GDT: G42: Yotes @ Wild - 7PM CT

[Avder]

Sooooo... Anyone know what they talked about in the meeting?

 

[MK9]

These last 4-5 games are enough to lure out the crazy in a GM and owner.

Hopefully Leipold's version of crazy includes William Guerin not being GM of the team anymore.

 

[Minnesota]

Sooooo... Anyone know what they talked about in the meeting?

From the Athletic:

There weren’t many specific details on what Wild players talked about in their meeting, though you’d have to think that Marcus Foligno, Zuccarello and Pat Maroon were prominent voices.

“Just air some things out, how everyone feels and find a way to make it better,” Zuccarello said of the meeting. “A lot of this game is about confidence and believing in each other, helping each other out. We have to get back to that, building each other up. It’s not going to get any better by digging a hole for ourselves and feeling sorry for ourselves. We’ve got to step up and be better.”

 

[MNRube]

Maroon probably doing everything he can to get one of those juicy Guerin retirement contracts before he is fired

 

[57special]

Here's the thing- the team already "stepped up" during the 11-3 run when Spurgeon and Brodin were injured(among others). Faber played insane minutes, and fringe level NHL'ers like Bogo and Mermis played much better than they usually do. Even Merrill and Goligoski, who shouldn't even be playing, did ok. Middleton looked really good.

Thing is, you can only play above your capabilities for so long. Sooner or later you return to your established level of competence. MN is playing with one first pair D (Faber), one second pair(Middleton), one 3rd pairing(Bogo), and benchwarmers. In the long run, that will catch up with you, especially if your forwards are mediocre or injured, nvm the goalies.

This is all predictable. Older players get injured more than younger players. What is really galling is that BG has ignored age when making his player evals, pretending that it isn't a factor. Prime years for a hockey player are 22-25, some studies say lower.

 

[Avder]

I agree with the sentiment that we should just let players properly heal up and consider this season a wash. Let’s tank for a high draft pick and try again next year.

 

[BagHead]

Here's the thing- the team already "stepped up" during the 11-3 run when Spurgeon and Brodin were injured(among others). Faber played insane minutes, and fringe level NHL'ers like Bogo and Mermis played much better than they usually do. Even Merrill and Goligoski, who shouldn't even be playing, did ok. Middleton looked really good.

Thing is, you can only play above your capabilities for so long. Sooner or later you return to your established level of competence. MN is playing with one first pair D (Faber), one second pair(Middleton), one 3rd pairing(Bogo), and benchwarmers. In the long run, that will catch up with you, especially if your forwards are mediocre or injured, nvm the goalies.

This is all predictable. Older players get injured more than younger players. What is really galling is that BG has ignored age when making his player evals, pretending that it isn't a factor. Prime years for a hockey player are 22-25, some studies say lower.

Yup, I was all for his moving Fiala beacuse of this, but then he extended all the guys who were even older and less talented. Can't even make it up. I had assumed he was going to use those guys to ride out the dead cap years, and then go all in on big free agents and youth when the Parise and Suter cap hits dropped off. It's a little unreal how bad of a job he did last summer.

 

[Luceni]

This game was pretty tough to watch - again. Rossi is looking out of place buried on the 3rd line. Defense without Faber has looked pretty bad.

At least the Lions won a playoff game, so wonders can happen. Thats why tanking would be smart but I still've got some hope that they're turning it around this year.

but honestly: If we lose the next two the season is over.