WildHBcommunity: Wild Hit the Road Eastern Conference on the Agenda Beginning in Boston
The Minnesota Wild Battle the Boston Bruins Tonight at TD Bank Garden
The Minnesota Wild 35-22-10 (80 Points) have failed to secure victories in their four of their past five games which has opened the door to teams chasing them in the Western Conference playoff push. The Wild now begin a three game Eastern Conference road trip against the Boston Bruins 45-17-5 (95 Points) who are winners of eight straight games. The Bruins have a home record of 27-7-2 this year which an NHL best while the Wild have a road record of 12-15-5. Tonight is an uphill battle for the Wild as they have faced all year after a disappointing missed opportunity to protect their playoff spot on their home ice.
Wild Franchise Best 80 Points Through 67 Games Does NOT Mean Mike Yeo is Safe
I have taken what I believe to be a realistic view point on where Minnesota Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo currently stands regarding his future as the bench boss here in the State of Hockey. As result it created quite a negative reaction among other Wild bloggers and fans in the past 2 days on Twitter. It is amazing the Minnesota apologist fan mentality that exists here even among people that I believe generate competent and educated Wild content.
It is not outlandish or unrealistic to believe that Yeo is currently coaching for his job. Yeo must have this team make the playoffs at minimum to return next season as the head coach of the Wild. I also think beyond just qualifying for the playoffs, Yeo needs a strong showing advancing beyond the first round to earn a new contract from Owner Craig Leipold and General Manager Chuck Fletcher.
My point of contention is and always has been that Yeo has done some things very well but he also has very well documented short comings in his first stint as an NHL head coach. The good with Yeo possibly out weighs the bad but should his team again experience a late season collapse or get run out of the building in the first round of the playoffs this year it will end his run as the Wild's bench boss.
Fletcher has surely cemented his status here in Minnesota proving to be among the NHL's best personnel men. Leipold has stated quite clearly he wants to win and win now, that will mean someone being made responsible should that not occur and that someone is Yeo. Fletcher has compiled the most talented NHL roster in team history and as result the usual excuses about talent or depth no longer has relevance should this current team fail to meet expectations.
I really hope that none of this thought process will matter when it is all said and done this year because the Wild finish the regular season strong and make a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs but to attempt to dismiss it as ridiculous is preposterous. I believe in the takes I generate and the thought process behind them, this team needs to win for Yeo to return point bank. Backing into the playoffs like last season and/or getting run out of the playoffs in disappointing fashion like last year will mean a new head coach for the Minnesota Wild next year!
Minnesota Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo After 2-1 Shootout Loss to Columbus
Finally Charlie Coyle has Returned to Boston!!!!
When the Wild swung a 2011 draft day trade sending fan favorite superstar Brent Burns to San Jose, it was announced live in the Xcel Energy Center to cheers from the fans. The cheers I believe were relief that Fletcher was going to be returning assets to the Wild for Burns instead of seeing him leave via free agency with the team getting nothing in return like had happened with Marian Gaborik.
In exchange for Burns a 2012 2nd Round Pick the Wild received Devin Setogucci, Charlie Coyle, and the 28th pick(Zach Phillips) in the 2011 NHL draft. The immediate reaction was that Fletcher had added three forward to the Wild who was starving for scoring and young talent. Setogucci immediately looked to be the difference maker for the Wild in this trade but the more we learned about Coyle, it became clear he is a player that will be pivotal to the future success of the franchise.
Coyle is from Weymouth, Massachusetts where he followed similar hockey up bringing to that of top tier Minnesota preps mixing in some highschool and juniors for both Weymouth and the Eastern Junior Hockey League South Shore Kings. Coyle then attended Boston University in the 2010-11 season scoring 26 points in 37 games during his freshmen season. Coyle then choose to leave BU for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League joining fellow Wild prospect Zach Phillips playing for the Saint John Sea Dogs. Coyle and Phillips playing on a line together during the 2011-12 season combined for 45 goals and 118 points leading Saint John to a league championship.
Coyle turned pro last season and of the Wild young 1st year forwards looked the most ready to compete and produce at the NHL level. Coyle profiles to develop into a high end talent at the power forward position which is something the Wild have truly been missing. Coyle started out this season so strong and fast which was a testament to his work ethic and character even as a 20 year old. A knee injury caused Coyle to lose his early season momentum though and he has struggled to put together a string of consistent success and production this season.
Coyle has been used all over the Wild's lineup as both a winger and center. The Wild has said multiple times it considers Coyle to have a future at the center position but his production was negatively affected by filling in at the center ice position during the absence of Wild captain Mikko Koivu. I hate to doubt or discount Coyle's ability to do anything because he is truly gifted and his work ethic is as strong as any young player the Wild has feature in franchise history but I dont think he is destined to be a centermen at the NHL level.
Coyle has struggled this year with his puck handle on the rush and while being contested by opponents which has created turnovers and stifled his production. Coyle has taken a bit of a step back in terms of what I see as his ceiling and future role will be going forward for the Wild. By no means do I think Coyle has completely fallen out of the conversation as a Top 6 scoring winger going forward but this season has provided glimpses of the possibility of Coyle maybe being a better fit on the 3rd line. Coyle is extremely strong in both ends and has been very good playing specifically with Koivu in a cycle the puck system with strong board play. Coyle has not been generating his own shot enough this season in my opinion which makes me worry about the consistency of his goal production going forward.
Coyle is back on the 2nd line tonight with Koivu and newly acquired Matthew Moulson for tonight's battle in Boston. These three have proven to be very strong on the puck together and tough to play against for opponents in both ends. The fans have been campaigning for Nino "KnightRider" Niederreiter to be elevated to the 2nd line to replace Coyle which Yeo did last game. Coyle and Niederreiter will be in direct competition this season and next year for a wing spot in the top 6 which is very good for the Wild and both players. A case can be made for both honestly and statistically Nino maybe appear the stronger choice.
I hope for Coyle he gets hot in the remaining regular season games as he definitely needs a boost to a tough season for him where he has sacrificed personal stats and glory for the team playing gritty minutes out of his more natural role. Coyle's return to play against his hometown Bruins tonight could prove to be a spring board towards the final playoff push as he will surely be energized and emotional playing in front of his family and friends at TD Bank Gardens for his first time in the NHL.
Projected Minnesota Wild Lineup
Parise-Granlund-Pominville Moulson-Koivu-Niederreiter Coyle-Brodziak-Cooke Heatley-Haula-Fontaine
Spurgeon-Suter Brodin-Scandella Stoner-Ballard
Darcy Kuemper
Just My Take, Tony Dean
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