We didn't play a full 60 minutes.

Matt Dumba made a bad decision at the wrong time.

Our forwards tried to get too cute in the offensive zone which led to the key turning point in the game.

We need to play better when we have the lead.

We need to keep our foot on the pedal.

There can be no let up.

We sat back and waited while our opponent took advantage our mistakes.


The list goes on but this is getting old and has been an issue for far too long.

When Bruce Boudreau was asked if this team reminded him of last season as they have nearly the same record to this point. The big difference of course was last season they began their franchise record twelve game winning streak at this time and separated themselves from the fringe playoff contenders.

Boudreau's answer was, no, he didn't feel this team was anything like last year's team. That tells you all that you really need to know. Last year's team was significantly better than this year's version and they were only good enough for one playoff victory. So if that is the case, then it is time for a change. A trade is necessary and of course it needs to be a creative move to say the least, as the Wild salary cap situation makes wheeling and dealing a challenge for Chuck Fletcher.

But the challenge itself was created by Fletcher, so he had to have a fall back plan in mind when he locked the hand-cuffs. So Chuck where is the key?

It is time to find that player that is in the wrong situation with his current team, and needs that change of scenery to thrive in a new city. Those players are not easy to find, but it is put up time for Fletcher and the Wild.

Who knows maybe Sam Morin in Philly or Kasperi Kapanen in Toronto both have been stuck in their current situations. The Wild could use that large presence on defense that Morin would bring and Kapanen is a gamer, with an ability to raise his game when the games matter most.

Morin is largely unproven and has been passed by in Philadelphia by several younger defensive prospects. That said it always takes longer for the bigger defensemen to develop and Morin the 11th overall pick in 2013, is no different.

Those are just a couple of examples, but in order to get someone like that it will take value going the other way, not to mention the cap constraints and consequences needing to be addressed.

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