Wild Prospect Charlie Stramel Off to Hot Start at Michigan State

Good for him.  Hope he takes Hartman's spot someday once Yurov settles in and goes higher in the lineup.

Good to hear about Stramel, hopefully he develops into a good 3rd line center for us. It'll be interesting to see if at the end of this year, he can fill in right away.

But, now we have to talk about the weekend. This was about as bad as it could get. Blowout loss to the Mammoth, and can't hold the Sharks down for less than 6. 

To me, though, this is not the real problem. The Jiricek-Buium pair just wasn't working. They do not enhance each other, they are both scary defenders, even with shielded 3rd pairing minutes. 

Those who got shafted in minutes were Yurov, Jiricek. The Wall is getting strictly backup assignments, and, really, it seemed like goal 6 was on him. I'm not saying that these rookies are deserving of the extra minutes right now, I am saying that they have to be given to get them experience which will help us in the long run. 

There were plenty of problems with every other line this weekend, nobody really showed up. Is there an expiration date on HCJH? Or, is this just the slow start I was expecting? I certainly hope the video coaches are having a lack of sleep due to what they need to piece together. 

I am concerned over the slow starts to games we have. This needs to be corrected. I'm also concerned that they are switching Buium to PP2. Interestingly, that's the unit that has scored the last 2 PP goals. He should be on the 1st unit, but they need to be skating and switching positions, not standing around guarding their little bit of ice. They were best when they were skating all over the place and that started with Buium. 

I don't know what it will take to start fast. This team has been a slow starter since Koivu except for maybe one year. This has got to be reversed.

6 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

But, now we have to talk about the weekend. This was about as bad as it could get. Blowout loss to the Mammoth, and can't hold the Sharks down for less than 6. 

To me, though, this is not the real problem. The Jiricek-Buium pair just wasn't working. They do not enhance each other, they are both scary defenders, even with shielded 3rd pairing minutes. 

Those who got shafted in minutes were Yurov, Jiricek. The Wall is getting strictly backup assignments, and, really, it seemed like goal 6 was on him. I'm not saying that these rookies are deserving of the extra minutes right now, I am saying that they have to be given to get them experience which will help us in the long run. 

There were plenty of problems with every other line this weekend, nobody really showed up. Is there an expiration date on HCJH? Or, is this just the slow start I was expecting? I certainly hope the video coaches are having a lack of sleep due to what they need to piece together. 

I am concerned over the slow starts to games we have. This needs to be corrected. I'm also concerned that they are switching Buium to PP2. Interestingly, that's the unit that has scored the last 2 PP goals. He should be on the 1st unit, but they need to be skating and switching positions, not standing around guarding their little bit of ice. They were best when they were skating all over the place and that started with Buium. 

I don't know what it will take to start fast. This team has been a slow starter since Koivu except for maybe one year. This has got to be reversed.

Some of the glaring problems are things the coach has some responsibility for. What's going on there? You gotta get the team to start on time. What's the message? Are they just feeling bad for themselves? They shouldn't be losers but they're not getting it up and down the lineup and they're not getting a ton from Kirill while the defense stinks. So overall, it's looking exactly like we should expect right now. 

7 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Good for him.  Hope he takes Hartman's spot someday once Yurov settles in and goes higher in the lineup.

Considering how abused/injured he gets, I'm assuming it's likely Ekky's spot will be available sooner than later too...

Quote

"Stramel isn’t expected to be a major point producer in the NHL. He’s likely not going to be a No. 1 center. But there’s a lot of value in a middle-six center who can play a power forward’s game, be part of both special teams and win faceoffs. And that’s what Stramel can do."

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5981663/2024/12/12/wild-charlie-stramel-transfer-resurgence?source=user-shared-article

6 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

Good to hear about Stramel, hopefully he develops into a good 3rd line center for us. It'll be interesting to see if at the end of this year, he can fill in right away.

I had been thinking the Wild should be big sellers, play young guys after the deadline. Go for McKenna, but the lottery and Brackett's record makes that another big gamble IMO. At least you could get a better picture of how the young players would be and the team dynamic could get shaken up. Hanging onto the old core forever is not a solution. 

4 hours ago, NoJoSux said:

I had been thinking the Wild should be big sellers, play young guys after the deadline. Go for McKenna, but the lottery and Brackett's record makes that another big gamble IMO. At least you could get a better picture of how the young players would be and the team dynamic could get shaken up. Hanging onto the old core forever is not a solution. 

The thing with Brackett's is that the wild always draft in the bottom half of the draft.  When they draft in the top half of the draft they usually hit on the players.  Rossi, Boldy, Buium all in the top half of the draft.  Wallstedt, Yurov, Lambos, Strammel, Ohgren were all in the bottom half of the draft.  Not that they were all bad picks it's just the further down you get the more of a guess you have to make on the players.  

Make is simple and go for the best pick available.  This team is not going to do anything in the playoffs. Sure they could go on a heater and win a series or two but they are not going to win it all.  Why invest draft capital and player development for a playoff check?

Keep Hynes.  Play rookies. Draft in the Top 5.  Pick a Center there are two that are really good in the top 5.  Fire Hynes.  Higher Deboer. 

23 hours ago, NoJoSux said:

You gotta get the team to start on time.

We've had this problem since the end of Yeo. Maybe it's a coaching problem, or maybe it's a player problem. The evidence suggests the latter.

23 hours ago, NoJoSux said:

I had been thinking the Wild should be big sellers, play young guys after the deadline.

For me, I think they should both be big sellers and buyers. They should try to find a couple of free agents to be that they want, really want. For me, Tuch would fill this role. And then, extend them. But, I do think big sellers of the vets is probably the best way to handle it. Finish up the season with a heavy rookie team and see how they do.

Trade for 1sts in this year's draft, or players from the '20-22 draft years that look promising. I'm sure there are some guys Brackett really wanted but were out of reach for us. Danielson isn't in this window, but he comes to mind in Detroit where Spurgeon would be a perfect fit.

Keep the guys in their 20s, and except for Brodin, let go of the 30 somethings.