Vermette would be a good pick up. Do it do it...

Vermette would be a good pick up. Do it do it...
- MnGump

Yes he would. Hanzal would be even better

Yes he would. Hanzal would be even better
- SotaPopinski

Love the player Zooker is becoming!!!!!

Nice win. Nice defensive performance

Love the player Zooker is becoming!!!!!
- MnGump

Loved watching him in Colorado while I was out there. Hated how Yeo messed with him last season, but it looks like he knew what he was doing for once!
That top shelf backhander he goes to so often is wicked

Love the player Zooker is becoming!!!!!
- MnGump

It's a waste playing him with Vanek just like it was a waste playing Vanek with Parise. Yeo really needs to play Zucker and Parise together.

It's a waste playing him with Vanek just like it was a waste playing Vanek with Parise. Yeo really needs to play Zucker and Parise together.
- Chinaski

Has Parise played RW before?

Has Parise played RW before?
- SotaPopinski

I don't think so, but I believe Zucker has quite a bit this year. I'm sure Zach would take the LW spot if Yeo puts them together.

Vermette would be a good pick up. Do it do it...
- MnGump

He would probably fit in pretty well, but the price I had heard the Coyotes were asking seemed too steep for the Wild to consider. Fletcher is probably focusing on a better 3rd pairing defenseman.

If Fletcher goes for a big deal, involving one or more of the younger players, I'd think he'd wait until the off-season. There will likely be better quality due to more teams being in the mix.

I don't think so, but I believe Zucker has quite a bit this year. I'm sure Zach would take the LW spot if Yeo puts them together.
- Chinaski

Really? I haven't noticed him on the right side at all, but I guess I haven't really been looking for it. He has such a nasty move going to his backhanded (similar to Koivu's SO move) that I would be hesitant to see him move to the right wing. Seems like a half dozen of his goals have come off that move this season.

Really? I haven't noticed him on the right side at all, but I guess I haven't really been looking for it. He has such a nasty move going to his backhanded (similar to Koivu's SO move) that I would hate to see him move to the right wing. Seems like a half dozen of his goals have come off that move this season.
- SotaPopinski

It's something I don't pay a lot of attention to either and I could be mistaken but when I originally looked at the lineup in the beginning of the season and thought it might be good for them to play together I wasn't sure it would work because they were both left wingers.

I think Vanek started out the year on the right side because Yeo had Cooke on the left side of that line with Koivu. So Zucker may have been on the left on the fourth line and Parise and Nino were the other LWers. Then Cooke got hurt and Vanek moved back to the left. So when Zucker's play got him elevated up to another line I thought Yeo was forced to put him on the right in some cases.

I actually haven't noticed, but maybe Vanek is playing on the right on that Zucker-Haula-Vanek line.

That backhand move is good but I think it's the speed at which he is moving that makes it so good. Koivu's backhand in the shootout is more swooping and happens slower. Zucker closes that space from the dots to the goalmouth so quick when he has a head of steam it's tough for the goalie to cover that spot quick enough. It's almost like Gaborik back in the day - his speed would force the goalie to backup so quick it would open up more net for him to shoot at.

Happy Hockey day Boyz! figured T would have a new thread up for such an occasion, but maybe he's still working on it...

Great game between St.Paul-Johnson and Luverne, tied 5-5 right now....
- MnGump

Still working on that hockey day thread...

Still working on that hockey day thread...
- gypsypunk01

This (frank)ing team doesn't deserve a new thread

"The team that could never finish.... ever" will be engraved on their tombstone.

Holy (frank)ing turnovers by the way. The Wild could possibly be the least skilled passing team in the league.

Sooooo... now that the Wild are officially unofficially out of the playoff hunt. Does Fletch quit playoff dreaming and become a trade deadline seller or does he continue ignoring the inevitable and make more moves to try and save an all but unsavable season?

Sooooo... now that the Wild are unofficially officially out of the playoff hunt. Does Fletch quit playoff dreaming and become a trade deadline seller or does he continue ignoring the inevitable and make more moves to try and save an all but unsavable season?
- MnGump

I don't know that he should be a trade deadline seller. They have some bit pieces, like a Brodziak, that could net them a lower end draft pick that playoff bound teams might be interested in. But I don't see Fletcher being a big trade deadline player.

I think they need to decide on some of these younger guys. For example, where do they see Coyle playing - center or wing. They need to figure out what he is going to be long-term and if he doesn't fit what they need then they can try to move him in the off-season. Same for Niederreiter, Haula, and Granlund.

It's time to start making smart decisions for next year.

I don't know that he should be a trade deadline seller. They have some bit pieces, like a Brodziak, that could net them a lower end draft pick that playoff bound teams might be interested in. But I don't see Fletcher being a big trade deadline player.

I think they need to decide on some of these younger guys. For example, where do they see Coyle playing - center or wing. They need to figure out what he is going to be long-term and if he doesn't fit what they need then they can try to move him in the off-season. Same for Niederreiter, Haula, and Granlund.

It's time to start making smart decisions for next year.
- Chinaski

Yeah, but more moves obviously need to be made. He can't stay status quo. This bunch has already proven they're not the real McCoy. 2 things need to happen. They need to get a proven goal scoring center and a bonafide number one goalie. Beyond that a couple more players that can pot 20+ goals a season would be nice as well.

After watching that game last night I couldn't help but think if they had just one or 2 guys that have more of a nose for the net they would easily have won that game. But Alas they do not and they have not for quite sometime. Last season was no diffierent. With the exception of Pommer, this team was just as enemic in the goal department.

The passing last night was B-R-U-T-A-L! Absolutely brutal. Even Parise turned the puck over endlessly which IMO means that guys are trying to do too much. They don't look like they're having one iota of fun out there which is probably why they're so stiff and sloppy.

Whatever, even if the planets aligned and all the right pieces fell into place for the Wild, they still have to win games and that's just not happening against ANY average to above average teams right now.

I think Fletch should package a Coyle and Niederreitter together with maybe a prospect or pick and try to get a true number one center for starters, or at least a number one goalie. This team will never be a true contender without both.

Yeah, but more moves obviously need to be made. He can't stay status quo. This bunch has already proven they're not the real McCoy. 2 things need to happen. They need to get a proven goal scoring center and a bonafide number one goalie. Beyond that a couple more players that can pot 20+ goals a season would be nice as well.

After watching that game last night I couldn't help but think if they had just one or 2 guys that have more of a nose for the net they would easily have won that game. But Alas they do not and they have not for quite sometime. Last season was no diffierent. With the exception of Pommer, this team was just as enemic in the goal department.

The passing last night was B-R-U-T-A-L! Absolutely brutal. Even Parise turned the puck over endlessly which IMO means that guys are trying to do too much. They don't look like they're having one iota of fun out there which is probably why they're so stiff and sloppy.

Whatever, even if the planets aligned and all the right pieces fell into place for the Wild, they still have to win games and that's just not happening against ANY average to above average teams right now.

I think Fletch should package a Coyle and Niederreitter together with maybe a prospect or pick and try to get a true number one center for starters, or at least a number one goalie. This team will never be a true contender without both.
- MnGump

A year ago, I thought it was a chemistry thing, but now it's becoming obvious that we just have some of the WORST passing. It looks like everyone on the team has their stick too long or too short and coated with butter. Fumble fingers, the whole lot of them. How many times have you seen pommer whiff on a shot orhave problems controlling the puck? I have no idea how he has so many assists. Everything is just a bit.. off. Every pass or shot is a second too late our early and a few inches off. They are so close to being a good team, but they just aren't.
BUT.. I don't think it's time yet to blow it up. I give them the rest of the year to pull their heads out of there arses. But even if they miraculously manage to squeak into the playoffs, they are never going anywhere without a true number one center, that's for sure. I really wish they would have never signed vanish,because now the only way they get one is to trade some real assets away. As much as i am unimpressed with Coyle and granny and nino (lately) this year, I would hate to see them blow up somewhere else, and end up with older players that might only be better in the short term.

In other words, I have no idea how you fix this team.

In other words, I have no idea how you fix this team.
- gypsypunk01

Who does?! Honestly I still think it has much to do with having the wrong type of players for the type of system Yeo is running. Or I guess you could say wrong system for the players Fletcher has put together.

Don't get me wrong, I know this league is tough and the Wild may never find the right combo/scheme of players/coaches/systems. But look at the bonafide contending teams right now that can't seem to close the deal.

Chicago, whom I still think is arguable the best team in the NHL was bounced last season after they beat the Wild. The Blose who seem to be one of the best regular season teams over the past couple seasons can't even get out of the first round and posted epic failures in the past 2 post seasons. The Penguins who seem to be constantly adding talent to an already talented all-star type roster can't seem to bring home the cup and have been knocked out of cup contention the past several seasons early.

Anaheim, San Jose, Vancouver, Tampa Bay etc.... All have great rosters and yet all still failing to bring home a cup...

Then you look at the Wild. They have a decent roster yet still look even further away than any of those teams I just mentioned. Eons further to not sugar coat it.

K, nothing against T in the least, but it would be nice if Ek could get another blogger in here for Minny seing how Tony has too heavy a work load with his new found career opportunity. No Hockey Day blog and no blog for 2 games now. Maybe Ratgen can get off his arse and put in some time one of these days?! Doubt it.

Whatevs....

Russo reporting Dubnyk to start again tonight (which I'm for) and Kuemper will back up. Also Dumba out and Prosser back in, so that bit of success for Dumba was short lived. (granted it did come against arguably the worst team in the league)

Also said Yeo's plan starting this week and upon Suters return last night was to start limiting his over all minutes...

That plan worked out famously as he logged over 30 minutes in last nights loss. Lastly, Granlund should be back to play Edmonton after the All-star break.

There are no easy fixes but you need to make sure you identify the real problems instead of trading away the likely solutions. In my mind, that's what the rest of the season should be for - assessing where the real problems are.

This has clearly turned into a young man's league so going and trading a bunch of young guys to get a top center or a top goaltender is just going to create other problems.

It's going to be very difficult to pry an established top line center from any team. There really aren't a lot of them and when teams find they have one they would be foolish to give them up. So I don't think they will be able to fill that void through the trade market.

They may be able to look over some of the cap strapped teams and see if they could swing some deals to get better 2nd tier players in here. But I'm sure everyone is going to be doing that as soon as next year's cap number is announced. So that market could be pretty competitive.

Well the bottom line is that this teams Achilles is being weak down the middle. Yes, goal tending is right up there, but even Dubnyk is good enough for this team if the Wild can play good team d in front of him. Dubbers played well enough to steal a win last night but the rest of the team failed him.

Last nights game (among many this season) was lost because Wild have no one down the middle that can score or delegate play enough to create a score. That and some of the most horrific passing I've ever seen displayed in an NHL game.

You look at all the elite teams in this league and what do they have in common? Well obviously good goal tending but more importantly almost everyone has one elite center. Hell some of them have 2 Elite centers. Some of them have 3rd line centers that could play 1st for the Wild. That's how bad the centers are here.

My point is, Wild have to find a way to get SOMETHING better at the center position than they currently own. Because it's sad and pathetic watching this team over play their positions and fumble (frank) the puck around trying to over compensate for what they're lacking.

Well the bottom line is that this teams Achilles is being weak down the middle. Yes, goal tending is right up there, but even Dubnyk is good enough for this team if the Wild can play good team d in front of him. Dubbers played well enough to steal a win last night but the rest of the team failed him.

Last nights game (among many this season) was lost because Wild have no one down the middle that can score or delegate play enough to create a score. That and some of the most horrific passing I've ever seen displayed in an NHL game.

You look at all the elite teams in this league and what do they have in common? Well obviously good goal tending but more importantly almost everyone has one elite center. Hell some of them have 2 Elite centers. Some of them have 3rd line centers that could play 1st for the Wild. That's how bad the centers are here.

My point is, Wild have to find a way to get SOMETHING better at the center position than they currently own. Because it's sad and pathetic watching this team over play their positions and fumble (frank) the puck around trying to over compensate for what they're lacking.
- MnGump

Got anybody in mind they should try to swing a deal for?

Got anybody in mind they should try to swing a deal for?
- Chinaski

Malkin, Stamkos, Seguin are 3 that come to mind...


Honestly I don't know. Wouldn't get my aim to awfully high, but it's difficult to know who might be gettable from a fans standpoint.

Fletcher had options last off season. He could have went after Kessler, he could have went after Spezza.

I see other teams making deals for centerman. Poile went out and traded for Foresberg, Cheveldayoff acquired Perreault from Anaheim. Nashville picked up Robeiro.

So it's not like Fletcher can't make a deal of some sort happen without giving up the farm so to speak. Like I said earlier in this week old thread, I wouldn't even mind Chuck going after a guy like Vermette. I don't know But this team needs something.