wild/nhl

Brodin’s fifth game was a 3-2 loss in Anaheim on Feb. 1. He was off-kilter that night, trying to force plays, holding the puck longer than is advisable in the world’s best hockey league.

Suter came to Brodin with this message that night: “If you’re in trouble, fire it over to my side. If I’m in trouble, I’ll know you’re there.’’

On Tuesday night, a half-hour after the Wild took a how-did-that-happen 2-1 loss to Anaheim in St. Paul, Suter added this:

“I told him, ‘If one of us makes a play that the other didn’t want to be made, we’re going to say something. That means you telling me … not just me saying something.’

“Jonas has done that. We’ve had great communication.’’

Suter was asked if he recalled thinking “wow’’ after a particular Brodin play.

He thought for a moment and said: “It’s his steadiness. The ‘wow’ is that a 19-year-old can keep the game simple in the NHL.’’

 

Patrick Reusse can be heard 3-6 p.m. weekdays on AM-1500. preusse@startribune.com