James Neal may be shopped. Kind of surprised he isn't on this list.
- cory7321

He was an honorable mention in my mind but I am not sure he fits MNWild need although he is big body two way type.

I dont see Bobby Ryan staying in Ottawa so maybe he is not dealt at the draft but Murray better get a return for him before he leaves via UFA next July!

Kane is definitely available the relationship between him and the team is counter productive because he needs to have structure and an established culture and they dont have it in Winnipeg.

Skinner is a wildcard of sorts kid scores goals but has struggled to put together the rest of game. Carolina is going shuffle pieces transitioning from Rutherford to Francis.

Byfuglien would be a welcome addition but I doubt Jets want to ship him within the division like with Kane as well. Not sure Byfuglien wouldnt be better served by playing elsewhere than hometown like Kyle Okposo.

Kane is definitely the only one of those three players that is 'available', and the price will be steep, probably steeper than it would be on the other two guys even if they were available.There's a big difference between 'available' and 'making a dream roster in NHL14'.
- the_terror

and absolutely not worth it. Not until he matures anyway... which may never happen.

He was an honorable mention in my mind but I am not sure he fits MNWild need although he is big body two way type.

I dont see Bobby Ryan staying in Ottawa so maybe he is not dealt at the draft but Murray better get a return for him before he leaves via UFA next July!

Kane is definitely available the relationship between him and the team is counter productive because he needs to have structure and an established culture and they dont have it in Winnipeg.

Skinner is a wildcard of sorts kid scores goals but has struggled to put together the rest of game. Carolina is going shuffle pieces transitioning from Rutherford to Francis.

Byfuglien would be a welcome addition but I doubt Jets want to ship him within the division like with Kane as well. Not sure Byfuglien wouldnt be better served by playing elsewhere than hometown like Kyle Okposo.
- Tony Dean

not sure if your making this up, because Bobby Ryan has been adament he wats to sign long term ASAP this summer. Thats why your seeing baffled ottawa fans here.

Good writeup, here's a wild and crazy idea, how about Gaborik?



Wild have some setup guys now and, when he's inevitably injured, one of the young guns in Iowa gets a call up.

not sure if your making this up, because Bobby Ryan has been adament he wats to sign long term ASAP this summer. Thats why your seeing baffled ottawa fans here.
- Paul99

I added Bobby Ryan to this list because he drafted originally in large part because MNWild General Manager Chuck Fletcher scouted and pounded the table for him in Anaheim as a member of their front office.



Ottawa certainly could work out a new deal with Ryan taking him off the market but Ryan hits unrestricted free agency in July 2015 so Bryan Murray could be forced to move him to not be left empty handed.

The same could be said for Kane and Skinner. Will they get traded? Maybe but I added them because they are young and talented alternatives to Vanek that would be immediate upgrades for MNWild and be worth giving up young players we hold a high opinion of here.

I think Vanek will sign with the MNWild so all of this swing for the fences talk in this piece was providing something to think about if they dont go in that direction.

I think it is very relevant also for the MNWild to make a big package deal for a defensive partner for Ryan Suter instead so there many ways it could go.

Good writeup, here's a wild and crazy idea, how about Gaborik?



Wild have some setup guys now and, when he's inevitably injured, one of the young guns in Iowa gets a call up.
- ThatDarnCat

No thanks. Him and Kane can go play on the same team. Both malcontents that spend too much time off the ice.

Good writeup, here's a wild and crazy idea, how about Gaborik?



Wild have some setup guys now and, when he's inevitably injured, one of the young guns in Iowa gets a call up.
- ThatDarnCat

Gaborik doesnt want to return to MN that ship has sailed.

Everybody is available for the right price. I get that the Senators fans want to see him stay, but is Ottawa in need of a quick fix or a larger overhaul?
Trading for Ryan would be steep, probably too steep for my liking, but I'd be curious to see what I could get for him if he were on my team

Everybody is available for the right price. I get that the Senators fans want to see him stay, but is Ottawa in need of a quick fix or a larger overhaul?
Trading for Ryan would be steep, probably too steep for my liking, but I'd be curious to see what I could get for him if he were on my team
- SotaPopinski

We have one of the youngest teams in the league ,both on the blueline and up front .We need a youngish vet like ryan to help younger players,this why we traded for him .He wont be leaving

What would it take the sabres to get skinner.

Buffalo skinner
Car. get stewart,31st pick, nick baptise( Good prospect)
- hanleyaj

No way in he'll.

You don't want Vanek, he's never done anything in any playoff year for Buffalo, He is a non back checking, slow sloth like....always hurt and banged up no factor. Pass on him unless it's 5 million per year or less for a few years. The team that gives him 7 mill a year will regret it. We should have never matched the Oilers offer sheet, sabres would have had 4 great first round picks in top of draft.

You don't want Vanek, he's never done anything in any playoff year for Buffalo, He is a non back checking, slow sloth like....always hurt and banged up no factor. Pass on him unless it's 5 million per year or less for a few years. The team that gives him 7 mill a year will regret it. We should have never matched the Oilers offer sheet, sabres would have had 4 great first round picks in top of draft.
- MrSquirrel

I'm certain there's some old hind sight addage I should be quoting here...

Pass on him unless it's 5 million per year or less for a few years. The team that gives him 7 mill a year will regret it.
- MrSquirrel

Russo had an update yesterday and Fletcher basically says this is the case - they have price points for free agents that work and that likely has as much to do with term as price. If Vanek would take a two year deal at $7 million, they might pay him that. But they won't give him the term he could probably get elsewhere.

This team is no longer in a position where it has to make a splash in free agency to get better. Fletcher's message right now is that they can wait for the right deal. I think that's the right way to go given where they are at.

I really don't think Skinner goes anywhere.

Here we go with another blogger in fantasy land thinking they can get a top line winger for a few B prospects and a draft pick that holds little value. Where do they grow you people?

You don't want Vanek, he's never done anything in any playoff year for Buffalo, He is a non back checking, slow sloth like....always hurt and banged up no factor. Pass on him unless it's 5 million per year or less for a few years. The team that gives him 7 mill a year will regret it. We should have never matched the Oilers offer sheet, sabres would have had 4 great first round picks in top of draft.
- MrSquirrel

He is the laziest player in the world

Here we go with another blogger in fantasy land thinking they can get a top line winger for a few B prospects and a draft pick that holds little value. Where do they grow you people?
- SnowFrigginWay

WTF are you even talking about? Did you bother reading the blog? I realize it may be painful to face the facts that other teams might actually have GM's that are more than capable and savvy enough to put together deals that actually improve their respective teams(unlike Snow/NY), but don't allow that fact to cloud your judgement and come trolling and talking nonsense in a blog that is as credible as Tonys.

Get lost.

Another slap on the patience drum.

From Eric Duhatschek at The Globe and Mail, a couple of statements jumped out at me.

The Kings performed escape acts throughout these riveting 2014 playoffs and the one explanation as to why that kept happening generally came back to trust. The time they’d spent together, growing as a team, got them through all the hard times, with different players stepping up at key times...

In all, 17 of the 22 Kings players who appeared in at least one playoff game in 2012 were part of the group that won in 2014.
- Eric Duhatschek

Obviously, just his opinion, but I think it's an interesting point and one to keep in mind if the Wild don't make big moves this off-season.

Another slap on the patience drum.

From Eric Duhatschek at The Globe and Mail, a couple of statements jumped out at me.



Obviously, just his opinion, but I think it's an interesting point and one to keep in mind if the Wild don't make big moves this off-season.
- Chinaski

Great point once again there Chi! Keep the family together...