Article: Iowa Wild Need To Hire New Head Coach

[Thomas Williams]

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[MNCountryLife]

I don't see this as a big loss.  The IA Wild have not been doing a good job of getting these kids ready for the move to the N.  Boldy, Rossi and Ek barely spent any time there and we've gotten very little from IA.  Players that were supposed to step in an fill roles ended up flopping.  Get these kids on weight training programs to increase speed and strength... feed them the proper foods to build that muscle and work on skill and skating until their ankles fall off.   Those that commit to it heart and soul should move to the N with confidence rather than trepidation.  You can't build through the draft unless you have a proper process in place.

Edited June 6 by MNCountryLife

[bisopher]

11 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

I don't see this as a big loss.  The IA Wild have not been doing a good job of getting these kids ready for the move to the N.  Boldy, Rossi and Ek barely spent any time there and we've gotten very little from IA.  Players that were supposed to step in an fill roles ended up flopping.  Get these kids on weight training programs to increase speed and strength... feed them the proper foods to build that muscle and work on skill and skating until their ankles fall off.   Those that commit to it heart and soul should move to the N with confidence rather than trepidation.  You can't build through the draft unless you have a proper process in place.

Agreed. The entire philosophy of the Iowa Wild organization needs an update, possibly a full overhaul.  The statement "We want to develop players, we're not focused on winning" rings hollow when the Chicago Wolves (Carolina) and the Hershey Bears (Washington, twice) have won the last three Calder Cups, and Charlotte (Florida) is already in this year's final, with Texas (Dallas) and Abbotsford (Vancouver) alive in the West.

It seems that strong organizations build a strong foundation in the AHL, including building a winning mentality. Meanwhile, the Wild promote their highest-quality prospects quickly (Boldy/Ek/Rossi/Faber/etc.), and everyone else (Walker/Beckman/Lambos[?]/Spacek[?]/???) "doesn't pan out". 

Question for the commentariat:  Who is the last Wild player that truly developed their game in Iowa, which I'll (arbitrarily) define as spending at least two years in Iowa before moving to MN and becoming a quality contributor?  The only ones I can think of would be the Deweys, and they're both gone. 

[mnfaninnc]

Ok, so, reading this news brief, my first thought was Christmas in June. Sometimes the right things that need to happen merely drop into your lap. The old Griffin's coach comes from the Detroit model of also over marinating the prospects. This is an easy fix!

Find a head coaching candidate who can teach. Surround him with a good goalie coach, good forward coach and good defensive coach. These guys have to have a passion for helping the kids grow. So, this concept isn't very difficult to understand, in fact, it's pretty easy. And, PLEASE hire a strength coach who can actually get these guys strong in NHL bodies!

Internally, we have FO intern, Goligoski, who could be that guy to train the defense. When the time comes, I also thing Spurgy would be good in this role. This is a perfect opportunity for a guy like Koivu to help mentor the forwards into good Selke type guys, teach winning draws and mental responsibilities. Equally, a guy like Modano can certainly help out with stretching the offense. I'd also let MAF work throughout the organization with the goalies. These guys would not be their coaches, but they would be in charge of specific areas of development. We've already got Andy Ness to handle the skating areas. Every name on this list is recognizable, and respected. The moment they enter the room, they will have a young prospect's attention.

If Koivu isn't available, perhaps a guy like Matt Cullen would be? 

[MNCountryLife]

48 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

The moment they enter the room, they will have a young prospect's attention.

Definitely.  Putting successful/recognizable players in front of these guys instantly lends credence to the program.  Chart the players progress and be open with players on where they should be and when.  The post by Bisopher was spot on.  The top teams in the league are also winning in the minor leagues.  IA must be better or we will never be a contender. 

[FredJohnson]

1 hour ago, bisopher said:

Question for the commentariat:  Who is the last Wild player that truly developed their game in Iowa, which I'll (arbitrarily) define as spending at least two years in Iowa before moving to MN and becoming a quality contributor?  The only ones I can think of would be the Deweys, and they're both gone. 

I’d have said Rossi but I think he played in 2 seasons in IA but not 2 full seasons. Might go all the way back to Spurge?

Edited June 6 by FredJohnson
Simplified

[mnfaninnc]

2 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

The top teams in the league are also winning in the minor leagues.  IA must be better or we will never be a contender. 

Just off the top of my head, I believe the Texas Stars have always been near the top of the division for several years.

[mnfaninnc]

Just now, FredJohnson said:

I’d have said Rossi but I think played in 2 seasons in IA but not 2 full seasons. Might go all the way back to Spurge?

Scandella was there too at that same time. Zucker spent parts of 3 seasons there as he got familiar with all the landmarks on the I-35 express. Haula too. Then, the black hole happened.

[mnhockeyfan03]

Go get Dan Bylsma to coach Iowa.  He has a great history of success in the AHL.  We need to develop and win.  Stop looking for the same internal country club guys.  Also if Deboer is let go from Dallas if Billy doesn’t call him and offer him a job immediately something is wrong.  Hynes is not the guy. 

[mnhockeyfan03]

Deboer just got fired.  I hope Billy is trying to hire him right now to be the head coach of our team

 

https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2025/06/dallas-stars-fire-head-coach-peter.html

 

 

[Mateo3xm]

23 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

Just off the top of my head, I believe the Texas Stars have always been near the top of the division for several years.

They’re incredible at finding talent throughout the draft. Robertson, W. Johnson, Harley etc. They missed out by picking Heiskanen over Makar but he’s definitely not a bad player.

[Mateo3xm]

On 6/6/2025 at 9:10 AM, bisopher said:

Agreed. The entire philosophy of the Iowa Wild organization needs an update, possibly a full overhaul.  The statement "We want to develop players, we're not focused on winning" rings hollow when the Chicago Wolves (Carolina) and the Hershey Bears (Washington, twice) have won the last three Calder Cups, and Charlotte (Florida) is already in this year's final, with Texas (Dallas) and Abbotsford (Vancouver) alive in the West.

It seems that strong organizations build a strong foundation in the AHL, including building a winning mentality. Meanwhile, the Wild promote their highest-quality prospects quickly (Boldy/Ek/Rossi/Faber/etc.), and everyone else (Walker/Beckman/Lambos[?]/Spacek[?]/???) "doesn't pan out". 

Question for the commentariat:  Who is the last Wild player that truly developed their game in Iowa, which I'll (arbitrarily) define as spending at least two years in Iowa before moving to MN and becoming a quality contributor?  The only ones I can think of would be the Deweys, and they're both gone. 

Rossi spent nearly two full years in Iowa. That’s really all I can think of. The problem is the Mn Wild are always dealing with injuries and sometimes that doesn’t allow the prospects to fully develop. It would be nice if we had a surplus of prospects just waiting to be brought up.

[Mateo3xm]

21 hours ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

Deboer just got fired.  I hope Billy is trying to hire him right now to be the head coach of our team

 

https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2025/06/dallas-stars-fire-head-coach-peter.html

 

 

I think Billy is the type of guy that tries to save money on coaches. Basically his entire track record is employing new coaches to fill the position. He didn’t hire Bruce B, just fired him. I think Guarin is cheap when it comes to coaches, I haven’t seen any evidence of anything different.

[mnhockeyfan03]

3 hours ago, Mateo3xm said:

I think Billy is the type of guy that tries to save money on coaches. Basically his entire track record is employing new coaches to fill the position. He didn’t hire Bruce B, just fired him. I think Guarin is cheap when it comes to coaches, I haven’t seen any evidence of anything different.

That’s a bad policy to have.  Coaching can have a huge impact and doesn’t count towards the cap.  I honestly think Billy likes a guy he can control and influence who you put in the lineup.  Another bad trait.  Deboer would run laid around Hynes.  Go hire hire.  Let Hynes be assistant coach if he wants 

[Scalptrash]

7 hours ago, Mateo3xm said:

I think Billy is the type of guy that tries to save money on coaches. Basically his entire track record is employing new coaches to fill the position. He didn’t hire Bruce B, just fired him. I think Guarin is cheap when it comes to coaches, I haven’t seen any evidence of anything different.

That’s because he has to be able to control them and retain personnel decisions.

[SkolWild73]

On 6/6/2025 at 9:10 AM, bisopher said:

Agreed. The entire philosophy of the Iowa Wild organization needs an update, possibly a full overhaul.  The statement "We want to develop players, we're not focused on winning" rings hollow when the Chicago Wolves (Carolina) and the Hershey Bears (Washington, twice) have won the last three Calder Cups, and Charlotte (Florida) is already in this year's final, with Texas (Dallas) and Abbotsford (Vancouver) alive in the West.

It seems that strong organizations build a strong foundation in the AHL, including building a winning mentality. Meanwhile, the Wild promote their highest-quality prospects quickly (Boldy/Ek/Rossi/Faber/etc.), and everyone else (Walker/Beckman/Lambos[?]/Spacek[?]/???) "doesn't pan out". 

Question for the commentariat:  Who is the last Wild player that truly developed their game in Iowa, which I'll (arbitrarily) define as spending at least two years in Iowa before moving to MN and becoming a quality contributor?  The only ones I can think of would be the Deweys, and they're both gone. 

I always wonder about this.  If you look at most of our top prospects, and our top players we drafted, none of them needed two years in Iowa.  I don’t pay attention to other teams prospects to know, but aren’t most of the top skating prospects from most teams up in the N before two full years.  If you draft college players, teams usually use that as their development.  Russian players are the same thing, they stay in the KHL until they are ready.  Also, isn’t their an age restriction for players drafted from the CHL that they have to be 20 before entering the A.  It seams the only players that play 2 years in the A are players that are going to be bottom six or 3rd pairing D.  Maybe I am wrong.

Edited June 8 by SkolWild73

[NoJoSux]

On 6/6/2025 at 10:10 AM, bisopher said:

Question for the commentariat:  Who is the last Wild player that truly developed their game in Iowa, which I'll (arbitrarily) define as spending at least two years in Iowa before moving to MN and becoming a quality contributor?  The only ones I can think of would be the Deweys, and they're both gone. 

Maybe Big Kahk, maybe. Since he kinda fizzled out after leaving here. 

Mitchell Chaffee was here for a short time, never getting a chance only to get an NHL role in Tampa after leaving. 

Deweys are the ones you mentioned who certainly count but Dewar is still a halfway guy compared to Duhaime who has sandpaper & glue game. 

That's the recent stuff but previously IA had guys like Belpedio or "One of us" guys who never made the transition. 

It's a crummy record going back quite awhile. Rossi is the best one who spent a year there, and perhaps Ogie so maybe it's better now. Not really impressive and Spacek's old man is critical while Lambos returns again to Des Moines. Haight & Heidt should be there this season. I wonder what others will be there? Gunnarwolfe Fontaine and Vaj between the pipes. 

DeBoer is available. 

[Pewterschmidt]

Prediction: DeBoer has too much ego for bill.  bill likes “yes” men

[mnfaninnc]

On 6/7/2025 at 11:03 AM, Mateo3xm said:

It would be nice if we had a surplus of prospects just waiting to be brought up.

This sounds like a call to Iowa. Instead of spreading our prospects out, like Sweden, Russia, College, it sounds like you are suggesting everything funnels through Iowa. There are benefits to this and some liabilities. The best benefit is that everyone receives the same great coaching. Obviously, you need to invest in a great A coach, then. 

The liabilities are when you draft a Euro player, they may not yet be ready to leave home. 20 is a very young age to head over full time. A salaries aren't great but aren't minimum wage either especially with many meals paid. Rooming with 3 of your teammates can also be a great time of comradery. Des Moines can't be that high of a cost of living city, can it?

Some kids just mature differently. Remember how long it took to get Granlund and Kaprizov here? Some of it wasn't just the contract, but it was that they liked their home and wanted to stay.

If I were a prospect, I'd also take a look at Iowa and think "I don't want to be losing and finishing last in my division." Yes, you can be a difference maker, but it is not an enticing thing. Most of these kids will need to get to a map to find out exactly where Iowa is, anyway.

 

[mnfaninnc]

On DeBoer, he may want some time off and he's got a year on his contract still. I think Dallas has to be asked about his availability, and his salary will likely need to be a raise. 

I still maintain that Heinzy is a good hockey man, and I'd promote him to AGM and bring DeBoer in to coach in this scenario. 

[Enforceror]

I'll admit, I don't have much info on potential coaches, who's available, and who's good. Anyone have any candidates?

Locked on Wild podcast had some suggestions.