Line Combos: This team needs to mix things up!

[b0rn2beWild]

When Coyle returns:

1.Parise-Koivu-Nino
2.Coyle-Granlunch-Pominville
3.Cooke-Brodz-Heatley
4.Mitchell-Konopka-Fontaine

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

I think...

Coyle-Koivu-Niño
Parise-Granlund-Pominville
Cooke-Brodz-Heatley
Mitchell-Kenopka-Fontaine

...could be really fun to watch.

 

[mezcal]

Parise - Koivu - Coyle
Nino - Granlund - Pominville
Cooke - Brodziak - Heatley
Mitchell - Konopka - Fontaine

Suter - Brodin
Ballard - Spurgeon
Scandella - Stoner

 

[tomthestone*]

Heatley brings nothing to the third or 4th lines and I do not think he is worth keeping in the lineup as a powerplay "specialist". In my opinion, he is a top 6 or bust player at this point, and right now he is a bust until he manages to get his game back together.

Stick him in the box until he fixes himself or the seasons over.

I'll be the first to criticize Mike Yeo for failing to call out or punish underperforming veterans, but expecting him to scratch Hot Wheels Heatley isn't fair. It's obvious The All-Star is continuing a scary-fast decline, but taking him out of the lineup will not be an option. The guy scored 50 once upon a time, so he's not likely to make his way to the Al Shaver Press Box without kicking and screaming. Plus if Heater can continue to make slight progress, he might become (somewhat) movable at the deadline when he'll only be owed what's left of his $5M salary for the year. Hopefully one of the teams in a city with a decent selection of college broads and divorced hockey moms plays itself out of contention between now and then. As of right now, Florida and Dallas look to be the best potential targets to stick Heatley with.

Maybe the Wild can talk Heatley into taking a few nights off to regain some weight. He isn't any faster out there than last spring, and isn't able to protect the puck effectively the way he has in the past. It seriously looks like he spent the offseason ripping a pack of gritters a day just to drop those pounds. It's just sad to see the guy rapidly turning into a pear right before our eyes #50in07

 

[Avder]

I'll be the first to criticize Mike Yeo for failing to call out or punish underperforming veterans, but expecting him to scratch Hot Wheels Heatley isn't fair. It's obvious The All-Star is continuing a scary-fast decline, but taking him out of the lineup will not be an option. The guy scored 50 once upon a time, so he's not likely to make his way to the Al Shaver Press Box without kicking and screaming. Plus if Heater can continue to make slight progress, he might become (somewhat) movable at the deadline when he'll only be owed what's left of his $5M salary for the year. Hopefully one of the teams in a city with a decent selection of college broads and divorced hockey moms plays itself out of contention between now and then. As of right now, Florida and Dallas look to be the best potential targets to stick Heatley with.

Maybe the Wild can talk Heatley into taking a few nights off to regain some weight. He isn't any faster out there than last spring, and isn't able to protect the puck effectively the way he has in the past. It seriously looks like he spent the offseason ripping a pack of gritters a day just to drop those pounds. It's just sad to see the guy rapidly turning into a pear right before our eyes #50in07

So just because he scored 50 once upon a time he is now unscratchable despite his ungodly terrible play?

No. No one should be given a get-out-of-the-pressbox-free card.

 

[rynryn]

anyone care to explain why Yeo would be afraid to bench Heatley? Anything remotely logical? He's done after this year, and he doesn't represent a major investment by Fletcher nor was he ever slated to be a big part of the team's future.

 

[tomthestone*]

So just because he scored 50 once upon a time he is now unscratchable despite his ungodly terrible play?

No. No one should be given a get-out-of-the-pressbox-free card.

In a vacuum, you're right. But this is professional sports. People often overlook the aspect of managing egos and making moves to avoid a nasty ripple tearing through the dressing room because of a disgruntled player.

Plus no matter how minimal, Heater is making strides every night. Assuming he gets to a point of somewhat resembling his former self, the guy would provide massive value as a bottom-six/PP specialist.

 

[J22*]

anyone care to explain why Yeo would be afraid to bench Heatley? Anything remotely logical? He's done after this year, and he doesn't represent a major investment by Fletcher nor was he ever slated to be a big part of the team's future.

Why would it be Yeo's decision anyway? I thought it was already established that Koivu is the one who makes all the decisions on linemates.

 

[J22*]

In a vacuum, you're right. But this is professional sports. People often overlook the aspect of managing egos and making moves to avoid a nasty ripple tearing through the dressing room because of a disgruntled player.

Plus no matter how minimal, Heater is making strides every night. Assuming he gets to a point of somewhat resembling his former self, the guy would provide massive value as a bottom-six/PP specialist.

For as long as a guy like Vellieux is actually getting icetime, I dont see any reason to even consider pulling Heatley out of the lineup.

 

[Ban Hammered]

I think they are trying to jump start Heatley any way they can, because he is a veteran and because he has a prior track record. Obviously it can't happen forever if he doesn't start to pick it up offensively because that's all he's really good for now but they will give him time to do it because he has the ability, or at the very least did have it. If he continues to struggle for say another 10 games, maybe then he does get sat, or waived. But when he has the track record he does and he makes the money he does, he is going to be given every opportunity to set himself right, that's just reality.

 

[Avder]

In a vacuum, you're right. But this is professional sports. People often overlook the aspect of managing egos and making moves to avoid a nasty ripple tearing through the dressing room because of a disgruntled player.

Plus no matter how minimal, Heater is making strides every night. Assuming he gets to a point of somewhat resembling his former self, the guy would provide massive value as a bottom-six/PP specialist.

So now you want to keep him out of the pressbox for fear of hurting his feelings?

 

[rynryn]

i'm only half paying attention but unit cohesion is a big deal with this team. perhaps what he's saying is Heatley is well liked and respected in "the room" and why create harsh feelings when you really don't have to. despite the hair pulling and gnashing of teeth and oft repeated dumb **** like "defensive liability" etc Heatley isn't dragging anything down. He's not helping much, but subbing Zucker in isn't going to do **** for the team. And so the least damaging way to deal with the situation such as it is is to try to put him in a place where he can succeed without getting too much in the way.

 

[tomthestone*]

So now you want to keep him out of the pressbox for fear of hurting his feelings?

I don't care about anyone's feelings in pro sports. At this point I don't think Heatley needs to be scratched -- the Wild are getting a solid effort top-to-bottom even with him playing like hot trash. Given his offensive pedigree and past success, you give the guy a chance to come around even if it takes 40 games. It would be a whole different conversation if there was another big prospect ready to contribute, but Zucker just isn't going to offer much of an upgrade anytime soon or he would be with the big club right now. So because of that, you ride Heatley out and hope he can find it -- then deal with it in February or March if he can't.

And even if the "right" decision was to bench Heatley, I still would be hesitant to pull the trigger on making him a healthy scratch. Not for fear of hurting his feelings, but rather because Heatley might throw a fit and make things uncomfortable for the entire locker room. There isn't an in-house upgrade worth risking a backfire of that proportion.

 

[Casper]

So now you want to keep him out of the pressbox for fear of hurting his feelings?

Rabid Husky said it well.

As bad as Heatley has been this year, he does have a track record of scoring goals - and lots of them. If the wild can all of a sudden jump start him, it will be a gigantic boost. If you start putting him the press box you completely nullify any chance of Heatley regaining his old form. Heatley sucks this year but given his salary and track record, the Wild are gonna give him every opportunity to get his touch back.

 

[rynryn]

i think it's just too bad the players and coaches aren't as close to the situation as we are and can't see things as clearly.

 

[Jacques The Mayor]

i think it's just too bad the players and coaches aren't as close to the situation as we are and can't see things as clearly.

I know right! Like why don't they consult hf boards whenever there's a tough decision to make. That's what I do. This place is a fountain of wisdom.

 

[Vashanesh]

In a vacuum, you're right. But this is professional sports. People often overlook the aspect of managing egos and making moves to avoid a nasty ripple tearing through the dressing room because of a disgruntled player.

Plus no matter how minimal, Heater is making strides every night. Assuming he gets to a point of somewhat resembling his former self, the guy would provide massive value as a bottom-six/PP specialist.

If that is the issue, you remove them from the situation by any/all means. This is why I don't believe his ego comes into play. He's not blind, he has to know how poorly he's playing, and has to know that if it continues, he's going to eventually find himself the odd-man-out.

I don't care what that means, though, you remove cancer, you don't give it a cushy place to live. We've done it before...

 

[tomthestone*]

If that is the issue, you remove them from the situation by any/all means. This is why I don't believe his ego comes into play. He's not blind, he has to know how poorly he's playing, and has to know that if it continues, he's going to eventually find himself the odd-man-out.

I don't care what that means, though, you remove cancer, you don't give it a cushy place to live. We've done it before...

You can't just remove Heatley. He's on the last year of his deal and is getting paid this year no matter what, so scratching him would make no sense. It's a moot point right now because his spot in the lineup is justified, but everyone should know that Heatley is going to get royal treatment all year to avoid a potentially ugly end to his days in Minnesota -- and like or not that's how it is in pro sports in these situations.

Everyone knows it isn't right to coddle certain guys, but taking a hard line with Heatley isn't smart when there isn't an obvious, effective replacement waiting in the wings. A harmonious tone in the room is essential to get the most out of a team, and an upset Heatley is capable of disrupting an otherwise calm atmosphere. He's done it before. Scratching him and releasing him are one and the same, and he isn't that bad yet.

 

[Hall of Faber]

He's not blind

Is it wrong if I laughed at this?

 

[Avder]

You can't just remove Heatley. He's on the last year of his deal and is getting paid this year no matter what, so scratching him would make no sense. It's a moot point right now because his spot in the lineup is justified, but everyone should know that Heatley is going to get royal treatment all year to avoid a potentially ugly end to his days in Minnesota -- and like or not that's how it is in pro sports in these situations.

Everyone knows it isn't right to coddle certain guys, but taking a hard line with Heatley isn't smart when there isn't an obvious, effective replacement waiting in the wings. A harmonious tone in the room is essential to get the most out of a team, and an upset Heatley is capable of disrupting an otherwise calm atmosphere. He's done it before. Scratching him and releasing him are one and the same, and he isn't that bad yet.

If the choice is to pay someone to do nothing or to pay someone to be a liability, then I am taking the choice where the pay is to do nothing. Thats zero value for the dollar, which is more value than negative value per dollar. Zero is greater than less than zero.

 

[youvegotit]

The biggest thing Heatley has going for him other than his contract imo is he is well liked and respected in the locker room. Sure he has looked bad to awful thus far, but he still makes decent passes and should be a great mentor for Nino who I hope can become somewhat like Heatley WAS lol.

Also as many have mentioned it's not like we have an obvious replacement for him. Sure we can speculate that player X would contribute more to the team then Heatley which might be true. However is it worth disturbing the team dynamic and ruining whatever value he might have left for a marginal improvement that might hurt that players long term development?

 

[TwiztedHeat]

I think...

Coyle-Koivu-Niño
Parise-Granlund-Pominville
Cooke-Brodz-Heatley
Mitchell-Kenopka-Fontaine

...could be really fun to watch.

I dig these lines, approved!

 

[J22*]

If the choice is to pay someone to do nothing or to pay someone to be a liability, then I am taking the choice where the pay is to do nothing. Thats zero value for the dollar, which is more value than negative value per dollar. Zero is greater than less than zero.

You and a handful of others can keep parroting this line as much as you want, it still wont make it true.

Heatley hasnt been good, or even average, but he hasnt been a liability and right now the team doesnt have a better option to put in the lineup.

 

[BigT2002]

You and a handful of others can keep parroting this line as much as you want, it still wont make it true.

Heatley hasnt been good, or even average, but he hasnt been a liability and right now the team doesnt have a better option to put in the lineup.

Hasn't been a liability?! The man does not skate, he does not battle for the puck and he is lazy on transitions from offense to defense. He is easily the biggest liability out there on the ice in relation to defense alone. Not to mention what he does to the lines he has been on. Do you think it was purely random that the 2nd line finally started netting goals when they didn't have to wait for their other winger to come down and get involved with the play??

Here are his stats:

2013-14 Regular Season 12 G1 A2 P3 +/-0
Projected 82 G7 A14 P21 +/-0

That is what you expect from your 4th line, not a man on your PP and jacking up your 2nd and 3rd lines.

 

[BigT2002]

I think...

Coyle-Koivu-Niño
Parise-Granlund-Pominville
Cooke-Brodz-Heatley
Mitchell-Kenopka-Fontaine

...could be really fun to watch.

I like it, but you and I both know Zach and Mikko are attached at the hip. How about, just for grins....

Fontaine-Koivu-Parise
Nino-Granlund-Pommers
Cooke-Coyle-Mitchell
Heater-Brodziak-Konopka

In all honesty, this team should be happier than crap that Rupp isn't back yet.