MN Wild 2018-19 Official Thread

Don Cherry at least brings SOMETHING to the game. I can’t really say that about the other guys. I like Doc as a announcer.

mplspug wrote:

I’ve seen the celebrations and it is pretty funny. Don Cherry is a dickhead.

Well, Cherry doesn’t like too much flamboyance…

How ’bout dem Wild! The run for the Cup started today.

Dutchboy wrote:

How ’bout dem Wild! The run for the Cup started today.

I sense a hint of sarcasm there
Donato didn’t look too bad though

hman wrote:

Donato didn’t look too bad though

I am not sure he is going to fit in here. He SHOOTS THE DAMN PUCK!

CaptainMusky wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>hman wrote:</div>
Donato didn’t look too bad though

I am not sure he is going to fit in here. He SHOOTS THE DAMN PUCK!

It’s too early tell yet; but it sure was encouraging watching his play as the game went on.

He has something to prove to Boston as I’m sure you heard on the broadcast. This is a cautionary tale as so did Nino when he came here.

mplspug wrote:

He has something to prove to Boston as I’m sure you heard on the broadcast. This is a cautionary tale as so did Nino when he came here.

Agreed, but he has been a shoot first type of player his entire career. Optimistic that continues with the Wild. First game was fairly good from what I had seen from him. Guys typically play well with extra motivation for a short period of time.
We will see how it progresses the more games he plays for sure.

Coyle must be dancing a jig! Gets to go home and play for a legitimate Cup contender. What a contrast to get out of the glum and gloom of the Wild to a team like Boston. I wish him well. Donato had a good first game hopefully he brings consistency. Way too early for any judgements. We probably won’t know what we’re getting until we give him a contract for too much money at too many years!

Ice Cap wrote:

February 22, 2019 at 9:42 am#1837555
Coyle must be dancing a jig! Gets to go home and play for a legitimate Cup contender.

You must have misheard. Coyle got traded to Boston, not to a legitimate cup contender. You might want to check who else is over there in the East just waiting for Boston in the playoffs. Not seeing many “cup contender” scenarios for the ol Bruins.

But that won’t keep me from cheering for them in R1 so they win and move the Wild’s trade pick up to R4.

Donato looked awesome last night. I’m really impressed, night and day difference between plodding, grinding, two-touch-n-give-er-up Coyle and Donato’s head’s-up, see the play style. For a 22 year old player with very lmited NHL ice time, he looked really good.

That spin off the check, maintain control, look up, and put the puck on the tape of Suter in the slot play basically said it all. That was EVERYTHING that Coyle was NOT in one play right there.

Like I said, Boston got what they wanted, Coyle is who he is, a 3rd or 4th line big body that takes up space and produces at a low and slow pace. We took the risk in this deal with Donato’s unproved, untested potential, but the upside could be there. We’ll see.

And kudos to Burce for a nice line combo there, Donato, Ek, Kunin.

The Wild kind of got a freebie goal on a no-call there, but we get shafted on enough of those that I’m not going to feel bad about it.

The best thing was the Wild didn’t hit the “we’re in the lead” panic button and find a way to p!ss it away with that double minor in the 3rd.

Grouse

Dan-at-o’s upside for this team fills a gap Coyle never could. To many similar style players on the wild. Hope the best for Coyle. Still totally believe we got the better long term deal and like this trade a lot. Don’t really have a lot of faith in Fenton with his dumb arse comments, or trust he’s more than a puppet, but this trade is at minimum a step in the right direction. And it leads me to believe they are building for the future. If they can make smarter moves looking towards the future vs just the here and now with Zippy and second gear Suter, the fan base will appreciate that much more than all the dumb nut trades Fletch made trying to cut corners and win now with rental players that were massive failures and idiotic mistakes fiscally.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Donato looked awesome last night. I’m really impressed, night and day difference between plodding, grinding, two-touch-n-give-er-up Coyle and Donato’s head’s-up, see the play style. For a 22 year old player with very lmited NHL ice time, he looked really good.

X2

They should send him to Iowa for the rest of the season before he leads the Wild into the playoffs and fubars their draft position.

I thought he made some good plays and then rushed some bad plays, all to be expected from a 22 year old with less than 50 NHL games under his belt and his new team debut. I could totally see why the scouts complained about his skating, that will be something he’ll need to work on, but it’s fixable..as others have mentioned and basically what his calling card is was the fact that he shoots the puck and has offensive talent, those traits easily stood out against what we’re used to from the Wild. If Boston can win their 1st playoff series that 5th rounder turns into a 4th rounder and the trade will look even better.

Bottom line, the Wild got younger, shaved some cap space and became a little more offensive minded with the trade. All good things…

I am still bitter, but I admit you are correct. From what I saw last night this was a good move for the Wild.

Kaprizov just finished the KHL regular season as the league leader in goals with 30! he also had 21 assists in 57 games. Their playoffs start next week, his team CSKA is a powerhouse and expected to play for the title.

Wow! Columbus gave up 2 first round picks (2nd pick if he re-signs) and 2 prospects for Duchense!

Fenton should try unloading all he can right now while all GM rational thought is out the door!

JoeMX1825 wrote:

ow! Columbus gave up 2 first round picks and 2 prospects for Duchense!

Lots of mental health issues and drama in Columbus these days. They ought to call that type of trade “doing a Fletcher”.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

If Boston can win their 1st playoff series that 5th rounder turns into a 4th rounder and the trade will look even better.

No kidding. Go Bruins Go! I’m a huge fan, hope they kill it. In the first round at least. I’d love to see that pick move up one full round.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Kaprizov just finished the KHL regular season as the league leader in goals with 30!

You think Kaprisov is regretting locking himself into an iron clad 3-year KHL deal after this season?

Grouse

I honestly think he was bullied into signing his contract….

I’ve read every single piece of info online about him the past few years (thanks google translator) My only worry is that he’s just afraid of moving away from home to the USA. I read some stories in Russian newspapers how he’s very family oriented and purchased his parents a home after he signed his first contract and lived with them still for a few years afterwards. He also plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the KHL, so unlike other KHL teams, their checkbook is fat, plus he’s pretty much one of the faces of the league.

The part that does give me confidence that he’s coming in 2 years is that he’s friends with the big NHL Russian studs (Terasenko, Kuznetsov, Ovechkin, Datsyuk) and they’ve been telling him he needs to play in the NHL and he see’s how they are living the good life over here (comparatively speaking)

My guess is that he signs/plays with the Wild AFTER next years KHL season is over (NHL season goes longer) allowing him to quickly burn the 1st year of his rookie deal, we then get 2 years of him making the rookie max before we can resign him long term (if he pans out which I 100% believe he will)
That’s why I don’t see a long term rebuild with this team, so much can change in just 2 years.

I honestly don’t know why Fenton or the Owner haven’t offered to fly him to Minnesota over the offseason to check everything out? If they did, you would think Russo would have reported on it.. I can understand him not being allowed to the rookie camp and so on, but just flying here to see the city and the US? seems like a no brainer right?

JoeMX1825 wrote:

I honestly don’t know why Fenton or the Owner haven’t offered to fly him to Minnesota over the offseason to check everything out? If they did, you would think Russo would have reported on it.. I can understand him not being allowed to the rookie camp and so on, but just flying here to see the city and the US? seems like a no brainer right?

I have been wondering about this same thing as well. Though Fenton is very reserved with what he shares and combine that with all the crying himself to sleep he has been doing lately <sarc> he hasn’t probably had much time to think about it.
I think the best thing Fenton can do right now is make moves/changes that will make it more enticing for Kaprizov to come here as soon as he is able. Younger roster (recent moves have done a little of this) and potentially some guys from his homeland in the pipeline or draft them this Spring to give him a sense of hey, there are going to be some of my brothers here!
They did draft Sokolov, which I believe the two know each other, but perhaps making a deal/sign an NHL veteran this summer too would help woo him.
A guy like Kaprizov if he pans out is someone we fans have been clamoring for all along. It sure would be nice if it were to actually happen. Man, it could be like the 1998 Vikings with Moss! That would be unreal.

Keep in mind these Russian players can be very loyal to their Socialist government and the whole time we are wishing and hoping he comes here his Russian handlers have his ear. And who knows if the kid can even translate his game to the NHL. The Russians seem to be able to do so more than the other Euro players but you never know. Grandlund never has translated his game to the NHL. I wouldn’t look at him as a savior or a NHL super star waiting to happen you are just getting ahead of yourself.

The kids not going anywhere for a season and a half so Fenton has a lot of stuff on his plate besides the Russian kid.

Besides we all know how tight Trump and Putin are all Trump has to say is let the kid play in the NHL Vlad he will be Yuuugee! And it will be done!

Kunin, Ek and Donato on the board again. Hmm, maybe Nino and coyle were dead weight and the future is looking brighter. I’d love to see these guys keep it going.

You see that save by Granlund?

Never thought I’d be rooting for Boston to win a series, but go Boston!

Dan wrote:

You see that save by Granlund?

Yes! Also great to see Staal shake the monkey off his back and Donato had another great night.

Jamin wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dan wrote:</div>
You see that save by Granlund?

Yes! Also great to see Staal shake the monkey off his back and Donato had another great night.

Donato really has looked good sofar, takes a bit of the sting away from the Nino trade debacle…

Maybe the addition of Donato will light a fire under the other slackers butts? I still think they stink and they have a long way to go before I jump back on the bandwagon.
What is the deal with Zucker? Signs a big contract and stinks up the joint. Is he just another over-rated player?

I’m liking the Donato trade. And glad to see the young guns getting opportunity and being productive with it. Never would have happened with Captain K still on the ice. The team needs to get younger and get guys who have energy to play.

New guy Donato scores on a sweet pass from Zucker to beat the hot Blues in OT. Good win.

Sounds like the Wild may trade GranlunD today? Russo?

Donato- somebody who knows how to shoot and win in OT! What a breath of fresh air!!