"Cut Day" Claims its Victims
by BReynolds on Sep 27, 2010 1:28 PM CDT
in News
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PrintThe cuts to the roster that were expected have indeed been made. The Wild look to go forward with the team they plan to skate for the season for the rest of camp. Russo reports the cuts, and says the team is keeping some players up as precautionary measures die to injuries in the defensive corps.
The full list of cuts, and some reaction, after the jump.
Who was cut?
G - Matthew Hackett
D- Tyler Cuma
D-Nate Prosser
D- Maxim Noreau
D- Jared Spurgeon
C- Chad Rau
C- Cody Almond
LW- Colton Gillies
Players placed on waivers, to be assigned to Houston:
RW - Jon DiSalvatore
LW- Robbie Earl
LW - Petr Kalus
Who is Still Here?
Forwards:
Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Antti Miettinen
Guillaume Latendresse - Matt Cullen - Martin Havalt
Cal Clutterbuck - John Madden - Chuck Kobasew
Eric Nystrom - Kyle Brodziak - Brad Staubitz
Extra forwards: Casey Wellman, Matt Kassian
Defensemen:
Goalies:
Injured players:
What Does This Mean?
Right now, there are still a few extras hanging around. As Russo said on his blog, this is likely due to the injury to Barker, and the desire to bring extra players to Finland with them. The re-assignment of Robbie Earl was a bit of a shock, as most had him as almost a lock to make the team. As is usually the case, Wild management obviously saw something we all didn't, and Matt Kassian gets to stay for now.
The forward ranks look pretty well set for the season, as we all expected. Wellman and Kassian will battle for that extra spot once the team returns from Finland. It really si up in the air on who would have the edge in that battle, as Wellman brings an extra forward with scoring touch, but Kassian brings an extra defensive minded forward with some serious fighting ability to the table. I put the odds for either of them at 2-to-1 and pick 'em.
Bouchard apparently skated with the team today, which is huge news for him and for the club. Getting him back sooner, rather than later, would be most welcome. The re-assignment of Hackett back to to Houston leaves Khudobin with the big club, at least for now. We'll look at the goalie situation a bit more in depth when some other roster moves are announced across the league, but for now, it looks like the team is sticking with the original plan of Backstrom / Khudobin.
Tyler Cuma had a great prospect camp, Traverse City tourny, and training camp, but he will benefit more from a season as a top pairing d-man in Houston than from sitting next to Russo in the press box. Same goes for Prosser, who will likely be Cuma's defensive partner. Both could only benefit from time in Houston, with the possibility of being a call up if there is an injury to one of the top guys here.
This week will be a very good gauge to actually judge how this team is going to play. The first four games featured tons of rookies with there being three games in three nights, two of them on the road. While everyone has their doubts, let's save judgment for just a couple more games, shall we?
The roster is nearly set. Any shocks? Questions? Better ideas?
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Reading Russo's twitter
and seeing what Earl said, I feel really bad for him. I think he expected to make it on the big club just as much as everyone else.
As for Kassian: whoa! I bet this dude is pumped! Wellman was expected to stay, but I’d find it a stretch to think that the Wild will keep him on the team as a healthy scratch when he could be developing in Houston.
I’m really liking the race for the 6th D spot. Stoner is not nearly as safe as everyone thought at the beginning of camp, and I feel like Bagnall, Falk, and Scandella are really pushing for that 6th spot (and possibly 5th if Barker is out?). That race should be pretty exciting and I’m glad to see how much depth we have pushing for those spots.
Also, is Barker’s mediocrity a by-product of an injury? Or did he recently get injured?
He hurt his hip in the last game. I’m not sure if he has anything lingering from last season, but I don’t think so.
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Very happy Kassian still here
Tough guy but can do more than Boogie
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Outside of Earl, not much in the way of surprises.
My biggest question is exactly what do they have in mind for Wellman? Whenever I look at the proposed lines, Miettinen always obviously stands out as being out of position. Staubitz is the player, I think, who will see time in the press box on an occasional basis.
I would love to see what Wellman can do matched up with Koivu and Bruno, but that would be a BIG decision on Richards’ part. I just don’t want to see Wellman on that fourth line.
Congrats to Kassian.
I'm not comfortable...
with Wellman playing in the NHL this year. Once PMB returns, Wellman really won’t have a spot on the roster. I would rather him just play in the AHL and get some top-line minutes. No need to rush this kid. We’re loading up our talent, and he will become a major piece down the road.
Well,
the “kid” will be 23 in a few weeks, and he had a solid preview at the end of last season. He added 15 pounds of muscle in the off season. He’s also looked very solid in the preseason so far, according to all the sources. If they have a spot in mind that will get him decent TOI until PMB gets back, I have no problem with that. He has shown the ability to score and skate. He could surprise on the Wild if given the right chance.
If the idea is spot duty, then I’d rather have him in the AHL getting ready for a call-up.
by Krotz the Wall on Sep 27, 2010 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh...
And the Aeros should be a pretty decent team this year if they can forge an identity. They certainly have some good talent at all positions.
Anyone else?
I would rather see Kobasew on the top line to replace Mittens while we wait for PMB. Anyone else in that boat?
Ahem
Konasew. ;-)
Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota
Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.
Thanks for reminding me
I still need to find a way to bribe DaCosta to make up a Konasew jersey and hang it in his locker!
I would like to see what he could do rather than Mittens, yes.
However, I don’t know that the trade off would be all that much, and I have a feeling that Koivu has good (or preferred) chemistry with Mittens.
by Krotz the Wall on Sep 27, 2010 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Would love to see Kobasew there.
Wheel of Time, save my soul, find a way; may it be as the pattern has chosen, oh Wheel of Time..
by TheDragonReborn on Sep 27, 2010 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Now we just need to cut D
I have a $25 Wild Bucks card AND a voucher for a free Year 10 poster for Fletcher if he cuts the remaining D-men whose names end in “er”.
He might be willing to do that if,
and a big IF, you’re willing to pick up those guaranteed contracts.
by Krotz the Wall on Sep 27, 2010 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Economically speaking
it may make more sense for you to go after Ston"er." You’d only have $549,075 left to go!
I plan to pay him off in Tacos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FQV59b1C-k
As for Barker, I’m hoping someone will ask him what he thinks about lovely Long Island, NY.
Well, now that my sombrero stand is bust before it hits the ground, I’m open to new business ventures.
Little surprised by Earl, but he’ll probably be back sooner rather than later. Other than that, the rest of the guys didn’t really stand out too much so doesn’t surprise me they went down.
And I might have a $5 subway gift card lying around somewhere that we can add into the Barker/Stoner contract fund
Very surprised Kassian is still up here. I like him, but didn’t expect him to make the cut. Still think Wellman wins that battle though, as he likely should.
I was actually thinking it might go the other way. Once PMB is back in the line-up the ice time is going to be reduced for some of the fill-in kids. Kassian’s game is better suited to reduced minutes than Wellman’s.
I agree.
The difference between Staubitz and Kassian isn’t all that great. They bring similar aspects, both are working diligently to grow their games, and they can push each other for 4th line minutes. The Wild need to see if Wellman can develop into a legitimate top 6 forward, and he needs minutes and opportunities this year to spur that growth.
by Krotz the Wall on Sep 28, 2010 8:31 AM CDT up reply actions
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