Tony Dean: Minnesota Wild Prospect Development 2015 July 9th-14th at the X Preview Minnesota Wild Prospect Development 2015 July 9th-14th at the X Preview

pity fist. didn't read, good blog

Hopefully things click, getting nervous about the upcoming season. Thinking it' gunna be a repeat of the past 2. Hopefully Dubs can keep his game going and stay healthy, maybe carry the team the whole season. TIME WILL TELL!

Thanks for another informative write up.
Whatever happened to Dennis Endras?

Thanks for another informative write up.
Whatever happened to Dennis Endras?


- ThatDarnCat

never returned from Germany.

I think right now Graovac is trending towards being the #1 center on this club, and I wouldn't be surprised if two years from now it's Graovac and Jenys as a 1-2. The thing I worry about is Yeo's stubborn insistence on playing certain players at positions that they are no longer able to play. If Graovac outplays Granlund during training camp and preseason, then why shouldn't he have a shot to play between Parise and Pomminville? He looked better than every other center at last years camp, and his reward was to be sent down to Iowa. I think having some size in the middle along with skating ability and skill will do help Parise and Pominville by giving them more space to operate. Here's hoping someone shines through at forward and particularly center this next season because, as currently constructed, I think this team struggles to win the 8th seed next season.

I think right now Graovac is trending towards being the #1 center on this club, and I wouldn't be surprised if two years from now it's Graovac and Jenys as a 1-2. The thing I worry about is Yeo's stubborn insistence on playing certain players at positions that they are no longer able to play. If Graovac outplays Granlund during training camp and preseason, then why shouldn't he have a shot to play between Parise and Pomminville? He looked better than every other center at last years camp, and his reward was to be sent down to Iowa. I think having some size in the middle along with skating ability and skill will do help Parise and Pominville by giving them more space to operate. Here's hoping someone shines through at forward and particularly center this next season because, as currently constructed, I think this team struggles to win the 8th seed next season.
- mnhockeyguy

I am not a huge believer that Graovac is a top 6 forward in the NHL, that is not to say he isn't a talented capable kid just not sure he is a top tier talent type. It would be great to get Graovac or Haula to settle into center position because Coyle is definitely not a center. Fletcher failed to address the position so far this summer and it is a significant need. Losing Brodziak makes an already super thin depth chart down the middle a huge weakness.

FYI Keep your eyes open to some invitees... # 82 Vecchione... read up on him .. your gonna enjoy watching this kid. you heard it first here

I think the fact that Brodziak left to sign a one year, 900K contract with St. Louis to be their 4th line center isn't getting the attention it deserves. Are we to think that Fletcher couldn't at least match that offer? Brodziak leaving for peanuts doesn't reflect well on the Wild as an organization, to say the least. And to top it off, we still need another center. I was hoping the Wild would be able to entertain the idea of signing Shawn Matthias, but in hindsight the Wild didn't have the cap space.

Nice write up, T-Dean. I am definitely looking forward to the open scrimmages! This is a special time of year where the promise of youth can make everything seem so promising and exciting, especially for our favorite squad who will not make many roster changes going into next year. Hopefully we see a nice showing from the new guard. Also, the current Braintrust has always done a nice job of filling out the rosters with some interesting invitees (see J Spurgeon, T Johnson, M Read). Maybe there will be a surprise or two.....

I am not a huge believer that Graovac is a top 6 forward in the NHL, that is not to say he isn't a talented capable kid just not sure he is a top tier talent type. It would be great to get Graovac or Haula to settle into center position because Coyle is definitely not a center. Fletcher failed to address the position so far this summer and it is a significant need. Losing Brodziak makes an already super thin depth chart down the middle a huge weakness.
- Tony Dean

Agreed completely. Don't get the Graovac hype... looks like a potentially solid 3/4 line C but I wouldn't complain if he overachieves like a mofo

I think the fact that Brodziak left to sign a one year, 900K contract with St. Louis to be their 4th line center isn't getting the attention it deserves. Are we to think that Fletcher couldn't at least match that offer? Brodziak leaving for peanuts doesn't reflect well on the Wild as an organization, to say the least. And to top it off, we still need another center. I was hoping the Wild would be able to entertain the idea of signing Shawn Matthias, but in hindsight the Wild didn't have the cap space.
- Isojoki

I think we were all resigned to losing Brodz this year given our cap situation. But, once we saw that he came in at under a million, that decision came under a bit more scrutiny. In the end, for a roster that won't see much turnover from last year to next, it's probably healthy to promote from within to fill the Brodz role. The Wild prospect cupboard may be a tad light on high-end talent, but we should be able to adequately fill some 3rd and 4th line jobs.

I think the fact that Brodziak left to sign a one year, 900K contract with St. Louis to be their 4th line center isn't getting the attention it deserves. Are we to think that Fletcher couldn't at least match that offer? Brodziak leaving for peanuts doesn't reflect well on the Wild as an organization, to say the least. And to top it off, we still need another center. I was hoping the Wild would be able to entertain the idea of signing Shawn Matthias, but in hindsight the Wild didn't have the cap space.
- Isojoki

I would just say give it some time to see what happens over the course of the summer before making a final judgement.

I actually like most of Brodziak's game and for $900K he would have been a good, solid signing here for a team that is weak at center. But we all know what that gets us. So I think Fletcher looks at Brodziak as someone who he'd like to have but he's a player whose skill set he can find elsewhere later in the summer if need be and it could be for a reduced rate and possibly a more dynamic player.

There could also be a couple of other things going on.

First, I would never put it past Fletcher to have some trade ideas in his pocket to help the Wild out at the center position. You never know what conversations he's had with other teams and what deals may have been discussed that could be revisited should he think they need to make a trade.

Secondly, and I heard this on TSN1050 radio the other day, teams can go over the cap by 10% I think during the summer and then they have to get cap compliant by the start of the season. It was that time last year that the Islanders took advantage of cap-strapped teams that needed to make a move (Boston, Chicago) and obtained Boychuck and Leddy. It may just be worthwhile to have a little more flexibility in case a more versatile guy becomes available around that time.

Thirdly, I really think Fletcher wants to have a couple of center positions open going into camp and 3-4 guys having a shot at it to create a lot of competition and make sure he has guys that are giving it their all.

He may be waiting out the UFA market to see if guys like Fehr, Tlusty, Sheppard, Goc don't get snapped up and are forced to take a very reduced rate to sign somewhere later, or better yet, are unsigned come training camp and would accept a tryout.

It's not a perfect position to be in for the Wild. But there are still opportunities to fill Brodziak's spot that may work out better than re-signing him. It could also be worse. We'll need to wait and see.

I think the fact that Brodziak left to sign a one year, 900K contract with St. Louis to be their 4th line center isn't getting the attention it deserves. Are we to think that Fletcher couldn't at least match that offer? Brodziak leaving for peanuts doesn't reflect well on the Wild as an organization, to say the least. And to top it off, we still need another center. I was hoping the Wild would be able to entertain the idea of signing Shawn Matthias, but in hindsight the Wild didn't have the cap space.
- Isojoki

They let him go, didn't want to resign him.

Nice write up, T-Dean. I am definitely looking forward to the open scrimmages! This is a special time of year where the promise of youth can make everything seem so promising and exciting, especially for our favorite squad who will not make many roster changes going into next year. Hopefully we see a nice showing from the new guard. Also, the current Braintrust has always done a nice job of filling out the rosters with some interesting invitees (see J Spurgeon, T Johnson, M Read). Maybe there will be a surprise or two.....
- timnado

Tim you going to the scrimmages? let me know I would love to take them in with you! glad you have joined the conversation here at HockeyBuzz!

I would just say give it some time to see what happens over the course of the summer before making a final judgement.

I actually like most of Brodziak's game and for $900K he would have been a good, solid signing here for a team that is weak at center. But we all know what that gets us. So I think Fletcher looks at Brodziak as someone who he'd like to have but he's a player whose skill set he can find elsewhere later in the summer if need be and it could be for a reduced rate and possibly a more dynamic player.

There could also be a couple of other things going on.

First, I would never put it past Fletcher to have some trade ideas in his pocket to help the Wild out at the center position. You never know what conversations he's had with other teams and what deals may have been discussed that could be revisited should he think they need to make a trade.

Secondly, and I heard this on TSN1050 radio the other day, teams can go over the cap by 10% I think during the summer and then they have to get cap compliant by the start of the season. It was that time last year that the Islanders took advantage of cap-strapped teams that needed to make a move (Boston, Chicago) and obtained Boychuck and Leddy. It may just be worthwhile to have a little more flexibility in case a more versatile guy becomes available around that time.

Thirdly, I really think Fletcher wants to have a couple of center positions open going into camp and 3-4 guys having a shot at it to create a lot of competition and make sure he has guys that are giving it their all.

He may be waiting out the UFA market to see if guys like Fehr, Tlusty, Sheppard, Goc don't get snapped up and are forced to take a very reduced rate to sign somewhere later, or better yet, are unsigned come training camp and would accept a tryout.

It's not a perfect position to be in for the Wild. But there are still opportunities to fill Brodziak's spot that may work out better than re-signing him. It could also be worse. We'll need to wait and see.
- Chinaski

honestly if Fletcher doesn't work a trade to add a center and shake up this lineup I may be checked out very early this fall. Reality is this current roster group has talented pieces old and young that don't fit together. Not hard to see that. connectors so important and this roster must be improved which has not occurred. lots riding on Backstrom who is holding the Wild hostage. I am so tired of his selfish/unrealistic behavior. Literally not one team would roster Backstrom as an NHL goalie based upon performance not even taking into his health. Backstrom is burning the F out his bridge with the organization but more importantly with the fans. Guy goes on MTV3 in Finland to play the victim? Give me a break. Better yet do us all a favor and stay hurt on LongbTerm Injured Reserve so we can add free agent like Chris Stewart for the $3.6Mil we can go over the cap!

honestly if Fletcher doesn't work a trade to add a center and shake up this lineup I may be checked out very early this fall. Reality is this current roster group has talented pieces old and young that don't fit together. Not hard to see that. connectors so important and this roster must be improved which has not occurred. lots riding on Backstrom who is holding the Wild hostage. I am so tired of his selfish/unrealistic behavior. Literally not one team would roster Backstrom as an NHL goalie based upon performance not even taking into his health. Backstrom is burning the F out his bridge with the organization but more importantly with the fans. Guy goes on MTV3 in Finland to play the victim? Give me a break. Better yet do us all a favor and stay hurt on LongbTerm Injured Reserve so we can add free agent like Chris Stewart for the $3.6Mil we can go over the cap!
- Tony Dean

I don't think it's that they don't fit together as much as some of these guys are being miscast and it's obvious that some guys' roles need to change. I definitely think the combinations could be changed up for a better fit with the current roster. It will very disappointing if we don't see some changes in combinations and roles next season.

As for Backstrom, I don't know what's going on there but there isn't really anything that can be done about it. It's not an unmanageable situation though. Taking the roster spot prevents them from carrying an extra forward that would be scratched. It does prevent a rotation of forwards in the bottom six and could give some guys complacency, but they should be able to work through it.

One way out of it could be a trade where they take back a comparable salary with more term, but I don't think trading one problem for another is going to be enough. For example, if they were willing to take Bozak from Toronto ($4.2M cap hit for 3 more years) maybe they need to give up a high pick, good prospect, or roster player. Maybe if you package Spurgeon with Backstrom it would be enough? In that scenario, the Wild would actually shed $1.8M and Toronto definitely has the room to do it. I'm just not sure they would go for that deal. Maybe they would if it was Lupul ($5.25M cap hit for 3 more years) instead.

I guess the other way could be to package Backstrom and a higher pick, prospect, or young roster player to a lower salary team that can carry him and his cap hit for the one more year in return for a lower pick.

But any trade I think needs Backstrom to waive his NMC.

Nice write up man. One prospect I didnt see mentioned was Marc Hagel. I know he has only signed a contract with Iowa, but the few games that I saw in Des Moines last year, he really stood out. I think he ended the season near the top for points in Iowa as well. Have you looked at him much?

Nice write up man. One prospect I didnt see mentioned was Marc Hagel. I know he has only signed a contract with Iowa, but the few games that I saw in Des Moines last year, he really stood out. I think he ended the season near the top for points in Iowa as well. Have you looked at him much?
- LuckyPucker14

In truth I have NEVER seen him play. I am not sure he is viewed as a prospect. U think he is more likely viewed as a career minor leaguer but that is not to say that he could not find his way to the NHL or the Wild.

Meow