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
- SotaPopinski

You're probably right. It may take an injury to someone significant again in order for us to see one of these line combinations. I think Koivu had to break his ankle before we got to see Parise-Granlund-Pominville last year. Sometimes Yeo just needs to get out of his own way. It's not like the fans are clamoring for these things because we think we're smarter than Yeo. We do it because it's so obvious.

What does this even mean?!?
- SotaPopinski

I think he is asking if anyone is getting NHL 15 on Xbox One and is interested in joining/creating an EA Sports Hockey League team. Basically a Team of 2-6 human controlled players if you do not know what it is

I think he is asking if anyone is getting NHL 15 on Xbox One and is interested in joining/creating an EA Sports Hockey League team. Basically a Team of 2-6 human controlled players if you do not know what it is
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Thanks for translating

So Prosser refused to sign a 2-way deal with the Wild but turns around and signs one with St. Louis?!

So Prosser refused to sign a 2-way deal with the Wild but turns around and signs one with St. Louis?!
- MnGump

He must hate The State of Hockey

I think he is asking if anyone is getting NHL 15 on Xbox One and is interested in joining/creating an EA Sports Hockey League team. Basically a Team of 2-6 human controlled players if you do not know what it is
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Yes.

He must hate The State of Hockey
- SotaPopinski

Could be, or he just ever so slightly over valued his importance to this team as well as how much leverage he had and is probably somewhere wishing right now that he had accepted the 2 - way deal Fletch offered him.

So Prosser refused to sign a 2-way deal with the Wild but turns around and signs one with St. Louis?!
- MnGump

Was he offered a two-way deal with the Wild? I'm wondering if he's higher on the depth chart in terms of being a first call up with St. Louis and maybe wouldn't have been with the Wild.

Could be, or he just ever so slightly over valued his importance to this team as well as how much leverage he had and is probably somewhere wishing right now that he had accepted the 2 - way deal Fletch offered him.
- MnGump

I'm sure he and his agent were pretty optimistic in him finding a team that would sign him on a one way deal. Unfortunately for him, it did not work out that way.
He did a solid job filling in when needed and he seemed like a pretty stand up guy on and off the ice but he was definitely expendable with all the D depth Chuck has stockpiled

Was he offered a two-way deal with the Wild? I'm wondering if he's higher on the depth chart in terms of being a first call up with St. Louis and maybe wouldn't have been with the Wild.
- Chinaski

To be honest I doubt he was offered much by MN, as they have a bunch of young defenders near ready. think they were just being nice by mentioning interest in retaining him.

To be honest I doubt he was offered much by MN, as they have a bunch of young defenders near ready. think they were just being nice by mentioning interest in retaining him.
- Tony Dean

From what I recall listening to Russo on KFAN a couple weeks ago was that the Wild were willing to sign him back to a one or 2 year 2 - way but Prosser and his agent would not accept anything but a one -way deal, therefore Chuck did not make him a legitimate offer.

The Maple Leafs may be one thing that may be worth keeping an eye on this year and the next couple of years for no other reason than to see if they make a transformation into a better possession team and if that possession translates into success. With the Kyle Dubas hire yesterday, it seems evident that they are embracing the use of analytics into their evaluation and that seems to be a big change in direction for Toronto.

Here are some stories I found through Twitter yesterday that gives some background on Dubas and some of his philosophy:
Globe and Mail - Darren Yourk - from 2011 on Dubas becoming GM of Sault Ste. Marie

Justin Bourne piece on the Soo philosophy (Dubas/Sheldon Keefe) of possession vs. dump-and-chase

Sportsnet - Chris Johnston piece on the Leafs hire of Dubas

Summary with link to Dubas interview on TSN 1050 Radio with Brian Hayes

It will be interesting to see how radically the Leafs change. Where this may be pertinent to the Wild is that Yeo's system is basically get the puck in and forecheck. Will the Wild stick to that or might we see them adopt a more hybrid style? It will be an interesting evolution to watch over the next 3-4 years.

I haven't gone through the other 61 comments so you may have addressed this but, hasn't Yeo said he knows Vanek and Pominville have experience playing together but wanted to start with Parise/Grandlund/Pominville as our top line? Also that way koivu and coyle can stick together and then be paired with a legitimate shooter in Vanek. Also I see Bulmer and Almond being on the outside looking in. We all remember Bulmer's blazing speed lighting up training camps a few years ago but come time for the regular season he gets hit and he gets hurt. Fontaine earned a spot on this team, and being he's in arbitration he'll get probably money worth playing on a nightly basis. Plus he produced which is hard to argue against. Almond may be needed as a bruiser but performance wise fontaine, zucker, veilluex seem better suited. I'd do this:

Parise/Granny/Pommy
Vanek/Koivu/Coyle
Cooke/Haula/Nino
Fontaine/Brodziak/Zucker

Although with this line up we'll need to find a Goon to fight 10 times in an 82 game season, another big defenseman to replace Stoner's role, and a healthy goalie for once.

I haven't gone through the other 61 comments so you may have addressed this but, hasn't Yeo said he knows Vanek and Pominville have experience playing together but wanted to start with Parise/Grandlund/Pominville as our top line? Also that way koivu and coyle can stick together and then be paired with a legitimate shooter in Vanek. Also I see Bulmer and Almond being on the outside looking in. We all remember Bulmer's blazing speed lighting up training camps a few years ago but come time for the regular season he gets hit and he gets hurt. Fontaine earned a spot on this team, and being he's in arbitration he'll get probably money worth playing on a nightly basis. Plus he produced which is hard to argue against. Almond may be needed as a bruiser but performance wise fontaine, zucker, veilluex seem better suited. I'd do this:

Parise/Granny/Pommy
Vanek/Koivu/Coyle
Cooke/Haula/Nino
Fontaine/Brodziak/Zucker

Although with this line up we'll need to find a Goon to fight 10 times in an 82 game season, another big defenseman to replace Stoner's role, and a healthy goalie for once.
- Spikiekj

I wouldn't mind seeing Koivu and Vanek together on a line, but I feel that the reasoning behind such a move is simply Yeo being stubborn/arrogant. Pommer and Vanek played together for 7+ seasons and did pretty damn well when paired up. For Yeo to say that he will split them up before the team has even had a chance to practice together is a little disheartening to hear as a fan. I get that he is trying to put Koivu in the best possible position to succeed, but when your team continues to struggle to get pucks in the net, maybe it'd be a good idea to go with something that works and has a history of working.

Paul Martin and Brandon Sutter for Charlie Coyle
- YouMeAndDupuis9

We'll take Martin.

I haven't gone through the other 61 comments so you may have addressed this but, hasn't Yeo said he knows Vanek and Pominville have experience playing together but wanted to start with Parise/Grandlund/Pominville as our top line? Also that way koivu and coyle can stick together and then be paired with a legitimate shooter in Vanek. Also I see Bulmer and Almond being on the outside looking in. We all remember Bulmer's blazing speed lighting up training camps a few years ago but come time for the regular season he gets hit and he gets hurt. Fontaine earned a spot on this team, and being he's in arbitration he'll get probably money worth playing on a nightly basis. Plus he produced which is hard to argue against. Almond may be needed as a bruiser but performance wise fontaine, zucker, veilluex seem better suited. I'd do this:

Parise/Granny/Pommy
Vanek/Koivu/Coyle
Cooke/Haula/Nino
Fontaine/Brodziak/Zucker

Although with this line up we'll need to find a Goon to fight 10 times in an 82 game season, another big defenseman to replace Stoner's role, and a healthy goalie for once.
- Spikiekj

That is definitely what Russo wrote about and Yeo said it in a presser but I think Parise really likes Coyle and they play well together. I am of the opinion that Koivu will get a long leash from Yeo playing in the Top 6 so it makes more sense to have him center these two.
'
Things always change between july and opener so we will have to stay tuned. Nino is the X factor because I think we can all agree he has a higher ceiling and better potential to be a NHL goal scorer than Coyle so maybe he opens up in the Top 6 over the kid from Boston! Also I think we saw Haula become the best player on the ice during the playoffs for the Wild a different times.

Lots of depth and versatility for Yeo.

The Maple Leafs may be one thing that may be worth keeping an eye on this year and the next couple of years for no other reason than to see if they make a transformation into a better possession team and if that possession translates into success. With the Kyle Dubas hire yesterday, it seems evident that they are embracing the use of analytics into their evaluation and that seems to be a big change in direction for Toronto.

Here are some stories I found through Twitter yesterday that gives some background on Dubas and some of his philosophy:
Globe and Mail - Darren Yourk - from 2011 on Dubas becoming GM of Sault Ste. Marie

Justin Bourne piece on the Soo philosophy (Dubas/Sheldon Keefe) of possession vs. dump-and-chase

Sportsnet - Chris Johnston piece on the Leafs hire of
Dubas



Summary with link to Dubas
interview on TSN 1050 Radio with Brian Hayes


It will be interesting to see how radically the Leafs change. Where this may be

pertinent to the Wild is that Yeo's system is basically get the puck in and forecheck. Will the Wild stick to that or might we see them adopt a more hybrid style? It will be an interesting evolution to watch over the next 3-4 years.
- Chinaski

Yeo stressed puck possession before the season started last year the wild were one of the better teams at possessing puck in October then They fell of at the end of
November.(I think this happened due to injuries to Paris,Koivu and Spurgeon) They were also the second best possession team in the playoffs.

Not resigning Prosser,Stoner, McComrick and Heatley keeping Koivu and Not trading Brodziak for someone worse. Is a good start at being a better possession team.

I would not be surprised if Nino beat out Coyle for a top six role in training camp. Also when Nino was having good game Yeo always moved up in the lineup.

Not resigning Prosser,Stoner, McComrick and Heatley keeping Koivu and Not trading Brodziak for someone worse. Is a good start at being a better possession team.
- Nharris31

Great point

Yeo stressed puck possession before the season started last year the wild were one of the better teams at possessing puck in October then They fell of at the end of
November.(I think this happened due to injuries to Paris,Koivu and Spurgeon) They were also the second best possession team in the playoffs.

Not resigning Prosser,Stoner, McComrick and Heatley keeping Koivu and Not trading Brodziak for someone worse. Is a good start at being a better possession team.
- Nharris31

I think they fell off more due to the fact that they started playing better teams. The first part of the season, they had a favorable schedule. But you're right, having those players out didn't help.

And don't forget, going into the playoffs, Colorado was one of if not the worst possession team.

It shows that the Wild have the ability to be a decent possession team. But I think there's still a question as to how they stack up against the elite teams in that department.

Just an FYI:


#WildHBcommunity: https://www.facebook.com/WildHBcommunity

#MNWild content Here: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/team/Minnesota-Wild …

on Twitter here http://WWW.twitter.com/WildHBcommunityhref="https://twitter.com/TonyDeanHB/statuses/491369080952074240">July 21, 2014

I think they fell off more due to the fact that they started playing better teams. The first part of the season, they had a favorable schedule. But you're right, having those players out didn't help.

And don't forget, going into the playoffs, Colorado was one of if not the worst possession team.

It shows that the Wild have the ability to be a decent possession team. But I think there's still a question as to how they stack up against the elite teams in that department.
- Chinaski

I know. They did pretty well against chicago possession wise In the playoffs http://www.extraskater.co...series=blackhawks-vs-wild think thats more of what they wanted all year.

I know. they did pretty well against chicago possession wise In the playoffs http://www.extraskater.co...series=blackhawks-vs-wild think thats more of what they wanted all year.
- Nharris31

Also they played there first game against LA. At the end of the season and after the trade deadline I recall them being a better possession team.

The Minnesota Wild are setting to be one of the best possession teams in the league with as strong a lineup as they have ever put on the ice beyond offensive ability their star players and kids will chip in on the defensive side as well. They have several defenders that can carry the puck and extend the offensive zone possession. Adding Blum and Folin to the back end will only improve that too with Dumba and Olofsson the next wave.

Also they played there first game against LA. At the end of the season and after the trade deadline I recall them being a better possession team.
- Nharris31

I think the concern that was brought up from some advanced stat people was their steady decline and then leveling off below 50%. Part of that was probably the fact they had nowhere to go but down given that they started out so high. But from what I remember, the Cumulative 5v5 Close FF% wasn't pretty.

Again, as you pointed out, where they had some significant injuries, it really drops dramatically and that's when they had that killer stretch in the schedule. But it just didn't rebound.

I'm more curious to see if teams start to think more along the lines of carrying the puck into the offensive zone though and adapt their approach to try that more instead of dumping it in and trying to get it back. That's where I see a divergence in Yeo's philosophy from where all this may be headed. Not to say that's a bad thing. I'm not sure it is. Yeo seems to favor guys carrying the puck if that play is there for them and dumping it in if it's not. I don't know that he'd go so far as to have guys try to carry it in and if the play isn't there, regroup in the neutral zone and try again.

I think the Wild may have found some possession magic in the playoffs by using their speed to wreak havoc on the defenders with their forecheck after dumping it in. That could end up being more effective for some of the teams with high-end team speed.