Changes may be a brewing in Minnesota. Scouts for the team have been called to St. Paul for meetings. While it is unclear whether these were previously scheduled regular meetings or not, it was unmistakable the number of other teams’ scouts in the press box Wednesday night for the Wild’s game against Phoenix: Florida, Philadelphia, Edmonton, two from Montreal, two from Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Chicago, New York Islanders, San Jose, Washington, Dallas and 2 from Phoenix. Beyond the regular smattering of local scouts for other teams and Coyote scouts, which one would expect, this was an unusually high number of scouts in attendance. With the understanding that history has shown that teams show little movement in their quest for the playoffs after Thanksgiving and with the Wild solidly on the outside looking in, presently in 13th place in the Western Conference coming in to Wednesday night’s game, I can’t help but wonder whether Chuck Fletcher has sent out the call that the Wild are sellers and are ready to move players if the price is acceptable. One, it would ease salary cap concerns the team has. Two, it would potentially get Fletcher draft picks. Third, it would allow the Wild to fall further in the standings, thereby increasing their chances at a top draft pick this summer at the NHL Entry Draft which will be held in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Coupled with that theory, one can’t help but wonder where coach Todd Richards stands with the front office given his team’s failure to thrive so far this season. On Twitter, Wild beat writer, Michael Russo, confirms that “Richards is on hot seat”. He qualified this comment by stating that he has been told “nothing is imminent.” But, you know how that goes. Sometimes the team is giving the reporter good info. Sometimes they are throwing him off track.

If the Wild are shopping their players to the rest of the NHL, who would be in the mix? First, I think you would look at the players who will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season: Brunette, Miettinen, Madden, Kobasew and Theodore. Not a very enticing bunch. Who else? I can’t help but think of Martin Havlat who’s play has turned up a few notches recently. Clearly, Havlat and his agent were not happy earlier this season and they let the team know it through the media. However, given the salary cap, teams are handcuffed at taking on an extra five million dollars and money would have to come back meaning players from other teams.

In any event, very interesting dynamics happening behind the scenes. Who knows. Maybe all of the interest is in Phoenix players.

As Wednesday night’s game went, the Wild were outplayed most of the night by the Coyotes, made it interesting in the third period after going down 3-1, the Wild pulled Jose Theodore and scored to bring the game within one goal with 1:06 left in the third period before Phoenix notched the open net goal with just under thirty seconds left in the third period. With this loss, the Wild’s losing streak is extended to three straight games.

Of note, the Wild had six minutes of power play opportunity in the first seven minutes of the game, but failed to convert. In fact, they had a hard time even setting up in the Phoenix offensive zone. The Wild gave the puck away nine times in the first period. Phoenix scored with under one minute to go in the first period. Phoenix’s pressure was relentless and they made the Wild look like they were playing a man short. The Wild tried to answer before the end of the period, but to no avail. Phoenix struck again early in the second period. Zidlicky was deep in the offensive zone when Phoenix grabbed the puck in the neutral zone and Nystrom was trying to catch up for the out of position Zidlicky. From there, Phoenix played very confidently. The boo-birds came out at the end of the second period and rightfully so the way the Wild were playing. LaBarbera was very strong in net for the Coyotes and it wasn’t until the third period that the Wild finally ruined his shut-out bid on a goal by Matt Cullen seconds after the Coyotes scored their third goal of the night which began chasing fans from the Xcel Energy Center. This goal for the Wild marked the end of a scoring drought for the Wild that lasted 118 minutes and 15 seconds. Koivu scored for the Wild with the assistance of the extra attacker, but Phoenix hit the empty net and sent the fans packing.

It was sad to see that there were no traveling beat writers for the Coyotes.

Following this game, the radio media tried to spin this game as “at least we’re starting to see some positives”. Really? I guess they didn’t stink up the joint again, but they played lackluster most of the game and looked out-classed by the 7th place in the Western Conference Coyotes.

Is it time for a change of coaches? Perhaps. Are the Wild already sellers this season? It sure looks like it with 19 scouts from opposing teams in the building.

Up next, Calgary comes to St. Paul on Friday night.

Oh yeah, Pierre-Marc Bouchard skated for the first time in 104 games and after missing 112 of 113 games since sustaining a concussion late in the season, two seasons ago. Bouchard looked decent, but was a minus-two on the night. Nonetheless, great to have PMB back in the fold, especially given his high salary cap hit.

Thoughts on the Wild? Let's hear it.

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