Minnesota Wild General Discussion XIII

[AKL]

Will the scrimmage be on YouTube or what for tonight?

Yeah, the Wild's YouTube channel will show it.

 

[AKL]

What about Johansson? He has to be in the top 6 somewhere. I figured it would bump out Bonino.

If Zuccarello is good enough to be in the top 6, I'd actually prefer Johansson to replace Parise or Bjugstad. Though I think Eriksson Ek should get a look in Bonino's spot there.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Greenway - Johansson - Fiala
Kaprizov - Eriksson Ek - Zuccarello
Parise - Bonino - Bjugstad
Foligno - Sturm - Hartman

 

[HotDish]

If Zuccarello is good enough to be in the top 6, I'd actually prefer Johansson to replace Parise or Bjugstad. Though I think Eriksson Ek should get a look in Bonino's spot there.

Don't disagree, and I would like this.

 

[AKL]

Greenway - Johansson - Fiala
Kaprizov - Eriksson Ek - Zuccarello
Parise - Bonino - Bjugstad
Foligno - Sturm - Hartman

If it's the same Greenway as last season, I don't like him there. If it's a new and improved, more physically dominant and more skilled Greenway, then it could be good.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

If it's the same Greenway as last season, I don't like him there. If it's a new and improved, more physically dominant and more skilled Greenway, then it could be good.

This would give him a chance to show it.

I'd actually rather swap Greenway and Kaprizov.

 

[FedorTyutin]

I don't understand how Nick Bjugstad can currently figure on the Wild's top-6. How can this not be seen as total trash from the Wild fanbase?

 

[2Pair]

Greenway - Johansson - Fiala
Kaprizov - Eriksson Ek - Zuccarello
Parise - Bonino - Bjugstad
Foligno - Sturm - Hartman

At that point you're better off just swapping Bonino and Sturm and seeing if the Bonino - Hartman - Foligno line can give you what the Ek line did last year. Also requires Evason to give Parise 4th line minutes

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

At that point you're better off just swapping Bonino and Sturm and seeing if the Bonino - Hartman - Foligno line can give you what the Ek line did last year. Also requires Evason to give Parise 4th line minutes

Yeah, it would definitely be a better line with Bonino on it. The way I have it, they can be similarly reliable if Bjugstad and Sturm are real players.

I'm not fully on board with the whole "Parise 4th line player" thing, but we've gone round and round on that plenty.

 

[AKL]

I don't understand how Nick Bjugstad can currently figure on the Wild's top-6. How can this not be seen as total trash from the Wild fanbase?

We're not exactly swimming in top 6 centers, it's the first week of training camp, and his last full season he scored 49 points. No one is exactly thrilled with it, but we're not going to start throwing lamps and flipping tables until it gets to the point where it's used in games when it clearly doesn't work.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I don't understand how Nick Bjugstad can currently figure on the Wild's top-6. How can this not be seen as total trash from the Wild fanbase?

Willing to be open minded about his back surgery being successful.

 

[2Pair]

Yeah, it would definitely be a better line with Bonino on it. The way I have it, they can be similarly reliable if Bjugstad and Sturm are real players.

I'm not fully on board with the whole "Parise 4th line player" thing, but we've gone round and round on that plenty.

One of your bottom 2 lines would be used as the matchup/shutdown line. At least to some extent. Can't see how Parise and Bjugstad are what you want there? I could see one of those guys as the 3rd player on the matchup line, can't see both

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

One of your bottom 2 lines would be used as the matchup/shutdown line. At least to some extent. Can't see how Parise and Bjugstad are what you want there? I could see one of those guys as the 3rd player on the matchup line, can't see both

Personally, I'm not much of a matchup chaser with forwards.

 

[2Pair]

Personally, I'm not much of a matchup chaser with forwards.

That doesn't really change the facts

 

[DeagleJenkins]

That would be pretty terrible asset management.

depends on how you view him.

You really don't want a player with his skillset in there.

Finally healthy, he can't wait to get back on the ice and show what he can do. I expect him to be back on his game and scoring.

scoring as long as he has talent on his line right?

 

[2Pair]

depends on how you view him.

scoring as long as he has talent on his line right?

Nope

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

depends on how you view him.

scoring as long as he has talent on his line right?

Correctly or incorrectly, I guess.

 

[Prior]

By the time Zuccarello comes back, there will be injuries to deal with I’m sure. If not, there is probably equal chance of being on the second line as he is on the 4th with 2nd unit PP time. Given what he did last season, if the top 6 is in tact and reasonably productive, he isn’t bumping anyone off it no matter what is thought of those players today after what Zuccarello showed last season. Especially coming in off surgery with no camp after looking unprepared last year as well.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Nope

thanks, such a well thought out reply and comment. thank you for participating.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

By the time Zuccarello comes back, there will be injuries to deal with I’m sure. If not, there is probably equal chance of being on the second line as he is on the 4th with 2nd unit PP time. Given what he did last season, if the top 6 is in tact and reasonably productive, he isn’t bumping anyone off it no matter what is thought of those players today after what Zuccarello showed last season. Especially coming in off surgery with no camp after looking unprepared last year as well.

I get that a certain someone here is pretty annoying, but people act like Zuccarello had 7 points last year. Does he need to be better? Yes. Was he atrocious last year? No.

 

[Prior]

I get that a certain someone here is pretty annoying, but people act like Zuccarello had 7 points last year. Does he need to be better? Yes. Was he atrocious last year? No.

There’s a gulf between an asset to the team and atrocious in my view. But he was much closer to the latter than the former. He isn’t bumping Fiala and Kaprizov. Nothing in his career past or present dictates he should bump Parise. So that leaves one spot from the likes of Johansson or Greenway. Pending on how the top 6 is gelling, I have questions whether a guy who is well behind the eight ball in terms of camp is going to come in and immediately get top 6 minutes.

 

[HotDish]

Kaprizov playing RW

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

There’s a gulf between an asset to the team and atrocious in my view. But he was much closer to the latter than the former. He isn’t bumping Fiala and Kaprizov. Nothing in his career past or present dictates he should bump Parise. So that leaves one spot from the likes of Johansson or Greenway. Pending on how the top 6 is gelling, I have questions whether a guy who is well behind the eight ball in terms of camp is going to come in and immediately get top 6 minutes.

Disagree. That was kind of my point.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Is the sound way behind for anybody else?

 

[Prior]

Is the sound way behind for anybody else?

Yep