I could live with that fourth line, but Yeo just seemed reluctant to play him there a lot last year. So do you think they're thinking Niederreiter-Haula-Almond on the third line? Or would it be Cooke on that third line and move Almond down to play with Brodziak and Fontaine? And is Fontaine only an option on the fourth line?

The knock on him seems to be his wall play and lack of physicality. And Yeo just always seems to want that fourth line to dictate some physical play.

I could see him potentially putting Fontaine on a checking line with Haula, but I'm not sure who you put on the other wing in that situation. Maybe Niederreiter works there. But every time I try to think through this I can't shake the feeling that I'm cobbling together a spare parts third line with Haula as the pivot. And I think that may be a mistake with Haula.

As we've discussed previously, that Coyle-Koivu-Niederreiter line was a pretty good line and that looks like a very complimentary line in my opinion. They can check and they can hold possession in the offensive zone probably better than any other combination the Wild have. That would free Haula up to play with better offensive players, particularly Parise.

I just thought those two had great chemistry at times when he played them together in short-handed situations. If Yeo played these lines - Vanek/Granlund/Pominville, Parise/Haula/Zucker, Coyle/Koivu/Niederreiter - I think he could have three effective penalty killing forward units by just keeping them together - Granlund/Pominville, Haula/Parise, Koivu/Coyle.

I don't know. I guess we need to wait until camp to see who's going to make a push to make the team and what combinations may work.
- Chinaski

Yep, I really like those proposed lines Chi! Especially the top two! How nice will it be to have a 3rd line like Coyle/Koivu/Niederreitter? Only improvement I could see for the fourth line would be Cooke/Brodziak/Bulmer. IMO I am not a big Almond fan as I've commented previously, I think it's time to see what Bulmer can do. Again, I like Fontaine, but I don't really see a permanant fit for him in this line up.

Do you think Stoner was getting that kind of offer from more than one team? I was wondering why they gave him that and when I looked at their roster, the only thing I could come up with is that their more physical defensemen were getting older and they were basically going to lose them after next season. With some of their talented young blueliners, maybe they think Stoner can play up to the second pairing without being too much of a liability. In addition, they're in a favorable cap situation to pay Stoner that money. It looks crazy, but I don't think it hinders them with the cap, especially if it goes up.
- Chinaski

I'm still puzzled over the Stoner deal. Even if the Ducks had gobs of cap space, it seems fairly unreasonable to throw that kind of money at a guy clearly not worth that much just because you can. I have a hard time believing that teams were beating down Stoners door to try to sign him. IMO, he's worth about 1/2 of the contract amount he ended up with.

Yep, I really like those proposed lines Chi! Especially the top two! How nice will it be to have a 3rd line like Coyle/Koivu/Niederreitter? Only improvement I could see for the fourth line would be Cooke/Brodziak/Bulmer. IMO I am not a big Almond fan as I've commented previously, I think it's time to see what Bulmer can do. Again, I like Fontaine, but I don't really see a permanant fit for him in this line up.
- MnGump

The thing is Almond has a one-way contract, so I figure that gives him an inside track on a guy like Bulmer. Also, they may want Bulmer playing more minutes in Iowa in a bigger role. I'm not sure 8-12 fourth line minutes in the NHL is where they see him fitting or if they think it's good for his development at this point. Bulmer hasn't played much hockey the past two years.

But he could bring an element to the Wild lineup they are missing, so I think he and Gabriel may get a long look.

It should make for an interesting camp - lots of competition.

I could live with that fourth line, but Yeo just seemed reluctant to play him there a lot last year. So do you think they're thinking Niederreiter-Haula-Almond on the third line? Or would it be Cooke on that third line and move Almond down to play with Brodziak and Fontaine? And is Fontaine only an option on the fourth line?

The knock on him seems to be his wall play and lack of physicality. And Yeo just always seems to want that fourth line to dictate some physical play.

I could see him potentially putting Fontaine on a checking line with Haula, but I'm not sure who you put on the other wing in that situation. Maybe Niederreiter works there. But every time I try to think through this I can't shake the feeling that I'm cobbling together a spare parts third line with Haula as the pivot. And I think that may be a mistake with Haula.

As we've discussed previously, that Coyle-Koivu-Niederreiter line was a pretty good line and that looks like a very complimentary line in my opinion. They can check and they can hold possession in the offensive zone probably better than any other combination the Wild have. That would free Haula up to play with better offensive players, particularly Parise.

I just thought those two had great chemistry at times when he played them together in short-handed situations. If Yeo played these lines - Vanek/Granlund/Pominville, Parise/Haula/Zucker, Coyle/Koivu/Niederreiter - I think he could have three effective penalty killing forward units by just keeping them together - Granlund/Pominville, Haula/Parise, Koivu/Coyle.

I don't know. I guess we need to wait until camp to see who's going to make a push to make the team and what combinations may work.
- Chinaski

I'm accounting for Zucker to be on the 3rd line with Haula and Nino, though I know that's pretty far-fetched. That would leave Cooke, Brodziak, Fontaine and Almond to fill out the last line. If Zucker is in Iowa, then Cooke on 3 and Almond on 4 seems like the most likely scenario.
I believe I read that Haula and Zucker enjoyed playing together and had some nice chemistry together in the AHL, so maybe they could find that again here.
I just do not see Yeo elevating Haula up to the 2C spot anytime soon, even though the line you proposed would be exciting to see as well. Lots of possibilities, hopefully it doesn't take too long to find the best combinations.

I'm accounting for Zucker to be on the 3rd line with Haula and Nino, though I know that's pretty far-fetched. That would leave Cooke, Brodziak, Fontaine and Almond to fill out the last line. If Zucker is in Iowa, then Cooke on 3 and Almond on 4 seems like the most likely scenario.
I believe I read that Haula and Zucker enjoyed playing together and had some nice chemistry together in the AHL, so maybe they could find that again here.
I just do not see Yeo elevating Haula up to the 2C spot anytime soon, even though the line you proposed would be exciting to see as well. Lots of possibilities, hopefully it doesn't take too long to find the best combinations.
- SotaPopinski

Yeo will f*ck it up just to spite you.

Yep, I really like those proposed lines Chi! Especially the top two! How nice will it be to have a 3rd line like Coyle/Koivu/Niederreitter? Only improvement I could see for the fourth line would be Cooke/Brodziak/Bulmer. IMO I am not a big Almond fan as I've commented previously, I think it's time to see what Bulmer can do. Again, I like Fontaine, but I don't really see a permanant fit for him in this line up.
- MnGump

I like Bulmer's potential, but he doesn't deserve a roster spot quite yet, imo. He needs to stay healthy and make a bigger mark than he has so far in the AHL.
Not to say Almond is much more deserving, but he was signed to play in Minny not Iowa.

Yeo will f*ck it up just to spite you.
- Chinaski

And you poor bastards will have to spend another season listening to my female doging

And you poor bastards will have to spend another season listening to my female doging
- SotaPopinski

This is the year I expect to ratchet my female doging up significantly if things don't go well. I know it takes some time to build up the roster with depth and to develop chemistry, so I've given the Wild a bit of a pass the last few years. But this is the year we need to see some impactful results.

This is the year I expect to ratchet my female doging up significantly if things don't go well. I know it takes some time to build up the roster with depth and to develop chemistry, so I've given the Wild a bit of a pass the last few years. But this is the year we need to see some impactful results.
- Chinaski

I don't know if HB is ready for you to start complaining. I was beginning to think you were a cyborg or something with how patient and level-headed you have been.
But I agree, this team has reached the point where anything other than a playoff run should be considered a pretty big disappointment.
Btw, do you know how many years Yeo was extended for?

I don't know if HB is ready for you to start complaining. I was beginning to think you were a cyborg or something with how patient and level-headed you have been.
But I agree, this team has reached the point where anything other than a playoff run should be considered a pretty big disappointment.
Btw, do you know how many years Yeo was extended for?
- SotaPopinski

This is the year I expect to ratchet my female doging up significantly if things don't go well. I know it takes some time to build up the roster with depth and to develop chemistry, so I've given the Wild a bit of a pass the last few years. But this is the year we need to see some impactful results.
- Chinaski

With the acquistion of Vanek and all due respect to Fletch and Yeo... I think the waiting should be coming to an end. The roster is as set as it's going to be with all the peices necessary to provide skill and depth. So I agree whole heartedly, the Wild finally took steps last season, now it's time to polish and perfect the prodcut being presented to us. Only real question marks still unanswered are the ones surrounding the goal tending position.

I don't know if HB is ready for you to start complaining. I was beginning to think you were a cyborg or something with how patient and level-headed you have been.
But I agree, this team has reached the point where anything other than a playoff run should be considered a pretty big disappointment.
Btw, do you know how many years Yeo was extended for?
- SotaPopinski

Talk to die hard LA fans. A team like that - it took awhile for it to all come together. I guess watching some of these other teams go through it, I couldn't expect the Wild to expedite those types of builds in half the time. And they still have a huge challenge in front of them competing against the better teams in the West. But it's time to take the next step.

On Stoner I am sure more than one team was in on it because of how much money defenders made in FA this year.


I actually have my forwards group article completed where I touched on just about everything you guys are discussing now. I will publish it tonight.

Stoner was valuable last year I would have loved to have him back which sounds weird to say given his history here. Stoner's worth as a guy that can ACTUALLY play hockey but also do the goonery is a under-estimated reason he got the $ & Term he did. Roster spots being blocked by Rupp types kill flexibility and opportunity because the guy can't get on the ice and when he does he is a liability. Stoner playing bottom pair is a strength not a liability although he will still have moments of F*ckery