Comments on: Offseason Report: Minnesota Wild

By: greatminnesotasportsmind

greatminnesotasportsmind — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 03:31:06 +0000

Your right not all of them, but the ones that are highly touted, are going up against current NHLers in World Championships, etc, etc, and seem to be holding up on their own merits.

By: blomfeld

blomfeld — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:10:15 +0000

Well I voted that they’ll be “better” …

Clearly the Wild are trending upward which is a good thing, given that the Canucks have been “Masters of the House” in the NW for too many years now. In fact, the days of Vancouver’s “carte blanche” ownership of that division are probably now gone forever … and I say that, despite the emergence of Cory Schneider from the “long & dark” shadow cast by Roberto Luongo and his minions. At any rate, the Wild have “stepped up” and put their money where their mouth is … and for that you have to give them credit ! I also give credit to the Oilers for making a concerted effort with their “youth” movement. As for the Avalanche and Flames ? … well at least the former are trying, but God help those poor souls in Calgary ! So “good on you” Minnesota and I for one wish you all the very best !

Blomfeld’s Prediction for the NW Division in 2012-13 …

1) Minnesota @ 102 points
2) Edmonton @ 93 points
3) Vancouver @ 88 points
4) Colorado @ 84 points
5) Calgary @ 56 points

By: ray2013

ray2013 — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 07:14:43 +0000

The point was, he was a very highly touted prospect with a very high celing, until he actually started playing in the NHL. While the Wild has a number of highly touted prospects, until they play a year or two and contribute, it’s going to be tough to say where they are actually going to fit in for the Wild. Not all of them are going to be future stars.

By: greatminnesotasportsmind

greatminnesotasportsmind — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 05:42:56 +0000

A reasonable spot would be top 8, ask the Kings.

By: lostpuppysyndrome

lostpuppysyndrome — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 03:15:36 +0000

While I, and other Wild fans I’m sure, appreciate the sentiment, most Wild fans don’t really expect them to be a Cup contender this year. While a championship this year isn’t out of the realm of possibility, I think that expectation will become more serious within the next 3-5 years once the rest of our prospects begin to mature. The Wild fans I’ve talked to have done a pretty good job of being realistic, but they can barely contain their enthusiasm and excitement for what’s hopefully in store for the next decade or so.

By: greatminnesotasportsmind

greatminnesotasportsmind — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 01:02:41 +0000

Well being that the Wild never had Zach Kasian…

By: greatminnesotasportsmind

greatminnesotasportsmind — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 01:00:31 +0000

By: ray2013

ray2013 — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:39:02 +0000

I recall not that long ago, Zack Kassian was the next great NHL power forward and untouchable. He has since been traded, and he’s now being talked about as a bottom-6 forward (at least in the articles I’ve read). So looking beyond the hype, how many of these prospects are going to be bonafide NHLers, top-6 forwards, future All-Stars? And don’t say all of them, because that happens once in a decade.

By: sharksfan97

sharksfan97 — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 21:48:58 +0000

Good for Minny! Great fans and great hockey state! I wish them nothing but the best, except when they play my Sharks.

By: polegojim

polegojim — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 21:34:50 +0000

Lost Puppy – the Wild did WONDERFULLY!!! And that coming from a Wings Fan.

I’m VERY interested to see the ROI – and it BETTER be good.

For almost 200 MIL… they better freaking be contending for THE Cup in 2012-13.

If you or other Wild fans accept anything less… turn in your balls WITH your skates at the gate!

By: mathieug79

mathieug79 — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:44:48 +0000

agreed, I am a Lightning fan, and I would love to have your prospects. Stevie Y has done a tremendous job rebuilding the team. We also have great prospects, but they are 1-2 or maybe 3 years removed from making the big club. Most of the Wild prospects are ready for the big show!!

By: porkchopexpress1969

porkchopexpress1969 — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:11:49 +0000

Amen brother….

By: vindicatus

vindicatus — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:06:56 +0000

Yeah the Wild have been a joke for their entire existence, but stating the obvious means I’m just spewing bile.

By: porkchopexpress1969

porkchopexpress1969 — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:59:15 +0000

Just give them the cup. There team is sooo awesome. No need to compete. Wild fans are laughable.

By: dayno66

dayno66 — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:55:10 +0000

From what I’ve read, Detroit fans are the ones really spewing venom at suter and parise. Pens and flyers fans seem to be pretty nonchalant about the whole thing.

By: greatminnesotasportsmind

greatminnesotasportsmind — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:34:35 +0000

Which is the main reason they signed here.

By: purpleguy

purpleguy — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:30:45 +0000

Someone needs to get this vindicatus dude a chocolate chip cookie, cold glass of milk and a pat on the back from his mommy to try and overcome the ongoing bitterness issues we are constantly stuck reading on these posts. And the poll was pretty weak — everyone knows the team will be better — even the logically-challenged, bile-spilling vindicatus would likely agree with that. Instead, the issue should be if they make the playoffs or how far they will go.

By: lostpuppysyndrome

lostpuppysyndrome — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:23:49 +0000

I find it hilarious that you haven’t paid any attention to the fact that they’re hardly the only players that are going to make a difference on this team, and that you apparently seem to have overlooked their prospect pool. We were excited before Parise and Suter showed up. The Independence Day Signing just sent us into sheer unadulterated exuberance.

By: vindicatus

vindicatus — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:11:56 +0000

I find it hilarious that all of a sudden after signing two UFAs (who have never won anything, mind you) the Wild are suddenly contenders after going years without making the playoffs.

Suter and Parise are overrated, and now so is the Wild apparently.

By: mattsg22

mattsg22 — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:07:04 +0000

You forgot to mention mikael granlund.

By: lostpuppysyndrome

lostpuppysyndrome — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:05:51 +0000

Come on, you know that answer to that.

By: lostpuppysyndrome

lostpuppysyndrome — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:03:57 +0000

Lol, it’s pretty easy to be overlooked when your only skill is a lack of self-preservation.

By: comeonnowguys

comeonnowguys — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:02:49 +0000

So how many of the 6 people that voted “The Same” or “Worse” are Red Wing, Penguin or Flyer fans?

By: thenewsmixer

thenewsmixer — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:52:43 +0000

Truth be told, I thought he fell of the face of the Earth before the season started… even when he wasn’t scratched, he was invisible on the ice as people just skated right around him.

By: schubie95

schubie95 — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:33:02 +0000

well… first of all the wild I.believe will be the 3 seed if they stay healthy

By: sknut

sknut — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:09:11 +0000

I am really excited to see the youngsters, Granlund, Brodin, Croyle etc..Even if a couple don’t pan out the Wild has never had this sort of depth with the youngsters. Fletcher and co. have done a great job rebuilding the franchise.

By: elvispocomo

elvispocomo — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:05:06 +0000

I’m not sure how they could be anything but better after adding two big names without similarly significant losses. How much better remains to be seen as they still have to pass LA, Van, StL, Chi, etc to get a reasonable spot. I can see them pushing teams like Det or Nash after they haven’t improved (and Pho if they lose Doan) and they might have done enough to not worry as much about the rest of the NW after Van, but we’ll see what team shows up.

By: mathieug79

mathieug79 — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:03:37 +0000

I know the Florida panthers were rank first overall in prospects (can’t remember if it was Hockey news). After seeing the prospects the Minnesota wilds have coming, this team will be good for a long time. With the likes of Granlund, Phillips, Coyle, Hackett, Brodin, Cuma, Dumba, ect. I can’t see why this team was not Rank #1 in prospects. Parise, Suter, koivu will all be showered with great young kids in the next few years. I think this team is moving in the right direction, unlike the other expansion team THE COLUMBUS BLUEJACKETS!!

By: Mike Halford

Mike Halford — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:47:32 +0000

Good catch, thanks. I went off the NHL.com tracker (http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=636656) which, oddly enough, has Zanon’s previous team as the Wild. I guess I, like many, overlooked his stint as a Bruin. D’oh.

By: lostpuppysyndrome

lostpuppysyndrome — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:30:42 +0000

…oh, and Weber. I suppose his situation had been more than a sideshow too.