CreaseAndAssist

No, he isn't. He said as much on Barriero the day it was announced Fenton was fired. Also, Russo said Kurvers isn't in the mix mostly because of his health concerns. It amazing how many different people, not just Minnesota media but national media that either tweeted or wrote parts of articles saying how the Wild should not hire Chiarelli. Even though he may fit the experience requirement, but given his mistakes and with the talent he's squandered in his tenures in Boston and Edmonton...they know fans will riot and credibility will be damaged further by hiring Chiarelli.

Not sure where you put Rask other than either 3rd or 4th lines. @IllaZilla's comment about Russo's revealing the Wild did just about no homework on Rask is about as damning as it gets. The sad but funny thing is, what actually happened was worse and more pathetic than we even speculated here.

Its obviously relative to what our team is. But these are the most statistically significant players that fit the parameters I set.

Chiarelli can go to hell. Its either going to be Hextall or Don Waddell by what I've heard. Not sure why any of us need an Oilers fan trying to convince us that Chiarelli is anything other than a massive mistake machine.

Great point. Although isn't that due to the fact the team isn't really that entertaining and companies are hoping to schmooze clients elsewhere? Especially with a team that was such a buzzkill at home last year.

Leipold himself seemed to indicate he really started to feel that way after the exit interviews. Which is why you really have to question his attentiveness / understanding in letting the Zuccarello deal happen?

Well now the guy who would be Fiala and Donato's biggest advocates is gone. It will be interesting to see how this organization now handles him. But the crappy thing is, whoever is the new GM. They now have to make due with Fiala because of what we gave up to get him. No matter what...they'll need to mend a lot of burnt bridges out there.

Nah. Leipold shouldn't be let off the hook for cutting the cord. He still let it go on too long. If he was there at Free Agency and just let the Zuccarello deal happen, IMO he's just as guilty for the lack of foresight by this organization.

According to Russo in an interview he gave on KFAN. He said it wasn't about the trades as bad as they were. It was more about his irritability and struggle to change and work with those within the organization. Not to mention his lack of initiative in regards to re-signing Spurgeon, he was a total failure.

Wild Fire GM Paul Fenton I give my thoughts on the move to fire Paul Fenton, as well as share media thoughts, fans thoughts too. He clearly burned all of his bridges rather quickly and when he finally angered Ryan and Zach enough they dropped the axe on him. A strange day indeed...

Iowa Wild Hire Alex Tanguay as assistant coach & '19-'20 Iowa Wild Season thoughts It might seem a tad bit premature to talk about Iowa's upcoming season. But with Tanguay's hire and a roster I think is kind of predictable I decided to comment and pose some thoughts about it all. Enjoy and discuss.

That's a fair fear. Just a mediocre club that isn't bad enough for a lottery pick but still no where really near the playoffs. Yea, that is a miserable place to be.

For me, the inability to attract a top tier forward with that cap space speaks loud and clear. This organization is irrelevant and not looking like a winner. IMO, this was sort of like an absentee intervention. Where you are intent on hosting a party and no one shows up. Hmm...how should I read into this. Maybe...(gasp) no one really wants to be here. IMO, the action you take then is to dismantle the team as much as you can. But instead, we added some more old plywood. It isn't the worst construction material but its worn and isn't what it used to be and won't make a substantial difference but it will give the appearance of having plugged a hole or two maybe. I agree with @IllaZilla's premise that it was a move Fenton felt he had to make so he had someone of note to show for. Yet at the end of the day, I think most of us realize it won't be enough. Its a shame. I'd rather give the kids the keys to the car and develop and go through the growing pains that way instead of keeping the Wild retirement community intact so they get most of the prime time.

As they should. This team will be a bottom feeder and probably for a while.

In case anyone missed it...The Hockey News' latest issue had the Wild picked as one of 3 teams to be named a LOSER in NHL Free Agency because they felt the Zuccarello signing was counterproductive and not impactful enough to justify the deal they gave him. Not that many here would disagree but I just thought I'd pile on just a little more.

Hahahaha...not that I want Aberg anymore, but he was far less counter productive than Bitetto. Bitetto helped the opposition on any shift he took.

Let us not forget that a lot of the rest of the Central Division kind of slowed down or struggled at the same time. The Wild even had a rough patch where it didn't lose ground but eventually our opponents were going to start to win games. Minnesota didn't and it fell to the bottom of the division...which is probably where they'll be...batting it out with Chicago for last place in the Central.

(shrugs) I am more with Hockey78 on this one. By the time we got most of these players listed their best days were past them. They were a step or three slower and they couldn't do what they used to do in many cases so they were relegated to Power Play specialists. Of that team I put together, only Rolston and to a lesser extent Daigle outperformed their expectations. Brian Rolston is my favorite Wild player of all time. Consistent, a leader...didn't complain and I didn't hold it against him for wanting to be paid since we got him on a bargain deal. But interestingly, that Wild team let Rolston go. This Wild team, sort of in a similar situation with Eric Staal...after having a terrible season (after a really good one the year before) we locked him up for two more years.

In full disclosure...I did have Setoguchi and Cooke in the original version. Yet as I thought and considered names from the past and since I wanted the 'best' Wild team I could make of people that fit the requirements I swapped them out. Setoguchi SHOULD have been able to make this list...but the career numbers just didn't pan out after that promising 1st season. Cullen certainly demonstrates how longevity and consistency (albeit modest totals) can help someone pile up the points.

While I've heard nothing but good things about his effort and creativity, I do question his ability to score himself. It will be interesting to see what he's like once he recovers from yet another major injury.

They Were Once Wild: The Star Talent That Passed Through Minnesota In this retrospective, I look back at the Star talent that was not drafted by the team and stayed here less than 5 seasons. Collectively its not a bad team I put together, but too bad we didn't get most of them when they were in their prime. Check it out and discuss.

While I think Berube is not the kind of guy to put up with anyone's crap, let's be honest...until Binnington arrived they had no shot because leaky Jake Allen was giving up 3+ goals per game. Once they stopped giving up soft goals, the offense started to re-ignite and build around Ryan O'Reilly who was the only Blues player having a great season prior to the firing of Mike Yeo. But after that, I agree. They are a team well-built for playoff hockey. They have a blueline that is pretty big and fairly mobile and physical where you need them to be. The rest of their team plays with a fair amount of grit and they have skill and scoring all throughout the lineup. Toss in a solid goaltender...and you can do a lot of damage with that lineup. Ryan O'Reilly is a star player who is great defensively, rarely takes penalties and can be a clutch scorer. The Wild are not even close to the St. Louis Blues in design. If they think its as easy as just having a decent goalie and excelling they're fooling themselves. St. Louis is a way more complete team. They were underachieving under Yeo. For whatever reason...his message got old quick and like what happened here...a lot of the players gave up on him. We are much older, slower and far less physical or resilient (mentally, physically maybe even emotionally) than that team IMO. The Wild don't play like a team...they play like a bunch of small cliques that will occasionally step up to help the team win on occasion. But there are plenty of nights where no one wants to step up and everyone seems to be waiting for someone to carry the load. IMO, another sign of our messed up locker room. Oh and one last thing. Before anyone says maybe Berube would be able to fix things here. Do you think Berube would have the same control with this Wild team than the Blues? I don't think so. The vets rule the roost as Richards, Yeo, Torchetti and even Boudreau has found out. I don't think Boudreau is a shrinking violet, but he also probably is smart enough to pick his battles and knows which ones he'll lose. The vets do as they please and he simply tries to work around that dynamic as much as he can because he knows its not going to change. Berube doesn't / didn't have to worry about that. Afterall, even until they hoisted a cup he was the interim coach...but I don't think the players there had the owner in their pocket the way our vets do here. Just a thought...

Thanks...I try.

Rask at this point...is a $4 million player working the James Sheppard Memorial Popcorn Machine. I honestly don't see where he fits on this team. And if you are playing him, you're not doing so because of what he may do out on the ice but because you don't want to waste money having him sitting up in the press box.

The Minnesota Wild is in Denial It is time this team took an objective look at itself. The hints have been piling up for sometime, its time they take heed from what these 'messages' are telling them.