So, why Richards?; Thoughts on Tom Lynn’s dismissal
Posted on June 15th, 2009 – 11:03 PMBy Michael Russo
First, here is the Todd Richards story for Tuesday’s editions
And, here is the player reaction sidebar and Tom Lynn dismissal short (the Chuck Fletcher quote on Schultz was from a sitdown I had with him last Thursday).
During the Wild’s month-long GM search, owner Craig Leipold had in-person interviewees give them a list of three coaching candidates they’d likely rank 1-2-3 if they had the opportunity to hire one in Minnesota (at least, this is what I’m told by sources).
As you know by my coverage, I talked to a horde of GM candidates over those several weeks, and I asked them the same question. Of the six or seven that did answer that question for me, Todd Richards was on at least five of the lists, including a few that actually got in-person interviews. He was considered that much of an up-and-comer in his incredible fast track from player (2002) to coach.
So you know Leipold heard this name a lot during that month and thus is very comfortable with this hire, and trust me, this was all Chuck Fletcher. As Leipold said at his news conference to introduce Fletcher, he gave the new GM full authority to build his own Stanley Cup-caliber team from top to bottom. That meant final authority on coaches, players and his hockey ops and scouting departments — as proven by today’s firing of longtime assistant GM Tom Lynn.
So, why Richards? I’ve talked to many of his friends and colleagues the last month because I was 100 percent positive he’d top Fletcher’s coaching search list in particular. So I feel I’ve gotten at least a little glimpse into what type of person he is and his personality (and by the way, everybody says he’s just a great guy with a lot of character).
First and foremost,
Fletcher feels it imperative to have a close working relationship with the new coach (Fletcher’s going to be around the team every single game the first half of the season), and the two of them became very close and grew a mutual respect for each other after Fletcher hired him in Wilkes-Barre. In fact, Fletcher recommended that Richards stay in Wilkes-Barre instead of taking the San Jose job because he was so certain he’d soon be an NHL coach. Ironically, Michel Therrien was eventually fired by the Penguins, and Richards would have gotten the job in Pittsburgh instead of Dan Bylsma. Well, who would have thought, but Fletcher gets the Wild job and Richards get to return to his hometown.
Second, Richards is an offensive-minded coach. He believes in pursuing the puck and attacking with it. He believes in hard-nosed hockey, up-tempo hockey and an activating blue line. And whattyaknow, Fletcher believes in the same type of hockey. So there’s an immediate mesh.
Third, and this could be the most important,
Fletcher’s experience with Richards has proven to him that Richards is as strong a communicator as he’s known. He thinks that’s imperative in today’s game. I’ve written this before on here, but Fletcher believes that players today are so young, it’s critical to have a coach that’s 1) within grasp of their generation so they can understand and relate to these players and 2) are willing to take the extra 10 minutes and explain to them why he’s got to play a certain way or why he’s out of the lineup or why, why, why.
Some old-school coaches don’t have this philosophy. It’s my way or the highway.
And quite frankly, after seeing the relationship fracture between Jacques Lemaire, 63, and James Sheppard, 21, Fletcher could be dead-on here.
Sheppard’s the type of player, incidentally, who could take a giant step under a more offensive coach like Richards. Sheppard is a forechecker. He’s an attacking player. It didn’t suit his game to always have to stay above the hash marks like centers had to in Lemaire’s system. There were lots of times I’d say to Jacques, “Boy, Sheppard really was good last night. Created some chances on the forecheck,” etc. etc. And I could tell by his eyes he either thought I was on something or simply wanted to say, “Yeah, but that’s not how we want him to play.”
OK, got sidetracked. Anyways, I think you’ll hear a lot about Richards being a strong communicator at Tuesday’s news conference.
Onto Tom Lynn, and first, from a personal note, Lynn’s a good guy and I feel for he and his family. He’s got six kids, two homes and didn’t make well more than a million bucks a year like Doug Risebrough. And Lynn was pretty much the guy the beat writers dealt with on a daily basis around here, so obviously, you build a relationship when you speak to each other or trade a dozen emails a day. In fact, we were exchanging emails up until 1:30 p.m. today about getting together at the Draft in Montreal (so he wasn’t told until late today). Obviously there were times of intense friction and certain disagreements, but I can tell you several hilarious stories about Lynn that would humanize him for you.
So I feel for the guy, and he will land on his feet somewhere. Hey, and maybe Florida if Doug Risebrough lands the GM job.
But I did sense this coming, especially after Fletcher made it so clear to me a few times that he never told Lynn and Co. that they were safe and that he first needed to evaluate the department.
Trust is the most important thing a GM needs alongside him, and unfortunately for Lynn, he didn’t really know Fletcher other than as a distant colleague who might have talked minor-league trade once in awhile.
Almost always in this situation, the new GM eventually brings a confidant in to be his right-hand man, and I think that will happen in this situation eventually. And quite frankly, I’d suspect there will be other big changes after the Draft and throughout July.
Fletcher will hire somebody he is very familar with, and one guy I keep hearing is Ottawa Senators Director of Hockey Operations Brent Flahr. In fact, I have heard this from so many NHL execs in the last two weeks, I can’t even remember who first told me.
But Flahr and Fletcher worked together for around 12 years between Florida and Anaheim. Now, Flahr is under contract to Ottawa, so who knows what will happen here. But most every NHL scout and executive have outs in their contract between the Draft and July 31 where they can look at another job, if it means a promotion especially.
I’ve known Flahr since the mid-90s. He’s a very sharp guy who worked his way up the food chain in Florida as a young pup.
He’s scouted a ton, and I believe negotiated contracts, too. Former Princeton captain, incidentally. Other guys available could be Mike Abbamont, Dave Taylor, Larry Carierre, Trevor Timmins and Bill Zito. I’d say Chicago assistant GM Rick Dudley (that’d be funny since it was Dudley who let go Fletcher in Florida), but Dudley’s about to take another job elsewhere. I do think eventually Fletcher hires some sort of senior advisor or consultant, like maybe an Al Coates.
Speaking of negotiating contracts, the timing of this Lynn dismissal is interesting for two reasons. 1) July 1 is right around the corner, and Lynn negotiated every contract in franchise history. So either Fletcher will have an assistant GM in place by then, or he’ll negotiate the contracts himself. And he’s more than capable of that because he did that in Florida, Anaheim and Pittsburgh. 2) Why do you make the decision now on the day you hire a new coach unless there’s another motive? Quite possibly, and this is just conjecture, this could be a last-ditch effort to say to Marian Gaborik, ”OK, EVERYTHING is different now. This is a completely new organization. New coach, new style, new person with no tension with your agent negotiating your contract. Please reconsider free agency.”
I think it’ll still be tough this close to free agency, but perhaps that is a motivation.
There were a lot of other factors that led to Fletcher’s decision, but that’s a look at some of the broader ones.
Lynn said the toughest part is how much he and his family fell in love with Minnesota life. He’ll stay on for a few days to help transition all his work to the rest of the staff.
OK, that’s it. Talk to you after the news conference Tuesday afternoon, and I’ll be on KFAN around 9:20 a.m.
87 Responses to "So, why Richards?; Thoughts on Tom Lynn’s dismissal"
If Lynn were to negotiate with Salcer and Gaborik again, I would have taken it as Fletcher is not serious about re-signing him.
DOESN’T Gabby hate Lynn? So this would be a good move to try and resign Marian.
James Sheppard needs to be sent down the road, the kid is never going to amount to much in the NHL. I don’t see anything that leads me to believe he will wake up next season and score even 20 goals. Strike while the iron is hot.
Fletcher didn’t dismiss Lynn just because of not getting along with Gaby’s agent, he wanted his own man for the job.
Unless James Sheppard drastically improves his game in my opinion he needs to be sent down to Houston.
Of course, Gaborik wasn’t the reason why Lynn was let go. It comes as no surprise. What would be more surprising would be if Fletcher kept him.
But letting Lynn go might make a difference in negotiating with Gaborik and Salcer.
I can’t wait to see them play. Up tempo? Forecheckers? I almost forgot what that looks like. That’s going to be a change alright…
If they attempt to sign Gaborik, I hope they give him every penny he’s asking for.
Then multiply that by .7652439, because that is the fraction of games that Gaborik has played out of 656 possible over his career.
The Wild doesn’t revolve around Gaborik. When healthy, he makes the team much, much better. Snipers like Gaborik and Heatley don’t grow on trees. You try what you can do to get them to stay or try to get the best deal you can in a trade for them.
I hope Fletcher fires the entire scouting department except the goalie scout. The goalie scout is world class, but the rest are worthless.
Thanks for validating my own (albeit limited) experience with Lynn, Russo. Hope he lands in a good situation somewhere. I do wish him well.
Off to research this Flahr fella.
[…] Russo has a great post explaining why the Wild went with San Jose’s Todd Richards as their new coach. The Wild wanted someone more offensive-minded than Jacques Lemaire, which isn’t very hard to […]
Good luck to Lynn.
Great background stuff, Russo!
51’s job is to do what the coach asks him to do, not what he thinks is best for him. Nice team player, while others play the system he does his own thing, because he has been playing hockey since he was little. Send him far away from here, but at least get a draft choice for him.
little = 3
From the last meal:
GreenStar says:
June 15th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
honestly, what influence does the coach have on the draft?
The coach doesn’t influence who you draft, but the coach influences who you draft. I know, that statement contradicts itself, but it really doesn’t.
1) The coach doesn’t say “draft this kid”.
2) Who the coach is and their system/mindset can affect who you draft. For instance with JL as coach you choose the super defensive centerman who chips in some goals. With Richards as coach, you choose the offensive, checking centerman.
Make sense? Yes, overall you want to pick the best possible player, but you also want to pick a player who will thrive and play. No sense in picking a 50 goal scoring center if the coach is going to sit him because he isn’t as defensively responsible as the coach would like.
You can’t send Sheppard down without him clearing wavers and guaranteed, someone will pick him up.
No, he should do better with the new system. Only time will tell.
To all of you saying that Shep should be dealt, sent down, or released… I think you’ll all be eating crow after this season.
The kid was fabulous in junior in an up-tempo forechecking system, and there’s no reason to think he can’t do the same thing in the NHL.
No sense in picking a 50 goal scoring center if the coach is going to sit him because he isn’t as defensively responsible as the coach would like.
if you pass on a 50 goal scorer because he isn’t defensively responsible and the coach will demand that, there is a problem.
the reason i say the coach doesn’t matter here is the GM knows what type of product he wants on the ice. He wasn’t going to hire a JL type coach because he doesn’t fit what he wants. the coach was going to have the style that TR will push because that is that CF wants.
Maybe if Richards hires Robb Stauber as goalie coach, and Dave Snuggerud and the Hankinson brothers as assistant coaches, all of you Gopher rubes will finally shut up about how we’re one Gopher away from a lifetime grasp on the cup.
Like the pick. Hate that it makes all these gopher fans feel the need to chest thump.
Lynn:
He’s got six kids, two homes and didn’t make well more than a million bucks a year like Doug Risebrough.
I’m having trouble with that sentence. Sorry, his and his wife’s choice to have six kids and two homes. Sure it sucks he lost his $1M a year job (I think that sentence said he was making $1M), but there are plenty of people who have six kids (again, their decision - probably only one home though) that make a tiny fraction (1/10 or less) of what TL made. Perhaps planning ahead and saving for the future when working in a profession which is potentially unstable is a good thing? So he has to sell his second home and the kids might have to go to public school? Maybe he sells his Benz and buys a Ford? Or, maybe he gets another job making $1M and continues on his current path.
I have to think that TL saying that he had been asked to stay when that apparently wasn’t the case may have played a small role in his dismissal. A good way to piss off your boss is to run around telling people he’s given you some authority which he hasn’t. Most bosses would see that as a challenge to their authority and feel compelled to let you know exactly who is in charge.
Russo - thanks for reminding us that at the end of the day the front office, coaching staff, trainers and players are all people. Russoville gets a little carried away treating these people as nothing more than trading cards.
If Brian Rolston tested free agency you can guarantee Gaborik will as well. I’m hopeful the Wild can resign him. It would be nice if an uptempo team had at least one player capable of world class speed.
G*, I don’t disagree, but in that case, the coach is the problem. I used an extreme example. Given the choice of two similar players, you would choose the one which is better suited to playing under the coach you have. No, Fletcher wouldn’t have hired JL2, but the coach’s talents can in fact play a role in who you draft. Look at Shep for example. Maybe DR would’ve been better off drafting a player that fit JL’s idea of a center but didn’t have as much of an offensive upside.
AiH, the one thing that Fletcher maybe has on Gaborik is his injury history. If he can get Gaborik thinking his injury history is going to be a big thing for other clubs, he might, might get Gaborik to sign a 1 yr. Then, he can hope Gaborik likes the new GM/front office/coach/system and decides to sign a longer contract. It is quite unlikely though as Gaborik has very little to lose in testing the water.
-”The same site that rumored the Demitra trade is rumoring us and the Kings again. We trade PMB,Sheps and 12 to the Kings. We get 5 and draft Magnus Pjarrvi Svennson (the next Forseberg)plus we pick up a 2nd and 3rd from the Kings.”
I saw this posted on another article. Has anyone heard or read anything else on this? I, for one, would go for it.
All this crap about now the Wild won’t be afraid to acquire, or be biased against drafting, Americans is beyond annoying to me. Maybe I missed the memo, but I never realized this was official Wild policy the last 9 years. Of course, no one bothers to point out the better American (or Minnesotan) the Wild could have drafted instead of the one that was actually selected, but whatever.
Yes, I suppose you’re right Goody. At the same time Salcer will be in Gaby’s ear convincing him that injury concerns are over now that both hips have been patched up.
Mo Wanchuk - that is the best comment I have ever read on this blog. I 100% agree!
Personally Bisker, if Gaborik won’t resign then I’m all for any trade that blows up the team. After all, if we’re trying to follow the model of the Penguins we’re going to have to tank season after season for half a decade.
With JL now gone I don’t see it being too difficult for the Wild to swan dive.
A 1 year contract is pretty risky for Gabby. I’m sure they’ll be playing the angle that the two structural surgeries finally fixed the problems that he has been having the past several years. (It may have.)
If Gabby goes out on a 1 year with the Wild and misses any stretch of time with a Groin/abductor injury, his money or his term is hurt. Sure, Gabby probably won’t command quite what he would have last summer, but he’s better off now than after another potential injury layup.
Richards is a great pick. NO doubt about it. But Russo, in your article today, what are you doing throwing Lemaire under the bus, and only one week after you raved about him in this lame blog? As long as the team is cleaning house, let’s get rid of you too. Or do us all a favor and transfer to an East Coast market since that’s where your loyalties are anyway…. What a hack.
Hey Jacques!
TR, you are obviously on the wrong blog.
THIS IS RUSSOVILLE!!! Now go away!!!!
Tanking:
I’m concerned that if the franchise is completely blown up that maintaining the ‘core’ we have is not going to be easy. Re-signing Koivu, Burns, Backstrom after tanking for 3-4-5 seasons would probably be a little difficult. Sure, we’d probably have the money to do so, but aside from Gaborik, I’ve never really seen any players on the Wild whose sole reason for playing is the money (those that would be happy playing on a crappy team).
AIH, slow down there. I don’t think Fletcher or Richards has any notion of “tanking” any season.
Bisker,
That trade is awful. We give up THREE 1st round picks for the #5 and a 2nd and 3rd? Wouldn’t even work on NHL ‘09.
Hey Bisker: bite me. This is a Star Trib hockey blog that Russo currently posts on until he gets the job he really wants out East. It’s only a matter of time, thankfully. But what will you and the rest of Russo’s little groupies do when he leaves?
To all of you saying that Shep should be dealt, sent down, or released… I think you’ll all be eating crow after this season.
+1 to that!
Hey, Russo! Any word if Richards is keeping Ramsey around?
It’s a good hire. I think it’d be good to have some experience in the assistant coaches, like a Ramsey. Richards seems to have the right blend of drive and personality to thrive as a head coach in today’s NHL.
I like the proposed style. I like having fresh eyes.
Now, it’s time to move on to trades and the draft.
Just a freindly Russoville reminder:
Do not feed the Trolls.
Goody - excellent point about Lynn sealing his fate by saying he was staying when that wasn’t exactly what Fletcher told him. Fletcher either sees him as “jumping to the wrong conclusion guy” or questioning his authority. Either way, he has a year left on his contract to unload one of his two homes and think about being less combative with player agents in his next gig.
Maybe we can trade “Trade Russo” for a 4th-rounder. Gotta build the farm system, right?
Better idea: send him to Hamilton, Ontario.
TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO TRADE RUSSO
I hope the Wild keep Sheppard, Pouliot, etc, at least for another year or two. See what they can do in a completely different system. Maybe DR will look like a genius after the fact by building a team designed for something other than the Lemaire System.
Dunno if this has been discussed already… but Balsillie strikes out again.
Judge rejects sale of Coyotes: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=425756
I hope the Wild keep Sheppard, Pouliot, etc, at least for another year or two. See what they can do in a completely different system. Maybe DR will look like a genius after the fact by building a team designed for something other than the Lemaire System.
Not sure if I would consider selecting players ill suited for your own system genius or idiocy, but I think I catch the drift.
As long as there are NHL defensemen in his path, Pouliot isn’t going to be much better in this new system. Call him FSG (Figure Skating Giant).
Question - if Gaborik is a free agent, can the Wild still bid for his services?
A coach’s opinion is helpful for draft day trades. Otherwise, he’s just arm candy. I mean, he has not seen any of the draftees play. He doesn’t know if X player is positioning sound, what his shooting skills are like or how he skates.
A good coach gets his players to buy in to the system. Lemaire did do that but the last two years, we saw that it was getting harder and harder.
Sheppard is afraid of change. He only wants to play his way and not the team’s way. Gaborik is like that too but he learned to play Lemaire’s way albeit reluctantly. Unlike Gaborik who has scoring ability, Sheppard doesn’t have any to justify going out of the system.
Yes, they’re in the mix as much as any other team, Monk
For folks interested, Wild.com will carry the Richards press conference live on their site.
Thanks, sunshine.
sunshine, you are on the money. The GM will draft who he likes and of course he will draft to fit his system and his coach will fit his system–that’s why he picked Richards..
For what it’s worth, Woog weighs in on the American-born players…
Woog was also hopeful Fletcher and Richards will bring more American-born players to the Wild, particularly from the hockey-rich home state. Fans and local leaders in the sport grew frustrated with the dearth of such demographics on the roster while Doug Risebrough was general manager and Lemaire was coach.
Third-line center Dan Fritsche was the only American on the roster when last season ended.
“Either they were showing their ability to control who was going to play, or they were showing they were afraid of the downfall,” Woog said. “If they had played badly, it would’ve looked bad for the organization. But what if they had played well? It didn’t seem like they had the confidence in any of them. It seemed like they were afraid of the downside.”
I’m sure FSN will carry it too
Is this any surprise from Woog? Seriously, who cares. Get the best player available. The idea behind the Wild shouldn’t be a place to showcase American players, its to win the Cup. If we have a team of nothing but European and Canadian players but consistently contend for the cup, I think the home crowd will be happy.
We have had Americans on the team. They forget we drafted Thelen who ended up as a bust. I’m sick, sick, sick of hearing it.
blah this guy sucks. I’m going to be a New York Islanders fan
Woog and his only Minnesota-only players shouldn’t really talk. What about other American-born players that were shut out of the Gophers team?
Whatever. Best players, please.
I think we have all resolved that we are in favor of the best players. Is there any way to stop this mindless, endless discussion. Just like whoever said yesterday–great no more French-Canadians. Fletcher won’t care where they are from–he will go with the best.
On that note, who does everyone want to see drafted if we maintain the 12th pick?
–Just like whoever said yesterday–great no more French-Canadians.
Out with poutine, in with hotdish.
Comment by Ben Hankinson
“He plays aggressive, offensive hockey. Opposed to the way the Wild has played, it’ll be pretty refreshing and entertaining.
Everybody wants a change of style of play right Ben ?
Close your eyes and ask this one question to yourself…
Are the fans most happy leaving the X after a win or a loss Ben??
Now open your eyes
See you thought that changing the style alone will be more entertaining right ? Maybe not most happy
I cant remember going to a Wild game when I was not entertained
Maybe Pouliot can turn into a high-talent role player under a new everything. Pouliot isn’t going to be a impact player, but he might not look out of place in an offensive system with skilled linemates.
I read so much crap about DR and Lemaire drafting French-Canadiens — but when you think about it, they have drafted most players from the Western Hockey League and not many French-Canadiens at all.
PMB is the only French-Canadian drafted in the first round by DR and Co.
Even Powers was buying into it (i.e., the American bias) in his column. So many people are commenting on the supposed bias as if there was some policy and I really didn’t get the memo.
The Don is going to have to help shed some light on this.
Make no mistake, I am all for getting the best players too. I knew Woog’s words would get a few posters to bear their teeth again 
If JL is coach of the Devil for a month and they play the Wild. I predict that the Devils pound the Wild something bad. Probably 7-2 but it maybe only 5-2 because Lemaire will pull the reins in on the boys because he has class.
Goody says:
June 16th, 2009 at 11:12 am
blah this guy sucks. I’m going to be a New York Islanders fan
Just an FYI, that wasn’t me. Whoever it was, have fun watching the Islanders.
–Mister Know it all says: I cant remember going to a Wild game when I was not entertained
And we all know that’s the meds talking.
On that note, who does everyone want to see drafted if we maintain the 12th pick?
Bisker, here are a few of our projected possible selections. Only one link per post 
Carter Ashton:
http://www.mynhldraft.com/2009/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Carter-Ashton
Jordan Schroeder:
http://www.mynhldraft.com/2009/NHL-Draft-Profiles/
Sunshine, I believe, when these arguments are typically played out, that the drafting preferences of DR were for later round drafts. I think the Wild tried to pick best player available in the first round. The most notable reach and bust happened with Thelen, who was still a pretty good prospect at the time.
I think it was 2 years ago, maybe more now, that DR had that piece about being wary of players with local ties coming in off the draft. That was were the piece about higher expectations and more pressure leading to less likely top development. I think he went on to say that he hoped that top “local” talent would look to come back to MN and play for the Wild after developing in the NHL and proving their skills. I believe that was some of his argument around signing Parrish at the time. (Turned out well, didn’t it?)
Nothing but positives where Richards has been. He’ll be a great addition & a fresh new look for the franchise!
Hockeydad, from previous thread:
If you went to St. Ralphs on Bass Lake Road I probably went to school with some of your siblings.
Now, who do people think that are currently on the roster that will not be a fit with the new style of play?
Nolan and Bruno not so much but are great veteran leadership (I wonder how Nolan’s personality will clash with Richards, hopefully they’ll be on the same page). I hate to say it but I think Boogie might be gone.
I wonder if Lynn had clearance to sign John Scott. I don’t know if he will fit into the new scheme but another team might be willing to deal for him, maybe we’ll see a draft pick in return. Also with the new philosophy, I think the days of some Wild d-men logging 25-30 minutes a game are dead and gone. You will need to rotate 6 d-men all game if the d is going to be up in the offensive zone.
oops… my JS link was broken.
Jordan Schroeder:
http://www.mynhldraft.com/2009/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Jordan-Schroeder
Jake — look at the drafts. It doesn’t play out. Sorry.
The Wild mainly drafts out of the WHL — 20 players, OHL - 8, QMJHL (most French-Canadiens)- 9, Finland -5, NCAA- 5, MN HS - 2, US National team - 2, Other US High School-1, Sweden -2, Czech Republic - 3, Russia-5, Poland-1.
If you went to St. Ralphs on Bass Lake Road I probably went to school with some of your siblings.
I and each of my 8 siblings did, indeed attend. Funny. I had sibligns that graduated from high school in ‘79, ‘81 (twins) and ‘83, which sounds like close to your vintage.
Sunshine, I am not making the argument. I was simply pointing out that those who make the argument don’t usually point to later rounds than the first.
The DR comments was what I recalled from his statements a few years ago. i will look for that article. Looking at your numbers there, though I bet some determined people could make arguments against you.
Seriously, though I don’t buy a French-Canadian bias.
I mean.. “do usually point”
ATF, thanks for the links again. Who out of those 3 would you like to see? I don’t think Schroeder will be available at 12, but I’d take him if he was there. Otherwise, I like Carter Ashton.
Live food.
HD, I was an 82 grad and my brother was an 80 grad. I’ll try to recall twins a year ahead of me (unfortunately that brain cell may have been killed off at the Sunshine Factory).
What’s the argument? I am just saying that the draft doesn’t play out people’s perception about more French-Canadiens being drafted by the Wild.
If you want to talk about players on the team — that’s a different issue.
Not referring to an argument specifically for a pro French Canadian draft policy. Again, I am not arguing with you. I just have seen people around here come up with arguments based on some pretty limited info/supporting numbers. That is all that I am saying.
El Gato, disagree regarding time on ice for defensemen next season. Defensemen who who get into the 25+ minutes per night are seeing a lot of PP and PK time. New coach/system or not, the top guys will still get their PP and PK time while the 5-6th defensemen will maybe touch 10-15 minutes per night.
—All this crap about now the Wild won’t be afraid to acquire, or be biased against drafting, Americans is beyond annoying to me. Maybe I missed the memo, but I never realized this was official Wild policy the last 9 years.—
I am by no means one who advocates picking MN players or Americans on principle. However, when you look at the numbers of American and Minnesota kids drafted and playing, the Wild were not just kind of behind the curve, they were almost off it. I saw a report on the numbers and it was almost statistically impossible for the Wild to have so few given the many in the league and minors.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Smug and or Jock-U made a conscious decision to focus their scouting efforts elsewhere. Plus, I get the sense that Smug had a Glen Masonesque relationship with the state’s youth and high school hockey programs, ie. “I am too smart for you guys.”
