Lemaire the Wild have long had the reputation for being something of a boring, defense first team that has always lacked offense. This year, the Wild have flipped their identity with a ranking of 11th in the NHL for goals scored but 22nd for goals against. It is something of a cruel irony that the year in which Yeo has the most offensive depth in his four seasons on the job he lacks the goaltender to compliment such an asset.
Cursed in Goal
Josh Harding was unable to overcome complications with multiple sclerosis that had him in and out of the lineup the past two seasons and is now with Minnesota’s Iowa based minor league team. Niklas Backstrom is on injured reserve with the flu while Darcy Kuemper is questionable with the flu. If Kuemper is unable to answer the bell John Curry will have to take over in goal.
Curry allowed four goals in 23 shots in Minnesota’s 4-3 home loss to Winnipeg on Saturday in front of a disappointed packed house in St. Paul. To be fair Curry arrived shortly after a five hour minor league bus ride that was followed by a flight to Minneapolis that was, of course, delayed. He arrived less than four hours before puck drop. From injuries to illnesses to delayed flights, the Wild cannot catch a break in goal. The players are becoming increasingly frustrated about the situation.
“It’s something that in the past I’ve never really seen before,” said RW Jason Pominville. “Since I’ve been here it’s kind of been that way where there’s been unfortunate injuries and guys sick. It’s really been unfortunate we can’t have somebody that just takes the load, takes the lead, and takes the net for a while.”
Yeo Cracks
After a 5-2 home loss to Philadelphia last week, Yeo finally let loose of his emotions and accused his team of lacking a winning attitude.
“They’re the ones out there performing,” said Yeo of his team. “I’m not trying to say that I’m not responsible for this. I always believe that what you see on the ice is your responsibility. But that the same time, there’s been a lot of attempts and a lot of different ways and at some point, it’s got to come from them too.”
When asked what the Wild are missing Yeo replied curtly, “A winner’s attitude.”
Irregardless of whether Yeo is right or wrong, such statements are usually the beginning of the end for a NHL head coach and tend to inspire contempt among players instead of a better effort.
Pressure Building
General manager Chuck Fletcher also must address a thin defensive corps in addition to the goaltending crisis. Defensemen Jonas Brodin and Keith Ballard are both out indefinitely and that is putting pressure on the top three D-Men Ryan Suter, Marco Scandella, and Jared Spurgeon. Not only are the trio dealing with an increase of playing time but also trying to cover for the inferior goaltending.
Subpar Numbers
In today’s NHL a goaltender should have a save percentage in the .920 range. The Minnesota tandem of Backstrom (.901) and Kuemper (.901) are not anywhere near that standard.
What to do?
Do you trade some of the offense that you have so longed for to get a quality netminder? Do you ride it out and hope that the young Kuemper responds to the opportunity in a year in which he was to learn in the minors? Or do you fire Yeo? If things don’t change fast, it’s almost certain to be the latter.
