Wild 2013-14 season

[CaptainMusky]

I don't believe anyone would give us a 1st round pick for koivu.

[OnAFly]

Koivu has a NTC. Last night was terrible. How do we play down to the competition every time.

[bbfenatic]

I agree...that's why I said it would take someone "hungry enough" for a rental player to give up a 1st rounder for him....a team making a run and short a productive center due to injury or whatever.

And as far as an NTC, those are broken more than they are enforced so that is never an issue when both sides are on the same page...player wants out, mgmt wants him gone.

[10,000 Casts]

Do you think Koivu wants out?

[OnAFly]

I don't think that Koivu or the Wild want out of that deal.

[Lahey]

I heard he is getting dealt to Toronto.

[Lahey]

Also heard the wild are trying to make a blockbuster trade with Toronto players I heard are koviu, heatly, Brodin. Toronto players mentioned where phanuff and kardi. Heard that from a friend who works in media.

[10,000 Casts]

No thanks!

[RK]

People, people....

It's silly season for trade rumors right now. When you see a proposed trade floated by the rumor mill, step back and think rationally for half a second.

Koivu, Brodin and Heately to the Leafs?

Even having been out, Koivu is still tied for the team lead in assists, has 35 points in 45 games, wins 55% + of his draws, and is the team Captain for a reason - he's a leader who plays the right way, plays in all situations... Wild fans hate on the guy, and it baffles me. No, he's not an elite goal scorer, but 30 other teams would take him in a second.

Brodin? Top 10 pick, arguably got snubbed for the Calder last year, plays top pair minutes, PP and PK...is an elite skater, and oh yeah - he's *20*. This is the kind of blueliner that you build a franchise around. So yeah...let's trade him for a couple rentals. Sure thing.

Heately - you could argue he'd be a potential trade, but his salary makes him tough to move to a contender, since you're likely to get picks/prospects back, and most of the teams are already dealing with limited cap space as it is. Heately hasn't been stellar, but he's still 4th on the team in goals. Have to remember too what the trade that brought him here was... Martin Havlat has 8 points in 25 games, is perpetually hurt, and a permanent resident in the coach's doghouse in San Jose. Heately hasn't been a star, but it's still a trade we won by a mile...

And the thought of giving up ANYTHING for Clarkson? A whopping 8 points and a -5 in 35 games? Get real.

Right now there are way more teams that think they're still in it than know they're out of it - IOW more buyers than sellers. The sellers aren't looking for a rental to add depth for a stretch run, they're looking for picks and prospects, neither of which a building team like the Wild are likely to give up. The Wild did the Pomminville deal last year to add a first line winger they were confident they could sign long term. They can't do that every year.

Doug Reisbrough gave away picks like they were souvenir beer cups, and that's a huge reason why the Wild were so average for so long. We're only a couple years removed from the days when Antti Miettenen was a first line winger and our first call-ups from the AHL were guys like Carson McMillian and Robbie Earl. They had no organizational depth, and were one Koivu injury away from complete disaster. It's taken several years to build organizational depth back up to where the Wild are even kind of competitive. It will take a couple more before they're contenders.

Seriously people... Common sense. Try it sometime.

[Bear55]

Trade Koivu? He11s no! We finally have some center depth and that is a great thing to have. You trade him you are already looking for someone just like him to skate on one of the top lines. Now if Coyle could figure out how to at least get close to 50/50 on faceoffs we would have 3 quality centers.

[Bear55]

Heately hasn't been stellar, but he's still 4th on the team in goals. Have to remember too what the trade that brought him here was... Martin Havlat has 8 points in 25 games, is perpetually hurt, and a permanent resident in the coach's doghouse in San Jose. Heately hasn't been a star, but it's still a trade we won by a mile...

We made out on this deal, both players suck but Heaters contract is up after this season, Havlat has one more year left.

[10,000 Casts]

4th on a team that's #27 in goals for and one of the worst in the league on defense and +/- on a team that's one of the best on team D.. Less than stellar is an understatement and I don't think any team in their right mind would take him even if he was making the league minimum.

There's really not a whole lot of players/trades out there right now that would make sense for us.

[Bear55]

Anyone else see the report the Vanek turned down a sizeable offer from the Islander and they plan to trade him. I don't really care where he ends up but I sure like the idea of him hitting the open market this summer.

[Bear55]

There's really not a whole lot of players/trades out there right now that would make sense for us.

Yep kind of hope they don't make any major moves right now, very much ok with what we have. This has always kind of been an evaluation year anyway, we aren't a real cup threat and the kids need to keep gaining experience.

[10,000 Casts]

I read somewhere that they wanted to sign him by the olymipic break and they threw an offer at him and were waiting. the Isles were doing pretty good and almost back into a playoff spot and now their back in last after losing the last 5 so I bet that doesn't help matters..

Do you think it would be possible for the isles to trade him before the deadline?

[RK]

I think Vanek goes somewhere by the deadline. Isles are going nowhere this season, and their organizational depth is kiddie pool deep. Also don't see them getting better any time soon as long as Snow is running the circus from the monkey cage there. Makes you feel for a supremely talented guy like Tavares stuck in that mess...

I think they trade him for picks/prospects/depth players to a contender. Strib writer brought up the Kings as possible destination, and that makes a lot of sense. They have a lot of pieces for another cup run, but have a popgun offense all of a sudden. Have to think he'd be a pure rental though with Kopitar, Richards, Carter and Brown already signed to some pretty hefty long term deals, and guys like Stoll, Toffoli, etc., due paydays coming off entry level deals or coming up as RFAs...

Also have to think the Wild takes a run at him in July. Guy lives in Stillwater in the offseason, is very good friends with Pomminville...

Also think there's no sense to the Wild trying to trade for him now. Why give up anything for him when you can get him as a UFA in the summer, especially since a real run in the playoffs this year isn't realistic anyhow.

This whole dynamic is what made the Buffalo trade to the Isles such a head-scratcher earlier this season. Doesn't sound like either player will sign long term, and both are on the block again. What did either side gain?

[OnAFly]

Did anyone else see this coming

Can they move him at the deadline, probably. Will they get back what they paid for him...oh god no. They screwed themselves on this one...once again.

The Isle continues to be the laughing stock of the NHL, deservedly so.

Oh yeah, and no one in their right mind would make that Koivu trade. I can only assume there was some trolling going on there.

Also, Nazim Kadri will be out of the league within 5 years.

[10,000 Casts]

The Isles traded Moulson, a 1st and a 2nd rounder and the Vanek turns down a rumored 7 yr $50m deal.. OUCH! I also hope we just sit tight and make an offer this offseason.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hock...ly-to-be-traded

[Lahey]

Chatter today is koviu wants out. Also talks with Toronto continue.

[RK]

Chatter today is koviu wants out. Also talks with Toronto continue.

Chatter today is the same as it was yesterday... 10% semi-informed speculation, 90% garbage.

[bbfenatic]

Chatter today is the same as it was yesterday... 10% semi-informed speculation, 90% garbage.

But Trade Deadlines do increase site usage

[Bear55]

Chatter today is koviu wants out. Also talks with Toronto continue.

I like this guy, he's funny.

Vanek will fetch a nice package at the trade deadline but the Isles gave up a lot for him. I can kind of see why they did it, they made the playoffs last year and started bad so it was a shakeup move that backfired on them.

[RK]

The Isles gave up Moulson, a 1st and a 2nd round pick for a mid-season rental that they had almost no shot at resigning before he went to UFA. Players get one, maybe two shots at a big payday in their careers, and this is Vanek's first chance at being a UFA on the market. What they gave up for him was insane, and if they can't get something back for him in a trade and he walks as a UFA for nothing, it's a disaster. The Vanek trade, Nino for Clutterbuck, signing PMB then waiving him... Vintage Garth Snow.

[10,000 Casts]

The only talk I've heard on Koivu is where are they going to put him when he comes back now that Gran is w/Pom and Parise and Heatley clicked with Zucker and Coyle and the 3rd line is Nino/Brodziak/fontaine.

Seems like an easy fix and put Koivu on the 2nd line with Nino and Fontaine.. and move Brodziak to the 4th line where he belongs and you have a mean third line with Zucker, Coyle and Mr. 50in07.

[OnAFly]

Fully agree with everything above!