CreaseAndAssist

1 hour ago, rottenrefs said:

Very true but who's protecting all the others? Ten days in from when Fenton was hired I was hoping to see some name changes among scouts and a few others but it seems while the cover changed all the content is still the same... So to speak.

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

7 hours ago, IllaZilla said:

 

Be nice to see whose recommendation it was to draft Johansson this past draft. Yes, Fenton called his name, but still, there had to be a lot of convincing voices in the room to pull the trigger in the first round on a general consensus third rounder...

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.  

On 8/20/2018 at 5:28 AM, IllaZilla said:

 

You could. Kind of a “Good, Better, Best” ranking. But again, we would have to designate how many games we consider “Good, Better, and Best”. What I found interesting is Chicago had the highest amount of draft picks from 2000-2018, yet their overall success rate was one of the lower ones (15%). Or Anaheim’s success rate of 27%. First thing Fenton needs to do is hire Anaheim’s scouting staff!

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.  

14 hours ago, bbgarnett said:

@CreaseAndAssist yes we do, also glad to see that Patrick Stewart is coming back to reprise his role as Jean Luc Picard in a new series.

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.

7 hours ago, sweetshot said:

To add to your comment I'd like to say that I'm not sure why any GM would want to be in that situation, either. Not to point any fingers.

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.  

3 hours ago, IllaZilla said:

 

Did he give too much power to certain players or was he told to listen to certain players?

Because there is a big difference. If he let the inmates run the asylum, then that’s on him. But if he was told to let the inmates run the asylum, then no matter what his vision for the team was, it was never going to come to fruition if his managing of the team was always interfered with. 

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.  

1 hour ago, IllaZilla said:

 

The day Fletcher was introduced, during his press conference he promised to change the Wild into a fast, aggressive skating team like the Penguins...

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.  

1 hour ago, IllaZilla said:

 

I noticed a lot of online rankings had the Wild around #20, and they all mentioned Kaprizov as the main reason the Wild weren't ranked lower...

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.  

1 hour ago, Antti_Laxative said:

Do the pitcher and pizza deal at Dry Gulch

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

16 hours ago, Fargocase said:

See you again some time Derek. 

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

1 hour ago, Fargocase said:

 

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...

3 hours ago, IllaZilla said:

 

It would be nice for a change to see a player that wants to shoot the puck rather than treat it like a hot potato and quickly pass it to someone, anyone, else... 

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.  

9 hours ago, IllaZilla said:

I think a lot of these observations we are making here just goes to show that the Wild aren't built for the Playoffs. Every team knows you just have to be a little physical with them and they turtle.

 

Also, is it me, or are the Wild constantly running into the "hot goaltender" more than any other team in the Playoffs? Or is it that their anemic offense makes any goaltender they run into "the hot goaltender"?

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.  

20 hours ago, Razblo said:

If Suter (or Parise) ever goes on the forever LTIR, ala Pronger or Hossa, we can just trade him to Phoenix with a couple of bum prospects for a bag potatoes and a slightly worse draft pick.

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

10 hours ago, 4Check said:

While frustrated with Suter's off ice antics and power trip personna,  I have to disagree with the point that Suter wasn't missed in the playoffs.   Maybe not on the PP, but after the Jets series, I came to the conclusion that Brodin does not have top D pairing ability.  I would argue Suter does....although IMO, not top 10 in the NHL

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?  

6 hours ago, 4Check said:

With the rest of the development forward group being IMO mostly so-so, I found myself focused on Sokolov.  I agree that his skating is improving. Surprising first step coming off the boards to the net. And man, gotta love his quick shot release and soft hands.  Still, while I find myself hoping for a Tarasenko,  my expectations remain.... is he simply another Pulkkinen?  

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

4 hours ago, EmptyShelf said:

A setback for Suter is in the cards. He may join 11 in not being counted on healthy for large parts of this year.  May not be the worst thing for the team.  The lack of playing availability may serve to deplete an enormous ego. Just a self-centered jackass with his comments - no cup in his future. How does it help the Wild to have him on the ice for 32 minutes with a hitch and no strength?  

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.  

20 hours ago, 4Check said:

Considering they took Sokolov completely off the ice in a previous development camp to focus on conditioning, training & nutrition and it apparently is still an issue obviously makes you wonder.   Hopefully it's simply a maturation issue, assuming some day he will eventually mature.

Well its on him now.  I think he showed a lot of offensive ability and assertiveness at camp.  I don't think he'll lose the scoring ability; its really can he stay in shape and learn some nominal level of defensive responsibility.  He certainly was noticeable in the scrimmages in regards to his skill.  One thing that gave me some relief was his skating ability seems to be decent enough.  However, he definitely moves with more speed and purpose when he has the puck versus when he doesn't.  That is a mentality he'll have to fix IMO.  

3 minutes ago, IllaZilla said:

 

Jacques Lemaire's hated Neutral Zone Trap (except if your team employed it, then it was sheer brilliance!). Detroit's vaunted Left Wing Lock. Edmonton's Egg Formation. Systems all designed to clog the neutral zone and not let the opposing team develop any speed or rhythm. Cause a turnover and then counter with speed. And these systems are far more easy to employ with marginally talented players as well. The Minnesota Wild had no business in the 2002-2003 Western Conference finals based on their talent. But with superior coaching and a system that shut down opposing team's ability to score, they mucked their way through the Playoffs all the way to the Western Conference finals.

 

This is why Thomas Vanek never worked out here. He's 100% cherry picker, or as we used to call them Suck-holes. All about scoring goals, hovering around the other teams blue line, constantly screaming "Pass it to me!" as the other four players on his team are trying to get the puck out of their own end against five opposing players. God we hated kids like that.

 

That's why I'm not holding my breath for Sokolov. Yeah, it'd be great to have someone on the team that finally shoots first and passes second, but if he can't show at least some defensive responsibility, he'll never make it out of Iowa.

Its the same reason Mark Parrish didn't work out either.  He was pretty much a one-dimensional, goal mouth scorer.  He wasn't scoring goals so he kind of got phased out of the lineup and we bought him out.  Overall it worked out well for Parrish money-wise but for the team not so much.  And you're right...if he can't learn to play at least a basic level of defense (as well as keep his scoring touch and produce offensively) he likely won't make it out of Iowa.