Five Reasons The Iowa Wild Wins the Calder Cup
This can happen and I will tell you why. I have been working in the AHL either full-time or part-time since 2009. This includes the last 11 years with the AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild. From Houston to Des Moines, I have seen over a decade of rosters to start a season. Some rosters catch your eye if there are a few high-end prospects, others for a strong veteran presence, or a spectacular pair of goaltenders to carry the mail.
The 2023-34 Iowa Wild seem like one of the strongest roster buildouts I have seen from an AHL club. That is a credit to Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin and Iowa Wild GM Mike Murray. The two carefully worked with the AHL coaching staff to handpick players to fit the needs of the club.
With an extremely tight salary cap, Minnesota isn’t in position to keep any extra bodies around. This creates a logjam of talent in Des Moines. With a deep and talented forward group, an incredible goalie tandem, as well as new coach Brett McLean, the atmosphere is conducive for a winning environment. Something fans in Des Moines deserve after only two playoff appearances in ten seasons.
Five Reasons Iowa Wins the Calder Cup
1) Coaching Staff
I am a big believer in Brett McLean. The AHL is not just a development league for players, but coaches as well. I can’t tell you how many great hockey minds have cut their teeth on AHL benches. As a matter of fact, Jacques Lemaire is the only former Minnesota Wild coach who did not spend any time as a head coach in the AHL.
While Mclean was an assistant in Iowa, the club posted a 107-71-22-15 mark. “Mac” was promoted to Dean Evason’s staff in Minnesota prior to the 20-21 season. During his three years in Saint Paul, the Wild posted a 134-63-23 record. McLean has only known winning and development on the bench and the expectation is that he will continue that trend.
McLean did an excellent job of filling out his coaching staff with the hiring of assistants Ben Simon and Patrick Dweyer. Goalie Development Coach Richard Bachman is the lone holdover from the previous regime after his stellar work with prized goalie prospect Jepser Wallstedt and Zane McIntyre.
Nothing against the previous regime, but it was time for change in Des Moines. The atmosphere around the locker room is a night-and-day difference from the previous five seasons. That alone should bump the win column up.
2) Forward Depth
This is perhaps the deepest group of forwards I have seen in my time covering the AHL. The group includes eight different 20-goal scorers, with potential for a few others to threaten the plateau.
This forward unit composes three very good lines, and a defensive/checking core that will make life miserable for opponents. As a matter of fact, the team depth should be able to put the club in position to survive when injuries hit Minnesota and Iowa.
Nic Petan, Vinni Lettieri, Adam Beckman, Sammy Walker and Joel Teasdale all topped the 20-goal mark last season. Steven Fogarty and Jake Lucchini each scored 19, and Nick Swaney sniped 18 times in only 48 games played. This group does not include Caeden Bankier and Mason Shaw, who are both injured and expected to join the team later in the season. Iowa has a bonafide two-way NHL centerman in Jujhar Khaira, who has size and is decent in the faceoff dots. I wonder how long he will be around.
Character forwards like Mike O’Leary, Greg Meireles, Kale Kessy and Michael Milne will factor into the fourth line. Rookies Pavel Novak and Casey Dornbach are also expected to contribute.
3) Goalie Tandem
Most teams would be thrilled to have one of the top goalie prospects in the world man their crease. Iowa is beyond happy Jesper Wallstedt is back for an encore from his rookie season and he is expected to take another big step in his development. The Ace up the sleeve is veteran Zane McIntyre as Wallstedt’s batterymate. The 21-year-old Wallstedt continually improved throughout last season, finishing 18-15-5 with a 2.68 g.a.a. and a .908 SV%. If he can make the same jump Kaapo Kahkonen did in year two of his development, he will make it very hard for Minnesota to award him with a call up.
A steady rock like McIntyre is critical to have around. He was 16-12-5 with a 2.87 g.a.a. and a .899 SV %. The two goalies split time in the crease last season, with Wallstedt logging four more appearances.
These two will push each other a lot during the season. With a young defense group playing in front of them every night, Wallstedt and McIntyre will likely have to make some big saves from time to time.
4) Mason Shaw
This is the only player that gets his own category. He is rehabbing his fourth ACL tear of his career. Shaw has been and will continue to be an inspiration for those needing to overcome adversity. You just can’t count this guy out.
Here is the kicker. Due to his previous injuries and rehab time, Shaw is not considered a veteran by AHL standards (260+ games). In my mind, he is a veteran and will be a huge part of this club through rehab until he can join them on the ice. He is a former team Captain and an incredible asset to that locker room.
If he comes back as the “Mason Shaw” we know him to be, the Wild will get a major shot in the arm mid-winter.
5) New Everything
Follow me here. New head Coach. New decade of Iowa Wild hockey in Des Moines. New lease at Wells Fargo Arena (WFA) signed through the 27-28 season. Finally, new dasher boards and glass all the way around. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the bad bounces within WFA should leave with the old boards and be replaced with good bounces in favor of the home team.
Injuries can foil an entire season for an NHL franchise, with a heavy effect on the AHL franchise. If the Minnesota Wild stay mostly healthy, and Iowa is able to do the same, I expect the AHL Wild to contend for the Central Division, make the playoffs and win a few series, maybe even the Calder Cup.
If this club can make the run I believe could happen, it develops a healthy portion of winners that will soon journey 245 miles north to Saint Paul for the Big Club.
