Well there's a reason everyone views their fans among the worst in the league!
- MnGump

Trying to figure out what the hell the Wild were doing in the second?!?


Edit:And the last half of the 3rd...

Wild record without Dumba in the line-up: 6-12-6

With Dumba: 30-11-1

Wild record without Dumba in the line-up: 6-12-6

With Dumba: 30-11-1


- gypsypunk01

He's terrible, cut him

New blog might be nice...

New blog might be nice...
- MnGump

Just noticed your profile quote.

Just noticed your profile quote.


- gypsypunk01

An Av's fan coined that one...

OMG some Devils fans are (frank)ing panty waist cry babies. But hey, they won a few cups twenty years ago! That much is for sure!

It would be nice to see that 2nd PP unit get more time. I think it should even be tweaked - swap Parise with Stewart. Parise-Granlund-Niederreiter with Spurgeon and Dumba. They move the puck better, generate better chances, and have better shooters. Sad to see them constantly get about 30 seconds of mop up time each PP.

It would be nice to see that 2nd PP unit get more time. I think it should even be tweaked - swap Parise with Stewart. Parise-Granlund-Niederreiter with Spurgeon and Dumba. They move the puck better, generate better chances, and have better shooters. Sad to see them constantly get about 30 seconds of mop up time each PP.
- Chinaski

Agreed

One would think Yeo at some point would just shake up the two units just for poops and giggles if nothing else.

An Av's fan coined that one...
- MnGump

Oh i know. They are miserable.

It would be nice to see that 2nd PP unit get more time. I think it should even be tweaked - swap Parise with Stewart. Parise-Granlund-Niederreiter with Spurgeon and Dumba. They move the puck better, generate better chances, and have better shooters. Sad to see them constantly get about 30 seconds of mop up time each PP.
- Chinaski

I thought i saw dumba on the 1st unit for a small stretch last night. Man that kid really does have a hell of a shot. Would love to see him up there more often. Our pp hasn't been clicking that well, it's time for some new blood.

Agreed

One would think Yeo at some point would just shake up the two units just for poops and giggles if nothing else.
- MnGump

I pretty much lost all hope for that when they badly needed a goal against Colorado, had a PP, the first unit had burned a minute of it already, and with seven minutes left he takes a timeout to rest the first unit so he can pull Dubnyk for a 6-on-4 and send that unit back out. Before last night I'm not sure that unit had scored in about the last 25-30 PP chances. But in desperation time, he always goes with those guys. I just don't understand it.

I thought i saw dumba on the 1st unit for a small stretch last night. Man that kid really does have a hell of a shot. Would love to see him up there more often. Our pp hasn't been clicking that well, it's time for some new blood.
- gypsypunk01

You did. It was late in the game and Yeo may have just been tweaking things slightly because of the lead they had or maybe Vanek was worn out from a shift.

Dumba probably has the best shot out of all of our defensemen and I tend to like his aggressiveness when pursuing the offensive play - at least when he make those decisions at the right time which he has done a much better job of lately.

This PP probably isn't going to be a big issue until the playoffs, if they make it. Right now they are scoring goals and it isn't hurting them. But I think it will in a big way in the playoffs. And we'll likely get a taste of it in these last 15 games since they are basically playing out the string mostly against playoff teams.

New blog might be nice...
- MnGump

It's only been a week...C'mon! Give a guy a break!

It's only been a week...C'mon! Give a guy a break!
- mngopherguy

I know T's been busy playing cop, but we need some fresh stuff every couple games at least.

Not accounting for guys not currently on the roster, i.e., guys in Iowa or in college, here's how it shapes up for next year (all info from NHLNumbers.com)

Under Contract (17 - $61.373M)
Forwards (10)
Parise
Koivu
Vanek
Pominville
Niederreiter
Cooke (1 year left)
Fontaine (1 year left)
Coyle
Zucker (1 year left)
Schroeder (1 year left)
Defensemen (5)
Suter
Spurgeon (1 year left)
Brodin
Dumba (1 year left)
Scandella
Goaltenders (2)
Backstrom (1 year left)
Kuemper (1 year left)

RFA (3)
Forwards (2)
Granlund
Haula
Defensemen (1)
Folin

UFA (8)
Forwards (4)
Brodziak
Carter
Bergenheim
Stewart
Defensemen (3)
Ballard
Prosser
Leopold
Goaltenders (1)
Dubnyk

This year's cap is $69 million. Assuming no cap overages from this year and let's just assume the cap increases slightly to $70 million, the Wild have roughly $8-9 million in cap space and six spots to fill. Who stays, who goes?

I'm not sure what the rules are if they buyout Backstrom. But he's got 1 year left and typically the buyout is 2/3 of the remaining salary spread over double the remaining term. But I'm not sure how the cap hit is calculated.

It's quite a puzzle Fletcher needs to put together.

Wild record without Dumba in the line-up: 6-12-6

With Dumba: 30-11-1


- gypsypunk01

My dad has always been a huge Dumba supporter and loves to throw this statistic out at me. Don't get me wrong - I think the kid has a strong future and will develop nicely.

However, wasn't there some crazy stat last year for Prosser? Something along the lines of the Wild only losing a few games with him in the lineup?

My dad has always been a huge Dumba supporter and loves to throw this statistic out at me. Don't get me wrong - I think the kid has a strong future and will develop nicely.

However, wasn't there some crazy stat last year for Prosser? Something along the lines of the Wild only losing a few games with him in the lineup?
- deslni01

There was. But there could be something to this. I think when you match up lines with other teams the best opportunity to have an advantage is with your 3rd and 4th lines and 3rd defense pairing. If you can fill those bottom six forward roles with better skill guys and your 3rd defense pairing can move the puck well you could have a significant advantage against many teams.

I wouldn't say it's Dumba alone that makes the team better but the makeup and style of the depth players at times gives the Wild an advantage and is allowing Yeo to lean less heavily on the top players.

That and since Dubnyk's arrived anyone who's been in the lineup regularly looks pretty good from a win-loss perspective.

My dad has always been a huge Dumba supporter and loves to throw this statistic out at me. Don't get me wrong - I think the kid has a strong future and will develop nicely.

However, wasn't there some crazy stat last year for Prosser? Something along the lines of the Wild only losing a few games with him in the lineup?
- deslni01

It was in a a russo article. I just thought it was funny, especially cause gump hates him so much.

It was in a a russo article. I just thought it was funny, especially cause gump hates him so much.
- gypsypunk01

(frank)ing Dumba!

New Blog! Yay