2013/2014 Minnesota Wild News and Notes - New Division and New Expectations

[TaLoN]

Coyle's strengths are better utilized on the wing.

 

[MuckOG]

Honestly, I think that's the best way to go. I didn't mind Coyle at center but with Granlund showing he's ready to take that spot, Brodziak, and Koivu, and Konopka, I think Coyle is best suited as a winger right now. Maybe if one of our centers gets injured, we can put him back there but until then, I think those are the best lines possible. I wanna see more of that Nino, Granlund, Pommers line, and though Koivu isn't the best possible 1st line center, I'd rather have him there then a 3rd line center with grinder wingers.

Parise - Koivu - Coyle
Nino - Granlund - Pommers

I wouldn't mind seeing the following for a shift or three:

Parise - Granlund - Pominville
Nino - Koivu - Coyle

 

[Jongdo]

Blog post by: Rachel Blount

No further news on defenseman Matt Dumba, whose three-year contract kicks in when he plays his next game for the Wild. While Yeo acknowledged he doesn't want Dumba on the shelf too long, he feels this is the best place for Dumba's development right now (as opposed to returning him to Red Deer of the WHL).

So it feels like it's clear..

 

[Northland Wild Man]

Dumba has a way to go yet, but he belongs up here. We've seen his growing pains this season already, but he has visible potential.

 

[rynryn]

So it feels like it's clear..

i think he stays, always have, but this is how Yeo feels. Fletcher might like the idea of keeping him an extra year instead vs. any delay in development.

 

[J22*]

i think he stays, always have, but this is how Yeo feels. Fletcher might like the idea of keeping him an extra year instead vs. any delay in development.

And 41 games is the number if that's what he's worried about. The 9 games for the ELC has never been a concern for Fletcher, it might even be beneficial for the contract to start early for a guy like Dumba.

 

[tyratoku]

So in Russo's blog he mentioned what he thinks it would take to nab Vanek if he gets to free agency next summer. Seems a bit low, no?

We’ve even thrown out the price tag of what it would likely cost the Wild to sign Vanek — roughly six years, $40 million. The Wild would have that room next summer thanks to Dany Heatley’s $7.5 million conveniently coming off the books.

 

[MuckOG]

So in Russo's blog he mentioned what he thinks it would take to nab Vanek if he gets to free agency next summer. Seems a bit low, no?

That number is low if Vanek is only looking to sign with the highest bidder.

 

[TaLoN]

So in Russo's blog he mentioned what he thinks it would take to nab Vanek if he gets to free agency next summer. Seems a bit low, no?

I think I'd take Vanek at 6yrs for $40m.

 

[Vashanesh]

I'd do that cap hit if it was 4 years. I just don't want anyone else over 30 signed to long term deals...

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

So in Russo's blog he mentioned what he thinks it would take to nab Vanek if he gets to free agency next summer. Seems a bit low, no?

A couple of ifs:

1) If the cap really is ~ $70m next summer, and 2) if they feel like Brodin's next contract can be done at a reasonable term (6-8 years, $5-$5.5m per), I'd be open to those terms for Vanek. A couple of other smaller things would also have to happen regarding Nino/Granlund/Coyle, but I'm not too worried about them.

 

[W75]

I'd do that cap hit if it was 4 years. I just don't want anyone else over 30 signed to long term deals...

This. 4 years sounds reasonable, but every year on top of that is risky. I don't want to be in a situation where we have to deal with four legless heatleys in the lineup.

 

[Billy Mays Here*]

Paging Mikko Koivu. . . paging Mikko Koivu. Hello? Anyone there? There's some 21 year old punk outplaying you by a mile right now.

 

[rynryn]

yes, lets throw granlund the hardest minutes and see what happens. that sounds like a great idea.

 

[Billy Mays Here*]

yes, lets throw granlund the hardest minutes and see what happens. that sounds like a great idea.

Well, you're right, Koivu is the better player to be shutting down opposing team's top lines, but that doesn't excuse him from his need to generate some offense too.

 

[Sharppi]

As long as we are winning games I really don't care if Koivu produces or not.

 

[MNjens]

Anybody know how Zucker has been playing in Iowa lately? I know he's potted a few goals but the big thing with him is how he plays in his own zone.

If Coyle is out for a significant amount of time again I think Zucker could spark that first line with his speed.

 

[Jongdo]

I would like to know what's going on with Coyle. He get hurt on friday and he did practise on saturday but couldn't play today. I don't think it's nothing serious..

 

[thestonedkoala]

As long as we are winning games I really don't care if Koivu produces or not.

There is a concern because if the second line hits a slump...as well if we could pout pressure on them from the first line, we wouldn't have uneven games.

 

[TaLoN]

I would like to know what's going on with Coyle. He get hurt on friday and he did practise on saturday but couldn't play today. I don't think it's nothing serious..

The practice saturday was optional. 4 players missed it, Coyle was one of those 4. He was held out for "precautionary" reasons due to his aggravating his knee.

 

[Dee Oh Cee]

Actually, the morning skate on Sunday was optional and that's what Coyle missed. Coyle did practice with the team on Saturday.

 

[TaLoN]

Actually, the morning skate on Sunday was optional and that's what Coyle missed. Coyle did practice with the team on Saturday.

Ahh, I stand corrected...good call.

 

[rynryn]

Well, you're right, Koivu is the better player to be shutting down opposing team's top lines, but that doesn't excuse him from his need to generate some offense too.

of course not, but lets keep it mind that (like last year with cullen+ whoever he clicked with at the time) it's probably a lot to do with the "second" line's success that the first line is keeping people occupied. It does kind of make you curious though...if yeo started throwing Granlund's line out there against the top lines would Koivu/Parise score more?

 

[Nsjohnson]

The way I see it, we can win seven or so games by the end of November.

All of these games are before the end of the month, actually. We play PHO, STL, and then COL, twice.

I don't except to win all those games, maybe half. And then December is a tough month. Let's win these games we should in the next two weeks.

 

[Jarick]

Koivu's not going against top lines though, Brodziak's line is. Koivu might be going against top defenders, but not the top lines.