Wild Defenseman Not Happy with John Hynes After Being Scratched

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NHL: Minnesota Wild Jon Merrill at Carolina Hurricanes
Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Wild are in free fall. No. They don’t deserve that. Free fall is freeing – exhilarating. The Minnesota Wild are coming apart at the seams. Yeah. That’s it. The stitching that once held this delicate comfort blanket together has frayed and come undone. It’s lost so much of itself that the stuffing is showing.

Remember when the Minnesota Wild last looked like a contender?

Honestly, this team hasn’t brought me real comfort since Jan. 4 vs the Carolina Hurricanes, whom they happen to host Friday night. I happened to be in Raleigh a month ago to witness the Wild dominate a Canes team that, at the time, had the highest shooting volume of any team in the league.

The Minnesota Wild sucked the life right out of the Canes that night with damn good defense and possession hockey. They won 4-0 despite Kirill “The Thrill”, Captain Spurgeon and Jake Middleton all being out.

Minnesota allowed just 21 shots despite losing more than 60 percent of the faceoffs and committing five penalties. I attended the game that night with my cousin, a Canes fan. I tried to soothe his pain by alerting him, “hey, you won another faceoff” over and over. It likely had the opposite effect.

Even when the Hurricanes had it they couldn’t get it on goal. They had 20 shots. The Minnesota Wild blocked 17 shots and played their high-quality chances perfectly. Mats Zuccarello told Rossi to “stop taking all the glory” and pass the puck. He had four assists. He was a goddamn genius with the puck on a string.

Jon Merrill not happy with Wild head coach John Hynes

Tonight, Rossi is back on the MN Wild top line with the hope it sparks some offense to comfort coach John Hynes. But that’s not the only move he made at skate-around today. John Hynes scratched Jon Merrill, and Merrill didn’t take it very well.

In fact, he was pissed. Good. He should be pissed. I want a guy willing to rip into his coach when he’s benched. But I’d prefer I guy I don’t have to bench. “This is the most I’ve ever seen a player state his case,” Michael Russo (The Athletic) said of Merrill’s tantrum.

Paul Allen (KFAN) was there to provide play-by-play, but his color commentary was actually better and more on-point. Jon Merrill hasn’t built up enough stock to be going at his head coach like this.

Russo: “Oh, This is interesting. [John] Hynes and [Jon] Merrill are having a pretty animated conversation here.”

PA: “We have Hynes and Merrill off to the side. Everybody else is going through the morning state.”

Russo: “Yeah, you can tell Merrill is not happy.”

PA: “Merrill and John Hines are by the between the red line and the blue line and having an animated conversation about something and Heinzy just spoke up a little bit. Now Merrill’s like stating his case about something. Yeah, take us through what’s happening right now, Russo?”

Russo: “Well, as I I tweeted about five minutes ago, Meryl’s not playing tonight, just watching the defense pairings…Merril is clearly not happy. This is the most I’ve ever seen a player at state his case.”

PA: “You see Hynes tap his chest, like ‘that’s my call, that’s my call’. Whoa, this is unbelievable.”

Russo: “Yeah, he’s ticked. This is crazy.”

PA: “In that spot, with Brods [Brodin] having just returned, this, for Jon Merrill, with all due respect, it might need to be ‘yes, Hynsey. Yes, Heinsey. Three bags full. Yes, Heinsey.”

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Merrill needs to just take his medicine there and bring the energy whenever he’s next on the ice, “which could be March,” Allen added. Thankfully, the Minnesota Wild play just six games this month. They probably only need to win two of them to avoid being sellers at the deadline, but I’d be taking offers on Merrill anyway. He’s an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Problem is nobody likely wants him.

The real reason why Jon Merrill should be pissed…

Jon Merrill’s cumulative game score this season is 0.47. That’s worst amongst Minnesota Wild defenseman, and it’s been on the decline from 2.025 on Dec. 15. That was the last time he had a primary assist. Declan Chisholm has simply been better. He and Jake Middleton lead Wild defenseman with five primary assists. The Wild need to score. They haven’t scored this month.

Related: Minnesota Wild Claim Ryan Hartman’s Buddy Off Waivers

The Minnesota Wild are falling apart physically. The last thing they need is to show everyone how much they’re falling apart mentally. Carolina’s gonna come into Xcel Energy Center looking for retribution. They’ve all probably rewatched that piss poor performance they put on in Raleigh. Let’s see what you’re made of, Minnesota Wild. Oh wait, you’re already showing us.

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