Here we go....I'm a little flustered this afternoon. Forgot a sports coat this trip, spilled coffee on my sleeve and I'm walking into the lion's den with this chat, so hang in there with me.
Don't see them ever going back to that. The next captain of this team -- one day -- is obvious.
Depends what you're willing to trade....Young kids, you can probably move any of them. Veterans, I've got to think if the Wild turns into sellers, Brodziak, Carter, Fontaine, Backstrom and Cooke (can't imagine there's a huge market if any market for some of them) will be on the block. My guess is the only young kid they'd consider moving at some point is Erik Haula, but again, if this team continues to go south, it'll be interesting to see how management analyzes the seasons of Coyle and Granlund and Kuemper. The Granlund thing is interesting. We saw the best of him last year, but he's had a pretty poor year this season and personally I wonder how committed you can be to an undersized center with injury issues.
They're going to have to figure this out here. He has three years of term and a ton of money left on his deal, so I can't imagine too many teams will be lining up to take his contract. But if the Wild doesn't act now, this will become an unmovable contract as he continues to age. And this team already has had and currently has unmovable contracts that continue to handcuff them whenever they want to make changes. So it'll be interesting to see how the Wild proceeds with this.
Yes...Nine suspensions I believe now for Carcillo
Many teams look for centers going into the playoffs, so I'd think he'd be pretty easy to move going into his unrestricted summer
They've considering lowering his PK time but haven't felt comfortable with the third pair guys for the most part. As I have stated many times, I think it's time to see Scandella become more of a factor on the PP
I don't see it....I can see little tinker moves, but no move at this point would quote/unquote save this season, so that's a very difficult quandary to be in if you're not a so-called buyer
All different circumstances. Havlat was a move in reaction to Gaborik leaving. Heatley was a trade to move a player that needed to be moved and the salaries worked out perfectly (Havlat had a year more in term I believe) and the hope was Heatley would bring a shooter's mentality. Vanek was to fill a goal scoring need. Obviously there were several red flags with that signing, but the hope was the Wild would be able to overcome the potential deficiencies and get 30 goals from him. Obviously, it's not working out at least from a goal-scoring standpoint. No even-strength points in 14 straight games and watching his game last night again today, that's as tough as it gets. Three draws lost straight off faceoffs where he could have gotten in there and dug out pucks
I don't disagree with you there. There were stretches where he has played well for this team in previous years, but he's having a tough go this year.
As you know, that's a dangerous stat and interestingly, during his goal drought (which is at like 15 or 16 games now), his plus-minus has stabilized. I am old-school and go by the eye test. And to me his big deficiencies lately has been not being strong on pucks, not letting pucks rip off the wing like he did in the playoffs (hit the post last night a shift or two after passing up a shot) and throwing pucks away at both blue lines.
You've asked this to me 1,000 times and I don't even understand what you mean by "call" the season. You want us to quit covering games? I've made it perfectly clear what I think their chances are of making the playoffs. Honestly, I don't think you'll be content until you personally cause my heart to explode. As for your last question, they've put themselves in a crazy hole under this new playoff format. They're chasing essentially eighth and one of the teams "out" right now is the defending champs, whom I've got to think will get it together. The team I'd be scared of that's currently out is Dallas. The Stars are on the rise right now, so for the Wild to somehow hop four teams and get the help of other teams falling out will be an awfully tough task
I don't know how to answer that question. Goalie coach's job is to work tactically, be almost a buddy, a shoulder to lean on, etc. Mason didn't turn stupid overnight. Kuemper's issue has been all upstairs in my opinion. The talent's there. But part of this is his fault. He battled for a one-way contract, he got it because of Harding's preseason incident and now it's one of those "be careful what you wished for" scenarios. You wanted the NHL job, now you've got to deal with the NHL pressure of being the No. 1. He signed up for this
I don't know if I'd say that, but there's no doubt Yeo was hoping for the ice times of the 6 D to be evened out last night and at the end of the night, it wasn't. Yeo said it was due to the way the game unfolded and how the defense pairs weren't as effective as hoped. But regardless, to me, we have seen the emergence of Scandella and Brodin this year. There is just no reason that Suter should be playing 30-plus minutes a night, especially when he's going through such a tough stretch
They've considered that in the past, but they love his speed coming through the middle of the ice.
I am high on them. Tuch looks like the type of player they need. Big body, go to the net, good hands. Dumba has the big right shot it needs, but he's a 20 yo defensemen and needs to be developed properly -- not rushed to the NHL like many of its young kids. And Olofsson, I'll be honest, I haven't seen enough yet. I've seen him play once in person in college (he played at St. Cloud and was the best CC player on the ice in a game the Huskies controlled) and a few exhibition games (where he impressed). I like him, but his shoulder issue debilitated basically a year of his development so far.
Perhaps. Cooke would be harder just because he has another year left on deal that's 2.5M cap hit.
Honestly, I think Graovac and Dumba should take the Zucker/Scandella path and not the Granlund/Coyle path. Pay your dues in the minors and be a stud there
A few weeks ago, I would have said no way. But I have seen him around the rink daily lately working out, so maybe he at least wants to get his health to a point where he makes a sound decision
I'd just be guessing. But personally, when Dustin Byfuglien literally picks Granlund up, throws him into the glass and he gets hurt on that play, I'd take that as an eye opener
Yeo has mentioned this a number of times lately when asked about it....As for O'Reilly, it would be a massive financial and asset commitment to get him, and you're right, I can't see Colorado dealing him to its rival
They want him playing at least two years in college
Ward via trade or Niemi as UFA are the best options. Not much out there unless they make a trade
I'd play him more...He's been on the 2nd PP unit, which doesn't see a lot of time because the no. 1 unit plays so much (and the 2nd unit has been bad the last few games)
That's a popular theory, but I don't know, seems a stretch to me...I think the team last of energy/speed the past month (until the last three or four games) was just a symptom of losing. Losing drains you emotionally and physically. That's why in my opinion they looked so slow and lethargic during that recent stretch
It's just not going to happen. This is something that is easy for fans to say from their couch, and trust me, I mean that as no disrespect. But no coach is going to scratch Ryan Suter, Mikko Koivu or Jason Pominville and lose the veterans. What I will say, it is his job to sit there and recognize if certain players are biting off too much ice time or needs to be taken off the No. 1 PP.
No deal is going to ensure making the playoffs let alone a deep run. The Wild hasn't beaten a good team in a long, long time. This is no fluke at this point.
Goaltending, is no. 1. But the most important thing is for management and the coaching staff to look at this roster and make a true, honest appraisal of who's helping and who's holding them back, and then making those repairs
He's not. Was signed to be a depth player. I still wouldn't have scratched him in Chicago two games after getting 7 shots against Chicago
Thanks for asking. Good days and bad days. I'm visiting next weekend...Year anniversary, sadly.
I would like the wild to return to the monthly captain format that they used in early seasons. It would give the opportunity to use the proven leadership they have to some veterans as well as some of the young kids to step up and earn the role, at the same time it could give a chance to move away from Koivu without having to do the public dress down of him. Any chance that current leadership is aware of or would by into that?