wild/nhl

This is so cool about this team. There's been all of the hype around Parise and Suter but we still have all of these top prospects in the wings. This team is set up to win now and in the future.

My favorite line: "Bulmer's game is significantly better than even when he got his [nine-game] look last year." I was impressed with his game then! I haven't heard much about Larsson, and I'm happy to read what Flahr had to say about him. Let's go Wild!

so what happens when this group of minor leaguers fizzles? what next? never have i seen so much praise heaped on a group that has done so little.

pazaluna- group thats done so little?! what? Coyle, Phillips win the Q's championship. Coyle gets playoff MVP. Granlund helps Finland win the WC with Koivu and his team in Finland with the FEL championship last year. Brodin and Larsson help team Swedin win the WJC. Forgive me if I'm incorrect but I believe Zucker, Granlund, and Larsson ( I think there is one more) all captained there respective teams at the WJC. These guys have performed at every level they have played at. There is no reason to think many of them will succeed in the NHL. Brodin is compared to a young Lidstrom. I mean...two of his teammates on team Sweden said that (Alfredsson and Kronwall). He got top 4 minutes at the WC and was better than some of the NHL'ers. You sir don't know what your talking about.

Obviously luna is trying to stir the pot. And that is fun for him/her. The truth is that none of them have played much NHL if at all. But, as nsjohn put it, they have played at high levels all the way up. The 'experts' around the NHL are praising these kids as well. I love that we won't need them this year. Granlund will play and maybe Coyle, Brodin, Larsson, Zucker and Bulmer. But, none of the have to. I would like to think, though, that just their presence on the 'doorstep' will push guys like Clutter and Powe and even Cullen. On the blue line, we have 7-8 guys that have played in the NHL and if Brodin can't make it, we'll be fine. Having a stabilizing Suter playing 26-28 minutes a game will help and don't forget how solid Gilbert was the last dozen games or so as he played huge minutes against top lines and he was never known for that.

I think we're seeing a changing of the guards and it starts this year. With the addition of Parise and Suter adding more veteran leadership, I expect 4-5 of these young guys making the sqaud out of camp.

a few other good points to ponder....... the Wild should have an additional $13MM of cap space because Backstrom, Cullen and maybe Bouchard will be gone. most of these young kids will be on their entry level deals until the 15-16 season. Heatley is under contract until 13-14 and then will either be back at a reduced rate or gone altogether. that's ANOTHER $7.5MM clear in cap space. let's hope these kids pan out.

I sure hope that the Wild end up have some seasons in the future. Since they came into the league, we fans have been waiting for something good to happen. I watched the North Stars for many, many years and miss them. I guess now I will have to start liking the Wild.

Can't wait for "Becoming Wild" to air again this year on FSNorth (also Wild.com). I thought they did an awesome job with that series last year. They covered the Wild prospects and the new coaches real closely. Really gets you pumped for the season.

I think the biggest riser for the prospects is Brodin. A year ago I wasn't so sure about this guy. I am no scout, but watching him in the WJC made me a believer. Watching that skating ability and decision making, those are things you can't teach, you either have it or you don't. He was the best d-man in the tourney...and I'm not just saying that as a Wild fan. He could very well be a guy that is a better NHL player than Swedish elite league, as he can pass the puck to guys like Parise,Heater and Granlund. A PP of Suter,Brodin,Granlund,Heater and Parise in the future, or maybe Dumba,Suter,Granlund,Coyle and Parise the possibilities are endless. Very excited to go to the open scrimmage on Thursday and watch Dumba rip some shots from the point.