Tony Dean: MNWild Yeo’s Line Combinations & Tough Decisions Looming MNWild Yeo’s Line Combinations & Tough Decisions Looming

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great blog!
I appreciated what you had to say on koviu's impact.
the best part of the veteran core is that all the players appear to be just more mature their conditioning is still really high and they are not a step slower than previous years. This means the youth can mature along with that group. And as you pointed out Yeo can work from a position of strength and not have to desperately find the right fit.

If you compare the wild to the red wings. I think its the complete opposite where the youth there is just simply replacing the older tiering forwards.

Thanks again!

great blog!
I appreciated what you had to say on koviu's impact.
the best part of the veteran core is that all the players appear to be just more mature their conditioning is still really high and they are not a step slower than previous years. This means the youth can mature along with that group. And as you pointed out Yeo can work from a position of strength and not have to desperately find the right fit.

If you compare the wild to the red wings. I think its the complete opposite where the youth there is just simply replacing the older tiering forwards.

Thanks again!
- Tom Dusome

I appreciate the kind words Tom.

I think a lot of ways what Fletcher has worked to build here in MN is similar to what the Red Wings had going well for themselves. The amount of young talent they were able to stockpile and slow develop in Grand Rapids is impressive. Red Wings I think got themselves into trouble with contracts a bit and then have completely struck out in free agency the past couple summers.

I will be interested to see what the future holds for that franchise especially with Babcock rumored to move on soon.

I think when people talk about Stanley Cup Windows for any team they are factoring in the makeup of the roster vet/kid mix & Talent from top to bottom. The Wild have the look of a team that will get production from all 4 of their forward lines and have 3 strong defensive pairings. The Wild Card is between the pipes again this year.

Can't argue with any of those combos...but Blum ahead of Ballard?

Can't argue with any of those combos...but Blum ahead of Ballard?
- SotaPopinski

Honestly I think Ballard will play less this year than he did last year but who knows really. At points Ballard was aggressive in both ends and played some good hockey but he also suffered from inconsistency which why he became a compliance buyout. I was kinda just spitballing lots of time between now and then.

Cooke/Haula/Nino
- Tony Dean

Not the worst line, but it's that kind of combination that I fear Yeo will put together and I just think that is going to waste Haula's offensive upside. I think Haula plays a similar offensive game to Granlund in that he sees the play developing quickly and he involves his linemates right away. When he is moving and passing the puck, the play just takes on a level of speed that is difficult to contain. If they can pair him with more like minded offensive guys that have more offensive upside than a guy like Cooke, it becomes a much more dangerous line. Pair him with Cooke and Nino and the play will die on the wall in seconds.

I like Nino and I think he will be more of a goal scorer eventually, but he's another guy that's very good on the wall but not very good at taking it from the wall to the net or creating chances for himself. I just want to see Haula play with more dynamic players and not as the primary checking center.

This team needs to take a giant leap in the goal scoring department. I don't they do it playing Parise with Koivu and Haula with whoever isn't in the top six.

Not the worst line, but it's that kind of combination that I fear Yeo will put together and I just think that is going to waste Haula's offensive upside. I think Haula plays a similar offensive game to Granlund in that he sees the play developing quickly and he involves his linemates right away. When he is moving and passing the puck, the play just takes on a level of speed that is difficult to contain. If they can pair him with more like minded offensive guys that have more offensive upside than a guy like Cooke, it becomes a much more dangerous line. Pair him with Cooke and Nino and the play will die on the wall in seconds.

I like Nino and I think he will be more of a goal scorer eventually, but he's another guy that's very good on the wall but not very good at taking it from the wall to the net or creating chances for himself. I just want to see Haula play with more dynamic players and not as the primary checking center.

This team needs to take a giant leap in the goal scoring department. I don't they do it playing Parise with Koivu and Haula with whoever isn't in the top six.
- Chinaski

The reason I put Cooke with 3rd line was to kinda poke fun at Yeo-logic a bit haha you picked up on it right away.

Thoughts on dealing Nino to PIT for Martin? I'm thinking PIT may want a mid round pick as well, say a 4th that turns into a 2nd if Martin re-signs or MIN goes to the final 4.

Thoughts on dealing Nino to PIT for Martin? I'm thinking PIT may want a mid round pick as well, say a 4th that turns into a 2nd if Martin re-signs or MIN goes to the final 4.
- mventres

Not Interested. Now Zucker and a pick or Fontaine and some other pieces sure but not getting Nino for Martin no shot.

The reason I put Cooke with 3rd line was to kinda poke fun at Yeo-logic a bit haha you picked up on it right away.
- Tony Dean

I don't think it's out of the question that Yeo puts them together. I'm not sure Yeo sees Cooke playing a fourth line role on this team. But if he sees he has the makings of three pretty decent scoring lines, maybe he'll just put a logical fourth line together and spread the minutes out some more.

That's the one thing that I like about having this depth now. If you can send out a fourth line of Cooke-Brodziak-Fontaine/Almond, that's a line that could legitimately play 16 minutes per game. Not that I think he'd play them that much, but he could cut down the ice time of the top lines a little so they don't have to grind so hard through the regular season. Maybe he can do something along the lines of 16-16-14-14 split.

I don't think it's out of the question that Yeo puts them together. I'm not sure Yeo sees Cooke playing a fourth line role on this team. But if he sees he has the makings of three pretty decent scoring lines, maybe he'll just put a logical fourth line together and spread the minutes out some more.

That's the one thing that I like about having this depth now. If you can send out a fourth line of Cooke-Brodziak-Fontaine/Almond, that's a line that could legitimately play 16 minutes per game. Not that I think he'd play them that much, but he could cut down the ice time of the top lines a little so they don't have to grind so hard through the regular season. Maybe he can do something along the lines of 16-16-14-14 split.
- Chinaski

I have been really hoping to myself mostly haha that Yeo realizes that keeping Brodziak-Cooke together on 4th really isnt a big deal given he can deploy them in a defensive stopper type role while using a 3rd line of Zucker/Haula/Nino to exploit mismatches

Thoughts on dealing Nino to PIT for Martin? I'm thinking PIT may want a mid round pick as well, say a 4th that turns into a 2nd if Martin re-signs or MIN goes to the final 4.
- mventres

No thank you

Parise, brodziak, rupp (resigned)
Cooke, koivu, coyle
Fontaine, granny, nino
Vanek, haula, veilleux

Zucker lives under a bridge on highway 94.

Yeopuck's dream lines.

Parise, brodziak, rupp (resigned)
Cooke, koivu, coyle
Fontaine, granny, nino
Vanek, haula, veilleux

Zucker lives under a bridge on highway 94.

Yeopuck's dream lines.
- gypsypunk01

Shots Fired!

Vanek/Koivu/Pominville
Parise/Granlund/Coyle
Cooke/Haula/Nino
Almond/Brodziak/Bulmer

Good read!

Disagree on the comment above about Haula needing a dynamic player(not Nino), Nino is that player. Multiple games this year he was clearly the best player, I am expecting a big year out of him!

Nino-Haula-Zucker 3rd line... Yes please!

Vanek/Koivu/Pominville
Parise/Granlund/Coyle
Cooke/Haula/Nino
Almond/Brodziak/Bulmer
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Our beat writer has already stated that Yeo is going into the season with at least this:

Parise Granlund Pominville
Vanek Koivu Coyle

The last 6 are up for debate except that Nino and Haula will most likely be on the same line. That said, it'll probably switch in the first few games, but that's how it looks going into camp.

Thoughts on dealing Nino to PIT for Martin? I'm thinking PIT may want a mid round pick as well, say a 4th that turns into a 2nd if Martin re-signs or MIN goes to the final 4.
- mventres

Hi Chuck we'll give you Martin for Nin....hello? Chuck? Are you there?

Vanek/Koivu/Pominville
Parise/Granlund/Coyle
Cooke/Haula/Nino
Almond/Brodziak/Bulmer
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Vanek, Koivu and Pominville would make little sense. Both Pommer and Vanek need a playmaking center like Granlund. So to put both on a line with Koivu whose A game is a strong forecheck would be a complete mismatch.

I still maintain that Koivu will be best utilized as the 3rd line center with Coyle and Nino. That would give Yeo a strong defensive 3rd that could skate 1st/2nd line minutes against any opposition and still have plenty of scoring ability.

Vanek, Koivu and Pominville would make little sense. Both Pommer and Vanek need a playmaking center like Granlund. So to put both on a line with Koivu whose A game is a strong forecheck would be a complete mismatch.

I still maintain that Koivu will be best utilized as the 3rd line center with Coyle and Nino. That would give Yeo a strong defensive 3rd that could skate 1st/2nd line minutes against any opposition and still have plenty of scoring ability.
- MnGump

Mikko Koivu is a playmaking center...... Dude had 11 goals and 43 assists... Both Vanek and Pominville can score goals and they played well together in Buffalo. Grandlund is an upcoming star but I don't think he is ready to replace Koivu as top line Center.

Mikko Koivu is a playmaking center...... Dude had 11 goals and 43 assists... Both Vanek and Pominville can score goals and they played well together in Buffalo. Grandlund is an upcoming star but I don't think he is ready to replace Koivu as top line Center.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Well he(Granlund) already has in case you didn't watch the end of last season/post season. He centered Parise and Pominville on the first line.

Yes Koivu can and does make plays and move the puck, but the defensive side of his two-way prowess is by far his most effective attribute, IMO not necessarily the best fit between two purely offensive playrs like Vanek and Pommer. As I stated I believe Koivu's role should be taken advantage of on the 3rd line with Charlie and Nino. Obviously this will most likely not happen because most would argue that Haula is not quite ready to take over the 2nd line center position, but once he is, I think Koivu should slide to the 3rd line.

Our beat writer has already stated that Yeo is going into the season with at least this:

Parise Granlund Pominville
Vanek Koivu Coyle

The last 6 are up for debate except that Nino and Haula will most likely be on the same line. That said, it'll probably switch in the first few games, but that's how it looks going into camp.
- arvinb316

Lots of time between now and the opener though B.

I saw Russo write that but he doesnt know what it will be yet none of us do. Training Camp will be a better indicator

Mikko Koivu is a playmaking center...... Dude had 11 goals and 43 assists... Both Vanek and Pominville can score goals and they played well together in Buffalo. Grandlund is an upcoming star but I don't think he is ready to replace Koivu as top line Center.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Top Line will be Parise/Koivu/Coyle

mark my words

Top Line will be Parise/Koivu/Coyle

mark my words
- Tony Dean

I don't mind that line, but I will maintain my opinion of eventually moving Koivu to the third line at some point next season. Unless of course he starts looking like the Koivu of old, which I might add he DID somewhat when Yeo moved Granlund up to the first line near the end of last season.

Just sayin. Mikko has never been real speedy, but it's become quite evident that he's lost a step.

Let me ask you this T, if Haula was currently ready to become this teams no.2 what wouldn't you like about my suggestion of a third line make up of Nino, Koivu and Coyle?

Paul Martin and Brandon Sutter for Charlie Coyle