Tony Abbott Administrator Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 View full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imyourhuckleberry Verified Member Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Nice that the calls to trade Rossi and try drafting someone to replace him have died down. The Wild made him earn his place through hard work and that has paid dividends for both Rossi and the Wild. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper3119 Verified Member Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Go little Rossi GO! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pewterschmidt Verified Member Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 MARCO!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citizen Strife Verified Member Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Keep running Ek on that top line, and just get Khusnutdinov with Rossi ASAP. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will D. Ness Verified Member Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Beyond the scoring and stats his game has looked really good. He is playing with a smoothness and effectiveness that comes from a guy who has figured out a few things and is confident... a confidence that was lacking for about a month there pre ASG. I don't want to start saying the same thing over and over but we gotta get Nojo off that line and replace him with Hartman. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B1GKappa97 Verified Member Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Honestly I couldn't believe that Rossi fell to us at #9 in that draft. I mean I know he was undersized and the NHL generally penalizes players for that, but, from what I recall, the scouting on him had him pegged as a top-5, some in the top-3, talent in that draft class. Last year was unfortunate but its great to see him finally paying off on his potential this year. And these numbers are posted with him starting between wingers like Foligno and Gaudreau to start the season, and now put between two 4th liners most recently. Honestly I think that's the most impressive/promising aspect of his season this year; no matter who you play him with, the guy is producing. He's not a Victor Rask or Ryan Hartman who's production drops off once he's not playing with Kaprizov. Guy looks like a bonafide top-6 C which is exactly what we were all hoping he'd turn into. Great pick Brackett/Guerin!! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B1GKappa97 Verified Member Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 16 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said: Keep running Ek on that top line, and just get Khusnutdinov with Rossi ASAP. Yeah can't wait to get Nutty in here! He's allegedly got a great motor and is fast, so I expect once he joins up we will see less and less of Johansson. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIWild Verified Member Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 (edited) It's easy to complain about the Wild, but I was just thinking the other day that we definitely have some positives. Think about what like Hawks fans are watching, and then think about us (even if they don't win as much as we like): 1. Remember the lonnnnggg wait we had for KK, and now get to watch him regularly, and win the Calder? 2. We get to watch Flower. Sure, he's no spring chicken, but still fun to watch. 3. Boldy - we only had a short wait before getting to see some of what he can deliver 4. We had to be patient with Rossi, but now he's quietly in the Calder race. 5. There was no wait with Faber, another Calder candidate. 6. Hopefully, The Wall is ready to become next year's Calder front runner. 7. Foligno? Almost always delivers. Don't hold his contract against him, he has taken (and given) a beating for our entertainment. Thanks for this one Tony! I too think Rossi hasn't been getting his props around here - we're all distracted by the others. Edited February 22 by WIWild typo 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredJohnson Verified Member Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 (Posting here since I don't see a recent Wilderness Walk) RIP Tim “Dr. Hook” McCracken. (A day late) 🙏 Slap Shot star Paul D’Amato dead at 76, his cause of death revealed https://www.monstersandcritics.com/celebrity/slap-shot-star-paul-damato-dead-at-76-his-cause-of-death-revealed/ 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredJohnson Verified Member Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 2 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said: Nice that the calls to trade Rossi and try drafting someone to replace him have died down. The Wild made him earn his place through hard work and that has paid dividends for both Rossi and the Wild. But he has to EARN a place in the top 6. 🙄 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imyourhuckleberry Verified Member Posted February 22 Share Posted February 22 Very promising. I had mentioned Daniel Briere last year when so many people were looking to write off Rossi as a failure. Briere had 24 points in the 77 games he played over his age 21 and 22 seasons. Rossi has now played in 77 games for the Wild and has 34 points, with almost all of that production in the last 56 games. Briere only had 15 points in 30 games at age 23, but in his next 11 seasons(ages 24-34), he would average roughly 70 points per 81 games. If Rossi can raise his game to contribute around that level for several years, or even exceed it, the Wild could be contending in a couple of years. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rohn Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Rossi's a keeper, on an upward trajectory and plays both ways hard. Same for Ek, even moreso. But I take issue about his chops as a true 1C. Ek struggles to skate the puck through traffic and put one on goal. True 1Cs do that. Ek, even when challenged 1-on-1 at the blue line, defaults to dump and chase. On the PP, Ek is never the guy who takes the drop pass and makes zone entry. True 1Cs do that. But Ek's tool box brims with other skills. In a just world, he would draw about three penalties a game from frustrated oppo D who beat Ek like a gong in front of the paint. Now let's contrast him with Johansson. JoJo's ONLY skill is skating the puck through traffic and gaining the zone. Entry by him is almost a sure thing, but that's it -- JoJo is a one-trick pony. Ek is a carousel. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillwaitingforacuprun Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 He's an average player on a very average hockey team.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dango Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 10 hours ago, Citizen Strife said: Keep running Ek on that top line, and just get Khusnutdinov with Rossi ASAP. sam 2.wav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnfaninnc Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 15 hours ago, Rohn said: Rossi's a keeper, on an upward trajectory and plays both ways hard. Same for Ek, even moreso. But I take issue about his chops as a true 1C. Ek struggles to skate the puck through traffic and put one on goal. True 1Cs do that. Ek, even when challenged 1-on-1 at the blue line, defaults to dump and chase. On the PP, Ek is never the guy who takes the drop pass and makes zone entry. True 1Cs do that. But Ek's tool box brims with other skills. In a just world, he would draw about three penalties a game from frustrated oppo D who beat Ek like a gong in front of the paint. Now let's contrast him with Johansson. JoJo's ONLY skill is skating the puck through traffic and gaining the zone. Entry by him is almost a sure thing, but that's it -- JoJo is a one-trick pony. Ek is a carousel. Rohn, I can't fault your analysis, but would you really WANT Ek doing this. Both Boldy and Kaprizov are much better at this skill on his line and on the PP. Ek's style on the dump and chase is to pound the defender and try to get him to cough it up. He's very good at that. In the Vancouver series in the bubble, Ek scored a very skilled goal in the final game of the series. I've noted that as the Ek's got skill transition and speculated that we would see more offense from the player. It took him 2 years of body building to really make a difference. Now he's a beast, especially net front. Rossi has probably got more raw skill than Ek will ever have. However, he needs 1 more good season of body building as I still see him getting knocked around. He's competitive, but he needs that low center of gravity strength to not get knocked around, especially when he sees the hit coming late. That is the main thing. I would also suggest some wrist strengthening for his shot, and some real good draw lessons from Koivu (all the centers should be getting these). He's got potential to be a lot more. I see people calling for Dino to be on his line. Could a Zuccarello-Rossi-Dino smurf's line be effective? I think it would have some speed and allow Zuccarello some good playmaking opportunities, but, if they try this, it will have it's own identity as a line and will have to include low contact and a lot of shiftiness and cutting in and out. This line will have to be moving targets always keeping their feet moving which may drive larger defenders bonkers. I like the idea of deploying such a line and following it up with a hard hitting line featuring Foligno, Dewar, Duhaime. One could definitely see a physical line like that taking a long shift in the offensive zone, drawing an icing and getting the lightning bug line out there, but you've got to win that draw. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pewterschmidt Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 (edited) 16 hours ago, Rohn said: Ek is a carousel. This is a nice touch Edited February 23 by Pewterschmidt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pewterschmidt Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 16 hours ago, Rohn said: But I take issue about his chops as a true 1C. Ek struggles to skate the puck through traffic and put one on goal. True 1Cs do that. Ek, even when challenged 1-on-1 at the blue line, defaults to dump and chase. On the PP, Ek is never the guy who takes the drop pass and makes zone entry. True 1Cs do that. But Ek's tool box brims with other skills. In a just world, he would draw about three penalties a game from frustrated oppo D who beat Ek like a gong in front of the paint. This is a great take. Rohn has a great hockey mind and high hockey IQ. Ekzy is invaluable to this club and he's a fan favorite for good reason, but he's a 2C on a deep playoff run team. Meaning we've got a legit 1C who's pushed Ek down the lineup. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pewterschmidt Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 14 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said: It took him 2 years of body building to really make a difference. Get K-nut with our glute coaches as soon as he crosses the pond. I'd suggest starting him with the right cheek coach. Then move to left cheek coach after we see results on the right. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pewterschmidt Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 16 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said: Could a Zuccarello-Rossi-Dino smurf's line be effective? This gives me PTSD fever dreams of watching Granlund get repeatedly pushed down to the ice during playoff hockey 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pewterschmidt Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 18 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said: Duhaime. Prediction: Duhaime's remaining time with Wild can be measured in days, not weeks. BG may keep him around as a glue guy, but it won't be for his ability to make ice hockey plays. And we've got glue guys signed long term already, so this group need hockey players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnfaninnc Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 12 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said: This gives me PTSD fever dreams of watching Granlund get repeatedly pushed down to the ice during playoff hockey That's why you follow with the Foligno line, but he's got to play a better enforcer and go after the pieces that hurt the opponent....like crushing their #1D in the corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnfaninnc Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 10 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said: Prediction: Duhaime's remaining time with Wild can be measured in days, not weeks. He can motor and that's an asset. I think paired with Foligno and Dewar, that could make an interesting line. But, is his presence withholding a spot for Yurov? He's arbitration eligible, but, statistically, he's had a poor year so he would also be inexpensive to resign. Dewar has also had a poor offensive year, and he should be easy and inexpensive too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnfaninnc Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 20 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said: Ekzy is invaluable to this club and he's a fan favorite for good reason, but he's a 2C on a deep playoff run team. Meaning we've got a legit 1C who's pushed Ek down the lineup. Ek and Foligno have really good matching games. Could a Zuccarello be a nice 3rd wheel on a 2nd line? Or could Dino be one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pewterschmidt Verified Member Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 2 hours ago, mnfaninnc said: That's why you follow with the Foligno line Foligno skating full speed into the glass accomplishes nothing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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