Dan Wallace: Fletcher Did Not Move a D Because Right Deal Never Materialized

Ok, so Nashvilles model is supposed to be so great defensively, yet they lost to a defensively inferior team in the cup finals.

Wild definitely have some really good to great d men. But lets face it, they weren't even close to having the best defensive numbers in the league last season. In fact they downright sucked in the last 3 months of the season.

Obviously someone is going to have to be moved, whether it be Spurgeon or Scandella. Chuck is in a tough spot with the RFA status looming for Granlund, Nino and Dumba.

The other thing killing the Wild right now are the NMC's. Can't move the likes of Parise, Pominville or Koivu to free up some major cap space.

Either way, i think Chuck is going to have to move at least one if not 2 d men in order to create enough cap space to round out the rest of the new contract offerings.

And personally i think Dumba is being WAAAAAAAY over valued around the league.

Thats the thing though. Nashville is not a defensive model anymore. Look at the guys mentioned. Josi, Subban, Ellis, Ekholm. These guys are offensive guys and Laviolette has them playing an offensive game. The Nashville Predators with Jones and Weber were more defensive. Looking back at the Weber Subban trade it looks like both teams lose because they traded away the player that suited their styles best. I honestly think if NSH had Weber they would have beaten the Pens.

Thats the thing though. Nashville is not a defensive model anymore. Look at the guys mentioned. Josi, Subban, Ellis, Ekholm. These guys are offensive guys and Laviolette has them playing an offensive game. The Nashville Predators with Jones and Weber were more defensive. Looking back at the Weber Subban trade it looks like both teams lose because they traded away the player that suited their styles best. I honestly think if NSH had Weber they would have beaten the Pens.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Gallagher for Brodin

Such a Mild off-season.

If Minnesota could move pommy and koivu to either Vegas or phoenix? and get a bit younger up front?might be a start?And it's Probably a good thing their D core is in tact,but mngrump mentioned about that and he's more familiar with this team so maybe dumbas time in Minnesota or Scandella is up? Question that's hard to gage is,what's the worth of these players? And you have too appreciate mngrump for is comments in regards to dumba, in an environment that all! fan bases over evaluate their players

Such a Mild off-season.
- WJDiedrich

Such a Mild off-season.
- WJDiedrich

How'd that playoff push go??? Winless with how many goals scored??? 3 in 4 games???? LOL

Use one of those D-men to upgrade the center ice position.

Just a thought, but they made it to the finals without their #1 center, I think if they have him they win the cup.

If Fletcher stands pat this offseason and doesn't do something significant to add scoring then what we've seen the past two seasons will be the norm: Flaming out in the 1st round. They need offense and in particular clutch scoring and speed. They are incredibly slow at the center position with Staal and Koivu as the main pivots. Charlie Coyle should NOT be moved back to center and neither should Granlund. It's all been tried before without tangible results. The team as constructed isn't going anywhere and keeping the band together year after year just highlights Fletchers ineptitude that much more. Dealing from a position of strength is how you acquire high end assets/talent. That's how Nashville got RJ. The Wild is deep with D prospects. If trading Spurgeon or Scandella lands you a Galchenyuk, or if a package could land you Duchene, you absolutely do it!