EJ0226

I feel for Mikko, his ex-wife and their kids. Divorce sucks for everybody. But honestly, he has wanted to retire on one team only so even if there was no divorce he wouldn't have waived his NTC. I still believe the move by him was for his own selfish reasons. It's clear that no Cup will be won here. He had a shot to go win one. He decided not to pursue it. That is what frustrates me. Your "stars" and "top players" should be wanting to win one badly. Parise is the only one who showed this but only after he has absorbed so much money from the Wild. Now his salary keeps decreasing and he wants out. The Wild were nothing more then a cash in vacation with no expectations of winning a Cup.

17 hours ago, DirtofMinny said:

So 14 of 15 so-called draft experts were wrong then last year.  Only 1 had Newhook ahead of Boldy and the average bewteen these guys was Boldy #9.1 to Newhook #13.4.   

 

I don't know what joy most of you find in constantly whining on this board.  They got rid of Riesbrough and then Fletcher, oh now it must be Leipold that's the problem, they get rid of Fenton, yep Leipold's guy.  Bring in Guerin, trade Zucker, fire Bruce and now Guerin is in question.   Mikko is he problem, he's too tough on the young guys.  Parise and Suter are the issue, they make too much.  Dubnyk sucks (totally agree - for many years).  

 

You know some, maybe even all are issues, some I would agree, others I would not.  But constantly whining can't be a fun life.  Let's look at the good news when we have it.  Let's cheer for the team and prospects when they deserve it.  Let's have a little fun with the Wild. 

 

One thing that I think is a posiitve right now is the prospect pool.  No #1 Center yet.  No sure fire goalie yet.  But hey, lot's of good years being had by some of our picks from the last few years.  Plus you have an AHL team that is playing pretty darn good right now.  Enjoy what you have.

The problem with that attitude is a big reason MN sports are mediocre products. Now not saying you can't still cheer for them but throwing money on a mediocre product with MN pro team owners just encourages them to continue the same thing over and over. That is why the Twins have been terrible forever. Why the Wolves are also terrible. The Vikings finally after years of putting a poor product on the field seem to be trending in the right direction but only after the owners started feeling it in their pocketbooks.

Leipold, I was never a fan. This is a guy who wanted to be in the "owners club". He is a NBA guy. He found out his wifes money could not afford him a NBA team. But he was determined to be a owner so he could be "one of the boys". So he found out he could buy a NHL team with his wifes money. He bought the Preds. They were making him money but literally plateaued and sales started going down so he sold them. They have since been better then they ever have. He seen the Wild and knew the fans are almost too loyal and buy into the "one of us" and pay to watch any product out on the ice. Now granted he did try to make a splash with Parise and Suter but he extremely overpaid two players who are above average but no where near star/elite status. Think about this. Parise has only cracked top 40 four times in his career. Twice with the Devils when he had those two fluke and insane seasons. And twice with the Wild and with the Wild he never got close to his point totals with the Devils. What the Wild paid for him he needed to be running top 40 almost every season. People over looked their contracts because of the "one of us" mentality that a ton of Minnesota fans like to carry. By the time their contracts are done, if you take a blind eye look at what they did with the Wild and how it steered the franchise, it won't be hard to argue they might be two of the worst contracts the Wild will have ever signed. They prevented any good picks but only made the team good enough to be a first round punching bag for whoever they played. We now have players avoiding this franchise and let go a lot of talent because their game didn't compliment 11, 20 and 9 and watching those guys we let go flourish on other teams because they are allowed to play their game and not try to lift up the dead weight vets. And we have a owner who is BFF with 11 and 20 which should never ever happen.

The reason why so many people complain on here is because we love hockey, our state and our pro hockey team. We deserve so much better then this. Leipold is the center of it all trying to input his opinion on players, trades, etc. The guy has zero hockey IQ. He should only sign the checks and fire a GM if a GM gets out of control. He should be telling the players to shut up and listen to your coach. He created the chit show we see now. By the time Parise and Suter are finally gone, Chicago will have built another dynasty while the Wild are still waiting on their first all because they tried to buy on instead of build one like how teams who win the Cup do. I still cheer for them to win but am also not going to spend my hard earned money on a mediocre product either.

Wild drafting.... some of the most frustrating stuff ever. Seems like they like to go for the stretch player in hopes it all works out with their top picks. Some do for sure but a lot don't. So many times it seems they have a shot for a better player overall but pick that stretch player in hopes they pan out. Boldy, I just don't see a solid future in the NHL with his slow speed. Like it or hate it but NHL is about  being big and fast. Boldy doesn't hit the check boxes for either.

32 minutes ago, CreaseAndAssist said:

 

I am not a Suter fan, but I'd guess he'd have a fair amount of interest.  His game is such that he may not completely fall off a cliff for a while.  He's had another season where he reached at least 40 points.  But I think its pretty well known Suter really doesn't want to leave.  

 

Russo seemed to say the Wild were the ones that backed out.  Initially we we perhaps in the mix for a 1st round pick and perhaps Keiffer Bellows to be the return for Zach Parise along with Ladd's ugly contract.  But as the Islanders gave that pick for Pageau...the offer from the Islanders was less enticing and considering you had to pay Ladd's $3 million signing bonus each time for the next 3 seasons they didn't see the cost savings...so they stepped away.  When the math doesn't offer much relief I guess I can accept that...but Parise did waive his NMC.  

 

That cannot be understated.  Koivu also supposedly had some interest too...but Russo said he could only guess at some of the teams.  He said the Wild were also in on dealing for Trocheck and the price would've been Brodin but Carolina offered more so they got him.  Lastly, Russo stated that there was no interest for Pateryn, it really was his agent kicking those tires trying to get the pylon traded.  

I was listening to morning skate and from what they said the Wild were suppose to get Bellows, Ladd and a 1st round pick and Islanders wanted Koivu and Parise but Koivu refused to waive his NTC. This made it so the Islanders dropped the 1st round pick and the Wild just dropped it from there.

I was one trying to give some credit back to Koivu for the last few years as not being as much as a problem but this moves shows he only cares about himself only. He knows he is not winning a Cup here. His career is done after this season. The team needs to rebuild and this trade would have helped. But no, because you want to play for one team only?! Get over yourself!!! You have never been anything but a career 3rd-4th liner center. You don't get your name on the Cup because you stayed on one team. It's disgusting and people need to boo him every time he touches the ice. One last **** you to the franchise and fans from him. He never wanted a Cup.

10 minutes ago, Icechipper said:

Lou Lamoreillo loves college guys. He was a player, captain then coach and athletic director at Providence College and commissioner of Hockey East before becoming president of the New Jersey Devils. A lot of people thought he reached when he took Parise 13th overall out of North Dakota. He fought hard to extend Parise before the free agent formed a pact with Wisconsin buddy Suter and the pair selected Minnesota.  Lamoreillo has had a remarkable career. The guy assembled a number of USA hockey and Olympic teams and had a minor league baseball player manager career before returning to his alma mater to coach hockey. Guy is 77 years old.

Kind of one of those what if he could have signed Parise forcing the Wild to have to rebuild and form a team correctly. Too bad. But Lamoreillos resume is quite a read. What a adventure he has had in his life!

3 hours ago, CreaseAndAssist said:

 

I hate to say it, but to a lot of the more casual fans...Zach Parise's like the Joe Mauer of the Wild.  Immensely popular among those for that same fact, one of us...and that is literally the most important thing to them.  They'll start to tear up when they think about his hustle on that one play a long time ago...or about his dad.  

 

The fact Parise waived the NMC does tell us he does want to play for a Stanley Cup and there is hope in that he might still be willing to leave.  My guess is they perhaps try again this summer.  

 

I disagree with the idea he came here only for money.  He could've gone somewhere else and made more $$.  I think Detroit was offering him more $$$ than the Wild did.  He thought the Wild were in better position to compete and I think coming off a Stanley Cup final run of his own...he thought he was ready to put the Wild on his back and lead it there.  But the mediocre team is what it appears to be...and it performed the way many of us thought it would.  Eventually it donned on him that it was a lost cause and that his best chances at winning a cup are somewhere else.  

Normally I would agree but here's why I think he is here for the money only. Yes he could have went elsewhere and maybe made more on his contract but here in Minnesota he has his roots and knows how so many people here have the "one of us" mentality. So he makes a little less on a contract but cashes in on merchandise with his name as you knows the drones will buy it up and boy have them. There is a good chance he wouldn't have sold what he sold on another team as his production wouldn't be enough to warrant fans to swoop up his stuff. Plus being able to have dinners and hang out with the owner isn't a bad perk here when it wouldn't have happened elsewhere. Now his salary starts decreasing next season and continues to drop big amounts after that and now all of a sudden sees the team isn't going to win a Cup. He had to have seen this years ago. I don't like it and smell some chit if he tries to say otherwise.

Normally I agree with you completely @CreaseAndAssist but I have to disagree with you on this. But I do fear a trade to get him or Suter out of here. The Cap Recapture could really cripple the Wild and don't think clearing them off of the Wild is the best idea either. Personally I rather seem them rot and not get a Cup here as they made the franchise into a joke that it is. They don't deserve to go elsewhere to try and win a cup. As much as this pains me as a fan Leipold doesn't deserve to win a Cup to allow a chit show 3 ring circus happen.

I do hate the "fans" who buy into the "one of us" and continue to pump money into a mediocre product at best.

I just believe in my heart Parise would have liked to win here but it was more important to cash those checks. Now the checks are going to be a lot less, he has made his money and wants to head out and win elsewhere.

On ‎2‎/‎22‎/‎2020 at 4:32 PM, EL_CAPITAN_#9 said:

 

I think this is right choice from Koivu! This is great example how Captain should act. Younger team needs leader, and even though he could/should have jump to "hunt for Stanley"- teams, he does this. Gotta respect Mikko! He really loves Wild team...

This isn't about helping the team or teaching the young guys. In his 15 years you never saw him improving the young guys, In fact if the young guys play didn't match Koivu and then Parise and Suter, they would lose TOI, go to the AHL or be shipped out of here. This is a selfish move as he knows here he will still get TOI even if he literally pulled his breezers down and took a chit on the ice in the middle of the game. He wanted to be on one team only. He has no desire to win a Cup and this move shows this. The most overpaid 4th line Center of all time. On any other team he has a good chance of being a healthy scratch.

Honestly, I can respect Parise for wanting to win a Cup and waiving that NTC. What I don't respect is he could have done this years ago and now that he is going to see his salary drop down and in 2 more years only making $2 million a year then down to $1 million he wants out. I have zero respect as this showed he was here for the money only. As a Wild fan this is for sure falling on the sword but I hope he sits here and rots with zero chance to win a Cup. He deserves it. He knew the consequences of signing his contract. He knew he was making himself untradeable. He knew he handcuffed the team to a very short period to win when other players were still on cheap contracts. He didn't have a gun to his head and forced to sign. I don't feel one ounce of sorry for him. And now that he is going to be making less and less money he wants out. Screw him. I hope it's miserable for him here until he retires. I hope people stop buying anything with his name on it so he starts losing money there.

I was listening to NHL Morning Skate on Sirius this morning and they were talking a little about this trade that didn't happen. They said he still probably is the most popular Wild player by the fans, which I do believe because of the whole one of us bs, but they said the locker room needs a change. So even they are suspecting that there is issues with the locker room and the way they said it points to the vets like Parise. Glad to see pretty good NHL guys point this out.

@EmptyShelf the biggest cancer is Leipold who allows this to happen and continue. The franchise is a mess to say the least. Until Leipold puts on his big boy pants and tells every player to talk to the GMs and coaches only and stops being a stupid fanboy we can expect more the same.

7 minutes ago, Icechipper said:

I can see Ryan Suter sort of transitioning into that player/coach role, not unlike the career of a legend such as Reg Dunlop.........

And don't you dear put Ryan Suters name with Reg Dunlop. Paul Newman is probably spinning in his grave with that insult!

18 minutes ago, CreaseAndAssist said:

 

The vets come off the ice after another failed power play attempt...and after the game they say they should've worked more on the power play even though they do the same thing just about every time.  My fear with Kaprizov, is as it was when Zucker first started out with the Wild.  

 

Personally, since I know this is what will happen with him, I am hoping Kaprizov looks at the team and says no thank you. I hate to see him come here be wasted and forced into restraints.

13 hours ago, EmptyShelf said:

I am watching Zucker on Pens versus Leafs.  He has another goal on a lazer pass from Crosby.  JZ looks really happy, and why wouldn't he be?  He is playing with one of the best players in the world, a true leader, on a team with a solid chance to play far into the playoffs in a chase for a Stanley Cup.  It must be a HUGE relief to get out from under the circus tent that is the Wild from CL on down to the Country Club.  I hope he provides a few soundbites in the next few months, as he and his wife were treated pretty poorly at various times by the Wild Mgmt. as Suits, ZP, and the Klyde were doted over.  Just f-ing pathetic.  I hope he has the last laugh in raising a Cup (or Coyle, Nino, Granlund - I don't care who it is - they were our next wave of talent that I believe were torpedoed by the Country Club).  I would LOVE to see one of them say when raising the Cup; 'This is for you Ryan, Zack, and Mikko - since you never could figure out what it takes to take a team to a championship.'

My beliefs for sure. I wouldn't be as upset if they were good mentors. It's clear they are not. The Adam Oates ordeal proved it. It was all about them and them only. They didn't invite any other teammates over to work with them. I honestly believe Parise and Suter contracts have to be in the top 5 worst of all time in all of NHL. They literally put the team into a position to be the team that struggles to make the playoffs but only to be first round punching bags for any team they play. So we always got non game changing/franchise changing picks in the draft. But so much money is people funneled to them that the team could never go out and get a actually star player. And they cap recapture is so bad that getting rid of them could really cripple the Wild. Both Suter and Parise will never raise the Cup and rightfully shouldn't. They chased the money before they wanted a championship. They got the money at the expense of fans. Fans of beautiful Minnesota who love and appreciate the sport of hockey. That's where it's the most frustrating. To see teams like Dallas, Carolina, Tampa Bay, etc win it before a team in Minnesota is a dagger to the heart. We live and breath it. We broadcast and have a big event for High School Hockey. What other states do as much as we do here?

I will say this about Mikko. I don't blame him anymore. He honestly was set up to fail too when you think about it. What other franchise would take a 3rd liner maybe 2nd liner at best and make him the franchise player and attempt to build around him? He is what he is. Always has been and the team didn't have to look very hard to see it. I do hope that he either retires after this season or is playing elsewhere. The game has passed him and we don't need another player who is in the twilight or grave of his career resigned here.

I am always rooting for our former players to win a Cup elsewhere until the Wild finally shed the Dark Ages era, aka Parise and Suter signings, and show they are going to build the franchise and not try to buy a championship. But I am rooting for Zucker to win a Cup this year. What fun has it been to watch him getting the chains taken off and allowed to play his game. Him and Crosby are fitting together perfectly!

1 hour ago, WileyOz44 said:

Nothing wrong with BB but like most realize we are screwed until 9, 11, and 20 disappear into the sunset. Almost certain 9 is finally done in a wild uniform... Thank God. What if BG signed him another year? lmao

BG has been talking awful big of Mikko lately and even said he really likes him. I fear he resigns Mikko. If he does as far as I am concerned BG is nothing better then Fletcher or Fenton.

18 minutes ago, lynxrattle said:

From the article about Boudreau's firing:

 

And, from a hockey perspective, it just felt to him that Guerin had been distant with him lately and not including him in hockey decisions. Guerin was also starting to voice his displeasure after losses with some of Boudreau’s deployment of players and lineup decisions and Boudreau said “it’s quite possible” the decreased ice time amidst the development of players like Kevin Fiala, Joel Eriksson Ek, Luke Kunin and Jordan Greenway were rubbing veterans the wrong way.

“But I dismissed all that as nothing out of the ordinary,” Boudreau said. “Maybe that was my naivety.”

 

That to my ears sounds the strongest hint we'll ever get, that the vets really seem to have influence over TOI. We're in deep s... and we can't get ever get rid of 11 and 20, because of the recapture penalty EJ0226 wrote about.

The worst part is by the time 11 & 20 contracts are finally up Chicago will have built and gone through one dynasty and will probably be in the middle of their new one. You can't buy championships. You build them. At this point I have no idea what the Wild do. I honestly want fans to boo Parise and Suter everytime they touch the ice. To stop buying anything with their name on it. To make them hate it here but then they will want to be traded and become a bigger toxic cloud in the locker room. And since they would each hit the cap at $19.6 million divided by the amount of years left on their contract I could see them getting traded and waiting tell their last year or two of their contracts to retire to screw over the team once more.  Seriously, in their last 2 years they could cost the Wild $9.8 million each year each or the last year at $19.6 million each. Do the Wild risk trading them if they were somehow able too? I wouldn't. So we have to have them sit and rot 5 more years.

28 minutes ago, ruxpin said:

 

I don't disagree with anything you said there, and you and most on this thread know much more about the Wild --and Bruce's tenure -- than I would dare pretend to.

 

But I'll stick with my "most overrated" statement because it precedes his Wild days.   I really thought he and the Wild were a bad move both for club and for him.   Just not a good match at all--a lot of that for the reasons you state.  More from his POV than even from the Wild.  The situation in Minnesota is not Bruce's fault, though I'll share your acknowledgement that he shares some blame.  But I don't think he was the cause of the issues.   He just wasn't the answer--again for the reasons you state.   

 

I agree.  I think any coach was going to have a difficult time there  (again, based largely on the situations you and others have written about).      But when the Wild hired him, I thought it was the wrong coach given the type of team.   He had done well in the regular season with very high-talent offensive teams.   My opinion on those stays is that a coach couldn't help but do well there given the talent level.  But when things tightened up in the playoffs, he and his teams struggled.   

 

No offense to the Wild, but they've never had that high-end talent level.  So, it was going to be the tightened up version.   I'll give him this:  he did better than I expected and probably as well as could be expected given the situation.  But his career as a whole, I think he's overrated.   Overrated vs. my view of him, anyway.

 

But as I mentioned before, I'm aware I'm in the vast minority on this one.

 

I hope it gets better and soon in Minnesota.   Their fans deserve better.  

 

Cheers!

I don't discredit your claim on Bruce either. I just know seeing the core for so many years that honestly Bruce was able to get something a whole lot more out of them for years and we are seeing what the team really should have looked all those years.

I honestly think Bruce would be a good coach to start a team on the right path. I do agree I don't know if he could get them over the hump. But I honestly can't look at Bruce in Washington and say he could or couldn't have won a cup there with more time. I mean Ovi finally won one after how long? And the Wild, well it's unfair for almost any coach with this roster and core. I can't really criticize Bruce a ton when the owner thinks this is a team "one step" away from wining a cup and loves to go wine and dine with only 11 & 20. He was set up to fail. I do agree it was a odd match for him to join the Wild. Maybe he thought he could change the direction of the ship. Maybe him being on the Fighting Saints at one time help him look over here. I am not for sure. The only thing I do know is that he was set up to fail.

But honestly it doesn't matter who they hire at this point. The vets need to be out of here and gone. We still have 5 more years of Parise and Suter. And at one point I wanted a trade until I seen the Cap Recapture would work and how if Parise or Suter got traded and then retired before they contracts are up could literally eat up to $40 million in cap in one season. Honestly, their whole contracts are some of the worst I have ever seen and it started with Leipold and Fletcher signing these two knuckle draggers before the CBA got finished. They anchored the franchise with probably the worst contracts it will ever see. Honestly, I think one could argue these are the worst contracts in all of Minnesota Pro Sports history. Below is a link to this:

https://www.hockeywilderness.com/2019/10/31/20937184/minnesota-wild-cap-recapture-penalty-zach-parise-ryan-suter-contracts-roberto-luongo-nhl

On ‎2‎/‎15‎/‎2020 at 9:55 AM, ruxpin said:

Can't help you with the timing.  But I have never been a fan of Bruce and thought the Wild hiring him was a horrible mistake.   [EDIT:   Probably more to the point, I thought it was a mistake for him.  But a mistake for the Wild, as well]

 

He's had good teams in Washington and Anaheim with explosive offensive talent and couldn't seal the deal.  He had money, tons of booze, and a room full of hookers and in both instances remained faithful to his hand. 

 

He never had any of that in Minnesota, so management hires him expecting what, exactly? 

 

Sorry, a handful of decent players (but not one remotely great player) and a goalie who played well under a system that got changed. 

 

Bruce may very well be the most overrated coach of the last 20 years and it's amazing to me that even hockey people seem to miss that. 

 

People will refuse to blame him. And, honestly, there's a lot of merit to that in Minnesota.  It was a badly mismatched hire and I was frankly shocked he accepted there. It just seemed so very different from what his previous teams looked like (maybe that was the attraction). So, he'll land another job somewhere. And fail.  

 

Rinse. Repeat. 

 

What I don't get is "why now?"  Then again, given the timing of the GM change (the change itself was merited, IMO) maybe weird timing is the new norm for the Wild. 

 

Sorry, I know I'm on a board with a lot of Bruce fans. Even at previous stops, I've just never understood that. 

Don't get me wrong, Bruce deserves his share of blame but most overrated? I completely disagree with it. I think he got this team to overachieve actually. I have said it 1000 times that even Scotty Bowman couldn't get this team out of the first round. 3 GMs and 4 coaches (probably going to be 5 by the start of next season) and exact same results each time. Biggest factor isn't coaching or GM, although they for sure contribute, but the same rotten core players. They never change. We watch other players go elsewhere and do good that appeared to not do good either. We have a fan boy in a owner who loves 11 and 20. Things need to work and make 11 and 20 look better or it needs to go. Parise and Suter have shown that they don't care what the coaches say. Hell they thing they are better then the other players and don't include them in their own workouts. Look at the Adam Oates ordeal.

But people like @CreaseAndAssist and @lynxrattle have said what us fans of the Wild that watch the team without homer blinders on have to say. It's frustrating as Minnesota is really a hockey loving state. People go out and play it all the time. The High School hockey tournament is packed with people. It's a big event. Minnesota deserves so much better then the Wild. It's honestly almost a insult. To see guys half heartily try. To see guys make it about themselves and screw everybody else and the fans. To see a owner who refuses to see the most obvious issues and think somehow they are one step away. To see guys the franchise could build around be let go or traded somewhere else because they don't compliment 11 and 20. It's extremely frustrating and shows no signs of stopping. I would take one Cup win over 5 Super Bowls in a row and I love football too. We just know this squad will never do it. I pray to God when Parise and Suters contracts are finally done they will have nothing to do with the Wild organization on any aspect again!

I was listening to the NHL Morning Skate show and felt a sunken feeling. They were talking how BG has nothing but praise for Koivu and really likes him. I can see BG signing Koivu to another deal when they need to let him walk. Serious, feel bad for us Minnesota hockey fans. Our best shot at winning a cup came in 2002-2003 with literally a team of nobodies. They were the blue collared players who worked hard and found another gear to make the run they did. Parise, Suter and a good part of the rest of the guys are a bunch of CEOs who just want to sit around expect all the good to come to them.  The 02-03 team went 8-10 in that one season of playoffs. Parise & Suter have gone 15-29 in 6 seasons of playoffs and it took 3 playoffs for them to reach 8 or more wins combined together. It shows they haven't improved anything but anchoring the team.

58 minutes ago, 4Check said:

Source?

I will have to try and find it again but read it earlier. Honestly, Babcock doesn't inspire hope with this group either. Right now I think the Wilds best bet is find a fill in guy for the next 5 years and let the anchors fall off and then get serious.

2 hours ago, Lonkkis said:

Expected this to happen, though not this soon. Not that BB lost the room or anything but he didn't seem to have any solution to the lategame crashing this team constantly suffers from. Among other small things.

 

Wondering who BG is going to pursue to hire as the next Wild head coach.

Rumor has it Babcock could be in.

5 minutes ago, Icechipper said:

Would love to see Bruce stay with organization.....or is he just out the door?

He's out the door. Honestly would you want to stay with a organization that is nothing but coach killers?

I have been listening to this for little bit. My honest opinion. BG was looking for any way to dumb Bruce. He just figured it would be ok after a loss.

But we all know Bruce was the least of the issues on this team. Bruce wasn't perfect and made mistakes but every coach does. The issue being is this franchise/owner somehow bought into the notion that Parise and Suter were franchise/game changers that could take over games. It didn't take much research to see this wasn't true before they offered them contracts. Those contracts completely anchored the team to having those guys become Kane, Crosby, Ovechkin level players when they are the guys between average players and actually star players. Once those lines were signed it was clear it made the franchise take one step forward to winning a cup but they were still a good 3 or 4 steps away from making a run at the cup. They never moved forward from that. Then young guys coming in and showing promise had to be paid and soon it became a balancing act as the bloated contracts of those 2 on top of overpaying Koivu and Dubnyk and other buddies of those vets and the team literally plateaued. No chance of getting better unless a rookie contract guy blew up and carried the team. So Bruce had to make due with what he got. He got a group of players with a overall average or below average talent that would be a flash in the pan once in a blue moon. Even the mighty Scotty Bowman would have one hell of a time getting this group out of the first round. I feel for Bruce and even guys like Yeo. Clearly the organization isn't being ran correctly and some players have shown they have more power then the coaches. Perfect example is Parise/Suter/Oates and Yeo ordeal. Those two got no punishment and Yeo ended up losing his job not to far down the road.

Yes I am not happy how they did this with Bruce. 7-3-1 the last 10 games and got this team within 3 points of a playoff spot and let him go. I figured they would let him go at the end of the year and I could understand it. I hope the Wild honestly don't win another game this season. I hope it bites BG in the butt on this. It was done dirty and deserves to have this above his head in the future. If you want to make a change BG then give permission to make 11, 20, 9 and 40 as healthy scratches and tell them not to come around team meetings anymore. Give the keys to the young guys and develop them. We know 11 and 20 are not good at helping other players out. Don't need them for anything.

18 hours ago, Antti_Laxative said:

A piece today on Chucky from TR

 

https://www.traderumours.com/index.php?blog=12703

Stuff like this just makes you go, "wtf are the Wilds Scouts doing/seeing?" It's pretty clear that this guy is a bust whose speed just isn't good enough for the NHL. Sounds like he will work hard but it seems like the skill just isn't there so why did we bother to pick him up? All you can do is shake your head.

15 hours ago, Alexandron said:

Another interesting article from same source regarding a Dumba's $5,000 fine for slashing Reaves yesterday:

 

https://www.traderumours.com/index.php?blog=12717

 

I just don't think Dumba is very intelligent. He makes so many bone headed mistakes and plays and never seems to learn. Hitting Reaves in that area guarantees he is going to learn why you never hit a another dude in the jewels especially a guy like Reaves.

Man that was a scary video to watch. The slow slump finally into a fall on the floor. I am glad so many people seen it happening right away. You can see 29 (not for sure who that is as I don't follow Blues much) waving people over right away followed by Pietrangelo jumping for help and taking off to get somebody. Amazing staff. Prayers for Bouwmeester to fully recover.

Also hats off to the Ducks to postpone the game after this. Classy act.

1 hour ago, CreaseAndAssist said:

I always thought Walz or Laaksonen might be faster than Gaborik back in those days.  It would be close, but the team did have some speed back then.  The real question people should be asking about Zucker is why did he stop using his wheels?  He caused lots of problems when he did just turn on the jets, so why limit their use or just abandon it altogether?  

 

Either way...I don't care.  Galchenyuk was every bit of Vanek LITE last night I think as someone said above.  Little to no defense...cherry picks...doesn't get involved in puck battles unless he thinks he can sweep it up and just skate away.  He does have a bit more speed than Vanek, but an underwhelming debut for sure.  Yet, if this is a silver lining at all.  We didn't need him to be anything special last night and we don't really have to care too much if he is or not.  He's not the critical part of the deal, just an ends to a means.  

Vanek........ gives me shivers. I thought for sure we would never have to talk about him again but the people who are saying Galchenyuk is Vanek lite are hitting the nail on the head. For sure avoiding situations that require work and possible touching another player. No defense for sure. He only has this year on his contract right and then we can let him catch the last train out of town?

1 hour ago, Alexandron said:

He forced to play certain players but was not a case to make any major decisions in  trading without his decisions/his permissions. That would be a nonsense to have a valuable player for the team and  not to ask a coach in trading him to other team. GM always should have a good communication with the coach, otherwise it will create a chaos in organization.  

But we also know the Wild past GMs have been anything by typical. It was clear that Fletcher made trades without BB and then forcing players into BB game plans. My guess is Zucker maybe was asking for a trade quietly. 3 years of trade rumors from a organization that clearly shows they have no idea what they are doing might make any player ready to go. Hell, Kessel took one look at this mess and said no thanks to what I am sure is a nice contract with zero expectations. That should say something loudly.

But realistically the team needs to shed contracts. Our past GMs gave every single player we need to get rid of right away NTC/NMC. So now we have to look at moving guys that can at least give some value back. We don't have many. Zucker was one. Brodin is probably the next best piece. I would like to see Dumba moved. As a defenseman he isn't that great. Lots of mistakes that cost our team for a few offensive points here and there is not good. But beyond that we don't have much. We need to move Parise, Suter, Koivu, Zuccarello and Spurgeon. They all have no trade clauses. We also need to move Staal and Dubnyk. They have modified contracts that they can only be moved to select teams. More then likely it's teams that don't have interest in them.

I hope BG learns from the past GMs mistakes. Do not give out NMC like candy. Do not give out crazy contracts unless you have a legit star like Crosby, Ovechkin, Kane, etc. Parise and Suter were never stars except by fans who bought the snake oil that the Wild were selling on these two. I feel for him because he has a lot of work to do and I honestly wonder if he will have his job in 5 years when maybe his work starts to pay off. If the seats empty at the X, Leipold will react and could place the blame on BG for it. Leipold isn't smart enough to see the damage his old GMs made and how long it will take to fix.

4 minutes ago, TonyOday said:

Love the trade, under performing top 6 forward that has really regressed from his contract year. We got a top defensive prospect that can help us move Dumba or Brodin for a legit #1 C or goalie. We have an enigma winger that could blossom or turn into a 5th or higher if he takes off here ala Nino 20 game streaks. We got a #1 pick. Most of all we HAD to move Zucker to make room for Kaprisov, because Parise and Zuccarello are going nowhere. 

Honestly, Addison looks pretty good in Major Juniors but only had a 3 game AHL span before going back to Major Juniors last year. He wasn't bad but nothing like everybody keeps saying is some top tier prospect that is going to replace somebody in the NHL. Plus once again the Wild chase a 5'10 and 175 lb defenseman that will be pushed around when the Wild need to be getting bigger. I think everybody needs to keep their hype in check for this guy. I see a less effective Spurgeon in him right now and Spurgeon has been awful this year compared to what he normally is.

33 minutes ago, Alexandron said:

Agree with that. We have got rid out of our fastest player in  the Wild history. Bad mistake for the organization. I sincerely liked him a lot even when he was playing in the 4th line, because he was bringing benefits for the team and excitement to watch his speed and his chances to score. Very valuable 2 way player. Hope, he will get a chance to get a cup in his career. Wish Jason Zucker and his family all the best! Agree also, that we stockpiled lots of promising picks in AHL and minor leagues and even not giving them a chance to move to the big club.  Sad to observe that.  What is the reason for that? I do not know. And I would blame Zucker's trade for 2 years in a row not to Fenton or Guerin, but on our head coach Bruce Boudreau. I am sure that was his wish to get rid of him, but not general managers. 

I honestly don't think Boudreau had anything to do with it. In fact we know he has been forced to play certain players when he hasn't wanted to do. My guess is this trade came from a need to shed contracts and try to get draft picks for the future.  What sucks about losing speed is we are getting stuck with slow and old vets. I rather have a team of rookies with speed losing then a team of high paid vets that are declining and slow and losing. At least the rookies can improve and get better.

It's going to be rough as a Wild fan the next few years if Guerin is actually going to try and build the team correctly. Something that should have happened a good 5 or 6 years ago when it was clear the team wouldn't amount to much. As, Gaborik was the Wilds fastest player but I would argue Zucker was number 2.