Brad Ratgen: Will Modeling the Blues in Their Re-Build? Trade Rumor from Russo! A preview of tonight's game against the Blues and a look at the Wild's rebuilding process.

Your talking about Shero. Only way this trade happens is if the wild throw in something more.

I must of missed the part of our rebuild where we went out and spent a ridiclious amount of money on free agents.

Your talking about Shero. Only way this trade happens is if the wild throw in something more.
- drummer829

That trade seems fair. Despres hasnt proven much yet.

I must of missed the part of our rebuild where we went out and spent a ridiclious amount of money on free agents.
- Gerk

Fair point, but good on the Wild's ownership/front office for seeing an opportunity and going out and taking a chance. Perhaps it jump starts our re-build and we get there sooner? Good on the Blues for not having to do that. However, I'm sure deflated attendance didn't help the value of the franchise. Parise and Suter have put butts back in the seats and merchandising sales are through the roof.

Yeah... I feel like comparing the Wild and the Blues skipped over the Blues avoiding any ridiculous contracts, which is kind of key. Wild are much more like Chicago of a few years back. Rebuilding through youth... but signing some massive free agents. Chicago did manage to win the Cup... but then had to trade away half their team due to cap problems, and spent a few years of their young teams prime having to retool. They had a one year window to win the cup (which they did) then it instantly closed for a while, now they are looking to be contenders again. Versus the Blues being in position to be perennial contenders.

Fair point, but good on the Wild's ownership/front office for seeing an opportunity and going out and taking a chance. Perhaps it jump starts our re-build and we get there sooner? Good on the Blues for not having to do that. However, I'm sure deflated attendance didn't help the value of the franchise. Parise and Suter have put butts back in the seats and merchandising sales are through the roof.
- Brad Ratgen

Wild attendance last year was 98.4 percent at home games, wasn't it? That's a lot of money to spend to get an extra 400 people to buy tickets each game.

That trade seems fair. Despres hasnt proven much yet.
- poisondhearts37

It seems fair in the eyes of a wild fan haha.

It seems fair in the eyes of a wild fan haha.
- drummer829

I believe that guy is an LA Kings fan

It seems fair in the eyes of a wild fan haha.
- drummer829

Seto is a 20-30goal guy. Pens have crap for depth with wingers and scoring wingers. They have quite a few D prospects. Seto with Crosby and Kunitz would be killer. But I guess a 20-30 goal guy on a decent contract isnt worth anything. Esp an unproven Despres.

St. Louis was smart and hired a veteran coach who is widely regarded for his knowledge and details. Wild hired an unknown commodity in Richards, who didn't work out and then repeated that decision with Yeo (who I think will be a great head coach). But you have to wonder what this team would be like with a guy like Hitch or Laviolette behind the bench.

It seems fair in the eyes of a wild fan haha.
- drummer829

Why do you view Despres as being more valuable than Seto?

Why do you view Despres as being more valuable than Seto?
- SotaPopinski

Because seto is inconsistant and Despres is a potential top 4 defenseman. I don't want to lose a prospect to someone who can walk in a year and a half. If seto has showed a little more consistency then sure, but he's just as much as a question mark as Despres, except older and a UFA in a year and a half

Because seto is inconsistant and Despres is a potential top 4 defenseman. I don't want to lose a prospect to someone who can walk in a year and a half. If seto has showed a little more consistency then sure, but he's just as much as a question mark as Despres, except older and a UFA in a year and a half
- drummer829

He's been a consistent 20goal scorer since putting up 30goals. Woulda had 20 last year if he played the whole year. Your team is always looking for help up front. But I guess you want them for free.

Because seto is inconsistant and Despres is a potential top 4 defenseman. I don't want to lose a prospect to someone who can walk in a year and a half. If seto has showed a little more consistency then sure, but he's just as much as a question mark as Despres, except older and a UFA in a year and a half
- drummer829

Inconsistency and potential are a toss-up, imo. Why would Pitt have a potential top 4 d-man sitting in their pressbox when their D is already nothing special?
But I do understand your concerns about seeing Seto walk after next season.

I guess I'm not against trading Seto. He's not been overly impressive, and I'm not sure if that's because he doesn't fit Yeo's system or if he was over valued coming out of San Jose. Either way, he hasn't done much to dazzle Wild fans as of yet. He's had a few moments, but it certainly seems like he's very lacking in consistency.

It's obvious the Wild need blue line help, so moving Seto for a potential upgrade in the defensive corps and at the same time allowing a Zucker or Coyle to make the jump to the big league would be more than acceptable. Would free up a few million in cap space as well.

I would not however start getting desperate and moving pieces that might be vital to the future Wild roster just for improvements to this season.

Unfortunately I don't give the Wild much of a chance against St. Louis tonight. The excitement for this team is trending downward in a hurry, hopefully they don't hit free fall before mid season.

Some how some way Yeo has to find a way to spark the 3 and 4 lines offensively or this is going to be an awfully long short season. That being said, I'm wondering how much rope Fletcher is going to give him if the Wild don't markedly improve this season taking into consideration last seasons plummet at terminal velocity like speeds into the loser abyss after jumping out to the best start in franchise history.

Given the pieces that Leopold and Fletcher have afforded him, I'm guessing Yeo's shelf life is going to be very short if the Wild cannot make the playoffs.

Your talking about Shero. Only way this trade happens is if the wild throw in something more.
- drummer829

What more do you think it would take?

I'm in no position to compare Setoguchi to Despres in terms of who is the better player, but I'm wondering if there are other factors that would allow Shero to pull the trigger on a deal like that, one for one.

Pittsburgh seems to have a pretty good list of defensive prospects in their system which may make a guy like Despres more easily replaceable. A guy like Setoguchi could be a much more effective goal scorer when playing with some of the talent the Penguins have up front. It might just be the cost of acquiring a piece you need and lack.

What more do you think it would take?

I'm in no position to compare Setoguchi to Despres in terms of who is the better player, but I'm wondering if there are other factors that would allow Shero to pull the trigger on a deal like that, one for one.

Pittsburgh seems to have a pretty good list of defensive prospects in their system which may make a guy like Despres more easily replaceable. A guy like Setoguchi could be a much more effective goal scorer when playing with some of the talent the Penguins have up front. It might just be the cost of acquiring a piece you need and lack.
- Chinaski

It's just not the kind of deal Shero makes. My initial thought is Seto is due to become an UFA the same year as Malkin and Letang......that's a problem. In two years Despres will only be an RFA.

If Despres is going to be moved it will most likely be for a forward with similar upside and age. Somebody the Pens will control for several years.

Despres has not been bad in his few games. Was actually pretty good in last years playoff series with Philly......(hard to believe I know). Most D take longer to develop and he def has size, skill and can skate. Unfortunately he's been paired with a very average/below average guy and that isn't easy for a young player.

It's just not the kind of deal Shero makes. My initial thought is Seto is due to become an UFA the same year as Malkin and Letang......that's a problem. In two years Despres will only be an RFA.

If Despres is going to be moved it will most likely be for a forward with similar upside and age. Somebody the Pens will control for several years.

Despres has not been bad in his few games. Was actually pretty good in last years playoff series with Philly......(hard to believe I know). Most D take longer to develop and he def has size, skill and can skate. Unfortunately he's been paired with a very average/below average guy and that isn't easy for a young player.
- madmike71

Good points.

It's just not the kind of deal Shero makes. My initial thought is Seto is due to become an UFA the same year as Malkin and Letang......that's a problem. In two years Despres will only be an RFA.

If Despres is going to be moved it will most likely be for a forward with similar upside and age. Somebody the Pens will control for several years.

Despres has not been bad in his few games. Was actually pretty good in last years playoff series with Philly......(hard to believe I know). Most D take longer to develop and he def has size, skill and can skate. Unfortunately he's been paired with a very average/below average guy and that isn't easy for a young player.
- madmike71

Well Setoguchi's next deal certainly shouldn't break the bank for anyone. Unless he really steps up his game over the next couple of seasons, not sure he's going to get a whole lot more than he's getting now, $3 million per.

I must of missed the part of our rebuild where we went out and spent a ridiclious amount of money on free agents.
- Gerk

Yeah when did our Blues sign two plays for nearly $100 million a pop?

I'm a bit jealous in some ways in others I'm disgusted by that kind of money. You guys must be excited to have young prospects on the rise and these guys signed. Probably the best thing though is having a healthy Pierre-Marc Bouchard. That guy is awesome. I hope he can stay healthy for once. You have three great goaltenders. You need some improvement and mobility on D and some depth at forward. You have one of the better young coaches.

Jaden Schwartz is one of the four Blues players to score on their first two shots. He did it last season after his college season ended. The kid has a ton of talent and was drafted just before Tarasenko.

Once again the first line having all and the only offensive output. Defense is abysmal, I've been biting my tongue with Tom Gilbert but enough is enough. He looks freaking lost on every shift. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt coming in kind of late last season, but not only have I not noticed improvement, he actually looks worse than he did with his first couple of games with the Wild.

I give fletcher credit for stacking the Wild prospect pool with top notch talent, but making defensive player trades is obviously not his strong suit. Nick Schultz was the backbone of the Mn D for 10+ years, and to trade him for what now looks to be a mediocre at best defenseman that can maybe score a half dozen goals a season is pathetic. Almost as frightening as the Nick Leddy/Kim Johnson for something called Cam Barker trade. And Greg Zanon, only the best shot blocker in the league, who needed him right?

On a lighter note, I have noticed Brodin's play has been very good. In fact he was paired with Suter for what looked to be te majority of the 3rd period last night.

I guess we still have to give these guys some time to gel, we're 10% of the way in, but again, 2nd through 4th lines need to get a spark.

Parise, Koivu and Heatley are going to have to carry this team on their backs until that happens.

Yeah when did our Blues sign two plays for nearly $100 million a pop?

I'm a bit jealous in some ways in others I'm disgusted by that kind of money. You guys must be excited to have young prospects on the rise and these guys signed. Probably the best thing though is having a healthy Pierre-Marc Bouchard. That guy is awesome. I hope he can stay healthy for once. You have three great goaltenders. You need some improvement and mobility on D and some depth at forward. You have one of the better young coaches.

Jaden Schwartz is one of the four Blues players to score on their first two shots. He did it last season after his college season ended. The kid has a ton of talent and was drafted just before Tarasenko.
- BluemanGuruu

If this Tarasenko kid turns out to be the player he looks like he'll be, what do you think the Blues are going to have to pay him in order to hang on to him?

So I wouldn't get too disgusted by that kind of money, because rest assured the Blues will have to dish out same or similar to keep high talent like Tarasenko.

I guess we still have to give these guys some time to gel, we're 10% of the way in, but again, 2nd through 4th lines need to get a spark.

Parise, Koivu and Heatley are going to have to carry this team on their backs until that happens.
- MnGump

I think we definitely need to give this team time to gel. Four new players, every line and defense pairing has been changed, short camp, very little practice time due to condensed schedule. It's not going to be pretty for awhile.

Right now, this team looks a little slow. They're not a slow team by any stretch so I think it's because they're just not too comfortable in the system. They're still thinking too much and not reacting instinctively and it's slowing down their play.

If this team makes any noise this season, I agree that it will be due to the will of guys like Parise and Koivu.