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Home | Sports | Minnesota Wild

Wild defense gets more offense

Bruce Bisping, Star Tribune

The Wild’s Marek Zidlicky (right) has averaged 44 points in his past four NHL seasons. “He knows when to move in and make a good play or get a good shot,” Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said.

The Wild gained more firepower when it traded for a pair of offensive-minded defensemen in Marek Zidlicky and Marc-Andre Bergerson.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: September 25, 2008 - 7:27 AM

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WILD 2, COLUMBUS 1 (PRESEASON)

Up next: At Chicago • 7:30 p.m. Wednesday • (830-AM)

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There's a widespread belief inside hockey that Wild coach Jacques Lemaire doesn't permit his defensemen the "freedom" to be offensive.

It's why many scratched their heads when the Wild traded for Marek Zidlicky and Marc-Andre Bergeron, two offensively-gifted blue liners who debuted during the Wild's 2-1 exhibition victory over Columbus on Wednesday night.

"I've heard people all summer say, 'You know Jacques Lemaire. There's not enough people that can play defense on that defense,'" General Manager Doug Risebrough said.

Well, Lemaire says this is one giant misconception.

Look no further than Brent Burns, who broke out last season with a career-high 15 goals and 43 points, both Wild records for defensemen.

"Why did Burns explode?" Lemaire said. "Why is Burns entitled to do what he's doing on the ice? It's not because I gave him 'freedom.' It's because he's reliable.

"I don't want to give your 'freedom' that everyone is talking about to a guy that won't give you any offense and will be worse defensively, and we'll have to trade him because he's not good. It's not freedom, it's control. It's being capable.

"Zidlicky and Bergeron are capable."

Burns' only restrictions are to know when and when not to go.

"People actually think [Lemaire] says we can't go," Burns said. "It's not that we have a tight leash. It's just you have other teams that let their D be irresponsible almost. They want their D to be pushing the forecheck all the time and there's more responsibility on other guys to cover up.

"Here, if we get the puck, and it's a sure play, we can go anytime we want. But if it's 50-50, we can't gamble, that the thing. If you can get the puck, get it, but if it's a race, get out of there."

And if you gamble and surrender a scoring chance or worse, a goal, Burns said, laughing, "You're in trouble. Just don't mess up."

Between Burns, Zidlicky, Bergeron, Kim Johnsson, who scored Wednesday, Nick Schultz and Martin Skoula, Lemaire said he feels the Wild has its "best defensemen crew" in eight seasons. All six are mobile and can get the puck going on transition by either skating or passing.

Lemaire especially likes Zidlicky, saying he's a "natural. He's got a nice feel for the offense."

Although, Zidlicky and Bergeron combined for just one shot despite nine Wild power plays Wednesday.

"We've got two good shooters and they're passing the puck, so we've got to make them shoot," Lemaire said.

Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock says offense from the blue line is how teams are successful these days.

"Everything is transition from the back end," Hitchcock said. "You still have to be able to defend, and that's the balance, but when you have defensemen who can make things happen, it's huge.

"To me, it's not defensemen who can score goals. It's defensemen who can get assists. If you have defensemen who can feed it in there and thread it through, you just need people who can go to the net and be strong around the net. And [Minnesota's] got both."

Zidlicky averaged 44 points the past four years. Bergeron's scored 38 goals the last three, ninth most in the NHL over that span.

"They're so good with the puck. Both of them have bombs," Burns said. "It's going to be fun and exciting."

The challenge for Lemaire is to ensure Zidlicky and Bergeron take care of their own end while feeling they have the freedom to go.

"Now if we start the game and we get three goals in the first period because the guys are going too offense, I can tell you, the guys will stay back," Lemaire said. "You tell the guy, 'OK, do more pinching, get involved offensively a little more,' and sometimes we think we're playing on a lake. There's no end, ... and then you get burned."

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