Article: Vladimir Tarasenko Could Be the Wild's Patrick Laine Mulligan

[Chris Schad]

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[NoJoSux]

It's a great fit for a 2nd/3rd line wing upgrade over NoJo. 

If you go top heavy with Ek between Kaprizov and Boldy, the 2nd line could have Tarasenko. If Rossi plays with Boldy and Kaprizov, the 2nd line would be pretty sweet with Ek, Ogie and Tarasenko. Then, Hartzy and Sturm center the 3rd/4th lines and you got Zuccy, Foligno, Vinnie, Trenin, Yurov, and a few other good players available to keep NoJo out of the lineup. I like the improved depth and potential to shuffle those players. Your middle six guys can go up and down and hopefully that helps the Wild get better matchups and depth scoring. 

Looking at those names, considering Pitlick and Leason are extras with NoJo, it's no wonder the Wild moved on from Knudi and let Brazeau bail. They've upgraded with Sturm and Tarasenko. If Yurov or Yakov have the kind of year we'd like to see, the Wild's balance will be really nice. 

I wanna see the special teams and faceoffs improve to add some goals and keep some off the board. I could see Spurge, Middstrom, Faber, and Buium adding some offense from the back end too. If Jiricek and Bogo are a 3rd pair, even they could chip in a few here and there. 

I think the off season seemed slow and unimpressive to some, but it looks okay with good promise now. 

[NoJoSux]

P.S. The Patrick Laine mulligan is an oxymoron. More like a dodged-bullet if you asked me. 

[Mateo3xm]

1 hour ago, NoJoSux said:

P.S. The Patrick Laine mulligan is an oxymoron. More like a dodged-bullet if you asked me. 

This season will be the true test on whether or not we dodged a bullet. He looks happy, healthy and determined this year after battling injuries and going though the players assistance program.