A Coaching Change, A Helmet Scandal, & the Bright Side
Welcome to the THW Minnesota Wild Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Wild writers.
In today’s edition, we look at what led to the firing of Dean Evason and what John Hynes can offer, a deep dive in some of the bright spots of the Wild’s play this season, and then wrap it up by taking a look at Marc-Andre Fleury’s decision to wear a mask he was told not to.
It would be great if you’d share the THW Wild Substack with your friends and family so that they can subscribe and enjoy all the latest.
Now on to the good stuff…
Wild Fire Evason; Hope Hynes Brings Fresh Perspective
November 28, 2023 by Mariah Stark (Holland)
The Minnesota Wild appeared to be hitting rock bottom when they lost their seventh game in a row, but that was made even more apparent when they announced they fired head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Bob Woods. Many thought it would happen at some point during the season, but not quite this quickly.
They also didn’t take long to name a replacement in former Nashville Predators head coach John Hynes. General manager Bill Guerin had made it obvious he wasn’t happy with the team’s results but left Evason’s job alone at the time. Things changed quite quickly, and we’ll look at how things ended with Evason, who this new coach is, and what he can bring to the table.
4 Bright Spots in Minnesota Wild Play
November 27, 2023 by Mariah Stark (Holland)
The Minnesota Wild recorded their seventh straight loss when they fell to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, Nov. 26. Obviously, with the way the team’s season has gone so far, fans, coaches, players, and everyone near and dear to the Wild have ideas to fix their losing record. Making a coaching change is first on the list, as it typically always is with a struggling team, followed by changing the lines, trading players, and, of course, benching players. However, benching players is somewhat of an issue for the Wild due to cap restraints.
With all of this negativity surrounding the Wild’s current state, it’s important to keep in mind there are bright spots in their play. They may be small and often overlooked due to all the disappointment going on, but the good can be things to focus their play on and improve. There are a few good things the Wild can keep in mind, with the first being their shots on goal, and we’ll start the article there.
Mark-Andre Fleury Unmasks the NHL’s Cultural Blind Spots
November 27, 2023 by The Old Prof
This past week, Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury found himself at odds with the NHL over a custom-designed mask he had made to celebrate the team’s Native American Heritage Night on Nov. 24. When the NHL heard of Fleury’s intentions, it notified him that wearing the mask would result in fines for both him and the Minnesota Wild.
Despite the warning, Fleury decided it was within his rights to pay tribute to indigenous cultures and to honor his wife, who is a member of the indigenous community in Canada. As a result, out of respect for both the indigenous community and his wife (who is of Abenaki and Mi’kmaq descent), he accepted the NHL’s punishment and wore the mask during the team’s warm-up against the Colorado Avalanche.
