Minnesota Wild General Discussion - 2022-23

[Bazeek]

I think there is a disconnect between the GM and coach with the younger guys and if they are ready for the NHL or not. I'm guessing that Evason doesn't think Rossi this year or Addison last season are ready for the NHL and needed more AHL seasoning time.

Evason was a decent AHL coach and has coached/developed a fair number of quality/skilled prospects. NSH has been very good with their development pipeline.

I'm leaning this way as well. Up until recently one of Evason's strengths seemed to be better communication with the GM, but that's looking more iffy right now. I don't really think the GM should be micromanaging roster decisions, but prospect development and promotion is going to be a focus over the next few seasons so it needs to be sorted out.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

I think Rossi and the team's overall performance are probably separate topics in a lot of ways. Our goaltending situation, which has no straightforward fix, undercuts any possibility of the team being competitive. There's a lot wrong with the skaters too, but you could fix most of that and still be dropping games because Fleury/Gus are only 50/50 on any kind of high-danger chance.

Alternating Rossi between the 4th line and the press box isn't annoying because it'll fix any of that. It's annoying because it a.) doesn't bode well for their plans to transition him to the NHL, and b.) removes one of the things that can still be fun when watching a bad team, which is seeing what the younger players can do.

I'm not all that worried about, or even annoyed by, it yet, but they are going to have to come up with a plan that isn't 4th line/scratch. And with the number of larger fires that coaches and management have to put out right now, there's a non-zero danger of this situation going on longer than it should.

They need to fix the goalie situation asap. Whether that is via trade, call up or other I don’t care. This tandem is a nightmare.

I think Evason doesn’t think Rossi is ready, but Rossi is up because of injuries. Shaw definitely looked more effective in the 4th line role at least (makes sense). I’m not sure throwing Rossi to the wolves on the 1st line is a great solution. He’s not going to play on the Ek line. The logical solution would be to swap Rossi with Steel to play with Boldy/Gaudreau, but I’m not sure we would notice a huge difference at the moment other than HF poster morale would go up.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

From Joe Smith's gamer from last night:

"
With all the anxiety and stress, Evason’s advice to his team for Tuesday’s off day was “get the hell away from hockey.”
"

Ah yes, our 69% PK definitely doesn't need the work, and after this HUGE 3-game grind at home, we deserve a day off after a biblically bad start to the season and setting records for goals against. f***ing ridiculous how little Dean does, he's a f***ing helicopter coach.

Perhaps it would be good for everyone to “factory reset.” Kind of like burning the tape after a bad game.

We know this team can be good. It’s all mental at this point.

 

[TwiztedHeat]

Who knew that Kulikov was the glue holding this defense together…

For real, gotta get a goalie. WAY too many softies this year already.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Call up McIntyre. Let him start and have Fleury be the backup.

 

[Jesus comma Brodin]

Perhaps it would be good for everyone to “factory reset.” Kind of like burning the tape after a bad game.

We know this team can be good. It’s all mental at this point.

If they need a factory reset after 3 home games, we are in trouble.

If this was mid-season, I would be inclined to agree with you, but I don't think its all mental and we had to have known the deficiencies in this roster would catch up with us at some point

 

[thestonedkoala]

If they need a factory reset after 3 home games, we are in trouble.

If this was mid-season, I would be inclined to agree with you, but I don't think its all mental and we had to have known the deficiencies in this roster would catch up with us at some point

Regressing to the means.

Also everyone and their blind dog saw that Fleury was done.

 

[Bazeek]

Call up McIntyre. Let him start and have Fleury be the backup.

Yeah, their call-up options are a guy that isn't going to be any better than what they have, or their future starter. I wouldn't necessarily worry about it destroying Wallstedt's development or anything, but making that move because you screwed the pooch on your goalie situation over the summer seems pretty bad.

Only semi-viable route here is probably a trade, and any team Guerin deals with is going to know full well what kind of position he's in. Pretty gross.

 

[Wabit]

Perhaps it would be good for everyone to “factory reset.” Kind of like burning the tape after a bad game.

We know this team can be good. It’s all mental at this point.

Really the goalies need a mental reset to go find their happy place. Hard to have a decent practice without any goalies.

They do have a 5 game road trip coming up too.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Yeah, their call-up options are a guy that isn't going to be any better than what they have, or their future starter. I wouldn't necessarily worry about it destroying Wallstedt's development or anything, but making that move because you screwed the pooch on your goalie situation over the summer seems pretty bad.

Only semi-viable route here is probably a trade, and any team Guerin deals with is going to know full well what kind of position he's in. Pretty gross.

I don't know. McIntyre may be motivated. But it couldn't be any worse than what they have now.

Guerin really messed this up.

 

[Idlerlee]

From Joe Smith's gamer from last night:

"
With all the anxiety and stress, Evason’s advice to his team for Tuesday’s off day was “get the hell away from hockey.”
"

Ah yes, our 69% PK definitely doesn't need the work, and after this HUGE 3-game grind at home, we deserve a day off after a biblically bad start to the season and setting records for goals against. f***ing ridiculous how little Dean does, he's a f***ing helicopter coach.

This is actually great advice and something for everyone to listen to.

If you got the tools but they are not working, the solution isnt always to plug at it harder. Youre already doing that. Take a break. Your skills wont disappear in a day, and your mental well being is a tremendously important part of being a elite level athlete.

Its 3 games into a season though, there is so much time to fix things.

 

[Southern Minny]

JMO here, but I remember a lot of us here talking at the end of last year, we knew this year was going to be fill with question marks.

And a lot would depend on how the young guys would step up and who would have to make the jump from the previous year? (So far no one has really stood out in doing that yet)

Now I can't remember, did we have Cam for 2 more years or just for this year? If it was just for this year, could we have signed him again or did BG go with Fleury at a cheaper rate yet with intention of just filling the gap till wallstedt is ready? Cause if Cam was going to be here just for this year who would we have had for next year? (Wallstedt would not be ready to take the full load yet nor would I want to put that on a young goalie)

We knew with the cap hell there was going to be some changes, if we want to judge the season after 3 games then we should have done what we could have and kept Fiala and still sucked but we would have kept our most talented players thru this cap hell. But what's done is done. So, I guess the road is clear for the next couple of years, develop who we can and see who will be here in 2 years then play with a full NHL roster instead of half a roster of 3rd and 4th chance and fill in guys. We anticipated these next 2 years were going to be brutal, but it all depended on how many make the jump to the next level.

Who knows, these young guys may get it going at the midway point and turn it on. JMO

 

[DeagleJenkins]

JMO here, but I remember a lot of us here talking at the end of last year, we knew this year was going to be fill with question marks.

And a lot would depend on how the young guys would step up and who would have to make the jump from the previous year? (So far no one has really stood out in doing that yet)

Now I can't remember, did we have Cam for 2 more years or just for this year? If it was just for this year, could we have signed him again or did BG go with Fleury at a cheaper rate yet with intention of just filling the gap till wallstedt is ready? Cause if Cam was going to be here just for this year who would we have had for next year? (Wallstedt would not be ready to take the full load yet nor would I want to put that on a young goalie)

We knew with the cap hell there was going to be some changes, if we want to judge the season after 3 games then we should have done what we could have and kept Fiala and still sucked but we would have kept our most talented players thru this cap hell. But what's done is done. So, I guess the road is clear for the next couple of years, develop who we can and see who will be here in 2 years then play with a full NHL roster instead of half a roster of 3rd and 4th chance and fill in guys. We anticipated these next 2 years were going to be brutal, but it all depended on how many make the jump to the next level.

Who knows, these young guys may get it going at the midway point and turn it on. JMO

Cam was signed for just this year at less money.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Minnesota should hire Brunette as coach

 

[TaLoN]

We have Addison who is single handedly fixing the PP and holding down the fort in the rest of his minutes which only makes me think of watching Jordie Benn last year and all his grit and character

Hold your horses there Hoss... this is Matt Boldy's PP that Addison is HELPING Boldy fix.

You watch before each PP faceoff, Boldy is going to each guy including Addison to give instructions. They each listen intently and nod to him when he's done and moves on to the next guy.

Make no mistake here, it's Boldy directing this awesome PP.

 

[Wabit]

Minnesota should hire Brunette as coach

He's an associate coach for NJD.

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

This years draft is littered with skilled, big center man in the top half of the first round. Should be a good opportunity to snap a future top six guy.

 

[P10p]

This is actually great advice and something for everyone to listen to.

If you got the tools but they are not working, the solution isnt always to plug at it harder. Youre already doing that. Take a break. Your skills wont disappear in a day, and your mental well being is a tremendously important part of being a elite level athlete.

Its 3 games into a season though, there is so much time to fix things.

This rings so true in the web/software development space. Sometimes you can sit for hours trying to figure out a problem, just smashing your head against your computer. More often than not though, you may be in the shower or laying in bed and the solution will just come to you. A clear mind can be huge.

Hold your horses there Hoss... this is Matt Boldy's PP that Addison is HELPING Boldy fix.

You watch before each PP faceoff, Boldy is going to each guy including Addison to give instructions. They each listen intently and nod to him when he's done and moves on to the next guy.

Make no mistake here, it's Boldy directing this awesome PP.

I for one think Boldy is leeching points off Kaprizov. /s

 

[57special]

They need to fix the goalie situation asap. Whether that is via trade, call up or other I don’t care. This tandem is a nightmare.

I think Evason doesn’t think Rossi is ready, but Rossi is up because of injuries. Shaw definitely looked more effective in the 4th line role at least (makes sense). I’m not sure throwing Rossi to the wolves on the 1st line is a great solution. He’s not going to play on the Ek line. The logical solution would be to swap Rossi with Steel to play with Boldy/Gaudreau, but I’m not sure we would notice a huge difference at the moment other than HF poster morale would go up.

Yeah, that seems to be the obvious move. Gaudreau provides the skating, FO's and defense. Boldy and Rossi (hopefully) provide offensive creativity.

Call up McIntyre. Let him start and have Fleury be the backup.

I guess you didn't see him let in a wrist shot from outside the Blue line in his first start? I liked him last year, but so far this year he seems to have reverted.

 

[AKL]

This years draft is littered with skilled, big center man in the top half of the first round. Should be a good opportunity to snap a future top six guy.

Play silly for Fantilli?

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

Play silly for Fantilli?

Would be ideal

 

[f7ben]

Hold your horses there Hoss... this is Matt Boldy's PP that Addison is HELPING Boldy fix.

You watch before each PP faceoff, Boldy is going to each guy including Addison to give instructions. They each listen intently and nod to him when he's done and moves on to the next guy.

Make no mistake here, it's Boldy directing this awesome PP.

Boldy is awesome , his hockey IQ is very high. Addisons ability to QB the power play cannot be understated though. His skating and stick handling and quick decisive decisions are something I don’t recall us ever having in a wild dman. He’s basically the anti Suter/spurgeon

 

[StateofCelly]

Hold your horses there Hoss... this is Matt Boldy's PP that Addison is HELPING Boldy fix.

You watch before each PP faceoff, Boldy is going to each guy including Addison to give instructions. They each listen intently and nod to him when he's done and moves on to the next guy.

Make no mistake here, it's Boldy directing this awesome PP.

I agree a lot is quarterbacked by Boldy, but one advantage of my seats is I am right next to the faceoff dot (sucks because I can t always see the single attack side) and one thing I noticed last night was when Calen came out he was going to Zuccs and Ek before every draw.. seemingly every draw Ek got kicked out of so it was some forethought into the next step. But I think both Addison and Boldy deserve credit for adjusting what has been a stale product of a power play. Have had these seats for 5 years and haven't seen this much communication pre-puck drop before.. so used to Suter and Dumba manning their spots and waiting for puck to drop.

 

[Webster]

I'd say Boldy wouldn't dare giving instructions to Zuccarello, not even Kaprizov goes there...

 

[BagHead]

They need to fix the goalie situation asap. Whether that is via trade, call up or other I don’t care. This tandem is a nightmare.

I think Evason doesn’t think Rossi is ready, but Rossi is up because of injuries. Shaw definitely looked more effective in the 4th line role at least (makes sense). I’m not sure throwing Rossi to the wolves on the 1st line is a great solution. He’s not going to play on the Ek line. The logical solution would be to swap Rossi with Steel to play with Boldy/Gaudreau, but I’m not sure we would notice a huge difference at the moment other than HF poster morale would go up.

Unless he doesn't put up points there, and then we all think he's a bust and the future is dark and cold and never ending.