WildHBcommunity: Fletcher Adds at Deadline Yeo Must Find Right Mix Now
Minnesota Wild Adds Chris Stewart and Jordan Leopold on NHL Trade Deadline Deals
Here at Hockeybuzz the house that Eklund built, the NHL trade deadline is the main event of the season because of the activity and speculation that is created during the action packed 24 hours leading up to the end of player trades.
Sure the NHL draft and open of offseason free agency certainly provide intrigue and excitement but the NHL trade deadline is just the most fascinating build up of activity and decision making by teams and top personnel men in all of sports in my opinion.
This year I was very skeptical about the group of known players being shopped and expected to be move before the NHL trade deadline because it was a flawed group and limited in potential and talent from my view. I had advocated for Fletcher to proceed with caution and being honest I hoped he would avoid being involved with most all of the known available players.
Fletcher had already added Sean Bergenheim and a 2016 7thRd Pick for a 2016 3rdRd Pick on February 24th, so it looked as if the only thing left on the shopping list would be to add a depth defensemen. Fletcher getting Bergenheim ahead of the deadline provide the opportunity for the Finnish winger to get out of a toxic situation in Florida where he was no longer welcome and become a healthy scratch regularly.
So during the morning yesterday when my bossman Eklund, posted/tweeted that the Wild was in on a big name I realized Fletcher was working to take yet another deadline deal swing for the fence to reward his roster that has pulled together to dig out of the hole they were in.
The thing I know because of my relationship and access to Eklund, is that he has a very good relationship with the Wild organization and he always has a finger on the pulse of what they are working towards accomplishing especially on deadline day. Despite the social media loud talkers that use their accounts to attack others and spread negativity with their toxic personalities, I had complete faith that Ek was onto something when he said keep an eye on the Wild.
Sure enough Fletcher added Jordan Leopold which was already something that he had been trying to accomplish since midseason because of his abilities as a left shot left defensemen and ties to many players currently on the roster and the hockey community in the State of Hockey. Oh and also Jordyn Leopold wrote about the cutest most persuasive open ended letter to the Wild organization in January that just so happened to go viral yesterday because of Paul Allen of KFAN on Twitter.
I think Leopold did nothing but eliminate any concerns and worries I had about where his game is now on the backside of his career by joining PA this morning for Vox in the Box to share how humbled and appreciative he is for the opportunity to return to his home to play for a team that he loves. Leopold made the dust in my eye cause a reaction a bit when he talked about how important being here with his family and contributing to the playoff push for the Wild means to him and his family!
Back to the big name rumored to be on Fletcher's radar, as it turns out he was lurking in and around Buffalo as the clock melted away towards the deadline. Sabres general manager Tim Murray agreed to yet another final minutes before the deadline deal with Fletcher shipping Chris Stewart to the Wild for a 2016 2ndRd pick.
My same Wild content community stats driven super genius that got fired up for Bergenheim, are expressing a ton of concern over Stewart especially defensively. I think they concern is very relevant because a common theme for Stewart this year is a lack of effort and focus in a bad situation in Buffalo.
I also think it is very relevant to give Stewart credit for his size/skill combination that has allowed him to be an NHL goal scorer. Even more important in my mind is Stewart is motivated and thrives by crashing the paint and putting his 6'2" 230lb frame in front of the net especially on the powerplay.
Stewart also addresses in my mind the need to have a guy with size and skill to contribute to the hockey game while being passionate about protecting his teammates and capable of punishing offenders who take liberties with all of the tiny finesse skill types Mikael Granlund, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, etc.
Leopold and Stewart know each other real well have been teammates in three different NHL cities. These guys get a great opportunity to come to a team positioned to make a run at Lord Stanley's Cup. Leopold gets to come home and play with several good friends and former Gopher teammates. Stewart get to prove in the next 20 games and NHL playoffs that he is the top unrestricted free agent available this summer.
Fletcher Loads the Gun, Mike Yeo must Aim it True
I can already see the online debates and conflicts on the horizon with regard to what I have affectionately coined #YeoKnowsBest decision making. Two seasons in a row, I have been made to eat my words and give credit where it is due to the Wild's bench boss. Yeo now has loaded locker room with talent from top to bottom at his disposal. Yeo has veterans and young players, size and speed, and the hottest goaltender in hockey.
Starting tonight we get to see Yeo's mind state as he has decided to give Stewart his first looks as a member of the Wild centered by Mikko Koivu and anchored by Thomas Vanek. Stewart is being provided a prime time featured role with the opportunity to benefit individually while also contributing to something special on a team that works their tails off in both ends.
Yeo now has his top line back intact with Zach Parise centered by Mikael Granlund and Jason Pominville. I often bag on Pominville for his many turnovers and lost puck battles but he was like a man possessed versus Nashville and Colorado in back to back games. I have never doubted Pominville's talent but I have questioned his usage and role.
So in reality I am not taking issue so much with Pominville as I am with Yeo's decision making on where and how he is implemented. Hopefully now with a loaded lineup, Yeo can admit that Pominville is not equipped to play the point on the power play and gets Mathew Dumba some extra minutes in that spot on the top power play.
The bottom six is going to be an interesting mix now because the player that looks to be the X factor in sparking production for every line he has been featured on this year is Justin Fontaine. Yeo must feel the same because the most obvious player to be pulled from the lineup is Fontaine if you want to continue to foster the speed and hands of Jordan Schroeder.
Tonight Charlie Coyle will play with Sean Bergenheim and Nino Niederreiter while the 4th line stays together with Erik Haula centered by Kyle Brodziak and Fontaine. Coyle and Nino have been paired together recently so the addition of Bergenheim will be the storyline for that 3rd line. I really think the size and skill throughout the Wild's line now gives them a chance to compete with any team in the Western Conference.
Tonight with Jared Spurgeon and Marco Scandella missing from the lineup, we get a chance to see Leopold make his debut with Christian Folin. Yeo will elevate Nate Prosser to pair with Dumba tonight which is a bit concerning but the Elk River native has played better of late. Prosser has to be checking that rear view mirror with talented youngsters Dumba and Folin here and Leopold getting the opportunity to anchor the bottom pair.
Thoughts About Tonight's Game Versus Ottawa Senators
The last time these teams met on November 6th, a leaky Niklas Backstrom gave up three goals against the young forward of the Senators while Craig Anderson stood on his head blanking the Wild on 35 shots. The Senators have won five games in a row and are coming off a California sweep.
This will be a playoff atmosphere tonight at the Excel Energy Center, what a timely test of this roster. The Senators have graduated most of their top prospects and they will be on full display tonight.
Expected Lines for Tonight Wild Vs Senators
SENATORS
Forwards
Mike Hoffman-Mika Zibanejad-Bobby Ryan
Milan Michalek-Kyle Turris-Mark Stone
Erik Condra-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Curtis Lazar
Matt Puempel-David Legwand-Alex Chiasson
Defence
Marc Methot-Erik Karlsson
Patrick Wiercioch-Cody Ceci
Mark Borowiecki-Eric Gryba
Goaltenders
Andrew Hammond
Craig Anderson
WILD
Forwards
Zach Parise - Mikael Granlund - Jason Pominville
Chris Stewart - Mikko Koivu - Thomas Vanek
Nino Niederreiter - Charlie Coyle - Sean Bergenheim
Erik Haula - Kyle Brodziak - Justin Fontaine
Defence
Ryan Suter - Jonas Brodin
Nate Prosser - Matt Dumba
Jordan Leopold - Christian Folin
Goaltenders
Devan Dubnyk
Darcy Kuemper
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Just My Take,
Tony Dean
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