Wild 2016-17 Regular Season

[bbfenatic]

I also heard or read somewhere that Fletch wants to start "experimenting" with some guys from Iowa, diff line combos, diff D pairings while we are in this grace period with a points lead to help determine what we may need at the trade deadline to make a Cup run so the owner Liepold must have "shoved all in" on this team.  A little scary to me...we have the best team in the West right now, why upset the apple cart when it going down the path quite nicely as it is and risk a potential cancer into the locker room?  Also heard that Scandella is more than likely the guy to go...teams looking for D depth down the stretch and Scandella is a good player with a contract  that is barely mid-range and easily assumable.....personally I'd keep him over Brodin.

Diff guys carrying the team each night it seems...need Parise, Staal, Zucker, Coyle to pick up the scoring pace a bit then watch out! I don't expect a win tonight against the Blackhawks, tired legs...Kemps in the Net...Bhawks off since Saturday and hungry to close the gap.

[CaptainMusky]

I agree BB on the thinking that Scandella is potentially trade bait. Its no mystery why they are shuffling in and out left D men to see what they have provided they give up one. Could be dangling the young guys for interest or just seeing what they have in them in the event they lose one of the Vets.

I will say that I would trade Scandella over Brodin any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Scandella is a sloppy player personally. Brodin is a far better defender and IMO a better playmaker. Scandella has strung together a couple of nice games though. He has his moments, but if we could get a solid 3/4 center I would consider it.

[bbfenatic]

We'll see soon enough what the Wild do...trade deadline is fast approaching.  Still waiting for the bottom to drop out on Avs and expect them to make multiple moves shortly.

[Bear55]

I don't think we do anything crazy, just add a small depth player or two at low cost. No way any of our top 5 D are moved before the end of the season, those are nice things to have during the playoffs. After the year they have to work to do, Vegas is coming for one of our guys and Granlund/Nino are due some heft raises. Cap isn't going up so it's going to be tight.

[leech~~]

Dang OT. Again they have been out shot during the game.

[Bear55]

Pretty sure we outshot the Hawks last night 35-28 but not a big deal, and that was after a B2B game. Nothing wrong with the effort, Crawford was very good and we had Kemps in net, who also was decent. Happy with a point, we haven't lost to Chicago in a long time so not going to worry about it. This Chicago team isn't as deep as the others we have faced, likely still have to get by them in the playoffs to get anywhere this year so that will be the real test if we get our shot.

[Bryce]

Suter long shifting again. He had plenty of time to get off the ice after his rush. Still have no time for Dumba. Going to be very disappointed if he is protected from the expansion draft. Everyone's wanting a scoring threat and our defense is ready to crumble.

[bbfenatic]

48 minutes ago, Bryce said:

Suter long shifting again. He had plenty of time to get off the ice after his rush. Still have no time for Dumba. Going to be very disappointed if he is protected from the expansion draft. Everyone's wanting a scoring threat and our defense is ready to crumble.

 

I am a Dumba fan I just wish he'd be more offensive when paired with a stay at home partner...we need his shot from the point more often IMO and he has the ability to carry the puck, has his head up and makes good passes up ahead to streaking players.  He does have his mental breakdowns now and then...if he goes, he goes..we can fill his spot....but he will be a good player for some team for a long time IMO.

 

What gets me is why don't they put Spurg or Dumba out for 3 on 3 OT?  At that point it is all about wide open offense, back and forth....Suter has no shot, no moves, is gassed from over playing all game, and having Spurg or Dumba out there makes all 3 serious scoring threats IMO.

[Bear55]

Just a guess but I think we protect Brodin before Dumba, he is just so much more steady out there and between him, Suter and Spurgie there is enough offence to go around. Dumba slapper and offensive play will be very much missed but maybe not as much as Brodin's all around game. Reilly can help make up some of Dumba's offense too, just not sure how far along his D game is. Ideally we find a way to coax Vagas into taking Scandella and keep Dumba, long term he could be an absolute stud. Folin can be good when paired with a quality partner, I think Olofsson will be a nice steady d-man someday too, nothing flashy but I like what I see from him on a small sample size. No matter what we are losing a quality player to vegas.

[bbfenatic]

5 minutes ago, Bear55 said:

Just a guess but I think we protect Brodin before Dumba, he is just so much more steady out there

 

Brodin is just OK, he is not tough enough IMO...stats Dumba is +24 this year and 7goals, overall +33 and 26goals, Brodin +2 this year 3goals, overall +22 18goals and I like the fact that Dumba won't get pushed around and will stand up for his teammates and drop the gloves every once in a while....I just think Dumba has more "upside" than Brodin.  Put it this way...IMO Dumba will be more sought after than Brodin

[Bear55]

Since Brodin went down we have been giving up a lot more goals and Dumba still can't shake a handful of giveaways out of his game. Dumba certainly has huge offensive upside but like Reilly it can come with a cost on the back end. PP specialists aren't hard to find but solid top end D are far more rare these days. Dumba isn't big enough to scare anyone anyway, I like that he is physical and will throw some fists every now and then but we shouldn't forget Brodin is only a year older than Dumba so he still has some upside too. It won't be an easy call no matter what, glad its not my call to make.

[bbfenatic]

I don't think the goals are because Brodin is out.... I don't hear anyone panicking or saying they are worried about the Wild defensively only because Brodin is out...he is no impact player IMO.....more importantly we've proven we can win without Brodin, others have filled in quite nicely, and the same would go if Dumba were out...we'd be just fine....fortunately we are deep at D and losing whomever is not going to have that big of an impact on the team.

[Bear55]

Yep losing a D won't hurt us too bad, just a matter of who we protect. Heck even losing a forward we are ok, we might be the deepest team in the league.

[Bear55]

Well one thing is for sure with our D and Dubs we are spoiled, the team is 2nd in the NHL next to the Caps in total defense so not much to worry about there. Suter is on another level and Spurgie maybe a step above the others but they are all so close. Another decent game out of Olofsson, he won't be anything flashy but hope he can bring some solid D, might need him to step up next year.

Found this on another site, fun stat of the day. Just imagine Burns on this team, would be missing Coyle and probably couldn't afford him right now but still fun to dream.

[CaptainMusky]

I sure miss Burnsie! Granted, he really hadn't blossomed yet when he was here, but man it would be fun to have him on this team now.

Olofsson had a decent game yesterday. He made a few costly mistakes, but then also got a couple assists so that kind of balances it out. He had one play in particular that really impressed me when he battled a defender with excellent body position and then stole the puck away from him. He certainly had some flashes.

 

Now, Nyquist is going to be sitting for several games after that nasty spear! When I first saw it I thought he got him right in the eye. Very lucky on that one!

[hoppe56307]

Nyquist has been requested for an in person hearing, usually means min of 5 games.

When I saw the replay, it was pretty obvious what his intentions were.

 

 

[CaptainMusky]

That was one of the most egregious stick infractions I have seen or at least that I can remember. Man that was nasty! Yes, I agree there was clear intent with that. How he didn't get 5 and a game misconduct is beyond me.

Glad the PP looked good last night, 3 goals, made them pay for all those penalties.

[bbfenatic]

Staal seems to be laboring out there...old tired legs? He needs to get a rest if so and recharge the batteries....they seem just about dead right now IMO...and we'll need him to contribute more down the stretch and into the playoffs.

[CaptainMusky]

53 minutes ago, bbfenatic said:

Staal seems to be laboring out there...old tired legs? He needs to get a rest if so and recharge the batteries....they seem just about dead right now IMO...and we'll need him to contribute more down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Could be something to that. At this stage of the season there are bound to be some dings here and there. I hope the guys are trending upward come start of the playoffs. We might/should be able to rest some guys for a few games, plus we have the "bye" week coming up to help guys heal up some more. Why the NHL put that in I will never understand.

 

Interesting moves today by Fletch. Graovac put on waivers with the hopes to be moved down to Iowa. Mitchell and Tuch recalled to the big club and Brodin put on IR. Brodin is said to be returning next week, this was just a cap move to get the roster funds OK.

I think there is a chance the Graovac gets snagged by another team...

[bbfenatic]

I saw that too...Graovac just does not have it...shows some flashy stickhandling but not gritty enough down the middle IMO...he's been given his chance with not much to show for it and others in the mix to give a chance to...and I agree another team may take a chance on him.

 

Bye Week coming at a great time for the Wild..my guess is the NHLPA wanted this put in.

[Bear55]

I kind of liked Grao, still needed some work but showed some potential too, not a huge loss either way if someone grabs him.

[hoppe56307]

2 hours ago, bbfenatic said:

my guess is the NHLPA wanted this put in.

 

I am pretty sure you are right, they(NHLPA) had to have in the last CBA.  It does mess with the schedule, I think every week in March now we have a back to back.

[hoppe56307]

I got to give credit to Gibson that was one heck of a performance to win that game for the ducks.

[CaptainMusky]

Yep, Gibson was great, simple as that. As soft as their goal was, we still have to at least get one! Staal is still fighting it a bit. He is getting bodies all over him and lots of sticks. I am sure he is nicked up a bit.

This bye week is probably coming at a good time, but pretty much count on a loss the first game back because there have only been like 3 wins for teams returning from their bye and one of those wins was a game in which both teams had the bye.

[hoppe56307]

I think the record is like 3-8-1 for the first game back, yuk. 

I hope staal makes the most of the break and gets, as much rest as he can.  Last night he just did not have a lot of jump to him or the strength to win a lot of corner battles, but maybe it was the physical play of the Ducks that contributed to that as well.