Dan Wallace: Wild Need to Start Winning at Home

I wish I had a better feeling about this team, but something tells me they are going to play out the string in mediocre fashion. Hope I'm wrong, but they've been too pedestrian against bad teams to elicit much confidence in them at this point... I'd also like to see the team shaken up a bit. The status quo isn't exactly lighting the world on fire. I'd like the lines to shake out something like this:

Zucker - Koivu - Coyle

Parise - Graovac - Vanek

Nino - Haula - Pominville

Fontaine/Carter - Granlund - Jones

Suter - Dumba

Scandella - Spurgeon

Brodin - Reilly

Koivu and Parise have never played well together and some of Parise's recent slump can be attributed to being paired with Koivu. They should be broken up if only to get Parise going. Being paired with a big and fast center in Graovac, who incidentally showed chemistry with Vanek during the preseason, might open up Parise to get more offensive chances 5v5. The third line has been the shutdown line for the Wild the last two weeks, so why not put Granlund on the 4th line where he may be able to get more chances on the offensive side? Stoll and Porter should be riding the pine. On to the D. Suter and Spurgeon have not been great together this year. In face their play at times has left much to be desired. Reunite Scandella and Spurgeon who are fantastic together, and let Dumba learn from Suter like Brodin did. Reilly and Brodin have the prospect of being a dynamic third pairing because of Rielly's skating ability and Brodin's defensive prowess.

Pommer has came out of his slump, but Parise takes his place on the poop list. It will take everyone to be playing at the top of there game for this team to make ANY playoff run. Don't see that happening sadly

Koivu and Parise have never played well together and some of Parise's recent slump can be attributed to being paired with Koivu.
- mnhockeyguy

I've never really liked Koivu with the higher skill and/or higher speed guys. Koivu holds the puck too much and typical offensive sequences with him end up on the wall. I'm OK with him playing with some of the bigger wingers that can grind it out on the wall like Niederreiter and Coyle. But I think guys like Parise and Zucker would be better suited to faster, better playmaking centermen. Playing them with Koivu basically takes away most of their speed advantage.

I've never really liked Koivu with the higher skill and/or higher speed guys. Koivu holds the puck too much and typical offensive sequences with him end up on the wall. I'm OK with him playing with some of the bigger wingers that can grind it out on the wall like Niederreiter and Coyle. But I think guys like Parise and Zucker would be better suited to faster, better playmaking centermen. Playing them with Koivu basically takes away most of their speed advantage.
- Chinaski

I tend to agree, but Koivu opens up Zuckers game a bit by being able to hit him in stride through the neutral zone. The other issue is there is really no one who's had chemistry with Koivu other than Zucker on this team right now, so he seemed to be the logical choice. Koivu also seems to need speedy wingers to give him some space to operate.

I tend to agree, but Koivu opens up Zuckers game a bit by being able to hit him in stride through the neutral zone. The other issue is there is really no one who's had chemistry with Koivu other than Zucker on this team right now, so he seemed to be the logical choice. Koivu also seems to need speedy wingers to give him some space to operate.
- mnhockeyguy

I guess I just haven't seen the chemistry between Koivu and Zucker that much. I know early in the year Koivu, Zucker, and Niederreiter were clicking for a little while. But it didn't really seem to last.

I'd like to see Zucker be able to use his speed in his own zone rather than just through the neutral zone. I've seen it with Haula this last month - playing with better players that are able to sustain possession longer, he is able to use his speed to get to loose pucks in the offensive zone. I think this is something Zucker needs to start doing to be more effective. And if he is playing with faster players, getting to loose pucks can create more chances.

With Pominville out, I think I'd like to see
Parise-Granlund-Coyle
Zucker-Haula-Niederreiter
Vanek-Koivu-Fontaine

I guess I just haven't seen the chemistry between Koivu and Zucker that much. I know early in the year Koivu, Zucker, and Niederreiter were clicking for a little while. But it didn't really seem to last.

I'd like to see Zucker be able to use his speed in his own zone rather than just through the neutral zone. I've seen it with Haula this last month - playing with better players that are able to sustain possession longer, he is able to use his speed to get to loose pucks in the offensive zone. I think this is something Zucker needs to start doing to be more effective. And if he is playing with faster players, getting to loose pucks can create more chances.

With Pominville out, I think I'd like to see
Parise-Granlund-Coyle
Zucker-Haula-Niederreiter
Vanek-Koivu-Fontaine
- Chinaski

I wouldn't mind seeing these lines, but Granlund is worse than Koivu as a top line center right now... in fact I wouldn't mind seeing Granlund put on Koivu's wing. Also Vanek has even less chemistry with Koivu than Parise. They are in dire need of a center overhaul this off season.

I've never been a huge Dumba fan but obviously realized his potential as a young still developing player... That being said, his defensive play has been very suspect lately. He seems to be determined to get up into offensive play whether it's warranted or not, leaving the blue line vulnerable.

His goal the other night was a prime example... He drives all the way to the crease when he clearly was not needed there as he stepped right in front of Parise virtually taking away what should have been a tap in for Zach.

I've never been a huge Dumba fan but obviously realized his potential as a young still developing player... That being said, his defensive play has been very suspect lately. He seems to be determined to get up into offensive play whether it's warranted or not, leaving the blue line vulnerable.

His goal the other night was a prime example... He drives all the way to the crease when he clearly was not needed there as he stepped right in front of Parise virtually taking away what should have been a tap in for Zach.
- MnGump

We finally have a defenseman that isn't afraid to skate in past the blue line and you're complaining!?

We finally have a defenseman that isn't afraid to skate in past the blue line and you're complaining!?
- SotaPopinski

gump doesn't complain!!

We finally have a defenseman that isn't afraid to skate in past the blue line and you're complaining!?
- SotaPopinski

Scandella, Suter and Spurgeon have never been afraid to enter offensive play so I guess I don't see your point.

1 goal against the oil who were missing 2 defencemen?? embarrassing

I'm done with this team for this season. Writing has been clearly scrawled on the wall since before Yeos dismissal.

They just don't have any semblance of being a playoff team this year.

Barely eke out points against Buffalo and then lose at home to the leagues worst.

Time to start investing in this years first round pick

Dan Wallace: Wild Need to Start Winning at Home
- Dan Wallace

Wow. The Oilers played like poop and still beat you guys. You know, a few years ago when y'all signed Suter and Parise I told everyone within 3 years the Wild would be serious contenders. Why hasn't it happened?

1 goal against the oil who were missing 2 defencemen?? embarrassing
- gopherwildfan

2?

Oscar Klefbom
Darnel Nurse
Brandon Davidson
Eric Gryba

All four are among the Oilers top 6 D ( which is pathetic in its own right).

Since you all seem to find some fun in coming over to our thread and chirping about this and that.......... how do you like them apples?!

McDavid!!! Enjoy that 2-1 loss!

Since you all seem to find some fun in coming over to our thread and chirping about this and that.......... how do you like them apples?!

McDavid!!! Enjoy that 2-1 loss!
- Lundstrom

Piss off Jabroni. The Oioers deserve all the chirping they get...especially for. The Wild fans. They owned the Oikers like no other for what? 5 seasons?

Great job today mild!

Is the season a lose now? Time to quick rebuild. Trade for the best center thats on the trade block. Thats probably RNH. Then try to get a sniper. Maybe a package could be worked to get Nail Yakapov to. Its a risk but what else can this team do? They wont go full rebuild till Parise and Suter retire.

Is the season a lose now? Time to quick rebuild. Trade for the best center thats on the trade block. Thats probably RNH. Then try to get a sniper. Maybe a package could be worked to get Nail Yakapov to. Its a risk but what else can this team do? They wont go full rebuild till Parise and Suter retire.
- Zac_O

Technically, it's not a loss yet. They do still have a chance to make the playoffs but we all know they are going to get run over if they make it.

I don't think they will go full rebuild this summer, but I do think they will make some significant moves. I would be surprised if they target players like RNH and Yakupov as their main moves. Those two aren't going to fix the problems the Wild have. Besides, anyone considering RNH as a trade target should be waiting to see how the lottery plays out. If Edmonton wins it, they may be willing to trade the pick or may entertain trading Draisaitl if they think Matthews has a higher ceiling. Either way, teams are more likely to give them a better return for the pick or Draisaitl then for RNH.

Technically, it's not a loss yet. They do still have a chance to make the playoffs but we all know they are going to get run over if they make it.

I don't think they will go full rebuild this summer, but I do think they will make some significant moves. I would be surprised if they target players like RNH and Yakupov as their main moves. Those two aren't going to fix the problems the Wild have. Besides, anyone considering RNH as a trade target should be waiting to see how the lottery plays out. If Edmonton wins it, they may be willing to trade the pick or may entertain trading Draisaitl if they think Matthews has a higher ceiling. Either way, teams are more likely to give them a better return for the pick or Draisaitl then for RNH.
- Chinaski

If EDM is trading #1 pick nobody will outbid Arizona. They want Mathews more than anyone else. This team is a lose. Even if they make the playoffs this season was a lose at this point in my opinion. I dont care as much who it is, but they need a center.

If EDM is trading #1 pick nobody will outbid Arizona. They want Mathews more than anyone else. This team is a lose. Even if they make the playoffs this season was a lose at this point in my opinion. I dont care as much who it is, but they need a center.
- Zac_O

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I'm not saying Arizona wouldn't be a player if the #1 pick was up for trade, but if it's in the hands of Edmonton I think teams like Minnesota and Anaheim could put comparable if not better packages together.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I'm not saying Arizona wouldn't be a player if the #1 pick was up for trade, but if it's in the hands of Edmonton I think teams like Minnesota and Anaheim could put comparable if not better packages together.
- Chinaski

Thats if Arizona isn't dumb enough to offer OEL for the #1 pick. From everything I've seen that GM is very much that dumb.

Thats if Arizona isn't dumb enough to offer OEL for the #1 pick. From everything I've seen that GM is very much that dumb.
- Zac_O

If they were willing to trade him he would likely be the best defenseman the Oilers could acquire. But if I'm Chiarelli, I'm trying to pry a top-4 pairing out of a team for the #1 pick. With the state of the Oilers blueline, I think they'd be better off getting two quality defensemen instead of one elite one. And he may even be able to get a depth guy thrown in as well. But it would definitely be hard to turn down Ekman-Larsson.