Brad Ratgen: MINNESOTA WILD RECALLS FORWARD CHARLIE COYLE FROM HOUSTON And with the first injury to a forward, the kids everyone in the Wild fanbase are looking forward to get their first call-up of the season.

NO WAY!

Was a little confused as to why he got the call over Zucker, but this team does need more size up front. Watching Cullen, Granlund and Butch get pushed around has been an issue. Still think Zucker is more NHL ready, but I like this move regardless.

Was a little confused as to why he got the call over Zucker, but this team does need more size up front. Watching Cullen, Granlund and Butch get pushed around has been an issue. Still think Zucker is more NHL ready, but I like this move regardless.
- SotaPopinski

Really? Based on what?

Really? Based on what?
- Brad Ratgen

Puck and skating skills, mostly. From watching him in person, it is easy to see how easily he can make things happen on his own. He flies up and down the ice, has the skills to skate thru opposing D's and has a nice wrister to top it all off. From the scrimmages to the few Aeros games I have been able to watch, Coyle just has not jumped out at me. But I do love his size and ability he brings. Not too many big guys can skate and handle the puck like that.

Was a little confused as to why he got the call over Zucker, but this team does need more size up front. Watching Cullen, Granlund and Butch get pushed around has been an issue. Still think Zucker is more NHL ready, but I like this move regardless.
- SotaPopinski

Trust a guy who watched Charlie as a man among boys in the Q for Saint John, this guy has the size and skill to be effective in the NHL right away. An excellent move by the wild, he'll prove his worth quickly IMO.

Well here is to hoping Coyle sticks. I have a blog submitted where I revisit the difference between Reisbrough and Fletcher's drafts. I am not sure if Wild fans realize how important it is for Granlund, Brodin, and Coyle to have graduated to the NHL team with Zucker, Larsson, Hackett, and Bulmer on their heels. Unheard of for a Wild organization that has been plagued by draft failure and severe talent droughts in its history.

Trust a guy who watched Charlie as a man among boys in the Q for Saint John, this guy has the size and skill to be effective in the NHL right away. An excellent move by the wild, he'll prove his worth quickly IMO.


- TommyDeVito

I hope you are right, thanks for the insight

Well here is to hoping Coyle sticks. I have a blog submitted where I revisit the difference between Reisbrough and Fletcher's drafts. I am not sure if Wild fans realize how important it is for Granlund, Brodin, and Coyle to have graduated to the NHL team with Zucker, Larsson, Hackett, and Bulmer on their heels. Unheard of for a Wild organization that has been plagued by draft failure and severe talent droughts in its history.
- kieferaw

Brent Flahr is the draft guru, not to discredit Fletch any. But I hope the Wild are able to retain Flahr's services for as long as possible.

http://www.insiderrumors....-is-now-02032013-by-awkd/

http://www.insiderrumors.com/2013/minnesota-wild/wilds-future-is-now-02032013-by-awkd/
- kieferaw

"I contend that Zach Parise and Dany Heatly while effective on the power play, they are not very complimentary to each other at full strength because both players lack top end speed and puck carrying skills."

Great write up, and even better observation regarding our top line. Not sure Coyle has that great of puck skills either, but I would like to see that line broken up just to see what happens. Yeo seems a little too reluctant to mix up lines since his arrival.

Brent Flahr is the draft guru, not to discredit Fletch any. But I hope the Wild are able to retain Flahr's services for as long as possible.
- SotaPopinski

Flahr >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Tommy Thompson

Flahr >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Tommy Thompson
- Brad Ratgen

Simply put

but this team does need more size up front.
- SotaPopinski

I think you're right, his size is what gives him the nod over Zucker and Larsson. They need to be stronger down low and on the boards.

It will be interesting to see where they play him, though. I'm not sure how confident Yeo will be in a Coyle-Granlund-Setoguchi line. Maybe we'll see Heatley-Koivu-Coyle and Parise-Granlund-Setoguchi.

Then again, if Cullen can play, they may sit Granlund a game or two and move Cullen to the middle on that second line.

http://www.insiderrumors.com/2013/minnesota-wild/wilds-future-is-now-02032013-by-awkd/
- kieferaw

"Setoguchi", although if traded to L.A., I would lobby to change his name to "Setogucci"!

I think you're right, his size is what gives him the nod over Zucker and Larsson. They need to be stronger down low and on the boards.

It will be interesting to see where they play him, though. I'm not sure how confident Yeo will be in a Coyle-Granlund-Setoguchi line. Maybe we'll see Heatley-Koivu-Coyle and Parise-Granlund-Setoguchi.

Then again, if Cullen can play, they may sit Granlund a game or two and move Cullen to the middle on that second line.
- Chinaski

Size is right re Zucker, but not Larsson. Zucker is 5-10 and 174 pounds. Larsson, however, is 6-0 and 198 pounds.

Maybe Heatley and Seto can be reunited, while Parise and Koivu stick together. Parise and Heatley click on PP's, but that seems to be about it. If I were Yeo:
Parise-Koivu-Coyle
Seto-PMB-Heater
Cullen-Brodziak-Clutter
Powe-Z-Mitchell

I really don't care what the lines look like, just as long as they have changed. This status quo is not working.

Size is right re Zucker, but not Larsson. Zucker is 5-10 and 174 pounds. Larsson, however, is 6-0 and 198 pounds.
- Brad Ratgen

Coyle, listed at over 220, still has a size advantage over Larsson. I wonder if they also see Coyle as the type of guy that may be more productive with more talented players, i.e., NHL guys vs. AHL guys.

I realize he would do little to help this teams scoring, but would anyone else like to see Kassian get into a game one of these days?

Coyle, listed at over 220, still has a size advantage over Larsson. I wonder if they also see Coyle as the type of guy that may be more productive with more talented players, i.e., NHL guys vs. AHL guys.
- Chinaski

I think that's the case with him for sure, he's a power forward, plays a Rick Nash type of game, slick with the puck for a big man but he's a closer more than someone who will create for himself.

He was magic with Huberdeau, he was magic with Granlund, throw him with Parise and Koivu and he'll be the next big thing by wednesday.

I realize he would do little to help this teams scoring, but would anyone else like to see Kassian get into a game one of these days?
- SotaPopinski

Not necessarily. I think one of Kassian's problems is that there were a few Western Conference heavyweights that jumped to the Eastern Conference. They probably just don't see a glaring need to dress him most nights. However, that could change if Yeo thinks he needs to send a message to few guys about effort.

Size is right re Zucker, but not Larsson. Zucker is 5-10 and 174 pounds. Larsson, however, is 6-0 and 198 pounds.
- Brad Ratgen

Brad, Zucks is not 174- he is the same exact size as Parise- 5'11'' 187.

Personally I would have rather seen Zucker get the call first. 17 goals and 20 assists this season and he's already got a taste of the NHL game. A guy like Coyle is great because of his size, but it may take him a while to transition where Zucker has a half dozen games under his belt already.

Either way it'll be interesting to see some new blood on the ice. I think Yeo has to seriously start thinking about shuffling ALL lines. 1 point for the first line in the last 3 games. Granlund may be in jeopardy of being sent back to Houston if Coyle should perform well over the next couple of games.

I just don't see him lasting as a center. He's terrible in the face off circle and he seems to actually get kicked more times than he takes a face off. I just think taking on the responsibility of 2nd line center is a bit too much for him to handle this early in his career, especially since he doesn't seem to be stepping up to the challenge.

Looks like FBJ or Seto will be sitting tomorrow. Better be Granny, at least Seto looks like he's trying. Cullen, Bouchard, Coyle 2nd line... meh

Looks like FBJ or Seto will be sitting tomorrow. Better be Granny, at least Seto looks like he's trying. Cullen, Bouchard, Coyle 2nd line... meh
- SotaPopinski

It won't be Seto. I don't think Granlund isn't trying, I just think he's not ready. Send Granlund back down for a month and bring Zucker back.