It’s time for another Minnesota Wild season report card and after drafting two underrated defensemen recently, it’s time for another defenseman, who was in and out of the lineup but not due to poor play. Declan Chisholm was picked off waivers by the Winnipeg Jets at the end of January.
The Wild saw an opportunity and jumped on it, and they didn’t regret it when Chisholm added points and blocks to their lineup. He played in 29 games for the Wild and would have played more had they brought him in earlier in the season. When Jared Spurgeon was ruled out for the season, Chisholm stepped up and helped when they needed it most. We’re going to look at the bad part of his game, the strong part of his game, and reveal his overall quality.
Chisholm’s Turnovers Need Work
When you look at Chisholm’s stats, nothing stands out as much as a need for immediate improvement. However, his performance rates could use some work. He had 12 catches in 29 games, and while those numbers aren’t bad, they aren’t great either. If he had played 77 games and had 17 turnovers like Joel Eriksson Ek, no one would have ignored him, but having more gifts in those few games would be better and it needs to be.
Another area that could use some improvement is his overall shots. Although he averages a shot per game, he has a good shot from the spot that should be used every chance he gets. He had eight points, three of which were goals, and all three came on a brutal wrist shot instead of a big point. He shoots from the point, but fools the goalkeepers with a wrist shot.
It would be nice to see him use that shot all the time but also throw a slap shot once to see if he has any power in his shot. Hopefully he will re-sign with the Wild this offseason and show what he’s got.
Chisholm’s Defensive Skills
Obviously, as a defenseman, Chisholm’s first priority is to play defense, and general manager Bill Guerin knew exactly what he was getting when he snapped up Chisholm. Many people questioned this decision, but he quickly showed himself to be a strong defender and very careful.
He posted 36 blocked shots, averaging just under a block per game. Unlike some of his teammates, he was willing to throw himself in front of the puck. He also knew when to block with his body and when to use a stick instead of a deflector. Chisholm showed his skills on the power play, with five of his eight points coming on the man advantage, including two of those three goals.
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The Wild need Chisholm’s skills, and they need to make room for him during the offseason. They will add another solid defenseman to their core if they can do that.
Chisholm’s Total Grade
While many of Chisholm’s teammates received low marks for not reaching the postseason, he deserves a little blame. When he joined, their hole was dug deep, and he tried to help them out of it as best he could. He also played to the best of his abilities every night compared to others who couldn’t keep up with the changes.
Taking those factors into account, Chisholm earned a C for her entire grade. That may seem high, but again, in his 29 games for the Wild, he had decent numbers and did everything he could to help them win. It might have been high, but his turnover is worth watching, as is his reluctance to show his true potential. He has another level in his game that he has yet to reach and he needs to push to get there. Hopefully, the Wild choose to re-sign him and let him show what he’s really capable of.
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