Zach Parise

[fatbeer]

What?

 

And again, who will this play maker be setting up?

 

 

 

 

Granlund is a top 3 prospect in the NHL. I'm fully convinced he's the real deal after watching him play in the latest international tourney. Coyle is moreso a 2nd liner. His numbers are a little inflated because of the play of another top 100 Wild talent - Zack Phillips. Either way, he tore up the Quebec Juniors!

If not Heatley and Seteguchi your looking at Granlund playing with Bouchard and Cullen, or someone that comes in through a trade. If Granlund is as good as he's supposed to be his linemates will benifit big time no matter who they are. 25 goals from Cullen and lets say a combined 30 from Bouchard and Mitchell would be a huge upgrade and seems fairly reasonable.

[Joe]

If not Heatley and Seteguchi your looking at Granlund playing with Bouchard and Cullen, or someone that comes in through a trade. If Granlund is as good as he's supposed to be his linemates will benifit big time no matter who they are. 25 goals from Cullen and lets say a combined 30 from Bouchard and Mitchell would be a huge upgrade and seems fairly reasonable.

Wow.... Matt Cullen scoring 25 goals? That sounds reasonable considering the amazing Miko Koivu propelled dany Heatley to 24 and Devin Setoguchi to 19. Without looking it up, I'm sure Cullen has hit the 25 goal mark maybe once or twice in his career.

 

The goals have to come, will come from, Heatley an Setoguchi. The question is, will they come in pre 2010 like bunches? If one goes 25+ and the other goes 30+, that should go a long way. If not, theyre in the same situation as last year - and what seems to be every year watching the Wild.

[DJSim22]

Soooo, even with Crosby out for all but what? 20 games this year, they were 2nd best in the East? Oh dang.... Shucks. 100+ points.

 

As long as Pittsburgh has Malkin and Crosby, they will always be in the chase for the cup. When healthy, they are the two best players in the NHL (you can argue Al Ovechkin in there too). And what makes you think that Crosby isn't healthy? The Pens just gave him a new ridiculous contract. Do you know something they don't? Again, they are 24 and 25 too. They haven't even hit their prime. Throw Neal into that mix..... Wow. Is the Pen's defense really that bad? Or just average? Kris Letang, Brooks Orpik, and Paul Martin would be the best d-man on the Wild. Maybe even Niskanen???

 

The entire core is signed for two more years anyways.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=PIT

 

If the Wild spend 10+ million on someone like Suter and Parise, especially each, they are putting themselves in a worse salary cap situation than Pittsburgh down the line with FAR inferior players. You're not going to win championships when the best player on your team is Miko Koivu.

Again, its a 10+ year contract NOT ONE OR TWO YEARS! If Pittsburg gets Parise, good luck finding a way to sign Malkin next year. If they get Parise, they will likely trade Martin this year. Minnesota has a much more talented farm system, which be the guys who will be on the team when they are in a position to make a run.

 

Minnesota will get 6 million off the books next year with Backstrom alone. Cullen will be soon to follow with another 3.5 million. By the time the Wild make a major run, Hetley's 8 million might be off the books as well.

 

I don't even think Parise is the right fit for the Wild, but when someone talks as if they know hockey so well only to comes across as a dolt, I feel the need to laugh. Congrats if your Pens get Parise, I would rather have Malkin.

[fatbeer]

According to Brian Lawton Ryan Suter will sign with the Wild which means about 95% chance of Parise as well

[fatbeer]

We got em both!!!!!

[FrodaddyG]

Quite the free agent coup for the Wild. Exciting day for the team and the fans.

[IdahoPilgrim]

I wonder if there is anybody in the Twins front office watching and taking notes. This is how you excite a fanbase.

[fatbeer]

Dave St Peter is counting down the days until the winter classic January 1 2014

[IdahoPilgrim]

My guess - the Wild just sold out their building for the season.

[Joe]

Again, its a 10+ year contract NOT ONE OR TWO YEARS! If Pittsburg gets Parise, good luck finding a way to sign Malkin next year. If they get Parise, they will likely trade Martin this year. Minnesota has a much more talented farm system, which be the guys who will be on the team when they are in a position to make a run.

 

Minnesota will get 6 million off the books next year with Backstrom alone. Cullen will be soon to follow with another 3.5 million. By the time the Wild make a major run, Hetley's 8 million might be off the books as well.

 

I don't even think Parise is the right fit for the Wild, but when someone talks as if they know hockey so well only to comes across as a dolt, I feel the need to laugh. Congrats if your Pens get Parise, I would rather have Malkin.

 

You think any of the Wild's prospects have a chance to be a Neal, Malkin, or Crosby? They do have an impressive crop of prospects, but they aren't NHL superstars. All three of those guys are. In the end, they didn't get Parise, so the point is moot. But again, the Penguins are going to be on top in the East as long as they have Malkin and Crosby. And I'd be willing to bet that they will make a run at the cup every year of Crosby's new contract. Time will tell. -I'm not a Penguins fan, and who the **** calls someone a dolt?

 

 

 

13 years 98 million for each player........ Wow. Anyone know how much the Wild get if they host a Winter Classic? Seems to be one of the bigger goals for Leipold.

[Gernzy]

From what it sounds like we didn't even offer the most money. The biggest draws where the two of them playing together, and playing in Minnesota.

How often is playing in Minnesota a plus? Lets hope the Twins and others can get this type of street cred.

[fatbeer]

They had bigger offers out for them as individuals but they took less to play together.

[striker_86]

Fantastic Day for Wild Fans!

[TheLeviathan]

So what does it shape-up like at this point? Along these lines I think:

 

Granlund-Koivu-Parise

Heatley-Cullen-Setoguchi

Bouchard-Brodziak-Clutterbuck

Zucker-Powe-Mitchell

 

Suter-Gilbert

Scandella-Spurgeon

Stoner-Falk

 

Not bad - when Croyle, Phillips, and Brodin especially get slotted in the near future this team has serious upside. Especially if they can go out and land a true number 2 center with the money coming off the books with Cullen and Bouchard.

[fatbeer]

Granlund is a pure center, next to no chance Zucker makes the team out of camp he's behind at least Coyle among prospects plus a guy like Velliux or Dowell are going to have a good chance of making the roster because the last 2 guys will be healthy scratches half the time.

[TheLeviathan]

Granlund may be a center long-term, but I'm expecting the Wild to pair him with Koivu most of this year.

[Joe]

Granlund may be a center long-term, but I'm expecting the Wild to pair him with Koivu most of this year.

.

 

I wouldn't get your hopes up with that! Koivu is going to center Heatley and Parise/Setoguchi combo -more than likely just Parise. Like Fatbeer said, Granlund is a center. He'll get Setoguchi and Cullen/PMB.

[TheLeviathan]

.

 

I wouldn't get your hopes up with that! Koivu is going to center Heatley and Parise/Setoguchi combo -more than likely just Parise. Like Fatbeer said, Granlund is a center. He'll get Setoguchi and Cullen/PMB.

I thought I heard Granlund's face-off skills were weak? Some people were suggesting he'd play wing due to that. Can't seem to find where I read that though.

[fatbeer]

If he can win 40% of face-offs nobody's going to worry to much about it. He'll probably be on the 1st PP along with Parise and Koivu and probably won't be on the PK, that eliminates most big face-offs.

[fatbeer]

Plus if your looking at euro face-off stats don't be so sure they calculate it the same as we do. Wouldn't be suprised if the don't award a face-off win if the puck gets kicked around a little.

[TheLeviathan]

Plus if your looking at euro face-off stats don't be so sure they calculate it the same as we do. Wouldn't be suprised if the don't award a face-off win if the puck gets kicked around a little.

I'm just passing along something I remember hearing when he signed a few months back. A couple hockey guys had said he may need to start at wing while he works on face-offs.

[Jason]

I thought I heard Granlund's face-off skills were weak? Some people were suggesting he'd play wing due to that. Can't seem to find where I read that though.

Face-off rules are different in Europe, I'm pretty sure you can't use your skates or glove to win a faceoff. The NHL also is making a faceoff rule change for next year, which is good.

 

Rule 76.4: Both players facing-off are prohibited from batting the puck with their hand in an attempt to win the face-off. Any attempt by either center to win the face-off by batting the puck with their hand shall result in a minor penalty. This penalty shall be announced as a minor penalty for delay of game. Once the face-off is deemed complete, and the winner of the face-off is clear, hand passes shall be enforced as per Rule 79.

[Joe]

http://fans.wild.nhl.com/community/topic/23634-granlund-signs-with-the-wild-but-what-can-we-really-expect-out-of-him/

 

There you go Leviathan. Probably everything you wanted to know about Granlund and more - from a Rube's perspective anyways.

[TheLeviathan]

26 pages in that thread Joe...was there something in particular?

[DJSim22]

So what does it shape-up like at this point? Along these lines I think:

 

Granlund-Koivu-Parise

Heatley-Cullen-Setoguchi

Bouchard-Brodziak-Clutterbuck

Zucker-Powe-Mitchell

 

Suter-Gilbert

Scandella-Spurgeon

Stoner-Falk

 

Not bad - when Croyle, Phillips, and Brodin especially get slotted in the near future this team has serious upside. Especially if they can go out and land a true number 2 center with the money coming off the books with Cullen and Bouchard.

I agree with your comments about upside and our dmen pairings. I think your lines are off though.

 

Heatley-Koivu-Parise

Cullen/Bouchard-Grandlund-Setoguchi

Cullen/Buchard-Brodziak-Clutterbuck

Veilleux-Powe-Mitchell

 

I wouldn't be shocked to see Mitchell push for 3rd line time as well. When we need some fighting or size Kassian or Konopka.

[batista4goldglove]

Konopka wins almost 60% of his faceoffs and I believe the Wild signed him to skate a regular shift so I would think he will be centering the 4th line. Veilleux has a two way contract so he will probably be in Houston or the press box waiting for an injury.

[Joe]

26 pages in that thread Joe...was there something in particular?

 

Nope. Kinda like the 8 page thread on BJ Hermsen when he got drafted - all Verve's starting.

[TheLeviathan]

Nope. Kinda like the 8 page thread on BJ Hermsen when he got drafted - all Verve's starting.

Nice. I read over a chunk of it. I'm encouraged by the kid. It would help this team a lot if he could play center.

 

Though I'm a big fan of this team going after Getzlaf in 2013 if he hits the market. Or trade and resign him with the money we're shedding.

[fatbeer]

10% chance the season starts on time. Good thing we have college hockey. LETS GO HUSKIES!!!