wild/nhl

Is he just not as good as everyone says he is?

@taxpayer- as Ed McMahon used to say, You Are Correct Sir. At $7M plus your not judged on your intangibles. Games are won by goals (assists). If you don't have many of either and your getting 1st line and power play TOI people are going to question your worth. This may go down as Fletch's worst contract. Koivus is a real nice 2nd line defensive center with offensive flashes. He's a bit surly which you can get away with if you deliver. Otherwise your just a distraction. Pffft, 8 games in and fletch is already playing the stats aren't everything card with Koivus. SAD.

I don't think he is recognized as being one of the best forwards in the league taxpayer. Push rewind and a bunch of complaining was going on about him last year. It can't be argued that he thrived under the very experienced credible Lemaire and his system. I tried to solve the problem by suggesting to Mister Fletcher to call Bob Gainey and request the services of Plekonik and try to pry that number 1 draft pick off his hands for Koivou and perhaps a little pocket change

@ Pewterschmidt, I know you remember Wes Walz, he was the identity of the team with his grit and work ethic, I am guessing that Fletcher is talking about what he does for his teammates as a positive influence, but that is part of the complaint on him the last two years...... Don't you think its fair to say that Walz was a better influence Pewterschmidt ?

Koivu has repeatedly shown his capabilities and he works his tail off. That is a recipe for success. He was a hair's breadth from a terrible outcome with the cut on his neck and he is right back at it. Sorry folks. I'm with CF and Yeo on this. Given time, 1st line will start to click. And there is no question in my mind that Mikko is the C.

Trade Koivu for Jarome Iginla. Make a second trade for Chris Neil in Ottawa. The wild need some leadership and most of all character. Change of scene would be good for all.

With the line Koivu had, there would have to be two pucks in play for him to get more shots.

"To define Mikko by statistics is to miss the whole point of what he's all about," - Huh? Being paid $7.29 Mil this year would seem to indicate statistics would and should be a BIG part of what he's about, though. Being praised for his defensive-zone coverage is all well and good, but Wild players aren't paid this type of money just for being good defensive forwards. I believe Wes Walz was only paid about $1.4 Mil his final year, despite once having been a finalist for the Selke Trophy during his career with the Wild. For goodness sake Mikko is being paid almost as much as Marian Gaborik ($7.5 Mil) and Rick Nash ($7.5 Mil) are this season, and he's being paid more than Thomas Vanek ($6.4 Mil) or Jarome Iginla ($7.0 Mil)! Granted, Mikko IS a solid two-way player, but that seems to be the best description of him - solid. The Wild obviously need more of the offensive part of his game to come through. I do think Mikko is valuable to the Wild and that it's a little too early to talk about trading him. I'm just not entirely convinced he's worth the salary management is paying him.

He hasn't done any better than anyone else on the team. i don't feel he's a standout player by any stretch and the 7 year contract was given out too quickly. But now he wears the C on his sweater and is making $7M a year....how can they demote him to second or third line (where he needs to be until he brings his play back up to par)? He isn't worth the money he's raking in but again...overpaying for mediocrity seems to be acceptable in the sports world. Look at the Viqueens....losing, losing, losing and MN is STILL trying to find money to build them a new stadium so they'll play better!(?) Is that what it's going to take with the Wild too? A new arena?

Logically it would make sense and it was be easier to acquire a center with the primary nhl skill as a defensive center men for Mister Fletcher. Plenty of good skating guys, faceoff, and a good defensive skill set. I thought under the Wilds current team it has it would be easier to have wingers as the top 6