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?
- MnGump

What would the Top 6 be then Gump?

Vanek/Granlund/Pommer
Parise/Haula/????

Paul Martin and Brandon Sutter for Charlie Coyle
- YouMeAndDupuis9

You can have Zucker + some or Fontaine + some for Martin. Your not getting anyone currently in our Top 9 like Coyle, Nino, or Haula. Even then not sure Martin is even a great fit here.

You can have Zucker + some or Fontaine + some for Martin. Your not getting anyone currently in our Top 9 like Coyle, Nino, or Haula. Even then not sure Martin is even a great fit here.
- Tony Dean

:-(

Thats a top pairing defenseman and an above average 3rd liner. I thought it was close value.

:-(

Thats a top pairing defenseman and an above average 3rd liner. I thought it was close value.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Players have to be made available for any trade to happen and Coyle, Nino, and Haula are not.

Martin is a Good player but I dont see Fletcher giving up much to get him while taking on his salary.

Players have to be made available for any trade to happen and Coyle, Nino, and Haula are not.

Martin is a Good player but I dont see Fletcher giving up much to get him while taking on his salary.
- Tony Dean

Fair enough. I would consider Zucker + ...just not sure what the right "+" piece would be.

Fair enough. I would consider Zucker + ...just not sure what the right "+" piece would be.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I think martin is possible at very least b/c he would play with Suter but I am more of the opinion that Fletcher will stand pat with current Blue Liners.

What would the Top 6 be then Gump?

Vanek/Granlund/Pommer
Parise/Haula/????
- Tony Dean

Well with the current roster I'd probably put Fontaine with Parise and Haula.

Vanek/Granlund/Pommer
Parise/Haula/????
- Tony Dean

Zucker please.

You are the opposing coach. Yeo ices these three lines. Who do you check?
Vanek-Granlund-Pomminville
Parise-Haula-Zucker
Coyle-Koivu-Niederreiter

Zucker please.

You are the opposing coach. Yeo ices these three lines. Who do you check?
Vanek-Granlund-Pomminville
Parise-Haula-Zucker
Coyle-Koivu-Niederreiter
- Chinaski

Yes, if he doesn't get traded. But, I think Fontaine more than proved himself offensively last season, at least enough to be considered. Zucker still has much to prove IMO>

So are you saying you like these lines, or are you saying no?

Yes, if he doesn't get traded. But, I think Fontaine more than proved himself offensively last season, at least enough to be considered. Zucker still has much to prove IMO>

So are you saying you like these lines, or are you saying no?
- MnGump

These are the lines I like on paper. Who knows how it all shakes out on the ice.

Zucker does still have a lot to improve on. But I think they need to put him into a role with faster, offensive guys. It's time to push the envelope to increase scoring. I just think this gives them a lot of balance in the top nine and the most complementary line combinations.

I think it also give them reasonably good defensive pairings on the ice as well with those combinations. The only down side I see here is that they could get pushed around by some of the really good, big teams.

Just wanted to share this news with my WildHBcommunity peeps!


http://northlandsportsonl...05/dubay-makes-nso-debut/

Zucker please.

You are the opposing coach. Yeo ices these three lines. Who do you check?
Vanek-Granlund-Pomminville
Parise-Haula-Zucker
Coyle-Koivu-Niederreiter
- Chinaski

Love these lines, but how likely is it that Zucker goes from being shuttled back and forth to Iowa, to becoming 2nd line winger...especially with his injury towards the end of the season? I don't think having a strong camp/preseason will do much to convince Yeo to move him up to that second line. At least not initially.

Love these lines, but how likely is it that Zucker goes from being shuttled back and forth to Iowa, to becoming 2nd line winger...especially with his injury towards the end of the season? I don't think having a strong camp/preseason will do much to convince Yeo to move him up to that second line. At least not initially.
- SotaPopinski

It's not very likely. Those lines would depend on Zucker improving pretty significantly and probably having to live with some growing pains as they work out the kinks. But a guy like that - his speed, his shot - I'd hate to see the Wild move on from him just yet.

We're seeing what talented guys with high-end speed can do in this league. It's hard to defend those guys and they tend to make things happen.

This team needs to score goals and needs to do so in bunches. I'm not saying Zucker doesn't have to play defense, he does. But I think they need to let the horses out of the barn here a little bit. That's why I like the idea of pairing Zucker with Haula and Parise. I think you have two guys on that line that can play at his speed and help leverage his strengths, yet they can also help him defensively.

Zucker is the kind of player that I think needs to know he can make a mistake. And I also think he needs to be playing at top speed. When he is thinking about what to do, it's slowing him down and then he just doesn't do anything well. Maybe if they just give him a lot of leash early and let him know it's OK to make a few mistakes as long as he is learning from them, we could see him take off.

Hey, it could be a total bust. But I think it's worth a shot. There's a lot of depth this year to pick up the slack. I'm not sure any team in the division got worse. They all look to have improved their rosters. So it may take a little outside the box and comfort zone thinking to stay ahead of the pack.

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
- Tony Dean

Fair enough, but I don't see why you mess with your #1 line until you need to.

Paul Martin and Brandon Sutter for Charlie Coyle
- YouMeAndDupuis9

We don't want your overrated scabs.

Just wanted to share this news with my WildHBcommunity peeps!


http://northlandsportsonl...05/dubay-makes-nso-debut/
- Tony Dean

Still didn't get why they dropped him from the Judd and Dubay show. Honestly wish KFAN would have rehired him, might make the PA show worth listening to again.

Love these lines, but how likely is it that Zucker goes from being shuttled back and forth to Iowa, to becoming 2nd line winger...especially with his injury towards the end of the season? I don't think having a strong camp/preseason will do much to convince Yeo to move him up to that second line. At least not initially.
- SotaPopinski

I absolutely love the possibilities with a 3rd line that consists of Coyle, Koivu and Niederreiter! Honestly, I think it would be the anchor of the entire line up, and would allow Yeo to mix and match with the top two lines until he has just the right combination of speed and scoring.

I'm sure it's just a pipe dream at this point, but would love to see it.

I absolutely love the possibilities with a 3rd line that consists of Coyle, Koivu and Niederreiter! Honestly, I think it would be the anchor of the entire line up, and would allow Yeo to mix and match with the top two lines until he has just the right combination of speed and scoring.

I'm sure it's just a pipe dream at this point, but would love to see it.
- MnGump

Everybody can have whatever line they'd like on NHL '15.

Anybody play that game and interested in EASHL if they have it for Xbox One?

I absolutely love the possibilities with a 3rd line that consists of Coyle, Koivu and Niederreiter! Honestly, I think it would be the anchor of the entire line up, and would allow Yeo to mix and match with the top two lines until he has just the right combination of speed and scoring.

I'm sure it's just a pipe dream at this point, but would love to see it.
- MnGump

Everybody can have whatever line they'd like on NHL '15.

Anybody play that game and interested in EASHL if they have it for Xbox One?

Everybody can have whatever line they'd like on NHL '15.

Anybody play that game and interested in EASHL if they have it for Xbox One?
- arvinb316

Doubt I'll be getting an XBOX One anytime soon. Building a new garage and renovating our house pretty much consumes every spare nickel in my bank account.

I absolutely love the possibilities with a 3rd line that consists of Coyle, Koivu and Niederreiter! Honestly, I think it would be the anchor of the entire line up, and would allow Yeo to mix and match with the top two lines until he has just the right combination of speed and scoring.

I'm sure it's just a pipe dream at this point, but would love to see it.
- MnGump

I think they would have a chance to put up numbers as good as the other two lines.

Doubt I'll be getting an XBOX One anytime soon. Building a new garage and renovating our house pretty much consumes every spare nickel in my bank account.
- MnGump

Well that's pretty negative. Haha!

It's not very likely. Those lines would depend on Zucker improving pretty significantly and probably having to live with some growing pains as they work out the kinks. But a guy like that - his speed, his shot - I'd hate to see the Wild move on from him just yet.

We're seeing what talented guys with high-end speed can do in this league. It's hard to defend those guys and they tend to make things happen.

This team needs to score goals and needs to do so in bunches. I'm not saying Zucker doesn't have to play defense, he does. But I think they need to let the horses out of the barn here a little bit. That's why I like the idea of pairing Zucker with Haula and Parise. I think you have two guys on that line that can play at his speed and help leverage his strengths, yet they can also help him defensively.

Zucker is the kind of player that I think needs to know he can make a mistake. And I also think he needs to be playing at top speed. When he is thinking about what to do, it's slowing him down and then he just doesn't do anything well. Maybe if they just give him a lot of leash early and let him know it's OK to make a few mistakes as long as he is learning from them, we could see him take off.

Hey, it could be a total bust. But I think it's worth a shot. There's a lot of depth this year to pick up the slack. I'm not sure any team in the division got worse. They all look to have improved their rosters. So it may take a little outside the box and comfort zone thinking to stay ahead of the pack.
- Chinaski

Agree completely. Zucker and Dumba are the two prospects I am most excited about, and yet they could very well turn out to be busts. These are the type of players I love seeing a team take a chance on, though. If both come even close to realizing their potential, it will be a major score for this organization. Zucker has the ability to give the opponent fits with his speed and above average shot. Dumba with his willingness to lay people out and his desire to jump into the offensive zone and use that shot of his.
Something tells me that we may not see a whole lot of either player this season, though. Dumba needs at least a season in the AHL and Zucker has a little bit of a hill to climb after his inconsistent season and injury. I keep thinking we will see a 4th line of Almond-Broziak-Fontaine with Cooke starting off on line 3 with Nino and Haula. Yeo continues to be too predictable

Anybody play that game and interested in EASHL if they have it for Xbox One?
- arvinb316

What does this even mean?!?

I think they would have a chance to put up numbers as good as the other two lines.
- Chinaski

That's the beauty of it in my mind. I think they'd have the one of the best 3rd lines in the NHL or close to it. All three very effective 2-way players with Koivu centering!