On today’s episode of Locked on Wild, we take a look back at realistic expectations heading into this season to see if things have changed after a 5-8-2 start. The reality of the situation is that the Wild weren’t going to be Stanley Cup contenders this season, due to the limitations they faced coming in because of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter’s contracts. We look at the lack of impact play from Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy hampering what Dean Evason can do with the lineup, and continued poor goaltending leading to breakdowns on a nightly basis. We don’t entirely defend Dean, who is far from blameless, but we look at the limited options available to change the roster. We also discuss why firing Dean Evason is likely a decision that will have to come from Craig Liepold, unless the season goes completely off the rails. We discuss the “Work hard and have fun” mantra that has been laughed off for years but something that the Wild have sorely missed this season. We also discuss why a turnaround can’t be expected, it has to be demanded from this coaching staff.
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20 Comments
We all knew this would be the toughest couple years. I was hoping to make the playoffs but wasn't counting on it. I was surprised by the Zuc/Hartman/Foligno extensions. I thought they would be great trade bait at the deadline if we're out. BG went the opposite way and Liepold seems to be okay with it? I believe they think it's the best way to make the playoffs. We'll see?
The money in two years won't matter if BG keeps giving ridiculous extensions to old players. The Wild will need to bring in at least two stars, real difference-makers and that will cost big money. He needs to stop overpaying for players nobody else will want anyway.
As you and Travis have pointed out
Billy won't fire Dean , my thoughts on this point, when the fans stop going to the games, which is gonna happen you will see changes, I believe they need to
Clean house, Billy has set this team back 5 years with the signing of foligno Hartman Zuggs, what's more kids no longer look at the Wild as a destination
Because Dean won't play the kids
So the sooner Billy and Dean along with the rest of the crew are dismissed
The Wild will be one of the worst teams
In the NHL, they don't win Stanley cups
Today like they did , ten years ago
And clearly the team has stopped playing for Dean, as I said at the beginning of the season , Dean will be out at all-star break, I haven't changed my view on this at all
Billy has no choice. This guy favors geritol players. He'll use the cap restraint as an excuse to keep these old and very slow players. This team will go nowhere with Billy at the helm. It's time to move on from this team and organization. The vikes and wolves will pick up the slack…teams that actually care and coaching and management that actually display direction. Don't care what the wild apologist say, signing those 4 players to long term deals screwed this franchise so good luck to them and their adherence to slow, gritty, and very ugly hockey. In other words it's pj fleck on ice.
Time to stop all this blocking the prospect talk. A quick look at the Iowa roster and you will see that it’s devoid of top forward prospects. The best prospects are still several years away and aren’t even in Iowa yet. The prospect pool ratings are based on quantity of prospects- not the presence of super high end prospects. That said, the best forward prospects aren’t here yet and are several years away. The top defense prospects are not high draft picks and are likely 3rd pair players. Yes there are a number of them but no top 15 picks. The recent signings confirm that the prospects won’t be ready to make huge contributions for several years. I’m not including Rossi and Faber because they are already here.
I was expecting the team to look similar to last season. most of the team was the same. a few pieces were moved such as Dumba. I was at least expecting some fight
I think part of the issue is that they look complacent, Get a win or 2 and then drop 5 straight losses at 7-2, 8-3. Personally I was hoping for a younger squad, Tighten up the roster with AHL Prospects and just get guys into the mix to see what we have upcoming. instead we get the same guys and an even worse start
For Goaltending, I think Gus much like Kap is possibly overthinking everything. we all were looking at Gus to be The guy when we may have been jumping the gun. All that pressure was probably mounting even harder after the First Night Shutout.
I think we all need to take a step back and look at things overall. Personally the early season resigns from Guerin is a mistake that could have been avoided. Maybe those guys play better having their next season potentially on the line. The Calen Addison trade, idk for what reason that was made other than perhaps previous issues mentioned.
I guess we just need to wait and hope that a few bottomfeeder teams come our way and the boys get the W like they should.
Seth, that was a beautiful soliloquy. I will bypass myself on my own usual rant this once. I've said my piece many times but yet again you hit the nail on the head.
Many many things to agree on and insert my own opinions, but it is what it is. We very well can turn things around and I'm not completely lost on them doing so. But it will be a battle!
The one thing I will mini rant on though… HOW DARE YOU BLAME YOURSELF!!!! I NEVER EVER WANT THAT AGAIN!!!
We are fans (root: fanatics, Wildly supportive no matter the situation) not roll over and die type of people. You are THE show for the fans. I wont disparage other shows but I have a couple in mind.
Keep up your great work. I would love to leave more commentary in response, but you speak, the true fans minds as per usual. Love ya dawg.
Im not an NHL coach/GM so what i say matrers very little but us paying the money to support clubs deserve accountability. (Im not saying bench Kirill or anything of the sort but you can understand what im getting at and the team is better than what they've showed. Now prove it.)
I was gonna edit my original comment but this deserves its own. Holy smokes this is EP 1,000???? I havent even been here for almost a third of them (i didnt know what I was missing out on a couple years ago) congrats bro!!! Im sorry this was a less than stellar episode to have but as I stand here on the dock, looking at the stars shimmer in the water, I appreciate you so much for the company you have given me!!! I fondly remember during the Perseids how I commented that I was listening to you during the meteor shower and you replied back that it is an "upper echelon" way to listen to Locked On Wild. You are absolutely top notch my friend. Thank you for your dedication and another 1,000 to come!
The Wild were 5-5-2 with Calen Addison, 0-3 without him! TheWild claim to have the best locker room, in the entire NHL, and that players wanted to be here. Playing and losing things begin to unravel quickly, and finger pointing starts, and there goes the tight locker room. Currently I haven’t paid for Tv coverage, and have saved myself hundred of dollars, listening to the excellent radio coverage instead.
It's really gonna hurt my heart to possibly not see the Wild in the playoffs for the first time since I've been a fan. That's a whole realm of existence I've never been to before.
Spurgon is still hurt? He didn't look himself..
I've posted this on another video, but what fans need to realize is this is Guerin's roster. These are his picks, his guys, his extensions. What good what it do for DEAN to start calling out and benching Guerin's guys? The answer is none. About 5% coaching that are coaching for a Stanley Cup and the other 95% are coaching for self preservation. Calling out guys, benching players, removing their "A" or "C" would be admitting mistakes were made in coaching and mistakes were made in personnel and staff, etc. It isnt going to happen right now. Anither 5 to 10 losses and we'll see. And I am not a Deano guy he can go bye bye right now.
Also, there are no players in Iowa that are worth a shit other than Wallstedt, the real prospects are not in Iowa yet.
Cheers!
Let’s not panic just yet. They played a solid game against the rangers, a bad pinch by the rookie and a couple of bad bounces and as always missed nets. They dominated Buffalo and missed the net 15-16 times and hit the post late. The clunker was Dallas and every team will have 3 – 4 of these games per season. I saw colorado lost to Vegas earlier this year, 7-0, should the Avalanche blow up the roster?
Just saying time will tell, I am extremely concerned however with the effort and lack of energy early in games as well as the play of the big boys. Let’s see if Sweden helps, maybe a little trip away will be what the doctor orders. Still early and a 4-5 game win streak changes everything…
Just need to name the new straw man to be whipping boy now that Addison isn't here to blame and sit back while the Wild become endorsed by Metamucil, Ben Gay and Depends!
Every time Dean gets a couple guys that work together, like Rossi with Kirill and Matts, he goes back to putting bottom 6 Hartman back up there. Suggesting anything to these, as Travis put it – Preservationists is futile!
Is it possible at all to break the 4 No Move Contracts? Is Foligno guaranteed 2 or 4 NMT ? Players need to be moved and accept the fact this season is lost.
Moose-Hartman-Zucc is a decent enough 4th line in 2 years 😂 Billy should have waited on those extensions though, impatience can turn around and burn you. But I do understand why he just got it done quickly too. It's lookinng like a big L now though.
But again..this year and next year dont matter. At this point, Id rather they intentionally tank for an NHL ready kid next year, if we're lucky…and then just push back the contender deadline to 2026-27. That's about all you can do, unless you start trading Zucc, Moose, other older guys and call up the kids, like what should have happened in the first place.
I believe management made a decision to move their best SC window back a few years. 28-29. That’s the only way I can make sense of all the extensions. That will give their younger skilled faster prospects time to fill out top 6 positions. It’s also when their younger D prospects should be hitting their stride. I think Wild’s management and scouting department already has a board stashed somewhere with a lot of that year’s roster pencilled in. It looks like they’re trying to build as much as possible in house as supposed to signing FAs in 25-26.
Per Russo, Dean has Kirill with Zucc and Rossi. Hartman, who is on pace fot 38 goals, was demoted to 3rd line I believe. We'll see how long that #1 line lasts. IMO, Boldy has looked god awful and has no busines, right now, on line #1.
You rarely see a coaching change when brought on by the current GM. That requires admitting he was wrong.. Aways see coaches go after GM change… Will be interesting seeing this play out the next couple years..
So where are you??? It's ten o'clock