EmptyShelf

This is 100% spot-on analysis. No passing of the torch and including anyone in Leadership except those that cannot ‘lead with their play.’ These players; 20, 11, and 9 also have attitudes that have NO BUSINESS in leadership roles. We actually traded in mid range players (at least at F) that might consider as mid-range leadership. This team is f@&$ed up in a BIG way.

Signing a bunch of Russians or other foreign players s that cannot understand 20, 11, and 9, and only talk among themselves may solve the issue if they can form their own clique (and laugh at declining performance from the CC), and management shuts the door on 20, 11, and 9 thinking they have 'higher level access.' I am only half kidding - there are other ways to change culture and influence, but management needs to de-emphasize the cancers wherever they can immediately. The 'jig is up', as they say.....soon expiring contracts will take care of 2-3 of the CC, but not the 1-2 I have the most concerns about.

I am sure that you and your sources are correct. Given that 9 is likely gone after next year (and hopefully only playing 1/2 dragging a tractor behind him), and Dubnyk hopefully the year thereafter, what can be done about the cancer that 20 and 11 are in the locker room? We have 6 more years to see this crap metastasize into a full-blown terminal illness. I would look for any way to dump one or both, and de-emphasize them if they stay. This includes a loss of the A's, as that alone would place the 'leadership mantle' on someone else's shoulders and take 20 and 11 out of EJ's 'cool group.' I would also cap ice-time, line, and special teams expectations right now (year-end interview) for next year. Also, the close relationship with the owner issue (with 20 and 11) can be treacherous for other players - CL needs to fix this right now: 'your input is no longer welcome, 20 and 11, go back to being an employee and player.' No more unsolicited calls or special treatment. Fenton and BB need to make CL take a giant step back from 'leg humping fanboy' to owner for the good of the club and young players. The results of these relationships are plain to see in the poor performances and record. Otherwise, it is going to be a LONG 6 years.

Report post #26 Posted just now I probably should have posted this here, versus post the Jets string. Before I provide a prospective personal suggestion for a patchwork 'fix,' I thought I would summarize my impression of the conclusion of the year. Namely, the lack of ANY consistency with this 'team'....... So, I took a 1/2 day before responding to these results and posts with a renewed perspective. You simply cannot be as breathtakingly inconsistent as the Wild unless several things are going on in concert. These are my Top 4: 1) Role Confusion: the constant line juggling could explain the complete up/down play from one game to the next, and player to player - there is NO full line continuity that survives more than a dozen games, and it shows when you can beat a Tampa one game, and take a dump versus Detroit over a week or month. It just defies logic. 2) Acute lack of leadership: your leaders should keep all players on an even keel and focused - we clearly have lacked leadership FOREVER; both in the regular season and playoffs. We gain NOTHING in this department from 9, 11, and 20. Just because you get paid the most, shouldn't make you an automatic captain or alternate, when you lack all requisite requirements to be one - does the effort or play of 9, and 20 inspire others!?!? How about the insubordination of 11 and 20 in hiring their own coach to show up at Team Ice with no authorization and 'show up' your head coach!?!? Where is the Country Club when a teammate is drilled, or needs to be 'picked up' - yep, taking care to ensure that they get a cheap second assist, or exceed 30 minutes on the ice, or win a 'dishonest' face-off, or get a garbage 'chip in' goal. 3) Inability to sustain Focus: Dubnyk is a perfect example. He can make the eye-opening save, followed by the squirt-level gaffe one minute apart - there just is no excuse for this unless a player is playing under stress too often, or there is just a lack of the mental will-power to stay on track game-to-game or over 60 minutes. Some players can do this, and some can't. It is up to the coaches to monitor the stress (how many crucial games in a row), the players to help mitigate it (particularly defense and back-checkers), and the player to know when they need break - no Super Hero's are necessary. 4) Dysfunction/Disunity: this is something that I really place a great deal of stock into with the Wild. I don't think the locker room is healthy AT ALL. I think the Country Club creates the impression that 'all is well,' as does the coach, but my sense is that there is a great deal of disgust by players like Foligno (and others that bring an 'honest days work' every game) - while some of your players coast and milk TOI, have excessive contracts, take days off, and have a mutual 'leg humping' relationship with the owner. This does not 'wear well' on a real TEAM, and particularly with the 'gritty players'. In short, these are my thoughts, and they have fairly easy resolutions that I (and many) have been barking about all year. The C and As need to be pulled, CL and Fenton need to stay out of BB's ear with line-ups and TOI expectations, and CL needs to 'close the door' on all past relationships with 9, 11, and 20. This IS a business, not a 'mutual admiration society.' Besides, it is long past time that CL should be feeling like he is receiving NO REASONABLE RETURN on the $20M/year he is presently doling out for 9, 11, and 20 with no success beyond Rd 1 of playoffs (and some profit from tix sales and Warming House that is about to plummet - I am dropping my tix now that this season is over - I might reconsider if they bench the Country Club, pull the C and As, and sign Kaprisov)

Many years ago I heard LN say that the draft is sometimes 0, or 1-3 'sure things.' He mentioned that 'tanking' is a reality if you truly want a Kane, Ovechkin, Toews, or Crosby. Even then, you have to target the right draft. Otherwise, he argued, you are always 'playing to make the playoffs' and looking for all things to just magically line up to win it all. I am not a huge fan of his, but to Zilla's point, the drafts just aren't deep enough to plan on a 'difference maker' later than the top handful - and that's in a great draft. So, do you tank, or do you strive to make the playoffs? We know who has done the former, and we know the home team does the latter.

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?