Dan Wallace: Homestand Wraps Up With Avs

Well lets face it, this last stretch of games are all pretty much must wins if the Wild want any chance of a post season birth. But tonight is critical must win because a loss to the Av's would put them only a point behind the Wild in the playoff race.

yay! No post season! Yay!

Hahahahaha...nice Gump. Really, tell us how you really feel.

The sad thing here, is they have stayed just at that playoff border, so their draft position suffered. Not really excited about it at the moment.

And what an ugly game...just ugly.

Hahahahaha...nice Gump. Really, tell us how you really feel.

The sad thing here, is they have stayed just at that playoff border, so their draft position suffered. Not really excited about it at the moment.

And what an ugly game...just ugly.
- Gusrichards

I'd say the most disappointing aspect of all of this is that with the exception of the Coyle/Donato trade, (and maybe the acquisition of Hunt) Fenton has made this team even worse than they were. Younger? Yes, but worse skill wise.

Aberg is just freaking god awful. Bitetto is not good, Rask is okay, hes looked better lately but that's not saying much when your improving on less than mediocre. Fiala is not the exciting, explosive goal scoring finisher that was sold to Wild nation. Plus he's a turnover machine. He dekes himself right out of possessing the puck quite often.

I'm sorry, i just don't like the direction this team is headed. I refuse to talk myself into a good mood while analyzing the first year of Paul Fenton as the leader of this organization.

It just seems so..... Lazy. Fentons hiring seemed like a "lazy" move on Leipolds part. Oh hey, i know this guy so let's offer him the GM job... and the moves made by Fenton again seem "lazy". Hey, i know these players from my old team, yay! Sign em up!!!

I mean someone please tell me that any of the trades and/or acquistions appeared to be well thought out hard fought transactions!!! He made deals for 4 former Nashville players. 3 of which you could easily say "no thanks" to as a fan. Hunt is okay, but nothing special, nothing that makes you think "yeah, he could be really good some day"...

I personally feel the Nino trade was absolutely terrible and he could have held Nashvilles feet to the fire a bit more in the Granlund trade by maximizing his return. Fiala may have potential, but so far that's about it. With the exception of the one game against his former team, he has not looked all that good.

Well i'm not going to sugar coat anything, so far I think Fenton is an absolute BUST as a GM!

I don't know if I would call Fenton a bust just yet. The Coyle/Donato trade is a great trade so far. I think Fenton was stuck on not getting much in return when getting Fiala, because Poile NEW Fenton coveted Fiala so much. He was cornered by his old boss on that. I understand what he was trying to do with the Nino/Rask trade, but I agree, he could have done better. I would be pleased with a 4th C that a much cheaper price. I do like the Hunt pickup, as he appears to be able to play both sides and is slightly younger than Prosser. Plus he as a little more on the offensive side over Pross. The Bitetto move I would have been ok with, if he was in Iowa. Bite The Toe is a shooter and a skater, that is for sure....but he is terrible defensively, which is his position. Should be moved up to forward.

I harken back to the days when Fenton was just signed and announced. He said his plan was to create a winning attitude, from Iowa on up. His recent signings are showing that he is working to increase the prospect base down in Iowa, but that isn't helping the big club. I really think this off-season (now that Fenton has had a whole season to see what is there) is going to be very important to the direction of this team.

Well as usual, i'm sure i'm being overly critical, but then don't make these feeble moves that even further reduce the quality of the roster in the "now" and come out and say, we are still trying to build for this years post season. That to me is a downright insult to Wild fans.

So is the whole, "we're not in a rebuild" comment. You don't get rid of proven vetearans for young players/prospects and worsen your team in a playoff year if you're not rebuilding.

I know some of the trades could have been better, but we also need to realize that this team isnt the same without koivu and dumba. I agree, bitetto should not be playing as much as he is, if dumba were in the fold things would be a lot more solid on the back end. Pateryn could be back on 3rd pair, and they could rotate seeler and hunt depending on the opponent.

the loss of koivu definitely also hurt the team defensively. i think if he and dumba were back the wild would have a few more wins in their back pocket. not trying to sugar coat things, just giving another point of view on the situation. not many teams would win a lot of games without their top defensive center and a top 4 defenseman.

I know some of the trades could have been better, but we also need to realize that this team isnt the same without koivu and dumba. I agree, bitetto should not be playing as much as he is, if dumba were in the fold things would be a lot more solid on the back end. Pateryn could be back on 3rd pair, and they could rotate seeler and hunt depending on the opponent.

the loss of koivu definitely also hurt the team defensively. i think if he and dumba were back the wild would have a few more wins in their back pocket. not trying to sugar coat things, just giving another point of view on the situation. not many teams would win a lot of games without their top defensive center and a top 4 defenseman.
- mnMild

I agree that if Dumba is healthy and Koivu is playing a 3rd line shutdown and on the PK, this is a better team. That being said injuries are part of the game. I also feel that making the playoffs is better than not making the playoffs. The Wild have been a better team on the road, especially in the 2nd half. I don't know if they'e ever lost to Vegas and they own the Jets this season and with games against AZ and Dallas, this is still certainly possible.