Dan Wallace: Sharks In Town As Home Stand Begins

Well gee wiz... where to begin? Just when you think they’ve turned a corner, they slip back into mediocrity. It would appear as this roster still mired in dead weight players. The likes of Aberg, Rask and Bittetto can all go back to where they came from. Aside from them, the team collectively looked lazy and without any real sense of urgency. Waaay too much standing around and loligagging to pucks and to the bench. Dubnyk looks like he’s back to the defeated goalie who pouts and loses focus once that first puck gets by...

Once again can’t finish on a myriad of point blank chances... Power play is as bad as I think I’ve ever seen it. It’s definitely a frustrating time to be a Wild fan...

I officially retract my statement of them winning a playoff series.

I agree with you Gump, I think Aberg and Bitetto should be shown the door at seasons end and not tendered qualifying offers (both RFAs). Unfortunately, we're stuck with Rask for the foreseeable future. Unless Fenton packages him with someone in the summer.

I think Aberg is this season's version of Tyler Ennis. You can see that Aberg would be a wiz in a pond hockey tourney, but just doesn't seem to the "it" factor to be worth anything in the NHL. Anthony BITE-THE TOE would make a really good 12th Dman. His defense is atrocious. No where NEAR NHL standards. Even though he does appear to have some ability to carry the puck up into the offensive zone, he looks lost once he gets there. Prosser, Belpedio, Soucy, Mennell and Bartkowski should all be playing over him.

Rask will be bought out. He was an experiment that should is not working out. I think it they want to give him the benefit of the doubt and test his character, they should tell him that he will be bought out this summer unless he can prove otherwise over these last couple of weeks. $4 million is just going to be too much for a 4C, especially when the Wild might have a 3C at $5.5 mil next year. I wonder if Cal O'Reilly is good at face offs? Might be in line to be the 4C next year if they can sign him for $700-$800k. He has earned it with his play in Iowa this year, sitting at a point per game as it stands right now.

I am already looking to next year, and what can be done in the off-season. If the Wild do actually make the playoffs this year, I will be happy to be able to watch them for a few more games, but I just won't be all that excited about it. The chance to get into a top 10 draft pick is probably out the window already.

Shaw will be in his 2nd season in Iowa and hopefully won't have a problem with that rookie wall next year. Lodnia might just be coming to Iowa starting next year. Bitten will have another season to learn more about RW instead of C and put on a little weight/muscle. Sokolov will hopefully finally figure it out on what it takes to be a pro. Mennell and Belpedio will compete for a spot, along with Soucy (although I only see Soucy as a 3rd pairing/7th Dman). Kahkonen will have his 2nd year on the smaller rink to get more adjusted to the NHL game. And the Wild will be 1 more year closed to Kaprizov (yes, I just giggled like a little school girl typing that out).

Off-season more predictions: Zucker, Spurgeon and ErikssonEk get moved and Fenton takes a run at either Marner or Kapanen, if not both. Rask is bought out as well. And lastly, Dumba's beard grows out an alarming 14 more inches and he starts collecting snakes, lizards and various other pets to try and help Wild fans forget about Brent Burns.

Not sure if i agree with the rask buyout theory. Hes got 3 more years left, which would be 2 million in dead cap space over 6 years. If anything, i think the only way he moves is in a package with someone else. Maybe to a team that needs to hit the cap floor.

Aaaaaaaand
Darcy kuemper and the yotes overtake the wild for the 2nd wild card.

Aaaaaaaand
Darcy kuemper and the yotes overtake the wild for the 2nd wild card.
- gypsypunk01

Was only a matter of time... Chicago will be next

Not sure if i agree with the rask buyout theory. Hes got 3 more years left, which would be 2 million in dead cap space over 6 years. If anything, i think the only way he moves is in a package with someone else. Maybe to a team that needs to hit the cap floor.
- mnMild

Actually, is would save the Wild $2.67 mil per year, for the next 3 years. Then years 4, 5 and 6, it would cost $1.33 mil against the cap. I think that extra $2.67 mil would help in making the roster better. Unless Rask shows over these last 12 games that he is going to worth that $4 mil a year, I say buy him out.

Was only a matter of time... Chicago will be next
- MnGump

Trust me, NO way Chicago will be next. Sure they have played a bit better of late and even a broken clock is right twice a day. But this is a very average team. Just too many teams to jump over with any hopes. I really believe it will be a 3 team race between Dallas, MN and AZ for the 2 wild card spots. Colorado is playing ok but doesn't have the depth and now the injury to GL and Vancouver also seems to be on the decline.

Actually, is would save the Wild $2.67 mil per year, for the next 3 years. Then years 4, 5 and 6, it would cost $1.33 mil against the cap. I think that extra $2.67 mil would help in making the roster better. Unless Rask shows over these last 12 games that he is going to worth that $4 mil a year, I say buy him out.
- Gusrichards

Agreed

Trust me, NO way Chicago will be next. Sure they have played a bit better of late and even a broken clock is right twice a day. But this is a very average team. Just too many teams to jump over with any hopes. I really believe it will be a 3 team race between Dallas, MN and AZ for the 2 wild card spots. Colorado is playing ok but doesn't have the depth and now the injury to GL and Vancouver also seems to be on the decline.
- MNHawksfan

Well you may be right, but personally I’d much rather see the Hawks get that last wild card spot than freaking Arizona

Hmm interesting point. The hockey fan in is intrigued by AZ due to the lack of market for hockey in AZ and the number of injuries that team has had this year. AZ may have the only professional arena that does NOT charge for parking.
Then again, having a team with a better hockey market would be better for the game and potentially more entertaining