GDT: Preseason: 9/29/14 - Pittsburgh Penguins @ Minnesota Wild - 7PM CDT/3AM Suomi

[Minnesota]

Really wish the games were live. I recorded it, might try and watch a bit tonight.

Get ready to fast-forward through half the game.

 

[this providence]

• Thought the Wild played mostly terrible, throughout. Especially 5-5. They had moments in the third, but the game was controlled by a Penguins team without much of their top players and the Wild had no answer for large stretches of play.

• Still have a very hard time seeing the Vanek - Koivu - Coyle line pay off. Maybe that changes when the tempo picks up, but they're putting a large onus on Koivu to drive that line because Vanek and Coyle just aren't going to dictate play. No idea why Yeo is so married to this top 6 either. This is preseason, the time to be mixing and matching and finding some sort of alternative options...

• Bickell was about as terrible as you'd expect for someone getting minutes on defense that shouldn't be. His penalty was idiotic and completely avoidable if he had a head on shoulders. You have to know Carcillo isn't going to go with a guy well outside of his weight class and he's going to do his best to put the other guy in the box. Hell, he does that with players within his class. Though it's hard to blame him after seeing Yeo gush over him in a previous game, in which he was brutal, mainly because there was face punching involved. Why he's been gifted a spot on this team is beyond me and hopefully for this team's sake they 1)find somebody worth a pulse on waivers to take his spot and/or 2) he wears out his welcome quickly. More decisions like he made last night will certainly help the latter.

• I think Dumba has made this team. He's too skilled and involved in too many scoring chances and sound plays to miss out, IMO. With that you're going to have to take the bad with the good (like one of his shifts where he had multiple poor turnovers) but that will come with any of these young players. Don't think Folin has played well enough to beat out Dumba for that last spot, either.

• Hopefully, Granlund has found a permanent home on the top PP unit.

• Very sound game for Kuemper.

• Brodin and Scandella have looked excellent all preseason. The Wild's top 4 is very legit, hopefully they can get that third pairing to come along and not burn the team too much...

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

• Brodin and Scandella have looked excellent all preseason. The Wild's top 4 is very legit, hopefully they can get that third pairing to come along and not burn the team too much...

Do you think Scandella is at a point where it puts Ballard (if he's the one that plays in the #3 LD spot) under 10 minutes? Obviously Suter is going to get his 28+ so if Scandella can handle 22, I don't think the 3rd pairing would be in a position to do much damage.

 

[rynryn]

i'm a big believer in the power of charlie, but yeah...alright, different circumstances/opponents but Koivu and Vanek looked very solid together when Fontaine was on that line for some reason, last night not so much. didn't look like a lot of effort out there, which was the difference IMO--perhaps the "bumps" and the threat of injuring yourself in preseason made them scale back? I don't know. I'm actually still fine with them entering the season with that top six, but if they don't look better at full speed then swtich it up. I think that's the plan, anyway, and they already said Vanek needs acclimation time: that's why the lines are the way they are right now.

 

[this providence]

Do you think Scandella is at a point where it puts Ballard (if he's the one that plays in the #3 LD spot) under 10 minutes. Obviously Suter is going to get his 28+ so if Scandella can handle 22, I don't think the 3rd pairing would be in a position to do much damage.

Because of the minutes Suter is given (and manages to handle) and the subsequent juggling that needs to happen to accommodate it, it's hard to predict.

I will say that I don't want to see Scandella (or Brodin) being a third pairing defender for all intents and purposes. I think for the most part they have to go with a top 4 of Suter, Spurgeon, Brodin, and Scandella and move Spurgeon and Brodin with Suter when they need to. If they keep Dumba, obviously probably filter him in at times with Suter as well. But in general terms, I just don't want to see Scandella on the bottom pairing. We do know that Suter, Brodin, and Spurgeon can pretty well handle the heavy lifting, but not sure you can add Scandella to mix just yet. Especially to the point where you really are trying to limit Ballard's time.

I think the Wild are just going to have to stomach that third pairing this year. Maybe they can find a move to be made out there and maybe Olofsson progresses very quickly, but it's at the point where it sort of is what it is at this point.

 

[Randy BoBandy]

i'm a big believer in the power of charlie, but yeah...alright, different circumstances/opponents but Koivu and Vanek looked very solid together when Fontaine was on that line for some reason, last night not so much. didn't look like a lot of effort out there, which was the difference IMO--perhaps the "bumps" and the threat of injuring yourself in preseason made them scale back? I don't know. I'm actually still fine with them entering the season with that top six, but if they don't look better at full speed then swtich it up. I think that's the plan, anyway, and they already said Vanek needs acclimation time: that's why the lines are the way they are right now.

Fontaine can carry the puck. And has great offensive instincts. Charlie can't and doesn't. Coyle is just being gifted that spot for no reason I can see on the ice. I don't think he is a top 6 player. Shows very little offensive upside. Looks more and more like a young Brodziak.

 

[this providence]

Fontaine can carry the puck. And has great offensive instincts. Charlie can't and doesn't. Coyle is just being gifted that spot for no reason I can see on the ice. I don't think he is a top 6 player. Shows very little offensive upside. Looks more and more like a young Brodziak.

This has pretty much been my thoughts on Coyle during his tenure as well.

I'm willing to give him a little time this year but if he's given meaning top 6 time, PP time, and is being the boat anchor he continues to show himself to be something needs to be done. Especially with younger players who should probably get some sort of time to prove themselves with capable players.

In my view, there's absolutely zero reason Coyle should be given PP time when everyone is healthy. Yet he'll be a constant on that second unit. Nino needs a meaningful shot and Haula has proven himself at all levels to be a prolific PP scorer as well. Not to mention if Zucker ever finds himself on this roster.

 

[MNRube]

Watched the replay on NHL Network last night. Some observations

1. Vanek was hurt and clearly was dogging it. He will be a weapon this year but a very polarizing one. Has that Heatley tendency to not move his feet on the boards and it can be tough to watch and usually ends in a frustrating turnover or lost battle. Him and Koivu were not on same wave length and it showed. He will get better and I think in time he will be great match with one of 64 or 9.

2. Coyle is not a top 6 player. He's the type who decent teams have in their top 6 and great teams put to anchor a powerful third line (think like Clowe back in SJ, or Soderberg now in Boston). Too much depth now to give him prime offensive minutes when he is so clearly not going to produce points.

3. Scandella's play last spring was no fluke. He is great and our top 4 is going to be one of NHL's best as soon as this year.

4. Dumba is our top prospect and it's not close. He still is a little jumpy with his decision making but my god he is a marvelous skater. Just a perfect match stylistically with Brodin/Suter too.

5. Phillips showed me he still has a chance to be an NHL regular. He's not a good skater but he is so smart that he knows where to be which helps him. Was really moving his feet last night and we all know the offense and hands are there. Was nice to see.

6. Schroeder.....nice player. So smooth but I just don't know if he can find a spot. Decent AHL type. Would be decent fill in for injured 64 or Haula, I suppose but I just have my reservations about his ability to fight in the dirty areas in a big game.

7. Bickel getting roster consideration is an embarrassment to the dozen better players we have available to fill in. Cut him already

 

[nickschultzfan]

I concurr with most of the assessments here. My two cents:

1. Vanek and Koivu have looked very good together most this preseason, and last night was an off-night. Maybe it was the Pens speed or whatever, but it happens, and it's finally nice to have offensive depth where we aren't relying on Koivu's line to win.

I have no idea why people want to go back to Parise-Koivu. Those two always seemed like oil and water too much. Vanek plays Koivu's game so much better.

2. I no longer think our blueline needs work. They were impressive last night (where the forwards were terrible in the neutral zone). Add Folin and Dumba, and let's get this party started.

3. Kuemper-Backstrom should be a good tandem going forward.

4. Cooke and Brodziak don't justify their spots anymore. They are 4th line, PK specialist at this point.

 

[Minnesota]

2. I no longer think our blueline needs work. They were impressive last night (where the forwards were terrible in the neutral zone). Add Folin and Dumba, and let's get this party started.

Well... They were practically playing the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins + Letang. Can't really measure the D's success against actual NHL teams with their performance last night.

 

[SomethingGeneric]

I for one believe that either Cooke should be moved asap. I think Zucker has shown he is ready for a role in the NHL, on a short leash. I don't believe that Cooke holds much value to the team anymore. Maybe flip Cooke and Ballard for a more steady 3rd pairing defenseman.

 

[Lapa]

Cooke is an important part of our 3rd line. I see no reason to move him. Guy is solid defensively and decent offensively.

 

[Debrincat93]

any chance keranen makes it?

 

[Lapa]

any chance keranen makes it?

My guess is he plays 1st line minutes in Iowa at first.

 

[Gaps]

I agree that Coyle is not a top 6 player (frankly I'm not sure if he will ever be a legit top6er, but at this stage I'm still hoping for a good 2nd liner). He lacks offensive smarts and over the last 2 NHL seasons hasn't proved that he can be the driving force in a line. If you look at his possession stats, they don't look good without Koivu.

Nino has better offense but it seems to me that Yeo wants to keep on rewarding Coyle for being such a hard worker, which I absolutely believe he is, but he should still play on the 3rd line. Coyle played with Koivu and Parise for so long that he should've already come to his own and started to contribute independently more. So far there are no signs of that happening. I admit there have been times when it's looked like something's about to happen there, but it's never lasted.

Vanek at his worst is a disinterested and useless surfer. He showed this side many times last season. I'm still hoping just as much as the rest of you that he won't mail it in with the Wild, and the jury's still out on that because pre-season hardly matters, but the fact is that at worst Koivu will be asked to do way too much because the other winger isn't feeling like playing and the other one simply isn't capable of all that much offensively.

 

[Taylor26]

I for one believe that either Cooke should be moved asap. I think Zucker has shown he is ready for a role in the NHL, on a short leash. I don't believe that Cooke holds much value to the team anymore. Maybe flip Cooke and Ballard for a more steady 3rd pairing defenseman.

cooke has nmc

 

[Nharris31]

I agree that Coyle is not a top 6 player (frankly I'm not sure if he will ever be a legit top6er, but at this stage I'm still hoping for a good 2nd liner). He lacks offensive smarts and over the last 2 NHL seasons hasn't proved that he can be the driving force in a line. If you look at his possession stats, they don't look good without Koivu.

Nino has better offense but it seems to me that Yeo wants to keep on rewarding Coyle for being such a hard worker, which I absolutely believe he is, but he should still play on the 3rd line. Coyle played with Koivu and Parise for so long that he should've already come to his own and started to contribute independently more. So far there are no signs of that happening. I admit there have been times when it's looked like something's about to happen there, but it's never lasted.

Vanek at his worst is a disinterested and useless surfer. He showed this side many times last season. I'm still hoping just as much as the rest of you that he won't mail it in with the Wild, and the jury's still out on that because pre-season hardly matters, but the fact is that at worst Koivu will be asked to do way too much because the other winger isn't feeling like playing and the other one simply isn't capable of all that much offensively.

This is why I don't understand why fans/some media blame Koivu for everything.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Cooke is an important part of our 3rd line. I see no reason to move him. Guy is solid defensively and decent offensively.

No reason why Zucker can't play the majority of the game on that line and then have Cooke sub in when certain defensive situations call for it, if necessary.

 

[keppel146]

At the game last night, coyle did nothing really to impress.

By the looks of it, I'm expecting a big year from koivu. I think he has been looking good.

 

[borisbadenough]

I agree that Coyle is not a top 6 player (frankly I'm not sure if he will ever be a legit top6er, but at this stage I'm still hoping for a good 2nd liner). He lacks offensive smarts and over the last 2 NHL seasons hasn't proved that he can be the driving force in a line. If you look at his possession stats, they don't look good without Koivu.

Nino has better offense but it seems to me that Yeo wants to keep on rewarding Coyle for being such a hard worker, which I absolutely believe he is, but he should still play on the 3rd line. Coyle played with Koivu and Parise for so long that he should've already come to his own and started to contribute independently more. So far there are no signs of that happening. I admit there have been times when it's looked like something's about to happen there, but it's never lasted.

Vanek at his worst is a disinterested and useless surfer. He showed this side many times last season. I'm still hoping just as much as the rest of you that he won't mail it in with the Wild, and the jury's still out on that because pre-season hardly matters, but the fact is that at worst Koivu will be asked to do way too much because the other winger isn't feeling like playing and the other one simply isn't capable of all that much offensively.

You brought him in to play lw on the shutdown line? be a centerpiece on the PK? to play a physical two way game? to dig the puck off the walls and set up Coyle? to play on the second PP Unit? to carry the puck up the ice? LOL . You can get those guys for 2-3 mil a year

 

[Lapa]

No reason why Zucker can't play the majority of the game on that line and then have Cooke sub in when certain defensive situations call for it, if necessary.

Zucker hasn't outplayed Cooke so far, IMO.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Zucker hasn't outplayed Cooke so far, IMO.

It's more of a 'we know what Cooke is already' type thing, and if they coaches liked Zucker's camp as it appears that they have, why not toss a player with the higher potential in the lineup. At worst, let those two swap spots on the 3rd line depending on the game situation.

 

[Jarick]

This is why I don't understand why fans/some media blame Koivu for everything.

It's not blaming Koivu for everything, it's expecting a lot from a highly paid franchise player. I don't want another year of Koivu getting top PP time and scoring a dozen goals and trailing the play. It was fine when the Wild had no offensive talent, not anymore.

 

[rynryn]

bah. Coyle is still a top six player. certainly not a center, but as a wing for sure.

 

[Jarick]

bah. Coyle is still a top six player. certainly not a center, but as a wing for sure.

Maybe when his competition was Heatley, Bouchard, and Clutterbuck. Not a given anymore.