Dan Wallace: Good Win, But No Answers to What's Next

The one obvious concern is a lack of goals from Granlund, Parise, or anybody in the top six not name Eric Stahl. The D continues to be the teams strength offensively which is not saying much. Nice win yesterday but I never get my hope up with this team, just far too inconsistent to get excited at this point. Go Wild Minnesota.

Well let's face it, Granlund is easily the most unique and crafty play maker on the roster. Asking him to become a shoot first kinda guy may not be in the cards. Although I wouldn't mind seeing it myself, I would just worry that it might hinder his effectiveness in the offensive zone as far as maintaining possession.

Welcome back MnGump, I missed you for a week

Welcome back MnGump, I missed you for a week
- joegreif17

Thanks, was on vacay and decided it was a non hockey vacay. Little bit surprised to see they're still in a playoff position.

Bigger concern is WTF is up with Dubnyks glove side?! After watching all the games I missed last week I saw him give up at least 4 or 5 goals over that glove side shoulder. Not good

Bigger concern is WTF is up with Dubnyks glove side?! After watching all the games I missed last week I saw him give up at least 4 or 5 goals over that glove side shoulder. Not good
- MnGump

Goaltending is not the main problem, too many unproductive forwards lately. Parise is getting a lot of ice time and no goals, Koivu the same. Coyle has to be moved to the top six. I would move Niederreiter for a more complete player, his weak penalties are getting too much and relatively soft play as well. He can snipe but when he is not sniping he true value falls right off. He would interest a lot of teams and he is always in BB's doghouse. DD could be better but for the most part he comes up big. Many of the goals against are on the pp thanks to 22 and captain Suter. Going to be a dog fight for Wild and now the Blues are in tough. I think they are going after a top six forward and get that cull Berglund to line three or traded. Heard it could be Hoffman or Pacman, hopefully Hoffman.

Goaltending is not the main problem, too many unproductive forwards lately. Parise is getting a lot of ice time and no goals, Koivu the same. Coyle has to be moved to the top six. I would move Niederreiter for a more complete player, his weak penalties are getting too much and relatively soft play as well. He can snipe but when he is not sniping he true value falls right off. He would interest a lot of teams and he is always in BB's doghouse. DD could be better but for the most part he comes up big. Many of the goals against are on the pp thanks to 22 and captain Suter. Going to be a dog fight for Wild and now the Blues are in tough. I think they are going after a top six forward and get that cull Berglund to line three or traded. Heard it could be Hoffman or Pacman, hopefully Hoffman.
- joegreif17

If you think Coyle is a more complete player than Nino, maybe you should take a look at some advanced stats. Consistently has a Corsi and Fenwick in the 55% range, while Coyle has been 50% or less. Nino also has consistently been a better +\- player, had higher point totals, and been more effective on the PP.

I agree Nino has been taking lots of bad penalties lately, my guess is its related to the ankle injury, and hes a step behind. Not an excuse, but i think its why hes taking such bad penalties.

Not counting the Rangers game (only goals against were PP) the only PP goal against in the last 3 games was against the Ducks, so 1 out of 9. The coyotes goals were also all even strength.

If you think Coyle is a more complete player than Nino, maybe you should take a look at some advanced stats. Consistently has a Corsi and Fenwick in the 55% range, while Coyle has been 50% or less. Nino also has consistently been a better +\- player, had higher point totals, and been more effective on the PP.

I agree Nino has been taking lots of bad penalties lately, my guess is its related to the ankle injury, and hes a step behind. Not an excuse, but i think its why hes taking such bad penalties.

Not counting the Rangers game (only goals against were PP) the only PP goal against in the last 3 games was against the Ducks, so 1 out of 9. The coyotes goals were also all even strength.
- mnMild

I like Nino and Coyle, but if push comes to shove I'd prefer to move Nino over Chaz. Coyle still has unfulfilled potential IMO, but it may never be realized. I believe Nino is a better offensive player with a nose for the net, but he's very streaky, takes stupid penalties and looks to be playing at half speed some nights.

Bottom line for me is that Nino is more marketable as trade bait and Chaz is a better utility forward plus has a very nice cap friendly contract.

Coyle is a pretty streaky player in his own right. As far as past playoff performances go, theyre both pretty even. Im still sticking to my guns on Ninos penalty to woes. I really think its tied to his ankle not being fully recovered, and hes making poor defensive choices to make up for being a step slow.

I agree Coyle still has potential, but will he fulfill it here? I'm not sure. I like both players, just too bad the team is full of bad contracts and that these guys are the best bargaining chips.

Coyle is a pretty streaky player in his own right. As far as past playoff performances go, theyre both pretty even. Im still sticking to my guns on Ninos penalty to woes. I really think its tied to his ankle not being fully recovered, and hes making poor defensive choices to make up for being a step slow.

I agree Coyle still has potential, but will he fulfill it here? I'm not sure. I like both players, just too bad the team is full of bad contracts and that these guys are the best bargaining chips.
- mnMild

Yep, Chucky has made a mess of this payroll

Yep, Chucky has made a mess of this payroll
- MnGump

And how! (A reference to watching the Little Rascals last night)

Yeah, CF has this team sitting where not much can be done to help improve it. But he has made moves trying to improve it. The Pominville/Scandella trade for Ennis and Foligno actually looks like it has worked out better for the Wild, if you look at it statically. Not that I want Ennis in the lineup, or even on the team. But it's not like Pominville is lighting up the world in Buffalo, considering he played a lot with Eichel. And having either Brodin or Scandella as a 3rd pairing Left D was a luxury that the Wild just could not afford with their cap problems. Yeah, it basically gave the Wild about $2 million more in cap space, and that is where the win for the Wild comes from.

Now if CF could just convince someone like the Coyotes on a trade like Ennis and 2 of the 3 3rd Rd picks for their 2nd Rd pick back, they should do it. Ennis helps keep the Yotes about the cap floor (I wish I knew what it was...) and they gain an extra pick. Usually there is not much of a difference in players drafted in Rds 2-4, at least in my opinion. And the Wild would open up some cap space and get their Rd 2 pick back. Maybe they give them only 1 3rd Rd pick and throw Reilly in as well. Doing that, the Wild might have to take on the Mike Smith buyout for this year and next. But it would be worth it. But let's just say Ennis, two 3rd Rd picks for a 2nd Rd pick.

Now bring back Luke Kunin. Sign Greenway IMMEDIATELY Boston U's season ends. I mean that NIGHT! Now give Nino a breather to see if things can heal up a little bit more before the playoffs. The Wild would be at the 23 player roster max(they've run at 22 all year long because of cap space) and could move guys in and out if need be.

Parise - Staal - Coyle (should be the best scoring line)
Zucker - JEE - Granlund (FAST line and Grannie can become a shooter w/ feeds from JEE)
Cullen - Koivu - Greenway (just don't allow them to play against fast lines)
Foligno - Kunin - Winnik/Stewart (if Kunin screws up, he sits - had plenty of time at Iowa to get the speed of the game back)

Once Nino is at the healthiest he is going to get for the season, place him in Parise's spot, Zach moves to Cullen's spot, Cullen goes back to centering 4th line, playing between Kunin/Winnik/Foligno/Stewart. You then have guys on your 4th line that can be temporarily moved up on lines if the need is there. They also open cap space for next year, which is going to be needed to re-sign Zucker and Dumba. As for the defensive pairings, with those forwards listed above, I think Reilly is the odd man out, so hopefully they can trade him as well. I really think Seeler has earned a spot as the 7th D-man.

Suter - Dumba
Brodin - Spurgeon
Olofsson/Seeler - Prosser

For the love of....something...CF needs to do something crazy, even if it is trading Ennis, Reilly and two 3rd Rd picks for another 3rd Rd pick (I prefer getting their 2nd back from Yotes), then do it. He has to create some cap room. And guys like Parise, Suter, Koivu, Staal...they ain't getting any younger. So might as well play some of the youngsters as well.

I like it Gus.