Minnesota Wild General Discussion XIX

[Sad People]

Man some of the posts back around the slump (the middle of this thread) didn't age very well.

Yeah people were ready to jump ship

 

[nt3005]

Man some of the posts back around the slump (the middle of this thread) didn't age very well.

So you think the team will still make the playoffs?

 

[TaLoN]

Yeah people were ready to jump ship

The way our goaltending was? Had we not made a move to improve it, it was understandable.

 

[Northerner]

Is it true we're the only team in the league with 6 20-goal scorers? Never thought this franchise would have such stats.

The way our goaltending was? Had we not made a move to improve it, it was understandable.

Why though? We still had Talbot. Was bringing MAF ah fire he needed started under him, or was his play just on a skid there for a moment?

 

[TaLoN]

Why though? We still had Talbot. Was bringing MAF ah fire he needed started under him, or was his play just on a skid there for a moment?

Talbot wasn't being challenged by KK. Infact the lack of rebound control appeared to be contagious.

Trading for Flower sparked Talbot that he wasn't good enough as well, if he wanted to keep playing, he'd have to step up his game... and he did.

 

[BagHead]

Is it true we're the only team in the league with 6 20-goal scorers? Never thought this franchise would have such stats.


Why though? We still had Talbot. Was bringing MAF ah fire he needed started under him, or was his play just on a skid there for a moment?

I know what the popular belief on this board is, but Talbot started trending back in the right direction in the few games before the MAF trade was made, and peaked the day of the trade. I really don't think Talbot playing better had much, if anything, to do with being challenged by Fleury.

Now if the overall goaltending situation is better from here on out, I will certainly attribute that to Fleury.

 

[MK9]

I know what the popular belief on this board is, but Talbot started trending back in the right direction in the few games before the MAF trade was made, and peaked the day of the trade. I really don't think Talbot playing better had much, if anything, to do with being challenged by Fleury.

Now if the overall goaltending situation is better from here on out, I will certainly attribute that to Fleury.

Completely agree with this.

At the same time, I also think Fleury adds a new level of confidence and swagger to the team in general.

Actually I think the additions of Deslauriers and Middleton do the same. Granted to a bit lesser standard.

 

[Wabit]

The lineup MN had on the ice during the losing streak (I used the CGY games) wasn't more than a fringe Playoff team.
Kap/Hatman/Zucc
Fiala/Freddy G/Boldy
Foligno/JEE/Duhaime
Dewar/Sturm/Bjugstad

Brodin/Kulikov
Goli/Spurgeon
Merrill/Benn (Addison)

Kahk/Talbot

The trades and Dumba/Greenway getting healthy made MN a much better/deeper team. It's upgrades to the 1RD, 2LD, goalie, the shutdown FWD line, and a much improved 4th line.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Is it true we're the only team in the league with 6 20-goal scorers? Never thought this franchise would have such stats.

No, St. Louis and Florida also have (6) 20 goal scorers.

 

[Wasted Talent]

No, St. Louis and Florida also have (6) 20 goal scorers.

St. Louis has 7

 

[thestonedkoala]

St. Louis has 7

7 now. A few days ago they had 6.

 

[MK9]

Gear: How the Minnesota Wild can escape salary cap hell

The Parise and Suter buyouts put Minnesota in dire financial straits in the seasons to come, but there’s a way...

www.dailyfaceoff.com

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

So we could keep Fiala by… trading other players. That’s definitely groundbreaking.

 

[MuckOG]

Question: Will Rossi be able to play in the NHL playoffs this year?

 

[thestonedkoala]

Question: Will Rossi be able to play in the NHL playoffs this year?

Able? Yes. Will? Guerin and Evason probably won't look at Rossi. See Boldy.

 

[Wasted Talent]

Question: Will Rossi be able to play in the NHL playoffs this year?

As far as I understand, playoff games count towards the 9 game limit

 

[MuckOG]

As far as I understand, playoff games count towards the 9 game limit

Thanks....and because of the dead cap issues coming up 2-3 years from now, I can understand the rationale for not playing him in the playoffs.

 

[57special]

Able? Yes. Will? Guerin and Evason probably won't look at Rossi. See Boldy.

Question: Will Rossi be able to play in the NHL playoffs this year?

The only spot where Rossi maybe fits is in between Boldy and Fiala. An injury to Gaudreau might cause Guerin to bring up Rossi to give him for a looksee, but the recent acquisition of Jost has made that more unlikely. I don't see Rossi be used in place of JEE or as a 4C. Dewar is a better choice as a 4C...I could argue that he is a better choice overall right now, except on the PP, and even there, Rossi's mediocre FO abilities are a drawback.

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

The only spots where Rossi maybe fits is in between Boldy and Fiala. An injury to Gaudreau might cause Guerin to bring up Rossi to give him for a looksee, but the recent acquisition of Jost has made that more unlikely. I don't see Rossi be used in place of JEE or as a 4C. Dewar is a better choice as a 4C...I could argue that he is a better choice overall right now, except on the PP, and even there, Rossi's mediocre FO abilities are a drawback.

I don't disagree, but I would argue that he could also fit between Kaprizov and Zuccarello. For example, I may be interested (especially if Boldy is injured) a lineup of:

Kaprizov - Rossi - Zucc
Jost/Hartman - Hartman/Gaudreau - Fiala
Greenway- Ek - Foligno
Duhaime - Gaudreau/Jost - Bjugstad/D Lo

 

[Wabit]

I don't disagree, but I would argue that he could also fit between Kaprizov and Zuccarello. For example, I may be interested (especially if Boldy is injured) a lineup of:

Kaprizov - Rossi - Zucc
Jost/Hartman - Hartman/Gaudreau - Fiala
Greenway- Ek - Foligno
Duhaime - Gaudreau/Jost - Bjugstad/D Lo

Probably better to just put Rossi in Boldy's 3LW spot against lesser competition, rather than force him into a 1C spot against the other team's best players.

 

[57special]

I don't disagree, but I would argue that he could also fit between Kaprizov and Zuccarello. For example, I may be interested (especially if Boldy is injured) a lineup of:

Kaprizov - Rossi - Zucc
Jost/Hartman - Hartman/Gaudreau - Fiala
Greenway- Ek - Foligno
Duhaime - Gaudreau/Jost - Bjugstad/D Lo

Rossi is a much, much softer player than Hartman, or Kap, or Lizard, for that matter. I prefer having someone out there who will be willing to put his stick in anyone's teeth who hassles Kap. Rossi is not that guy. Dewar, Shaw, and Rau are all significantly tougher and more physical.
I don't want Kap to have to jump in and protect Rossi. That's a poor allocation of resources.

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

Rossi is a much, much softer player than Hartman, or Kap, or Lizard, for that matter. I prefer having someone out there who will be willing to put his stick in anyone's teeth who hassles Kap. Rossi is not that guy. Dewar, Shaw, and Rau are all significantly tougher and more physical.
I don't want Kap to have to jump in and protect Rossi. That's a poor allocation of resources.

Sure, that's a nice thing to have but what's nicer is giving Kap as much skill and creativity to work with. Foligno, D Lo, Middleton and the crew can jump in to protect Rossi or Kap. Is it better if someone on Kap or Rossi's line could protect them, sure... but that seems like the poor allocation of resources or the nice to have after focusing on maximizing skill first.

Also, to go back to the main point you were saying you'd only put Rossi with Boldy/Fiala. I feel like that has the same issue you just brought up or the same downside logic applies. Unless you're advocating Boldy and Fiala standing up for Rossi?

I guess to me that's just so far down the list of stuff that I'm worried about. And I'm really not worried about Kap being able to stand up for himself either.

Probably better to just put Rossi in Boldy's 3LW spot against lesser competition, rather than force him into a 1C spot against the other team's best players.

I'd rather put Rossi in a position to play with other skill players who think like him. I'd be open to that idea as well though.

 

[63firebird]

Sure, that's a nice thing to have but what's nicer is giving Kap as much skill and creativity to work with. Foligno, D Lo, Middleton and the crew can jump in to protect Rossi or Kap. Is it better if someone on Kap or Rossi's line could protect them, sure... but that seems like the poor allocation of resources or the nice to have after focusing on maximizing skill first.

Also, to go back to the main point you were saying you'd only put Rossi with Boldy/Fiala. I feel like that has the same issue you just brought up or the same downside logic applies. Unless you're advocating Boldy and Fiala standing up for Rossi?

I guess to me that's just so far down the list of stuff that I'm worried about. And I'm really not worried about Kap being able to stand up for himself either.



I'd rather put Rossi in a position to play with other skill players who think like him. I'd be open to that idea as well though.

Seems like Kaps skill comes through just fine as long as the Wild sticks to the game plan. He’s scored more than any player ever on the Wild as is with Hartman on his line. When the Wild decides to go Neanderthal is where it all falls apart. Foligno value is on the ice doing nice hard punishing forechecks and checking their top line into the ground. Trying to make some physical statement has only backfired so far.

 

[57special]

Sure, that's a nice thing to have but what's nicer is giving Kap as much skill and creativity to work with. Foligno, D Lo, Middleton and the crew can jump in to protect Rossi or Kap. Is it better if someone on Kap or Rossi's line could protect them, sure... but that seems like the poor allocation of resources or the nice to have after focusing on maximizing skill first.

Also, to go back to the main point you were saying you'd only put Rossi with Boldy/Fiala. I feel like that has the same issue you just brought up or the same downside logic applies. Unless you're advocating Boldy and Fiala standing up for Rossi?

I guess to me that's just so far down the list of stuff that I'm worried about. And I'm really not worried about Kap being able to stand up for himself either.



I'd rather put Rossi in a position to play with other skill players who think like him. I'd be open to that idea as well though.

Hartman is a better player than Rossi at this point. Faster, much stronger, better defensively, FO's, and shot. IMO, Dewar is a better player than Rossi right now, though I'll concede that Rossi is a better puck handler and passer, though not by a lot.
Rossi simply isn't ready.

 

[BagHead]

Hartman is a better player than Rossi at this point. Faster, much stronger, better defensively, FO's, and shot. IMO, Dewar is a better player than Rossi right now, though I'll concede that Rossi is a better puck handler and passer, though not by a lot.
Rossi simply isn't ready.

Faceoffs. Oh, that is a sad reality. I agree with you, even setting faceoffs aside, Rossi probably isn't ready (this year). Maybe a really good offseason will do the trick.