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  • Wilderness Walk: Matt Boldy Is Back

    Image courtesy of © Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports
    Thomas Williams

    By Thomas Williams -

    That's Wild

    • This is the good news we have been waiting for. The Minnesota Wild have not looked like themselves and while you can't attribute that to just one single player, missing star forward Matt Boldy (and Jared Spurgeon) has really not helped. Boldy has missed the last seven games due to an injury but is now returning on Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils. The team is really trying to stay positive and turn the season around with this comeback. [StarTribune]
    • The Wild's special teams have contributed a whole lot to their losses on the most recent road trip. Things did not look great. [Hockey Wilderness]
    • Three stats that summarize the Wild's season so far. [The Hockey News]

    Off the trail...

    • There has been a shakeup in Ottawa. The Senators were dinged a first-round pick for their role in the weird disallowed Evgenii Dadonov trade from 18 months ago between Vegas and Anaheim. They simply did not disclose that the player had a 10-team no-trade clause and that prevented the move from happening. With that fiasco happening, the Senators fired general manager Pierre Dorion. Big moves. [ESPN]
    • Nicklas Backstrom is taking a leave of absence to deal with hip injury but no one truly knows how long he will be gone for. [NBC Sports]
    • John Klingberg signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the team's confidence in the player is already eroding. He has not looked good. [Yahoo Sports]
    By Thomas Williams  

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    M_Nels

    Hopefully the chemistry with Ek & Mojo can pick up in stride. Intrigued with the Maroon-Rossi-Foglino line, think that's going to be a sleeper line. Maroon has been fantastic this season. He's got the skill to finish and can dish the puck well too. Might see a big game from that line.

    IF the 1st line struggles mightily again I think it's time for the blender. Swap Mojo & Zucc, give KK97 some speed going north-south and maybe then FINALLY he can get some goals off the rush. Need special teams to come up large in this game, especially PK with how good NJ is on the PP. Been a long stretch between games. LGW! 

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    mnfaninnc
    1 hour ago, M_Nels said:

    Need special teams to come up large in this game, especially PK with how good NJ is on the PP. Been a long stretch between games. LGW! 

    One would assume with the long stretch in between games that there was a lot of practice time. Is that a correct assumption?

    I would think that the PP v PK would be tired of each other by now.  

    I'd also think some of the practices should have been pretty hard. 

    I'm trying to keep up, but with Khiara and Hunt heading back down to Des Moines, did Letteiri already get sent down? Do we have a status on Gaudreau?

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    Pewterschmidt
    1 hour ago, M_Nels said:

    Maroon-Rossi-Foglino line

    Where are you finding the new line combos?  Rossi paired with the goon squad could work but given the cinder blocks in maroon’s skates and foligno’s inability to execute basic offensive hockey plays I’m taking a wait and see approach

    NJD might be the worst opponent for a team like our Wild who’s trying to get its groove back (because NJD is a god damned wagon), but NJD is very fun to watch

    Edited by Pewterschmidt
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    MrCheatachu
    1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

    I'm trying to keep up, but with Khiara and Hunt heading back down to Des Moines, did Letteiri already get sent down? Do we have a status on Gaudreau?

    Huntsy's got called back up: https://www.capfriendly.com/transactions/players/daemon-hunt

    Mermis, Huntsy an Lettieri are up.

    Russo just tweeted Gus was first off the ice, so sounds like we'll be seeing him tonight.

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    Pewterschmidt
    4 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

    Mermis, Huntsy an Lettieri are up.

    Mermzy has won me over.  Don't mind his game at all right now.  Better than Merrill

    Lettierzy is dead man walkin' unless he shows some flashes tonight.  But that's not fair Pewter, only x # of games....yah, tell that to Walker.

    Edited by Pewterschmidt
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    M_Nels
    1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    Where are you finding the new line combos?  Rossi paired with the goon squad could work but given the cinder blocks in maroon’s skates and foligno’s inability to execute basic offensive hockey plays I’m taking a wait and see approach

    NJD might be the worst opponent for a team like our Wild who’s trying to get its groove back (because NJD is a god damned wagon), but NJD is very fun to watch

    Russo or Smith (can't remember) Tweeted out line combos in practice yesterday, I'm just assuming they're going to stick.

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    Up North Guy
    3 hours ago, M_Nels said:

    Hopefully the chemistry with Ek & Mojo can pick up in stride. Intrigued with the Maroon-Rossi-Foglino line, think that's going to be a sleeper line. Maroon has been fantastic this season. He's got the skill to finish and can dish the puck well too. Might see a big game from that line.

    IF the 1st line struggles mightily again I think it's time for the blender. Swap Mojo & Zucc, give KK97 some speed going north-south and maybe then FINALLY he can get some goals off the rush. Need special teams to come up large in this game, especially PK with how good NJ is on the PP. Been a long stretch between games. LGW! 

    Intrigued by the Maroon-Rossi-Foligno line? I truly cannot see what they are trying to do here. Rossi is a sports car teamed up with Mack trucks. I do not see this setting this kid up for success. Is DE setting up a scenario where he can recreate the GREEF line when this line fails? Is that his go to plan of choice? Is he bereft of ideas without Freddy in the lineup? I am rapidly losing all and any confidence in DE's ability to coach.

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    mnfaninnc
    33 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    Lettierzy is dead man walkin' unless he shows some flashes tonight.  But that's not fair Pewter, only x # of games....yah, tell that to Walker.

    based on Lettierzy's last performance, it should be Beckman time.

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    mnfaninnc
    28 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

    Russo or Smith (can't remember) Tweeted out line combos in practice yesterday, I'm just assuming they're going to stick.

    Nice, they really do practice!

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    M_Nels
    4 minutes ago, Up North Guy said:

    Intrigued by the Maroon-Rossi-Foligno line? I truly cannot see what they are trying to do here. Rossi is a sports car teamed up with Mack trucks. I do not see this setting this kid up for success. Is DE setting up a scenario where he can recreate the GREEF line when this line fails? Is that his go to plan of choice? Is he bereft of ideas without Freddy in the lineup? I am rapidly losing all and any confidence in DE's ability to coach.

    Yeah I mean ultimately I would like to see him paired up with more skilled wingers as the 1C. I’m not wanting this to be the end all be all solution for the rest of the season. Just intrigued by it for this game. I agree this isn’t an ideal, long-term solution for Rossi’s skills/development. 
     

    IMO a line of Boldy-Rossi-KK97 would be awesome. Or even Mojo-Rossi-KK97 but they might get pushed around a bit more than what Boldy would. 

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    mnfaninnc
    3 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

    Yeah I mean ultimately I would like to see him paired up with more skilled wingers as the 1C. I’m not wanting this to be the end all be all solution for the rest of the season. Just intrigued by it for this game. I agree this isn’t an ideal, long-term solution for Rossi’s skills/development. 
     

    IMO a line of Boldy-Rossi-KK97 would be awesome. Or even Mojo-Rossi-KK97 but they might get pushed around a bit more than what Boldy would. 

    It would be nice to tinker with this stuff, especially in training camp, but as seen above, confidence in the Evason way is waning around here. But, there aren't many choices available except Gallant right now. With his track record with previous teams, can we really afford a 3-4 year contract on Gallant?

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    M_Nels
    1 minute ago, mnfaninnc said:

    It would be nice to tinker with this stuff, especially in training camp, but as seen above, confidence in the Evason way is waning around here. But, there aren't many choices available except Gallant right now. With his track record with previous teams, can we really afford a 3-4 year contract on Gallant?

    I really think GMBG for better or worse, worse mainly, will let Dean finish out this season and see who becomes available after the season. With the buyouts on the books and what we've seen on the ice so far he's gotta know (besides what he says publicly) that this team isn't going to content for a cup this season.

    I'm all for the blender if the 1st line doesn't get going tonight.

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    M_Nels
    20 minutes ago, Up North Guy said:

    Intrigued by the Maroon-Rossi-Foligno line? I truly cannot see what they are trying to do here. Rossi is a sports car teamed up with Mack trucks. I do not see this setting this kid up for success. Is DE setting up a scenario where he can recreate the GREEF line when this line fails? Is that his go to plan of choice? Is he bereft of ideas without Freddy in the lineup? I am rapidly losing all and any confidence in DE's ability to coach.

    Sorry, wouldn't let me edit my 1st reply back to you for some reason but I wanted to add on some stuff I thought about after I hit the button.

    Once Freddy comes back I don't think he automatically plugs back into his 3rd line spot (at least I'm hoping not). If Rossi is promoted to 1C (really hoping he will be) a checking line with Maroon-Hartman-Foglino would be about the closest thing to GREEF and I think could be a good line for us. IMO the best lineup when Freddy comes back unless something miraculous happens between now and then would be:

    Boldy-Rossi-KK97

    Mojo-Ek-Zucc

    Maroon-Hartman-Foglino

    Duhaime-Dewar-Freddy

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    mnfaninnc
    2 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

    I really think GMBG for better or worse, worse mainly, will let Dean finish out this season and see who becomes available after the season. With the buyouts on the books and what we've seen on the ice so far he's gotta know (besides what he says publicly) that this team isn't going to content for a cup this season.

    For this, I think it could depend on who Guerin looks at as one of his coaches. I say Gallant might not be the right fit, but is Sullivan? I don't see Sacco being available until the offseason. 

    But, who are the coaches that Guerin keeps an eye on? For me, I would think it would be a fierce rival he wished he'd played with, or a former teammate he was close with. I really just don't know that much about his playing career other than it was very successful. He built a lot of relationships, and having guys like Modano and Kurvers in the organization shows that. Now he's got Koivu, and possibly next season Goligoski. Any thoughts from people a little closer to the scene who might have some insight on the people he values?

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    Pewterschmidt
    11 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

    GMBG for better or worse, worse mainly, will let Dean finish out this season

    I'll bet BG gives Dean a 5 year extension next week...*sad* HEYOOOHHHHH

    Edited by Pewterschmidt
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    Pewterschmidt
    3 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

    Maroon-Hartman-Foglino would be about the closest thing to GREEF

    Like this alot.  Hartman and Maroon could create some offense, while Foligno flys around clearing space.  

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    M_Nels
    2 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    Like this alot.  Hartman and Maroon could create some offense, while Foligno flys around clearing space.  

    Makes perfect sense to me, I really think it would be a hell of a line. But it makes too much sense so Dean won’t try it. 

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    TheGoosesAreLooses
    1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    Mermzy has won me over.  Don't mind his game at all right now.  Better than Merrill

    Lettierzy is dead man walkin' unless he shows some flashes tonight.  But that's not fair Pewter, only x # of games....yah, tell that to Walker.

    100% Mermzy has earned the right to be here

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    Up North Guy
    1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

    It would be nice to tinker with this stuff, especially in training camp, but as seen above, confidence in the Evason way is waning around here. But, there aren't many choices available except Gallant right now. With his track record with previous teams, can we really afford a 3-4 year contract on Gallant?

    According to NHL Trade Rumors Sullivan's seat is getting very warm. The Pens are really underperforming, although I think they may be performing in line with their talent.

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    Willy the poor boy
    11 minutes ago, Up North Guy said:

    According to NHL Trade Rumors Sullivan's seat is getting very warm. The Pens are really underperforming, although I think they may be performing in line with their talent.

    So Sullivan can perform as long as he's got top tier talent. I guess Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, Karlsson and Letang aren't enough talent. I wonder what he could do here with all the high end talent the Wild have.

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