Dan Wallace: Wild Building Confidence Following 3 Point Weekend

Okay Dan, let's not get too far ahead of oursevles... Whether Wild fans over value our assets or not, the Nino trade is still looking very foolish. Granted he needed to go, but I think the mere premise of moving a player simply to move a player is still only as good as the player you get back.

Donato and Hunt still looking like the only moves so far that were worth their respective transactions. Aberg has looked non existent since his debut. Fiala is skating... Hasn't done much to make anyone think he's that "game breaking finisher" as was sold to the Wild masses by one Paul Fenton. Time will tell, but not looking promising given his first 3 games.

So the Wild go from a team who doesn't shoot enough, constantly looking to defer to someone else... to a team that no longer makes the advantageous pass play by shooting on odd man rushes, and before the offense can really get set up or organized in the offensive zone.

At least thats what last nights game appeared like to me. Plenty of opportunities to pass last night to create better scoring chances only to see players take low percentage shots or looking to be the goal scorer.

I know, i know, we have to give things time to simmer, but giving Fenton kudos just for making the team a little younger is a bit short sighted for now given the pieces he has parted with.

So the Wild go from a team who doesn't shoot enough, constantly looking to defer to someone else... to a team that no longer makes the advantageous pass play by shooting on odd man rushes, and before the offense can really get set up or organized in the offensive zone.

You are starting to sound a bit like someone that will never be happy. Might be time to just sit back and enjoy for a little bit.

You are starting to sound a bit like someone that will never be happy. Might be time to just sit back and enjoy for a little bit.
- bmgarvert

You're probably right, I may never be happy with this squad, but by all means, if you enjoy mediocrity, have it bud! "Enjoy"!... as you say

Glad Donatos playing well. Is he doing more than just scoring? His lack of a complete game was always the issue.

Coyle seems to be the opposite. He’s not scoring but he’s playing really well and has really solidified the 3rd line

Glad Donatos playing well. Is he doing more than just scoring? His lack of a complete game was always the issue.

Coyle seems to be the opposite. He’s not scoring but he’s playing really well and has really solidified the 3rd line
- Shaundre93

Donato had 6 points in his first 5 games. 2 goals (1 game winner) 4 assists. He's a pretty exciting player when the puck is on his stick. Haven't really seen enough of him yet on one line to figure out if the rest of his game is going to develop, but he's the most promising prospect/player the Wild have out of all the recent moves.

Coyle scores in streaks. He'll have a dozen games with nothing, then he'll score 3 or 4 in a handful of games.. I always liked Coyle, but he's a guy who had/has a ton of potential, but just can't seem to live up to it.

Either way, best trade Fenton made for value.

Dan, I think I really agreed with your assessment on what Fenton has done. Except the Nino trade. I really hope Rask reads what fans are saying about that trade, takes the next off season and finds his game again. But as this roster presently sits, he is the 4th line C. If that what it turns out to be, that a loss on the trade. It does look like his face-off percentage is decent, so there is a silver lining. Maybe he just needs to re-invent himself as a defensive guy that will give you 8-10 goals and 15-18 assists. I would take that and the $1.5 mil in extra cap space.

The Anthony Bitetto pick up I can understand from depth stance. But I really think he should be in Iowa and Prosser should be up with the main club. Iowa already has enough right handed Dmen with Mennell, Belpedio and Bouramman. And they drafted 2 more last year. Soucy is the only "younger" lefty down there. Bitetto is probably never going to be more than a depth piece that should be down with the farm club, learning the system and becoming a staple to help younger guys down there.

The pick up of Brad Hunt I also like. I think he is basically the same thing that Prosser is, with more offensive talent. Pross is probably has a slight lead defensively. And we have seen him either side, so just like Prosser, he can handle those going forward. And Hunt is 2 years younger...but that really doesn't mean much as he is on the wrong side of 30. Saving the best for last on Hunt, is there a better interview on this team over Hunt....I think not.

The Coyle/Donato trade is looking like a winner to start off. Of course we have to give it a little time, but so far so good. Like I think I have said here in an older post, Donato appears to have a chip on his shoulder, since Boston kept him down at the AHL level mostly. If he keeps that chip and also improves with more NHL time, definite trade win for the Wild.

And the final trade of Granlund/Fiala. This one is getting me to think it is Chuck Fletcher all over again. A GM who is completely infatuated with "his guys". We all know what Granlund is capable of and what he can bring to a team. So far, haven't seen a ton of skill stand out with Fiala. There have been small instances, but no flash. But again, this is another one that needs some time to really measure.

Overall, I think Fenton has FINALLY started working his plan on how he wants to roster and build this team. When hired, Fenton talked about building this team from the back end out, which is probably a big part of the reason that he kept Dubnyk at the trade deadline and why he wants Kahkonen to get as much time in Iowa that is possible. Next year, Dumba will be back and hopefully just picks up where he was when he got hurt. I'm really starting to believe that Zucker's days are numbered here in Minnesota. Getting rid of his cap space, that just might open the door to Fenton doing ridiculous offer sheets to both Marner and Kapanen, making it virtually impossible for the Leafs to resign both of them. If he was able to do that, along with not losing Donato or Fiala as well, that would really be tansitioning on the fly.

I forgot to add the Aberg trade in the post above. I guess Aberg is easy to forget. I know a lot of people were mad that Kloos was traded away, but I raally never thought Kloos was going to be an NHL'er anyways. So this was just Fenton trying to catch lightning in a bottle. So far, Aberg has really done nothing to excite the fanbase. I believe this was a good trade in that Kloos was probably never in the Wild's plans anyways and Aberg had already gotten some NHL experience. So it was a trade of a guy way outside the bubble for a guy right on the bubble. Just hasn't given great results. And come to think of it, Aberg was actually cheaper than Kloos by about $140k...not that I think that really had anything to do about it.

The Anthony Bitetto pick up I can understand from depth stance. But I really think he should be in Iowa and Prosser should be up with the main club. Iowa already has enough right handed Dmen with Mennell, Belpedio and Bouramman. And they drafted 2 more last year. Soucy is the only "younger" lefty down there. Bitetto is probably never going to be more than a depth piece that should be down with the farm club, learning the system and becoming a staple to help younger guys down there.
- Gusrichards

Has anyone figured out why Bitetto is still playing and Seeler has been scratched? I think Seeler is missing out on some really good development time in this drive to make the playoffs.

Has anyone figured out why Bitetto is still playing and Seeler has been scratched? I think Seeler is missing out on some really good development time in this drive to make the playoffs.
- Gusrichards

Nope, can't figure out why JT Brown is in the line up every night either...

Nope, can't figure out why JT Brown is in the line up every night either...
- MnGump

Well, I don't think they have contract room to bring anyone else up from Iowa, so the Wild are kind of stuck with Bitetto, Brown and Aberg at this point.

Well, I don't think they have contract room to bring anyone else up from Iowa, so the Wild are kind of stuck with Bitetto, Brown and Aberg at this point.
- Gusrichards

Why the hell did they bring him back up in the first place?.. and I agree with you Gus, I think Bitetto might be a slightly better skater than Prosser, but I'd rather see Prosser in the line up.