The Minnesota Wild's offseason started early, which means they have more time to improve before the 2024-25 season begins. Joel Erickson Ek has one month left to implement an intensive fitness plan.
Eriksson Ek, known as Mr. September, always enters training camp in peak physical condition. He often ranks first in every item tested. Will Eriksson Ek be testing some new types of training? Or will he just increase the time and intensity of what he usually does? No one knows for sure, but one thing is certain: There is one. Mr. September will be ready when the season starts in five months.
There are a few other things Eriksson Ek should work on during the offseason. He's one of the odd ducks on the team, in the most endearing sense of the word. He is often given two minutes in the penalty area after being punched in the face. Eku is not a small man. I can't help but think that his reluctance when it comes to fighting on the ice is because he lacks confidence in his fighting skills.
This summer will be the perfect time for Eriksson Ek to take boxing lessons. Brandon Duhaime is taking boxing lessons and look at the stupid confidence it gives him. It will be incorporated directly into Eku's fitness regime. Plus, if you hit someone in the face in Game 1, you'll probably take far fewer punches the rest of the season. Off-ice solutions to on-ice problems.
The third thing Eriksson Ek needs to work on over the summer is perhaps the most important. If you've been paying attention to the team's walk-in content on social media, you'll notice that Ek has grown out his curly hair. He has had several different hairstyles over the years, but this hairstyle has become a fan favorite. However, curly hair can be difficult to manage. Eyelashes should spend some time over the summer fine-tuning their hair care routine to keep their curls looking their best.
Ek also waited until the 82nd game of the season to wear a newsboy cap over his curls, giving him a “Newsies but let's play hockey” vibe. (To be fair, he did wear the hat again, but only in a blurred background, much to the chagrin of Erickson Ek fans everywhere.) That may be a divisive view. But the overwhelming opinion on social media is that they are very happy with the hat. Ek may look for more hats that will really get his fans excited. (Pun totally intended.)
In all seriousness, Ek is probably the only Wild player I'm confident in handling in the offseason. In addition to entering the season in great shape, he has also improved his performance each time he has played in the NHL. His average time on the ice has increased by an hour and 30 minutes from last year to this year, showing how much the Wild trust him. On a team in desperate need of a good center, Ek's faceoff rate is still below 50%, but it's increasing a little each year. This year, it was 49.7%. He also scored 64 points in 77 games this year, three more points in one fewer game than last season.
Eriksson Ek's career trajectory remains diagonal. As long as he continues to do what he needs to do over the summer, he should remain the Wild's top-line center for a long time.
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