Wednesday (slipping away) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on February 27th, 2008 – 8:54 AMBy Michael Rand
|
Our honest first reaction to yesterday’s announcement of a Chris Simon trade was this: the Wild is going to miss the playoffs. Right now, you could say the Wild is only two points out of the No. 3 seed. You could also say they’re three points from the No. 9 seed, which would be out off the playoffs. If their 4-1 loss last night — preceded by a dreadful week and on the heels of the most head-scratching local trade we can recall since Cassell and a No. 1 for Jaric — is any indication, the latter scenario is more likely. Colorado, the team three points behind them, made itself infinitely better in the past few days by acquiring Peter Forsberg and blueline depth. The past week for the Wild and recent weeks for the Wolves have forced us to ask a very strange question: which team will win more games next season? We put the over-under on the Wolves at around 32 victories next season. Call us crazy, but we think the past 16 games tell us far more about the local NBA squad than the 5-34 start. Included in that 7-9 mix are victories over Golden State, Phoenix and (last night) Utah, as well as close losses to Boston (twice), San Antonio, Houston and Dallas (tied into the fourth quarter). Add a draft pick, a full year of Randy Foye and another year of experience for the kids next year, and they could be somewhat frisky. The Wild? We’re just not sure. Two weeks ago, we were sold. We were convinced, based on their play to that point and the nature of their contract situations, that this was the year they would make a deadline move that made them a legitimate contender and at least pushed them into the conference semis. Maybe Simon will prove everybody wrong. Maybe Doug Risebrough will be vindicated. But on the flip side, maybe this will end poorly enough for the unthinkable to become possible next season: the Wolves outplaying the Wild.
Fasola-link! Buford T. Justice.
13 Responses to "Wednesday (slipping away) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
Sad news from Pittsburgh: Myron Cope, radio analyst for the Steelers from 1970-2005, died today. Here is his story of the Terrible Towel, precursor to the Homer Hanky.
I just wonder when the Wild’s front office is going to overplay its hand and lose the goodwill of the fans. Is this that move?
If the Wild get to the second round, all is forgiven. If not, and the economy stays in the tank, next year will be the last year of 43 * 18,568, and they may have to say “put up or shut up” to a substantial portion of the waiting list to achieve that.
Predicting who will win more games now is like throwing darts at a dart board under water. You have no chance. So many things can change between now and then. If the Wolves get a top 2 pick that player will definitely help next year. Any other pick and I don’t think you’ll see much contribution. The Wild have a huge off season ahead of them. Are they going to get something done with Gabby? If not they should look into trading him while his value is still high. The Wild are kind of in the same spot as the Twins were this last off season except the Wild don’t have a bunch of young pitchers.
jama, not only do the Wild not “have a bunch of young pitchers”, it sounds like the Houston farm team is totally devoid of talent.
If they don’t keep Gabby (or get good value for him in trade), the fans will turn on the ownership in a second. You can’t lose the one big playmaker on the team (who has been there from the start) and not expect people to be pissed off.
Im starting to think J.L. is taking his cues from Carl Pohlad too. what a disappointing move after we keep hearing about the system and how we must wait til we are ready…
Unlike Pohlad, Lemaire can only work with the talent that is brought in for him. Pohlad just swims in his money vault like Scrooge McDuck.
We are now forced to consider that Kevin McHale is a better GM than Doug Risebrough.
I’d say the bloom is off the rose in St. Paul.
It’s a money bin, for crying out loud.
Billy Heywood is correct. It is a bin. I apologize for this oversight.
Over/Under on how many games Simon plays before getting suspended?
Over/under is 6 games.
I’ll take the under. He’s gonna get pissed and slash someone right in the nuts.
…and I’m not a cowboy.
If the press didn’t make such a big deal of the friendship between Naegele and Leipold, I’d say this was shades of Red getting rid of Moss after finalizing the Wilf trade.
Since that’s not the answer, I’m personally getting board of the Twins/Wild/Wolves “model” of developing talent from within instead of buying some already developed talent. I know every GM says they prefer that, and even Spielman claims to prefer it. But the aforementioned teams take it to the ridiculous level of becoming farm teams.
Le Pierre Marc Butch better become aware he has to become the next Olie Jokinen. Or Marion Gaborik since he’ll probably be gone. Nick Schultz better become aware he has to be the next Chris Pronger. Chris Simon better become aware how close St. Paul is to Stillwater.
