CreaseAndAssist

Minnesota Wild Draft Preview: Forwards

Hi folks, its that time of year where we start to really focus on the NHL draft.  This is part 1 of 4 draft focused articles I intend on writing before the 1st round on June 21st.  Like I've done in the past I've identified the Wild's areas of need and have selected 6 players for each of the 3 major position groups.  Check it out and discuss!  

52 minutes ago, IllaZilla said:

 

I think that's almost a given (Zucker being traded) but the bigger problem is that Fenton has tried to trade Zucker to every team in the league. So every GM knows he wants to dump Zucker. Therefore none of those GM's are going to offer anything even close to what Zucker is worth. And not that Fenton would even ask for fair value in return (See Fiala for Granlund) because he would consider it a "hockey trade"...

For a guy who has 15+ years in an NHL team's front office, he seems to make a lot pretty basic mistakes.  

22 hours ago, IllaZilla said:

 

I haven't done a whole lot of research, but from what I can tell, people have the Wild all over the place, from Arthur Kaliyev to Victor Soderstrom to Philip Broberg to Trevor Zegras...

 

One thing for sure is that whoever they draft won't help this team for at least two to three years...unless they draft another Filip Johansson, then it'll be five to six years

There is a Filip Johansson clone listed as the #12 prospect in the Hockey News' draft article.  About 6 feet tall, right shot defenseman with limited offensive ability.  

On 5/31/2019 at 7:52 AM, IllaZilla said:

 

Be interesting to see how many off the board picks this team makes. Russo thought they were going after Spencer Knight since Caulfield will be gone at 12. Not sure how I feel about that. Yeah, he's a great goalie, but to spend a first round pick on a goaltender, he better be the second coming of Jacques Plante...and it doesn't matter how great a goalie you have in nets IF THE TEAM CAN"T SCORE...

(shrugs)  The one time the Predators drafted a goalie in the 1st round it didn't turn out too well.  I think that's a smokescreen.  IMO, he better take a center or a fast, goal scoring winger.  

4 hours ago, lynxrattle said:

In hindsight the fact that Scott Stevens only did one year for us is probably an indication of a rotten culture in the whole organisation. The ones who won't take it leave and the ones who submit to the crap stay - and it's a vicious circle ad infinitum.

DM me on Twitter @CreaseAndAssist

46 minutes ago, IllaZilla said:

 

That's not all. Apparently everyone in the Wild organization told Fenton trading for Kessel when they didn't even know who was on his No Trade list was a bad idea and to not do it. But The Smartest Guy in the Room does it anyway, and then gets mad when Kessel tells him "Your team isn't even close to being a Cup contender. I'm not waiving it for you." And this was even after Suter talked to Kessel to try and get him to come to the Wild.

 

Also, Fenton's apparently been shopping Zucker to anyone and everyone and words gotten out. The Wild are getting a reputation in the league of not treating their players well. This is going to scare off a lot of free agents. And by this second faux pas with Zucker, Fenton has successfully lowered Zuckers trade value to the point where the Wild will be lucky to get a draft pick for him, becasue every GM now knows Fenton wants to dump Zucker.

 

And the Wild have about six scouts at the NHL combine. Every other team has at least a dozen. And the most experienced scout there has six years of service and the guy running  the show (PJ Fenton) has one year of experience.

 

If the Wild didn't look like a clown show before, they sure do now...

I heard that too on the latest Russo show.  I have ZERO faith in this GM.  None at all.  This draft is likely going to be another shitshow.  

52 minutes ago, AJgoal said:

Huh.

 

 

 

 

I just saw that too...if it is true, it must've been from his show last night.  Not sure why anyone would have any faith in Fenton after such a careless move like that.  

On 5/29/2019 at 12:18 PM, EJ0226 said:

Fletcher needed to go. No doubt on that. Fletcher was trying to improve the team but just kept striking out.

Normally I say give a new GM or coach some time to figure stuff out. As long as they have a game plan and stick to it I am willing to give a shot. Fenton, is a whole different beast. He says faster and younger. Goes to sign Staal (who I love) to a multiyear MTC contract when he is old and slower. What pisses me off more on this is Boston was willing to trade a 1st round for him. I don't care if Staal cries about being traded just trade him. He only has 1 to 3 years left anyways. Is looking to trade our fastest player who is still on the younger side and almost got a old and slow player in exchange. He drafts a guy that everybody said for sure is a 7th rounder in the 1st round. He trades as 1 for 1 deal instead of trying to maximize. And lets be honest here, who would have ever seen this coming from Donato. It's also very possible it was a fluke and Donato goes back to the player that Boston traded which would make ever trade a turd rolled in turds.

 

I guess this draft will seal the deal on Fenton. Personally I would be fine of letting Fenton go and maybe talk to Modano about taking that spot.

 

Also @CreaseAndAssist your write ups and articles really give Russos a run for his money. I find I enjoy yours so much more. You are willing to point out the flaws and not sugar coat it but yet still can give praise in areas that deserve. Bravo!

Thanks!  I try my best...

On 5/28/2019 at 1:22 PM, IllaZilla said:

Kind of wonder when the team culture went south and what caused it. Was it always bad? Did it start going bad towards the end of the Naegle ownership? Did it start with the Leipold ownership? With the Parise/Suter signings? Something else?

Personally I think the truly toxic culture situation started when Suter & Parise arrived.  They were given unlimited authority and say over how the team went about its business on the ice.  Prior to that, I think their reputation was pretty good.  Especially in their more humble Lemaire years.  Then the players began to rule the roost and that's all she wrote.  Its about that time they started dancing around Koivu's ego too.  

8 hours ago, Icechipper said:

Webster's Hockey Reference Guide: Phil Kessel; see Dany Heatley, Alexander Daigle.

Daigle wasn't that bad for the Wild.  We had him on a 3-way contract because we didn't want to overpay him if we felt he was only able to play in the ECHL.  Heatley had a good season, but then it was pretty ugly the last few years.  Kessel...he still has talent and scoring ability and even speed.  But it simply doesn't make sense adding a 32-year old winger when supposedly you're trying to get younger.  It was another 'cheese' move by an organization that can't help itself or does it have any idea what its doing.  Its honestly like watching a really poor fantasy hockey league team where you see that one person that can't help themselves from selecting Wild players to fill up the roster spots because they're so much of a homer.  

51 minutes ago, WordsOfWisdom said:

 

I don't think it's possible to sell high with Phil Kessel. He seems like a good guy at first, then things turn sour quickly. If your team is winning, he seems to be able to keep it together for a bit. If the team encounters any adversity, he's like the anchor that will drag your ship down. 

 

I am talking about Zucker.  I don't really hate Phil Kessel.  But I simply feel it flies in the face of what does need to be done.  To get younger and faster.  I agree with that premise.  But adding older players doesn't fit that philosophy.  The shelf life comments...sure.  Its bad here already.  I don't from a toxicity standpoint it would make much of a difference.  As long as #20 is here its going to be Chernobyl-esque.  

8 hours ago, WordsOfWisdom said:

 

Kessel seems to have a short shelf life wherever he goes.

 

Boston couldn't stand him.

Toronto couldn't stand him.

Now Pittsburgh can't stand him.

 

One word:  TOXIC.  

Yet surprisingly he didn't want to come to a team that already has its own TOXIC culture.  Maybe he didn't want to compete to be the most toxic element on the team.  Either way, I wasn't mad at all when I heard the trade got nixed.  As for @IllaZilla comment, he's 100% correct.  Fenton is hellbent on trading him.  IMO, it'd be smarter to keep him around for at least one more season and see if he can rebound and raise his trade value a bit.  But instead we're going to sell low.  

What?!?!  You guys aren't all pumped at how much better this is going to make the organization?  @MNSOTA is working on an article sharing her thoughts on this 'big addition' to the organization.  

12 hours ago, ClusterChuck said:

I still want to believe he was suffering from Big Contract pressure, Which he put on himself. Gripping his stick too tight was an understatement. Virtually every chance was botched and it snowballed all season. I can't believe in such a drop off in ability would happen that quick. If he hadn't signed that contract and this happened, That's a different story.

Given a chance to reflect on it all, Zucker may go into this season a bit more relaxed and hopefully regain his play of the season before last.

 

People seem to love Carly, But to Tweet things like "If you want to stay in Minny, You better start playing like it" Doesn't help a bit when someone's struggling. Might/Probably said in jest but C'mon. She's probably annoyed Fenton to the point of trading him to shut her up.

 

Fenton seems bent on trading him, But I'd like to see him back. If he was to regain form He'd be a strong asset. 

He's still young enough and has obvious speed in which what was Fenton's 'Big Plan'.

 

 

 

That may seem mean, but its true.  He's making decent money now, so you better produce like it.  He wasn't even really skating that hard and he seemed distracted and disengaged far too often.  That to me is why he probably soured on Fenton pretty quick.  Yet, could he turn it around.  Maybe.  Maybe he's distracted by being a somewhat high profile Twin Cities' sports couple.  Either way, he needs to refocus and make it happen on the ice if he really wants to endear himself to Fenton and the rest of the organization.  

44 minutes ago, IllaZilla said:

 

I know in one of Russo's earlier podcasts he said not only was the locker room a mess, but the Wild front office was a mess too. Someone had tweeted him a question about why the Bruins organization always seems to be so organized and always on task and can make these consistent deep pushes into the Playoffs. His answer was that from the owner on down the Bruins organization is in sync, and that's a big difference from the Wild front office. He said the Wild front office is just as big a mess as the locker room is and that's why the team is in the state it's in.

Like many of us has said for a long time now, its a culture problem.  And that culture is at all levels of the organization.  

Fiala dominating against Austria doesn't mean much to me.  The World Championships features a few 'A" teams, some "B+" teams and a bunch of clear B/C teams.  Suter looked like crap for Team USA.  Kaprizov was a minor player for fairly star studded Team Russia.  Still, Fiala has to be a stud considering what Fenton gave up to get him.  That's not Fiala's fault, that's all 100% on Fenton for putting all his eggs in one basket.  Fenton's latest miss, with the Kessel swap again flies in the face of the younger faster pledge.  Did anyone catch Russo talking about how Johansson wasn't Flahr's pick as much as he was Fenton's choice.  Ouch.  

Another fortunate trade where someone managed to veto it.  As much as I'd love to see Victor Rask to go; losing Zucker for Kessel and Jack Johnson is a big mistake.  Older, arguably slower...and more expensive.  The younger and faster mantra is just BS spin for his previous crappy trades.  The truth is he is just flying by the seat of his pants or ownership is trying to push all of his Wisconsin' buttons because Suter thinks its a great idea.  

By the way, let Kessel stay Pittsburgh's problem.  As for Zucker, he may be motivated next year, he may not be.  His wife has already said she's not leaving the Twin Cities.  He was invisible far too often last year.  He wasn't using his speed or demonstrating his scoring touch nearly often enough.  Do I think it will stay that way if he sticks around.  Maybe...but he clearly isn't a player Fenton seems to like very much.  

I'll take the Minnesota Wild.  

On 5/4/2019 at 12:48 PM, IllaZilla said:

Russo's latest podcast was a good listen.

 

Russo-Souhan Talk North Podcast 193

 

Makes it sound more and more like Fenton has no plan what-so-ever and is just doing stuff to do stuff...

I listened to it twice.  I don't think he has much of a plan either.  I'm still good to go for the NHL draft.  @MNSOTA will likely be with me.  

On the bright side Kunin is busting his tail.  And the Iowa Wild regulars certainly are.  But Donato and Greenway...they're mostly just occupying space.  

On 5/2/2019 at 2:10 PM, 4Check said:

Disappointed in the reports on Greenway & Donato.  Russo also stated he thought Greenway was playing at "half speed".  

Hopes it's an aberration and not a character issue.

I think its the latter.  He's dogging it because he doesn't really want to be there.  

Watched the game last night; and I've watched their last 4 games.  Here are some thoughts.

Cal O'Reilly, Matt Read, Will Bitten, and especially Gerald Mayhew play like they really want to win every night.  They give all the effort they can muster and most of the dangerous scoring chances comes through this group and their efforts.  Kyle Rau and Sam Anas have flashes, but I still think they could be more assertive.  I'd like to see the Wild use Mitch McLain as a screen on the power play.  I think he's more into the game right now than Greenway and even though he's not as big I think he's strong and has underrated hands.

Ryan Donato and Jordan Greenway, mostly kind of going through the motions.  They could give more, but only seem to want to only play the game to a certain level and then coast the rest of the time.  Greenway has been especially sort of 'lazy' to me.  He isn't using his big body to protect the puck down low like he did with Minnesota at times this season.  Donato seems kind of lost, like he doesn't know where he should be.  Especially in his own end.  

Luke Kunin is trying, but even he seems to be holding back just a bit.  But he's working pretty hard compared to Donato and Greenway.  

On the blueline, the group looks pretty solid.  Brennan Menell, Louie Belpedio and Matt Bartkowski all move the puck pretty well.  Soucy and Warner like to hit and Nate Prosser continues to be the unselfish soldier he's always been.  He'll block shots, make simple plays and is certainly playing like a veteran who cares.  

Hammond has been decent and given them a chance to win each night IMO.  

On 4/27/2019 at 4:49 PM, IllaZilla said:

 

Reid's works. What time you want to meet?

 

I need to burn a bunch of vacation time, so I can get to Reid's anytime. Just so I don't come out of there with a $200 bar tab...

6:00PM on Friday, June 21st?  

On 4/26/2019 at 7:45 AM, IllaZilla said:

 

Sure. Where and when?

Reid's?  Or do you have another suggestion?  As long as I can watch the draft and we can talk about it or whatever.  Anyone else is free to join us.  I'll have a bunch of draft info material.  

8 hours ago, IllaZilla said:

Good article. 

 

To be fair, I think Fenton needs time. Not every move a GM makes is going to be a home run, or to his teams advantage. Sometimes trades just don't work out.

 

However, many of his moves are curious to say the least.

 

I get Nino/Rask deal. Sometimes a change of scenery is what a player needs. But like @CreaseAndAssist said, why trade for a guy that was going to be cut loose by his team this summer? You could have picked him up for far less than $4M/season. And then still traded Nino to someone at the draft. I'd lump the Aberg/Kloos trade in here too. Hoping for a change of scenery to ignite Aberg and giving up a player that was never going to see the inside of the Wild locker room. But it looks like change of scenery did little to change Aberg's attitude or production.

 

Claiming Anthony Bitetto and sending Nate Prosser packing. Sure, Bitetto is younger by a few years, but he is nothing short of a defensive disaster. Sure, Prosser was never going to win the Norris Trophy, but he was a solid #6/7 defenseman who knew his role and by all accounts was a total stand up guy in the locker room. This was a minor move, but still, it smacks of making a move just to make a move. 

 

The Granlund/Fiala trade made zero sense, especially if the intent was "to still make the Playoffs". Granlund was probably one of the few players on the Wild who can make a pass to another player and actually put it on their stick and not in their skates or 10 feet in front or behind them. So who is supposed to distribute the puck to all these fast young players now? And not to mention he still had a year left on his deal. He wasn't a rental. He had a lot of value that could have been leveraged at the draft, probably for a player/prospect and multiple picks (See the 2013 Pominville Trade). Fiala is certainly not a gamebreaker. Not in the sense of what I consider a gamebreaker: a player that will change the course of a game, ala Ovechkin, Crosby, Gadreau, MacKinnon, etc.

 

Re-signing Eric Staal. So much for younger and faster. And then giving him a NTC to boot?

 

He created all this cap space, but if he brings in a bunch of older UFA's, where are all the young guys going to play? You can't keep shoving the young guys onto the third and fourth lines just to give the vets prime time on the #1 and #2 lines.

 

And it seems to me the "core" was never Coyle, Niederreitter, Granlund and Zucker. The core seems to be Koivu, Parise and Suter, and still appears to be those three. Which is backwards. Those three should be supporting the young core, not the other way around.

Thanks!  I agree 100%.  The bolded portions, especially so.  By the way, would you want to get together for the draft again?