NASHVILLE – You already know one half of Minnesota’s top defence pair. Ryan Suter is the star defenceman with the big contract, known as one of the NHL’s better all-around rearguards that should contend for the Norris Trophy for years to come. He’s going to play a lead role on the U.S. Olympic team, just like he did four years ago. Simply put, Suter is everything you would want in a franchise defenceman.
It’s time to get to know the other half of the Wild’s one-two combo on defence – because Jonas Brodin will soon be a star, too.
Drafted 10th overall in 2011, Brodin went off the board a little higher than draft experts predicted. The move has paid big dividends thus far for the Wild. Brodin, who won’t turn 21 until next July, hasn’t looked out of place while assuming a top role next to Suter. Brodin is averaging 25:36 of ice time through four games, up from the 23:12 he averaged as a rookie last season. He’s making the game look easy for his age.
“He’s the real deal,” Suter said of his young defence partner.
Brodin made his NHL debut at the age of 20. He was almost forced into playing with Suter because the blue line wasn’t deep and didn’t have anyone that could fill that void. Jared Spurgeon had sustained an injury that allowed Brodin to jump up to the top pair.
At the same time, Brodin has earned his spot as the Robin to Suter’s Batman. And in a way, Brodin is a younger version of Suter. Both know how to control the game and make the smart play with the puck.
“He’s what you look for in young defencemen, or any defenceman,” Suter said. “He’s so patient, so calm when he has the puck. He sits back and doesn’t panic. A lot of guys panic. For him, he slows the game down.”
Wild head coach Mike Yeo added, “Last year (Brodin) kind of came out of nowhere, right? We knew that he was a good prospect and we felt he was NHL-ready, but until you get him out there and competing against the best athletes in the world, you don’t know. Right from Day 1 he was able to go out and deliver.”
When the Wild initially signed Suter to the $98 million mega-contract in July of 2012, most people wondered who their prize defenceman was going to play with on the blue line. Suter had mostly played with fellow stud Shea Weber in Nashville, and there was a question whether either one could survive without the other. Those doubts were squashed by midseason, as Suter thrived with an unproven in Brodin and Weber came into his own alongside Roman Josi (and now Seth Jones).
With Brodin’s rapid emergence, Minnesota now knows they have an upper-echelon defence pair they can count on and build around for years to come.
“He’s been a great fit with Ryan,” Yeo said of Brodin. “Ryan has done an unbelievable job with (Brodin), helping his game along and helping him prepare for each and every game. It’s been mutual, as he helps Ryan get to his game and helps him go out and execute at a high level.”
Brodin said Suter has meant a lot to him, on and off the ice, in his first season-plus in the NHL. Getting the experience of playing big minutes and witnessing the Stanley Cup playoffs firsthand has also helped the 20-year-old. He feels a lot more comfortable, a lot more at ease heading into his first full NHL season.
“Last year was so quick with the short season. I know the guys this year, so I feel pretty good,” said Brodin, who welcomes the big role he has taken on despite the inexperience. “It’s fun to play a lot. It’s not a problem. The more you play the more you’re in the game. It’s easier to play more.”
Brodin not missing a beat at the NHL level isn’t a surprise to the ones who saw him back home at a younger age. Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg, though one year younger, played with Brodin for Team Sweden at the international level two times before they arrived to North America.
“He’s an awesome hockey player,” Forsberg said of his countryman. “He’s always been terrific, always been the top player of the Swedish teams. He’s not the biggest guy but he’s a terrific skater and can move the puck very well. He has a bright future.”
