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Wait Is Agonizing, But Fenton Is Calculating

June 29, 2018, 6:15 PM ET [6 Comments]
Dan Wallace
Minnesota Wild Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
This instant gratification world in which we live, is not exactly the best formula for making an NHL team better.

Paul Fenton has been the Wild GM for all of five and a half weeks. Fenton has been tasked with the job of transforming a Wild team that has been solid over the 82 game regular season, but nothing but an afterthought once the real season begins in the playoffs.

It was widely presumed that Fenton's first personnel move would be a trade prior to the NHL draft. That never materialized, and nothing on draft day either.

The draft itself was controversial with the first round selection, but after that it appeared the picks were in the mold of building organizational depth with some upside potential. Outside of the fact that no goaltender was selected the draft was a decent start for Fenton.

But once the draft was complete, the focus then switched back to the trade window in the week leading up to July 1st and free agency. All that we have heard of course is crickets from the new Wild GM and staff.

We have seen some trades, albeit not a lot, but the teams that have plans are working them diligently in preparation of the free agent signing period.

So is Fenton going about this wrong, or is he being cautious in his pursuit waiting for the bigger chips to fall into place opening the door for him to work his own plan?

This is an interesting market with not a whole lot of top end talent in the free agent pool behind John Taveras, of course. The next best players are may be in a good position to cash in on some overpriced contracts just based on the market and lack of top tier talent available.

If Fenton is indeed waiting for many of those chips to play out, then that is not at all a bad strategy as the Wild are in no position to overpay for the Tyler Bozaks, Paul Stastnys, and James van Riemsdyks of this free agent class.

It is a very difficult spot that Fenton finds himself, because he must alter his roster in order to make this Wild team better. No one wants to see the same roster to begin the 2018-19 season, most of all the loyal fans here in the State of Hockey.

The Wild desperately need help in each of these areas and in no particular order:
Scoring line center
depth defenseman (preferably right shot with size and toughness)
Back-up goaltender to push Dubnyk
Depth forwards with speed and grit

So where is Fenton looking and who is at the top of his list given the Wild cap scenario?
The scoring line center would definitely have to come via trade. My take would be a Spurgeon to Toronto for Nylander, especially if Toronto wins the Tavares sweepstakes.

Depth right handed shot defenseman, the best guy that fits this bill, would be, Greg Pateryn, at 6'3", 225 lbs, he has the size requirement and has twice recorded 100 hits, in 2015, 100 in just 38 games playing for Montreal, and again this past season registering 155 in 73 games with Dallas. The fact that he plays a physical game while not crossing the line, registering just 115 PIMs in 167 NHL games, is a very good quality as well.

Back-up goaltender, is a bit more tricky with the guys that are available. Carter Hutton, would be a nice fit, but given his breakout season he will command way too much for the Wild to entertain. Robin Lehner would also appear t be a bit out of the Wild budget range as well, leaving it to Petr Mrazek as really the only option as Cam Ward, Kari Lehtonen, and Jaroslav Halak have seen their better days long ago.

That brings us to the depth forwards and who can help the Wild in this critical position. The need here is for speed, so aging players that may have had production in the past need not even be considered. Anthony Duclair jumps out here and at 22, he could be just the right buy low kind of player that can come in and make an impact with the Wild.

One more day before the free agent frenzy is officially underway, the waiting will soon be over. Paul Fenton is on the clock.

Follow me on Twitter @dwallace17
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