Wild 2013-14 season

[OnAFly]

Our problem since gaborik has been our single line scoring threat. Look at us in the last 5 years. The only time we reliably score goals is when we force other teams to spead out their checking lines on us. This is where Granny came in. He meshed well with Pommer and teams still focused on our top li e. In the mean time, Pommer scored a ton. Now Pommer doesn't have that playmaker next to him and teams can focus on our top li e without much to worry about.

[10,000 Casts]

The top line of Koivu, Parise and Pominville just doesn't work for some reason and it doesn't make sense. It should be a perfect combination of Parise digging, Koivu passing and Pomminville scoring but it just doesn't click like that.

Vanek will demand a high price since NYI traded a lot for him and he's on the decline. Not only that but he'll want to play with Pominville and then what do you do, move Parise to the 2nd line with Granlund and Nino?

[Bear55]

Coyle or Nino on the top line, 2nd line of Granny, Pommers and Vanek would be sweet. Really two first lines.

[archerystud]

I agree that looks sweet for the Wild with an increased cap. If the Wild do sign a big FA like Vanek then I think they move a younger guy or 2. I don't see Brodin, Coyle or Scandella going anywhere. I really like Fontaine as well. Any of those 4 could get an extension over the summer as well.

I think the others could be used as trade bait too.

I'd also like to see a little more size on D

[solbes]

Had a nice Hockey TV night on Saturday. Watched the Dogs get up 3-0 on the Broncos, then give it all back, then get one goal up, and then have a nail biter with penalties & empty net. And also watched the Wild tie it up late and win in the shootout. S-weet.

Schedule doesn't get much easier for the Wild. Canucks at home, then 4 roadies against the Pens, Rangers, Flyers, and Jets. I feel like we have to win this home game and take 2/4 on the road to keep up.

[10,000 Casts]

As long as Harding stays hot and they keep the All Star on the 4th line, they'll be fine. Granlund might be back tomorrow too. I have a feeling Koivu is about to go on a tear! I'm calling it now, 5 goals in the next 5 games for Koivu.

[OnAFly]

I hope they don't bring Granny back too soon again. Make sure he's 100% and then get him out there.

Winnable game against a tough opponent tonight. Should be fun to watch! (unless we go into turtle mode )

[Bear55]

Canucks are on a hot streak right now, I would really love to crush them and put an end to it.

[Abndoc]

When can we get a legitimate head coach! I tired of watching same dump and chase hockey. Boring no scoring! Yeo needs to go! We are going know where!!!!

[OnAFly]

The only thing that makes me disagree with this is the fact that for the first part of the season we were firing on all cylinders and playing some really good hockey (even if we weren't getting rewarded).

I don't know what happened to that but I want it back. Now we play perimeter hockey and we suck at board battles (Heatley actually won one last night ).

[RK]

Nice win last night against one of the hottest teams in the league.

I agree that they haven't had the same level of play lately, but you kind of started to see it come back in the 3rd period last night. Yeah, there was a lot of perimeter play at times, but look at how Vancouver plays in their own zone. They collapse down below the dots and clog the lanes very very well - they're a Tortorella team and they don't give up much.

I think what we've really seen the last couple weeks is how badly they need Granlund back. Coyle just isn't the same kind of center, and without Granlund the second line could never get going. So they end up messing with the first line too, out of necessity, and pretty soon nobody's in synch. Last couple games with Haula the second line was a lot more dangerous. They'll be better yet when Granny's back and back up to speed. With Granlund's vision and passing ability, Nino going to the front of the net and Pomminville shooting, that line takes on a whole different dynamic.

The notion of firing Yeo at this point is insane.

They're in a playoff position in the toughest conference in the league, and three points out of second place in the toughest division in the league. They've won 2 of 3 from the defending Cup champions. They're in the top 10 in both PP % and goals against. They aren't an elite team, but they're a very very good one despite having some very young players (Granlund, Coyle, Nino, Scandella, Fontaine, Haula) playing huge minutes. Yes, they need to score more. So do most of the teams in the league if you ask their coaches and fans. Or, they need to not give up so many goals. Every team is flawed somehow. Would you trade places with Florida or Edmonton or the Islanders or Sabres? Because those are the kinds of teams that fire coaches in mid-season. Not teams that are #8 in the West and 3 points out of 3rd in the conference.

Seriously...

[Bear55]

Nice to get the extra point. Coaching is fine, we are good but clearly not one of the top teams in a stacked conference and I am cool with that. We are miles better than we use to be and have the potential to improve, not sure what else you can ask for. I just hope we get/stay healthy and go on a hot streak at the end of the year.

[10,000 Casts]

Haula has looked good. He wasn't even on my radar at the begining of the season so it's nice to see him step up while they wait for Zucker to come around.

It's not Yeo's fault they can't score goals, IMO, he has done all the right things given what he has to work with.

[Abndoc]

Harding on injured reserve! Thats not good!! What Yeo has to work with is the most talented wild team ever and we can't score...that's coaching and game planning!!

[schmitty3]

Harding back on the ir to change up his meds I believe? Not 100% sure on that but hope he isn't out too long. Plan is to have him back the 27th. Hopefully Backstrom can step up.

[OnAFly]

Back off from the ledge. It's going to be ok.

This looks very planned. Hopefully all goes well with Harding and his meds.

[10,000 Casts]

Besides Parise and Pomminville, who's a talented goal scorer in your eyes?

[schmitty3]

Ya sounds like a planned thing with the holiday coming up. Just hope Backstrom looks better than he has in his last few games.

[OnAFly]

Nederrieter, Zucker, Coyle have the tools to be. These guys are all 21. Lots of development left (I hope).

We need to stop playing Coyle at C. He's much better as a winger.

[Bear55]

Harding on injured reserve! Thats not good!! What Yeo has to work with is the most talented wild team ever and we can't score...that's coaching and game planning!!

This is true in a sense, we might be more talented that the team that won the division in 2008 but half that talent is very young. You also have to look at the rest of the league, the west is stacked and there are 5 teams clearly better than we are right now. We slot in somewhere in the 6-9 range. If we played in the East we might be a 3-6th team, just the way it goes. Until the young guys find their stride and we get consistent secondary scoring we will be up and down.

[RK]

Nederrieter, Zucker, Coyle have the tools to be. These guys are all 21. Lots of development left (I hope).

We need to stop playing Coyle at C. He's much better as a winger.

This...

Nino, Coyle, Granlund will all be good scorers but they're all young, and all basically in their first full season in the NHL. I know Coyle played last year and Nino played on the Island, but Nino was in and out of the lineup and on the 4th line play 6-8 min a game when he played at all. For all practical purposes, they're rookies. Frankly as many young guys as we have playing big roles, I'm amazed we're doing as well as we are. Look at Coyle - as good as he can be at times his game is still a little up and down. Granlund has to learn what he can and can't do in an NHL game, and learn how to make space for himself on the ice. Nino is finding his niche as a net front guy... They've developed a lot already but all of them have more room to grow, which is pretty exciting as a fan.

There are also some guys down on the farm - Graovac, Bussieres, Philips - that can score. Zucker - I'm starting to doubt him a little. Doesn't seem able to step up and play a consistent game at this level yet. And I do NOT get the fascination some Wild fans have with him.

The kid I've been excited to see is Bulmer. He kind of got bit by the injury bug which set him back a bit but man do I like him. Big body, good skills and a mean streak... Loved his game since he's been up with the Wild.

[Bear55]

Zucker just needs more time, he's got the tools to be a great scoring winger for us but has to figure out the rest of his game. Nothing wrong with letting him grow in the AHL. Granlund wasn't ready last year, still spent time with the team but he came in ready this year after a disappointing start. Zucker kind of started hot and then faded.

[10,000 Casts]

Completely agree and I think the coaching and game planning has been very good.

And it's good to hear you like Bulmer, I haven't been watching him that close but I like his mean streak too and he's 21, 6'3" 193lbs and he'll only get bigger and better.

[bbfenatic]

Harding on injured reserve! Thats not good!! What Yeo has to work with is the most talented wild team ever and we can't score...that's coaching and game planning!!

Listening to Yeo's post game it seems like he is not happy they are playing "out on the fringes" and not getting more play to the middle where more goals are scored so even though I have criticized Yeo in the past I have come to like his overall strategy and if the players work the system they do well. I don't think they will ever be an offensive juggernaut under Yeo but they are better than they have been in recent years. They are a little short on talent IMO but if they play with consistent intensity and the goaltending holds up they should sneak into the playoffs..then anything can happen.......we'll see how this plays out I guess.

[OnAFly]

What I don't like to see with our young core right now is the inconsistency with which they are used. Lines change constantly inside of games, no one has time to develop chemistry, positions are changing. All these things make it more difficult on these young guys. This is another spot where Granny's injury is hurting us. Maybe back this weekend

Zucker needs to find his consistency. He's shown flashes, but then looks lost the next game. I don't know if he needs to watch a couple games from the press box or watch more film and look at the things he's done right or what.