CreaseAndAssist

Nah, it probably has to do with $$$.   He can make a lot more playing in Russia than he can playing on a two-way deal in Iowa.  Still, one would think the organization would also like to see him develop chemistry with his teammates, learn the Wild systems...IMO Firstov is a long shot to come on over and play in Minnesota.  

It didn't work out well when Brennan Menell did that.  I don't Firstov is playing that well that he can just call his shot.  Danila Yurov on the other hand...probably could.  

Normally I'd disagree on the Wallstedt thing; but Iowa isn't going anywhere this year.  I don't really think he has much more to gain by staying there.  I'm not in a hurry to see him here, but if you deal Fleury that's the likely scenario as Tomdog points out.  

Perhaps the more pressing question this week is whether the team will bring Khusnutdinov over now that his KHL season is done and give him a chance to show what he can do in Minnesota.  Or will it be lame Guerin rationalizing, he has to show he's earned the opportunity...to be scratched while we watch #89 and #90 do jack freakin' squat out there.  

I'm rather ambivalent about whether they trade Fleury.  If he wants to go; let him go.  It would probably help the Wild slide out of contention which would be nice instead of its delusional attempt to scratch and claw their way back in.  

Khusnutdinov is now available to be signed.  He's already spent a few seasons in the KHL.  Yurov re-signing is what it is.  But I still think it's a long shot for Firstov to return since he chose to return even after signing a contract with the Wild.  

It was like a train going off the rails into a tornado that simply tosses it into a volcano.  It was that bad.  No one is happy to be there.  

Iowa earned a nice two-game sweep of Tucson this weekend.  Tucson had beaten Iowa twice down in Arizona a few weeks before.  Will Butcher has helped a lot; especially on the power play where his ability to move the puck and put shots on goal has helped Iowa generate more offense.  Sammy Walker seems to be finding his stride again too, although he's a notoriously streaky player.  

Still, the Wild are in 6th place in the Central Division.  And making matters worse...they have played 3 more games than most of the rest of the division too.  

I certainly didn't support retiring his #.  He was one of the most overrated players in franchise history.  But it was their attempt to create some history when it felt it didn't have any to draw on.  

But I agree...it was embarrassing and it got even worse when people found out he had cheated on his wife and was trying to stiff his ex on the child support $$$.  

For an organization that has been around as long as Minnesota has, it's embarrassing it has taken this long for someone to achieve this record.  It just shows you how low the bar is already.  

I saw another record he's close to; most multi-point games which is currently held by Zach Parise after he was here for 9 seasons compared to Kaprizov's 4.  

Honestly, people are going to think we were crazy for retiring Koivu's #.  

Episode #34: Into the Looking Glass (Part2)

In this episode, @MNSOTA, Kalisha and myself look at the Minnesota Wild prospect pool and which prospect Wild fans are most excited about.  We also answer a ton of listener questions too and Theresa gives her two cents on what she feels Minnesota's PWHL team ought to be called.  Give it a listen!  

On 2/9/2024 at 7:35 AM, IllaZilla said:

Pat Maroon out 4-6 weeks with a back injury. There goes one of the few trade pieces the Wild had...

I was thinking the exact same thing as soon as I saw the news.  

Kemell has looked impressive by what I've seen.  He looks like he could be a pretty good scorer in the future for that club.  L'Hereaux is a decent pest player the Predators have always been good at utilizing going back to the Jordin Tootoo days.  

Maybe it's time people start booing this team when it wins...

Firstov started out real hot but he's cooled down quite a bit from that pace.  He gets the odd goal every now and then but I still think it's mostly unlikely he comes back.  I think the organization would've liked to have seen him be a go-to offensive element in Iowa; but he didn't want to ride the bus.  Like it or not, I think Guerin and the other management feel that's part of earning your stripes so to speak.  

Mason Shaw is looking a bit faster; in his last game he showed some wheels on a breakaway.  I am not sure I'd call him up to play with the big club just yet but I feel he'd fit in helluva lot better as a 4th liner than Adam Beckman will.  Just my 2 cents.  

Adam Beckman being called up.  Meh at this point.  He hasn't been as good this year as he was last year for Iowa.  I can't imagine him having a big impact in Minnesota.  

In other (sigh) worthy Wild news, I guess Russo reported the team says it's going to come back and push hard for the playoffs when they return to action on Wednesday against Chicago.  This team can't even fail right...

Khusnutdinov's KHL season is going to end on Feb. 25th.  Russo has speculated the team will probably sign him, burn a year of his entry level contract to see what he can do.  And for anyone not watching at home.  Metallurg Magnitogorsk gave Yurov kind of a cheap offer $330k for next season so the #mnwild might as well jump in and offer him the standard rookie deal and see if he comes over sooner.  

Either way it's intriguing that we may see them a bit sooner than what was generally expected (at the earliest, next year).  Won't make a difference this season...but might as well have the kids here now than wait until they are 23-24.  

13 hours ago, Tomdog said:

Yes it will, but does anyone really see some of our 2nd and 3rd line players being any more than that on a true cup contending team?

Does anyone see an aging small Spurgeon being a top 4 pairing on a contending team?

 

 IMO no. 

We never said any of those things.  It is why we invite a tear down as do a growing number of Wild fans.  It was fairly evident on Michael Russo / Joe Smith's latest mailbag too.  Most folks see it as a flawed team that should probably be gutted and in the more immediate sense not worth making any moves to 'save' its playoff hopes.  

19 hours ago, Tomdog said:

One thing I will give BG credit for is that he hasn’t moved significant draft picks or future talent in any of the trades he has made. 
Mostly it has been a nothing player for a player that might turn it around with the Wild. 
I have a feeling that when the cap crunch is over most of the 2nd 3rd line players will end up being 4th liners and defenseman like Mids and Spurg will be 3rd pair guys. 
At least that’s how I see it unfolding. 

It will be an awfully expensive 4th line.  

Wild pick up defenseman Declan Chisholm off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets.  He's a 6'1" defenseman who put up ok points with the Manitoba Moose but he hasn't been given much of a shot at the NHL yet.  (sigh)  Sounds like a lot of other defenseman we have.  

On 1/27/2024 at 10:34 PM, IllaZilla said:

Not sure how the Wild expect to build a Cup team when the farm team is terrible. If your draft picks are garbage, then your only route is UFA’s, which are expensive and tend to cause cap problems…

It's also hard to give the kids some high pressure games to compete (i.e. develop) in if the farm can't make the playoffs.  I can't imagine the organization is real thrilled about how things are going down in Iowa.  

2 hours ago, Tomdog said:

That’s a tough subject. Not sure what BG can do with Spurgeon. Pretty hard to trade a player who is out for surgery and with the trade restrictions due to kick in. His value now is as low as it could be. 
Bad timing for the injuries for sure. 
Probably have to ride it out. 
As far as fan base tolerance for being bad that’s maybe a bigger problem. 
Everyone wants to see their team win, but at this point I don’t mind so much when they let wins get away from them, because I know it will lead to a better draft position. 
I don’t think trading away the most valuable players is the way to go though. 
If I had my way they would trade away the dead weight and the non returning players for whatever they can get and give the players with promise an audition. 
I don’t really want to see games like the coyote’s game but they can play well and still lose. 
I’m sure the owner doesn’t feel that way, but I’m not sure how realistic he is. 
Just my opinion. 

Thanks for listening.  I don't think we suggested we trade everyone. 

But I'd be fine with a tear down, and I don't mind the idea of being bad for a few seasons to then build ourselves into a contender.  I don't mind much when they lose either, for the same reason you said; better draft position.  

Another thing that our poll didn't determine; was how many of the "They won't do it ever" group really wishes the team would tear it down.  But even as is...a growing portion seem to be in favor of that instead of the 'Tweak, Rinse and Repeat' insanity this fanbase has endured for the better part of a decade.  

I'd rather tear down that than desperately trade futures (prospects and/or picks) for some old rental.  Or just tear it down to the following pieces: Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek, Faber, Rossi, Wallstedt...the rest can go.  

10 hours ago, IllaZilla said:

So much for “I only want to play for the Islanders…”. Apparently $98M doesn’t go as far as we thought it did…

C'mon @IllaZilla, New York is an expensive place...give him a break.  

Crease And Assist: Episode #33 Oh Captain, My Captain

In this episode, @MNSOTA and I discuss what Wild GM Bill Guerin will likely do with Jared Spurgeon being out for the season as well as discussing whether this fanbase is willing to be bad in order to be good for the long-term.  Check it out!  

Here is Iowa's latest loss.  The two empty netters make the game look more lopsided than it really was but this team has just two wins in January.  TWO.

The deal is meant to help Iowa who now is without Andy Welinski.  And with Mermis already promoted to the big club, they need a veteran defenseman presence.  Cajokovic had been a good soldier with the Iowa Heartlanders.  If anyone really loses in this deal its the Iowa Heartlanders who are enjoying their best season ever this year.  

Butcher will likely be Iowa's veteran leader on the blueline as its mostly made of Wild prospects.  

As @Fargocase used to call these deals, a Tony Tuzzolini trade...

12 hours ago, Tomdog said:

The only way Bedard doesn’t get the Calder is if he misses over half the season. 
Even missing games they will resort to goals per games played versus goals scored. 
+\- will be totally ill relevant as well. Bedard can be the worst +\- on the team and it won’t matter.  

I think his name was put on the trophy before the season started...figuratively.  But I agree with your sentiment.