well the bell curve must have been pretty damn low in order for Chuck to rate an A-... I'd say given the results of the bad trades that got him in the position he was in warrants something more in the C to C- range.
Especially considering in less than 6 months he essentially gave away a first and second round pick along with Tuch. All future pieces to live in the now with primarily a roster that still can't get out of the 1st round.
He may not have buckled under the pressure, but nothing about this off season should be considered a success by any stretch.
- MnGump
I disagree Gump. Getting rid of Pominville's contract was necessary, and getting a player back in Foligno who he had been targeting for a few years sounds like a win. Convincing LV to take Haula to protect his trade assets, when it was extremely doubtful the Wild were going to resign Haula sounds like another win. Getting Nino locked for 5 years is good. Getting Granlund for 3 so he can prove is good (btw, I am NOT a Granlund fan, he's too small). And both contracts without NTCs, big win. Getting Cullen to provide GOOD veteran leadership, another win.
You have to base this off-season on what was done during the off-season, not what led up to it (i.e. things like the Hanzel trade). Look at it as if CF was just hired after the season was over. Has he improved the team with the little room cap-wise that he had? I believe so, adding size in Foligno for Poms. Ennis for Haula is a slight drop, but the price to pay to lose the d-man you wanted to.
Overall, I think this lineup should be pretty good, running these lines (as long as Coyle wakes up and realizes he is man and not child anymore)...
Parise - Staal - Niederreiter
Zucker - Koivu - Granlund
Ennis - Eriksson Ek - Coyle
Foligno - Cullen - Stewart
And who knows, maybe Kunin wins a spot on the roster. He takes Ennis's spot, and the Wild find a trade partner for Ennis and get a stay at home brute-type dman in return, for less salary...opening up even more cap space. It could happen.
