This would be the logical place to write in-depth about last night's pathetic loss to the Detroit Red Wings, but let's just move on from that, shall we? Let's not talk about the embarrassing effort showed by the team and forget it even happened. Let's focus on something positive like Minnesota Wild prospect Jason Zucker.
Zucker, a forward for Team USA in this year's World Junior Championships, is a natural scorer. He scored the second goal in last night's victory over the Finnish team and shows huge upside. After the WJC he will return to the Denver University Pioneers, where he leads the nation in goals by a freshman with 14 in 18 games. Jason was picked 59th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and this looks to be a steal. My best guess is that Zucker will sign with the Wild after this season and spend 2011-12 in Houston before debuting with the Wild in 2012-2013.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
2 Posts in 1 Day
Yes, this ties a Wild Puck Banter record; I don't know what's got into me. Anyways, I just wanted to announce that I'll be live-tweeting my drive up to Duluth, Minnesota tomorrow from the Twin Cities. It's bound to be an exciting read, so be sure and tune in tomorrow around noon. Follow my Twitter feed and learn all you ever wanted to know about this road trip to the Jewel of the Northland.
Not All is Lost
Some hockey wonks have the opinion that in today's NHL a team needs to be bad for a few years in a row in order to get better. To sit at the bottom of the standings, accumulate top draft picks and then make a run. This is how the Pittsburgh Penguins (Fleury, Staal, Malkin and Crosby), Chicago Blackhawks (Kane, Toews and Barker) and some others have been built. Sure, this works, but I don't really think this is the only way.
Those who think this way tend to believe that the Minnesota Wild need to gut the franchise, sit in the NHL's basement for 2-3 years and then get better. Yes, this would work, but why throw away those seasons? Why subject their fans to multiple years of piss-poor hockey?
Smart general managers can make it work without the benefits of consecutive Top 3 picks in the entry draft. Examples? Take a look at the Philadelphia Flyers. Their only Top 10 pick since 2003 was James van Riemsdyk at #2 overall and he's not even among their best 10 players. They've built their team through free agency, trades and low draft choices. Are they the exception? How about the Dallas Stars, currently first in the West? The Stars haven't had a Top 10 pick since 1996 besides Scott Glennie (who?) at #8 overall in 2009. Yet another? I give you the Colorado Avalanche with one Top 10 pick since 1993, Matt Duchene.
These teams became very good teams by other means than sucking for many years and this gives the Wild hope. Wild GM Chuck Fletcher can build a good team without being really, really bad for the foreseeable future. And I for one believe he is on the way. Sure, he blew the Leddy for Barker trade, but the team's future is getting brighter thanks to top prospects like Marco Scandella, Jason Zucker and Michael Granlund.
Those who think this way tend to believe that the Minnesota Wild need to gut the franchise, sit in the NHL's basement for 2-3 years and then get better. Yes, this would work, but why throw away those seasons? Why subject their fans to multiple years of piss-poor hockey?
Smart general managers can make it work without the benefits of consecutive Top 3 picks in the entry draft. Examples? Take a look at the Philadelphia Flyers. Their only Top 10 pick since 2003 was James van Riemsdyk at #2 overall and he's not even among their best 10 players. They've built their team through free agency, trades and low draft choices. Are they the exception? How about the Dallas Stars, currently first in the West? The Stars haven't had a Top 10 pick since 1996 besides Scott Glennie (who?) at #8 overall in 2009. Yet another? I give you the Colorado Avalanche with one Top 10 pick since 1993, Matt Duchene.
These teams became very good teams by other means than sucking for many years and this gives the Wild hope. Wild GM Chuck Fletcher can build a good team without being really, really bad for the foreseeable future. And I for one believe he is on the way. Sure, he blew the Leddy for Barker trade, but the team's future is getting brighter thanks to top prospects like Marco Scandella, Jason Zucker and Michael Granlund.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)