Good Morning,
Wild fans have been promised since general manager Chuck Fletcher’s first day on the job that the organization would rebuild their prospect pool and graduate their valuable early round picks to their NHL roster. When Fletcher was announced as the new general manager of the Wild, he was replacing Doug Reisbrough whose ten years on the job meant he had been the personnel man in charge from day one of the Wild. In his nine drafts, Reisbrough drafted 4 players with 1st round picks I consider to be above average to superstar level players(2000-Marian Gaborik, 2001-Mikko Koivu, 2002-Pierre-Marc Bouchard, 2003-Brent Burns) and then drafted 5 first round picks who either never made the team or never developed into NHL regulars with the Wild (2004-AJ Thelen, 2005-Benoit Pouliot, 2006-James Sheppard, 2007-Colton Gillies, and 2008-Tyler Cuma) which meant that when Reisbrough was finally removed, the Wild had a bare cupboard of young players in their system and a severe lack of talent on their NHL roster. In reviewing the list of Wild draft picks from 2000 through 2008, Reisbrough drafted 70 players and I consider 14 of them to have significantly contributed to the Wild either with their play or through trades for other assets. That’s terrible anyway you attempt to view it. The list is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Minnesota_Wild_draft_picks so you can scan it yourself.
In the NHL drafts since Fletcher took over as general manager of the Wild, all of the players selected in the first round look to have a bright future in the NHL (2009-Nick Leddy, 2010-Mikael Granlund, 2011-Jonas Brodin, 2011-Zack Phillips, and 2012-Matthew Dumba) but maybe more importantly the Wild have already seen true value and NHL caliber talent throughout each of its last four drafts. Currently on the verge of breaking into the NHL are 2009 3rd round pick Matthew Hackett, 2010 2nd round picks Brett Bulmer, Johan Larsson, and Jason Zucker. A 2011 draft day trade by Fletcher of Brent Burns sent a return on Devin Setogucci, Sharks 2010 1st round pick Charlie Coyle, and a 2011 first round pick with which the Wild selected Zach Phillips. The Burns trade if Coyle is the player he has been projected to be, might help fans and Fletcher to forget about his major blunder Nick Leddy and Kim Johnsson trade to Chicago for Cam Barker. Or maybe not but at least Fletcher has made good on his pledge to rebuild the Wild’s prospect pool which is considered by many as ranking in the top 2 most talented in the NHL.
Realistically scouting reports and projections of young hockey players mean very little if it does not translate to actual NHL production. Many a top prospect cant miss superstar has wilted under the bright lights and pressure of the NHL. Just today the Wild added top tier prospect Charlie Coyle to their NHL roster that features one extremely gifted rookie Mikael Granlund and surprisingly comfortable and skilled rookie Jonas Brodin. Through 8 games for Granlund he has struggled pretty significantly leading to doubts of whether he is physically ready for the NHL. Brodin through 5 games has been brilliant and shows no signs of being overmatched. In adding Coyle to the roster, Fletcher has proved his ability to identify and graduate talent to the NHL roster through the draft and trade. The pressure is on Coach Yeo to facilitate their transition to the NHL and his system. The Wild has struggled maintaining offensive pressure and generating scoring chances because of a number of issues most significant of which in my mind has been the lack of chemistry and skill sets on their top 2 lines. The true indicator in the Wild’s attempt to address these issues will be want line combinations develop from Coyle joining the top 6. I contend that Zach Parise and Dany Heatly while effective on the power play, they are not very complimentary to each other at full strength because both players lack top end speed and puck carrying skills. Parise has generated turnovers and scoring chances with his hustle but the top line has yet to be able to establish consistent offensive zone time because of significant problems with their zone entry. Does coach Yeo send Coyle out there with Parise and Koivu or is he inserted on the second line with Granlund and Setogucci?
I think all Wild fans should be very excited that the Wild currently has three top prospects on the roster because at the very least it means that the future is now. No longer do the fans have to hear how talented these kids are from beat writers and prospect experts. I think all three of these kids are very aware that they if they fail to seize this opportunity the young players just waiting for the shot in Houston are just a phone call and a plane ride away. I think the marginal talent veterans on the roster are very aware that the Wild brass and coaching staff will be asked to evaluate each player on the roster once injured players get healthy and the roster must be trimmed. I think after the effort and performance in Anaheim the Wild can’t afford not to shake things up. It’s been very clear through 8 games that Matt Cullen is a player without a role for this Wild team. Cullen is not a left wing and he is no longer a Top 6 forward. Pierre-Marc Bouchard had been elevated to the second line with Granlund and Setogucci for two games but that combination failed to maintain possession and sustain offensive zone time proving to be a very undersized. Coach Yeo has stated that he wants to keep Kyle Brodziak and Cal Clutterbuck matched up together on the third line to combat opponent’s top line with their physical play.
What seems clear at this point is the Wild will be looking for Granlund and Coyle to prove they are ready to be Top6 forwards in the NHL. If they are able to convince Fletcher and Yeo they are in Minnesota to stay then it could mark the end for Cullen and Bouchard. Both Cullen and Bouchard are in the last year of pretty hefty contracts at $3.5mil and $4.0mil respectively. The reason Setogucci has been entered into the trade rumor conversation has a lot to do with the Wild having young players on the verge of breaking in like Coyle, Zucker, Bulmer, and Larsson. Setogucci in his year and change has yet to put it all together but he has flashed the talent that made him the centerpiece of the Burns trade. I would have for him to go somewhere else in a trade and blow up which I think could be very possible. I would much rather see Cullen and/or Bouchard go because they have very little chance of being retained this offseason as free agents.
The Wild play Monday versus Phoenix and then return home, Fletcher will have to make very defining decisions in regards to the Top 6 forwards and Top 2 lines as well as the defensive corps. With young players pushing to become NHL regulars it’s a very good problem to have. The fans should root for the young guns to stick as it truly represents organization success and clearly proves the future that has been promised is now. This is a very special thing that does not happen often in Minnesota sports to have promises kept.
Just My Thoughts
Tony Dean
@AWKD
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