Wild 2013-14 season

[OnAFly]

Is Scandella the new Skoula? He was brutal out there. At times, he looked like he just didn't know what to do.

[Port.Winterhawk]

Not the greatest start, but hey-2 pnts.. The team will be just fine and lets not over-analyze after a couple of games.

On another note: Jets play 2 nite.. That team (jets) may be the dark horse.

[archerystud]

With Coyle we have 2 lines that can score. I like wha I've seen except for the defensive coverage and that is correctable.

Backs could have been a little better in either game as well but he wasn't horrible.

[OnAFly]

Coyle out 3-4 weeks with sprained knee. Zucker recalled.

[RK]

Well, looks like the injury bug is getting an early start gnawing on the Wild. Of course it has to be the one position where we don't have the depth - center. Plus it's Coyle, who looked to be off to a great start. Hopefully not out too long.

Sounds like Granlund (who has also been good so far) will be 2nd line pivot with Zucker and either Heatley or Nino. Personally, I'd like to see Nino there. He's had some gaffes that I think are partly due to learning a new system, but he's a big body that can skate with Zucker and Granlund. Heately is a big body but not so much with the skating anymore.

I'm not as sold on Zucker as a lot of Wild fans seem to be. He has flashes of great play but he's got some developing to do in his own end. He tends to just wander off defensively.

OnAFly - Agree on Scandella. Man he was dreadful Saturday night. Kind of his MO unfortunately... He was really good Thursday against LA, and follows it up with a terrible game. Total lack of consistency.

[Bear55]

I think Sutter should turn on the jets more and skate with the puck...

I hear this, saw him turn them on during the playoffs a few times and he can fly when he wants to. With all the ice time he gets I think he tries to conserve energy when he can.

Sound like we are getting bad scandella right now, hope he figures it out soon because he was good in the playoffs.

[bbfenatic]

I hear this, saw him turn them on during the playoffs a few times and he can fly when he wants to. With all the ice time he gets I think he tries to conserve energy when he can.

Good point Bear...never thought of that but when he is on the ice over half of the game I see the need to conserve but might he be better used if they cut his time down a bit but asked him to go out and "turn it on" at every opportunity?

[CaptainMusky]

I would rather Suter log the ice time than rush the puck. The reason he may look like he has all this speed or is so skilled is because everyone knows he is a pass first type of player. Having said that, he can pick his opportunities to turn it up, but I dont want him doing it on a regular basis. He is far too valuable with the ice time he eats up to lose any of that for what little potential benefit (if any) we would get in return.

[Bear55]

Ya I think I'll take Suter and Brodin 30 minutes a night. Like what I am seeing from Ballard so far, the rest make me a little nervous in the D-zone.

[Improvedarock]

Granlund should be skating with mikko and Zach!

[archerystud]

Really a bummer that Coyle will miss significant time. He was making a great second line. Here's a chanc for Zucker to step up. Need to find some other scoring beyond the first line.

[CaptainMusky]

Isnt that how it usually goes for MN sports teams? The moment you see progress or think you have all the pieces in place, the injury ninja comes in.

Speedy recovery Charlie!!

[schmitty3]

And now Backstrom goes down

[OnAFly]

Have the local papers started calling for Yeo's head yet?

How's Kuemper? I honestly have never seen him play. Sounds like he's our backup for the time being.

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

Have the local papers started calling for Yeo's head yet?

2 ties against very good teams and a 1 goal loss on the first road game of the year... They can give them a few more games before they start throwing the coach under the bus.

On the other hand, heatly needs to start playing better, Zucker's not ready to be up and we seem to have a D problem.

[Bear55]

Aside from our ugly record I like what I am seeing so far. Team is playing well but not winning. D does needs to tighten up a bit. Nino has looked good so far, Granlund has been much better too.

[RK]

Man was that a microcosm of Minnesota sports or what?

Outplay them 5-5, score two PP goals and lose because Nystrom (nice player but not exactly Datsyuk when it comes to skating ability) toe picks and wipes out Backstrom, then gets to take a penalty shot on an ice cold goalie. (By the way, all the "bring Harding in for shootouts" folks - there's what you get with a cold goalie... He had no chance on Erik Nystrom. Think he'd stop Kane, Toews or Clowe?)

Ballard made the turnover that led to the play but still can't pin it on him completely. He got tossed a hand grenade (by Fontaine I think) while playing his off hand, and Nystrom went down pretty easily besides.

I'm still not ready to panic, but the next two - Division and regional rival Jets, then Dallas, both at home - are suddenly awfully big games.

Sad thing is they're playing ok except for the second line. I've tried to defend him but I give up - Heately has been awful, and he's been the common denominator on that line so far. Love to see him moved down to the 3rd line and see a Nino/Granlund/Fontaine line for a while.

PK is kind of a mystery right now too. Lots of good penalty killers (Cooke, Brodziak, Kenopka, Koivu, Parise) but they've been pretty porous.

[bbfenatic]

Same old thing...can't score. Spurgeon's goal was very nice but other than that not too much to be excited about. Agree Heatley is a liability, only time he is effective is when on the PP and others doing the work to get him the puck. My guess is Leopold has Yeo on the hot seat and if they don't get at least one win in the next two he'll pull the plug on him. I am surprised they have not sent a few down and brought a few up, other than Zucker who had to fill Coyle's spot. I'd like to see Yeo go to send a message we cannot tolerate this level of performance.

[schmitty3]

It'd be one thing if they were getting outplayed badly, but that's not the case. They have outshot each team every game so far this year just need to start burying the puck. That's not on Yeo IMO. Along with that the goal tending has just been average at best, that's the biggest thing that I think has always held this team back.

Agree on Heatly, he looks like he has lead in his skates.

[OnAFly]

If Heatley would not have gotten injured last season, we would not have him on the team right now. Lousy contract buyout rules.

To clarify, I wasn't calling for Yeo's job, but I'm sure plenty of people on sports talk radio and the paper will, regardless of what they know about hockey. I agree, the team out-shooting and out-chancing opponents while losing is on the players.

BTW anyone see the replay of that Hertl kid's goal? 6 goals in 3 games for a young kid, that's nuts!

[bbfenatic]

If Heatley would not have gotten injured last season, we would not have him on the team right now. Lousy contract buyout rules.

To clarify, I wasn't calling for Yeo's job, but I'm sure plenty of people on sports talk radio and the paper will, regardless of what they know about hockey. I agree, the team out-shooting and out-chancing opponents while losing is on the players.

BTW anyone see the replay of that Hertl kid's goal? 6 goals in 3 games for a young kid, that's nuts!

Ya, San Jose is off to another great start and that 19 yr old is unreal! As far as people calling for Yeo's job "regardless of what they know about hockey"...that could go both ways. Those not calling for his job may not understand Pro sports, easier to change coaches on under-performing teams than get rid of players. With the talent this organization has and the money Leopold has spent the last two years I just don't think Yeo is a good fit for this team. He was good in the minors with kids fighting like crazy to get to the next step but the "Bigs" is a whole new world. We'll know within the next week whether he stays or goes IMO.

[bbfenatic]

OK!! I like what I see...the Shake Up has begun! El Nino moving to 1st line w/Koivu & Parise, Pom moved to 2nd line, Zucker sent back down and Veilleux brought up for the 4th line. Keep them coming, keep them working, find the right combos, start winning.

[archerystud]

Little too early to push the panic button as we have a full season this year. Just need to get in and play your best hockey come playoff time (circa LA Kings recently).

I'm with Bear. Last years team got outchanced and outshot often. My only real surprise was seeing Backs in net to start last night. Not that he had played horrible but he hadn't been spectacular either.

[hockeybc69]

Has anyone heard what Backs condition is after last nights incident?

The thing that bothers me most is the goalie situation. The rest looks like it will take some tweaks and we should have something very good.

Losing Coyle so early sure stinks. Last night they played good offensively for the most part without him on the ice.

I like what I see for the most part so far.

[schmitty3]

Has anyone heard what Backs condition is after last nights incident?

Thankfully it doesn't sound too serious. Day to day with a knee strain...

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/227128711.html