2014-2015 General Wild Discussion Thread IV
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This. Dubnyk has been awesome. But so was Kuemper last season and early this season. Don't get me wrong, I'm more than ready to admit that I was wrong about Dubber. And I'm happy to see how he plays, the whole team really looks better in front of him. Just opposite what I thought would happen. But it's just way too early.
About Kuemper.. let's put it this way. IF he can change his course, there is still a chance that he could be a strong goalie some day. It's a tough school for him right now. If he can't, let's say over the next season, well..
It is just painful to watch how much he's struggling right now. Me thinks that he needs a good mentor, enough time and a humble attitude.
Fixed it for you.
How does a team that has: Gelinas, Blum, Falk, Bickel, suck? I understand that Falk and Bickel aren't that great in the NHL but they should be okay in the AHL. Gelinas was a stud in the QMJHL and Blum has played well. I've heard good things of Gudbranson. And Syvret has been around.
tomgilbertfan
#WhyBother
Does anyone think that Minnesota should trade Kuemper at the deadline and sign Dubnyk? I mean Dubnyk is still fairly young for a goaltender and is in the age range we are looking for. If we get 5 seasons out of Dubnyk as a decent to okay goaltender, we can push the development of another goaltender down the road for another few seasons and draft a couple that might end up taking over. This way Minnesota can maximize their assets, don't have to buyout Backstrom and can take their time developing a goaltender. Or hell let Kaapo develop.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
Nah. I'm fine buying out Backstrom and keeping Kuemper. He's shown enough for us to know that there's something there, just have to hope he can get his head straight.
We can do all of the other stuff you said either way.
We can do all of the other stuff you said either way.
I think Fletcher would be really reluctant to buyout a plr. Plus we need all the long term assetss as we can get.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
I still consider Kuemper a long term asset.
What has Fletcher said/done that would make you think he's against the buyout?
What has Fletcher said/done that would make you think he's against the buyout?
I'd be comfortable with doing both so long as Dubs holds up. Trade Kuemps. Keep Backs on until the season is over, giving him the minimum number of games needed to make sure Dubnyk doesn't get too overworked, then buy him out. Find some cheap backup on the market.
Or do that and don't trade Kuemps. I forget, can we assign players to the minors despite waiver restrictions during training camp? If we can get him safely down to the AHL for next year and let him cook a little more while Dubs + UFA Backup run things up here, that would be ideal as it would mean he has a chance to get back on track.
Kuemper needs to be handled with kid gloves at this point. He's fragile. I also think he's been considerably less motivated ever since he got his one way contract and then stayed up here and burned up his waiver exemption so we can't safely send him back down.
And personally I don't see why Fletcher wouldn't want to buyout backs. He's an anchor at this point.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
You're not going to get anything for Kuemper. Every team has an equivalent goalie or two in their system; trading him would be a waste.
I don't because he can't pass through waivers anymore, so we have to decide is he or isn't he a NHL goaltender at this point. He's either going to have to stick to the club and contribute positively to this organization or there is no use to him other than using up a roster spot and cap space.
Actually it was Leipold but I also thought that Fletcher wasn't happy with the Parrish buyout as that really limited some of his flexibility.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_23562539/minnesota-wild-crunched-by-salary-cap-finally-buying
Nope. If they are waiver restricted, they have to pass through waivers even after training camp. See Markstrom.
Because it's better to bite the bullet and keep Backstrom for one more season than for two more seasons.
Jarick
Doing Nothing
I don't think Kuemps has any trade value and I think he can still be a very good goalie.
Kuemper is 24 years old. A lot of very good goalies don't make the NHL regularly until they are in their mid 20's. Kuemper should have been playing full time in Iowa, but GMCF didn't or couldn't get enough goaltending up here.
Kuemper is 24 years old. A lot of very good goalies don't make the NHL regularly until they are in their mid 20's. Kuemper should have been playing full time in Iowa, but GMCF didn't or couldn't get enough goaltending up here.
Kuemper would be playing in Iowa if we found out about Harding's MS earlier and/or Backstrom didn't get injured two years ago. Not one GM in the league is going to want to carry as many goalies as we do, and we don't want to lose him on waivers. wasn't the two-way vs one way the sticking point (or a sticking point) in the negotiations where everyone here was OMG I CANT BELIEVE FLETCHER WOULDNT DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.
Even if his trade value is next to nil, as i've said before and as you say, he still has enough potential and has shown at least that he CAN perform at an adequate level in the NHL. I don't think there is anything in the equivalent of a "safe" goalie pick in the NHL (where you know if a forward doesn't have the scoring they had in the Q they can at least grind) so I'd be hesitant to toss him aside and rely on either one of our completely untried goalies or the availability of a decent vet from year to year.
DeuceMN
Really?
We made the playoffs last season, in a large part, because of Keumps.
He's in a funk and we all hope he pulls out of it, and he still has a lot of potential.
He's in a funk and we all hope he pulls out of it, and he still has a lot of potential.
Jesus comma Brodin
Effing Norris-Byng Brodin
Al Lagoon
Registered User
- Feb 22, 2012
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When Kuemper is good he is very good. He's young. He's large and athletic.
As rynryn pointed out, it was circumstance that put him in the NHL this season. He was developing quite nicely not that long ago. To cast him aside for inconsistency would be folly at this point.
Buying out Backstrom makes loads more sense.
As rynryn pointed out, it was circumstance that put him in the NHL this season. He was developing quite nicely not that long ago. To cast him aside for inconsistency would be folly at this point.
Buying out Backstrom makes loads more sense.
Granlund 64
Registered User
Jarick
Doing Nothing
https://twitter.com/Russostrib/status/561655569929732096
Was just a matter of time before this happened.
Was just a matter of time before this happened.
At this point, I don't think there is any reason why Suter shoud play over 25 mins a game this season. If we were really in the playoff hunt and he was playing well, sure. But, he hasn't played that well, and the playoffs are going to be tough to reach. He's clearly worn down.
FVM
This does not please me.
http://yle.fi/urheilu/bussin_alle_heitetty_niklas_backstrom_nuorta_kaveria_kay_saaliksi/7773931
Finnish NHL journalist Tommi Seppälä's article from yesterday. The title reads: "Niklas Bäckström, 'thrown under the bus': 'I feel pity for the young guy'. Minnesota's Finn goaltender Niklas Bäckström hasn't cared about the way how head coach Mike Yeo has commented on the team's goaltending throughout the season."
Some snippets and quotes:
"Team's problems are manifold. Coaching is not the elite of the league, although neither is player material by all parts. Injuries have had their toll too.
Head coach Mike Yeo's comments during the tough times have been odd too. Even though Bäckström and young Kuemper wouldn't have been at their best at all times, Yeo's habit of publicly blaming the goaltenders, is classless. Bäckström pities especially Kuemper.
'This probably hasn't been about one or two things. It's useless to blame the goaltenders too much here. I feel pity especially for the young guy. Guy is 24 years old and has played 30 games in this league. He was thrown under the bus pretty directly.'
Hockey is a team game.
'I have always believed that we defend each other inside the rink and outside of it. We win and lose as a team. You take care of your buddies and do not throw the blame left and right and that way try to save your own ass.'
[about the message the Dubnyk trade sent]
'You couldn't really affect it yourself. Jacques Lemaire, who's one of the best coaches I've ever had, said to me always that only worry about yourself here. You can always look around in your weak moments and search for fault there. You just have to develop yourself.'
'I could of course say and do all kinds of stuff here, but it wouldn't help any'
[about a possible trade to another team]
'You always want to play. Sure it's fun to be with the guys in the practices and so on, but everyone wants to play. Every one of us has that competitor's mentality.'
[about his hernia surgery last summer]
'Doctor said about the operation, that they do this, so I can have normal life. There was a real chance it would've ended hockey for me. Now I enjoy every day, playing and practicing. Being part of the team.'
'Every season has been a mental struggle in its own way. Sometimes you play a lot and there's something. Sometimes you don't play and there's something again. You have to find the answers yourself and that way become stronger. Surgery and the possible end to career of course helps you see things.'
'But no one here wants to be satisfied. You always want to get to the next level. First I hoped I could get to training camp healthy and from there onto the season. Now that we're here, it's not enough anymore. Everyone wants to play a lot' he said smiling."
Finnish NHL journalist Tommi Seppälä's article from yesterday. The title reads: "Niklas Bäckström, 'thrown under the bus': 'I feel pity for the young guy'. Minnesota's Finn goaltender Niklas Bäckström hasn't cared about the way how head coach Mike Yeo has commented on the team's goaltending throughout the season."
Some snippets and quotes:
"Team's problems are manifold. Coaching is not the elite of the league, although neither is player material by all parts. Injuries have had their toll too.
Head coach Mike Yeo's comments during the tough times have been odd too. Even though Bäckström and young Kuemper wouldn't have been at their best at all times, Yeo's habit of publicly blaming the goaltenders, is classless. Bäckström pities especially Kuemper.
'This probably hasn't been about one or two things. It's useless to blame the goaltenders too much here. I feel pity especially for the young guy. Guy is 24 years old and has played 30 games in this league. He was thrown under the bus pretty directly.'
Hockey is a team game.
'I have always believed that we defend each other inside the rink and outside of it. We win and lose as a team. You take care of your buddies and do not throw the blame left and right and that way try to save your own ass.'
[about the message the Dubnyk trade sent]
'You couldn't really affect it yourself. Jacques Lemaire, who's one of the best coaches I've ever had, said to me always that only worry about yourself here. You can always look around in your weak moments and search for fault there. You just have to develop yourself.'
'I could of course say and do all kinds of stuff here, but it wouldn't help any'
[about a possible trade to another team]
'You always want to play. Sure it's fun to be with the guys in the practices and so on, but everyone wants to play. Every one of us has that competitor's mentality.'
[about his hernia surgery last summer]
'Doctor said about the operation, that they do this, so I can have normal life. There was a real chance it would've ended hockey for me. Now I enjoy every day, playing and practicing. Being part of the team.'
'Every season has been a mental struggle in its own way. Sometimes you play a lot and there's something. Sometimes you don't play and there's something again. You have to find the answers yourself and that way become stronger. Surgery and the possible end to career of course helps you see things.'
'But no one here wants to be satisfied. You always want to get to the next level. First I hoped I could get to training camp healthy and from there onto the season. Now that we're here, it's not enough anymore. Everyone wants to play a lot' he said smiling."
Minnewildsota
He who laughs last thinks slowest
- Jun 7, 2010
- 8,864
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If I remember correctly, during the beginning of the slip to poor goaltending Yeo had shielded the goaltenders from blame. As time went on he started directing the blame towards the goaltenders. Now we don't know what went on behind closed doors but, in my honest opinion, I feel like Yeo handled the situation quite well.
Sometimes you need to challenge a player by outting them to the media/team/whatever. I don't recall Yeo holding punches when saying Nino and Coyle need to play better, as the most recent example I can come up with.
TLDR: Backstrom is ********.
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