Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Hard to View Minnesota Wild Offseason as Anything Short of Disappointing

July 14, 2015, 4:24 PM ET [29 Comments]
Tony Dean
Minnesota Wild Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Hard to View Minnesota Wild Offseason as Anything Short of Disappointing



The Good for Wild this Offseason

The free agent signings of Devan Dubnyk, Mikael Granlund, and Mike Reilly all serve to bolster the NHL roster and front line units(assuming Reilly eventually gets Top PP time in NHL this year). The contracts Christian Folin and Nate Prosser signed this summer accurately reflected each players trajectory into this season. Folin took less money on a two year deal as a restricted free agent because he sought a one way deal which will guarantee his NHL roster spot. Prosser was more down than up last year but proved able to play left and right defenseman positions so his new two way deal allows for some flexibility.



I liked the Wild's 2015 NHL Draft Class, in the first round I really thought Travis Konecny would have been an excellent selection at #20 with huge upside to become an NHL scorer at the pivot position. Instead the Wild went with the more fitting size/skill center Joel Eriksson-Ek with their first round pick which was fine by me. I think Wild fans were collectively holding their breath when Colin White was still available, not saying the kid is without his charms but he fits directly into that grinder bottom of the roster type forward that was very Wild-Esq during the Risebrough/Lemaire years.

It looks increasingly more likely that Niklas Backstrom has leveraged his way out of being buyout eligible even in this second buy out window. The silver lining though could be the opportunity to stash him on the Long Term Injured Reserve because of his admission that the injury he is currently attempting to recover from involves nerve damage and created a form of paralysis in his arm and hand. Given how Backstrom has leveraged the Wild two offseasons in a row with surgeries eliminating his potential buyout, would be shocked if Wild team doctors EVER clear the veteran netminder to play this season.




Although the last two seasons have been down right awful in Des Moines for the 'Baby Wild', I truly believe this group of youngsters at their disposal in 2015-16 mixed with the full time return of bench boss John Torchetti will make for a marked improvement. I really thought the trade sending first round bust Zack Phillips was a shot across the bow for the Iowa Wild because that kid had the talent and stature that seemed to create an entitlement that his effort and attitude would be tolerated.



Several of the late round draft selections by Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr, have exceeded expectations recently and are relevant at both the AHL and NHL level. Most specifically 7th round selections Erik Haula who is scheduled for arbitration as a restricted free agent and Tyler Graovac. Beyond those two guys who will contribute on the NHL roster this season, also looking very promising are Pavel Jenys, Reid Duke, Chase Lang, Stephen Michalek, and Darcy Kuemper.

The last bit of positivity I can muster about what Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher and his staff has accomplished this summer is addition by subtraction. Gone from the roster are Matt Cooke, Stu Bickel, Keith Ballard, Sean Bergenheim, Justin Falk, Stephane Veilluex, Kyle Brodziak, Chris Stewart, Jordan Leopold, and Backstrom. Each of the guys listed failed on some or all levels to justify their role on the Wild. I am disappointed Brodziak and Stewart could not be retained given how little financially they signed deals for elsewhere. I also really liked the energy and feel good story of Leopold returning but the third pair minutes should be accounted for by a combination of current top six defensemen(Ryan Suter, Jonas Brodin, Marco Scandella, Jared Spurgeon, Mathew Dumba, and Christian Folin) and Prosser.

The Bad for Wild this Offseason

I was in the group of Wild fans that was hoping for a shakeup of the current veteran core that has failed three straight seasons to beat the Chicago Blackhawks in the post season. I have come to believe that the pieces don't fit between the veteran core and young core so to have Fletcher and Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo preaching patience and confidence in returning essentially the same roster feels like we are being hornswoggled.



This is Minnesota sports we are talking about here so the fanbase is always going to be on the whole passive aggressive. Look how long the Minnesota Twins were able to hard sell their fanbase that Ron Gardenhire should be retained despite his short comings and the state of the franchise. Look at how Brad Childress was able to remain in a job despite one of the more embarrassing meltdowns of coaching and an atrocious personality as the leader of the Minnesota Vikings. Just peek into the history on the rise and fall of Kevin McHale with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

I only bring other sports into this conversation to point out that this current leadership group and roster group for the Wild is trending more towards having missed their window than being on the rise. Sorry to say it but this group looks like year 2 of Brett Farve with the Vikes, Timberwolves after KG trade, and Twins after Mauer and Morneau love affair was over. Now maybe that is a bit premature or too harsh but I am very skeptical that Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek, and Ryan Suter have their best hockey ahead of them. I didn't mention Zack Parise because I will never underestimate that guy in any situation.



Maybe it is true that the young core will drive this team in 2015-16, we have yet to see Yeo trust or empower them to do so in each of the past two previous seasons. To be honest we have seen Yeo be wrong on his evaluations of the young players and stifling to their ability to contribute at certain points. It seems every season we get more evidence that Yeo will defer to his veterans role wise and where ice time is concerned.

Why should the fanbase believe that Yeo will change his philosophy and management style this season? It has been argued that Yeo is protecting himself by avoiding confrontation with the veteran group because they have contract situations that prevent them from being moved out of the 'State of Hockey'. It is hard to argue that Koivu, Vanek, Suter, and Backstrom have immovable contracts. Even with Pominville who is certainly the most tradeable of the veteran forwards given his cap hit and contract stipulations, the return he would garner would almost certainly not make departure worth it for the Wild.



Saying all of that, I just want to forward the point that I believe expecting anything other than a slim margin to sneak into the playoffs and an early round exit is wishful thinking. Fletcher painted himself into the corner by signing this veteran group to immovable contracts that will never justify their production while he was working very hard to change the brand of hockey in Minnesota. Now though it looks like Fletcher's planned Stanley Cup window is closing with limited mobility of his roster.

The Ugly for Wild this Offseason

The way Backstrom will end his career with the Wild and how it has negatively affected the organization's chance to put an improved roster together in 2015-16. I feel like it is reasonable for Backstrom to protect himself and financial earnings but i also think it is very realistic to view his leveraging through the use of surgeries to avoid being bought out as selfish. The veteran Finn backstop has probably alienated the entire fanbase doing what is in his own best interest so I am very interested to see how his relationship with the franchise goes after this season.



Seeing Brodziak and Stewart sign one year low money deals with teams playoff bound in the Western Conference hurts. While neither guy is a huge superstar, both contributed things to the Wild. Honestly I am not sure why SMART hockey people here in the Wild community think a 4th line of Jordan Schroeder/Ryan Carter/Michael Keranen would not be a huge nightmare. I guess from listening to Flahr with Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, the Wild is not done adding or looking to mix up their roster. I am severely underwhelmed with this offseason so far by Fletcher.

The idea is not that I don't believe Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund, Jonas Brodin, Marco Scandella, Mathew Dumba, Jason Zucker, Justin Fontaine, Mike Reilley, and Christian Folin are not capable of improving their stats and roles. I just have a hard time buying that this combination of young guys and the veteran core is better than the other 7 teams that made the playoffs in the Western Conference last year or even the 2 or 3 teams that just missed the playoffs.



I really hoped their was some sort of package deal to add a dire needed size/skill pivot between Granlund and Koivu. Now it looks as though the best we can hope for is a return to Minnesota for 38 year old Matt Cullen or Marcel Goc. That would have the feel of Risebrough/Lemaire problem solving to me.


**If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Twin Cities Metro area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.**


Just My Take,
Tony Dean




Follow Me on Twitter @TonyDeanHB


Follow WildHBcommunity on Twitter @WildHBcommunity


Also Like the WildHBcommunity of FaceBook here: WildHBCommunity on FaceBook










Instagram
Join the Discussion: » 29 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Tony Dean
» Hopefully Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder Wild State of Affairs
» Wild Looking to Bounce Back from Loss Hosting Edmonton Oilers at the X
» With Ducks on Deck Yeo's Club Must Show Ability to Punch Back
» Game Night at The X Plus Listen to WildWednesdayShow Between Periods
» After Five Games More Questions Than Answer for Yeo's Wild Squad