Minnesota Wild Stock Market Report: Week of 12-18-2011

Not the most stunning week on record for your investments. So many stocks temporarily having their trading suspended, you would think there was a crash in oil prices.

Yes, the Wild have slowly transformed into the Minnesota Aeros, yet their performance has suffered only slightly. OK, maybe more than slightly. Yet, they still continue to earn points, which all seem to count the same under the rules. Those points will be huge when the players return, and the market turns back around a bit.

Even in a bit of a bear market, there are plenty of solid investments to be had. The rule remains true. Buy low, sell high. Now is not the time to jump ship, but rather to redouble your efforts and double down the investment. No reason to get off the bandwagon here. It's only December.

After the jump, your full stock listing s for the week.

Remember:

Strong Buy - Feel free to invest heavily with your fan dollars. This player will deliver every time.
Buy - Getting results, safe bet to invest your fandom in. Will disappoint rarely.
Hold - The results aren't there, but it isn't time to give up yet. Buying or selling equally acceptable.
Sell - Time to seriously consider your investment decision. Results consistently not there, and the trend is they will not be there.
Strong Sell - The lowest of rankings. Time to get out, and get out now, before your investment is totally worthless.

Note: The analysis will change from week to week, and are not equal from player to player. It's just our thing.

Blue Chips

Mikko Koivu (KAPT) - Hurt an off the market. Numbers looking up before the disruption. Feel free to stay at a strong buy. Rating: Strong Buy

Dany Heatley (HETR) - This guy has more haters than the Romans. Booed in Winnipeg? What did he ever do to Winnipeg? Ridiculous. Points continue to rack up, and his defensive play has been stellar. Rating:Strong Buy

Devin Setoguchi (GUCH) - Still out. Would be really nice to have him back on the ice. Rating: Hold

Niklas Backstrom (BAX) - Surely you noticed the performance against the Isles. Or the one agianst the Hawks? If you aren't already bought in, it is likely too late for you. Rating: Strong Buy

Marek Zidlicky (ZHID) - Back on the ice, but still catching up to the game. Nothing has been overly impressive from him this year. We're ready to sell, but hold if you will. Rating: Sell

Dividend Stocks

Matt Cullen (TWI) - We are unsure which member of the NHLOA Cullen ticked off, but the number of calls they have watched happen against him is growing to be a comic relief. Want to trip, slash, board, hook, rough, or charge a player? Make sure it is Matt Cullen. You'll get away with it. Rating: Strong Buy

Guillaume Latendresse (BTE) - Came back, and went right back out. Not good. Rating: Hold

Pierre-Marc Bouchard (BALD) - Out of the lineup after a dirty hit from Bogosian in Winnipeg. The league made fools of themselves by letting Bogosian off with nothing. Meanwhile, Bouchard sits out with a broken nose. As of this wirting, no concussion symptoms, which is good. Rating: Hold.

Nick Schultz (MO) - The invisible man continues to be invisible. Exactly what he needs to do. Rating: Strong Buy

Greg Zanon (BLK) - Took the first healthy scratch of his Wild career this week. Came back with a vengeance. Could be the odd man out, though. Keep an eye on him. Rating: Buy

Kyle Brodziak (GLUE) - Took his line to new heights, leads the team in goals, and doesn't show any signs of slowing down. Rating: Strong Buy

Cal Clutterbuck (HIT) -The wrecking ball is back. Holding the team together with so many injuries, Clutterbuck continues to show he can play both ends of the ice, and to be an underrated offensive talent. Continue buying here. Rating: Buy.

Darroll Powe (POW) - When a guy does everything you ask, it is difficult to stop buying in. Feel confident in your investment. Rating:Buy

Josh Harding (BKUP) - Haven't seen him in a few games, but you have to know he is waiting in the wings for his next chance. No reason to think he can't pick up right where he left off. Rating: Strong Buy

Mike Lundin (WHO) - Still playing regular minutes alongside Schultz, Lundin is a very capable defenseman. No reason not to invest here.. Rating: Buy

Futures Market

Marco Scandella (PZZA) - Every game Scandella plays is one closer to stardom. Fans and media outside Minnesota have no idea what they are missing watching the development of his game. Rating: Strong Buy

Colton Gillies (MBDY) - The shine has worn off. Seriously needs some hands training, and if not that, then he needs to be the best grinder on the team. He is starting to struggle with where he belongs on the squad. Rating: Hold

Clayton Stoner (STDY) - Another Invisible Man in all the right ways. Completely stoic in his defense as of late, Stoner has all of the makings of the next Nick Schultz. Rating: Buy

Jared Spurgeon (TINY) - Nearly 27 minutes of TOI against the Isles? That will do just fine. His game continues to improve. Hopefully at some point the offense slides in line. Rating: Buy

Justin Falk (FLKR) - Back from injury, but not yet back in the lineup. Rating: Hold.

Nick Johnson (BWCE) - What's left to say here. Creates chances, forechecks like a mad man, and plays great in his own zone. If that isn't a long term investment, nothing is. Rating: Strong Buy

Casey Wellman (CLGE) Playing well on the second line before he, too was injured. His is a wrist injury. There are no words. Rating: Hold

Cody Almond (JOY) - Not sure what Almond's role is in the organization. He is just one step from being a regular NHLer. Just not sure he will find it or not. Rating: Hold

Penny Stocks

Brad Staubitz (BTZY) - Meh. Just... meh. Rating: Sell

Wild Power Play (SUCC) - Was looking pretty good. Though, with the state of reffing, it may never be seen again. Rating: Hold

NHL Refereeing (REF) - The pure suck coming from NHL referees right now is amazing. Not just in calls going against the Wild, but in general. Watch an NHL game, even one with two teams you care little about, and you';; be able to find at least five calls that are blown in every game. It's just wrong. Rating: Strong Sell

Department of Player Safety (JOKE) - The league's supplemental discipline has once again regressed to the mean. Players getting hurt on dirty plays with no action. Precedent not being followed. It's a sham. Again. Disappointing. Rating: Strong Sell

IPOs

Warren Peters (FIX) - Warren Peters is not a long term solution. He is a fill in role player, and he is fairly good in the role. There isn't much to buy into here, but feel free if you would like. Rating: Hold

Jarod Palmer (HOPE) - The Great Minnesota Hope had a great showing in his NHL debut. Shooting the puck at will, best forward on the ice for the Wild against the Isles. Needs to get more time at the NHL level. Soon. Rating: Buy

Divestitures

Matt Hackett (HACK) - Returned to Houston. A bright future for this kid. Rating: Strong Buy

Jeff Taffe (GOPH) - Great few games for Taffe. He'll be back. Rating: Buy

Nate Prosser (STIF) - Back in Houston, much to the delight of Aeros fans. Rating: Hold

Paul Deutsch (FREE) - You gotta love the story. A 51 year old small business owner gets inked for a one day deal to serve as an emergency backup until Matt Hackett can get to St. Paul. He didn't make it into a game, but the story alone is worth a million bucks, easy. #FreeDeutsch Rating: Strong Buy

Kris Fredheim (PUPY) - Sent back to Houston, but certainly proved himself a capable replacement should the Wild need him. Rating: Hold

Matt Kassian (SHIN) - Sent back to Houston, Kassian will actually get to play now. We're still not sure why he was still here, to be honest. Go back, beat some people, Kass. You're welcome back anytime you can actually come to play. Rating: Hold

Brett Bulmer (JR) - Sent back to play against children, we're not sure what Chuck Fletcher was thinking here, but it is what it is. We're keeping the kid as a strong buy. Can't wait to see him back. Rating: Strong Buy