Dan Wallace: Last Place Opponents 2 Wild 0, LA is Next

1.) BB inst the problem. Every coach theyve hired cant get this team to perform consistently

2.) Fenton is in a really tough spot as far as trades. The pieces he should move havent justified themselves enough for a solid return. He also inherited an empty prospect cupboard.

3.) If theres a decent offer out there for coyle, take it while the iron is hot. Its a matter of time before his play reverts back.

4.) Devan Dubnyk: "iM aN aLl StAr"

5.) Parise and suter arent the problem. The supporting cast is full of passive, second/third tier players. No one guy with a selfish, killer instinct.

I agree that BB isn't the problem as he has a proven track record.
I do however wonder what the thought process is in the front office. If it has been decided after last years playoff series that the team was good not great, Fenton has now had almost 9 months to make changes. Was the hope that returning virtually the same team as last year would yield different results or has he been working on deals with no takers?

I agree that BB isn't the problem as he has a proven track record.
I do however wonder what the thought process is in the front office. If it has been decided after last years playoff series that the team was good not great, Fenton has now had almost 9 months to make changes. Was the hope that returning virtually the same team as last year would yield different results or has he been working on deals with no takers?
- MNHawksfan

From everything ive read/heard from Russo, Fenton has been trying to make a deal for some time. Hes just getting low balled on returns. He almost moved nino and zucker over the sumelmer to az for domi and dvorak. He also apparently tried getting Toffoli from the kings, but im not sure what the offer was. Like ive said before, Fenton really has been in a tough spot all year. The pieces he can trade havent had great years, devaluing themselves in the trade market. He also doesnt have much of a prospect pool to work with at the moment either. Id be all for moving anyone that makes this team younger.

I'm really wondering about how to fix this. And by that I mean, if they blew it all up now, just taking what they could get in trades for everything...sort of jump start the re-building process. Would the entire fan base stick with them? I keep talking about the values of the players as trade assets, but if everyone is just going to low ball Fenton....does he just have to take what he can get right now, just to get this thing started in the right direction.

I think we all know that worst days are ahead before things get better. But can it all be jump-started by tanking this season, and maybe next? At that time, players like Lodnia, Shaw, Kaprizov, Sokolov, Kahkonen, McBain, Hentges and the Johansson twins (yes I know they aren't really twins, but they are both Swedish D-men) will start reaching the beginning of their prime performance years. Plus whatever can be added within the upcoming trades (not expecting much).

And stating that Parise and Suter are not the problems...well, they aren't for this year...but what are they going to be in 2 more years? I hope there is no work stoppage when the next round collective bargaining starts, but I do hope there is a way to get out from at least 1 of those contracts when those negotiations start.

Trade them all now. Even try to work with Koivu on removing his NTC and give him a real chance at winning the Cup. It's not going to happen here in the next 2 years. The only players I would say that aren't available right now are Greenway, Kunin, Dumba, Brodin and Dubnyk (they need SOMEONE to play G)...maybe Granlund, but he is actually their best trading chip. Otherwise, trade the lot.

good points. always tougher to make moves when other teams know you need to or want to