There are many reasons why the Minnesota Wild missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2018-19 and just the second time since 2011-12.
Injuries? Check.
An inability to beat teams in front of them? Check.
Inadequate goaltending? Check.
Lack of depth scoring? Check.
A 30th ranked penalty kill? Check.
Despite blueline injuries, the Wild's defense though wasn't the problem this season even though it had its moments.
In fact, believe it or not, the Wild were actually one of the better defensive teams in the NHL this season.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Wild allowed 2.51 goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five, which ranked in the middle of the league at 16th. Average, yes, but much of it can be attributed to their goaltending. Both Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury had some good stretches during the year, but they finished the season with an .899 and .895 save percentage, respectively.
The defense in front of them wasn't the problem. Take the Wild’s goaltending out of the equation, and the Wild allowed 2.21 expected goals against per 60 at five-on-five, which was the best mark in the league. Likewise, the Wild allowed an NHL-low 622 high-danger chances at five-on-five with the Carolina Hurricanes (627) and Dallas Stars (637) in second and third. As for scoring chances and shots against at five-on-five, the Wild ranked sixth and eighth, respectively.
The fact that the Wild were one of the best defensive teams in the league this season is impressive considering that their best defenseman in Jared Spurgeon only played 16 games and had season-ending injuries, in addition to Jonas Brodin missing 20 games.
This speaks to the Wild's defensive identity up and down the lineup. And who knows where the Wild would have been without Brock Faber, who made sliding into a No. 1 role look easy.
When looking back at the Wild's season, there's many culprits, including their 22nd-ranked save percentage, but their defensive body of work is near the bottom of the list.
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