MN Wild 2018-19 Official Thread

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Hey, all you Wild fans that wanted Dumba gone 2-3 years ago because he was mistake prone back in his younger days. How do you like him now, boys?

That was definitely me up until this year. I remember being at a game last year where Dumba was personally responsible for 3 goals. Poor guy in front of me had a Dumba jersey and was catching all kinds of hell. He still is a bit of a liability in his own zone. Can’t change direction at all, but he’s not making the mistakes he used to and I like the physicality he brings to the team.

Oh and the fact that he’s the ONLY player on the PP that any opponent legitimately worries about. He and Granlund are quite a pair on the PP this year.

They keep this up who gets sat down when koivu comes back? Or is it time koivu accepts a role?

Brady Valberg wrote:

They keep this up who gets sat down when koivu comes back? Or is it time koivu accepts a role?

I was just talking about his last night. I don’t know what they are going to do. Especially if the Wild keep the wins coming. I’ve got to assume Kunin will be staying up and playing a regular role. He hasn’t done anything fancy, but he’s playing solid and has some good potential. I’m thinking someone on the 4th line will be sitting out when Koivu comes back but who and where do they put Koivu is a mystery to me. Time will tell. I just hope they keep scoring the way they are. 5 goals last night and not 1 powerplay. I like it!

Looks like nino is back after a long hiatus. That’s good.

mplspug wrote:

Looks like nino is back after a long hiatus. That’s good.

Perfect timing to raise his trade value.

Brady Valberg wrote:

They keep this up who gets sat down when koivu comes back? Or is it time koivu accepts a role?

Matt Hendricks/JT Brown will be watching from the press box..

The good news:

– Nino is BACK. The fog has lifted, the sun shines, the birds and angels sing…

– Grandlund has quietly become one of the top playmakers in the NHL. That backhand, cross-ice, gravity-defying, levitating pass to Staal last night was pure catnip.

– Parise. Awesomeness. Clearly, his back injury was hampering his productivity way before he started missing games because of it. Can we stop complaining about how the Wild are “saddled” with his contract now?

– Brodin – See above.

– Greenway – See above above. The way he can dish out punishment from a dead stop has clearly spread around the league. Guys are playing him totally different now than they were at the start of the season and below the red line, nobody seems to want to get too close and try to commit to the “blow him off his feet” hit for fear his exploding shoulder will find their chin.

– Coyle may be playing well enough to raise his trade value from zero to the point where he may actually be deal-able for a modest, later round draft pick. But we’ve seen this movie before with Coyle, remember when he “found himself” after he got moved from center to wing?

– Doobs dug in the back of his locker and found zen, his mojo, his missing car keys, and his game all in a neat pile under a dirty towel.

The bad news:

– What the h@ll do we have to do to STOP letting the other team score first? This drives me freaking CRAZY. It’s like some kind of twisted deal where the Wild need this for motivation or something. Bruce has to be crawling out of his own skin every time this happens.

– Now the temptation is going to be to keep Doobs in and keep his play up. Danger is that Doobs burns out and Staylock gets rusty.

– Is Kunin going to be able to get the kind of playing time with the big club that he needs to really be late-season big-league ready? It seems like the bus is pretty full right now, but I worry about Kunin being really contribution ready when we have an injury in the late season. We have enough “fill the space” bodies now, what puts us over the top is to have someone ready to step in and actually put up points rather than just provide “grit” and avoid mistakes.

Grouse

Well I’m not sure if I’m watching McGregor mayweather 2 or a hockey game…even tho he got rocked it was great to see suter stand up…entertaining but hopefully they get back to playing their game and don’t get caught up in all the extra curricular activities and the scoreboard reads right at the end of the animosity

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

The good news:

– Nino is BACK. The fog has lifted, the sun shines, the birds and angels sing…

– Grandlund has quietly become one of the top playmakers in the NHL. That backhand, cross-ice, gravity-defying, levitating pass to Staal last night was pure catnip.

– Parise. Awesomeness. Clearly, his back injury was hampering his productivity way before he started missing games because of it. Can we stop complaining about how the Wild are “saddled” with his contract now?

– Brodin – See above.

– Greenway – See above above. The way he can dish out punishment from a dead stop has clearly spread around the league. Guys are playing him totally different now than they were at the start of the season and below the red line, nobody seems to want to get too close and try to commit to the “blow him off his feet” hit for fear his exploding shoulder will find their chin.

– Coyle may be playing well enough to raise his trade value from zero to the point where he may actually be deal-able for a modest, later round draft pick. But we’ve seen this movie before with Coyle, remember when he “found himself” after he got moved from center to wing?

– Doobs dug in the back of his locker and found zen, his mojo, his missing car keys, and his game all in a neat pile under a dirty towel.

The bad news:

– What the h@ll do we have to do to STOP letting the other team score first? This drives me freaking CRAZY. It’s like some kind of twisted deal where the Wild need this for motivation or something. Bruce has to be crawling out of his own skin every time this happens.

– Now the temptation is going to be to keep Doobs in and keep his play up. Danger is that Doobs burns out and Staylock gets rusty.

– Is Kunin going to be able to get the kind of playing time with the big club that he needs to really be late-season big-league ready? It seems like the bus is pretty full right now, but I worry about Kunin being really contribution ready when we have an injury in the late season. We have enough “fill the space” bodies now, what puts us over the top is to have someone ready to step in and actually put up points rather than just provide “grit” and avoid mistakes.

Grouse

Inconsistent again;
4-6 last 10 games, and going backwards.

Missed this yesterday, but Flyers hit the dump button on former UND “Fighting Hawks” coach Dave Hakstol.

The interesting thing to me had the 5th longest tenure of any current NHL coach. So there’s a little turnover behind the bench in the NHL…

Grouse

Dumba is out for a week so we will see what happens now.

actually the Wild lucked out that it happend before the Holiday break, worst case he misses just 3 games…

I’d like to see somebody from Iowa (Menell/Soucy/Belpido) get called up vs Prosser though…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

I’d like to see somebody from Iowa (Menell/Soucy/Belpido) get called up vs Prosser though…

Agreed, but that has cap ramifications since they are already paying Prosser. They sent Kunin down for one day to save cap money. They never would have done this when the baby club was in Houston, but that was a clever move to Iowa for sure.

Tell me if you heard this before..The Wild played good enough to win, but didn’t bury their chances and gave up a few goals due to mental mistakes…

This team needs some kind of kick in the pants (trade wise) imo…otherwise its just the same old same old…Yes they beat up on the weaker teams and get points, but what’s their record against winning teams this season?

JoeMX1825 wrote:

This team needs some kind of kick in the pants (trade wise) imo…otherwise its just the same old same old…Yes they beat up on the weaker teams and get points, but what’s their record against winning teams this season?

I agree. I think a trade needs to be made. And SOON!!! Not at the deadline. The Wild are the 2nd worst team in the league since Nov. 12th….. Not Good…

I think its time.

We are two years behind what should have happened previously,
the writing was on the wall with the Hansel and Grettle trade.

FWIW; Any of the current Wild players trade value has decreased substantially, I think Eric Stall carries the most valuable skill set; as the Wild Continue sinking I would expect him to be highly sought after at the trade deadline.

It’s time to dump player salary.

I think Coyle’s value is at an all-time high right now…especially for a team that needs a versatile big body who can skate and play center (Hello Bruins!)

I would try to move Nino and Foligno if I could…

Xmas was early yesterday
Sucks the Wild lost, but oh my god is the game better with Walz instead of that other idiot. LaPanta should be gone to but I could sit and watch the game instead of going to the garage and put the radio on. They really need to make that happen more often.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

I think Coyle’s value is at an all-time high right now…especially for a team that needs a versatile big body who can skate and play center (Hello Bruins!)

At this time I don’t think Coyle’s value is that high, the problem I see is you are still projecting him to have success strictly because of his size. Who knows maybe he goes to another team and does very well for them in a different system.
As teams get closer to determining if they have a shot at the cup, and just need one particular need and that being size,the Wild may just be able to get a higher value return.

0-4 loss at home to the Sharks. Not going to cut it.

Getting tired of watching this team do the same thing, year after year.

jeff_huberty wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>

I think Coyle’s value is at an all-time high right now…especially for a team that needs a versatile big body who can skate and play center (Hello Bruins!)

At this time I don’t think Coyle’s value is that high, the problem I see is you are still projecting him to have success strictly because of his size. Who knows maybe he goes to another team and does very well for them in a different system.
As teams get closer to determining if they have a shot at the cup, and just need one particular need and that being size,the Wild may just be able to get a higher value return.

I’m saying he has increased potential because he has all of the tools (Size, Skating Ability, Shot, etc) Put those same tools in somebody the size of Grandlund and Coyle would be the better pick. Coyle has all of the markings of somebody who can use a change of scenery to become successful as he shows moments of being an above average power forward. Some team will figure out how to tap into that permanently, the Wild obviously have failed at it sofar…He also has the low cap hit that any team would want…

To me it looks like this team has a lot of trouble finding stability when line changes have to occur. Koivu in, Dumba out, Kunin in, Prosser in, change up all the D pairings, and what do we get? Chaos.

This happens to every team, every year, but this Wild team currently seems to get really rattled by line changeups.

Regarding a trade, YES! Freaking deal Coyle NOW. It was interesting that his play picked up about 700% when reports were floated that he was being shopped back to Baahston. Now’s the time. His value isn’t great, but it’s more about freeing up his spot on the bus.

Lots of teams suddenly playing better added to the teams that have played well for most of the season, Wild need to up their game accordingly.

Grouse

I feel a coaching change coming ON?

It would be interesting having a new GM if they were out of the chase come trade deadline time. Staal will bring good returns. As much as I hate to say it, Koivu and Spurgeon would be guys to shop too.

Right now they are a +6 goal differential which makes them the odds on favorite for that last Wild Card spot though.

Tell me if you heard this before..The Wild played good enough to win, but didn’t bury their chances and gave up a few goals due to mental mistakes…

ovey…

Fenton missed his chance at making a change before the extended holiday break, how long does he let this skid go before making some kind of change?

Well….. pretty much what I said at the beginning of the season. The Wild would be LUCKY to make the playoffs and would exit quickly even if they made it.

I’m tired of the apathy. This team is going no where.

jeff_huberty wrote:

I feel a coaching change coming ON?

Now why would they fire Jonas Plumb mid-season?

mplspug wrote:

X2!