Minnesota Wild Stock Market Report: Week of 11-27-2011

This week saw ups and downs for the team, and certainly has some ups and downs in the stock market. An entertaining game against the Predators and a loss that could have gone either way (yes, really) against the Oilers makes for some interesting data to input into the market analysis. For some players, the performance in Nashville overpowered performances against the Oilers. For others, the opposite was true. 

The market is fickle and does not care for your pleas for help. While things will not always go as planned, the regressing, bad for the game, passive Wild still conducted their business, and the analysts have taken that into account. With that, your weekly stock ratings. Where is your favorite player this week? Up or down? Anyone you feel is too high or too low? 

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)  - Koivu has continued his dominating play. He has been contributing both offensively and defensively in big ways. It is clear this is his team, and always was. It's been awhile since anyone questioned his contract. I'm sure someone can make that happen. Rating: Strong Buy

Dany Heatley (HETR) - The guy is snake bit to the max. There have been more outstanding chances than one man should have to deal with without scoring. Not sure what the regression experts say, but we're saying the guy is due to breakout, once opposing goalies lose their luck a bit. Rating: Buy

Devin Setoguchi (GUCH) - Great week for him. Following his captain, Setoguchi has been in beast mode for the past seven days or so. Good to see, especially with him back on the top line. If he can keep the pace, we're comfortable buying in again. Rating: Buy

Niklas Backstrom (BAX) - If we are being honest, and we should be, Backstrom seems to be creeping back into his dominant number one position. While he was understandably too tired to continue his dominance against the Oilers, Backstrom seems to be sitting pretty good when it comes to his role. Of course... things change quickly. Rating: Buy

Marek Zidlicky (ZHID) - Out with a concussion. We'll put him at a hold until he is back on the ice.  Rating: Hold

Dividend Stocks

Matt Cullen (TWI) - If there is one guy on the team that cannot go without a huge buy, it is Cullen. If being a beast on the ice were a position, this is the guy you would draft in your fantasy leagues to fill it. He is one of the best forecheckers on the team, he is scoring, and he is strong defensively. If you're not buying, we'll take your shares.  Rating: Strong Buy

Guillaume Latendresse (BTE) - Still out with a concussion. Gotta stick at hold.  Rating: Hold

Pierre-Marc Bouchard (BALD) - His goal against the Oilers was slick, but we just don't hear his name enough. He is playing sound hockey, and not costing the team, but he needs to step out of the shadow and make this team that much better. Too many nights off the score sheet.  Rating: Hold

Nick Schultz (MO) - Hard to downgrade him at all when he hasn't done anything to warrant it. He is still the best defensive d-man on the team, and certainly should be considered top 10 in the league. Consistently consistent.  Rating: Strong Buy

Greg Zanon (BLK) - Looks like he may be back soon, but no timetable given on that return.  Rating: Hold

Kyle Brodziak (GLUE) - Time to get this done. The prospects can't possibly be what is holding this contract back, can they? Get it done. Rating: Strong Buy

Cal Clutterbuck (HIT) - At least four times in the Oilers game, Clutterbuck ripped a shot that barey missed. He needs to unleash the fury a bit more. That said, he has also been much better with the riling up of his team and the grating of the opposition. We're comfortable with a buy, here.  Rating: Buy.

Darroll Powe (POW) - Still remarkably good on the PK, Powe leads the Wild defensive special teams like Patton in North Africa. Tenacious and simply outstanding on the forecheck.  Rating:Buy

Josh Harding (BKUP) - Not sure where all of this is headed, but Harding continues to do his job, even if he was beaten by the Oilers. Tough to give the guy much grief when the two goalies are riding such an "unsustainable" hot streak.  Rating: Buy

Futures Market

Marco Scandella (PZZA) - He's back on the ice, and boy is he back. More than once this week he looked very much like Brent Burns in certain situations, pinching well and being quick enough to still get on his horse for the back check. Eventually, the numbers are going to follow.  Rating: Buy

Colton Gillies (MBDY) - Being a line mate of a guy who only gets six minutes of TOI on a good night can't be easy, but Gillies is filthy good on the forecheck. His hands are still like stone, but he isn't being asked to score. He suffers a bit of a drop due to pure association, but such is life.  Rating:  Buy

Clayton Stoner (STDY) - Stoner is playing well, and there are few gaps in his game. He is one of the best at clearing the front of the net, and that is something the Wild desperately need right now.  Rating: Buy

Jared Spurgeon (TINY) - Still litle offesne to be seen, but we watched him actually lay a big hit on an Oiler and knock the puck free. That was impressive. He is big enough to clog passing lanes, and break up plays, so he gets to stick around awhile. Really, really would love to see some offense, though. Rating: Hold

Justin Falk (FLKR) - Tough game against the Oilers, but his coach is putting full faith and credit in him. Sometimes a guy just catches an edge. Let's just hope the curse of 41 doesn't continue. Rating: Hold.

Nick Johnson (BWCE) - Part of the best forechecking line on the team, Johnson is one of the reasons why that "passive 1-4 forecheck" simply isn't real. With Nystrom doing so well in Dallas, many say the Wild made a mistake. With the play of Johnson, we say they did just fine.  Rating: Strong Buy

Nate Prosser (STIF) - Also had a bad game against the Oilers. However, when he has the puck, he is nothing short of smooth with it. Tape to tape passes to break out of the zone, carries himself well, and doesn't back down from anyone. He made a few mistakes this week, but that will happen with rookies.  Rating: Hold

Penny Stocks

Brad Staubitz (BTZY) - We bumped him up a bit, then he went and did what he did against the Oilers. We're back down.  Rating: Strong Sell

Wild Power Play (SUCC) - It has been better, again, but still not even close to good enough. Rating: Sell

IPOs

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

Divestitures

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