we can go swapsies on some D for a G, stop hogging all the Dmen
- DDM-Coga

We only have 4 of them, and at least one is always out with an injury or mumps. We need D help bad, especially with Dumba taking longer than expected

dp

We only have 4 of them, and at least one is always out with an injury or mumps. We need D help bad, especially with Dumba taking longer than expected
- SotaPopinski

I was wondering whats going on with Dumba. He had some much hype after he was drafted. Just seems to have fallen off a cliff since then

Nice write up. Not sure I agree with some of the posts about Fletcher's drafting (which IMO is top 5 since taking over) but your points about over-committing to some vets like Koivu makes perfect sense and his veteran pickups have been terribly. First off season and year I have doubted Fletcher's vision.

JMO but adding a Vanek to that room with a player like Pominville - assuming these 2 shared bad locker room habits for years in Buffalo - added to Vanek's recent personal garbage - was just a recipe for disaster. I know Pominville is highly thought of in some circles but I am speaking of dynamic. Young coach = pretty easy to tune out. A few borderline characters revert to their old habits and end up infecting others in the room. Particularly the younger guys.

Trade Pominville and jettison Vanek. Maybe 1-2 older players who aren't "all in" as well. I would sell Cooke too - POS on the ice you don't need younger players modeling themselves after. Maybe can Yeo. Notify everyone else they follow Yeo or the new coach or they are gone. Maybe that starts a turn around. Not sure any answers at goalie out there.....

but please make a strong offer for Raanta.

I was wondering whats going on with Dumba. He had some much hype after he was drafted. Just seems to have fallen off a cliff since then
- DDM-Coga

I still think he will turn out to be pretty good. As soon as they sent him back to Iowa, he has been one of if not the best player down there. Just another kid that needs to build up his confidence and he will be fine.

Nice write up. Not sure I agree with some of the posts about Fletcher's drafting (which IMO is top 5 since taking over) but your points about over-committing to some vets like Koivu makes perfect sense and his veteran pickups have been terribly. First off season and year I have doubted Fletcher's vision.

JMO but adding a Vanek to that room with a player like Pominville - assuming these 2 shared bad locker room habits for years in Buffalo - added to Vanek's recent personal garbage - was just a recipe for disaster. I know Pominville is highly thought of in some circles but I am speaking of dynamic. Young coach = pretty easy to tune out. A few borderline characters revert to their old habits and end up infecting others in the room. Particularly the younger guys.

Trade Pominville and jettison Vanek. Maybe 1-2 older players who aren't "all in" as well. I would sell Cooke too - POS on the ice you don't need younger players modeling themselves after. Maybe can Yeo. Notify everyone else they follow Yeo or the new coach or they are gone. Maybe that starts a turn around. Not sure any answers at goalie out there.....

but please make a strong offer for Raanta.
- tredbrta

Fletcher's only good picks have been Brodin, possibly Graovac and Dumba. Coyle has bust/Brodziak potential written all over him. Granlund, whether its due to his size, the speed of the NHL game, the size of the rink or a combination of all cant figure out how to sustain an NHL level of play. No one else that Fletcher drafted is on the big squad, or doing well in the minors. In fact a lot of them are busting down in Iowa which doesn't bode well for the future of the franchise, or for the team after they do jettison some of the older vets.

Nice write up. Not sure I agree with some of the posts about Fletcher's drafting (which IMO is top 5 since taking over) but your points about over-committing to some vets like Koivu makes perfect sense and his veteran pickups have been terribly. First off season and year I have doubted Fletcher's vision.

JMO but adding a Vanek to that room with a player like Pominville - assuming these 2 shared bad locker room habits for years in Buffalo - added to Vanek's recent personal garbage - was just a recipe for disaster. I know Pominville is highly thought of in some circles but I am speaking of dynamic. Young coach = pretty easy to tune out. A few borderline characters revert to their old habits and end up infecting others in the room. Particularly the younger guys.

Trade Pominville and jettison Vanek. Maybe 1-2 older players who aren't "all in" as well. I would sell Cooke too - POS on the ice you don't need younger players modeling themselves after. Maybe can Yeo. Notify everyone else they follow Yeo or the new coach or they are gone. Maybe that starts a turn around. Not sure any answers at goalie out there.....

but please make a strong offer for Raanta.
- tredbrta

Always interesting to see a fan of another teams take on our failing club. I would be all aboard moving Pommer and Vanek, but pretty sure they have no move clauses, and that would likely irk Parise and Suter. That's a difficult decision to make, and a move I would like to see the GM hold off on pulling until a competent goaltender and dman are brought in.
I am really curious to see what Chicago will get for Raanta. He's good, but how does he do when given the #1 role, especially when he's no longer on an all-galaxy team like Chicago.

Fletcher's only good picks have been Brodin, possibly Graovac and Dumba. Coyle has bust/Brodziak potential written all over him. Granlund, whether its due to his size, the speed of the NHL game, the size of the rink or a combination of all cant figure out how to sustain an NHL level of play. No one else that Fletcher drafted is on the big squad, or doing well in the minors. In fact a lot of them are busting down in Iowa which doesn't bode well for the future of the franchise, or for the team after they do jettison some of the older vets.
- mnhockeyguy

Zucker
Also, Leddy is a pretty darn good player (no matter what Hawks fans say). Good pick, horrible trade.
Tuch looks like he may be good, but way too soon to say. Same with Bussieres, Lucia and Gabriel.
But yes, he has missed more than he has hit

Zucker
Also, Leddy is a pretty darn good player (no matter what Hawks fans say). Good pick, horrible trade.
Tuch looks like he may be good, but way too soon to say.
- SotaPopinski

Zucker was a FA signing, and Leddy doesn't play on the team so I didn't include him... its too painful ha!

Zucker was a FA signing, and Leddy doesn't play on the team so I didn't include him... its too painful ha!

- mnhockeyguy

Im terrified that Tuch is going to be Coyle 2.0!! Playing with Eichel for the whole world juniors he managed a single tap in goal and one assist... not exactly stellar numbers. I really hope he does pan out of course, along with Adam Gilmour, but until they start playing in the NHL it is like you said, way to soon to know. As regards the current Iowa members. they've all been pretty dreadful with the exception of Graovac and Dumba so it sure isn't looking good!

Zucker was a FA signing, and Leddy doesn't play on the team so I didn't include him... its too painful ha!

- mnhockeyguy

Zucker was a 2nd round draft pick. I think the Coyle trade is way more painful to dwell on. Would be great to see Burns on the blueline this year

Im terrified that Tuch is going to be Coyle 2.0!! Playing with Eichel for the whole world juniors he managed a single tap in goal and one assist... not exactly stellar numbers. I really hope he does pan out of course, along with Adam Gilmour, but until they start playing in the NHL it is like you said, way to soon to know. As regards the current Iowa members. they've all been pretty dreadful with the exception of Graovac and Dumba so it sure isn't looking good!

- mnhockeyguy

Great, way to dash my hopes on that guy

Zucker was a 2nd round draft pick. I think the Coyle trade is way more painful to dwell on. Would be great to see Burns on the blueline this year
- SotaPopinski

You're right I confused him with someone else. He was a good pic then!

You're right I confused him with someone else. He was a good pic then!
- mnhockeyguy

He and Flahr have been much better than the previous FO, I gotta give them that.
The #1 picks before Fletch arrived were:
Cuma
Gillies
Sheppard
Pouliot
Thelen

Saddest list I have ever seen

Zucker was a 2nd round draft pick. I think the Coyle trade is way more painful to dwell on. Would be great to see Burns on the blueline this year
- SotaPopinski

I understood why Fletcher traded Burns at the time, and at the time it seemed he got a great return, but the Phillips pick was terrible and Coyle has really disappointed. If Phillips had panned out it would have salvaged the trade, but he's been terrible along with most of that draft class.

He and Flahr have been much better than the previous FO, I gotta give them that.
The #1 picks before Fletch arrived were:
Cuma
Gillies
Sheppard
Pouliot
Thelen

Saddest list I have ever seen
- SotaPopinski

The terrible thing is, when its all said and done, Granlund, Phillips and Tuch might look just as bad as Cuma, Gilles ect...

The terrible thing is, when its all said and done, Granlund, Phillips and Tuch might look just as bad as Cuma, Gilles ect...

- mnhockeyguy

Granlund alone has contributed more than all of those players ever did. But I am not high on the kid, although he was starting to prove me wrong last season.
If the center depth on this team wasn't so bad, it would be in Fletch's best interest to see what he could get for him. I can only imagine what Granny and his agent think he's worth, when it comes to extension talks.

Granlund alone has contributed more than all of those players ever did. But I am not high on the kid, although he was starting to prove me wrong last season.
If the center depth on this team wasn't so bad, it would be in Fletch's best interest to see what he could get for him. I can only imagine what Granny and his agent think he's worth, when it comes to extension talks.
- SotaPopinski

Puliot has ended up having a decent career. Im afraid Granlund wont even accomplish what Puliot has. It is that disconcerting imo!

Puliot has ended up having a decent career. Im afraid Granlund wont even accomplish what Puliot has. It is that disconcerting imo!
- mnhockeyguy

Holy poop, you just may be more negative than me!

Granlund alone has contributed more than all of those players ever did. But I am not high on the kid, although he was starting to prove me wrong last season.
If the center depth on this team wasn't so bad, it would be in Fletch's best interest to see what he could get for him. I can only imagine what Granny and his agent think he's worth, when it comes to extension talks.
- SotaPopinski

Bout as much as kuemper and his agent thought HE was worth last summer.What a F-ing joke THAT has turned out to look like.

Holy poop, you just may be more negative than me!
- SotaPopinski

Haha only about certain players. Im still in the minority that believes the team will make the playoffs this season if Fletcher will get off his duff and do something!
Granlund is just so injury prone and inconsistent that it's becoming increasingly hard to believe he's going to have an impactful long term career with the Wild.

Zucker
Also, Leddy is a pretty darn good player (no matter what Hawks fans say). Good pick, horrible trade.
Tuch looks like he may be good, but way too soon to say. Same with Bussieres, Lucia and Gabriel.
But yes, he has missed more than he has hit
- SotaPopinski

I was big on Tuch going into the draft, he was the late steal that I wanted the Avs to grab

Bout as much as kuemper and his agent thought HE was worth last summer.What a F-ing joke THAT has turned out to look like.
- gypsypunk01

No kidding. Kuemper and his agent knew the Wild didn't have poop for goalies and capitalized. Granny and his agent have the exact same leverage.

Haha only about certain players. Im still in the minority that believes the team will make the playoffs this season if Fletcher will get off his duff and do something!
Granlund is just so injury prone and inconsistent that it's becoming increasingly hard to believe he's going to have an impactful long term career with the Wild.
- mnhockeyguy

Definitely on the same page about those two.

I get that Fletcher would rather not deal away prospects/picks, instead hoping that his current players would figure it out and turn things around, but not making a move on a goalie at this point is pretty frustrating to witness. When you are down to a fragile Backstrom and some guy named Curry at the position, it is time to make a move...any move.

I was big on Tuch going into the draft, he was the late steal that I wanted the Avs to grab
- DDM-Coga

Tuch for Duch?