Wild 2013-14 season

[RK]

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

Wow. Think this franchise hasn't improved in a hurry since CF took over, take a look at that lineup. Good heavens.

Kind of an odd game last night. Could sure tell by the third period that the Wild had played the night before. Waived off goal - not a lot to say there beyond it's a blown call. Was good to see the team stay in the game after that + the shortie though. Could have seen them say "well, ain't our night" and pack it in. Kind of a shame the Nucks got the loser point, but we still gained ground on them.

Shootout was pretty neat with rookies in both nets. Kuemper - this kid might be something special. Time will tell.

How scary is St Louis now with Miller playing behind that team? Wow. Yeah they did give up a lot but they have a very legit shot at a cup and their one glaring shortcoming was in goal. Good move for them I think.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Koivu makes WAY too much money for the production he puts out. I would be fine trading him if the right deal came along. He gets paid like an all-star first line center and he's a good defensive/passing second line center. Id be all for dumping that salary if a team is willing to give up something decent

[Bear55]

Koivu makes WAY too much money for the production he puts out. I would be fine trading him if the right deal came along. He gets paid like an all-star first line center and he's a good defensive/passing second line center. Id be all for dumping that salary if a team is willing to give up something decent

I'll agree to that, he's paid too much but its not a crazy overpayment these days.

[hoppe56307]

Star Trib reports the Wild are Hot for Halak.

Sats from ESPN

[muskiemanAD]

I sure hope we dont trade for a goalie. With the way Kemps is playing no need too. Yeo said today on the fan Backy could play but they are riding the hot hand..... Need to give up way to much for a rental goalie.

[RK]

Put Koivu contract in the context it was signed in. He was arguably their only legit top line forward, and the core they planned to rebuild around. I think they almost had to pay him what they did just to keep in from walking and taking the wheels completely off the bus. Even at that though, he's more productive than people want to give him credit for. Even missing a bunch of games he's still 3rd on the team in scoring...

I think a goalie addition at this point is an insurance policy.

Clearly they're not convinced Backstom is 100% or likely to remain that way. Whatever his ailment is it seems to be a chronic thing. You're going to need someone to start and win games down the stretch, and while I totally agree with riding Kuemper (he's certainly earned the net) if there are back to backs, or worse yet he gets hurt, the team is really in a bind all of a sudden with a fragile backup and not much behind him. With the roster limit coming off after the deadline, adding a depth goalie makes sense if they can do it without mortgaging the future. Not like we're St Louis stoking the boiler for a run at the cup at this point...so makes sense we don't go the Miller route with a blockbuster. But if a good #2 can be had at the deadline, why not? Especially if all it costs is picks in the upcoming draft, which, by all accounts, is an especially weak draft class.

[bbfenatic]

Put Koivu contract in the context it was signed in. He was arguably their only legit top line forward, and the core they planned to rebuild around. I think they almost had to pay him what they did just to keep in from walking and taking the wheels completely off the bus. Even at that though, he's more productive than people want to give him credit for. Even missing a bunch of games he's still 3rd on the team in scoring...

I think a goalie addition at this point is an insurance policy.

Clearly they're not convinced Backstom is 100% or likely to remain that way. Whatever his ailment is it seems to be a chronic thing. You're going to need someone to start and win games down the stretch, and while I totally agree with riding Kuemper (he's certainly earned the net) if there are back to backs, or worse yet he gets hurt, the team is really in a bind all of a sudden with a fragile backup and not much behind him. With the roster limit coming off after the deadline, adding a depth goalie makes sense if they can do it without mortgaging the future. Not like we're St Louis stoking the boiler for a run at the cup at this point...so makes sense we don't go the Miller route with a blockbuster. But if a good #2 can be had at the deadline, why not? Especially if all it costs is picks in the upcoming draft, which, by all accounts, is an especially weak draft class.

K might be productive but expendable as others have filled his skates quite admirably IMO and with the admitted weak draft they'd be better trying to get that backup goalie for him from someone looking for a productive centerman. Even when healthy Backs is OK at best so if their is a young goalie avail that is better than Backs I say pull the trigger. I doubt K has played enough recently to gather many lookers is the problem.

[hoppe56307]

Tonights lines

Parise-Granlund-Pominville

Heatley-Koivu-Coyle

Niederreiter-Brodziak-Cooke


Mitchell-Haula-Fontaine

I like Koivu between Coyle and Heatley, would have prefered Nino but glad they did not break up the Parise-Granlund-Pominville line.

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

Tonights lines

Parise-Granlund-Pominville

Heatley-Koivu-Coyle

Niederreiter-Brodziak-Cooke


Mitchell-Haula-Fontaine

Seeing Heatley in the top 6 still makes me mad... And I think Brodziak and Cooke should be on the 4th line and Haula and Fontaine should be on the third.. Maybe they are looking for mismatches?

[Bear55]

K might be productive but expendable as others have filled his skates quite admirably IMO and with the admitted weak draft they'd be better trying to get that backup goalie for him from someone looking for a productive centerman. Even when healthy Backs is OK at best so if their is a young goalie avail that is better than Backs I say pull the trigger. I doubt K has played enough recently to gather many lookers is the problem.

Please lets stop the crazy talk here, trading Koivu is one thing but trading your 1/2C for a backup goalie is insane. Why trade quality depth! Why?

Now the Penguins centers are on a whole new level than ours but do you trade Malkin just because you have Crosby at #1 center???? Why have two good players when you can trade one for other parts???

[mojogunter]

Wow I remember my first beer. Have you ever even watched a hockey game? Koivu for a backup goalie. Unbelievable.

K might be productive but expendable as others have filled his skates quite admirably IMO and with the admitted weak draft they'd be better trying to get that backup goalie for him from someone looking for a productive centerman. Even when healthy Backs is OK at best so if their is a young goalie avail that is better than Backs I say pull the trigger. I doubt K has played enough recently to gather many lookers is the problem.

[PierBridge]

Mikko Koivu has a fairly large frustrated fan base. They don't like the salary to offensive production value and a few other things.

I personally like him as an all around player yeah I wish he made less.

I'm pretty sure BB who is quite knowledgeable as far as NHL hockey goals knows Miko Koivu is worth more than the backup goalie in a trade. Just a little frustration is all is my guess... lol

[RK]

Trading Koivu at all is madness. Trading him for a rental backup goalie is...I don't even know what that is. Not going to happen. If there's a center on the block from the Wild, it's Brodziak.

Typical game vs the Flames last night - choppy and kind of ugly. Wild looked predictably flat in the first after a road trip. Looked like the ice was bad too - pucks were bouncing all over. Still, a W is a W even if it wasn't a work of art. Even Brodziak scored, although honest to God when the puck left his stick I thought he was going to pull an Antti Miettenen - shoot it high over an empty net from 5 feet out.

Now 9 up in the Wildcard race, but lots of teams knocking on the door. This 4 days with no games is coming at a good time. Be nice for them to have a few practice days with everyone back and a game or three under their belts. Let the new second line work together some and get in a groove, and give some of the guys back from the Olympics a little breather.

[bbfenatic]

If there's a center on the block from the Wild, it's Brodziak.

Brodziak????? Might get a good equipment guy for him.

[bbfenatic]

I am just saying Koivu is expendable and if there is a very good backup goalie in the NHL or a rising star on someone's minor league team it would be worth the trade...this problem in the net is not going away and this would help the future as well as the present. Keumper is the real deal no doubt but unfortunately we can't even afford to rest him nor can we succeed if he goes down with an injury. I am not sure Koivu would even bring a top prospect goalie right now with his play and contract....my guess it would take another player to even get it done. Minus 1 No shots on goal last night for Koivu and a non factor, we've got others that can do that. Either way they have got to be looking pretty hard for a goalie right now but we'll see....the clock is ticking.

[ted4887]

Are you high? You'd have to be pretty dim to think that Koivu, after not playing for 8 weeks, was going to come back and be a factor. I get that we need a backup goalie, but there are teams out there with serviceable guys that won't cost us a whole lot. You suggesting that we trade off one of our best centers is just not real well thought out.

[bbfenatic]

Not sure we need just a "serviceable" tender and last I checked you have to give something good up to get something good in return. Right now he's probably our best move...overpaid for his productivity and age and if any team is foolish enough or in great need of a Centerman and has a "rising star" goalie they'd be willing to swap for K...it would be a good move.....period. We would not miss a beat with him gone (that's been proven) and we'd be in a heap of trouble if Keumper could not play IMO.

[Bear55]

I am just saying Koivu is expendable

But why are you saying this, why is he all of the sudden expendable? As soon as we trade him we have a gaping hole in our 2nd line center. Coyle's been ok at center but not really producing or winning a lot of faceoffs, Haula is no where near ready and may never get there. No need to mention Brodziak.

Lets just Keep Koivu, roll with two quality centers and enjoy some depth and win some games. No reason we can't have nice things.

[bbfenatic]

I am just saying that we need a good quality backup goalie more than we need him. K's an OK center, overrated/over payed for sure...but OK. Not only would be a good move to shore up a hole in the nets for a playoff push but with Backs avg at best and Harding in a difficult situation it would make sense to see what we may be able to acquire and improve the team for the future as well. If it does not happen I am fine with it, I like "nice things"; but then just hope Keumper is a man of steel.

[10,000 Casts]

How about Koivu and a pick for Kessler right now?

[RK]

So backup goaltender > 2nd line center, 55%+ faceoff guy, 1st unit PP half wall quarterback, 1st unit pk, and team captain.

Ok. Gotcha.

[bbfenatic]

How about Koivu and a pick for Kessler right now?

Does he play goalie??? JK.... Great 2 way player that would fit in well but doubt they'd give him up for K and a pick....I would not. He wants to be traded...will see what happens there.

[10,000 Casts]

Ya I have to agree that Koivu is worth more than a back up goalie/goalie prospect. the only reason to do that is if they think they can make a run in the playoffs this year and I give them about a 10% shot of making it past the 1st round..

Quote:

2nd line center, 55%+ faceoff guy, 1st unit PP half wall quarterback, 1st unit pk, and team captain.

still not worth a $6,750,000 cap hit.. let hope he picks up the goal scoring, any guy at that level needs to do everything you mentioned and put in 20-30+ goals. If he can do that next year, the MN fans will be back on his bandwagon.

[Jcup]

so, Brodeur? News articles make it sound like he is coming our way. He was my all time favorite growing up. Based off that alone, I'll be excited to see him in a wild jersey.

[PierBridge]

How about Koivu and a pick for Kessler right now?

In a heartbeat!