wonder if we could get Gleason for cheap? ufa coming up. would be a nice addition to the defense at #5.

The Wild are one of the top 5 possession teams in the league. They will bounce back once the goalies do. They can't keep up the pace they're moving at. They're a better team than that.

A couple of thoughts here: One, Dubnyk is not the answer for the rest of the season. Even though the Yotes have been bad, their D is better than the Wilds and Dubnyk still has pretty average to slightly below average numbers. And two, the Wild is really just that mentally fragile this year. From having their leaders fathers pass away to dealing with outbreaks of viruses, I wouldn't be surprised if they feel like this season just wasn't meant to be and that has crept into their mindset a bit. I still think it's possible to make the playoffs this season, but I didn't think they would try their luck with Dubnyk over Reimer or Enroth...

How so?
- Chinaski

There are reasonable options out there that, while expensive, give you a legit chance. Dubnyk is a roll of the dice. You can't know what you're getting with him. It could be that he doesn't help at all.

But the point is that instead of paying the price to acquire someone who WILL help, Fletcher went dumpster diving and found someone that MIGHT.

wonder if we could get Gleason for cheap? ufa coming up. would be a nice addition to the defense at #5.
- KxKodiak47

You certainly can. Gleason for a thir.... oh.

A couple of thoughts here: One, Dubnyk is not the answer for the rest of the season. Even though the Yotes have been bad, their D is better than the Wilds and Dubnyk still has pretty average to slightly below average numbers. And two, the Wild is really just that mentally fragile this year. From having their leaders fathers pass away to dealing with outbreaks of viruses, I wouldn't be surprised if they feel like this season just wasn't meant to be and that has crept into their mindset a bit. I still think it's possible to make the playoffs this season, but I didn't think they would try their luck with Dubnyk over Reimer or Enroth...
- mnhockeyguy

I would hope that the millions they are being paid would help them get over their mental fragility. All teams have problems during a season.

I would hope that the millions they are being paid would help them get over their mental fragility. All teams have problems during a season.
- manchester33

You'd think, but confidence is a funny thing that millions seemingly cant buy when you're referring to a hockey team in a funk.

There are reasonable options out there that, while expensive, give you a legit chance. Dubnyk is a roll of the dice. You can't know what you're getting with him. It could be that he doesn't help at all.

But the point is that instead of paying the price to acquire someone who WILL help, Fletcher went dumpster diving and found someone that MIGHT.
- BINGO!

Someone really wanted to see Cam gone.... I'll take Dubnyk over Cam any day based on each guy's situation.

Someone really wanted to see Cam gone.... I'll take Dubnyk over Cam any day based on each guy's situation.
- bmgarvert

We just need cap relief. Frankly if Cam Ward is traded I have no idea what the Hurricanes would do in net. Slippery slope with nobody in free agency that's a solid back-up option for Khudobin and a #1 goalie prospect that's about 2 or three years from seeing the NHL.

There are reasonable options out there that, while expensive, give you a legit chance. Dubnyk is a roll of the dice. You can't know what you're getting with him. It could be that he doesn't help at all.

But the point is that instead of paying the price to acquire someone who WILL help, Fletcher went dumpster diving and found someone that MIGHT.
- BINGO!

I don't doubt that there are goaltenders out there that would be better options than Dubnyk. However, I don't think either one of us can define reasonable since we aren't privvy to the asking prices of said alternatives. At least I'm not.

I get where you are coming from but I truly believe that had Fletcher had what he believes to be "reasonable" offers presented to him, he would have pulled the trigger on a goalie trade about a month ago.

A couple of thoughts here: One, Dubnyk is not the answer for the rest of the season. Even though the Yotes have been bad, their D is better than the Wilds and Dubnyk still has pretty average to slightly below average numbers. And two, the Wild is really just that mentally fragile this year. From having their leaders fathers pass away to dealing with outbreaks of viruses, I wouldn't be surprised if they feel like this season just wasn't meant to be and that has crept into their mindset a bit. I still think it's possible to make the playoffs this season, but I didn't think they would try their luck with Dubnyk over Reimer or Enroth...
- mnhockeyguy

Arizona may have a better defensive corps, but it's debatable whether or not they are a better defensive team. Up until the 1st of the new year, Wild were still in the top 8 in the league for possession numbers. In fact they were top 3 up until mid December. Of course over the last 2 weeks they've plummetted from 8th to 14th.

Arizona is tied with Minny for 3rd worst SV% in the league, that being said, Arizona has not risen above 22nd in the league in possession at any time this season(currently 25th). So there is much to be said about possession numbers as they pertain to goals against, scoring chances against and overall defensive zone time.

So even though I agree that at this point Dubnyk doesn't look like "the answer" but... He's a fresh face, he's had decent numbers with an arguably less talanted team this season and at present is AS talented if not more so than any of the 3 viable options the Wild currently have.

There are reasonable options out there that, while expensive, give you a legit chance. Dubnyk is a roll of the dice. You can't know what you're getting with him. It could be that he doesn't help at all.

But the point is that instead of paying the price to acquire someone who WILL help, Fletcher went dumpster diving and found someone that MIGHT.
- BINGO!

Guess that depends on what your definition of "reasonable options" is. The Wild don't exactly have a ton of tradable options that aren't currently key to the Wilds success still this season.

Fletcher gave up as little as possible in order to bring in a career mediocre goalie that is argubably still a better option than Backstrom, Kuemper or Curry.

Personally, the state of things as they sit right now with the Wild currently already teetering on the brink of being realistically eliminated from post season, I'd rather go this route than give up another 1st round pick and a core player for a "reasonable option" especially one that is not a bonafide number one.

So you can call it dumpster diving or whatever, but IMO it's about the smartest option Fletcher had to choose from.

And just to satisfy my curiousity, what are some of these more "reasonable options" you speak of. I'd like to know who you think Fletcher should have or could have gone after that would be a sure difference maker.

My take from the trade is that they got a back up goaltender for next to nothing. He might not be the game changing number 1 goalie, but he may be able to spark the competitive drive that Kuemper had at the first of the season. Backstrom isn't going to be that guy anymore and it may be time to move him to a team looking for a rental.

Dubnyk might end up stealing the show and becoming a legit number 1 winning goalie or Kuemper starts playing up to his potential with Dubs pushing him competing for that number 1 job. Or Nothing changes and Dubs has to move again this year. I just hope the guy rents month to month.

Edit: Also at 800k Dubnyk is a steal if he can win a few games.

Arizona may have a better defensive corps, but it's debatable whether or not they are a better defensive team. Up until the 1st of the new year, Wild were still in the top 8 in the league for possession numbers. In fact they were top 3 up until mid December. Of course over the last 2 weeks they've plummetted from 8th to 14th.

Arizona is tied with Minny for 3rd worst SV% in the league, that being said, Arizona has not risen above 22nd in the league in possession at any time this season(currently 25th). So there is much to be said about possession numbers as they pertain to goals against, scoring chances against and overall defensive zone time.

So even though I agree that at this point Dubnyk doesn't look like "the answer" but... He's a fresh face, he's had decent numbers with an arguably less talanted team this season and at present is AS talented if not more so than any of the 3 viable options the Wild currently have.
- MnGump

There is also much to be said about the quality of forwards and possession rates. Airzona is abjectly worse at forward. Forwards drive possession more than the D. But there is no escaping the fact that Arizona has more quality Dmen. He may be a fresh face, but Im afraid with the way the Wild is going his numbers are going to take a Kuemper like dive. But maybe he does provide a shot in the arm that jolts the team. Here's hoping. But with Suter out tonight, even though he's been playing sub par, I can see the D being a complete wreck tonight.

Guess that depends on what your definition of "reasonable options" is. The Wild don't exactly have a ton of tradable options that aren't currently key to the Wilds success still this season.

Fletcher gave up as little as possible in order to bring in a career mediocre goalie that is argubably still a better option than Backstrom, Kuemper or Curry.

Personally, the state of things as they sit right now with the Wild currently already teetering on the brink of being realistically eliminated from post season, I'd rather go this route than give up another 1st round pick and a core player for a "reasonable option" especially one that is not a bonafide number one.

So you can call it dumpster diving or whatever, but IMO it's about the smartest option Fletcher had to choose from.

And just to satisfy my curiousity, what are some of these more "reasonable options" you speak of. I'd like to know who you think Fletcher should have or could have gone after that would be a sure difference maker.
- MnGump

Goalies that could be had:

Anton Khudobin
Cam Ward
Eddie Lack
Reto Berra
James Reimer
Karri Ramo
Craig Anderson
etc etc

There is also much to be said about the quality of forwards and possession rates. Airzona is abjectly worse at forward. Forwards drive possession more than the D. But there is no escaping the fact that Arizona has more quality Dmen. He may be a fresh face, but Im afraid with the way the Wild is going his numbers are going to take a Kuemper like dive. But maybe he does provide a shot in the arm that jolts the team. Here's hoping. But with Suter out tonight, even though he's been playing sub par, I can see the D being a complete wreck tonight.
- mnhockeyguy

It definitely has the possibility of going the route Scrivens went last year going from LA to Edmonton. The other thing I wonder about is how much of Dubnyk's turnaround was due to Sean Burke. Will Dubnyk miss leaning on Burke for advice if things start to go downhill?

It definitely has the possibility of going the route Scrivens went last year going from LA to Edmonton. The other thing I wonder about is how much of Dubnyk's turnaround was due to Sean Burke. Will Dubnyk miss leaning on Burke for advice if things start to go downhill?
- Chinaski

This.

Goaltending performance can be massively impacted by the goalie coach.

Does strength of schedule come into play for the recent Wild woes? They did have a tough stretch of opponents over the last four at least (CHI, NASH, CHI, PIT) and the two prior (DAL and SJ) are pretty solid as well. I was at the Wild/Hawks game in MPLS last week and the Wild looked pretty good but gave up some really timely goals - part of that was Chicago's talent and ability to strike out of nowhere.

I didn't see the Pittsburgh game, but obviously that was bad as judged from the score. I guess I wouldn't be too worried unless they lose to both Buffalo and Arizona in the next couple days here.

Goalies that could be had:

Anton Khudobin
Cam Ward
Eddie Lack
Reto Berra
James Reimer
Karri Ramo
Craig Anderson
etc etc
- BINGO!

Exactly. Not one is a bonafide number one goalie. They're all average at best back up tenders with Anderson maybe being the one exception and really the only one on your list I would care to go after.... But, at this point, Wild are most likely going to miss the playoffs anyway. Fletcher got a guy with similar stats and skill level to pretty much everyone on that list.

Exactly. Not one is a bonafide number one goalie. They're all average at best back up tenders with Anderson maybe being the one exception and really the only one on your list I would care to go after.... But, at this point, Wild are most likely going to miss the playoffs anyway. Fletcher got a guy with similar stats and skill level to pretty much everyone on that list.
- MnGump

Really?

Really?
- BINGO!

Dude, I'm not saying any of them are bad goalies, but what I am saying is none of them are goalies that even one team in the league is trying to acquire as a no. 1, except maybe Anderson, and not one of the others mentioned would be a trade candidate to start for a playoff contender. At this juncture, the Wild are not a playoff contender, so why would any smart GM sell his soul to bring in an average net minder mid season to try and save what's most likely unsavable?

You guys are back in the race... Where's that sota pop loser....

Really?
- BINGO!

Why the hell do you always hang out on the thread? Misery likes company?

Buffalo has some fancy practice jerseys.

You guys are back in the race...
- whipper334

Which one?