CreaseAndAssist

(shrugs) I think in any draft there is good talent to be found beyond the top 15 if your scouting group is really doing their job and perhaps maybe willing to take a risk. Sure, some draft classes are better than others. No doubt about it. I think the Wild's drafting strategy clearly demonstrates how they overvalue certain traits and they often look for the safe pick. They have also undervalued skating and speed and I think that has hurt this team. IMO, its a speed league now. We used to prioritize speed, but look at how many of our prospects have skating / speed concerns and collectively that's pretty disturbing. Guy LaPointe has been a key part of the Wild's draft virtually from Day 1. So he's been there for that giant line of bust years with gems like A.J. Thelen, Tyler Cuma, Colton Gillies, and James Sheppard but he's been teflon with this organization through TWO GM's. And there are other scouts who have been there for most of those same drafts as well (Paul Charles). The 'new' eyes this team really needed is in its drafting and development model. What scares me a bit is Tom Kurvers. Kurvers has watched the Wild a lot as a scout. I realize its just the Minnesota Wild Town Hall show, but he seemed to think we have lots of great players in our system. Beyond Kaprizov, who really seems to have a good chance of being a GREAT player? Greenway? No. Kunin, not with a bum knee. Filip Johansson? So maybe Kurvers has seen this group TOO much and has unfortunately developed that same inflated sentimentality that has plagued this organization throughout its history.

Minions...again?

Contracts. Fletcher re-signed a bunch of these people to deals. Those that didn't get that contract were let go.

I think that was Flahr. This was their last draft. The picks seemed to fit like what they've drafted before which to me sounds like the old staff more or less made the selection.

I hope we see a house cleaning of the scouting staff. I think Fenton will do so; kind of based on his decision to send John Anderson out in favor of his own guy in Dean Evason. He wants his own guys...but Fletcher locked those guys up for another year. Flahr's basically a lame duck as Kurvers has his job.

True, and hopefully they are smart enough to not just throw away canon by trying to re-invent Klingons as they did with Discovery. ANYWAYS...back to topic, glad to see things thriving here. In fact, it almost seems more active now than what it was before?!?! Anyone else agree?

The Wild Message Borg continues to assimilate...resistance is futile.

Fenton obviously was willing to roll with it. No doubt he was painted into a corner by the owners comments just prior to him being hired.

I think that is a superb question. I think it is indeed plausible based on what we've seen be deployed on the ice that perhaps there has to be a certain level of player consent to line combinations. If true, I am not sure why ANY coach would want to be in that situation.

Sounds about as laughable as Walz trying to convince a season ticket holder that the team might try to snag Evgeni Malkin.

It was Minnesota Hockey magazine or Let's Play Hockey that had the 44% figure, not Wild.com although I'm sure they were glad to reprint such propaganda. If they Wild really have drafted great, then our team would have lots of great assets that other teams would want. I think this summer proved; at least partially...that what the Wild have don't REALLY entice other teams all that much. Yes, I think the offers were pretty bad intentionally but in years past...how many times have we apparently tried to trade Coyle / Brodin etc? More than a few and every time...the deal never happens. It kind of reminds me of this scene from Uncle Buck, sure he has items to trade but does anyone REALLY want them? But as you look at that list of prospects. Player after player is often stated as not being a great skater. Or lacking speed, quickness. Have they not paid attention to the league? Why are you hording players with skating issues? Zack Phillips had reasonable hands, but his skating was AWFUL, like Brunette 2.0 bad...the kind of red flag that if you have any functioning brain cells you don't draft no matter how great their hands are. You know the skating will make it next to impossible for them to make it. But as IllaZilla stated a while back, the team felt it knew something no one else did...and made the poor selection anyways. Bust. Luke Kunin, one significant knee injury already...he's damaged goods. His trade value can't be that great. Gets credit for his hustle and having a decent shot but just an ok skater for a player who is of average size. Joel Eriksson Ek, I am hoping he has a breakout season and shows more scoring ability but if he amounts to a 3rd line center?!?! Greenway looks decent, but is he really proven he should be in the NHL right now? I don't think so. But the free pass looks like its already being given to him. Kaprizov has already been told (albeit by Fletcher, not Fenton as far as we know) that he's going to get a free pass. He won't be starting out in Iowa, IF he ever comes to North America or the Minnesota Wild in the first place. Yet if you take Kaprizov off this list, the prospect pool looks pretty underwhelming with lots of questionable projects IMO. Khovanov, skilled...people mentioned his bout with Hepatitis A, but as the report stated. That didn't help, but his skating was questionable BEFORE he got Hepatitis A. The Giroux kid, kind of the same issue. A smallish player who works hard, but has skating issues. Why draft a small guy with skating issues? I don't have a problem with them drafting a smaller player but he better be fast as hell otherwise I don't see how it works out in a league where you can't stick on the 4th line unless you're at least an average to above average skater. The team has clearly overvalued playmaking and ignored skating. Pittsburgh, Nashville, Vegas...to a lesser degree Washington. All clubs that were fast, especially in transition and had good skaters from top to bottom in their lineup.

No question. The fact he looks like a potential star certainly helps prop up a pretty thin group. But our 1st pick from this year...just 'has a chance' ouch.

The Athletic rates the Wild prospect pool 18th out of 31 If you have a subscription this a great read. Kind of concerning when your top pick from this year is in the "has a chance" category versus Legit NHL prospect.

Well its changed hands, I haven't been there since it re-opened but supposedly the food is even better.

Yes, Reid's perhaps? I'm right off I-94 if you're ever in and around Madison, just let me know...

Welcome to the new boards Fargo! I remember first meeting you back in the old Fanhome days...glad to see you made it here!

Why bash Fleury? Because of his relative success? Anyways, I think people made the switch rather effortlessly...

He actually demonstrated some playmaking skill once he was traded, but he still was a good finisher too.

I think its pretty definitive the Wild Message Borg has done a great job of assimilating this place...

Sokolov had a great playoffs for Barrie; and his production really took off after that trade from Sudbury. Hopefully he's a go-to scorer in Iowa.

Meh, the Wild make opposing goaltenders look great with their willingness to settle for perimeter shots with little or no traffic near the goalie. The Wild are unwilling to pay the physical price to go to the high traffic areas on the ice.

I think you may be onto something with this, the NHL's boneyard franchise...

Yet even if Suter was there...were we going to win with a team that couldn't score? Nope...or are you going to tell me Suter's scoring will carry the team past Winnipeg?

Pulkkinen is an apt comparison until we see otherwise...

I would agree. I wasn't bothered in the slightest by Suter's absence in the playoffs. It didn't matter anyways IMO. We were not going to win that series against the Jets with him or without him. If Suter's foolishness with his rehab ends up causing a setback I won't be surprised nor will I be all that disappointed.