The Official 2018-19 Season Talk Thread

[bcruise]

I don't know what's gotten into the Blues since around the All-Star break, but I like it.

....And I jinxed it. I know part of what got into them - Jordan Binnington not allowing a goal in around 170 minutes of hockey. But he just got scored on and the lead is only a goal.

And the game is now tied. I'm just gonna shut up again.

[rdnk]

Bruins trade Ryan Donato and a conditional late round pick to the Wild for Charlie Coyle. It feels a little light on the Minnesota end, but much better than the El Nino swap.

Wild continue their retool. Staal is up on deck next and followed by Bruce Boudreau being shown the door after the season is done. While I think he's an effective coach especially during the regular season and his shelf life has historically been longer, I think the team is going in a different direction. I will laugh hysterically if he ends up back in Anaheim.

[ImTellinTim]

Only the Minnesota Wild would start a tank at 3rd place in the division so that their immense sucktitude will still only result in about the 12th pick. Sometimes I wonder why I bother with this organization.

I also think Boudreau is not the problem. This core has been through 3 coaches and it's the same bull**** all the time.

[Majingir]

Quote: Originally Posted by ImTellinTim

Only the Minnesota Wild would start a tank at 3rd place in the division so that their immense sucktitude will still only result in about the 12th pick. Sometimes I wonder why I bother with this organization.

3rd place? They're not even in the playoffs right now and are last in the division. A division they won't be getting a top 3 spot in, so they're competing with 5,maybe 6 teams for 2 WC spots.

If season ended today, they'd enter the lottery with the 9th pick.

For a team who has lost in first round each of past 3 years, and making playoffs this year means playing a top 3-4 team in the league in round 1, taking a step back wouldn't be the worst thing for them.

[rdnk]

Quote: Originally Posted by ImTellinTim

I also think Boudreau is not the problem. This core has been through 3 coaches and it's the same bull**** all the time.

I agree, but with a new GM, a missed playoff spot gives the GM the ability to bring in his own guy.

I had liked some of those Wild teams too. At least on paper they were deep up front and on the back end with several really high end guys, plus a good goalie. This seems to be a retool/chair shuffling, not a rebuild, so I imagine they'll be back at it next season.

EDIT: Kings ship Hagelin to the Caps for a 3rd.

[ImTellinTim]

Quote: Originally Posted by Majingir

3rd place? They're not even in the playoffs right now and are last in the division. A division they won't be getting a top 3 spot in, so they're competing with 5,maybe 6 teams for 2 WC spots. If season ended today, they'd enter the lottery with the 9th pick. For a team who has lost in first round each of past 3 years, and making playoffs this year means playing a top 3-4 team in the league in round 1, taking a step back wouldn't be the worst thing for them.

I was talking about when they started sucking then traded Nino for waste of space Victor Rask. They were in 3rd place in the division then. They have sucked for a while now. If you're going to do this, be bad all year.

[southernmetalhead]

The Wild have also shown no ability to draft, so unless it's a gift wrapped no brainer they will probably screw it up.

[rdnk]

Quote: Originally Posted by southernmetalhead

The Wild have also shown no ability to draft, so unless it's a gift wrapped no brainer they will probably screw it up.

Plus they've traded away a lot of picks and their own prospects. From the Fletcher era, of the players that have played 100 games in the NHL all that's left is Granlund, Zucker, Brodin, Dumba and Eriksson Ek. That's 5 players from 10 drafts. I suppose the last few drafts could pay dividends, but only Luke Kunin and Jordan Greenway has any NHL time so far.

Zack Phillips being the exception, Fletcher did a good job drafting in the first, but after that it was real ugly. No wonder he traded to many picks away.