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Forums :: Blog World :: Dan Wallace: To Show What We Don't Know, Let's Revisit 6 Short Years Ago
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Dan Wallace
Joined: 09.15.2005

Jul 5 @ 5:28 PM ET
Dan Wallace: To Show What We Don't Know, Let's Revisit 6 Short Years Ago
mr.sir
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
Joined: 01.18.2015

Jul 5 @ 6:38 PM ET
Gardiner anyone?
Chief Ninja Cat
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Joined: 10.03.2017

Jul 5 @ 7:24 PM ET
Good read but wanted to point out the draft picks involved. The Wild used that first round pick on Zach Phillips who fizzled out and has been playing in Europe for 3 seasons. Their was a second round pick that went to SJ along with Burns which ultimately ended up in the hands of the Predators who selected Pontus Aberg.
Njuice
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: ON
Joined: 06.21.2013

Jul 5 @ 9:33 PM ET
This blog title is like a will smith rap! I like!
Aaron_85
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 04.22.2014

Jul 6 @ 4:14 AM ET
Good read but wanted to point out the draft picks involved. The Wild used that first round pick on Zach Phillips who fizzled out and has been playing in Europe for 3 seasons. Their was a second round pick that went to SJ along with Burns which ultimately ended up in the hands of the Predators who selected Pontus Aberg.
- Chief Ninja Cat


That sucks balls.

I'll take Spurgeon off your hands for a first round pick and Carrick.
bmgarvert
Minnesota Wild
Joined: 07.15.2009

Jul 6 @ 11:08 AM ET
I don't think we are going to see Chucky get another shot anytime soon.
Gusrichards
Season Ticket Holder
Minnesota Wild
Location: Duluth, MN
Joined: 02.22.2012

Jul 6 @ 1:30 PM ET
And to show what we do know? Assuming that Zucker and Dumba are resigned and Greenway makes the opening day roster, will the Wild still sit with just a 22 man roster, or will they look to completely fill it at 23. With the before mentioned additions to the cap, the Wild should be sitting around $2.9 mil in cap space. Will they keep it there and accrue more cap space by not filling that 23rd spot, or will they do something like keep 8 Dman (adding Prosser, as Olofsson is on a 1-way). Adding Prosser puts them around $2.2 in cap space. So with those ideas, here is my WAAAAAAAAAY early prediction on the lineup.

Zucker - Staal - Granlund
Parise - Eriksson Ek - Niederreiter
Greenway - Koivu - Coyle
Foligno - Fehr - Brown (and Hendricks in the booth)

Brodin - Dumba
Suter - Spurgeon (Suter not 100%, so minutes will have to build)
Seeler - Pateryn (with Prosser & Olofsson in the booth)

Dubnyk & Stalock/Hammond (both at $650k, so either one)

So not much different from last year except 1) a little more speed on the 4th line, 2) Youth being served at the C position with JEE playing 2C and 3) the inclusion of Greenway for a full season. We can hope that JEE does well in the 2C spot and that Greenway becomes the beast that a lot of fans are hoping. If that happens, I can see Greenway and Parise changing spots. The best thing out of that is you could save Parise with a little less minutes over the long haul. Now they have to hope that EVERYONE has career years (like Vegas) and they march to the SCF.
MnGump
Minnesota Wild
Location: Columbus, MN
Joined: 06.21.2012

Jul 6 @ 1:39 PM ET


Zucker - Staal - Granlund
Parise - Eriksson Ek - Niederreiter
Greenway - Koivu - Coyle
Foligno - Fehr - Brown (and Hendricks in the booth)

Brodin - Dumba
Suter - Spurgeon (Suter not 100%, so minutes will have to build)
Seeler - Pateryn (with Prosser & Olofsson in the booth)

Dubnyk & Stalock/Hammond (both at $650k, so either one)

So not much different from last year except 1) a little more speed on the 4th line, 2) Youth being served at the C position with JEE playing 2C and 3) the inclusion of Greenway for a full season. We can hope that JEE does well in the 2C spot and that Greenway becomes the beast that a lot of fans are hoping. If that happens, I can see Greenway and Parise changing spots. The best thing out of that is you could save Parise with a little less minutes over the long haul. Now they have to hope that EVERYONE has career years (like Vegas) and they march to the SCF.

- Gusrichards

I love your optimism Gus, but you know as well as i do that Koivu will be centering that second line.
mnMild
Location: duluth is not a cool city, MN
Joined: 01.08.2018

Jul 6 @ 2:43 PM ET
And to show what we do know? Assuming that Zucker and Dumba are resigned and Greenway makes the opening day roster, will the Wild still sit with just a 22 man roster, or will they look to completely fill it at 23. With the before mentioned additions to the cap, the Wild should be sitting around $2.9 mil in cap space. Will they keep it there and accrue more cap space by not filling that 23rd spot, or will they do something like keep 8 Dman (adding Prosser, as Olofsson is on a 1-way). Adding Prosser puts them around $2.2 in cap space. So with those ideas, here is my WAAAAAAAAAY early prediction on the lineup.

Zucker - Staal - Granlund
Parise - Eriksson Ek - Niederreiter
Greenway - Koivu - Coyle
Foligno - Fehr - Brown (and Hendricks in the booth)

Brodin - Dumba
Suter - Spurgeon (Suter not 100%, so minutes will have to build)
Seeler - Pateryn (with Prosser & Olofsson in the booth)

Dubnyk & Stalock/Hammond (both at $650k, so either one)

So not much different from last year except 1) a little more speed on the 4th line, 2) Youth being served at the C position with JEE playing 2C and 3) the inclusion of Greenway for a full season. We can hope that JEE does well in the 2C spot and that Greenway becomes the beast that a lot of fans are hoping. If that happens, I can see Greenway and Parise changing spots. The best thing out of that is you could save Parise with a little less minutes over the long haul. Now they have to hope that EVERYONE has career years (like Vegas) and they march to the SCF.

- Gusrichards



I like it Gus, but I tend to agree with Gump. Koivu will probably be 2c, to start the year at least. I'd love to see Erikkson Ek get some time with offensively capable wings though. Also curious to see when/if Kunin slots into the lineup this year. Hopefully he makes a full recovery after the knee injury.
MnGump
Minnesota Wild
Location: Columbus, MN
Joined: 06.21.2012

Jul 6 @ 3:55 PM ET
I like it Gus, but I tend to agree with Gump. Koivu will probably be 2c, to start the year at least. I'd love to see Erikkson Ek get some time with offensively capable wings though. Also curious to see when/if Kunin slots into the lineup this year. Hopefully he makes a full recovery after the knee injury.
- mnMild

Great point. Kunin still a question mark.
mnMild
Location: duluth is not a cool city, MN
Joined: 01.08.2018

Jul 6 @ 5:45 PM ET
IMO, the Wild can still be competitive next year. Even though they signed some depth guys, they have the potential to have 3 pretty decent lines, and a physical 4th line. Nino and Coyle could easily rebound and have good years, and JEE could potentially turn the corner offensively, especially if hes slotted to play with a couple wings who can score instead of rolling with Foligno and Winnik. Ill wait 20 games or so until i give any real judgement on the team.
Gusrichards
Season Ticket Holder
Minnesota Wild
Location: Duluth, MN
Joined: 02.22.2012

Jul 6 @ 5:57 PM ET
I like it Gus, but I tend to agree with Gump. Koivu will probably be 2c, to start the year at least. I'd love to see Erikkson Ek get some time with offensively capable wings though. Also curious to see when/if Kunin slots into the lineup this year. Hopefully he makes a full recovery after the knee injury.
- mnMild


I think the Wild have to start JEE at 2C, just to see if he can be productive from that spot. I listed it like that, all the while knowing the Kivu line will get more than 3rd line minutes, as that line will probably play against most teams top units during the game. Maybe the lines are 2A and 2B, with the JEE line being 2B. I am guessing that that is going to be a directive coming from Fenton, because he needs to find out what he has on this roster with his own eyes. And I don't think the Wild want to make the same mistake the made with Haula and Tuch.

As for Kunin, knee injuries like his take a while to come back from..and I think it is even more the mental aspect that is the toughest hurdle compared to the physical. Once you get past the mental aspect, that allows you to push through on the physical part. I do think he will be the first one called up, especially if Greenway struggles, or a whopper deal is given them for either Coyle or Nino.
MnGump
Minnesota Wild
Location: Columbus, MN
Joined: 06.21.2012

Jul 9 @ 10:56 AM ET
Well over a week into UFA and all still pretty quiet on the Wild front. No trade rumors, no UFA's worth acquiring at a reasonable rate. I think we're looking at the final roster for the most part as it is now.

Yay.
Gusrichards
Season Ticket Holder
Minnesota Wild
Location: Duluth, MN
Joined: 02.22.2012

Jul 9 @ 1:29 PM ET
I love your optimism Gus, but you know as well as i do that Koivu will be centering that second line.

- MnGump


And Gump, I forgot to add this....

I am stomping my feet and pouting like a 4 year child, screaming "Koivu is going to be the 3C, Koivu is going to be the 3C". I've left my dream world and have moved on to throwing temper tantrums like a child when my ideas sound good but are generally not feasible.
MnGump
Minnesota Wild
Location: Columbus, MN
Joined: 06.21.2012

Jul 9 @ 1:36 PM ET
And Gump, I forgot to add this....

I am stomping my feet and pouting like a 4 year child, screaming "Koivu is going to be the 3C, Koivu is going to be the 3C". I've left my dream world and have moved on to throwing temper tantrums like a child when my ideas sound good but are generally not feasible.

- Gusrichards

LOL, I'm right there with you... as much as I hated to shed the light of reality on your exquisite take.
Gusrichards
Season Ticket Holder
Minnesota Wild
Location: Duluth, MN
Joined: 02.22.2012

Jul 11 @ 2:25 PM ET
I know everyone is going with Koivu being the 2C, but I think the time is ripe for the Wild to do another trade with Buffalo (stop cursing at me). I don't see how Sam Reinhart is going to fit into their plans. You already have Eichel and Mittlestadt, so they are prolly looking for more defensive minded centers for the lower 6. I know this doesn't equal out, but how about something like Eriksson-Ek and Spurgeon for Reinhart and Bogosian.