Tony Dean: Hard to View Minnesota Wild Offseason as Anything Short of Disappointing Hard to View Minnesota Wild Offseason as Anything Short of Disappointing

Maybe the Pens will give up Sutter if Fletcher offers up Spurgeon.

Good read. not sure why there aren't wild fans posting here though.

The Wild are going to be in a grind from the get-go just to get into the 8th seed(which I think they'll miss). If you asked me if this current group, as constructed, will make the playoffs I'd say no. The thing that get's lost in all of the "they were the best team in hockey in March" talk is that their schedule was one of the easiest in hockey. They beat the bad teams they were supposed to beat but couldn't beat an undermanned Black Hawks team at the end of the season to get themselves a better playoff scenario. I also think the way they got destroyed by the Hawks will carry over somewhat into this season. Without a significant contribution from Graovac, or Jenys at center this team is at most a one and done imo.

The Wild are going to be in a grind from the get-go just to get into the 8th seed(which I think they'll miss). If you asked me if this current group, as constructed, will make the playoffs I'd say no. The thing that get's lost in all of the "they were the best team in hockey in March" talk is that their schedule was one of the easiest in hockey. They beat the bad teams they were supposed to beat but couldn't beat an undermanned Black Hawks team at the end of the season to get themselves a better playoff scenario. I also think the way they got destroyed by the Hawks will carry over somewhat into this season. Without a significant contribution from Graovac, or Jenys at center this team is at most a one and done imo.
- mnhockeyguy

Yeo will be fired by mid-season I think.

How do those Parise and Suter contracts look now?

The Minnesota Wild are not even in the same conversation as the Chicago Blackhawks. Did it ever occur to you that you haven't beaten the hawks in the playoffs the last 3 years is because they are just that much better than the Wild? Minnesota is a small market team trying to compete with the big boys. Parise and Suter were never going to propel the Wild to be a legitimate contender. With so much money tied up on those 2 is only hurting the Wild more than it is helping them.

Don't sign anymore veterans, let the kids play and get experience,
take the hit this year.

Bonus points for using "hornswoggled" in a sentence.

Parise and Suter were never going to propel the Wild to be a legitimate contender. With so much money tied up on those 2 is only hurting the Wild more than it is helping them.
- Daveflyers36

The Wild do have guys whose production doesn't match their contract value, as does just about every other NHL team. Parise and Suter aren't those guys. They are hardly a problem for this team.

The Minnesota Wild are not even in the same conversation as the Chicago Blackhawks. Did it ever occur to you that you haven't beaten the hawks in the playoffs the last 3 years is because they are just that much better than the Wild? Minnesota is a small market team trying to compete with the big boys. Parise and Suter were never going to propel the Wild to be a legitimate contender. With so much money tied up on those 2 is only hurting the Wild more than it is helping them.
- Daveflyers36

D'okay get back to us when the Flyers make the playoffs again.

How do those Parise and Suter contracts look now?
- StargateSG1

Well they're two of the primary reasons the Wild has made the playoffs the last 3 seasons in a row, so all in all not too bad.

Yeo will be fired by mid-season I think.
- Aaron_85

Agreed, especially if he doesn't loosen the reigns on some of the Kids. If the PP is horrendous again and they go into their annual January swoon then I can see Yeo going followed by Fletcher at the end of the season.

Last I checked, the Chicago Blackhawks were better than everyone, including the Wild, but thanks for the stellar insight.... and wtf does market size have to do with team performance? Not much with today's salary cap.
I like the Wilds chances much more with Parise/Suter on the team than I did before their arrival.


Damn, I've never seen a post with so much wrong in it before.

Don't sign anymore veterans, let the kids play and get experience,
take the hit this year.

Bonus points for using "hornswoggled" in a sentence.


- ThatDarnCat

The kids are all playing, not sure who else you have in mind, but the next batch of prospects are no where ready to be called up.
If you meant to give the kids more responsibility and for Yeo to quit catering to the vets, then I agree 100%

Nice blog Tony, I tend to agree with most. I will say that Dubnyk will be under a microscope and I think he did a snow job getting the big contract. Team defence made him look good and gave him confidence to actually play very well. However I am just not sold on him as a bonifide #1. Too many years watching him suck wherever he was playing. I wonder if J. Gustafsson will ever get a sniff???

Last I checked, the Chicago Blackhawks were better than everyone, including the Wild, but thanks for the stellar insight.... and wtf does market size have to do with team performance? Not much with today's salary cap.
I like the Wilds chances much more with Parise/Suter on the team than I did before their arrival.


Damn, I've never seen a post with so much wrong in it before.
- SotaPopinski

Well said. Especially as it relates to the Small Market Size. I think they need go a different direction with a coach. May have tried Paul MacLean but for now it's wait and see.

I don't think it is all doom and gloom for this team right now. The Wild have shown that, when they have their confidence, they can beat any team in the league. They lost their confidence with having Keumper backstop them mid season and lost their confidence in the 2nd round of the playoffs after their comeback in game 1 didn't result in a win. The second half of the season, once they traded for Dubnyk, they were almost unstoppable. No one wanted to play the Wild in the first round of the playoffs and they showed us exactly why in dismantling St. Louis.

The Wild are going to be fine. What this team really needs is a #1 center. I don't think that Granlund is going to be that guy. All the same I expect them to compete for the Division this year.

How do those Parise and Suter contracts look now?
- StargateSG1

Bit premature with that slight. Those contracts wont be a problem for another 2 to 3 years. Check back then. The problem contracts are Koivu, Backstrom and Vanek. And Vaneks really isn't that big of a problem because he still produces, just not at the level he's being paid to.

The Minnesota Wild are not even in the same conversation as the Chicago Blackhawks. Did it ever occur to you that you haven't beaten the hawks in the playoffs the last 3 years is because they are just that much better than the Wild? Minnesota is a small market team trying to compete with the big boys. Parise and Suter were never going to propel the Wild to be a legitimate contender. With so much money tied up on those 2 is only hurting the Wild more than it is helping them.
- Daveflyers36

Umm.... did it ever occur to YOU that the Hawks have won the cup 3 of the last 6 seasons?... Pretty sure that means they ARE "a much better team" than every team in the NHL. What a moronic statement.

Funny, Giroux is making more money than Parise and Suter are yet the Flyers have missed the playoffs two of the last three seasons. So using your logic, I guess I can safely say that Giroux is never going to propel the Flyers to be a legitmate contender with so much money tied up in one player. He's only hurting the Flyers more than helping them... and oh yeah.... just a heads up. Guessing Voracek is going to command as much if not more than Giroux this season before he becomes a UFA next year... So.... then you'll have 2 players making more than Parise and Suter.

Go sell dumb someplace else.

I am very skeptical that Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek, and Ryan Suter have their best hockey ahead of them
- Tony Dean

It is hard to argue that Koivu, Vanek, Suter, and Backstrom have immovable contracts
- Tony Dean

After finally reading your blog T, I'm a little dumbfounded that you seem to be insinuating by lumping Suter in with a handful of vets that the honeymoon is definitely over.

I wasn't exactly pleased with his overall performance last season especially in the playoffs, but IMO he's still the best overall defenseman on the roster. So I'm really not quite sure where you're going with the implications that he might be or should be moved.

Whatever way you want to look at it, this team is far less better defensively without Suter topping the number one pairing.

Bottom line for me is that maybe the honeymoon should be over for Yeo and the way he utilizes Ryan. As impressive as his huge gobs of ice time has been, it's time to start treating him like an actual human being that gets tired and somewhat less ineffective in the last periods of games instead of some sort of machine that can keep being over shifted on a team that is now clearly more capable of running out 3 pairings equally.

Just my take.

After finally reading your blog T, I'm a little dumbfounded that you seem to be insinuating by lumping Suter in with a handful of vets that the honeymoon is definitely over.

I wasn't exactly pleased with his overall performance last season especially in the playoffs, but IMO he's still the best overall defenseman on the roster. So I'm really not quite sure where you're going with the implications that he might be or should be moved.

Whatever way you want to look at it, this team is far less better defensively without Suter topping the number one pairing.

Bottom line for me is that maybe the honeymoon should be over for Yeo and the way he utilizes Ryan. As impressive as his huge gobs of ice time has been, it's time to start treating him like an actual human being that gets tired and somewhat less ineffective in the last periods of games instead of some sort of machine that can keep being over shifted on a team that is now clearly more capable of running out 3 pairings equally.

Just my take.
- MnGump

I think Ryan Suter is very good at certain things as a hockey player but I definitely believe that his role must evolve this season. Suter should definitely not play as many minutes as he has the past 3 seasons. Given his ice time and special teams opportunities Suter has not produced like a #1 Dman and being honest about it Jared Spurgeon has been the best overall defenseman for the Wild the past two seasons not Suter. I also argue that because of Suter's role it limits Brodin's ability to take his offensive game to the next level. If it were up to me I would pir Suter with Dumba from day one of the 2015-16 season with the specific instructions that the veteran defenseman is to be the safety blanket for a more aggressive version of Dumba's game. if Suter is to continue on the top PP there needs to be a shooter on the other point looking to fire the puck every time he touches it and capable of getting it on the net from the blue line and through traffic. Suter is a very good player but time has proven he is a mostly finesse low production complimentary type. I agree it is definitely on Yeo to deploy and coach him but let's be real here Suter when he signed here has been given Carte Blanche with regard to how much he and and how he plays. time for him to own his shortcomings. I think Suter is not move-able being honest because of contract both money/length but also NMC. Suter certainly fits squarely into the category of veteran players who have not met expectations and have not justified their icetime/role!

Last I checked, the Chicago Blackhawks were better than everyone, including the Wild, but thanks for the stellar insight.... and wtf does market size have to do with team performance? Not much with today's salary cap.
I like the Wilds chances much more with Parise/Suter on the team than I did before their arrival.


Damn, I've never seen a post with so much wrong in it before.
- SotaPopinski

AMEN Sota!

I think Ryan Suter is very good at certain things as a hockey player but I definitely believe that his role must evolve this season. If it were up to me I would pir Suter with Dumba from day one of the 2015-16 season with the specific instructions that the veteran defenseman is to be the safety blanket for a more aggressive version of Dumba's game. if Suter is to continue on the top PP there needs to be a shooter on the other point. I agree it is definitely on Yeo to deploy and coach him but let's be real here Suter when he signed here has been given Carte Blanche with regard to how much he and and how he plays. time for him to own his shortcomings!
- Tony Dean

These points you make are no different than the ones constantly being made about Koivu and his production.

These are ALL issues stemming from coaching and organizational policy. This all falls on Fletcher and Yeo. Time to stop letting the inmates run the asylum. Yeo needs to start utilizing players in appropriate roles that are best suited to their specific skill sets and strengths.

ie. Cut Suters minutes and get him off the first unit PP. Bust Koivu down to 3rd line center and get him off of the first unit PP. (of course this would require acquiring a bonafide number 1 or even a number 2 centerman). Put Vanek on a line with complimentary players that can score. Put Coyle back on wing where he belongs. etc etc...

My point is, the onus is on Fletch and Yeo to take control regardless of player status. Force these guys to earn their ice time and positions. It's time for some old school Lemaire mentality management of this roster.

I know coaches like Quenville are constantly questioned and second guessed for things like benching guys and limiting there ice time due to performance issues, but just how successful has he been over the past 6 seasons? Clearly his philosophy seems to work.

These points you make are no different than the ones constantly being made about Koivu and his production.

These are ALL issues stemming from coaching and organizational policy. This all falls on Fletcher and Yeo. Time to stop letting the inmates run the asylum. Yeo needs to start utilizing players in appropriate roles that are best suited to their specific skill sets and strengths.

ie. Cut Suters minutes and get him off the first unit PP. Bust Koivu down to 3rd line center and get him off of the first unit PP. (of course this would require acquiring a bonafide number 1 or even a number 2 centerman). Put Vanek on a line with complimentary players that can score. Put Coyle back on wing where he belongs. etc etc...

My point is, the onus is on Fletch and Yeo to take control regardless of player status. Force these guys to earn their ice time and positions. It's time for some old school Lemaire mentality management of this roster.

I know coaches like Quenville are constantly questioned and second guessed for things like benching guys and limiting there ice time due to performance issues, but just how successful has he been over the past 6 seasons? Clearly his philosophy seems to work.
- MnGump

I agree. Limiting Suter's ice time is key as well as moving him and Koivu off the first PP unit. That being said Granlund really has to show up this year and show some improvement because his numbers last year just will not cut it. This team is weak down the middle especially losing brodz, so the young guns better step up this year to take on bigger roles.

Pretty sure we are stuck seeing Coyle at center for the time being (unless a FA signing or Graovac makes the big club) Haula just has to be better period, more of what we seen from him year before and improve on that he should be fine at 4C.

Lastly, it is important that Zuck and Nino continue to produce goals. I am confident that they can do it with now being up for 2-3 years now and having over 20 goal seasons last year. Because lets face it, Pommer was hard to watch last year with all missed opportunities. Vanek is another story, he needs to play with playmakers that I just don't think the wild have, still Vanek I think after being here a year can probably hit the 20+ goal mark, but that is not nearly enough given his contract.

Gonna be interesting season if Duby can play solid for us. Hopefully see improvement from the young core we have here.

how much for Jason Zucker?