Mike Yeo's Time Is Running Out

[gdsmack267]

I think this is a Fletcher problem more. He failed to address the goal tending issue. Give this team a middle of the pack goalie and they are a playoff team

 

[gopherman23]

Thomas Vanek is an anchor.

If being roasted by National media in the playoffs doesn't spark you, no coach will.

They have created a mess with him, and his contract.

Vanek isn't the reason we have been bad lately. Goaltending and defense have been a much bigger problem than he has. The Vanek narrative is getting tired to see.

 

[Cellee]

Vanek isn't the reason we have been bad lately. Goaltending and defense have been a much bigger problem than he has. The Vanek narrative is getting tired to see.

The Vanek narrative speaks to the problem they took on which will hinder anything they try to do to change their team.

A high contact, long term, with limited movement clause.

It's not the sole issue. Again, the way they have constructed the roster in generally just does not translate well to the West.

They lack depth at Centre, at Defence, and have poor goaltending. That isn't Mike Yeo's fault.

The decision to sign Vanek was just mind boggling.

 

[Alexandrov]

The Vanek narrative speaks to the problem they took on which will hinder anything they try to do to change their team.

A high contact, long term, with limited movement clause.

It's not the sole issue. Again, the way they have constructed the roster in generally just does not translate well to the West.

They lack depth at Centre, at Defence, and have poor goaltending. That isn't Mike Yeo's fault.

The decision to sign Vanek was just mind boggling.

I don't get people crapping over his 3 year 6,5m contract so much. Rumours had him pegged at 7x7m. There isn't a team that wouldn't have signed him (given that the team had the cap space to do it).

 

[Spurgeon]

Blaming Yeo for this season is ridiculous. He's probably going to be fired because the team needs to "mix" things up, but it's not gonna do anything.

Mumps, norovirus, injuries, and ****** goaltending are the reasons this team isn't in a playoff position. The Wild are a Top possession team that is losing faith in themselves because our goaltenders give up so many damn goals & they're always playing down 1-0 or 2-0 early in the game.

 

[Cellee]

I don't get people crapping over his 3 year 6,5m contract so much. Rumours had him pegged at 7x7m. There isn't a team that wouldn't have signed him (given that the team had the cap space to do it).

He isn't worth the money to any team that isn't desperate.

I can't agree teams with the cap space would be falling over themselves to sign him.

 

[Spurgeon]

He isn't worth the money to any team that isn't desperate.

I can't agree teams with the cap space would be falling over themselves to sign him.

His contract is favorable. Vanek is fine.

They struggle at their center position and goaltending.

 

[saillias]

Bring in Tortorella.

Still 3 games to play this season against the Flames.

 

[Atren]

Whatever problems Minnesota has with Vanek....contract is not one of them.

In this situation either get new goalie or replace Yeo. It is not probable for this to amend in itself into playoffs.

 

[Alexandrov]

He isn't worth the money to any team that isn't desperate.

I can't agree teams with the cap space would be falling over themselves to sign him.

Well maybe we can agree that it was well below the market price

 

[JS91]

I really think they should switch coaches as soon as possible. Something's clearly wrong down there in Minnesota. The team looks great on paper, but for some reason they are underachieving and lately just seemed a bit unmotivated. Swapping coaches in the middle of the season is really risky in case the coach brings in totally different system, but it's still better than what's going on there right now.

 

[tomgilbertfan]

The Vanek narrative speaks to the problem they took on which will hinder anything they try to do to change their team.

A high contact, long term, with limited movement clause.

It's not the sole issue. Again, the way they have constructed the roster in generally just does not translate well to the West.

They lack depth at Centre, at Defence, and have poor goaltending. That isn't Mike Yeo's fault.

The decision to sign Vanek was just mind boggling.

In what world is 3 years a long term?

 

[Nharris31]

People that keep mentioning Bylsma Russo said he doesn't think players on the wild would like playing for him.

 

[tony d]

The team needs a shakeup big time. New coach, new GM and new goalie definitely.

 

[orby]

Statistically, the Wild's main problem this season has been goaltending. That's really the main thing that's been sinking them in the standings. I don't think firing Yeo would be a terrible decision, but it's not going to improve the goalies' performance, so I doubt it'll significantly alter the course of Minnesota's season.

 

[WarriorOfGandhi]

can he push it underground?

can he stop it screaming out?

furthermore, how did it come to this?

 

[Nsjohnson]

Vanek was supposed to be a complimentary player on this team, it's not like the Wild signed him to be a 50 goal scorer that's going to put them on his back. That said, Vanek's first 8 weeks were really bad. He got better in December. It was noticable, though he still won't shoot the puck like the rest of our forwards (minus Zucker and Parise).

No, Vanek is not the problem. Our yearly #1C problem is still a problem. Our yearly goalie problem is still a problem. Maybe SIGNING Vanek instead of a different player is a problem, but it is still not Vanek that is the problem, it's the GM.

The Wild don't have a #1C and they have worse than OK goaltending. Recipe for disaster. Add in this whole mumps, noro, injury, etc and this season has been a recipe for disaster in the Central.

 

[Loopy0ne]

Vanek the problem - you all do realize we made the 2nd round of the playoffs with Dany ****ing Heatley eating 7million of our cap space, right? Who wouldn't swap out Heatley for Vanek for same cost and only 3 years?

IMO Main problems are (in no order): Harding kicking wall, no ability to sign Bryz, and no Stoner clearing the crease (which is an area we get taken to the woodshed now).

Secondary to that list is: mumps, important players losing family, and coaching.

 

[Drewcifer]

The problem is that the Wild have two mediocre backup goalies and no starter. Kuemper is injured and Backstrom was 61st in the NHL in save percentage before yesterday's game. Firing Yeo will not fix that. If you look at the deeper statistics the Wild are actually playing pretty well, it is just hard to win when you are down 3 goals in the 2nd despite only giving up 13 shots and out chancing the other team. That is where the Wild have been for the last month and a half.

 

[MNRube]

With Granlund out and Haula proving to be an AHL caliber player we have no center depth.

Couple that with despicable goaltending and a team who has lost its confidence and you can see why we suck.

We are elite on the wing: Parise, Vanek, Pominville, Nino, Zucker, Coyle etc and have a good blue line at worst when healthy. Goaltending and center depth are te issue

 

[Swervin81]

If the Wild had a goalie that could stop a beach ball, they'd probably be in a playoff spot right about now. Kuemper is basically like James Reimer - can steal a game, but one soft goal and the flood gates open. Zero consistency and bad mental makeup despite athletic/physical gifts. Backstrom is a mediocre backup made of glass and significantly overpaid. Josh Harding is yet again out with more setbacks and his career is unfortunately pretty much done at this point. Hell, let's do some math here. The Wild are currently 29th in the league in SV% at a horrendous .892. The league average right now is .910 SV%. The Wild have given up 120 goals (22nd) on 1107 shots against (2nd fewest). If they even had a league average SV%, on the same 1107 shots against they'd have only given up 100 goals, which is a drastic 17% off and their goals against would jump drastically by 14 spots, from 22nd to 8th in the league. Even with their mediocre offense, they'd be a playoff lock with average goaltending. They need a top goalie, first and foremost. They should've traded for Bernier, considering how he's turned out here in Toronto and how highly he was regarded even before that.

 

[SEALBound]

I doubt he gets fired this year. I believe they will make a splash for a goalie in hopes of making a push for the playoffs. If they don't, they will build accordingly. Then if this trend continues into next season, he will be gone by November.

If you guys wanna make a trade, Nino and Coyle would be of high interest in Pittsburgh with several defenders capable of coming back.

 

[Minnesota]

I think this is a Fletcher problem more. He failed to address the goal tending issue. Give this team a middle of the pack goalie and they are a playoff team

They were planning on beginning the season with Kuemper, Harding, and Backstrom. Nobody could have predicted they would all get sick/injured and be terrible when they were healthy.

What kind of team carries 3 healthy NHL-caliber starting goaltenders all the time?

 

[melinko]

In what world is 3 years a long term?

In the world where you don't follow the team and just parrot the national narrative to sound informed.

 

[Tony253]

The best players (and arguably best leaders) Parise & Suter both lost their fathers who were both hockey dads...Its not a mystery why the team is emotionally wrecked. Both players mistakenly thought the best thing for them was to get back to hockey quick. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows there are feelings of anger, lost, emptiness, add the loss of a supportive and loving parent, doubt. I know...hockey players are supposed to be tough guys but loss of a parent is 2nd only to losing a spouse in emotional effect. The other players should be picking up their mates but for some reason, the collective psyche has crashed. Now its not fun going to the rink so everything just spirals for all players. Doubt creeps into the vets game...Rookies wonder if they will get sent down if they don't make a play...This season is done for the Wild.

Update after the Pens game...Have they hit bottom or does that still await them in Buffalo?