Wild 2016-17 Regular Season

[bbfenatic]

Everyone chime in... regular season just days away.  I'm sticking to my under .500 overall. They'll come out hot under the new coach then fizzle midway with this unbelievably "less than stellar" lineup IMO.

[Bear55]

Over .500, make playoffs, win cup? Get use to the lineup, we are stuck with them for a couple of years for sure. If Stall can put up 40-45 points that will help with some depth. I'm not holding my breath for one of the younger guys to have a break out year but it "could" happen. BB is the big wildcard, could be a jolt of life to this team or we could be the team that bbfenatic thinks we are. Hard to tell after last year but anything could happen.

 

[jwhjr]

I don't think the typical fizzle out is going to happen under this coach.  I'm excited to see how they look and should be a fun season.

[Bryce]

Lack of scoring threats, undersized, goaltending issues and an entitled locker room. Just copy and paste from the past few seasons and you can use it for at least a couple more.

[CaptainMusky]

I see breakout years for Coyle, Granlund and Nino. Haula will progress. Coyle and Granlund will flourish on the wings. Continued inconsistency from Scandella. Make or break year from Dumba. He could either really "get it" or turn out to be a one-way defenseman that continues to be a defensive liability.

I hope for just steady play from Staal. I don't expect a return of the once 40 goal scorer, but I hope he gets 25. I don't think Koivu is going to have as good of a year this year as he did last year. Hope I am wrong on that, but he was solid the entire year.

 

Looking forward to seeing a #1 PP unit that doesn't have Pominville or Suter on it. Some the replay of the final preseason game and that is precisely what Boudreau did. Guess what, they scored a couple PP goals.

Dubnyk needs to be solid. Doesn't have to be Vezina caliber, just solid. Make the saves he should and some he shouldn't and we will be fine.

 

3rd in the Division, lose in the second round of the playoffs.

[Bear55]

Lines at practice according to Russo. Looks like Ek might see 9 game trial.
Parise-Staal-Coyle
Granlund-Koivu-Pominville
Niederreiter-Haula-Stewart
Zucker-Eriksson Ek-Bertschy

[CaptainMusky]

Bear, I expected the same thing that Ek would make the roster for those 9 games. The question I have is, will he be sent to Iowa or back to Europe? I would like to see him in Iowa building some chemistry with our other prospects. Certainly would help make Iowa a better team.

Bummer news about Carter. Sounds like his career is done. He is having shoulder surgery. Been playing through that injury all camp and it certainly wasn't helping his chances. He is a decent kid, good on the 4th line and penalty kill. I don't like seeing careers end because of injury.

[bbfenatic]

Wild get Teemu Pulkkinen off waivers...could help them with depth on wing and provide the needed competition in those lower slots being filled by "so-so" players...or at the very least give IA a decent player.

[Bryce]

Ek either makes the squad or returns to Europe is what I'm hearing. Lot of camouflaging going at this time of the year though. 

[Bear55]

Well our deepest forward group in forever, too bad that group is either over the hill or not reached their potential.

[bbfenatic]

Things are looking up a bit IMO...Pomminville moved to 4th line and Teemu to 2nd...only as strong as your weakest link and Pom is not worthy of a 2nd line NHL spot IMO...hope it helps out and Teemu can perform...and I like seeing these older guys getting weeded out...next is to get Stewart off that 3rd line IMO.

As far as Ek...word I hear is they want him to stay with IA if he does not make the big club thinking he needs to learn the North American game and going back to play in Sweden is a step back for him.

 

[Bear55]

Ya Stewart has no business being anywhere other than the 4th line, surprised they didn't keep pommer with nino and haula but that could change in a hurry. I think we are having some salary issues right now and that is why Ek is in Iowa. An Ek Zucker Stewart 4th line is kind of interesting.

Edited October 13, 2016 by Bear55

[O.T.C.]

After listening to Tom Reid and the pre-season games they sounded pretty ugly overall with Colorado having their way with us a few times, Listened last night, sounded pretty ugly on the radio, if early indications mean anything it could be ugly, a hot streak will come but how long will it last ? Don't have a lot of faith then again the league overall teams seem fairly equal in a way so many have some sort of a shot at it.

[Bear55]

Ya I didn't catch the game but it doesn't look like we were too sharp. Nice to see Coyle pick one up, I expect a good year from him and Nino, hopefully a few others as well. New coach/system so I'm not going to worry about it until we get a bigger sample size.

[CaptainMusky]

For the most part the game was dreadful to watch. Very sloppy passing. Dumba looked like a newborn calf out there wobbling around aimlessly. Reilly wasn't very good either. Only mustered 2 shots in the first period. Bad.

They did have some moments. Had 3 breakaways, granted they didn't capitalize on any of them, but it shows they can get behind the D and catch some guys off guard. PP was bad. PK was good.

Doobs was OK. Didn't make any great saves and had a couple goals that I think he would want back. One he never saw, but still should be able to pick that puck up.

[bbfenatic]

Great to see 6 goals by 6 diff players. Kings not very good at the moment and even worse without Quick in the net...the iron helped out Kemps a few times.  We don't look explosive on O or stellar on D but getting W's is all that counts.

[CaptainMusky]

We didn't need Vanek. 3 goals, 3 Assists already... Naysayers be naysayers, but he didn't get put with the right people to accentuate his skills. He was the closest thing to a true goal scorer we had and we sent him packing.

[Bear55]

Vanek was the most skilled player on the team last year by miles, he just plays a different style of hockey than the rest of the team and it wasn't a good fit, he can still put up a ton of points on the right line. If you could put a Parise like effort into vaneks skills you would have one of the top players in the world.

I like what I am seeing from Stall so far too, he really helps our depth down the middle and hopefully he can score a decent clip.

[10,000 Casts]

Going to be an interesting year. We have speed but no skill and no size. Our goaltending is shaky at best imo. I don't think Boudreau's system was the right answer and I also think they'll miss the playoffs. The last 2 nights haven't helped my outlook either.. We still can't seem to win on the road. 

 

Oh and Aundra Martin is no Jamie Hersh. 

Edited October 24, 2016 by 10,000 Casts

[Bear55]

I think it might be time to dump Kuemps for a more stable backup, kid showed promise years back but right now it feels like any game he starts is an automatic loss or we need to score 5 goals to win.

[hoppe56307]

We just can not figure out 3 on 3 hockey, once the game went to OT on New Jersey I just turned it off cause I knew we would lose the game.

[bbfenatic]

2 minutes ago, hoppe56307 said:

We just can not figure out 3 on 3 hockey, once the game went to OT on New Jersey I just turned it off cause I knew we would lose the game.

 

Agree!  Bottom-line is we don't have the "studs" or a "stud" to make 3 on 3 work.  With that few players on the ice it takes a player who can control the puck at will, go end to end, and then either snipe one in or slide it over to the open man who can then bury the puck...we have not one of that caliber of a player(s)....and have not had for years IMO.  You'd think we could accidentally win a few of these OT games but we're like 1-10 going back into last year.

[Bryce]

This is where the players taking it upon themselves to long shift is hurting the most.

[CaptainMusky]

Solid game last night. By far the best overall game this year. This team in the past maybe wouldn't take advantage of a bad situation with the other team (Bruins down their top 2 goalies), but last night they did it and Dubs was strong too when called upon.

I really like how we are getting production from all over the lineup. What is it now, goals by 17 different guys? I will take it!

Erickson-Ek is a bright spot too. He plays a steady game and will certainly make the decision to keep him with the big squad a tough one. Normally I don't like burning the first year right away on their ELC, but I think we should with him. He is getting enough playing time now where he is making a difference. Some guys who were in a similar spot like Dumba needed the extra ice time and games to develop more.

On Dumba, I have had a love hate relationship with his game since the very beginning. What I have noticed though is I think Stevens has certainly had a big influence on his even in this young season. He has been very physical at times which is something this team needs. Good to see. Now he needs to shore up the mental lapses a bit and he could be a real stud.

[bbfenatic]

Very impressive and best overall game they have played in a couple years IMO...hopefully Dubs can stay on his game and stay healthy cuz it does not seem like they are really hitting on all cylinders yet...still early so it could go either way.....but a good start under BB so far.