> Embrace the tank? That’s a popular phrase by the Wild fan base — who want a prized pick like Macklin Celebrini atop the draft. The thing is, the Wild aren’t actively trying to tank — but they’re doing it anyway. This was a pivotal part of their schedule and they’ve lost eight of their last nine, putting them in a perilous hole from a playoff perspective. Any ground Minnesota made up during their 11-3 run to start the John Hynes era has evaporated. The Wild don’t have the cap space to bench any regular veterans and call up kids, nor do they have the moveable trade chips they could use at the deadline (aside from pending UFAs like Maroon and Zach Bogosian, or Brandon Duhaime). President and GM Bill Guerin bet on his core and, at this point, likely has no choice but to stick with them through this.
by DecentLurker96
9 Comments
I know it’s hard for a fan base and nearly impossible for ownership, but the best thing that could happen to this franchise is last place this year and next. Get 2-4 bona fide studs in the draft to play with Kaprisov, Boldy, Rossi, and Faber for a decade, and when the Suter/Parise albatross finally falls off our necks in 2025 we’d be in a real position to make a dynasty.
I see us burning some mid round draft picks to move goose and I have a feeling they will dangle Middleton to some old school gms that want that grit in there top 4 d
Anyone else just numb to it all?
I’m sure there are worse places to live as a sports fan, but it’s hard to imagine!
Is there a player in this year’s draft that is expected to be a huge star?
I fucking hate Vegas but someone needs to take a page out of their book… not scared to move players around who don’t buy in and also make big splashes. None of these dumbass grinder contracts and giving guys like Gaudreau 5 fucking years like are you kidding me
This fan base is in shambles. One down season and everyone loses their mind.
Is it possible- and this might be a silly thing to say- that they are intentionally tanking but denying it to save face with the fans? What else explains how they’re playing?
I used to watch every wild game. This year I can’t do it. I’m 36 so I’ve seen aaaalllll the failure of all four of our teams time and time again.
I don’t root for them to fail but being a sports fan is feeling absolutely worthless in Minnesota. Right now I’m most excited about fucking basketball. Yes. I legitimately am watching the Timberwolves because they actually have something going on.
Wild have a talent problem and it was made vastly worse signing depreciating assets to extensions with NMC. Fans have said how great Guerin is doing given the cap situation, but what moves has he exactly made that would define his time here as great. His moves did nothing to get us a playoff win, in fact it cost us draft choices. Free agent signings have been nothing to write home about. He is under the illusion that this team can still make a playoff run and it is hindering our chances to rebuild. But I am more than interested to hear a take that shows exactly what Guerin has done as GM that would be better than what many GM’s would have done. And right now the Hartman, Foligno and Zuccy NMC extensions combined with a shaky 1st round pick in Stramel, who wasn’t even invited to compete for a spot in the US world jr roster, and had zero points again this past weekend, just makes me shake my head.