Fargocase Posted October 15, 2018 Author Share Posted October 15, 2018 I think it's pretty clear the Wild is missing a true Top 2 Line offensive Center. Give Mikko 15 mins a night with Nino and Coyle on the Wings or one of the young guys, EEk or Greenway, and just leave them alone to play responsible defensively, grind and bang, and I think you'd have a very good 3rd Line. The problem is the huge hole at #2 Center. By default we're stuck with Mikko. He used to be a substandard #1 Center, now he's a substandard #2 Center! Wouldn't it be wonderful to see him in the correct role for a change?! It's getting tougher and tougher to deny Coyle and Nino are nothing more than good 3rd Liners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hf101 Posted October 15, 2018 Share Posted October 15, 2018 16 minutes ago, Fargocase said: I think it's pretty clear the Wild is missing a true Top 2 Line offensive Center. Give Mikko 15 mins a night with Nino and Coyle on the Wings or one of the young guys, EEk or Greenway, and just leave them alone to play responsible defensively, grind and bang, and I think you'd have a very good 3rd Line. The problem is the huge hole at #2 Center. By default we're stuck with Mikko. He used to be a substandard #1 Center, now he's a substandard #2 Center! Wouldn't it be wonderful to see him in the correct role for a change?! It's getting tougher and tougher to deny Coyle and Nino are nothing more than good 3rd Liners. Agree, The Wild need a speed line. And they will have to acquire this via the draft. Missing the players next spring would be the best thing for the franchise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wild.source Posted October 15, 2018 Share Posted October 15, 2018 7 hours ago, hf101 said: Agree, The Wild need a speed line. And they will have to acquire this via the draft. Missing the players next spring would be the best thing for the franchise. Zucker is a speedy player. We just need more speedy players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargocase Posted October 16, 2018 Author Share Posted October 16, 2018 16 hours ago, Fargocase said: The problem is the huge hole at #2 Center. By default we're stuck with Mikko. He used to be a substandard #1 Center, now he's a substandard #2 Center! Wouldn't it be wonderful to see him in the correct role for a change?! It's getting tougher and tougher to deny Coyle and Nino are nothing more than good 3rd Liners. Mikko had an excellent game against Nash. Not because he got an easy goal but because he won a lot of very key face-offs, was involved offensively and escellent defensively. I am far from a Mikko fan, but I'm not such a hater I can admit he had a very good game. Hope there's more! With MiG and Parise, there might be. I'm writing off Nino. He's clueless out there. I hope BB figures it out and leaves Coyle with Big E. and Zooker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomdog Posted October 16, 2018 Share Posted October 16, 2018 13 hours ago, Fargocase said: Mikko had an excellent game against Nash. Not because he got an easy goal but because he won a lot of very key face-offs, was involved offensively and escellent defensively. I am far from a Mikko fan, but I'm not such a hater I can admit he had a very good game. Hope there's more! With MiG and Parise, there might be. I'm writing off Nino. He's clueless out there. I hope BB figures it out and leaves Coyle with Big E. and Zooker. Agree with all that. Now do we put EEK with Greenway and Nino, or do we move a more experienced center between EEk andGreenway. Do they try to highlight Nino to shop him around for a center, or do you 4th line him until he pulls his head out and starts using his size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargocase Posted October 16, 2018 Author Share Posted October 16, 2018 I say move EEk back to Center and keep Greenway on the wing. Nino the other forward. I'd shop Nino. I didn't watch the games but reports were he had a great World Chamionship tournament. He has positive attributes. I can't believe there's no interest in him around the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icechipper Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 If Ek and Hendricks remain sidelined I suspect we'll see Kyle Rau get the call. He's a center and speedy and can likely slip through waivers when he gets sent down. Bemidji State University free agent Gerry Fitzgerald leads the Iowa Wild in scoring in early going. Ryan Murphy right there too, so he'll be ready if a defenseman is injured. Detroit took Chad de la Rose from the Canadiens on waivers but I didn't really see anything the Wild mite pluck off the waiver wire (example: Brian Gionta, Islanders). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreaseAndAssist Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 On 10/15/2018 at 6:16 AM, hf101 said: Agree, The Wild need a speed line. And they will have to acquire this via the draft. Missing the players next spring would be the best thing for the franchise. The Wild need some faster players. IMO, that's especially true with their guys up front. We're just too slow...all throughout the lineup beyond #16. He's the only guy with wheels that we have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icechipper Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Zucker is fast. Parise has jump. Suter is smooth. Brodin has excellent mobility. Stall has tremendous stride and leg drive. I honestly in person watch a lot of college and junior hockey and follow the Wild and NHL primarily on TV. Guess I would have to attend an open practice and watch players in drills before I could really get an opinion about how "fast" or "slow" the Wild are. Fastest I've witnessed in person was Vladmir Tarasenko at the World U18 championship a number of years ago. And Marion Gaborik, of course, back in the day. Anecdotally from what I've read or heard is that Dumba and Coyle have pretty good wheels as well. Would welcome any opinions from someone (possibly who has coached and taught skating, as I have). Seriously. Speed is just one of many elements of skating, but yes, more important than ever today with guys like McDavid and Matthews who can skate and work magic with their hands with amazing quickness. If someone wants to rank the Wild from fastest to slowest player, go for it. Point made, point taken and point seems to be supported by some knowledgeable pundits. The NHL is getting faster and the Wild need to play faster. I can start: 1. Zucker 2. Dumba 3. Staal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rottenrefs Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 My own list of course, haven't seen any of their practices which would be interesting. But, by just going by game-play and watching them move around... 1. Zucker 2. Spurgeon 3. Dumba 4. Suter (Rarely does he seem to really open it up but defending speedsters from other teams hardly ever get by him.) 5. Coyle 6. Staal For various reasons I ranked them like that but I do think Dumba edges out Suter; and Coyle edges out Staal. Breaking across the blue-line from a lead pass Coyle seems to get by people quicker than Staal. His initial burst is quicker so I put him above Staal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetshot Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Staal is deceptive. More than anyone except maybe Zucker, he's got a knack for getting behind the opponents defense alot for wide open looks. Not sure if that is speed or just the fact he's a wily veteran--probably both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomdog Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 I'M going #1 Zucker #2 granlund#3 dumba #4 spurgion #5 Parise. A thought for a speed line. Granlund, Zucker, Parise. Staal, Nino, Coyle. Koivu, Ek, Greenway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icechipper Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Matt Read gets the call so we have: 11 parise 9 Koivu 64 granny 16 zucker 12 staal 18 Greenway 17 foligno. 3 Coyle 22 Nino 24 read 21 fehr 23 brown 20 suter. 24 dumb 25 brodin 46 Spurgeon 36 seeler 29 Pateryn 39 prosser 40 doobs 32 stalock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Check Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 6 hours ago, Icechipper said: Matt Read gets the call so we have: 11 parise 9 Koivu 64 granny 16 zucker 12 staal 18 Greenway 17 foligno. 3 Coyle 22 Nino 24 read 21 fehr 23 brown 20 suter. 24 dumb 25 brodin 46 Spurgeon 36 seeler 29 Pateryn 39 prosser 40 doobs 32 stalock Be surprised if they put two of their three RH forwards (23 & 24) on the same line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey-78 Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 As always I like to see Granny and Zucker together. Zucker's speed gives Granny more options to distribute the puck and they've had chemistry in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargocase Posted October 19, 2018 Author Share Posted October 19, 2018 On 10/17/2018 at 2:30 PM, Icechipper said: If someone wants to rank the Wild from fastest to slowest player, go for it. Point made, point taken and point seems to be supported by some knowledgeable pundits. The NHL is getting faster and the Wild need to play faster. I can start: 1. Zucker 2. Dumba 3. Staal Seriously? You think Big E. Staal is fast? Amongst the Forwards, I agree that Zooker is the only truly FAST player. Parise and MiG both have great quickness, but not the blazing, ass-on-fire speed. Give them enough time and I suspect Nino and Coyle are straight line fast, but too long to get up to speed. Mikko and Big E. are flat out slow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargocase Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share Posted November 10, 2018 Back to the topic - Wild Lines Right now BB has it right! Zooker-Big E.-MiG Parise-Mikko-Nino Greenway-EEk-Coyle Foligno-Fehr-Ted Brown's kid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fargocase Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share Posted November 10, 2018 On 10/12/2018 at 9:11 PM, puck_hawg said: I would like to see Greenway-EEK-Coyle, and left together for a several games. Bingo! EEk getting hurt messed this up but from here on out let them play! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rottenrefs Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 On 10/18/2018 at 10:48 AM, Hockey-78 said: As always I like to see Granny and Zucker together. Zucker's speed gives Granny more options to distribute the puck and they've had chemistry in the past. I always like when Koivu and Granlund aren't on the same line. It gives the team two lines with puck distributors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetshot Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 1 hour ago, rottenrefs said: I always like when Koivu and Granlund aren't on the same line. It gives the team two lines with puck distributors. Couldn't agree more. Put MG with Zucker and Coyle--probably the fastest line you could piece together on the current roster--Maybe force Coyle to get his $hit together--never mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClusterChuck Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 Right now I wouldn't change a thing. Keep the 12-16-64 together !! . Do what you want with the rest if need be. Goals are coming from all over the place and the guys seem to know where and what their line mates are doing. Suddenly there's chemistry. The D pairings are nicely balanced too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rottenrefs Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 1 hour ago, ClusterChuck said: Right now I wouldn't change a thing. Keep the 12-16-64 together !! . Do what you want with the rest if need be. Goals are coming from all over the place and the guys seem to know where and what their line mates are doing. Suddenly there's chemistry. The D pairings are nicely balanced too. Right. If it's not broke don't fix it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey-78 Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 5 hours ago, rottenrefs said: I always like when Koivu and Granlund aren't on the same line. It gives the team two lines with puck distributors. That too. But although Granny is not lightning fast, Koivu is too slow for him. G-K-Z line worked nicely two seasons ago but already then I felt Koivu handcuffed both of his linemates. If we'd only had a guy with speed between them. In another thread I toyed with the idea we'd go after Nylander and place him between Granny and Zucker. I guess in the long run, especially in the playoffs, it wouldn't work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rottenrefs Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 4 minutes ago, Hockey-78 said: That too. But although Granny is not lightning fast, Koivu is too slow for him. G-K-Z line worked nicely two seasons ago but already then I felt Koivu handcuffed both of his linemates. If we'd only had a guy with speed between them. In another thread I toyed with the idea we'd go after Nylander and place him between Granny and Zucker. I guess in the long run, especially in the playoffs, it wouldn't work. Back when I hoped to see Zucker - Haula - Granlund when they moved Granny to right wing. They could have spent a long time together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey-78 Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 1 minute ago, rottenrefs said: Back when I hoped to see Zucker - Haula - Granlund when they moved Granny to right wing. They could have spent a long time together. I guess no one ever gave that combo a chance...? I don't remember. Yeah, Haula it seems could've done wonders there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.