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

[tomgilbertfan]

my point is will there be a roster spot on the wild 4 him next year? will we keep heatr? will we sign vanek? if not will zucker be satisfied stuck in the minors? im guessin no.

Doesn't matter if zucker is satisfied or not, if he doesn't earn a spot he doesn't get one. If he's the type of player to throw a fit over not being in the NHL because of his own play then I don't want him. I mean he's not that type of player, but if he was.

 

[OpRedDawn*]

For one we don't even know the type of hit it was this time. Phrasing it as zucker just being a crazy man out there might not be right either. Remember when Coyle got tossed for his hit? Ended up being nothin

 

[Hall of Faber]

Maybe he isn't the monster we think he is.

#IAWild players @SteveKampfer47 and @Jason_Zucker16 visited Clay Elementary today to talk about Wild About Reading! vine.co/v/hTinJOT7xMx

#IAWild

 

[Minnesota]

He probably headshotted some kids while he was there.

 

[Fel 96]

Fire Zucker.

 

[thestonedkoala]

He probably headshotted some kids while he was there.

Why am I reminded of the skit Peyton Manning did on SNL with the Children when you mention this?

 

[Avder]

Fire Zucker.

Trade Yeo, eat Nordy, ditch the X, move the team to Anchorage.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Trade Yeo, eat Nordy, ditch the X, move the team to Anchorage.

Psssh Anchorage...Nome!

 

[Puhis]

eat Nordy

Deep fried, grilled or boiled?

 

[BigT2002]

Doesn't matter if zucker is satisfied or not, if he doesn't earn a spot he doesn't get one. If he's the type of player to throw a fit over not being in the NHL because of his own play then I don't want him. I mean he's not that type of player, but if he was.

Exactly. This sounds like Pouliot all over again. Jason has to realize that the fans, and probably a lot of the players, are wanting him on this squad and sooner rather than later.

BUT if we as a fanbase are pushing hard for Leipold to go for TV in the offseason, then where is Zucker going to fit on this team? Depth is always a good thing, but these kids don't stay RFA forever. And he is RFA next year as well.

 

[Jongdo]

Exactly. This sounds like Pouliot all over again. Jason has to realize that the fans, and probably a lot of the players, are wanting him on this squad and sooner rather than later.

BUT if we as a fanbase are pushing hard for Leipold to go for TV in the offseason, then where is Zucker going to fit on this team? Depth is always a good thing, but these kids don't stay RFA forever. And he is RFA next year as well.

Where did i read, that some of the players in the locker room didn't like the way Zucker played and didn't like the lack of effort?

 

[Gaps]

Exactly. This sounds like Pouliot all over again. Jason has to realize that the fans, and probably a lot of the players, are wanting him on this squad and sooner rather than later.

BUT if we as a fanbase are pushing hard for Leipold to go for TV in the offseason, then where is Zucker going to fit on this team? Depth is always a good thing, but these kids don't stay RFA forever. And he is RFA next year as well.

That is exactly the point. It is not a matter of necessarily wanting to get rid of Zucker or anyone else in specific, but a matter of a lack of space in the lineup and us having a surplus of young forwards and a need for an upgrade in the backend. I am not advocating for going after Vanek next summer at all, but everything we have heard so far points to that happening.

 

[vitogor]

I have full confidence that Zucker will eventually figure it all out, he seems like a smart kid.

There's this one American winger with a big shot, 55th overall pick. Didn't even get a sniff of the NHL until he was 23 years old. Fast forward 8 years, and he's a former NHL captain who has just scored his 200th career goal. I forgot his name, but he has a huge population

Zucker will be fine. If last years playoffs are any indication, he has what it takes to be a big game player. We just have to have some patience with him.

 

[BigT2002]

Where did i read, that some of the players in the locker room didn't like the way Zucker played and didn't like the lack of effort?

No idea, but it wouldn't surprise me since he seems to have a hardon for being Alpha Male. Kid has excelled at all his levels and pretty much expected to come up and be an immediate impacter on the team. Didn't make it and now throwing a hissyfit IMO.

That is exactly the point. It is not a matter of necessarily wanting to get rid of Zucker or anyone else in specific, but a matter of a lack of space in the lineup and us having a surplus of young forwards and a need for an upgrade in the backend. I am not advocating for going after Vanek next summer at all, but everything we have heard so far points to that happening.

I was one of the big advocates about TV last offseason and trying to get him. The more and more I look at this lineup, I really do not see a need for it as opposed to getting the blue line solidified. But if we are going for him, then whatever. I'll support it. But yes, it means players like Zucker are not going to have a real solid role IMO. Depending on how the centermen go, he is either on the Top line with Zach or with Brodziak. Fontaine playing out of his mind right now isn't helping Jason at all either.

I have full confidence that Zucker will eventually figure it all out, he seems like a smart kid.

There's this one American winger with a big shot, 55th overall pick. Didn't even get a sniff of the NHL until he was 23 years old. Fast forward 8 years, and he's a former NHL captain who has just scored his 200th career goal. I forgot his name, but he has a huge population

Zucker will be fine. If last years playoffs are any indication, he has what it takes to be a big game player. We just have to have some patience with him.

The issue is where does he fit with the team? Where do you see him on this team? Right now, we are losing the 4th line next offseason (Rupp-Konopka-Heater) and that is about it. I generally want to know everyone's thoughts on that. Everyone is on this Vanek coming here bandwagon now, so where do you have room for a $700K/yr scorer that cannot be solid in his own side of the net? You cannot put him on the 4th line, and Fontaine is playing too great to not be given another contract.

Jason played 20 games last year, scored 4 goals. Justin has played 18 and scored 6. Quite a few with 3rd line players where Jason was with Cullen and Seto almost entirely last year. I know Zucker can turn it around and this is probably just a bump in his career, but right now he isn't even remotely close to making this team next year IF Justin continues this trend and 0% chance if Vanek is signed. And if that is the case, you trade him while you can instead of letting him walk in a couple years

 

[Haite]

Tbh, I don't think we're reading enough into it. What we really should be worrying about is Zucker bolting to Russia.

 

[BigT2002]

Tbh, I don't think we're reading enough into it. What we really should be worrying about is Zucker bolting to Russia.

Actually a pretty fair discussion in there as well.

I'm all for depth at the scoring position in the Top 6, but if this is a sign of what his attitude has become then do you think GMCF or Yeo will want him up with the team?

 

[DANOZ28]

Tbh, I don't think we're reading enough into it. What we really should be worrying about is Zucker bolting to Russia.

reminder , zucker is an rfa after this year. if wild mgmt tells him no spot for you, why should he stay? so why not trade him while he still has value? dont you all see this is our version of nino? man i just dont understand some posters.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Tbh, I don't think we're reading enough into it. What we really should be worrying about is Zucker bolting to Russia.

This is the stupidest thing I've ever read.


He'll clearly bolt to Germany.

 

[Minnesota]

He's going home to Vegas where he'll dominate the rollerhockey scene for years to come.

 

[Avder]

That's insane. He'll be going to England to learn how to play polo.

 

[DANOZ28]

That's insane. He'll be going to England to learn how to play polo.

hey maybe he'll go to oxford & get the blues rowing.

 

[nickschultzfan]

I love sports fan overreactions. Zucker is this year's Scandella.

The truth is that Zucker was always slotted for a 20/20 3rd line winger who could add some danger to a normally bland checking line.

His problem isn't that he's not scoring. It's that he's not defensively reliable. Once he figures that out, he'll be in the NHL.

 

[DANOZ28]

I love sports fan overreactions. Zucker is this year's Scandella.

The truth is that Zucker was always slotted for a 20/20 3rd line winger who could add some danger to a normally bland checking line.

His problem isn't that he's not scoring. It's that he's not defensively reliable. Once he figures that out, he'll be in the NHL.

always slotted? you know this how? is it his destiny? hmmmm why is there no chance hes a top 6 player?

 

[OpRedDawn*]

Lol at all the overreactions (the ones who are actually serious)

 

[nickschultzfan]

always slotted? you know this how? is it his destiny? hmmmm why is there no chance hes a top 6 player?

If you want to parse language, debate definitions, and hash out potential probablities, we can.

But, in sum, Zucker has always had a greater chance as projecting out as a 3rd liner with offense than a top-6 forward. That doesn't mean he won't be a top-6 forward, but the odds aren't in that favor.