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             In the wake of a shootout victory at home versus the Chicago Blackhawks, I can’t help but look ahead to the impending decision making process that will force General Manager Chuck Fletcher to make some possibly defining decisions. The Wild is currently in Anaheim for a Friday night matchup against the Ducks followed by a Monday night game in Phoenix versus the Coyotes before returning to Minnesota. With the call ups of 19 year old 2011 1st round pick Jonas Brodin and 22 year old 2008 2nd round pick Marco Scandella, it gives the Wild eight defensemen on the roster. Currently Jared Spurgeon is on the IR after blocking a shot with his foot. Once Spurgeon is ready to return a GM Fletcher and Coach Mike Yeo will need to make some choices with who stays and who goes. The Wild is able to only roster 23 active players, and of significance is that the only Wild players with 2-way contracts are Mikael Granlund, Jonas Brodin, Marco Scandella, and Jared Spurgeon. Having a 2-way contract allows a team to send a player to their minor league affiliate without any other team being able to make a claim to the player. Also of mention is that although Spurgeon has a 2-way contract because of his age and NHL experience he would require waivers in which every team in the league would have an opportunity to steal him away from the Wild. I explain this not because it’s exciting or even interesting to most, but it will play heavily into how GM Fletcher decided what move is made once Spurgeon returns to the lineup. Unless Scandella has an out of body blowup moment in the next two games I think Nate Prosser who is signed to a one-way contract through next season, gets put on waivers goes unclaimed and is assigned to the Houston Aeros.
When GM Fletcher resigned Prosser to a 2 year $1.6mil contract in February of 2012, there was a pretty good idea that a lockout was looming. Prosser at this point of his NHL career is at best a seventh defensemen depth player. Prosser is still young at 25 years old and has experienced success in college and in the AHL. I could be wrong in regards to interest from another NHL team to which he could be claimed off of waivers but I think GM Fletcher will be willing to take the risk. I think the play we have seen out of Brodin, Scandella, and Spurgeon even dating back to last season solidifies them as NHL-caliber defensemen in the eyes of GM Fletcher and Coach Yeo. Justin Falk a 24 year old 2007 4th round pick was resigned to a one way contract this summer and through 7 games he has played his best hockey in a Wild sweater. With the graduation to the NHL of these four young defensive prospects, it means the end for marginal players like Prosser and Clayton Stoner.
Up front for the Wild the only player with a 2-way contract is Mikael Granlund who has struggled thus far in his rookie year in the NHL. Granlund has been knocked around in each of his first seven games and appeared shell shocked at the end of overtime versus Chicago refusing to engage in the offensive zone while Pierre-Marc Bouchard looked to make a play with the puck. I have mentioned many different times that a move to the Wing and a focus on shooting could help Granlund play a significant role and get him some confidence. Coach Yeo was asked specifically if Granlund will be moved to the wing and answered evasively. I understand how important it is to GM Fletcher and Coach Yeo that Granlund is the second line center that the Wild have lacked but he just hasn’t been able to translate his game to the NHL yet. Mikael Granlund at least right now is not in danger of being sent back to Houston. What that means is that a forward on a one-way contract needs to either be put on waivers or be traded for Jason Zucker or Charlie Coyle to make their season debut in a Wild sweater barring injury. There have been rumors of interest from Pittsburgh in Devin Setogucci, but I am not exactly sure what the return would have to be to make his departure in a trade make sense for the Wild. Although Setogucci as a member of the Wild has not set the world on fire in his season and seven games, he has been playing extremely hard this season and whatever questions were posed after last season in regards to his attitude and effort have been addressed. I think it’s fair to expect Setogucci to put the puck in the net as that’s his role as a Top6 winger. Watching every game of the seven so far this season I can assure you Setogucci has been aggressive and even remarkably physical with his play. The goals will come and I think his production has been directly affected by Granlund's rough transition to the NHL and the shuffling of Matt Cullen and Pierre-Marc Bouchard on the opposite wing.
I think if I had my pick of a forward to be moved it would be Darroll Powe being put on waivers for Jason Zucker on a call up from Houston. Powe was signed to a 3 year contract but he has just not been effective for the Wild and his versatility became expendable once GM Fletcher signed Torrey Mitchell this summer. Adding Zucker to the roster would reward a kid who has been excellent in Houston. Zucker is pure energy and he can light the lamp. Zucker could play on the 3rd or 4th line immediately and I think it’s a move GM Fletcher needs to give a long thought too. In Houston Charlie Coyle is beginning to heat up again but I think he only gets the call if he can be guaranteed a spot in the Top 6. I think Coyle only comes up if GM Fletcher pulls the trigger on a deal whether it’s Setogucci or another forward on the way out in a trade.
Fans calling for a trade of Setogucci have to really think about what they believe his value is and what type of return would make it worth trading a player as skilled as Setogucci. The rumored deal of Setogucci for Penguins defensemen Simon Després would bring the Wild a big talented 21 year old defenseman but send out an NHL goal scorer from a team starving for secondary scoring. Also I don’t think this deal gets done one for one so would GM Fletcher be required to give additional assets? The price for Top4 defensemen in trade right now and really since this past summer has been astronomical. I don’t think trading Setogucci right now makes the Wild better. I think we see the first defining decsion/transaction from the Wild when they return to Minnesota from Phoenix as Spurgeon should be ready for return.
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Just My Thoughts,
Tony Dean
@AWKD