Scandella recalled from Houston

Marco Scandella has been recalled from Houston. He must have righted the ship, because calling him up to be a healthy scratch makes no sense whatsoever. Even with Stoner on IR, Scandella's return means that two defensmen will be in the pressbox.

3 months ago JDesthubert 23 comments 0 recs |

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I hope to see him at his confident best.

The Wild could use him at the top of his game. I don’t know how his game has looked as of late, but I’m pretty certain that the timing of this means that the Wild are still pretty serious about moving a defenseman. That, and it’s time to see what Scandella can do again. While there is still pressure to win, the wheels have already come off. If the Wild truly plan on depending on the kid to be a top pairing D in the future, they have to give him a chance to work it out on the NHL ice.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 13, 2012 12:36 PM CST reply actions

Huh

They REALLY don’t want to use Lundin, do they?

Welcome back Pizza, hope you can help save this season.

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Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 13, 2012 12:39 PM CST reply actions

Hell

At this point, I hope he plays well, continues to develop, but does NOT ‘save’ the season. I am beginning to warm to the idea of a top 5 draft pick. Still, best of luck Pizza.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 13, 2012 12:54 PM CST up reply actions

While he hasn't been bad,

I don’t think Lundin has done anything in his play that forces Yeo to keep him in the lineup. The same goes with Zanon. They look pedestrian, and that doesn’t cut in on a team that is struggling to stay afloat and looking for a spark to get the team back on the right track.

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by JDesthubert on Feb 13, 2012 12:59 PM CST up reply actions

But does he deserve to sit in the bench more than Zidlicky?

He hasn’t done anything for Yeo to force him out of the lineup either, right? I mean, I get that they probably need Zidlicky to play to sell him better, but if they’re serious about winning, something that just doesn’t happen with Zids in the lineup, then they need to sit him back down a few until he gets it.

That being said, I’d put Pizza before Lundin too, but Lundin before Zidlicky.

I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 13, 2012 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

For a team that seems to have offensive struggles

This probably has something to do with upside. With Lundin, his play will never change. He’s going to be a vanilla, pedestrian player. At least Zidlicky comes with the chance of offense. Before everyone jumps down my throat, keep this in mind:
Zids has the 2nd most points from the blueline on the team. Spurgeon leads with 17 points. Zids is right behind him with 12 points in 15 less games. The next closest is Justin Falk with 7 points. The team is desperate for points from the blueline, which leads me to my second point…
Historically, Zidlicky is a good offensive defensman, and he has had very good years in Minnesota. Even this year, he’s still 10th overall on the team in total points. Here’s a fun stat:
In Mike Lundin’s 240 career games, he has a whopping 35 points. Marek Zidlicky had 42 points in his first season in Minnesota (76 games). That’s right, folks. Zidlicky had more points in one season under Jacques Lemaire than Lundin has in his entire career.

And as for the win-loss ratio, that’s pure coincidence. You can’t actually frame a real argument saying that benching Zidlicky leads to wins. Using Zids as an excuse is simply that: an excuse. It’s an oversimplification of a complete team letdown.
Honestly, when people use Zidlicky as the catalyst of the wins and losses, they sound completely ignorant of a TEAM sport. The TEAM completely laid down and died. It’s a coincidence that Zidlicky was in the lineup at that time. It’s such a ridiculous reach to say that all of the team’s problems lie with Zidlicky.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
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by JDesthubert on Feb 13, 2012 5:41 PM CST up reply actions

Next closest is Prosser actually ;)

And I’m not saying that all the team’s problems lie with Zidlicky, but you have to admit the team seems to play differently for some reason when Zidlicky’s on the ice. I know that Zidlicky is a good offensive defenseman, but right now, he’s hurting the team by not believing in his coach.

Also, I don’t care about Zidlicky’s past performances, we need present results. No goals and 2 PP points for a powerplay specialist is downright unacceptable. He might have 12 points, but just by memory, I’m pretty sure there aren’t too many first assists in those 12 points.

I know one man does not make a team, but the sample is big enough to at least think it may not be that big a coincidence. When Koivu’s not playing, the difference is visible, even if he’s just one man. Same for Zidlicky in my mind.

I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 13, 2012 6:12 PM CST up reply actions

We'll just have to agree to disagree

I’m not willing to play the blame game when the entire team got away from what was working. I just don’t see how Zidlicky being back means the forecheckers don’t go hard on the offensive zone, don’t create turnovers, and don’t finish their chances. There are so many issues that have nothing to do with Zidlicky for me to believe it’s anything more than coincidence.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior

by JDesthubert on Feb 13, 2012 6:43 PM CST up reply actions

You've been disagreeing a lot with us lately

Unacceptable ;)

I know it’s a team problem, but I also think, maybe subconsciously, athletes play differently according to who’s on the ice. That’s why sometimes, some teams actually play better when the backup’s in net, because they need to support him more. Shouldn’t really be like that, but they’re only human, they can’t play the exact same way all the time.

I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 13, 2012 10:18 PM CST up reply actions

Hahaha

I’m so disagreeable. I must be a dirty piece of night soil hahaha!!!

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior

by JDesthubert on Feb 13, 2012 10:58 PM CST up reply actions

Nice.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 14, 2012 7:36 AM CST up reply actions

Great use!

by eamon17 on Feb 14, 2012 9:20 AM CST up reply actions

Well done :P

I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 14, 2012 10:04 AM CST up reply actions

does anyone think this move means

There’s a trade in the works?

Don't know what I'm fighting for, but I know what I'm fighting against

by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Feb 13, 2012 1:18 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Not necessarily

There honestly isn’t much on the Wild roster that is good trade bait. The only defensmen with any value right now are either Zidlicky or maybe Falk. While the fans can clamor for Zid’s head, Fletcher isn’t just going to trade Zidlicky for the sake of trading. If the value for the deal isn’t there, then Fletch isn’t just going to trade him. Zids value could conceivably go up next year, as he would be a UFA instead of having a year left on his deal.
Falk is a decent trade option, as he’s got size and can skate pretty well for a big man. He’s also really young, so there’ still a lot of room for growth in his game. If Fletcher feels like he can deal Falk and keep Stoner, he may consider it.

However, I doubt that Fletcher is in a “sell” mode. Both Leipold and the fans expect a winner, and selling isn’t a good way to prove to your boss that you’re serious about making the playoffs. He’s still in that tough spot of not being able to initiate a full-on rebuild. He’s had to add prospects while remaining highly competitive.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior

by JDesthubert on Feb 13, 2012 1:35 PM CST up reply actions

on top of that, most teams are looking for forwards not defensemen

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by Chris Winner on Feb 13, 2012 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

or

mostly competitive…

by eamon17 on Feb 13, 2012 2:12 PM CST up reply actions

or

while giving the appearance and approximation of being competitive.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 13, 2012 2:27 PM CST up reply actions

Duly noted

I should have said “while attempting to remain highly competitive”.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior

by JDesthubert on Feb 13, 2012 2:31 PM CST up reply actions

Not really

I think this was ALWAYS the plan. Go down, get some confidence, and come back up. I think the only reason it hasn’t been sooner was that he was injured.

by eamon17 on Feb 13, 2012 2:05 PM CST up reply actions

I hope Scandella can come up and just play loose.

No need to really press or anything like that, just play some hockey. The season is pretty much in the tank, so let him get some big minutes with the big club. In my opinion, Fletch should shop any pending UFAs and take whatever he can get, but I don’t think he sees it that way.

by cgp711 on Feb 13, 2012 1:31 PM CST reply actions