Tony Dean: WildHBcommunity: Zach Parise Named Team USA Captain While in Calgary

There is just no reasonable explanation for a lineup that includes Mike Rupp with Jason Zucker as a healthy scratch for four games while every point is needed for survival in the Western Conference playoff picture.
- Tony Dean

Russo just posted his blog in which there is some attempt by Yeo to explain it.

Zucker was the odd man after Zach Parise returned, and Yeo said it was about “fit.” I asked Yeo more specifically today why Zucker was scratched and he gave his most specific answer, which was an indictment of both the team and Zucker.

He said he gave Zucker the one game against Chicago on the fourth line and indicated Zucker needs to play in a top-6 role to be effective (he had one near costly turnover after a play on the wall in the second period). But then Yeo added, “We’ve seen a different game from our team and from him playing against some of these heavy teams on the road, so that’s we used the different lineup.”

So, to be clearer, Yeo has felt the Wild’s game and Zucker’s game changes against tough teams on the road, so that’s why he felt compelled to start playing Rupp at San Jose, at Anaheim, at Colorado and now at Calgary.
- Russo's Rants

Anyone else severely disappointed that the guy in charge is selling that mess?

no one will here our cries

Anyone else severely disappointed that the guy in charge is selling that mess?
- Tony Dean

The only thing that is really disappointing to me in those statements is that he only sees Zucker in a top-6 role. I think that needs to change. There's no reason why the Wild can't ice a skilled 4th line that could contribute offensively just not get the total minutes the top 6 guys would get. Zucker-Haula-Fontaine against most other 4th lines in the league might actually be an advantage for the Wild for 10 minutes a game.

Yeo just seems to be more of the old school mentality that you have to match lines by style - if the other team throws out a tough, physical 4th line, he has to counter with the same thing. The problem is he can't really ice a tough, physical 4th line with the personnel on this team. So why not try to counter with speed and skill?

Anyone else severely disappointed that the guy in charge is selling that mess?
- Tony Dean

Either He's trying to turn checkers into chess or he's just back peddling in order to justify what more likely is a personal vendetta.

He was constantly quoted over the last two seasons in regards to putting the best possible team on the ice every night.

This explanation directly flies in the face of that philosophy IMO. Not to mention part of his motivation for scratching Zuck for one mistake during a game is a bunch of double standard hypocritical bullpoop because he hasn't scratched Heatley once this year and that guy is directly responsible for at least a handful of losses.

Calgary plays a real hack brand of hockey.

Heart Breaking

Looked pretty disjointed last night. Disappointing.

Looked pretty disjointed last night. Disappointing.
- Chinaski

What's disappointing is having to come back from a two goal deficit against a clearly inferior team in the first place. The fact that they lost after forcing OT is simply put, embarrassing.

It irritates me to no end that they can't adjust to that hack brand of hockey and bury a team like that. PP should be scoring a lot more often! Otherwise poopty teams like Calgary are going to get away with garbage hockey and steal wins like they did in this one.

What's disappointing is having to come back from a two goal deficit against a clearly inferior team in the first place. The fact that they lost after forcing OT is simply put, embarrassing.

It irritates me to no end that they can't adjust to that hack brand of hockey and bury a team like that. PP should be scoring a lot more often! Otherwise poopty teams like Calgary are going to get away with garbage hockey and steal wins like they did in this one.

- MnGump

Garbage hockey? You obviously have the homer goggles on. That game was great. Both teams skated hard. Both teams enjoyed extended periods where they carried the game. It look fairly evenly matched to me. A higher skilled team in the Wild and a gutsy hard working lunch bucket brigade in the Flames. What's embarrassing is comments like your's. Grow a set and admit your team just got outworked. The Wild know it, and they know that you can't take anything for granted in the NHL. They'll remember this loss and I'm willing to be they work even harder next time and chances are they'll come away with the win.

Garbage hockey? You obviously have the homer goggles on. That game was great. Both teams skated hard. Both teams enjoyed extended periods where they carried the game. It look fairly evenly matched to me. A higher skilled team in the Wild and a gutsy hard working lunch bucket brigade in the Flames. What's embarrassing is comments like your's. Grow a set and admit your team just got outworked. The Wild know it, and they know that you can't take anything for granted in the NHL. They'll remember this loss and I'm willing to be they work even harder next time and chances are they'll come away with the win.
- scubasteve

Flames came to play last night definitely decided that punching the Wild in the mouth was going to be priority last night. Wild scrambled last night to get back in take nothing away from the Flames they probably deserved to win last night more than the Wild. That was junky hockey though I wouldnt ever describe it as great. Wild is capable of so much better.

Wild better get it figured out here season slipping away with losses like last night.

Garbage hockey? You obviously have the homer goggles on. That game was great. Both teams skated hard. Both teams enjoyed extended periods where they carried the game. It look fairly evenly matched to me. A higher skilled team in the Wild and a gutsy hard working lunch bucket brigade in the Flames. What's embarrassing is comments like your's. Grow a set and admit your team just got outworked. The Wild know it, and they know that you can't take anything for granted in the NHL. They'll remember this loss and I'm willing to be they work even harder next time and chances are they'll come away with the win.
- scubasteve

Hack and slash hockey is not admirable and it's not "hard work". You spin it however you wish, but Calgary is not a scrappy or gutty team. They're a relatively low skilled team that can't win by simply playing fundamental hockey, instead they play a hack brand of hockey that employs trying to bait their opponents into taking penalties thru cheap shotting and intimidation tactics. It's bush league if you ask me.

Of course you like it and take offense because what else can they do to win. But wait til Calgary starts acquiring some good players and their young prospects start becoming stars and then we'll see how much you like other teams taking liberties against them putting them at risk for injury with the same type of play.

Now that Vanek has turned down the Islanders, seems we should prepare for him

Vanek won't fix all the issues here but will be a nice top 6 forward with speed.

Now that Vanek has turned down the Islanders, seems we should prepare for him

Vanek won't fix all the issues here but will be a nice top 6 forward with speed.
- KxKodiak47

I'd hold off on planning the parade route to welcome Vanek to the Wild just yet... Reports are that Snow offered him about or slightly more than he's currently making per season and he turned it down.

Now that's not saying he wouldn't take that money to play elsewhere if he truly just didn't want to stay in NY, but I'm not convinced Leipold will or can afford to dole out another max contract for $7+ million per season.

I have major doubts that Vanek does actually end up in Minny. It's certainly in the realm of possiblity, but I'd say the odds are still not in our favor at this point....

Now that Vanek has turned down the Islanders, seems we should prepare for him

Vanek won't fix all the issues here but will be a nice top 6 forward with speed.
- KxKodiak47

just an fyi, but Vanek is not a speedster. He's not someone who's going to jump into an opening and take off. He's quite slow, gifted as hell and a better passer than I had expected, but he's absolutely not someone who would be considered a good, or even average skater.

I'd hold off on planning the parade route to welcome Vanek to the Wild just yet... Reports are that Snow offered him about or slightly more than he's currently making per season and he turned it down.

Now that's not saying he wouldn't take that money to play elsewhere if he truly just didn't want to stay in NY, but I'm not convinced Leipold will or can afford to dole out another max contract for $7+ million per season.

I have major doubts that Vanek does actually end up in Minny. It's certainly in the realm of possiblity, but I'd say the odds are still not in our favor at this point....
- MnGump

I'm also in the skeptical department on Vanek mostly for the reasons you bring up - long-term, high dollar deal for him is not a good idea for this organization. But I do think they would sign him in a heartbeat for big dollars if he would do it on a short-term - 3-4 years.

I wonder if Fletcher will talk trade with Snow just to get a chance to talk to Bartlett to gauge what Vanek may want come July 1? It's also an opportunity for Vanek to gauge what the Wild might be willing to do if he truly wants to come here. Would you let them talk if you were Snow? If you do and Vanek finds out he would need to take a lot less than the Islanders have offered, it may be the best chance Snow has to re-sign Vanek.

just an fyi, but Vanek is not a speedster. He's not someone who's going to jump into an opening and take off. He's quite slow, gifted as hell and a better passer than I had expected, but he's absolutely not someone who would be considered a good, or even average skater.
- Isles_since_6

I'm not saying he will turn into Heatley, but there is definitely a danger to signing Vanek beyond about 3 years. He's a pretty darn good goal scorer, as was Heatley. But if his goal scoring declines significantly, what else does he do? Probably not much, just like Heatley. Again, Heatley is a very cautionary tale for the Wild for this exact situation.