Same ol' Wild

[broodwich]

I'd say the season is over for the Wild after last nights game. I'm sick of these Wild seasons where we can only hope to be the 7th or 8th seed, hardly the makings of a dynasty. This state and it's fans have done everything to support this team and where is the return? I think it's time to change the attitude of this franchise. Making the playoffs should be expected and winning the cup should be our goal. I'm sure it will be the same next season with talk about being the 8th seed and making a lackluster performance in the playoffs and early exit after 5 games, which the franchise will take as an accomplishment. This franchise is going down the same road as the vikings. Maybe the fans are to blame, maybe we are to accepting of average play.

[GFNER]

Ever since the new owners took over this team has done NOTHING. Paper today says we're very near the salary cap, if that's the case someone should be fired! Don't look for things to get better any time soon. Used to go to about 10 games a season but they won't be seeing any of my $ until I see an honest effort to improve.

[spearchucker]

Most of these problems go back to the previous GM Doug Riseborough. Lots of long term overpriced contracts, bad trades, and letting high dollar players walk in free agency for nothing (Gabby, Rolston, etc). It is going to take a few years to get out from under these bad decisions. We some mediocre players getting big bucks and we can't move then for the required price. The only bad decision that I think the current GM has made was the Barker trade, but there was no way to tell Barker was going to be that bad. He is way overpaid at 3.5 mil.

[Bear55]

Well I didn't have very high expectations going into this season, after getting hot in the 2nd half I was hoping this was our year but obviously the wheels fell off and injuries didn't help our situation.

I am willing to give them a year or two to see what happens. The new GM inherited a pretty average team with zero prospects in the system. The new coach hasn't been the best but he is going to have some growing pains along the way but he might be good in the long run. These guys have only been running the show 2 years so I am willing to see what happens the next couple of years as they try and right the ship.

I know no one want to hear the word patience but I think that is exactly what we will have to deal with over the next couple years.

[Bear55]

I agree the Barker move is the only glaring mistake.

[OnAFly]

Look at the situation they inherited. Like others have said, it's outlook was poor at best.

Poor drafting and expensive signings have crippled the Wild.

Regardless of who was steering the ship, we weren't making a legitimate playoff run any time soon. The only thing that bugs me is the complete lack of will to win once they know the season isn't going to be extended. They should play as hard now as they did day one, it seems like they're just waiting it out to the end.

Once again, the West is much better than the East. We sit 11th in the west and something like 20th overall. Yeah, we have enough points to make it into the playoffs in the east. This means yet another middle of the pack draft pick.

[Bear55]

Once again, the West is much better than the East. We sit 11th in the west and something like 20th overall. Yeah, we have enough points to make it into the playoffs in the east. This means yet another middle of the pack draft pick.

That's what sucks, we are never bad enough to draft the best prospects and never good enough to make a playoff run. Part of me really wonders if we shouldn't have sold the farm and kept a handfull of our best/young players and start over but I remember reading an article last year saying that the owner want to try and win now so here we are stuck in the middle.

[scsavre]

I say play all the young guys the rest of the way.

[OnAFly]

Yep, just think, if we totally rebuilt two years ago and the build took 3 years to start getting a watchable (not necessarily dominant) team, we would be 2/3s the way through it.

Instead we keep getting our #15 draft picks and keep on saying we want a scorer. There are three ways to get a scorer. Draft , FA and trade. We don't have the assets to trade for one. We don't have the money to buy an FA. We place too high to get a solid chance at one come draft day.

We need to do one of the following:

1 - dump salary and hope we don't end up just over paying someone and crippling ourselves further

2 - Trade off core pieces of the team. Might be our best bet as Burns is an FA soon and I don't think we can afford to pay him what others will.

3 - Tank the rest of the season and hope that we fall as far as possible in the standings. This is looking more and more likely every day, though we still need to compete with the east for the toilet bowl.

[Bear55]

I agree call up some young guys and see how high we can fall. No reason we can't get into the top 10, beyond that might be hard with all the terrible teams in the East.

[spearchucker]

Even if we were to get good draft picks we would typically not see them in the NHL for a few years anyway.

[cbrooks]

The Wild should call up Jason Zucker right now or before the weekend anyway

[spearchucker]

The Wild should call up Jason Zucker right now or before the weekend anyway

He can't be any worse than some that we have now.

[Bear55]

You wish brooks, hmmm not a fan of Denver but maybe they aren't so bad any more.

I actually hope the Wild let him stay in Denver one more year and see how it goes. Then pull him out and give him a shot.

spearchucker I would agree that most draft picks take some time but it does seem like more and more of these guys are ready at a younger age.

[OnAFly]

I recently heard he planned to stay in Denver at least another year. I would like to see these kids stay for four myself.

[cbrooks]

Yeah I was just being a troll there. Looking out for my team in College hockey. We could be playing Denver next week.

I think Zucker is gonna be a star in the league in the near future. He should be good for years to come.

[Bear55]

I'm not sure about a star but I would be plenty happy getting a 20 goal scorer out of the 2nd round, that is one big jump from the wcha to the nhl. Anything beyond 20 goals is gravy.