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Forums :: Blog World :: Dan Wallace: Wild Return Home, Host Sizzling Jets
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Dan Wallace
Joined: 09.15.2005

Jan 10 @ 1:00 PM ET
Dan Wallace: Wild Return Home, Host Sizzling Jets
MnGump
Minnesota Wild
Location: Columbus, MN
Joined: 06.21.2012

Jan 10 @ 1:49 PM ET
Zucker has not only not played as well so far this season in comparison to last, but he has absolutely SUCKED over the last 2 months. You can't even call it snake bitten, because he is terrible with the puck. Shooting, passing, point blank one timers... he chokes. and to add to that, he's been very lazy looking on most shifts. That burst of speed is gone and even when he does appear to get a step he flubs the puck.

I don't want to sound to hasty, but he should be a prime candidate for trade bartering. I have no doubt that he will eventually get back to the player he was last season, but the Wild don't need him now as they need to collect new prospects/pieces for the future, and he certainly isn't helping them "now" anyway.

Love Staal, but he's either not 100% or he's just the victim of growing old. He's not creating those lone chances that he did last season and when he has, he's not capitalized on them.

Nino is still, well.... Nino. He has moments of what look to be golden opportunities but either defers, or fails or both and in the mean time looks mostly lost.

Coyle is really the only player that looks like he's finally turned a corner being slotted back at the center position, it's the best he's looked in 2 seasons.

Honestly, if i'm fenton, i'm looking to move all of thee above mentioned.
mnMild
Location: duluth is not a cool city, MN
Joined: 01.08.2018

Jan 10 @ 3:12 PM ET
Lets not be too quick on Coyle here. We've seen this out of him in the past. Its only a matter of time before he disappears again.

Zucker= 1 trick pony. Has speed, but isn't creative or strong with the puck. Needs others around him to elevate his play.

Im all for moving anyone at this point that makes the team younger.
mnhockeyguy
Minnesota Wild
Location: Frostbite Falls, MN
Joined: 10.23.2014

Jan 10 @ 3:40 PM ET
I think Zucker must be playing hurt... theres no other way to explain his sudden collapse? He isn't old, just nothing seems to be working for him, which leads me to conclude he's probably playing hurt. Staal is looking like the same Staal that showed up in NY. Unmotivated and unengaged.
MnGump
Minnesota Wild
Location: Columbus, MN
Joined: 06.21.2012

Jan 10 @ 8:22 PM ET
I think Zucker must be playing hurt... theres no other way to explain his sudden collapse? He isn't old, just nothing seems to be working for him, which leads me to conclude he's probably playing hurt. Staal is looking like the same Staal that showed up in NY. Unmotivated and unengaged.
- mnhockeyguy

I think mnWild hit the nail on the head with zucker... he’s not creative or nifty in the least and needs heightened play around him in order to elavate his play. And he’s terrible with the puck on his stick...

Staal? He’s just getting old. I do agree he looks much less engaged this season, but I think a lot of it has to do with the poopty play by line mates along with getting old
MnGump
Minnesota Wild
Location: Columbus, MN
Joined: 06.21.2012

Jan 11 @ 9:49 AM ET
They played probably the best hockey of the season last night for the first 40 minutes of the game... then proceeded to come out flat for the 3rd period. Dubnyks play in the 3rd was pretty much the only reason Winnipeg didn't end up tying and most likely winning the game in OT.

Zucker scores twice but still did not look all that great. His first goal was pretty much all Koivu's pass/shot. His second was a nice goal but again was the product of a great break out pass at the end of the PK when he came out of the penalty box behind the Winnipeg D...
Gusrichards
Season Ticket Holder
Minnesota Wild
Location: Duluth, MN
Joined: 02.22.2012

Jan 11 @ 1:10 PM ET
Come on Gump, find the silver lining...Zucker did score TWICE last night. And the silver lining that I am talking about is Zucker actually scored on that breakaway after coming out of the penalty box. He has either shot into the stomach of the goalie or way off net for most of the year...and this time, he actually scored. And if you watch that goal closely, he didn't try to do anything special. You can tell from the moment he gets the puck calmed down, he was going top shelf, blocker side. In other words, he didn't get fancy, but just went simplified. And really, that is all that the Wild did for the first 2 periods. They played a simple (yet effective) defensive game. Like BB said when Pierre interviewed him on the bench "we don't have the speed they do, so we just have to play a simple and controlled game"...or something like that was said.

Watching that game last night, I really enjoyed the comments about how BB devised a great game plan to bottle up the Jets last night. Just wish they could have done that for all 3 periods. But even in the 3rd period, most shots basically came from way outside. They ones that were coming from in close and in the middle...well, they went in.

Another thing I noticed, or agree on, is that Coyle seems to have awakened playing C. I just wish that when he carries the puck from down low to up to the blue line, he would be going to the right side instead of the left. Going to the left, he is always on his backhand, which makes it harder to shoot or pass from. If he could start charging from down low up the right side wall, I think that would open up even more chances for him to make plays.

I have to say, even though we all know the Wild's season will have some highs and a lot of lows, last nights game was just fun to watch...at least the first 2 periods.

And Gump, you chewed out Zucker before last night's game. Can you write something seething about Nino before the Red Wings game on Saturday? I've said before, but I think when you really call a player out, their next game is usually good. You might need to make that a regular practice. Maybe its you that needs to lead the Wild to the Cup. Think I'm superstitious?
MnGump
Minnesota Wild
Location: Columbus, MN
Joined: 06.21.2012

Jan 11 @ 2:22 PM ET
lol... sure thing gus
mnMild
Location: duluth is not a cool city, MN
Joined: 01.08.2018

Jan 12 @ 9:33 AM ET
Trade Coyle now while the iron is hot!