Brad Ratgen: Time to Put Up or Shut Up. Can Wild Find a Way to Beat Tougher Teams? A look at a turbulent schedule for the Wild over the next couple of months.

Hey MnGump: This one should last me through the end of January, don't ya think?

What do you think it would take to improve the wild? Is it the team isn't good enough roster wise or possibly the coach isnt good enough?

Hey MnGump: This one should last me through the end of January, don't ya think?
- Brad Ratgen

First of the year tops...

What do you think it would take to improve the wild? Is it the team isn't good enough roster wise or possibly the coach isnt good enough?
- Meeqsb

I think part of what they need is time. They finally have the skill guys to play more of a possession game, but some of them are still young and their game needs time to develop to a higher level.

That being said, I think this team lacks size and over the long haul it could prove to be an issue. Their possession game struggles to generate chances in the middle of the ice and that makes it less effective than it needs to be. They could also use some more size/physicality on the blueline. When they get hemmed in their own zone, some of their d-men can really get abused.

Overall, I still think they are headed in the right direction. They still need time to stabilize the lines and let them build better chemistry.

Thoughts?
- Brad Ratgen

You were bullied into this blog by MnGump. We can't be expected to comment on this. We need one from the heart, Brad.

How about 12 days of Christmas blitzkrieg? You write a blog every day in the 12 days leading up to Christmas and give us some raw meat on a different topic with the Wild each day.

I think part of what they need is time. They finally have the skill guys to play more of a possession game, but some of them are still young and their game needs time to develop to a higher level.

That being said, I think this team lacks size and over the long haul it could prove to be an issue. Their possession game struggles to generate chances in the middle of the ice and that makes it less effective than it needs to be. They could also use some more size/physicality on the blueline. When they get hemmed in their own zone, some of their d-men can really get abused.

Overall, I still think they are headed in the right direction. They still need time to stabilize the lines and let them build better chemistry.
- Chinaski

As your prospects get older so do Parise, Koivu, Sutter and Pommers. Not to mention your goaltending only has so many years left as well.

Just saying time is a double edged sword, you either get better or you fall behind. Usually "time" is more for developing teams with incredibly young prospects such as FLA so I am not as sure it applies fully to Min

What do you think it would take to improve the wild? Is it the team isn't good enough roster wise or possibly the coach isnt good enough?
- Meeqsb

poopty mascot

As your prospects get older so do Parise, Koivu, Sutter and Pommers. Not to mention your goaltending only has so many years left as well.

Just saying time is a double edged sword, you either get better or you fall behind. Usually "time" is more for developing teams with incredibly young prospects such as FLA so I am not as sure it applies fully to Min
- Meeqsb

He's not talking 4-5 years here. A full season will do wonders for Coyle, Granlund, Zucker, Brodin, and Dumba. I fully expect all players I just named, barring Dumba, to have found their place on this team. Not too worried about that. As Chin mentioned, the size on this team is disturbingly lacking and needs to be addressed.

He's not talking 4-5 years here. A full season will do wonders for Coyle, Granlund, Zucker, Brodin, and Dumba. I fully expect all players I just named, barring Dumba, to have found their place on this team. Not too worried about that. As Chin mentioned, the size on this team is disturbingly lacking and needs to be addressed.
- SotaPopinski

Luckily that can be fairly easily addressed. Good to hear your guy's thoughts though. If only you played in the East you would be a 1st or 2nd place team lmao.

Luckily that can be fairly easily addressed. Good to hear your guy's thoughts though. If only you played in the East you would be a 1st or 2nd place team lmao.
- Meeqsb

Maybe if the Wild get a top 5 pick for a few years in a row and strike gold....otherwise, skilled power forwards aren't exactly growing on trees.
I think Coyle is going to be special, and don't fault Fletcher one bit for making that trade, but how great would a healthy Brent Burns be? Can't have your cake and eat it too, though

Maybe if the Wild get a top 5 pick for a few years in a row and strike gold....otherwise, skilled power forwards aren't exactly growing on trees.
I think Coyle is going to be special, and don't fault Fletcher one bit for making that trade, but how great would a healthy Brent Burns be? Can't have your cake and eat it too, though
- SotaPopinski

Size in the top 6 and size in general are a little different lmao. You could probably get Stewart from STL, but good luck with that mess lol.

Size in the top 6 and size in general are a little different lmao. You could probably get Stewart from STL, but good luck with that mess lol.
- Meeqsb

MN doesn't have much to interest the Blues. For us, most of what they have is too big a cap hit (Koivu, Parise, Suter), too much older than our core (Pominville), prospects with question marks that wouldn't appear to fit in Hitchcock's system (Granlund, Niederreiter), or not an upgrade on our 4th line or bottom pairing (good chunk of the rest of the roster). The stuff they have with real trade value to a team like the Blues (Brodin, Coyle) is the exact sort of pieces they would never give up for someone like Stewart.

MN doesn't have much to interest the Blues. For us, most of what they have is too big a cap hit (Koivu, Parise, Suter), too much older than our core (Pominville), prospects with question marks that wouldn't appear to fit in Hitchcock's system (Granlund, Niederreiter), or not an upgrade on our 4th line or bottom pairing (good chunk of the rest of the roster). The stuff they have with real trade value to a team like the Blues (Brodin, Coyle) is the exact sort of pieces they would never give up for someone like Stewart.
- Antilles

I think if it were to realistically happen it would be in a situation where the Blue's decide they are done with him and Min signs him as an FA or trades mid level prospect for his rights.

As your prospects get older so do Parise, Koivu, Sutter and Pommers. Not to mention your goaltending only has so many years left as well.

Just saying time is a double edged sword, you either get better or you fall behind. Usually "time" is more for developing teams with incredibly young prospects such as FLA so I am not as sure it applies fully to Min
- Meeqsb

As Sota mentions, I don't mean a long time. The young players this team has that have made a big difference and will be expected to be part of the core long-term (Coyle, Brodin, Granlund), haven't even played a full NHL season in their career. It's one of the reasons I expected the Wild to still be a bubble team this year and why I expect more improvement from this team next year.

I get what you're saying, but I don't think the Wild should look at where they stand right now and decide something is wrong and changes are needed. Look at the roster from two season's ago and today - they've made drastic changes and I just think they need to give it a season or two to play out, see where it gets them, and then tweak it where it's needed. In fact, I think they've already started addressing some of that through the draft.

MN doesn't have much to interest the Blues. For us, most of what they have is too big a cap hit (Koivu, Parise, Suter), too much older than our core (Pominville), prospects with question marks that wouldn't appear to fit in Hitchcock's system (Granlund, Niederreiter), or not an upgrade on our 4th line or bottom pairing (good chunk of the rest of the roster). The stuff they have with real trade value to a team like the Blues (Brodin, Coyle) is the exact sort of pieces they would never give up for someone like Stewart.
- Antilles

Thank you! Aways nice to here from someone so closely entrenched and in the know in the St. Louis organization! Curious what they pay someone in there personell dept to hang out on HB?

He's not talking 4-5 years here. A full season will do wonders for Coyle, Granlund, Zucker, Brodin, and Dumba. I fully expect all players I just named, barring Dumba, to have found their place on this team. Not too worried about that. As Chin mentioned, the size on this team is disturbingly lacking and needs to be addressed.
- SotaPopinski

Heatleys contract has definitely put a choke hold on the Wilds ability to address some of the issues that are currently hindering this teams ability to be more of a force in the Central. As far as the current class of prospects/young players, I think the only true staples of the organization will be Brodin and Coyle.

Wild have a decent corps of skill players but now need to start addressing their lack of size. Cooke, Mitchell, Brodizak and Konopka all fairly average to small in stature. All solid grinder types but get pushed around pretty easily.

This is also where I think guys like Dumba and Spurgeon are more tradeworthy because of their size. Dumba about a buck eighty @6 ft and the dimuntive Spurgeon at a mere 5'9" and a buck sixty soaking wet. Wild need a much bigger blue line presence. Dumba needs to put on about 20 lbs.

Sounds like Granlund is going to be out for an unspecified length of time due to concussion related issues. Great opportunity for Haula to step up and earn himself an NHL roster spot!!!

Hi Brad!

Now that's what I'm talking about Wild fans! Maybe not giving up a 2 goal league on 3 straight goals, but to come back and not only tie the game, but win it in regulation AND against the defending champs? That's what I was talking about in this blog.

Be careful not to get too far ahead of ourselves. All this positive momentum could be zapped by laying an egg in Columbus. This time of the year, hockey is like golf. It's all about a string of good shots and limiting bad one's (shots = results as this analogy is concerned).

Now that's what I'm talking about Wild fans! Maybe not giving up a 2 goal league on 3 straight goals, but to come back and not only tie the game, but win it in regulation AND against the defending champs? That's what I was talking about in this blog.

Be careful not to get too far ahead of ourselves. All this positive momentum could be zapped by laying an egg in Columbus. This time of the year, hockey is like golf. It's all about a string of good shots and limiting bad one's (shots = results as this analogy is concerned).
- Brad Ratgen

Thought they played strong the entire game. Last two goals scored by the Hawks were pretty much on Harding. Well placed shots, both from the outer circles, he needs to save at least one of those, but then again he's only human...

Nice to see some fire out of guys like Brodziak! He was more noticable last night than he has been almost all season, and a good thing for him because Haula is getting noticed out there. Really liked the way Haula and Fontaine looked together. Haula so fast! Heatley still looked like a pile of poop, but I guess you can't have everything...

Be careful not to get too far ahead of ourselves. All this positive momentum could be zapped by laying an egg in Columbus.
- Brad Ratgen

Witch doctor or soothsayer?

Hey Brad, I just figured it out... You're 'cupcakewild' on Russos blog arent' you!!! Ha ha! You sly devil!