EmptyShelf

Effort was solid tonight. Stalock is SO much more dependable in these games. Dubnyk finds a way to let in the momentum killer goals....Hope we don't see him again this year - except in a 5+ goal drubbing.

Suter is the biggest sled in terms of effort at that level of contract that I have seen in a LONG time. He just feels ENTITLED to all the TOI, the A, and the 'Leadership' mantle. His play is generally pathetic (see ole' in bull fighting). However, he continues to make it look like he is relevant with all the garbage assists, the excessive TOI, and all the non-counting 'minuses' he gives up on the PK. I was never impressed with him on Nashville. He was playing with not only a great partner, but a big, aggressive, non-nonsense player (Shea Weber). Suter was NOT as good as Weber, and I would have much preferred Weber - big and rugged, versus Suter's finesse poke check and limp wrister game. The adjective POMOUS comes to mind. He is the definition of a 'me first' player.

What a backcheck and play by Fiala. He looked fast and relentless on that play. Pretty impressive.

Fiala just looks fantastic lately. I am feeling much better about this trade in the past few months. One of the few trades that is really working in our favor. This is one of the players to build around - along with Kaprisov, Kunin, and others. I would love to see not only a de-emphasis of 11 and 20 next year (if they are here, and assuming no Klyde), but would like to see some management encouragement to 'step aside' leadership wise for the next wave. Brodin moves to Line 1; I don't care who his partner is, as long as it is NOT Suter. Suter and Parise are transitioned to non-bottom 3 and bottom 6 roles, respectively (non-primary roles). I don't want to see Dubnyk again this season either. Ride Stalock.

Kinda surprised we kept the deficit to 1 goal....Washington has a great team, but how would Wild hold up in a 5 or 7 game series against these type of teams - NOT WELL in my opinion. Still, effort was pretty solid. Some decisions with puck - not so much

Going to see plenty of 8 for the balance for Caps....

Fiala is really starting to become the player we needed for Granny... WTH were the Capitals D doing!?!?

Gal, Zucc, and Mayhew is not my top 3 on PP down 4-2 with 8 in 3rd....

I know Koivu's line has been really solid lately, but watching Klyde's lead stride and poor edges (looks like his knees won't bend) makes it REALLY clear why he needs to retire. It is only going to get worse from here on out. You have to have some skating ability left to play adequately....

I wasn’t aware that Parise initiated this discussion last summer - good to know. Do you think Suter was approached and declined? I am just curious. It is always interesting to understand what might really be going on, as some rumors they want out there ‘get legs,’ while others they don’t, are totally unknown. I would be encouraged to know a few things: 1). That CL has allowed BG since at last summer to ‘clean up the mess’ including breaking up the Country Club. This would give us all the assurance that he is not a TOTAL imbecile (since we are stuck with him as owner) and will try for 5 more years with these rejects for a ‘tweak to win a SC’ 2). Knowing that 11 and 20 at least asked to be considered in a trade to a contender (whether successful or not), with CLs approval, let’s us know they have at least a tiny bit of competitive fire and pride, and are not going to soak us until the bitter end no matter what is proposed. 3). Knowing 1 and 2, at least we can feel that there might be a pinhole of light at the end of what has (and may be) a long and dark tunnel of ineptitude and empty promise, which presents no promise until 2026. 4). Perhaps we will NOT have to lose some promising talent in a Seattle expansion draft if we can offload all these millstones prior by ANY means.

‘Par for the course’ for Suter. I don’t think he even cares what he looks like anymore. Someone said before - like Roger Dorn from the movie Major League - he only cares about his marketability (QwikTrip in Suters case) and his contract. He DOES NOT care about winning at all. He measures himself by TOI and Assists, as well as his paycheck only. He is what’s wrong with athletes that get the big ‘until retirement’ contracts. It is really embarrassing what he represents.

So, was Suter not asked to waive his NMC/NTC because the Wild think he is worth retaining? Or, is it because he has little value (no teams inquiring about him), or the Wild know he has no interest in chasing a S.C.? It would be interesting to know, since their was mention of moving both Koivu and Parise but not Suter. Either way, the days of anyone seeing 9, 11, and 20 as anything more than boat anchors upon this franchise has to be here now -even to the most casual fan. I join EJ in hoping the end is painful for them - I just wish it wasn’t on the Wild ‘clogging up the works’ for the future.

We can’t seem to free ourselves of past stupid decisions by any means at all. I was hoping for any ‘addition by subtraction’, without too much concern for our return assets. I just want the Country Club broken up - ASAP. Not to be at this deadline.

I have a solution to our Wild problems. What are yours? Can we just take a team building trip this summer up to Yellowknife and somehow ‘lose’ 11 and 20 in the woods? That would solve our problem with the cancerous players and contracts, as they haven’t technically been cut or traded, just lost to the native wildlife. Then, we could institute a minimum flexibility and speed standard for all forwards to earn a contract - that should take care of any potential interest in re-signing the Klydesdale. Just dump Dubnyk at deadline for a bench blade sharpener or some numbers for ‘chuck a puck’ at some mini mite tournament. Problems solved, more cap room. Sign Kaprisov, make a smart draft pick, bring up Khovanov or other young forwards and move forward.

Galchenyuk with a really nice winner.....Maybe we keep him. Looked good tonight with 2