MNWild Opening Night Roster 2014-15 Still Work in Progress
Here is Your 2014-15 Minnesota Wild for Right NOW Atleast
I was very worried that like years past, the Minnesota Wild would defer to the junky bottom of the roster veteran over several young players with tremendous upside when it was time to make final cuts. Instead all the kids(Mathew Dumba, Christian Folin, and Jason Zucker) made the roster while Steve Veilleux, Cody Almond, Jon Blum, and Justin Falk all found themselves on waivers.
The Wild made a surprise acquisition of a 'State of Hockey' native Ryan Carter on Monday which I think is a great addition for this squad. Carter is from White Bear Lake, and is a player that will contribute to the actual hockey game while adding toughness and attitude to this lineup. Carter will strengthen the 4th line group immediately because of his skill set, motor, and disposition. Carter is a player teammates love and opponents have to account for at all times.
"I like the Devils. I respect the Devils. I like to here, but this is an opportunity to play in Minnesota I couldn't pass up. As an added bonus, I get a chance to be with my family and that's really important to me."
Carter talked glowingly of the New Jersey Devils who he had been unable to agree on a contract with despite completing training camp and the entire preseason with the team. Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello is being squeezed a bit by roster decision for his team and was forced to play a game of chicken with Carter this offseason.
Fletcher talked with Lamoriello today, and the GM “raved about him, not just the contributions that Ryan made to New Jersey, but the work ethic and character he brings. I don’t think you can ever have too much of that.…
The 4th line now will have a very strong mix of players once everyone is completely healthy that will include Carter, Kyle Brodziak, Matt Cooke, and Justin Fontaine. I would guess when the Wild activates Fontaine ahead of the Thursday season opener, it will mean Stu Bickel goes on waivers. Bickel was set to break camp with the Wild as their face puncher even though he was clearly the 9th defensemen on the roster. Now the Wild will not be forced to play Bickel as a forward in an effort to add some attitude and toughness to the lineup.
Forwards # NAME POS HEIGHT WEIGHT DATE OF BIRTH AGE BIRTH PLACE ? RYAN CARTER 6'2" 200 AUGUST 3,1983 31 WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 21 KYLE BRODZIAK 6' 2" 208 MAY 25, 1984 30 ST. PAUL, AB, CAN 24 MATT COOKE 5' 11" 208 SEP 7, 1978 36 BELLEVILLE, ON, CAN 3 CHARLIE COYLE 6' 3" 221 MAR 2, 1992 22 E. WEYMOUTH, MA, USA 14 JUSTIN FONTAINE ** 5' 10" 177 NOV 6, 1987 26 BONNYVILLE, AB, CAN 64 MIKAEL GRANLUND 5' 10" 186 FEB 26, 1992 22 OULU, FIN 56 ERIK HAULA 5' 11" 192 MAR 23, 1991 23 PORI, FIN 9 MIKKO KOIVU "C" 6' 3" 222 MAR 12, 1983 31 TURKU, FIN 22 NINO NIEDERREITER 6' 2" 209 SEP 8, 1992 22 CHUR, CHE 11 ZACH PARISE 5' 11" 197 JUL 28, 1984 30 MINNEAPOLIS, MN, USA 29 JASON POMINVILLE 6' 0" 185 NOV 30, 1982 31 REPENTIGNY, QC, CAN 26 THOMAS VANEK 6' 0" 217 JAN 19, 1984 30 VIENNA, AUT 16 JASON ZUCKER 5' 11" 188 JAN 16, 1992 22 NEWPORT BEACH, CA,USA Defensemen # NAME HEIGHT WEIGHT DATE OF BIRTH AGE BIRTH PLACE 2 KEITH BALLARD 5' 11" 199 NOV 26, 1982 31 BAUDETTE, MN, USA 4 STU BICKEL 6' 4" 210 OCT 2, 1986 28 CHANHASSEN, MN, USA 25 JONAS BRODIN 6' 1" 194 JUL 12, 1993 21 KARLSTAD, SWE 55 MATT DUMBA 6' 0" 183 JUL 25, 1994 20 REGINA, SK, CAN 5 CHRISTIAN FOLIN 6' 3" 215 FEB 9, 1991 23 GOTHENBURG, SWE 39 NATE PROSSER 6' 2" 203 MAY 7, 1986 28 ELK RIVER, MN, USA 6 MARCO SCANDELLA 6' 3" 207 FEB 23, 1990 24 MONTREAL, QC, CAN 46 JARED SPURGEON 5' 9" 168 NOV 29, 1989 24 EDMONTON, AB, CAN 20 RYAN SUTER "A" 6' 1" 200 JAN 21, 1985 29 MADISON, WI, USA Goalies # NAME HEIGHT WEIGHT DATE OF BIRTH AGE BIRTH PLACE 32 NIKLAS BACKSTROM 6' 2" 197 FEB 13, 1978 36 HELSINKI, FIN 37 JOSH HARDING(SUSP)6' 2" 194 JUN 18, 1984 30 REGINA, SK, CAN 35 DARCY KUEMPER 6' 5" 205 MAY 5, 1990 24 SASKATOON, SK, CAN ** = INJURED RESERVE
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That's all for now thanks for reading cant wait for Thursday night!
Just My Take, Tony Dean
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