Russo's Depth Chart
by BReynolds on Jul 1, 2010 11:03 PM CDT
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PrintWe'll keep this one short and sweet. Here are Russo's lines from his latest blog:
ForwardsAndrew Brunette-Mikko Koivu-Pierre-Marc Bouchard*Guillaume Latendresse-Matt Cullen-Martin HavlatChuck Kobasew-Kyle Brodziak-Antti MiettinenEric Nystrom-James Sheppard-Cal ClutterbuckVying for spots: Casey Wellman, Cody Almond, Colton Gillies*Assuming Bouchard is healthy.DefensemanGreg Zanon-Marek ZidlickyNick Schultz-Brent BurnsClayton Stoner-Cam BarkerGoalies
How does that work for all of you? I like everything about it, but I would put Wellman in on the fourth line. That could be my absolute bias against Shep, and likely Wellman would benefit from a couple years in the AHL, but man... I really would like to see him stay with the big squad.
Miettinen to the third line - check.
Bouchard on the top line - check.
BTE, Cullen, Havlat - check.
Works for me. Anyone have a better plan?
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I am going to reserve judgment. Hopefully Stoner can prove himself. That would be a very good thing. Scandella will be along in due time.
Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota
Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.
Stoner definitely showed some good signs in the games he played before getting injured. I still remember watching that stretch pass to a streaking Martin Havlat. I would be more than happy to watch plays like that scattered throughout the season.
Stoner looked very good IMO. Loved how he used his long reach to really break up plays because thats what he has going for him and he uses it to the most
Jeff Spicoli said He’d like to have a jersey that said Stoner on the back..
by old time hockey guy on Jul 2, 2010 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Looks good to me as well
The great thing about Wellman is that while he could benefit from time in Houston, he’s old enough that I don’t think he’ll be hurt by playing in Minny right away. Anybody playing between Nystrom and Clutterbuck is going to have to work their ass off to keep up. Whoever it is, Shepp or Wellman, is gonna benefit from being on that line.
http://twitter.com/wildiowafan
If the wild
played those lnes every night, I thnk half of the games the 4th line would be your favorite lineand the best one on the ice. they will just out work everyone they play against.
So any news any PMB?
It would be interesting to see what we would do if he stays on the LTIR, that would free up a good chunk of cap space, and hopefully allow us to get a scoring winger. Either way, I like the lineup, getting close to be taken seriously.
I think Falk would make a decent 7th D-man because the other 3 would benefit from having some AHL experience. No need to rush a couple of our top prospects, especially when we have a pretty deep defense.
And looking at the back 7 forwards, I see a lot to like. There’s a lot of speed and energy in those players. They’ll be fun to watch.
Also, I think Bouchard wouldn’t be a bad fit on the top line, but I’d rather have a bonafide sniper to play on the right of Koivu and Brunette.
All in all, this is not a bad roster! With the new system beginning to sink in this could be a marginally successful team.
Call me foolishly optimistic
And I know Nate is going to disagree with me, but I’m really curious to see how Shep is going to do when he’s not put on a line with Boogaard or Scott. The kid can absolutely skate, but he lost nearly every battle along the boards and his shot needs a ton of work. Clearly he’s not going to be a #1 or #2 line guy that he was drafted to be, but I still think there is a chance they can turn him into a solid #3 or #4 center.
I think my expectations are that he becomes a serviceable fourth line center. Keep in mind that with a little conditioning and practice, I could likely be a serviceable fourth line center.
Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota
Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.
Headed in the right direction
I like it. The only glaring hole is that of a true score/sniper style shooter. That said, I have no idea how to fill that hole. Bobby Ryan would be great, but the public negotiations smell like a dare to GMs to put up an offer sheet. Not to mention the ridiculous compensation in draft picks we’d have to give up (if we matched what Anaheim has offered, it would cost a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd). Horton might have been good here, but no way he was worth our 1st rounder this year. I think we could make the playoffs this coming year, but the top west teams are still light years ahead. Does any one else think that Vancouver got a lot better today?
I want to spin the wheel of justice!
I do think the Canucks got better but Hamhuis was and is extremely overrated. They gave up a decent amount for Ballard who hasn’t been playing well recently and doesn’t have the best cap hit. They did make their D better but I’m just not afraid of them with the Sisters leading the pack and Luongo the choke artist in net. Love the addition of Malhotra but Cullen only cost $1 mill more and can put up much better numbers.
Koviu and Ryan>Sedin Sisters
Koivu and Ryan would be a like two wrecking balls on the forecheck. The problem is that I don’t see us giving up the assets to get Ryan. You can actually make an argument that we don’t have enough to trade for him. Burns and a 1st would have to be the centerpiece of any attempt for Ryan. They wouldn’t want Harding, since Hiller is pretty good. The trade would also require at least one, if not two or three, high end prospect(s).
I want to spin the wheel of justice!
The only, repeat only, way Ryan can come here is via trade. It would have to include some top picks to get him, don’t even think otherwise. Likely a package like Burns and a first, or something along that line. I would likely be ecstatic if they could pull that off, so, following logic, it probably is not enough to get Ryan.
Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota
Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.
It’s totally a pipe dream. I was looking at the league stats for goal scorers and I don’t see anyone, aside form maybe Semin, who would be traded. Carter is probably the only other real trade opportunity for a frontline scorer, but the Cullen signing renders that moot since we don’t really need another center. Even if we did make a trade for him the cost would likely again be Burns and a first. I have serious doubts that Philly needs another defense man after yesterday. They are saying Gagne is done there, but he has injury and salary problems.
I want to spin the wheel of justice!
I’m happy with resigning G Lat , and gettign Cullen, and Nystrom..
but the roster still looks a little thin to me..
maybe pick up one more guy somewhere…
or..they need a surprise player to step up and have a break out year..
by old time hockey guy on Jul 2, 2010 9:23 AM CDT reply actions
OK
It seems Fletch and co. have done a great job. They have put together seemingly competitive roster and left cap room to hopefully extend “Franchise” and even pick up a bargain or a rental should we find ourselves in playoff position at the end of the year as well as holding onto much of the future.
Much more balance than we were looking at, this time last year and a lot fewer "if"s and even a few plan Bs. While I was pretty certain during the season last year that Boogey’s time with was winding down. I still held out hope that some how, some way we could find a way to hold onto Owen Nolan, seeing this lineup, it finally hit home that it wasn’t going to happen. Man, I loved watching him play. For the last two years he has been the straw that stirred the Wild’s drink. I know this team is team is on averae toughe3r througout the lineup, I just don’t know who is going to be that offensive, blood, guts and fire leader that Nolan has been. The obvious choice is Cal, but I have high hopes for Robbie Earl. I can hardly wait to see who if anyone rises to that challenge.
yeah. i brought up ex-Badger… Robbie Earl as well..
He definitely has the skating ability to play in the NHL.
but.. the when i mentioned him , people were saying hes gone(not coming back)
so im not sure if he will even be around…
by old time hockey guy on Jul 2, 2010 10:17 AM CDT reply actions
Robbie Earl
Earl has become a free agent, and the Wild have not extended an offer sheet to him. Like so many of the players, Earl was a 3rd or 4th line energy guy, and we have way too many of them on our team. While he does have some impressive skating ability, he doesn’t really add an extra dimension to the team. Earl is not coming back to play for Minnesota, but I wish him the best of luck.
Earl was an explosive player in college..
Im surprised it hasnt translated in the NHL…
by old time hockey guy on Jul 2, 2010 12:54 PM CDT reply actions
i was looking at earls teams stats for Wisconsin..
and I saw the name , Joe Pavelski there..
Pavelski, arguably one of San Jose’s best players….
The Center, was a 7th! round pick!
by old time hockey guy on Jul 2, 2010 1:00 PM CDT reply actions
I like Earl. The guy could be in Houston, get a call and that night be in America’s Hat busting his ass. Never seemed to take a play off, just worked. Yes I know, AHL guy having to prove himself, I’m just saying.
I really don’t trust Marvin the Martian and his head. I know I keep saying it, but FOUR POINT SIX MILLION DOLLARS. Ugh.
Wild sign 2 more guys today
probably not guys to impact the team right away..
but we are building our prospect list!
The Minnesota Wild signed center Warren Peters (age 27, 6ft 200lbs) to a two-year contract and defenseman Drew Bagnall (age 26 6’3" 220lbs) to a one-year contract Friday. Both players signed two-way contracts.
this was posted on NHL website
link to story.. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=533692
by old time hockey guy on Jul 2, 2010 2:21 PM CDT reply actions
Fletcher Sucks!
I’m sorry I know it said not to be mean but Chuck Fletcher absolutely sucks and should be replaced immediately before he can do anymore damage. A team that was already too small and easily pushed around in the Western Conference is now even smaller and less tough. We have a LW in Andrew Brunette on our top line who can’t skate anymore, and I used to be a huge Bruno fan 1st time he was here. We are building a group of only marginal level prospects for what? So we can lose playing an uptempo style game with less skilled players than we had before, oh ya, AND we are going to get shoved all over the ice every trip into Calgary, Vancouver, Anahiem, San Jose, and Edmonton. Thanks Chuck.
I’m sorry I know it said not to be mean but Chuck Fletcher absolutely sucks and should be replaced immediately before he can do anymore damage.
So he should be fired for making moves that DR NEVER would’ve made in order to make us better? And he should be fired 1 full year into his tenure here because you don’t like him and thinks he “sucks?” You’re one of those people who thinks every move he makes makes us a worse team, when in reality, the moves he’s making are making us better. It takes time to be a Detroit, San Jose, Chicago, etc. It won’t happen overnight, it takes time and takes smart decisions (cap space, trades, scouting, drafting, etc.) to build a contender. If you think you can do a better job than Fletch, prove it. You can’t? Thought so. All of us as fans have to be patient and let the guy do his job. It’s people like you that make us TRUE fans look bad.
we are going to get shoved all over the ice every trip into Calgary, Vancouver, Anahiem, San Jose, and Edmonton. EDMONTON?!
You throw out all of those teams and include the OILERS?!
by Call of the Wild on Jul 3, 2010 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions
+1 Call of the Wild
Let’s make something clear: Boogaard and Scott weren’t going to bring us the cup!
I’ll ask you something no one has been able to answer Tilly: What bad moves have CF made?
The good far outweighs the bad, live with it. Would you rather have the former ’’GM’’ the Wild had? If so, you make me sick
JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!
twitter: BubbleWild48
I’m sorry I know it said not to be mean but Chuck Fletcher absolutely sucks and should be replaced immediately before he can do anymore damage.
It didn’t say don’t be mean to Chuck. Not sure where you got that. Be mean if you must, but you are going to have to bring it a little better than this. He should be replaced immediately? Why? Because he was put in charge of sinking ship and you have given him one offseason with HWSRN’s staff, and now one with his own to fix it? I’m glad I don’t work for you. “Hey. You. You’re being promoted. Yeah, you get to run the worst department in the place. Congrats.” Next Day: “Why do you suck? You’re fired. Next!”
A team that was already too small and easily pushed around in the Western Conference is now even smaller and less tough.
The team got smaller by giving up Boogaard and Scott. I’ll give you that. With a combined 7 minutes of TOI in the games they actually played in. I can see how adding the first ever bone fide second line center is such a horrible move when they could have kept a couple of guys that no one will fight in order to stay “tough.”
We have a LW in Andrew Brunette on our top line who can’t skate anymore, and I used to be a huge Bruno fan 1st time he was here.
Brunette, who was signed by… wait for it… NOT CHUCK FLETCHER. And, he never could skate. Welcome to Bruno.
We are building a group of only marginal level prospects for what?
Is this question actually about the Wild’s prospects, or about their prospects of winning? If it is about the prospects, as in, the guys in the system, the Wild have better and more prospects than they have ever had. You are cracked if you think otherwise. If it about their prospects of winning, before you judge them, why don’t you let them get to camp and see what they look like?
So we can lose playing an uptempo style game with less skilled players than we had before, oh ya, AND we are going to get shoved all over the ice every trip into Calgary, Vancouver, Anahiem, San Jose, and Edmonton.
Would you rather lose while playing the most boring hockey on the planet? The only less skilled players would be due to the fact that Gaborik left. And good riddance. Do you have any patience in your body at all? If not, it’s cool, but it’s going to be a painful ride. You may want to go cheer for the Twins. They are winning right now, so they are a safe bet. Just keep in mind that they sucked for a long time to be as good as they are now.
As for being pushed around in the NW division cities… I doubt it. I just really doubt it. Please justify this.
Thanks Chuck.
He says, “You’re welcome. We’ll see you in June when we make the playoffs and it’s cool to be on the bandwagon again.”
Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota
Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.
You rock Buddha!!
True fans stickin’ together! I love it!
by Call of the Wild on Jul 5, 2010 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions
The whole classroom applauds your ever-present intelligence Oh wise Buddha!
Not only true fans, but smart fans. To some, it’s all NOW NOW NOW, and while it would be fun to win the Stanley Cup next season, it’s unrealistic to think that it’s possible in one year. Things like that take time… Think of it as your high school diploma: It takes a lot of hard work, studying, taking your time, and most of the time some trial and error.
Not every signing or trade will be a masterpiece, but not every player we let go will come and bite us in the ass. The fact of the matter is that the Wild became a much better HOCKEY TEAM. Boogaard will never be as important as the players we acquired to ’’replace’’ him, face the damn facts. We need to be able to play 4, yes FOUR complete lines of HOCKEY players. We played three lines most nights and it killed us. Not only that, but our 4th line and even our 3rd line was never an offensive threat. It’s very easy for teams to defend against 2 lines, but it’s another story to defend against 4. I’m not saying Staubitz and Nystrom will score 15-20 goals each, but you can bet they’ll make Shep a much better player and our 4th line a whole lot better to watch. It was fun to see Boogs pummel the brains off some poor chap, but he just did it 9, count em NINE times this season. He was a liability. And I love how everyone thinks Staubitz and Nystrom are pushovers. Staubitz has a winning record and Nystrom isn’t really a fighter, but he can certainly hold his own. It’ll also be fun to see some guys crash the net for a change.
Who the fuck will push any of our players in the places you named? Even if they do, we’ll just outwork them. It’s not like enforcer-less teams are any more injured than the rest. Hell, the Wild were second in man-games lost this year (thanks in large part to PMB) and we had 2 friggin enforcers!! Didn’t see anyone give Jovocop a beating when he crushed Ebbett!
And Bruno absolutely didn’t change since his 1st stint with Minny. If anything, he actually got better.
I also love that you say we have less skilled players than before because I don’t remember a time when we had so many of them! BTE, Koivu, Havlat, PMB, Cullen, Zidlicky, Burns, Zanon, Granlund, Kobasew, Wellman, Prosser…. The Habs were perhaps the smallest team in the league and they fucking eliminated Pittsburgh and Washington, all while being seeded 8th, WITHOUT an enforcer! Figure that out. Once we make the playoffs, all bets are off. And believe me, we will make the playoffs. In fact, had we had PMB for at least half the season, we would’ve been damn close to the playoffs if we missed them at all….
End rant, thank you and good night!
JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!
twitter: BubbleWild48
+5 Nice rant Bubble!!
Not only true fans, but smart fans. To some, it’s all NOW NOW NOW, and while it would be fun to win the Stanley Cup next season, it’s unrealistic to think that it’s possible in one year. Things like that take time… Think of it as your high school diploma: It takes a lot of hard work, studying, taking your time, and most of the time some trial and error.
Couldn’t agree more.
Not every signing or trade will be a masterpiece, but not every player we let go will come and bite us in the ass. The fact of the matter is that the Wild became a much better HOCKEY TEAM.
Why can’t other people like us realize this? I know the Wild haven’t made the playoffs in the last couple years, but we are a much better TEAM now than we were a few years ago, something that quite a few people can’t seem to realize.
I also love that you say we have less skilled players than before because I don’t remember a time when we had so many of them! BTE, Koivu, Havlat, PMB, Cullen, Zidlicky, Burns, Zanon, Granlund, Kobasew, Wellman, Prosser….
The Wild have never had as many skilled players as they do right now. We’ve always had mediocre players with a few skilled players, but now we have more skilled players that will make us a better team with time. I’m excited that we’ll actually roll 4 lines every night instead of 3 most nights like last year.
Once we make the playoffs, all bets are off. And believe me, we will make the playoffs.
I agree, we will make the playoffs. I don’t see as slow a start to the season as last year with the learning of the new system. It’s also very unlikely that the same 8 teams that made the playoffs last year are a lock to make it this year (there are a few exceptions to this obviously; Sharks, Wings to name a few).
by Call of the Wild on Jul 6, 2010 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed about the start...
We’ve got lots of home games to start the season, which should be able to give the Wild a good head start, but historically, the Wild were always good in the first and last 15 games or so and horrible down the middle. This year, it went the other way around, sucking at the start and the end and a strong December through February. Let’s hope the Wild can finally find a way to be consistently good this year!
JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!
twitter: BubbleWild48
The problem with some fans...
They have no clue how hard it is to acquire players and fit under the cap in the NHL. They imagine we should try to get every superstar on the market, but it doesn’t work that way. If you make minimum wage salary, you can’t be dining on caviar everyday. You’ve got to save your money, or in this case cap space! And people have to stop thinking up hilariously unthinkable trades that the Wild ‘’absolutely have to do’’ The fact is our cupboard is very bare in the assets department, but CF is starting to fill em up. Not everyone (or maybe no one) wants James Sheppard, Colton Gillies, and the like, so trades like Carter and Coburn for Shep, Cuma and a 1st round (I swear I saw this proposition) will NEVER EVER happen. For one thing, it wouldn’t fit capwise and Shep will NEVER be worth Carter, not in a million years.
JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!
twitter: BubbleWild48
I’m glad I don’t work for you. "Hey. You. You’re being promoted. Yeah, you get to run the worst department in the place. Congrats." Next Day: "Why do you suck? You’re fired. Next!"
Actually, and unfortunately, this sounds a lot like how it goes around where I work. I’ll check around for unreasonably disgruntled Wild fans…
Let's Go Twins!
Minnesota Wild Off-season: In Fletch We Trust.
Good one :D
JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!
twitter: BubbleWild48
Any one else notice?
While everybody is pointing to the Hawks and Flyers and noting that they both lacked an enforcer, they both went out and aquired enforcer type players. The Fly went out got jody Shelly and the Hawks went out and inked the Wild’s very own John Scott. Just thought it was kind of interesting.
The Flyers are full of enforcer types. Jody Shelly joins a whole group of idiots on skates. As for John Scott being signed in Chicago… bet he plays about 4 games next season. Cheap 7th d-man. Nothing more, nothing less. And Chicago won a Cup without an enforcer, so Pittsburgh, so did Detroit, so did…
Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota
Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.
Pittsburgh won a Cup with a total asshole douchebag fartknocking pudwhacker.
by TylerDurdenUMD on Jul 7, 2010 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions
And yet, no enforcer. ;-)
Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota
Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.
HA!
Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota
Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.
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