Rumor Mongering is Best Left to the Weak Minded

As with anything rumor related, the revelation that 19 scouts were in Minnesota last night has grown into a multi-headed beast and spread its ugly filth to the otherwise rational world. Can the speculation be stopped without a snarky, sarcastic toned post? Probably, but where's the fun in that?

Wait... did you say 19? That's was Steve Y's number in Detroit, and he's the GM for the Lightning now. Clearly, something is going on between the Wild and Lightning.

Before we make the jump and dive into this, please check a few things as background. First, the link originally given to you in The Walk to Charley Walters' article. Second, this piece from the king rumor idiot's mouthpiece here in Minnesota. After visiting that second link, you may want to go take a shower. Lastly, grab your calender and check the date.

What is all the gum flapping and keyboard banging about? There were 19 scouts here in Minnesota last night. This is such a momentous occasion that it didn't even mention a note from your humble Hockey Wilderness writer. I saw the seating chart, I saw the names, and I saw the teams involved. Yawn. Big deal.

But wait! Better minds than mine will tell you this is a huge deal.

Walter's wrote this:

I can only speculate that he confirmed this is a record for the X, so I will accept that is true. What is dangeorus is that he makes the leap from scouts being in town to a "major trade could be forthcoming." As I wrote in the Walk, this one line brings up so many questions it hurts my head.

1. What constitutes a "major trade?" Walters does one of the most dangerous things a journalist can do. He dabbles in the dark arts of gossip. There is no justification given, no names mentioned, no reason to believe a trade is in the works, except that a few stuffed suits were in the press box.

2. Why not name the teams present? Walters' article is not one keen on presenting more than the juicy tidbit, that's why. I would have given them to you, but as I mentioned above, I didn't think it worthy to note. I didn't write them down. It's still not important to me. If it was so important to Walters, why are they not mentioned?

3. The Coyotes are very active in the trade market. Could the scouts not have been there to scout them?

4. How does a guy who attends three games a year know what is important to note and what isn't?

Le sigh. Let's move on before I use up all of my snark on Walters, who we've already addressed twice. Let's look at the second link, from Eklund's rumor mongering mouthpiece in Minnesota, Brad Ratgen.

Ignore the fact that "a brewing" is just wrong on so many levels, and you get the fact that the team scouts have been called to Saint Paul for meetings. I didn't ask anyone to confirm this, but I counted exactly two there last night. They sit right next to me. There were two of them there last night. Unless there were more hanging out by the popcorn machine that I am unaware of...

If it wasn't clear if the meetings were regularly schedule meetings or not, why not ask? Because if the answer is yes, it ruins the story, right?

Now, Ratgen gives you a list of the teams. Let's look at them, shall we?

This was an unusual number of scouts. It was not a "highly" unusual number of scouts. There are always scouts in Minnesota. Many of them live here. They scout the WCHA, the MN High School leagues, Shattuck, and any number of other hockey hot beds within reach of Minnesota.

Are they all at every game? Absolutely not, but having a number of scouts at the X is not unusual. The front row of the press box was packed with them on opening night. No mention of it then. Why not? Wasn't the proper time to start a rumor, that's why.

There are groupings in that list - Four teams from the Southeast and three from the Pacific. Maybe they were there to talk to each other. They don't necessarily need to be there to scout either of the teams involved. That could just be a bonus, or a cover (since we are working in the realm of conspiracy).

What Else Oh Wise Trade Sage?

You can't help but wonder? Why not just ask him? Seems easier to me than wondering aloud. That wouldn't sell rumor subscriptions, though, would it?

How exactly would it ease salary cap concerns? Any trade at this point would almost certainly involve salary coming back. As for the falling in the standings, it just doesn't strike me as Fletcher's style. As much as it makes sense, it just doesn't fit the profile.

So, Your Holiness the Grand Puba of Prognostication, who are these magical players to be traded?

The UFA class are targets at the deadline, not right now. Unless a team desperately wants one of them and thinks they won't be around in March, it makes no sense to add a contract to the roster right now.

Havlat? Are you kidding me with this? Havlat? You realize he has a NTC, right? His agent made an ass of himself in the paper earlier in the season, and his player had to step up a deliver because of it. Maybe Walsh was intending on motivating his client, rather than the team.

"However, given the salary cap, teams are handcuffed at taking on an extra five million dollars and money would have to come back meaning players from other teams." What? But... just a paragraph above you say this is an outlet for the Wild to offload cap space... Now you're just confusing your own argument.

Anything else Master Jedi?

This may be the smartest thing you wrote in the whole piece. As for the dynamics, you didn't report anything about what is going on behind the scenes. All you did was note there were some scouts in the building. That's your idea of an interesting dynamic?

I would hate to attend a party at your place.

Why did I need my Calendar?

Check the date. It is December 2nd. This is not usually a time for "major" trades. The cap hits are almost full for everyone, with almost no pro-rating. Trades would need to included salary in both directions. Most teams are unsure of their playoff scenarios, so they are unwilling to add salary and part with picks until that becomes more clear.

That said, the pre-Christmas roster freeze led to a sort of mini-deadline last year. If that happens again, maybe this scouting adventure would add information to that time frame. However, a lot can change between now and Christmas. You were here to scout Bruno on December 1st? Oh, well he's hurt now. "Jose Theodore you say? How about a first round pick since he is now, with Backstrom playing as back-up.

See? Anything can happen. The Wild could win ten in a row and become buyers, not sellers. The point is, it is way to early in the calendar for major trades.

What Now?

Look folks, would it be nice to be able to tell you that the Wild are close to making a big trade? Sure it would. Go back to the piece about wanting hope from SBNation Minneosta. A trade would bring hope. Something new, something exciting, something, anything to watch other than this team mired in mediocrity.

A trade could be happening right now for all I know, or for all anyone knows except Chuck Fletcher. This isn't something GMs discuss while it is happening. It just isn't. Scouts being in town could very well be a sign of things to come, or it could just as easily be nothing at all. One sells rumor subscriptions, one doesn't. If we wanted to start a rumors section and make you pay for it, we could.

Or, we can do what we have been doing, and we can tell you the truth, and help you dissect the rumor mongering and idiocy that other members of the media are trying to sell you. When something happens, you'll know it. You have the best beat writer in the business working the beat for you everyday in Russo. Has he let you down yet?

And you have us here to give you a place to discuss it and as a place to give you compass when other try to drag you off the trail. If you wish to partake in the dark arts, feel free. We'll be here when you need your intervention special.