If not higher, in a division with the Blues and Blackhawks? Now you are just trying to troll, but you should really go read some Cloutier or Garth blogs and learn from them if your goal is to say ridiculous things and get people riled up. Wild are more likely to be earning a top 5 pick next year than they are to be finishing top 2 in the division.
- Antilles

And you're basing this on what exactly?

And you're basing this on what exactly?
- MnGump

The fact the Wild would need career years from every major part of their roster to even be in the same conversation as the Blackhawks (who knocked them out of the playoffs without any real problem) or the Blues (who swept the season series.) But the Wild would only need long term injuries to one or two players to be drafting top 5 (Suter, Parise).

The fact the Wild would need career years from every major part of their roster to even be in the same conversation as the Blackhawks (who knocked them out of the playoffs without any real problem) or the Blues (who swept the season series.) But the Wild would only need long term injuries to one or two players to be drafting top 5 (Suter, Parise).
- Antilles

Gee, what insight you have. You could pretty much say that for every team in the league if they lost their top two long term.

...and you're basing part of your conslusion on a 48 game season for a team that consisted of at least 11 new starters on their roster, with at least 4 of them being 1st year rookies?

Personally I don't think the Wild are nearly as good as the Blackhawks, but that doesn't mean they're not good enough to get their fair share of wins against them. Same goes for St. Louis. Last seasons W/L against either team is pretty much meaningless once next season starts. Last time I checked, St.Louis won just one more game than did the Wild in the post season. Try not to rest on those laurels to extensively.

IMO, the Wild will live and die with their goaltending next season(as do most teams). If Backstrom plays well, the Wild will finish top 2 in the division. I don't see any scenario where the Wild are looking at a top 10 pick next off season, let alone a top 5. Logic would probably dictate that there is every likely hood that the Wild will be markedly better next season. Not worse.

So go sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.

Brad Ratgen: Russo Reports: Backstrom Re-Signs with Wild ("Trust Me, It's Done.")
Goalie Niklas Backstrom re-signs with Minnesota Wild, per Michael Russo.
- Brad Ratgen

Definite steal.

Gee, what insight you have. You could pretty much say that for every team in the league if they lost their top two long term.

...and you're basing part of your conslusion on a 48 game season for a team that consisted of at least 11 new starters on their roster, with at least 4 of them being 1st year rookies?

Personally I don't think the Wild are nearly as good as the Blackhawks, but that doesn't mean they're not good enough to get their fair share of wins against them. Same goes for St. Louis. Last seasons W/L against either team is pretty much meaningless once next season starts. Last time I checked, St.Louis won just one more game than did the Wild in the post season. Try not to rest on those laurels to extensively.

IMO, the Wild will live and die with their goaltending next season(as do most teams). If Backstrom plays well, the Wild will finish top 2 in the division. I don't see any scenario where the Wild are looking at a top 10 pick next off season, let alone a top 5. Logic would probably dictate that there is every likely hood that the Wild will be markedly better next season. Not worse.

So go sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
- MnGump

THIS! MnGrump is Back!!!!!!

Gee, what insight you have. You could pretty much say that for every team in the league if they lost their top two long term.

...and you're basing part of your conslusion on a 48 game season for a team that consisted of at least 11 new starters on their roster, with at least 4 of them being 1st year rookies?

Personally I don't think the Wild are nearly as good as the Blackhawks, but that doesn't mean they're not good enough to get their fair share of wins against them. Same goes for St. Louis. Last seasons W/L against either team is pretty much meaningless once next season starts. Last time I checked, St.Louis won just one more game than did the Wild in the post season. Try not to rest on those laurels to extensively.

IMO, the Wild will live and die with their goaltending next season(as do most teams). If Backstrom plays well, the Wild will finish top 2 in the division. I don't see any scenario where the Wild are looking at a top 10 pick next off season, let alone a top 5. Logic would probably dictate that there is every likely hood that the Wild will be markedly better next season. Not worse.

So go sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
- MnGump

Blues would still make playoffs without Backes and Petro. Bruins still would without Bergeron and Chara. Penguins would without Crosby and Letang. Blackhawks would without Toews and Keith. Kings could without Doughty and Kopitar... the list could go on. None would have as high of a seed, and some it would be close, but most of the true contending teams could lose some top guys for extended periods and still make playoffs. Certainly none would be looking at a top pick. Can't say the same of the Wild.

Wild finished the season 5-8-1. They started the season 6-6-2. When do you expect getting to know each other to start helping the team instead of hurting it? Blues had 2 rookies play last year. Both of which are rated as high or higher than the rookies Wild had, meaning they are just as likely to improve, if not more so. Additionally, both Blackhawk's and Blues average roster age was younger than the Wild's. Do you have any intelligent reason to expect Wild's current players will improve MORE than the younger, already better, and independently expected to be as good or better long term players the opponents you are comparing to have?

If last season's W/L against people is meaningless, you have no basis for expecting the Wild to be better than Stars, Colorado, Predators, or Jets. I realize that to people who don't follow hockey very much Blues only winning one game more in the playoffs than Wild may make the teams seem close skill wise, but you're wrong. And your desire to ignore the only relevant indicator you have of where the Wild are, last seasons records, shows how you are grasping at straws.

You are right about one thing. You have plenty of crazy happening if you expect your aging goalie, after having a decent year, to be improved enough next year to vault you above Blues or Blackhawks. Your team is losing players, already older, and doesn't have any youth factor to rely on for improvement that the teams it's trying to catch don't have themselves.

Was keeping my fingers crossed for a Bernier trade, but in the end, I knew Backy was going to re-sign here. At least it is for a bargain, but then again, he is a pretty average goalie nowadays.
Somehow, Fletch needs to find a way to beef up the D. That is the only way Backstrom will look like a top notch goaltender.

Thats a pretty good contract considering his accolades. Nicely done, now give us Clutterbuck
- nelson911

Do we get Letang or Neal in return?

THIS! MnGrump is Back!!!!!!
- Brad Ratgen

Blues would still make playoffs without Backes and Petro. Bruins still would without Bergeron and Chara. Penguins would without Crosby and Letang. Blackhawks would without Toews and Keith. Kings could without Doughty and Kopitar... the list could go on.
- Antilles

I quit reading after this, as I couldn't digest anymore of your b.s.
Listen, the Blues are a hell of a team with one of my favorite coaches in the league. No doubt they will be battling for the top spot in the division, if not the West... but to come on here and spew this nonsense about the Wild landing a borderline lottery pick next season and not being able to make the playoffs due to certain injuries is about as childish and mentally handicapped as it comes. No offense... I've seen you make some great points before, but this is total crap

Parise, Koivu (best #2 center in the league ), Suter, Brodin, Pommer, Seto, Heater, possibly Cullen, Coyle and Zucker. That is one helluva core. Take your negativity to the Canucks board!

I quit reading after this, as I couldn't digest anymore of your b.s.
Listen, the Blues are a hell of a team with one of my favorite coaches in the league. No doubt they will be battling for the top spot in the division, if not the West... but to come on here and spew this nonsense about the Wild landing a borderline lottery pick next season and not being able to make the playoffs due to certain injuries is about as childish and mentally handicapped as it comes. No offense... I've seen you make some great points before, but this is total crap

Parise, Koivu (best #2 center in the league ), Suter, Brodin, Pommer, Seto, Heater, possibly Cullen, Coyle and Zucker. That is one helluva core. Take your negativity to the Canucks board!
- SotaPopinski

Go back and read the whole thread. I expect Wild to be fighting for third in the division, or the second wild card spot. Deluded MN fans are the ones who started talking about Wild finishing above Blackhawks or Blues, and asked for an explanation of how Wild finishing with a high draft pick was more likely than them finishing above either of those teams. I gave it to them. No where did I predict it would happen. Just gave an explanation for might statement of one crazy scenario being more likely than their crazy scenario, and defended it.

Oh, and side note: what's with using the phrase "no offense" after a clear insult like "mentally handicapped"? Either disagree politely, or just give into your impulse to degrade into simple ad hominen attacks when you don't like an argument being put forth. If you're gonna be a d!ck, just do it, don't try and make yourself feel better about the fact your being a d!ck with that sort of pointless backtrack.

I say Clutter may get traded. What do you have of value to give us for him in Pitt?
- Brad Ratgen

Matt Niskanen
Tyler Kennedy
Dustin Jeffrey
Derek Engelland
Tanner Glass

I don't think the Pens would go beyond these players unless other Wild players are discussed.

Blues would still make playoffs without Backes and Petro. Bruins still would without Bergeron and Chara. Penguins would without Crosby and Letang. Blackhawks would without Toews and Keith. Kings could without Doughty and Kopitar... the list could go on. None would have as high of a seed, and some it would be close, but most of the true contending teams could lose some top guys for extended periods and still make playoffs. Certainly none would be looking at a top pick. Can't say the same of the Wild.

Wild finished the season 5-8-1. They started the season 6-6-2. When do you expect getting to know each other to start helping the team instead of hurting it? Blues had 2 rookies play last year. Both of which are rated as high or higher than the rookies Wild had, meaning they are just as likely to improve, if not more so. Additionally, both Blackhawk's and Blues average roster age was younger than the Wild's. Do you have any intelligent reason to expect Wild's current players will improve MORE than the younger, already better, and independently expected to be as good or better long term players the opponents you are comparing to have?

If last season's W/L against people is meaningless, you have no basis for expecting the Wild to be better than Stars, Colorado, Predators, or Jets. I realize that to people who don't follow hockey very much Blues only winning one game more in the playoffs than Wild may make the teams seem close skill wise, but you're wrong. And your desire to ignore the only relevant indicator you have of where the Wild are, last seasons records, shows how you are grasping at straws.

You are right about one thing. You have plenty of crazy happening if you expect your aging goalie, after having a decent year, to be improved enough next year to vault you above Blues or Blackhawks. Your team is losing players, already older, and doesn't have any youth factor to rely on for improvement that the teams it's trying to catch don't have themselves.
- Antilles

Well it's still all speculation as to who the Wild are "losing". But PMB isn't exactly a huge loss and I'm guessing Clutterbuck will most likely be re-signed. Cullen is really the most likely to go, and he's not exactly Ponce de'Leon.

No youth factor? Huh? So what do you consider Coyle, Zucker, Brodin, Granlund and Dumba??? Wild will most likely have 5 starters next season 21 or younger. Personally I would distinguish that as a pretty formidable youth movement. But hey, what do I know, according to your insinuation, I don't follow hockey very much. So there's a good chance you shouldn't feel the need to validate your own opinion on the matter, which, is pretty much all you are doing. My opinion is no more speculative than your own.

So save your self serving praise of the Blues for the St. Louis blogs, because the fact of the matter is they won a single game more in the post season, and 3 games more in the regular season. That doesn't sound to me like the difference between great and average as you seem to want to try to reinforce here and even if you break it down 10 ways from sunday, were talking about only 4 more wins on the entire season. Nothing about that fact to me indicates St. Louis is a predominantly better team than the Wild. Nothing.

Well it's still all speculation as to who the Wild are "losing". But PMB isn't exactly a huge loss and I'm guessing Clutterbuck will most likely be re-signed. Cullen is really the most likely to go, and he's not exactly Ponce de'Leon.

No youth factor? Huh? So what do you consider Coyle, Zucker, Brodin, Granlund and Dumba??? Wild will most likely have 5 starters next season 21 or younger. Personally I would distinguish that as a pretty formidable youth movement. But hey, what do I know, according to your insinuation, I don't follow hockey very much. So there's a good chance you shouldn't feel the need to validate your own opinion on the matter, which, is pretty much all you are doing. My opinion is no more speculative than your own.

So save your self serving praise of the Blues for the St. Louis blogs, because the fact of the matter is they won a single game more in the post season, and 3 games more in the regular season. That doesn't sound to me like the difference between great and average as you seem to want to try to reinforce here and even if you break it down 10 ways from sunday, were talking about only 4 more wins on the entire season. Nothing about that fact to me indicates St. Louis is a predominantly better team than the Wild. Nothing.
- MnGump

Do me a favor, go back and actually read my posts, and respond to them, instead of what you expect me to be saying. If you can't handle that simple sort of thing, I'll ignore you and just respond to the more literate among Wild fans.

Go back and read the whole thread. I expect Wild to be fighting for third in the division, or the second wild card spot. Deluded MN fans are the ones who started talking about Wild finishing above Blackhawks or Blues, and asked for an explanation of how Wild finishing with a high draft pick was more likely than them finishing above either of those teams. I gave it to them. No where did I predict it would happen. Just gave an explanation for might statement of one crazy scenario being more likely than their crazy scenario, and defended it.

Oh, and side note: what's with using the phrase "no offense" after a clear insult like "mentally handicapped"? Either disagree politely, or just give into your impulse to degrade into simple ad hominen attacks when you don't like an argument being put forth. If you're gonna be a d!ck, just do it, don't try and make yourself feel better about the fact your being a d!ck with that sort of pointless backtrack.
- Antilles

It was more sarcasm, but I apologize if I struck a nerve...besides, I did give you and your team props between all of my negativity. I don't know what else you expect from me

Do me a favor, go back and actually read my posts, and respond to them, instead of what you expect me to be saying. If you can't handle that simple sort of thing, I'll ignore you and just respond to the more literate among Wild fans.
- Antilles

By all means ignore me then. Good god man, don't get all dumbfounded and smug when you make stupid statements and then receive responses challenging those statements.

If anything in any of your posts in regards to how the Wild will or will not do next season was factual or anything other than pure speculation, then you might have cause to argue, but the fact of the matter is, opinions are like bumholes, and right now yours is big, wet, sloppy and full of poop.

Good day, I look forward to you ignoring me.

By all means ignore me then. Good god man, don't get all dumbfounded and smug when you make stupid statements and then receive responses challenging those statements.

If anything in any of your posts in regards to how the Wild will or will not do next season was factual or anything other than pure speculation, then you might have cause to argue, but the fact of the matter is, opinions are like bumholes, and right now yours is big, wet, sloppy and full of poop.

Good day, I look forward to you ignoring me.
- MnGump

You're such a grump! LOVE IT!!!!!!

Brad Ratgen: Russo Reports: Backstrom Re-Signs with Wild ("Trust Me, It's Done.")
Goalie Niklas Backstrom re-signs with Minnesota Wild, per Michael Russo.
- Brad Ratgen

I guess this does away with the one day old Lu roooooomers?

Glad to see Backstrom back in the fold. Now let's see what Fletcher does. I think Clutterbuck and Setoguchi could be traded, Gilbert could be bought out/traded. I hope they get Cullen back, but they will need to create cap space to do it.

Glad to see Backstrom back in the fold. Now let's see what Fletcher does. I think Clutterbuck and Setoguchi could be traded, Gilbert could be bought out/traded. I hope they get Cullen back, but they will need to create cap space to do it.
- Chinaski

First move is trading Heater for a team needing to reach the floor. Maybe the Yotes would take em.

First move is trading Heater for a team needing to reach the floor. Maybe the Yotes would take em.
- FLflames34

Heater would never approve such a trade

It was more sarcasm, but I apologize if I struck a nerve...besides, I did give you and your team props between all of my negativity. I don't know what else you expect from me
- SotaPopinski

lol. Hey, I was fine if you wanted to be a d!ck, I'm posting in your team's thread. Was just saying don't back track if you want to be. Wasn't actually offended, sorry for implying I was.

I was seriously just seeing if you would go back and read the thread to understand what I was saying. I said I thought Wild would be fighting for third, and believe they will. Only reason I started giving examples of crazy things that could happen was because they were asked for by people who actually believe even crazier things will happen. But to be fair, part of it was in response to the same person who takes a pretty clear point that Wild aren't younger or working more blue-chip prospects in than their opposition and is unable to comprehend the 'than their opposition' part of the point, so... yeah, my bad for trying to converse with an idiot.

First move is trading Heater for a team needing to reach the floor. Maybe the Yotes would take em.
- FLflames34

Plus, even if Coyotes fill out the rest of their with players making league minimum, they are already at the cap floor. Only team that might be worried about getting there is Islanders... and they have better options they could get for nothing to get there.

Solid deal for the Wild. I was really scared they were going to throw 5 mil+ towards him. Very happy with this one

lol. Hey, I was fine if you wanted to be a d!ck, I'm posting in your team's thread. Was just saying don't back track if you want to be. Wasn't actually offended, sorry for implying I was.

I was seriously just seeing if you would go back and read the thread to understand what I was saying. I said I thought Wild would be fighting for third, and believe they will. Only reason I started giving examples of crazy things that could happen was because they were asked for by people who actually believe even crazier things will happen. But to be fair, part of it was in response to the same person who takes a pretty clear point that Wild aren't younger or working more blue-chip prospects in than their opposition and is unable to comprehend the 'than their opposition' part of the point, so... yeah, my bad for trying to converse with an idiot.
- Antilles

Why the (frank) would I do such a thing? If you're good at something, stick with it... I just so happen to thrive at being a Richard.