Report: Wild to Name Mike Yeo Head Coach

by BReynolds on Jun 16, 2011 4:23 PM CDT in News

KFAN has reported on the Dan Barreiro show, along with Lou Nanne, that the Minnesota Wild have hired Mike Yeo as the third head coach in team history. The Wild's only official announcement is that there will be a press conference tomorrow at 11AM to announce the new coach.

Russo reported earlier on his blog that Craig MacTavish also interviewed with the new Winnipeg team, and that may have thrown a wrench in the Wild's plans. This is all opinion, but MacT may be interested in that job, and they are no where near ready for that step. Russo said if MacT wanted to wait, the Wild would move on, and that appears to be just what they did.

We got our analysis on Yeo a little over a week ago from Ms.Conduct, and there was a bit of debate about Yeo or MacT. Regardless of your feelings, the man is now Coach Mike Yeo. I cannot speak for all of the staff here at Hockey Wilderness, but the editorial staff is happy with this hire.

It is, of course, a gamble for Chuck Fletcher. Bringing in a second rookie coach may be his undoing. I personally like a gamble. In life, where there is reward, there is risk. In my book, this is the correct hire, even if it doesn't work out long term.

To be clear, Mike Yeo is not Todd Richards. Similar styles, similar systems. Similar. Not the same. Please note this is not just semantics. The hope is that Yeo brings the same accountability to the Wild that he brought to the Aeros. It will certainly be interesting to see how the players respond to this.

Congrats, Mike. Welcome to Minnesota.

What say you, Wilderness? Is this the right move? The wrong move? Does it matter?

Note: Russo confirms via Twitter.

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Comments

Its time to toss the dice...

Why the heck not, amirite?

The young man said I will never give up, the inner war, I can hold against it
My mind, my mind, my minds in darkness

by TheDragonReborn on Jun 16, 2011 4:32 PM CDT reply actions

As long as the payers buy in and he shows he cares, is all I want.

The young man said I will never give up, the inner war, I can hold against it
My mind, my mind, my minds in darkness

by TheDragonReborn on Jun 16, 2011 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I am fine with the choice CF made.

by niemonster3 on Jun 16, 2011 4:51 PM CDT reply actions

Here's my issue

Remember one thing: If you wanted a coach with NHL head coaching experience, it means that he has failed and was fired before.

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by nathaneide on Jun 16, 2011 5:04 PM CDT reply actions

MacT was only a partial for that.

He did have a lot of success as a coach for a team that was always under talented. Made a run when they got Pronger and started to get a few guys develop. The team got weighed down by bad contracts to mediocre players, and was going no where fast when MacT left. In part the guy had been there long enough that the team was looking to make a change, right as they were looking to blow the whole thing up. Part failure and part success. Forcing a game 7 when your goalie is hurt and your team lacks upper end talent says something about a guy.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 16, 2011 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions

That's not necessarily true...

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by GopherState on Jun 16, 2011 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions

This needs to be a 3-D image.

by unyieldingflan on Jun 16, 2011 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions

That'd be terrifying.

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by ADN on Jun 16, 2011 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions

This

X a million

by nemo1107 on Jun 16, 2011 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions

NICE

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by JSLandry on Jun 16, 2011 8:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I love that

It’s one of the greatest images of all time and I salute you continuing to bring it here.

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by nathaneide on Jun 16, 2011 10:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, great.

I wish we could get the full scoop of what went down. Did MacT get the sense that the Wild were going with Yeo, so he started looking at Winni, or was it the other way around?

Still, Fletcher has some cajones. This call is probably a make or break for him as a GM, at least of this team. Personally, I like this choice, especially if Yeo and Fletcher are given some space to rework the roster and identity of this team. Yeo has much more coaching experience, seems to be a better game manager, get a lot out of his players, and is a developer.

Welcome coach Yeo.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 16, 2011 5:37 PM CDT reply actions

I applaud this move.

It’s gutsy for sure, but this shows that Fletcher is willing to make what he feels is the right choice for the organization, not his job security.

"You don't understand anything, man. Leave your STUPID comments in your POCKET!"

by Georgie Fruit on Jun 16, 2011 6:43 PM CDT reply actions

So I guess

we are in rebuild mode?

Pleased with the move. Hope players buy into Yeo.

by wild32384 on Jun 16, 2011 7:31 PM CDT reply actions

Not all rookie coaches are destined to fail

Yeo clearly knows what he’s doing, having the Aeros reach the AHL finals. He seems to be more of a game coach than Richards is. I like the choice, but I also would’ve liked MacT to be honest.

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

Author, watchdog, enforcer and french-canadian connection for Hockey Wilderness.

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jun 16, 2011 8:30 PM CDT reply actions

Huzzah!! No Retread

while he’s young, it might also be a sign that they’re going to keep a lot of the aeros kids up in st paul this year… yeo has shown he can get the best out of them

Bryan Vickroy has an addiction to hockey, and is willing to partake in all its forms. He is skating extra shifts this season, covering the Minnesota Wild, the NHL, and NCAA hockey all year long. Look for new articles throughout the week. He can be followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bryanvickroy/ . If you’d prefer to speak in more than 140 characters at a time to him, he can be reached at bryan.vickroy@gmail.com .

by vickroy on Jun 17, 2011 3:24 AM CDT reply actions

Bold move.

But I like it!

"Danny Valencia is a fricking stud! Hide your daughters!"
-Denard Span

by taralynn09 on Jun 17, 2011 6:31 AM CDT reply actions

Much happier with this choice.

When Fletch chose Richards over Tippet I was very disappointed. I think he got it right this time.

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As I look into your eyes
None shall hear a lie
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By divine right hail and kill

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by FightingWild on Jun 17, 2011 8:38 AM CDT reply actions

I was a lot less interested

In the veteran coaches this time around. Hitchcock? No way. MacT, would have been an okay but safe choice. Yeo is a gutsy call, but he could be the right guy to rebuild this franchise around. I like what he did with the Aeros, especially with what he had to work with. I like his confidence and demeanor. I like his pedigree as a coach already at nearly 38.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 17, 2011 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions