2013-14 Minnesota Wild Discussion
- Thread starter Puhis
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Lapa
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- Feb 21, 2010
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That, and I'm sure Granlund wants to play in the Olympics as well. It makes sense if they - including Granlund - want to make sure he recovers.
Shouldn't we all just hope this is his last concussion and not make any conclusions about his rest of career? He is not a first player on this league who have this problem, see Crosby, Semin.
I remember when Bourque had a concussion last season, Michel Therrien said he did check every morning how he is doing, so we don't really know what is going on back there.
Let just hope that is able to practice soon..
Jarick
Doing Nothing
With the combination of how late last night's game was plus how badly the Wild have been playing, that game was just dreadful to watch.
The Wild are predictable, boring, and barely hold my attention right now. It is ridiculous. I am not one to call for mass changes by firing coaches or making big trades but at this point I'm starting to think something needs to happen. Early in the season I would have fun watching no matter what. The guys played with fire and did well.
Now? Everyone seems slow. Everything is predictable. Every win is a nail-biter with me thinking the entire time the Wild have a lead "Okay here comes their goal". I am rarely satisfied watching a win because in the back of my mind I am thinking that this will be the last one for a while. Losses are almost guaranteed and I am pessimistic as **** about this entire season now. Even when they win, it's barely. Being outplayed. Being outshot. Getting lucky goals. Fantastic, we beat San Jose and Chicago, cool. But those seem more like fluke games than anything legitimately contender-building.
Something needs to be done. The on-ice product is lacking and Fletcher/Leipold need to realize that. Bringing in a coach like Laviolette or whomever probably won't change that a whole lot but at this point but **** it. Try it. Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn't.
I look at other teams and I see them do blowout wins every once in a while. Beat a team 3-0 or 4-0 or hell even 7-2 like last night's Blackhawks game. No, the Wild aren't the Blackhawks - they aren't going to utterly dominate a game and score seven goals.
But when a team like Columbus wins a 4-0 game or Dallas wins a 5-2 game or even ****ing Edmonton winning a game 8-2 I just shake my head. When was the last time the Wild scored more than 4 goals in a game? Last month, sure. There was a stretch where we beat New Jersey and Calgary by a combined 9-1. Fantastic. That was over a month ago and for whatever reason that feels like a completely different team.
Just an ugly, ugly performance by the entire team lately and I can't help but feel things are just going to get worse.
The Wild are predictable, boring, and barely hold my attention right now. It is ridiculous. I am not one to call for mass changes by firing coaches or making big trades but at this point I'm starting to think something needs to happen. Early in the season I would have fun watching no matter what. The guys played with fire and did well.
Now? Everyone seems slow. Everything is predictable. Every win is a nail-biter with me thinking the entire time the Wild have a lead "Okay here comes their goal". I am rarely satisfied watching a win because in the back of my mind I am thinking that this will be the last one for a while. Losses are almost guaranteed and I am pessimistic as **** about this entire season now. Even when they win, it's barely. Being outplayed. Being outshot. Getting lucky goals. Fantastic, we beat San Jose and Chicago, cool. But those seem more like fluke games than anything legitimately contender-building.
Something needs to be done. The on-ice product is lacking and Fletcher/Leipold need to realize that. Bringing in a coach like Laviolette or whomever probably won't change that a whole lot but at this point but **** it. Try it. Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn't.
I look at other teams and I see them do blowout wins every once in a while. Beat a team 3-0 or 4-0 or hell even 7-2 like last night's Blackhawks game. No, the Wild aren't the Blackhawks - they aren't going to utterly dominate a game and score seven goals.
But when a team like Columbus wins a 4-0 game or Dallas wins a 5-2 game or even ****ing Edmonton winning a game 8-2 I just shake my head. When was the last time the Wild scored more than 4 goals in a game? Last month, sure. There was a stretch where we beat New Jersey and Calgary by a combined 9-1. Fantastic. That was over a month ago and for whatever reason that feels like a completely different team.
Just an ugly, ugly performance by the entire team lately and I can't help but feel things are just going to get worse.
BusQuets
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- Jul 16, 2010
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What is the reason why our young stars are not producing more? Is the system or don't they have just enough skill? Nino is on pace for 37 points, Granlund for 41 points and Coyle is on pace for 31 points. They are all getting top6 TOI and pp time. What is the problem. I mean Koivu,Parise and Pominville are putting acceptable numbers in the same system or is the difference between 1st and 2nd pp time that big? Some of the other teams 20 year old are scoring better rate even though some of them aren't supposed to be as talented as our trio..
tomgilbertfan
#WhyBother
Because they're kids. Nino is progressing well, Granlund was on a roll before that concussion. Coyle I'm not sure about, he's got strength and work ethic and he's shown flashes of his offense but he hasn't really made me confident in his offensive game going forward. 37 pts in Nino's first real season in the NHL is fine.
Jarick
Doing Nothing
I think there's a few things at work.
1. Yeo doesn't give the young kids the opportunity he gives to vets, especially on the PP.
2. Without Granlund, the Wild don't have any high end playmakers in the top six, so everyone is basically grinding away and not creating chances.
3. Coyle got hurt early in the year and should have been put in the minors for a few weeks to get back up to speed rather than second line center.
4. Granlund got hurt right when he started playing well.
1. Yeo doesn't give the young kids the opportunity he gives to vets, especially on the PP.
2. Without Granlund, the Wild don't have any high end playmakers in the top six, so everyone is basically grinding away and not creating chances.
3. Coyle got hurt early in the year and should have been put in the minors for a few weeks to get back up to speed rather than second line center.
4. Granlund got hurt right when he started playing well.
BusQuets
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That's fair maybe i have just too big expectations. They make half of our top6 so if they are too young still why are we even hoping to get to playoffs or do some damage there? On side note Coyle seriously needs to work on his shot. I have seen him fumble the puck just before he needs to shoot it. It has to be more quick and better.
BagHead
Registered User
On a relatively low scoring team, a player getting 2nd line time, and 2nd power play duty should be scoring about 40-50 points in a season. Now factor in that they're all 21 years old, so they're bound to be streaky. I'd say they're doing about what I expected in these circumstances.
They could really use a veteran on that line to even them out a bit, so they're not quite so erratic with the scoring. That's one reason it was nice having Pominville down there with Nino - Granlund. A line with three 21 year olds will be streaky, Setoguchi streaky.
Ah, somebody beat me to the answer on the first one. Rebuilding is like growing up. There are going to be some awkward years through puberty. Our team's in puberty. Too young to be awesome, old enough to compete.
BusQuets
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That's true. If Wild can get the old top6 back (Parise-Koivu-Coyle and Nino-Grane-Pomin) it will help the point totals especially Coyle's.
Hall of Faber
Registered User
Well put Tyratuko! My feelings exactly. My passion for this team is almost dead. I feel like I'm obligated to watch this team to keep my personal expectation I hold any real fan of a team too. I don't care if they kill a penalty, I don't care if they lose a offensive faceoff etc. The last month I feel that I'm just watching paint dry on the TV.
Something needs to change with this team.
Something needs to change with this team.
BusQuets
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My point is exactly that is Wild low scoring team because half of our top6 isn't scoring how playoff team top6 should score? Because our first line is scoring at fine rate for a playoff team and not necessary low scoring one. Or is it the system.
BagHead
Registered User
That's sort of what I was getting at, when you asked why we're low scoring. The kids are... well, kids. They're not going to be consistent scorers for a couple years still. Maybe at the earliest next year. I would guess next year will be slightly better than this, and then '15-16 we'll start to see the kids enter their primes. Of course, by then our core players are going to be 33 years old or so, but hopefully we have some of the other kids like Phillips, Haula and Zucker knocking on the door to the NHL at that point.
Yes, I said it, Zucker is not an NHL player, yet. He will be.
Jarick
Doing Nothing
Sadly that's kind of how I've felt lately as well. Except the SJS game was fun. I hadn't had a lot of fun watching the team this year.
The last Chicago game was probably he most entertaining game this season. But yes, even I've grown weary of anything on the road. They need to finish just slightly above .500 to make the playoffs, and then you're on the road yet against a conference opponent.
nickschultzfan
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- Jan 7, 2009
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Weird. I have been the same ,and I thought it was just me because I've been busy a work. But I tune into the games and half watch them.
I think it was because (1) very boring off-season (2) with a very early start (3) some very impressive playing in the beginning of the year that fizzed into so-so results and (4) now has solidified into blah-blah play every night.
While I don't think a quality mid-season move is possible, I think the Olympic break will do this team a lot of good. Get to be able to hit the reset button a bit.
Jarick
Doing Nothing
To me it's because the players aren't that dynamic.
Parise and Koivu play that banging, grinding style and will chip in a goal two games out of three, but it's like watching a really good third line. Not really exciting.
Third line obviously isn't exciting either because Cooke and Brodziak have hands like feet. Same thing with the fourth line.
Grandlund was starting to make that second line have a little shake and bake...but now he's gone, and with Coyle in, the line just dumps and grinds along the boards.
Parise and Koivu play that banging, grinding style and will chip in a goal two games out of three, but it's like watching a really good third line. Not really exciting.
Third line obviously isn't exciting either because Cooke and Brodziak have hands like feet. Same thing with the fourth line.
Grandlund was starting to make that second line have a little shake and bake...but now he's gone, and with Coyle in, the line just dumps and grinds along the boards.
nickschultzfan
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Granlund does need to come back. And the third line does need an overhaul because it's a whole lot of nothing.
Yeah, it's crazy talk but maybe we should send over Zucker, a D prospect, and Heatley to the Island for Vanek. I think the Vanek experiment isn't working out over here like they were hoping it would. No idea if Heatley would waive for a chance to play top-6 minutes with the Islanders.
Yeah, it's crazy talk but maybe we should send over Zucker, a D prospect, and Heatley to the Island for Vanek. I think the Vanek experiment isn't working out over here like they were hoping it would. No idea if Heatley would waive for a chance to play top-6 minutes with the Islanders.
Jarick
Doing Nothing
Yeah but you'd still have Coyle making passes to him.
The more I see Coyle, the more I think he's a crash-and-bang winger and not a natural center. Granlund made that second line a threat. Coyle has made it like a slightly better version of the fourth line.
The more I see Coyle, the more I think he's a crash-and-bang winger and not a natural center. Granlund made that second line a threat. Coyle has made it like a slightly better version of the fourth line.
tomgilbertfan
#WhyBother
Jarick
Doing Nothing
Yeah, not close at all!
That's why I was so confused with the Haula demotion. Why not try him there? Yeah his FO% sucked, but so did Coyle's.
Granted, both guys seem like they are getting rushed. A good team would have these guys in the minors absolutely champing at the bit trying to get on the big club...with the Wild they always seem to be given spots and a "chance to prove themselves."
I mean, I kind of like Yeo's attitude demanding someone step up...but none of the centers have any pressure on them to perform. He loves those grinders though, let's call up Bulmer and bring in Rupp and dress Konopka every night...26th in the league in offense, and we need grinders in here?
Ugh.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
No rhyme or reason for Haula not to be here. If you're that worried about faceoffs, have one of the other three take it, win it and get off.
tomgilbertfan
#WhyBother
Agree. Coyle centering the second line makes the whole top 6 worse. Haula may not be an upgrade in the faceoff circle right now but he has shown, in his very short time here, more creativity and play-making abilities. Coyle is an extremely strong kid that can win battles on the boards and score some goals, but he just isn't a very good Center.
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