Practice Like A Pro [Minnesota Wild Edition]

Hey coaches,

Do you want to practice like a pro but don't know how? I've got something for you—the Minnesota Wild outdoor practice from 2021. I know; I can already see coaches saying you should not do the same drills or it's pro-level, and you should stick to your youth level. You are right, but have you ever seen a drill and adjusted it for your team? Let's dig into their nine drills, break down what is essential in the drill, and go from there.
 

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1. Minnesota Wild - 01 Breakout + Transition
 

If you watch it closely, they start from the middle, break out one end, double transition and place the puck in the corner and a new wave of players jump in to do the same. Breakout, transition, transition, change. The purpose of it is the timing and the execution of the routes of the players. Notice on the breakout the position of all forwards and the D. All filing up their spot, giving great option and on the quick up, C above the winger for a quick tap back. On the transition, everyone is following the puck but is not slashing. They all stay in the line or on the dot lane to fill the width of the ice. On the second transition, they switch C with the winger on the strong side to build up speed and beat the coverage of the neutral zone forecheck.

 

2. Minnesota Wild - 02 Flow Timing
 

Nothing to call home about here, drill-wise. An easy flow drill with quick execution. Again, it’s all about having the right place at the right moment, adjusting to the puck carrier, and staying open. Sometimes, they have to push the pace to do a flat pass. Sometimes the none puck carrier has to turn to receive the pass, and sometimes, it’s just a straight-up pass. Most of the time, the passer will try to make a forehand pass, and they will turn around the puck and make a hard pass.

 

3. Minnesota Wild - 03 Shooting & Quick Feet
 

Now that the execution is there and you have a good flow. It’s time to move those feet and hands—nothing fancy here and no decision-making. Going around the pylon will allow your players to build up speed, skating with the puck and sometimes spotting the puck through the pylon for more skills. To add a different touch, while they turn around the pylon, they can pass to the line on the blue line and do a give-and-go.
 

4. Minnesota Wild - 04 3v0 to 2v1
 

It took me a while to figure out this drill. Still trying to figure out the 2v1 because the 2v1 was sometimes against a forward and only occasionally against a D. You start with a breakout short side, following a 3v0 rush with a delay. The player who’s doing the delay will receive the 2v1. I know it’s a slow pace, but they are working on the routes and the execution of the delay and the 2v1. These are things that we sometimes forget to discuss. Notice that the 2v1 is the full width of the ice and not only half ice.

 

5. Minnesota Wild - 05 SAG 3v3
 

Who doesn’t like doing small-area games? I don’t know if one player doesn’t like it. The Wild are working on a typical 3v3 small area game in the ¾ of the zone. One team starts on the offensive side and one on the defensive side. On the offensive side, the skill of getting in an open area and close to the puck carrier is significant. Both none puck carriers are working harder than the puck carrier to get open or to support him.

 

6. Minnesota Wild - 06 Breakout, Forecheck, Rush
 

I like this drill so much because they forecheck in the offensive zone. A typical breakout, forecheck, ozp, transition and rush. As I said, the way they are doing their forecheck is efficient. They sustain pressure by timing the three forwards on the puck placement. The puck carrier will hold the puck as much as possible when F2 and F3 are close to the puck line. They will go for the opposite corner (rim or across). They are making it harder for the defenseman to defend while under pressure. If F1 is there, F2 is sealing behind, and F3 is coming back through the middle. On the rush, they are attacking the heels, working on fundamentals that the Minnesota coaches are asking. 

 

7. Minnesota Wild - 07 SAG 3v3 with Jokers
 

Here is another small area game in their practice. But this time, four players on the wall (2 on each side) are playing with the offensive team. When the defensive team retrieves the puck and passes to one of the jokers, they are flipping to the offensive side. It’s almost a seven versus three if you use everyone well. I’ve noticed that they try to get time and space, but when they have no more options, before losing the puck, they will make a pass and get open after—creating a lot of confusion but a lot of offence.

 

8. Minnesota Wild - 08 Skills Puck Protection and F3
 

Attacking half wall with pressure from the coach, punch turn and attacking below the circle is a skill we can see so often in the NHL—trying to create space for himself by turning and accelerating. They have to switch one or two hands on the stick to keep it away from the coach. Next, they open on the opposite circle for an F3 in the soft zone with a one-timer

 

9. Minnesota Wild - 09 Shooting One Timer
 

No explanation is needed. Players are working on repetition from a different angle, and D will do as many one-timers as they want.

 

I hope you liked these new drills from one of the top teams in the league last season.  I hope you will use it the right way and use the key points for all the drills. This practice has many different types of drills for every level, from the activation to the small area game at the end. If you can remember how important the timing is, you will get better as a coach but as a team.

 

Blog by CoachThem Contributor, Mitch Giguere

Mitch Giguere, ChPC, an assistant coach with the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL, affiliated with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Mitch has his High Performance 2 from Hockey Canada, Advanced Coaching Diploma from the Canadian Sport Institute and is finishing his Learning Accelerator at the Canadian Sport Institute. You can follow his popular video breakdown on Social Media for more excellent hockey content.

 

Written by the CoachThem Team

 

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