Minnesota Wild Talk

Boy, this season couldn’t start off any worse. Goaltending has been horrendous. There’s a clear disconnect between Evason and Billy G in regards to Marco Rossi’s readiness to play in the NHL. On a positive note, Kaprizov is off to a hot start. Boldy looks like a star in the making, and Addison looks like he belongs in the show.

Great 2-0 start on the road in California. Gaudreau looks like a great pickup. But wow....this Duhaime kid is a freaking stud. He's big, he's aggressive, and he skates shockingly well. I can't wait until he gets Rask's minutes with Fiala.

Should the wild rotate any youngsters from Iowa to St. Paul this season or let them play regularly in Iowa? I think that they can afford to rotate someone every 3-4 weeks.

I'm excited for this team's future, here's what I would do this offseason: (admittedly, I'm an idiot compared to Mr. Guerin who has done amazing work since taking over) Expected Salary Cap: 81.5 Wild Salaries already committed: 59.5 Cap Space: 22M First act: Buy out Victor Rask so his punishing brand of hockey to viewers is relieved. Fans rejoice in the streets. (Saves 2.67M this season with a buyout of 1.33 this year and next) Cap Space: 24.67 Second Act: Trade Matt Dumba to Florida for Pick 27 and their 3rd Round Pick (I love Dumba actually, but I think his injury last year has resulted in a player who will never quite be the same. Plus, y…

Best in the West! We need a thread to talk about these guys! I'm really, really impressed with this team. 12 good forwards every night, 6 good d-men every night, an amazing goaltender.

Our pleas and prayers to acquire a top goal scorer have been answered with this kid. He surpassed Marian Gaborik tonight for most points in a rookie season for the Wild (36 in 71 games for Gabby). As well as tied with him at 18 goals. Only took this stud 44 games to get done. Feels like an eternity ago, but Chuck Fletcher was the GM who picked him. And because of that, he gets this. https://youtu.be/UfFLKEOWhXM

Love what they did in the draft. This is how teams rebuild. He's acquired a bunch of solid centers to help guys like Fiala and Kaprasov have big development years, they have a good defense locked up long-term with an up and coming goalie. But the sneaky smart part: They added a bunch of centers who will be easy to flip at the next deadline (expiring deals) or just let walk next year. They could have substantial cap room to go get a player in 2021 and they have a crop of young guys on the way up. We still have to deal with Ryan Suter, but at least we have real direction on this team.

The race to the bottom starts now.

Doesn't look like anyone posts in here anymore, but it's worth a shot I think the trade works out pretty even for both teams. Wild got a good pick and a good prospect (and Galchenyuk can be gone after the season). Zucker will do well as a complimentary player in Pittsburgh. @OhHiTony on Twitter posted that if the picks stayed as they are right now, it would be as many top 40 picks as they've had (combined) since 2016.

I figured I would start a new forum for the upcoming season. Most Wild players have been in MN for the past two weeks going through captain practices and the Wild opened up training camp today. The first preseason game is this following Monday on September 17th. Sokolov doesn't seem to have put much work in over the summer...which is a bummer since he has so much offensive talent.

I'm not much of a hockey person, but I'm all Blackhawks when it comes to the playoffs ... Go team, go! Any other 'hawks fans out there?

Happy that Ovie finally gets to skate with the cup. Happy for Trotz too.

Is anyone (besides North, of course) not in love with this team right now?

The Wild hopefully hit rock bottom yesterday after losing 7-2 to the Jets. The excuses are running out for this team. They're fairly healthy (minus Parise) and their core has remained in tact for the last 4 years. For some reason this year is different. Once the team is trailing in a game, there's no fight in them to make the game competitive. Is it time to go full rebuild? They have 1 albatross contract (Parise) and 1 near albatross contract (Suter) on the books already. Both are still signed for the next 5 seasons. Many of their young core members over the last 4 years received contact extensions. Question is, are they really worth the price tag? What would you do…

The stuff came out yesterday about Parise's back bothering him, and he could miss the beginning of camp. Hopefully it's mostly just being cautious, and not a big deal.

Michael Russo announced via Twitter he's leaving the Star Tribune for another opportunity. He did not say in his statement whether or not he will continue being the beat writer for the Minnesota Wild. Regardless, this is a huge blow for the Star Tribune. Russo is one of the most respected beat reporters in the NHL, if not all of sports beat reporting. If he's no longer covering the Wild, he will be sorely missed.

What would you guys do, if you were Fletch? Personally, I'd make Zucker my sacrificial lamb. I love the guy, but it would be too enticing for Vegas, and we wouldn't have to worry about Nino, Granlund, or Dumba/Brodin.

I'm willing to make the rare sweep prediction for the Pens over the Sens. 4-0, penguins coast to play the preds. Thoughts? Predictions?

What do you do this off season? Who do the wild lose in the expansion draft? I don't think they can afford to lose Coyle, Zucker or Nino (Granny obviously will be protected) I would do everything I could to get Poms to waive the NTC for the draft. No way they would pick him anyways. Haula would suck to lose, but would be easier to swallow then the 4 I mentioned earlier. I would prefer it be either scandella or brodin in that order. Dumba is frustrating as ****, but he is a RH shot and has a ton of potential. Scandella would be perfect since it would clear some needed cap room as well.

Boudreau, McClellan, or Tortarella? Or someone else? I gotta go Boudreau.

First game is in the books for ESPN's best kept secret, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. And what a nap it was! Pretty embarrassing showing from team Minnesota against the minor Europeans. Lots of questions there. Why is "100%" Zach Parise playing? Where in the world is Phil Kessel? Tortorella is the coach? For real? Team Europe is very very very very old, but probably a lot more respectable than I would have assumed. Any team with Anze Kopitar is at least worth a second guess. The ESPN team felt compelled to remind us how much fun they were having. Good for them. Hopefully the other games are a lot more interesting. I'll be watching the Young Guns for sure. I like the…

Something for me and my countryman, Mr.North, to have a back and forth on for the season. Missed the season opener where it seemed everything went their way. Watched the game against the Sharks last night and they looked hopelessly lost in the first period. Finished up the third nicely though. Positives for the season. Trouba, looks like he could be a 25-28 minute per night D that plays against the other sides top line. Saw signs of that last season but he looked wiped near the end of the year. The transition from college directly to the NHL is huge but he's managing quite well. They've really improved the bottom six forwards with Perreault and Lowry. I don't think…

Don't look know but a Minnesota team actually made the playoffs! It has been a real up and down year for the Wild, many of the downs were due to injuries. With Brys having the hot hand I honestly think this team can make a deep run in the playoffs....assuming they don't get screwed and matched up with the blue is round 1.

Anyone think this could turn into a good rivalry? Two cities that have knowledgeable fan bases, close geograpically and we share a border and now a division. I'm looking forward to it and plan to add another Minneapolis (St Paul, I know) trip to take in a road game. Setoguchi now playing for Wpg adds a little extra spice as well.

Wild reached a agreement with Keith Ballard 2 years $3 million total and Cullen won't be returning according to Russo.

Going back to the roots....a little UND ish too though.

I'm enjoying re-engaging with Hockey and watching the Wild this season. I used to watch alot of Hockey growing up in North Dakota. I enjoyed the rivalry between UND and UM and also watching the North Stars. I left hockey when the North Stars left the state and briefly came back in the late 90's when they had a good run in Dallas for a few years. I haven't paid any attention to the Wild until this year, mostly because I didn't have satellite tv until a few years ago so had little access to Hockey on TV. So, my question. I've been reading some about the Wild on the Strib website which is almost exclusing Russo stuff. Are there any blogs out there for the Wild that w…

To paraphrase the late great Herb Brooks "If you lose this [series] you'll take it to your grave.......your fuc.king grave" :s-bluecap::s-bluecap:

Not seeing the dominant team I think many of us hoped for and expected. Still early enough to turn things around but the danger light is flashing. Do you think they will make the playoffs?

Another reason for me to love Minnesota, picks up 2 including the winner tonight, the guy can fly!