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Haula & Tuch, How They Impact Wild GM Decision |
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Another May has arrived with no Wild hockey once again.
But there is hope on the horizon that with change will come change in the fortunes of the Wild moving forward.
The changing of the guard at the top is where it starts and Chuck Fletcher is out and the search is on for his successor. Looking at the teams that are having success in this year's playoffs, and those form the most recent past, the Wild are not in that league by any stretch of the imagination.
This Minnesota Wild team has been constructed to be a shut down team built on speed and transition. But along the way moves have been made to inject some size into the mix but never has the core been disrupted.
It is so easy for the fans of the Wild to complain about the success of Erik Haula and Alex Tuch in Vegas. But let's be serious, if either of these players were with the Wild this season, neither would have been given nearly as much of an opportunity here, and the Wild would still be searching for answers.
That leads me to my conclusion that the next GM, must clean house with the coaching staff, and give the entire team fresh sets of eyes. The NHL has evolved while the Wild have tried to compete by composing a balanced lineup, comprised mainly of veteran players.
Every other team in the league has it's share of young players that are not only given an opportunity to show what they can do, but allowed to play and learn through the growing pains. That is a foreign philosophy for the Wild and primarily Mike Yeo and Bruce Boudreau. John Torchetti, was only here for a short run, but he did recognize the value that Erik Haula brought and did give him top six minutes.
The Wild need a General Manager that understands that the make-up of a successful team requires a certain number of players on entry level contracts that must contribute significantly, especially with the Suter/Parise deals tying up a large percentage of the cap as the two players hit their mid 30s with seven years remaining on both.
Also their has to be a key free agent or two brought in that can contribute effectively at bargain basement rates, much like Daniel Winnik was this season. That is the part that is not easy and takes an expert scouting staff to be able to find players that may be able to contribute.
Winnik is an example of an NHL veteran, but the same could apply to a late bloomer that may be caught up in a numbers game with his current team, or possibly playing abroad, like Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who Flyers GM, Ron Hextall, signed as a 29 year old who was playing in the Swedish Elite League. Bellemare contributed three solid seasons in Philadelphia, before being selected by Vegas in the expansion draft.
That in itself is a win for the Hextall and the Flyers. Sure they did not want to lose Bellemare as he was a valuable asset to their fourth line and penalty kill, but the fact that Vegas took a guy that the Flyers found in the Swedish Elite League who was 29 at the time of his signing, is a win in anyone's book.
So the search is on and everyone's leading candidate is Nashville Assistant GM, Paul Fenton who was brought in last week. But there are certainly other very strong candidates and to me possibly stronger than Fenton.
Bill Zito, Assistant GM of the Blue Jackets, was interviewed on Thursday and currently is the GM for the US team at the World Championships. Zito, a Yale grad, who completed law school at the University of Wisconsin, and became a very successful player agent representing such players as Tim Thomas,Tuuka Rask, Antti Niemi, Brian Rafalski, Kimmo Timonen, and James Wisniewski. Zito understands the negotiation part of the business now from both sides of the table.
Bill Guerin the assistant GM in Pittsburgh is said to be a candidate as well. Guerin has worked for the Penguins since 2011 shortly after his 20 year NHL playing career came to an end. Guerin is not as far removed from being a player and understands what it takes to win having won two Stanley Cups as a player and two more as Assistant GM with the Pens.
Tom Fitzgerald, assistant GM of the Devils, is another very capable name in the mix as well. Fitzgerald was the director of player development with the Penguins and then promoted to Assistant GM in 2009 by then Pens GM, Ray Shero. When Shero was hired in NJ as their new GM in 2015, he tapped Fitzgerald to take on the AGM role with the Devils.
Dean Lombardi's name has been thrown around as a potential candidate as well after his years of success in building the Los Angeles Kings into a Western Conference power and two Stanley Cup titles.
Each of the candidates are highly qualified, but which one will be best for the position here in the State of Hockey with this current group of players and their existing prospects and financial situations? That is the task that owner, Craig Leipold has on his plate, and the decision will not be easy as each of the men listed have tremendous experience.
Trusting the gut is going to play a huge role in the final decision for Leipold, as each candidate brings something a little different than the next.
In my opinion, Bill Zito, would be my choice as he knows the players mentality from the negotiation side, he has the experience of the AHL and Calder Cup Championship, and has great connections in Europe, especially in Finland.
Follow me on Twitter @dwallace17
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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