Minnesota Wild

[TheLeviathan]

Are the Wild going to even bother making a run at Vanek this offseason now? What seemed like a shoe in, really doesn't seem like it anymore.

 

I wouldn't, put that money into another defenseman. You're right, I totally forgot about Nino who is a player I'm already becoming a huge fan of.

 

This team has a ton of exciting young talent.

[TheLeviathan]

Also, I think I officially have a hockey crush on Haula. My god that kid plays a fun style.

[Joe]

I wouldn't, put that money into another defenseman. You're right, I totally forgot about Nino who is a player I'm already becoming a huge fan of.

 

This team has a ton of exciting young talent.

 

They need another scorer if they're going to make the jump into an elite team though IMO. The young guys have made enormous strides since the Olympic break, but they really haven't shown that they can score. I dunno. I'd feel better with a guy like Ryan Callahan than Vanek. Vanek just worries me because of a possible bidding war and the length of contract he'll likely get. Still relatively young though.

 

Think they need a defenseman with dumba as a prospect? I don't really think so.

 

They're definitely going to have huge money to spend!

[TheLeviathan]

They need another scorer if they're going to make the jump into an elite team though IMO. The young guys have made enormous strides since the Olympic break, but they really haven't shown that they can score. I dunno. I'd feel better with a guy like Ryan Callahan than Vanek. Vanek just worries me because of a possible bidding war and the length of contract he'll likely get. Still relatively young though.

 

Think they need a defenseman with dumba as a prospect? I don't really think so.

 

They're definitely going to have huge money to spend!

 

Callahan really isn't a scorer though either. You're right that they need more finishers, but 8 of the top 9 forwards look pretty locked in to me:

 

C - Granlund, Haula, Koivu

Wings - Parise, Pominville, Coyle, Nino, Cooke

 

So there is probably room for a winger. I'd like to see them add another rugged defenseman that would allow them to use Spurgeon more selectively.

 

Either way the FA class doesn't look stupendous. I'm guessing a trade is the way they go.

[DaveW]

I would stay away from Callahan, he is going to break down sooner rather than later, if you could get him for 3 years or so, yeah go for it, but the Rangers or some other team will be dumb enough to give him 6+ years.

 

Vanek sounds intriguing, but I don't know if handing out a huge contract is the best thing to do. You could always bring Gaborik back, but not sure if that makes sense. Moulson could be interesting to keep around, he has laid a turd in the playoffs but apparently he was playing through injury, maybe you bring him back as a scorer and give him far less years/money then Vanek.

 

Defense should be fine, I really think they are solid from top to bottom there. Goalie is going to be a big concern moving forward, at this point there is nothing but question marks:

Harding- Great goalie, zero reliability health wise.

Backstrom- Broken down? Good goalie when healthy.

Keumper- Inconsistent- Has the size though, but also...health!

Brzgalov- I dunno.

 

They have some depth and could always try to make some trades as well, Phil Kessel would look nice in a Wild uniform, and the Laffs may be dumb enough to trade him away without robbing us too much of our youth.

 

Either way, the Wild, no matter what happens the rest of this series look primed to make a really nice run in the coming years.

[TheLeviathan]

Moulson (and Vanek for that matter) don't skate well enough to fit this team. Gaborik may actually fit for that but he'd be in the dog house for his defense in no time.

[TheLeviathan]

Rumors are Phaneuf hits the block this offseason. He's a Cooke-type punk but a damn skilled one.

[twinsnorth49]

Rumors are Phaneuf hits the block this offseason. He's a Cooke-type punk but a damn skilled one.

 

Big cap hit for a second pairing defenseman. As long as you don't use him like Toronto does he could be a good addition, shouldn't play the minutes he does in Toronto and not against the top line. Has to be paired with a guy who actually plays defense with some intelligence, if so his offensive skills are a plus, although he's not nearly as good a skater as people seem to think he is. 7/49 is a big price for Phaneuf IMO.

[DaveW]

Rumors are Phaneuf hits the block this offseason. He's a Cooke-type punk but a damn skilled one.

 

No way, costs way to much money.

[TheLeviathan]

No way, costs way to much money.

 

To be frank, you've gotta get over that. Ryan Miller is going to make a boatload and be overpaid. The key is not to focus on the money but on the skill fit. Maybe Phaneuf isn't that, but I can tell you that of the 10-12M the Wild have to play with they WILL overpay someone. And with this FA group that isn't going to be pretty.

[DaveW]

I don't even think Paneuf is a very good player, this team is pretty solid on defense with all the young talent etc. What they lack now is a scorer IMHO

[twinsnorth49]

Get former UMD grad Matt Niskanen as well as Jonas Hiller, take your chances up front. Vanek would be nice but you need better movement from the back end.

[TheLeviathan]

I don't even think Paneuf is a very good player, this team is pretty solid on defense with all the young talent etc. What they lack now is a scorer IMHO

 

This team isn't that solid on defense. Is Dumba possibly an answer to that? Sure, he might be. But right now Stoner-Prosser is not a particularly good third pair. I'd like to see the team add a physical defenseman to the mix and let Dumba get a slot over one of those two. Then Stoner moves into the role of being a swing player for injuries.

[twinsnorth49]

Phaneuf is not that guy.

[TheLeviathan]

Phaneuf is not that guy.

 

Maybe not, but the pickings look to be slim this offseason.

[twinsnorth49]

Maybe not, but the pickings look to be slim this offseason.

 

 

True, lot of old guys who would be better deadline pickups if you needed a specialist.

[twinsnorth49]

Good battle by the Wild, crappy bounce, they deserved a better fate. Lack of finish and a dormant PP cost them in the end, Crawford was pretty steady.

 

Not looking forward to being in the same division as this team in the next few years.

[Joe]

So, I'm thinking they're going to be trading for a forward - Bob Ryan?, and signing a defenseman - Matt Niskanen.

 

I don't think Vanek is the guy, unless they could get him for 3 or so years.

[DaveW]

BRUTAL way to lose last night. However, gotta be pumped moving forward, we took the champs to the brink and this series could have very easily went the other way.

 

I'd still prefer to trade for Kessel. Vanek and Moulson both have their worts, but if it came down to it maybe Moulson would be a better value as we wouldn't have to give him too many years. We already have Koivu-Suter-Parise-Pominville under big contracts, need to have some flexibility moving forward to lock up key guys like Granlund etc

 

Also, I wonder if it would be worth shopping Koivu (who I still think is very great) however if you can get a scorer and another blue liner for him I think you have to consider it. Especially since it looks like Granlund could easily be a number 1 center, and Coyle/Haula can be your 2/3.

[TheLeviathan]

Also, I wonder if it would be worth shopping Koivu (who I still think is very great) however if you can get a scorer and another blue liner for him I think you have to consider it. Especially since it looks like Granlund could easily be a number 1 center, and Coyle/Haula can be your 2/3.

 

Here's a crazy idea:

 

Koivu, Zucker, and a pick to Vancouver for Kesler?

 

Right handed shot, good defender, better skater, better scorer. He'd make a good fit and there would no longer be a pressure to treat anyone other than Granlund as the top centerman. (Like, say, putting Koivu on the powerplay....constantly....*puke*)

 

Also, on Kessel - not a good skater. I think I'd rather them look at a guy like Cammalleri who has some position flexibility.

[twinsnorth49]

Here's a crazy idea:

 

Koivu, Zucker, and a pick to Vancouver for Kesler?

 

Right handed shot, good defender, better skater, better scorer. He'd make a good fit and there would no longer be a pressure to treat anyone other than Granlund as the top centerman. (Like, say, putting Koivu on the powerplay....constantly....*puke*)

 

Also, on Kessel - not a good skater. I think I'd rather them look at a guy like Cammalleri who has some position flexibility.

 

Kessel not a good skater...................wha?

 

Cammalleri is harder but Kessel is much more dangerous and 5 years younger, he still hasn't reached his ceiling and I'm not even that much of a fan.

 

Vancouver isn't parting with Kesler for that, if they decide to move him it will be for more youth than Koivu.

[TheLeviathan]

Kessel not a good skater...................wha?

 

Sorry, stuck with Vanek on the brain.

 

Cammalleri is harder but Kessel is much more dangerous and 5 years younger, he still hasn't reached his ceiling and I'm not even that much of a fan.

 

Vancouver isn't parting with Kesler for that, if they decide to move him it will be for more youth than Koivu.

 

I think it's worth a shot with Kesler, there are a lot of issues in Vancouver and they need a total rebuild. I think he's a guy you can go out and target as an ideal replacement of Koivu. And since I think the odds of landing Kessel are somewhere between slim and none....I'd rather target someone who might be more obtainable.

[Joe]

Sorry, stuck with Vanek on the brain.

 

Cripes, I was going to say..... Kessel may be the best skater in the NHL.

 

Nobody is going to take Miko's contract unless we give it away for nothing. I mean, the guy is decent at 2-4 million. He's good defensively and can win a draw, but goddamn. The guy makes more top 5 center money, and probably isn't even the best center on his team. The contract is dreadful.

[twinsnorth49]

Sorry, stuck with Vanek on the brain.

 

 

 

I think it's worth a shot with Kesler, there are a lot of issues in Vancouver and they need a total rebuild. I think he's a guy you can go out and target as an ideal replacement of Koivu. And since I think the odds of landing Kessel are somewhere between slim and none....I'd rather target someone who might be more obtainable.

 

Getting Kesler is worth a shot for any team, who wouldn't want a 29 year old top 3 two way forward? Problem is, it's a waste of time Kesler isn't coming to St. Paul. A. he doesn't want to play there and B. they don't have the goods to offer. I'm guessing he ends up in Pittsburgh, they should have done more to get him at the deadline and now after another early playoff exit they are going to shake things up, Letang in a package deal.

 

Vanek would be a great fit for this team, I don't get the skating issue, he fits in fine with Montreal and they are arguably a better skating team than the Wild. He drives the net and has a knack of finding space, he's good anywhere. The biggest issue is what he's looking for, he's 30 and will be looking for a 6 or 7 year deal, I'm not sure the Wild want to go that route unless they feel they are in a position to go deep in the next 2-3 years, which is going to be his highest production window.

 

Hiller or Halek,and Niskanen would help a lot, although I think Fletcher will ride with Harding and Kuemper. The Cammalleri idea is a good one, can't see it happening though, Michalek or Callahan would be upgrades IMO, or.................................you can have Setogouchi back .

[TheLeviathan]

A. he doesn't want to play there and B. they don't have the goods to offer. I'm guessing he ends up in Pittsburgh, they should have done more to get him at the deadline and now after another early playoff exit they are going to shake things up, Letang in a package deal.

 

Letang and Koivu aren't that much different as trade pieces. They're both players with one aspect of their game sorely behind the others. The Wild definitely have ammunition to make moves, that isn't the problem. They also have the cap space to get creative with those moves. Kesler should be a target for them.

 

Vanek would be a great fit for this team, I don't get the skating issue, he fits in fine with Montreal

 

He's been demoted to the second line and there have been issues with him there as well. The guy is inconsistent and not known for being fleet of foot. Among many other issues with him I just don't like the fit.

[twinsnorth49]

Letang and Koivu aren't that much different as trade pieces. They're both players with one aspect of their game sorely behind the others.

 

Not quite, one is four years younger and a game changer, that puts him in a different category. I can't think of one team that would choose Koivu over what Letang brings to the table offensively, he's a poor man's Drew Doughty but that's pretty good.

 

 

Hey don't get me wrong Kesler is a great idea just not going to happen, at least not without two strong prospects and a high draft pick, it's not the right time for the Wild to start doing that IMO.

 

I don't know the many issues with Vanek, it's well documented he's not the greatest two way player around, other than that he is who he is, a guy who scores goals, that's a valuable commodity. Not saying he's the right fit but the Wild PP likely would have been much more effective with a guy like that around.

[TheLeviathan]

Not quite, one is four years younger and a game changer, that puts him in a different category. I can't think of one team that would choose Koivu over what Letang brings to the table offensively, he's a poor man's Drew Doughty but that's pretty good.

 

Doughty? The only thing they they have in common is their position. And Letang is a d-man in name only. He's a total liability.

 

Hey don't get me wrong Kesler is a great idea just not going to happen, at least not without two strong prospects and a high draft pick, it's not the right time for the Wild to start doing that IMO.

 

Going rate these days ain't what it used to be.

[twinsnorth49]

Doughty? The only thing they they have in common is their position. And Letang is a d-man in name only. He's a total liability.

 

Doughty is a great player but he's inconsistent as hell. Norris trophy candidate defensemen who play 25+ minutes a night against top 6 forwards and run the PP are never liabilities.

[TheLeviathan]

Doughty is a great player but he's inconsistent as hell. Norris trophy candidate defensemen who play 25+ minutes a night against top 6 forwards and run the PP are never liabilities.

 

One who has played a grand total 110ish games in the last three years and has become a minus player who most people recognize as a defensive liability.

[twinsnorth49]

One who has played a grand total 110ish games in the last three years and has become a minus player who most people recognize as a defensive liability.

 

Yeah, strokes and concussions will do that to you (see Crosby Sid, for the latter). The guy has still put up the 2nd highest point total amongst defensemen in the last 3-4 years, and despite logging huge pp minutes is still amongst the league leaders in even strength goals.

 

Labeling Letang any as a liability after this season is a mistake, he's way too young and talented, you don't write off guys a year removed from being a Norris trophy finalist, especially considering what he went through. I think most people recognize that, at least they should.

 

Geez, I don't even like Pittsburgh.