Wild 2013-14 season

[Bryce]

Good to see Rupp light that kid up. That should help slow down some of the runs that have been taking place.

[OnAFly]

The problem is that the Kadri's of the NHL don't fight. If someone tries, they turtle, then keep on going on with their business of running our guys.

[CaptainMusky]

Big game coming up against the Hawks. We are in a tough spot right now. Have played 4 more games that Colorado and BEHIND them in the standings. We need this one against Chicago.

[10,000 Casts]

Thank God it's a home game.. First because I hate that stupid tune they play after goals in Chi and 2nd, we have a chance..

[echotrail]

Thank God it's a home game.. First because I hate that stupid tune they play after goals in Chi and 2nd, we have a chance..

Regarding the tune they play in Chicago, I hate it so much I'll watch while holding the remote with my finger on the mute button.

Exciting game last night. When we got up 2-0 I thought they won't let the Hawks score three in row and get behind. But the Wild didn't cave in, it was a great finish without letting them get a point.

[solbes]

I wasn't home to watch the first two periods but what a roller coaster third. Hawks sniping those two goals and then the nice come back from our Blueliners. I was fist pumping that Brodin goal since I thought we were going to come away with no points.

I believe we are actually up 2-1 on the Hawks right now. Nice!

[Bear55]

Great win, was pretty worried when we went down 3-2 but unlike years past we seem to step up and win games when it counts.

[OnAFly]

What a roller coaster of a third! I was doing a little yelling when Brodin and Scandella scored from the points. Chicago was making sure we got nothing down low and we actually made them pay. For once, a team got a scouting report on us and we adjusted. Has Yeo figured something out here?

Anyone else notice our guys falling down a lot. Looked like everyone was losing edges all over the place for the Wild. Lot's of goofy passing in the first two periods too. Like...into the chest of the guy 10 ft away. Was this just me?

[Bear55]

Ya I was doing a little hooting and hollering too. Columbus tonight, might as well steamroll them and fire up another winning streak. Gaborik and Horton are injured, we should be able to take them even if those guys were healthy.

[archerystud]

I thought Haula looked good last night. Much faster than one of our second line wings. I'd love to see him on the second line with Coyle. Move the heater down and bring up Haula or Fontaine.

The TV announcers were talking about the third line and how well that line clicks. I agree with them and think they need to leave Cooke, Brodz an Mitchell seem to work great together.

[OnAFly]

Well that was just...

Backstrom wth?

[schmitty3]

Ya I know you can't win when you don't score, but Backstrom wow. He looks completely lost out there. Even the ones he saves look terrible.

[Bear55]

Going to pretend I didn't watch that game last night, please take Heatley off the 2nd line and any and all PP. Really hate that he has found a way to produce a little bit and get "promoted" because for every good thing he does there are 10 things that make you just shake your head. Anyone outside of Konopka and maybe Rupp on the 2nd line makes them much more dangerous.

[10,000 Casts]

We just never know which Wild team will show up, will it be the team that runs over the best team in the league or the team that gives up 41 shots and 4 ginos against the worst team in the league?

[Bear55]

Not too worried about it, we were playing back to back and sometimes after a big win (Chicago) there can be a let down of sorts. Columbus hasn't played since Tuesday and just like the wild of old they can win games against better teams by working hard and getting some puck luck. Backs hasn't looked all that great this year either but when you put up a goose egg you deserve to lose.

[OnAFly]

Great win against SJ. Ignoring that Columbus pukefest, we've strung a couple nice games together. Onto ANA and SJ...back to back...then COL. This is a tough stretch. I'll be happy to get 3pts out of the next 3 games.

[solbes]

Agree this stretch of games is brutal. But it you look at strength of our last 3 opponents, it has gone exactly opposite of what you'd exect. Thank you Josh for stealing a win last night!

Maybe we can pull out a victory agains one of the two Cali teams and beat Colorado. I'd be plenty happy with that.

[Bear55]

Thank you Josh for stealing a win last night!

Yep that was all on Harding! We only put like 12 or 13 shots on goal.

Wow has Harding stepped up big time this year, as long as his MS doesn't flare up we are going to be set in goal for a while. Good too because the youngsters need a some seasoning.

[Bear55]

Ouch PMB just got waived, not doing well on the island. Speaking of former Wild forwards anyone miss this guys? Seto does have 7 goals but I'm glad we got a 2nd rounder for him, had a feeling he would have bolted after this season anyway.

PMB 9 points in 28 games

Cluttbuck 5 in 25

Cullen 13 in 30

Seto 16 in 30

[Bear55]

Also just saw that the cap could be 71M next year, talk about a huge boost!!! We could keep Heatley and sign Vanek! Ya totally kidding about Heater.

looking at next season we have 51m tied up in contracts so we have the potential for 20m in spending money. Have to sign Zucker, Nino, and Fontain, all are RFA. Of the UFA Stoner might be worth a sign, don't mind him in a limited roll and he is one of the few big bodies out there. Other UFA are Heater, Prosser, and Konopka. H & P are probably gone, Konopka I don't know and don't care too much either way.

The BIG consideration is the next off season - Brodin, Coyle, Granlund, and Scandella are all RFA and will likely all get pay raises so we will need a nice chunk of change to sign them.

Also really like the way Scandella has been playing, our D are looking kind of solid right now.

[Hester]

Well put bear, very good info

[OnAFly]

That was the big question a few years back. Are we gonna do the same thing that Chicago did for their first recent cup and have to gut our team because we have too many young players all wanting raises at once. This cap number helps us out in that regard.

BTW, where would Vanek fit on our team? Does that put Coyle as a 2nd line winger? Then what with Nino? Not sure he's really 3rd line material. Maybe we look at trading some guys in the off season for picks. Could be interesting.

[blue_healer_guy]

Arent we at a position of just signing our young guys. No new free agents. we have heard for 2 yrs how good they are. more signings, less chance for them. Or are they really not what they thought they were? Never played hockey, but always followed the wild and understand the game. I have wondered since day 1, we lack scoring. With all the additions and our "supposed" youth, is that gonna get better?

[10,000 Casts]

Either the young guys need to start scoring more or we need to sign someone in the offseason. IMO the only pure goal scorer we have is pominville. I'd like to see us pick up a center that can score 30 goals so they have an option of whether to keep Koivu on the top line or move him to the 2nd line then Granlund can center a very good third line. IMO we don't need another winger/vanek and Zucker will come around! (I hope) I'd rather they pick up 2 more top 6 D or a top tier goalie. Konopka is as good as gone, he has been on the trade block since last year and Brodziak can center the 4th line where he belongs.

I just looked at the free agent pool and there aren't any good options at center so we'd have to trade for one and if that is the case then I'd rather go after Vanek or Callahan.

[Bear55]

To start, I'd like another top end D on this team but we seem to play great team defense and might not need spend the money back there. Plus Harding has really broken out this year so that whole end of the ice is less of a problem.

Now scoring goals has always been a problem for us so I think if you can sign Vanek at a reasonable price you do it! For sure its a gamble and we might run into cap issues down the road but we will have a few years where the vets are still in their prime and the young guys aren't making a ton of money yet. The young guys are starting to produce but I can't say any of them have broken out this year to the point where they are going to carry us. A guy like Vanek might just be the one to help us get over the hump.