Zucker calls out Wild, Boudreau after latest embarrassing loss

[Northerner]

At this rate Wild be roughly 5-20 in 25 games. Does anyone think they will keep losing at this clip? I dont. I expect them to be about 12-13 or so, 25 games in. Just a guess, obviously.

 

[Oddbob]

This is considered calling his team and coach out? This seems like a standard response many veterans have given when the team is struggling.

 

[Chrisinroch]

The guy who tweeted out the quote and has a recording of it says that Zucker

A) didn’t mean it as pointing a finger at BB, and
B) Spent most of the interview repeatedly taking responsibility for his poor play.

Russo, who isn’t a Wild Bobo, was surprised the quote was taken that way.

 

[Pizza!Pizza!]

To be fair, anybody paying attention could have predicted this in the offseason. If the Wild management had been watching the Wings over the last few years they would have known not to try to prop up an aging declining club by signing the oldest free agent on the market and then calling it a summer.

 

[Daz28]

This should have been predicted years and years ago when they went all in on the free agent market. Them and the Kings will spend a good amount of time in the basement. Except the Kings got their cups

 

[TaLoN]

I don’t believe Zuckers intentions were to throw Coach B under the bus. His comments while true weren’t exactly well thought out. You just don’t use the media to attempt and solve a problem in a room or send a message.

When a team is in a tailspin the last thing needed is added media attention. Poor move on his part. Should have had a players only meeting and if he truly believes he can’t get that message across to the room in private he needs to request a trade

They did have a players only meeting. The quote that some claim he was calling out Bruce, said as much.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Maybe they just suck.

 

[MMANumminen]

trade everyone for picks, better start the rebuild now than suck for the eternity

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Coyle must be so happy he went from that team to a contender

 

[Lapa]

I have zero problems with what Zucker said. He is also correct.

 

[klozge]

At this rate Wild be roughly 5-20 in 25 games. Does anyone think they will keep losing at this clip? I dont. I expect them to be about 12-13 or so, 25 games in. Just a guess, obviously.

One can hope, at least.

 

[CartographerNo611]

Brucie needs to go, he is an offensive minded coach and when he switched to a more defensive system with the Caps he struggled. Getting a defensive coach would curb the bleeding and get the boys some confidence. They still have a good backend, boring hockey it is. Still bottom feeding but atleast would put up a fight.

 

[57special]

Dumba, Hunt, and Spurgeon are anything but boring. Sometimes I wish that Dumba and Hunt would be more boring. I even love watching Brodin play...the things he does on a nightly basis aren't easy, and take skill.

The forwards...I'll give you that. For the most part they play a very dull game.

 

[super6646]

I think Jason Zucker is beyond fed up with the Minnesota Wild as they are right now, practically begging for a trade to a team that's ready to contend.

I can almost bet that if not Paul Maurice or John Hynes, Boudreau is bound to be fired. Wild probably take an intern coach and Boudreau finds himself as the coach of the New Jersey Devils.

He bitched about almost getting traded to Calgary just last year... I don’t think he wants to leave.

 

[TaLoN]

 

[Tripod]

Bring Bruce home to Toronto. Let him he a assistant this year for Babs and if we fire Babcock after postseason make him captain with keefe as assistant for a year or two

That's what you have Hakstol for.

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

I'm more interested in the first sentence actually. What does he mean by "more than a meeting"?

Spanking? Although they've already gotten that on the ice a few times

 

[hamzarocks]

That's what you have Hakstol for.

One of my worse case scenarios. We fire Babcock a stubborn outdated coach who atleast is well renowned and has had success in the past for an even more stubborn coach who is heavily biased towards good pros and he does not even have any real accomplishments to his name.

That would only happen though if we see Shanny fired. Dubas is not dumb enough to hire hakstol over keefe/better external option and Shanny will give Dubas atleast 1 head coach before looking to move on

 

[JianYang]

I don't think Bruce is the type to get offended by that. He's probably said the same to the players.

 

[TaLoN]

I don't think Bruce is the type to get offended by that. He's probably said the same to the players.

Correct, and Bruce already said as much.

 

[Tripod]

One of my worse case scenarios. We fire Babcock a stubborn outdated coach who atleast is well renowned and has had success in the past for an even more stubborn coach who is heavily biased towards good pros and he does not even have any real accomplishments to his name.

That would only happen though if we see Shanny fired. Dubas is not dumb enough to hire hakstol over keefe/better external option and Shanny will give Dubas atleast 1 head coach before looking to move on

Yeah I agree. Keefe will 100% be the next Leafs coach. Just a matter of when.

 

[Esq]

"I've/we've got to be better" has got to be one of the worst cliches in hockey, and that's really saying something. No **** you have to be "better," dummies. Try explaining precisely how you intend to do so without saying "get pucks deep" or "hard on the puck" or "play our game."

 

[rynryn]

my favorite is when they say "we have to start playing for each other" when asked about motivation then in the next game look even worse. so...you guys hate each other, then?

 

[General Disarray]

He definitely called out Bruce. Most players would say "from the coaches down"...

 

[rynryn]

He definitely called out Bruce. Most players would say "from the coaches down"...

"from the coaches down" is just as much a spotlight on the HC as calling him by name alongside all the players. i don't recall hearing that much, either.
Ultimately though if Bruce isn't pissed about it this shouldn't be any sort of distraction.