Dan Wallace: Wild Signs Of What's Ahead

Fist o mine

Where is Gump...show yourself we need to talk about these wild avs games

I think they will still make the playoffs Dan but other than that I agree completely, I switched to a different game half way through when I realized this is going to be a poop show. The Avs clearly have our number but this team is poorly coached and players are grossly mismanaged imo. I think BB will be fired, Dumba and Niederreiter traded in the off season. Dumba can get a return as well as Nieds. Nieds is not well like by BB and it shows. I would like to see Staal between Granlund and Coyle for a few games and Zucker has been lights out but try him on the second line. Actually I do not know what to say but they are a very frustrating team to watch. DD has been off the last two games for some reason. The same thing is happening to this team that happened to Washington and Anaheim under Boudreau, he is hopefully a goner because he is a big reason for the this hot and cold showcase.

Where is Gump...show yourself we need to talk about these wild avs games
- DDM-Coga

I think you will find him on the Avs site, ; This team is enough to drive its fans into hibernation, every time I see BB I have to get out a brown paper bag Nice to see your AVS looking so vibrant, I love Rantanen who I drafted but traded him for Gostisbehere and Lee so I did okay but I still really like him.

Substitute Dallas Stars for Minnesota Wild in the first few paragraphs and you can summarize our seasons the same.

Being in the middle or on the fringe can be really frustrating.
8 teams fighting for 4 spots all within 6 pt.s of each other.
What a mess.

Nice write up Dan. Kind of difficult to raise an argument to any of your bullet points. It's a frustrating bunch to say the least.

I didn't get to watch the game last night, but wasn't surprised to see the end result this morning.

IMO, Dubnyk has been regressing slowly over the past season and a half. Somewhere in the middle of last season he just started losing that edge he played with for the first season and change that he was here. Add to that, the Wild just aren't a defense first team anymore, and their team defensive play is not what it was under Yeo.

Whether we like Fletcher or not, I think it's probably time to cut ties with him. He's done a few great things for this organization, but the fact of the matter is, he's done more harm than good.

I have not lost all hope for this post season, but it seems pretty evident that this squad just doesn't have the chops to overcome much in the way of adversity on the ice and will most likely be a one and done team.

Nice write up Dan. Kind of difficult to raise an argument to any of your bullet points. It's a frustrating bunch to say the least.

I didn't get to watch the game last night, but wasn't surprised to see the end result this morning.

IMO, Dubnyk has been regressing slowly over the past season and a half. Somewhere in the middle of last season he just started losing that edge he played with for the first season and change that he was here. Add to that, the Wild just aren't a defense first team anymore, and their team defensive play is not what it was under Yeo.

Whether we like Fletcher or not, I think it's probably time to cut ties with him. He's done a few great things for this organization, but the fact of the matter is, he's done more harm than good.

I have not lost all hope for this post season, but it seems pretty evident that this squad just doesn't have the chops to overcome much in the way of adversity on the ice and will most likely be a one and done team.
- MnGump

Taking a shot in a dark here, probably right around the time that the NHL decided to shrink the goalie equipment and Dubynk was one of the biggest advocates against the move

Weird how those things align

Where is Gump...show yourself we need to talk about these wild avs games
- DDM-Coga

What's to say Cog? Dubnyk turns into a little girl when the Av's are on the ice. I didn't see last nights game, but I'm guessing from the sounds of it the 3rd period looked much like the last 6 against the Avs.

At this point my interest is feigning... and neither of these two teams are good enough to make a serious run this season.

But I guess I have to say the Av's have certainly turned things around this season.

What's to say Cog? Dubnyk turns into a little girl when the Av's are on the ice. I didn't see last nights game, but I'm guessing from the sounds of it the 3rd period looked much like the last 6 against the Avs.

At this point my interest is feigning... and neither of these two teams are good enough to make a serious run this season.

But I guess I have to say the Av's have certainly turned things around this season.
- MnGump

game was a bit of a dumpster fire. Refs were terrible. Letting too much go early, then starting to be very ticky tacky with what they called later on.

Calmed down in the 3rd a bit but I thought someone was going to get a cheap shot the way things were going. Avs were no angles, but some Minny guys were really bringing the hate and after whistle stuff out of frustration.

game was a bit of a dumpster fire. Refs were terrible. Letting too much go early, then starting to be very ticky tacky with what they called later on.

Calmed down in the 3rd a bit but I thought someone was going to get a cheap shot the way things were going. Avs were no angles, but some Minny guys were really bringing the hate and after whistle stuff out of frustration.
- DDM-Coga

and that's pretty stupid for a team like the Wild to be taking cheap shots when they really aren't much of a physical team.

These guys get whiney and turn into female doges when they get schooled on the scoreboard. Seems like the Wild are now in the position the Av's were a few years back when the Wild were coming into their own, speedy and young talent laden, and the Av's had no answers. Roles reversed now. Wild have no answer for Colo. And the thing is, they look like idiots.

At least the Twins will be exciting this year!

The Mild on the other hand are a dumpster fire. Time to turn the page on Chuckles and get a fresh set of eyes in here. Although, its going to be hard for anyone to move the pieces this team needs to move to go any further.

Just heard Spurgeon out for rest of season with partial hamstring tear. Ouch

as a Hawks fan living in MN and an old school Stars fan, I don't see anyway that the Wild don't make the playoffs! The Wild are up 5 points from the 9th spot with 12 games remaining. Even in the Wild go 6-6 down the stretch, a few teams could need to go 9-3 (or equivalent in the points) to catch or pass them.
From a fan's perspective I understand the frustration. You also have to appreciate the position that they are currently in by overcoming long term injuries throughout the year.
All you have to do is get a ticket to the dance. See Philly from 2010 and the Kings. Eighth seeds that went to the Cup or won the Cup.

as a Hawks fan living in MN and an old school Stars fan, I don't see anyway that the Wild don't make the playoffs! The Wild are up 5 points from the 9th spot with 12 games remaining. Even in the Wild go 6-6 down the stretch, a few teams could need to go 9-3 (or equivalent in the points) to catch or pass them.
From a fan's perspective I understand the frustration. You also have to appreciate the position that they are currently in by overcoming long term injuries throughout the year.
All you have to do is get a ticket to the dance. See Philly from 2010 and the Kings. Eighth seeds that went to the Cup or won the Cup.
- MNHawksfan

True, but we seem to say these same things at this time pretty much every season and each and every one seem to end after the first round... With Spurgeon out the rest of the regular season, this team is facing an up hill battle to stay in the hunt.


Don't get me wrong, I'd rather make the playoffs every season with a slightly above average team and roll the dice but at some point this club has to stop team building to win NOW and start retooling for the future. NY seems to have realized that.

True, but we seem to say these same things at this time pretty much every season and each and every one seem to end after the first round... With Spurgeon out the rest of the regular season, this team is facing an up hill battle to stay in the hunt.


Don't get me wrong, I'd rather make the playoffs every season with a slightly above average team and roll the dice but at some point this club has to stop team building to win NOW and start retooling for the future. NY seems to have realized that.
- MnGump

That is probably said by most teams in the league, in any sport for that matter. Consider Detroit who made the playoffs for over 20 consecutive years. I'm sure they had some first round exits.
Spurgeon is a good players however I feel Brodin is a better pure defenseman. I don't know the record while he was out those weeks. I would venture they had a winning record and hopefully can do so for the remaining 12. Twelve points no matter how they get them, should get them in.

Zach Mitchell gets recalled... Dont get me wrong, he's a serviceable player but why not give Anas or Kloos a shot? Both have substantially more points and are fast. This team needs more youth and speed. Part of the reason they are more inconsistent this year is that they are one of oldest teams in the NHL. The energy level and compete level just isnt there night in because half the guys they rely on are in their mid 30s now. And it shows up in team speed as well. They need some more youth who can put the occasional puck in the net.

I'm guessing a partial tear of any muscle let alone a highly used muscle like the hamstring is going to take more than 4 weeks to come back from. He'll be lucky to make the 2nd round of the playoffs.... then again so will the Wild!

I'm guessing a partial tear of any muscle let alone a highly used muscle like the hamstring is going to take more than 4 weeks to come back from. He'll be lucky to make the 2nd round of the playoffs.... then again so will the Wild!
- MnGump

HaHa

HaHa
- joegreif17

I know, but at some point a person has to learn to laugh at reality... if not a person might become jaded...

2nd Round!?!? They'll be lucky if they dont get blown out in the first round. I've completely lost faith in this team. Tough to watch them at all anymore.

Zach Mitchell gets recalled... Dont get me wrong, he's a serviceable player but why not give Anas or Kloos a shot? Both have substantially more points and are fast. This team needs more youth and speed. Part of the reason they are more inconsistent this year is that they are one of oldest teams in the NHL. The energy level and compete level just isnt there night in because half the guys they rely on are in their mid 30s now. And it shows up in team speed as well. They need some more youth who can put the occasional puck in the net.

My guess is that Mitchell brings more size than either Anas or Kloos. I am assuming that they want to replace Ennis in the lineup. If the Wild are trying to get bigger for the playoffs, replacing Ennis with another little guy kind of defeats the purpose. Not that Mitchell is a monster by any means, but he does being more grit. I honestly like the idea of Mitchell playing with JEE and Winnik on the 4th line. And as much as anyone doesn't like to see players get hurt, I really would like to see what the Wild can do without Spurgeon. I have said for the last couple of years now that I think they should trade him for injuries start to pile up on him. Now the injuries are starting to happen (watching him basically do the splits going into the boards and tearing his hamstring had me cringing) and might start to lower his value. Better off getting a decent right-handed Dman for $3 mil a year to play 2 pairing, and make Suter play with Dumba. If Suter doesn't like it, he can drop his NTC and the Wild can move him.