Wild off season

[Bear55]

I know not Wild news but kind of a shocker here. Kovalchuk retires at 30.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=427507

[Bear55]

Sounds like the Wild signed Jonathan Blum to a two-way contract. Guy has had a rough couple of years but looked very good as a rookie. Still pretty young too at only 24, was a 1st round pick in 07 with good offensive numbers. A low risk high reward signing, if he can find his game we just struck gold.

[bbfenatic]

Fletch also signed Landry; another D-Man along with this Blum....if either sees NHL time with the Wild this year we are in deep do-do.......IMO.

I am just not seeing it yet and really concerned for the Wild.....I hope they surprise me!

[Bear55]

Landry won't see the NHL but Blum has a very good chance to get some playing time this year and could be good for us IF and that is a big if, he can turn his game around. He is very much a reclamation project but very good risk/reward type of player. Still only 24.

[10,000 Casts]

If Cooke can clean up his act, if Niño can improve on a new team, if Blum can improve he will be a steal. If Granlund can improve. If Backstrom can last the shole season. If if if if if, there are just too many ifs for me right now. It will make things very interesting.

[Bear55]

Like I said before a lot of out future depends on how the kids develop, we need a deep team to compete and they are our depth right now. With the cap going down there also was not a lot of moves we could make anyway, especially when Heatley got injured.

I do feel pretty confident in the kids will contributing more than last year, we also get a full year of Pominville and he should easily add 60-75 points to the offense.

We are basically sitting in the same spot as last season except we have a much better 1st line winger and the kids have some experience under their belts, what is not to like other than the same ???'s on defensive depth.

[Port.Winterhawk]

If its & buts were CANDY and NUTS oh what a CHRISTMAS we'll have. Every team has issues. MINNESOTA WILD are deep, young, and will be skating in JUNE. No doubt. Too much talent and too many deep prospects to think otherwise.

[10,000 Casts]

It could be worse, we could be the Twins and have 7 former players in the all star game..

[CaptainMusky]

It could be worse, we could be the Twins and have 7 former players in the all star game..

LOVE IT!!!

[Finlander]

7 former players in the all star game and the Polads who are the richest owners in baseball couldn't afford them! WHAT!

[bbfenatic]

Like I said before a lot of out future depends on how the kids develop, we need a deep team to compete and they are our depth right now. With the cap going down there also was not a lot of moves we could make anyway, especially when Heatley got injured.

I do feel pretty confident in the kids will contributing more than last year, we also get a full year of Pominville and he should easily add 60-75 points to the offense.

We are basically sitting in the same spot as last season except we have a much better 1st line winger and the kids have some experience under their belts, what is not to like other than the same ???'s on defensive depth.

Good article in East Side Fish Wrap Factory today with Fletch discussing new and slightly improved team and Bear has hit it on the head....they are relying mostly on the "kids" improving. Lower cap this year prompted his moves. I feel better after reading what went into his thinking, sounds like Haula may even get a chance to fill Cullen's spot.

[CaptainMusky]

From what I heard Haula was shining at the camp last week.

[crothmeier]

I'm a firm believer that we will be considerably better than last year if we stay healthy.

We missed Heatly last year at the end. We had nobody to camp out in front of the net.

Being 0 for a million on the powerplay in the blackhawks series killed us. Any goalie can look great with a clear view of every shot coming at him.

Ballard for Gilbert is an upgrade.

Cooke for clutterbuck is an even trade, maybe a upgrade uptick on offense.

Rhe kids have a year under their belt. Zucker, Brodin, Granlund will be the future of the team along with suter and parise.

Im excited for this season. There's nothing better than Hockey!

[Improvedarock]

The wild should be a 4-6 seed playoff team for sure. It's gonna be a good year to see the hawks northstars rival reborn. We will be better team with 4 soild lines which is need to survive a season and a playoff run. Granlund should start to make his magic happen anytime. He showed great effort, and no fear in his rookie season. He's right there on the verge to explode his talents at the NHL level. All our rookies are gonna be better and more motivated to beat Chicago. Only disappointment was not going after clarkson in free agency. We need a player that that! Matt Cooke is spent and a total hack! Bad move hopefully I'm wrong. Can't wait for the new season to begin.

[Port.Winterhawk]

I think the Cooke signing is a great move. He is like Clutter but with more offensive upside. I have to admit that it would [PoorWordUsage] me off when Cooke would stir the pot and head for his bench but hey, he knows how to draw a penalty......I believe the Winnipeg Jets will be our new big rival. We had Lots of interaction with JETS fans at the X last time around. It wasnt pretty and reminded me alot of the hAwKS games at the OLD MET CENTER.

[Bear55]

I think we got about two weeks to training camp. Should be a fun and interesting season. Lots of youngsters competing for spots and a whole new division. I'm not expecting a ton this year unless some of the youngsters step it up but I feel next year could be our year.

[Improvedarock]

I think the this could be year for a run. If backstrom gets a break instead of using him like a goverment mule this year, he may get real hot in the playoffs. If heatly stays with us and is in good shape who knows? Zucker, coyle, grandlund and and maybe Matt Cooke? A lot can happen in a season, but a heathly wild lineup heading into the playoffs could do some damage. We played with Chicago last year with a nightmare goalie issue and no poms and heatly. That's a lot right there!

[Port.Winterhawk]

Improvedarock-

I agree 100%.

[10,000 Casts]

I hope you guys are right! But too many big IF's for me. Heatley is a big if, Backs is a big if, Harding is a big if, Granlund is a big if, Ballard is a big if.

On the other hand, the top line has potential to be unbelievable, the power play could be one of the best in the league and we are tougher and I think Zucker scores 15 goals and Cookie scores 10 which is a huge improvement over Clutterbuck and PMB. As long as Backs isn't a Siv in the 2nd half of the season, I think we squeak into the 8th spot and are one and done

And we don't need any sophomore slumps from Coyle and Brodin!!

[Improvedarock]

Every team has ifs! Look what Boston did to the best team on paper last year in the playoffs. Coyle and Zucker are going to be that much better this year. Grandlund is learning playing at the NHL level and will succeed this year. Brodin is a top 5 d man in the league. Ballard is a lot better than wuss bag Gilbert. He was a women if u asked me lol! Mikko has potential if he stays focused. Skol wild! F da bi-queens!

[Port.Winterhawk]

Improvedarock-

You are a HOCKEY genius. SKOL WILD, F da Byqueens.

I am stoked for start of camp.

[fishing tech]

I don't like to make prediction because injuries can play such a big part in season outcomes. I have always been a fan of Ballard and like the way he plays. Cooke is on our side now. If the goalies make the saves that they should and rob a 1 or 2 chances a game the Wild will be fun to watch. Parise, Coyle, Zucker, Pommer, Suter, and Brodin will be the leaders.

[Bear55]

Soon!

Wednesday

Players report for three-week training camp.

Thursday

First day on the ice for team at Ridder Arena.

Sept. 17

First of six preseason games, vs. Columbus at Xcel.

Oct. 1

The realigned NHL begins the 2013-14 season.

Oct. 3

Wild season opener vs. Los Angeles at Xcel.

[10,000 Casts]

Zenon Konopka replacement aka David Steckel is going to try out for the wild.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/222962931.html

[10,000 Casts]

After the first day of training camp it sounds like Heatley is in much better shape than last year and he has been taking power skating lessons this off season. Good chance he'll be on the third line with Granlund