State of Minnesota Wild - All Star Break
Posted 4:45 PM ET | Comments 0
Before I get into the blog, let it be known, that it's just that, a blog. A semi-whimsical place to put my thoughts on what I think is going on with the Wild.
Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to business. At the All Star break, the Wild sit in the 8th seed in the playoff picture. Also as it stands, I would see the Wild getting bounced in the first round if the playoffs started today. I say that because so many of the key elements are injured. Lats, PMB, and Koivu are the biggest ones. If given another month and a half and they were all to get healthy in that time, I could see maybe moving up a slot or two in the playoff picture if they can get back to what made them successful during the first part of the season.
Most believe Minnesota will fall out of the playoff picture in lieu of their recent losing streak. In my opinion, this comes from those that clearly do not follow the Wild on a regular basis. The losing streak derives from injuries and obviously other teams playing well. I would contend that any team that loses 3 of their top 6 players would go on a losing streak of sorts. Keep in mind that Minnesota has a ton of games lost to injury, with quite a few involving the top 6. If Chicago were to lose a combination of Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, I would contend that they would be in as much trouble as the Wild. In fact, because the Hawks have elite players in comparison to Minnesota, I would contend they would struggle much more.
Should the Wild make it to the playoffs, I think the only way they do it with their current roster is if they are healthy and when I say healthy, I don't mean with 2 weeks left to go on their season. I think they require at least a month to a month and a half of regaining chemistry that may be lacking when adding injured guys back into the lineup.
On the other hand, the Wild could discuss trade. I follow the team quite close and I wouldn't say I am in the know of who they are after because I haven't a clue. I have speculations as to the types of players that would provide an upgrade for the Wild. First, the Wild need a defenseman, any defenseman that will shoot the puck on the powerplay. Clearly, the ideaology of their power play is to move it around and wait for the perfect shot. I can't tell you how many times I've watched a powerplay and they don't get a shot off. Man, that irks me! Shoot! In fact, if you've been to a Wild home game, chances are you've heard the crowd screaming in unison to shoot the puck on the power play. Also, it's been cited as some sort of plague that they don't shoot. Any way, I don't think the d-man they go after has to be a blue chip prospect, but I do feel as though they need to be able to quarterback the powerplay. If this mean's blue chip, I don't think the Wild pull the trigger. Secondly, I think they need to upgrade their top 6 by one player. If Latendresse and Bouchard could stay healthy, this may not be a huge concern since they have proven to put points on the board when healthy. They simply need somebody to help on the powerplay and that's why I say defenseman. It appears as though Zidlicky is gone at the first potential taker and he was that guy in the past. However, he too seems immune to shooting the puck and being the defensive liability that he is, he has been watching from seats from worse than mine, the pressbox as a healthy scratch.
On a final note, I think it is important to note that I do not see the Wild making a huge trade that involves much of their minor league players. For example, I understand that fans are in a frenzy to acquire Parise. However, if it happens, it will not be this year. To get Parise, it requires a king's ransom and it's simply not worth it for just a potential rental player. Now if we could get him, I would say the Wild would be willing to move a package that includes Lats, Hackett or Keumper, another prospect not named Granlund, and maybe a 1st rounder. However, I don't think that's even enough to get him and again, I don't think the Wild want to move that many assets for a rental player.
Sorry for it being lengthy, but I hate never getting to read about the Wild.
Thanks for reading!
Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to business. At the All Star break, the Wild sit in the 8th seed in the playoff picture. Also as it stands, I would see the Wild getting bounced in the first round if the playoffs started today. I say that because so many of the key elements are injured. Lats, PMB, and Koivu are the biggest ones. If given another month and a half and they were all to get healthy in that time, I could see maybe moving up a slot or two in the playoff picture if they can get back to what made them successful during the first part of the season.
Most believe Minnesota will fall out of the playoff picture in lieu of their recent losing streak. In my opinion, this comes from those that clearly do not follow the Wild on a regular basis. The losing streak derives from injuries and obviously other teams playing well. I would contend that any team that loses 3 of their top 6 players would go on a losing streak of sorts. Keep in mind that Minnesota has a ton of games lost to injury, with quite a few involving the top 6. If Chicago were to lose a combination of Toews, Kane, Hossa, Sharp, I would contend that they would be in as much trouble as the Wild. In fact, because the Hawks have elite players in comparison to Minnesota, I would contend they would struggle much more.
Should the Wild make it to the playoffs, I think the only way they do it with their current roster is if they are healthy and when I say healthy, I don't mean with 2 weeks left to go on their season. I think they require at least a month to a month and a half of regaining chemistry that may be lacking when adding injured guys back into the lineup.
On the other hand, the Wild could discuss trade. I follow the team quite close and I wouldn't say I am in the know of who they are after because I haven't a clue. I have speculations as to the types of players that would provide an upgrade for the Wild. First, the Wild need a defenseman, any defenseman that will shoot the puck on the powerplay. Clearly, the ideaology of their power play is to move it around and wait for the perfect shot. I can't tell you how many times I've watched a powerplay and they don't get a shot off. Man, that irks me! Shoot! In fact, if you've been to a Wild home game, chances are you've heard the crowd screaming in unison to shoot the puck on the power play. Also, it's been cited as some sort of plague that they don't shoot. Any way, I don't think the d-man they go after has to be a blue chip prospect, but I do feel as though they need to be able to quarterback the powerplay. If this mean's blue chip, I don't think the Wild pull the trigger. Secondly, I think they need to upgrade their top 6 by one player. If Latendresse and Bouchard could stay healthy, this may not be a huge concern since they have proven to put points on the board when healthy. They simply need somebody to help on the powerplay and that's why I say defenseman. It appears as though Zidlicky is gone at the first potential taker and he was that guy in the past. However, he too seems immune to shooting the puck and being the defensive liability that he is, he has been watching from seats from worse than mine, the pressbox as a healthy scratch.
On a final note, I think it is important to note that I do not see the Wild making a huge trade that involves much of their minor league players. For example, I understand that fans are in a frenzy to acquire Parise. However, if it happens, it will not be this year. To get Parise, it requires a king's ransom and it's simply not worth it for just a potential rental player. Now if we could get him, I would say the Wild would be willing to move a package that includes Lats, Hackett or Keumper, another prospect not named Granlund, and maybe a 1st rounder. However, I don't think that's even enough to get him and again, I don't think the Wild want to move that many assets for a rental player.
Sorry for it being lengthy, but I hate never getting to read about the Wild.
Thanks for reading!