Wild 2013-14 season

[mojogunter]

Who would trade for Backstrom? I can't imagine anyone would with his contract, with his play this year, and his always being hurt. Snow is the biggest moron among the nhl GM's. He would be our only hope, but that won't happen. On a side note as to the guy with the kiovu trade rumors and him wanting to be traded. Is he a maple leaf fan making a joke, or just mentally challenged out of touch fan?

[Bear55]

Backstrom has a "Modified NTC/NMC" whatever that means so that might be the major road block to trading him. After that I dont' know if he would be impossible to move but it won't be easy. Without this injury he is still a quality goalie but at his age and status it won't be easy.

Just did some googling and a Modified NTC/NMC might be he has to submit a list of teams similar to Heatley but I still can't be sure on that.

[Westy]

What about mike yoe the guy has all this talent and ?????? he is ????? ride the storm yoe you don't deserve one penny, you should donate your island to the fans DUMB one-just-like-silly-me I will not buy a ticket till you are gone. DUMB one-just-like-silly-me

[Bear55]

?

I think Yoe is doing fine, Parise, Koivu, Spurgeon and Harding went down and we actually gained some ground in the standings. Aside from that one slump we have been great.

You might want to check on that talent we have, half of it is still young. The teams above us in the standings are better than us right now save for maybe Colorado but they have some insane young talent, LA is behind us but I don't think anyone would say we are the better team.

People need to have realistic expectations and have "some" ability to evaluate other teams in the league. We are far better off that we once were but not likely a top 10 team in the NHL. Yet!

[OnAFly]

Thursday can't come soon enough.

[Bear55]

Yep time to get back on the horse and make that last push. 23 games to go and we are sitting in 6th in the west. LA right on our tail, Dallas, Phoenix, Vancouver knocking on the door and even Nash & Winnipeg are in the hunt. Pretty big 10 point gap to Colorado but you never know.

[10,000 Casts]

It's going to be close! I don't see the Canucks continuing their downslide and I bet the Wild will have to play well to slide into the 8th spot.

[OnAFly]

I'm hoping that if the Wild have any transactions before March 5th, it's for a defenseman or a very, very low cost insurance goalie which includes no assets leaving MN.

[PierBridge]

NHL Center Ice package is FREE for the next week at least on Direct TV..

Go Wild!

[RK]

Excited to see the Wild back on the ice tonight.

Really, from here on in the Wild can realistically just do what they're doing now - hold on to one of the two wildcard spots. Barring a total collapse by Colorado (10 pts up on the Wild) which is unlikely, it doesn't matter if the Wild is ahead of teams in the conference like LA. So games like Friday's in Vancouver, one of the teams chasing the Wild, are huge, huge games. I think we have 5 points on them now, and turning that into 7 would be a big leap. You have to beat the teams chasing you.

As far as the deadline, I really don't see the Wild being too active honestly. Look at the big picture. Right now they're a Wildcard team at best. If they get into the playoffs their likely first round opponents are Anaheim, St Louis or Chicago. How much are you willing to give up for a rental to give yourself a marginally better chance of making a playoff run? Worth a good young player, or even a depth player, plus a pick or two? I sure don't think so. The Wild dealt for Pomminville because he had term left on his deal, they had assets they could afford to let go (anyone seen Hackett's numbers? Compare them to Kuemper... Although I did like Larsson) and they were pretty confident they'd get him to sign. That worked out. I think this season is a little different. Wild will have a lot of cap space this summer, and a pretty compelling case to make to a potential free agent that this is a team heading in the right direction. To me makes a lot more sense long term to hang on to the assets we have and sign players this summer vs. getting a rental.

[bbfenatic]

RK....you are spot on with the fact that wins need to come against those chasing us....that will put us in the playoffs for sure IMO. As far as holding on to the younguns we have; I'd rather they try and upgrade with some experience to bolster a playoff run. I am not so enamored with our young talent as some on here and if the opportunity is offered I hope they pull the trigger....but my guess is that is doubtful as most at this time would be looking to do the same....unload some youth for a possible proven player to push through the playoffs.

[10,000 Casts]

On the trade sites, they are saying that teams are asking for a 1st rd pick and a prospect for even marginal players. I agree that I don't see them going anything big at this point but what about Byfuglien? he seems to be availible and he has a few years left on his contract and imo would be worth a pick and a couple prospects.

[RK]

The only area of need I'd maybe like to see them address at the deadline is in goal, with both Harding and Backstrom having health issues. Thing is what do you do? Get a serviceable backup and give Kuemper the net? I think he's earned it, but you still have to have a #2 that can win you games, and who's out there? Or do you mortgage the farm for a #1 like Miller that's a rental that'll want a high value contract to resign as a UFA? What's the greater need long term - in net, or someone who can put it in the net like a Vanek?

Interesting to see what happens...

[bbfenatic]

On the trade sites, they are saying that teams are asking for a 1st rd pick and a prospect for even marginal players. I agree that I don't see them going anything big at this point but what about Byfuglien? he seems to be availible and he has a few years left on his contract and imo would be worth a pick and a couple prospects.

If Byfuglien were on the block I'd give Koivu and a prospect for him in a heart beat! Very versatile, can play forward or D very well, moves the puck well and captains the powerplay as good as any.

[OnAFly]

IMO, if they are going for Miller, they better either know they are resigning him for a reasonable amount and a short term (2-3yrs) or they better give up next to nothing (Which I doubt will happen).

If they go for Brodeur, I hope we give up next to nothing. They guys numbers the last couple years are not good. This is not 2000 Brodeur. The guy is 41.

Big Buff, tough to say. Depends on the cap hit, but he would be nice to have. Physicality, PP, offensive minded, those are the good things. The bad, he's been a minus player most of his NHL career. That includes his time with the dominant Blackhawks. At 265, he's not the fastest guy on the ice either.

[Bear55]

Buff would be interesting but never at the cost of Koivu. Just think for a second how nice it will be to have TWO quality centers, I don't care who is 1 and who is 2 we need that depth for any chance to advance in the playoffs. Just because Granlund is starting to show some skills doesn't mean we need to dump Koivu because he's expendable. That Coyle Heater Nino line looked good for a while last night, just imagine them with Koivu instead of Heater, that line could dominate out there.

[bbfenatic]

Winning without Koivu has me realizing he is quite expendable....he's on the downside anyway, Buff would fill some big body holes both upfront and/or at D is what I am thinking....he moves the puck so well and is very unselfish and very tough. My guess is we will ride with what we have but I am always of the mindset of "no better time than now" and don't like the "next year" mantra. Plus for Jets to do this they'd be more interested in the Other Player as Koivu alone would not get this done IMO.

[Bear55]

Winning a playoff spot and winning in the playoffs are two very different things. For years we have lacked depth at center and really depth, now that we finally have those things there is no reason to mess with them.

I've said all along the kids need to mature for us to really compete, if we can be a little patient the next 5 years are going to rock. Just wait until Granlund, Brodin, Coyle and Nino start hitting their prime. Lot of these kids don't even have 100 NHL games under their belts yet. The time is soon but probably not this year. Just look at the west, if we get out of the first round it will be a big upset. Might happen might not, but next season could be our year with the right moves and a couple of youngers breaking out/becoming more consistent.

[10,000 Casts]

Any player in Heatley's spot will be a huge improvement and that's probably the main reason I am so positive about this team's future. As far as a goalie, Kuemper is 9-2-2?!?!?! I say ride him as far as you can! And hopefully that ride lasts for another 10 years.. He is a RFA after this year and if he finishes out the year strong, I say lock him up for a few years or more and spend that cap space on defense and keep Backstrom for a back up. How many teams have a 23 year old starting goalie???? not many and that would be a huge advantage cap wise.

Koivu is a valuable piece to the puzzle imo. yes, they've been winning without him but he is a 2 way shutdown center with a high win percentage.. He may not put in 30-40 goals a year but he is solid in every other category.

[RK]

Even if it were Buff + picks and prospect coming this way, I still wouldn't trade him for Koivu. Yeah he's got a big point shot, but defensively he's a huge liability. He has a lot of points this year (44) but good Lord he's also a -16. Even our stay at home guys who never score (Stoner and Ballard) aren't even close to that bad on their +/-.

I'd much rather see Granlund on the top line than Koivu because he's a better playmaker with more offense. But Koivu is a horse and as solid a two way player as they come, wins 55% of his draws and plays in all situations. In the big picture I'd rather see Coyle on the wing that at C anyhow, and a Heately - Koivu - Coyle line is pretty solid. (Imagine it with Vanek at LW instead of Heately...).

I know tons of Wild fans hate on Koivu, and I just do not get it...

[OnAFly]

+1 on Granlund 1C, Koivu 2C

Granlund has shown himself to be a better offensive threat and Koivu can still do something with Nino.

Koivu gets ripped because he doesn't score 30G+ per year.

The "no better time than now" mantra gets you in big trouble sometimes.

[CaptainMusky]

Blues gave up a ton for miller. They better hope they can resign him or what a waste.

[knoppers]

wild looked sluggish tonight, but still get the 2 points. during the shoot out, lots of bad shots both teams, they didn't move the goalie out at all.

[Bear55]

Should have won that game in regulation, not sure how that ref still has a job after calling off that goal.

Gotta be happy with 4 point on back to back road games!

Kuemper, first one might have been a little soft but he pulled off a reverse Oshie in the shootout, Canucks 0-7 ha ha ha, loving this kid!!!

[Bear55]

Found this little gem on another HSOforum, our starting lineup on 2-23-12. Talk about a dramatic turnover and injection of talent.

Setoguchi - Brodziak - Heatley

Powe - Cullen - Johnson

Rau - Christensen - Clutterbuck

Ortmeyer - Peters - Kassian

Schultz - Prosser

Zanon - Zidlicky

Scandella - Spurgeon

Backstrom

Hackett