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From what it sounds like we didn't even offer the most money. The biggest draws where the two of them playing together, and playing in Minnesota.
How often is playing in Minnesota a plus? Lets hope the Twins and others can get this type of street cred.
They had bigger offers out for them as individuals but they took less to play together.
Fantastic Day for Wild Fans!
So what does it shape-up like at this point? Along these lines I think:
Granlund-Koivu-Parise
Heatley-Cullen-Setoguchi
Bouchard-Brodziak-Clutterbuck
Zucker-Powe-Mitchell
Suter-Gilbert
Scandella-Spurgeon
Stoner-Falk
Not bad - when Croyle, Phillips, and Brodin especially get slotted in the near future this team has serious upside. Especially if they can go out and land a true number 2 center with the money coming off the books with Cullen and Bouchard.
Granlund is a pure center, next to no chance Zucker makes the team out of camp he's behind at least Coyle among prospects plus a guy like Velliux or Dowell are going to have a good chance of making the roster because the last 2 guys will be healthy scratches half the time.
Granlund may be a center long-term, but I'm expecting the Wild to pair him with Koivu most of this year.
.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheLeviathan
I wouldn't get your hopes up with that! Koivu is going to center Heatley and Parise/Setoguchi combo -more than likely just Parise. Like Fatbeer said, Granlund is a center. He'll get Setoguchi and Cullen/PMB.
I thought I heard Granlund's face-off skills were weak? Some people were suggesting he'd play wing due to that. Can't seem to find where I read that though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe
If he can win 40% of face-offs nobody's going to worry to much about it. He'll probably be on the 1st PP along with Parise and Koivu and probably won't be on the PK, that eliminates most big face-offs.
Plus if your looking at euro face-off stats don't be so sure they calculate it the same as we do. Wouldn't be suprised if the don't award a face-off win if the puck gets kicked around a little.
I'm just passing along something I remember hearing when he signed a few months back. A couple hockey guys had said he may need to start at wing while he works on face-offs.Quote:
Originally Posted by fatbeer
Face-off rules are different in Europe, I'm pretty sure you can't use your skates or glove to win a faceoff. The NHL also is making a faceoff rule change for next year, which is good.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheLeviathan
Rule 76.4: Both players facing-off are prohibited from batting the puck with their hand in an attempt to win the face-off. Any attempt by either center to win the face-off by batting the puck with their hand shall result in a minor penalty. This penalty shall be announced as a minor penalty for delay of game. Once the face-off is deemed complete, and the winner of the face-off is clear, hand passes shall be enforced as per Rule 79.
http://fans.wild.nhl.com/community/t...ct-out-of-him/
There you go Leviathan. Probably everything you wanted to know about Granlund and more - from a Rube's perspective anyways.
26 pages in that thread Joe...was there something in particular?
I agree with your comments about upside and our dmen pairings. I think your lines are off though.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheLeviathan
Heatley-Koivu-Parise
Cullen/Bouchard-Grandlund-Setoguchi
Cullen/Buchard-Brodziak-Clutterbuck
Veilleux-Powe-Mitchell
I wouldn't be shocked to see Mitchell push for 3rd line time as well. When we need some fighting or size Kassian or Konopka.
Konopka wins almost 60% of his faceoffs and I believe the Wild signed him to skate a regular shift so I would think he will be centering the 4th line. Veilleux has a two way contract so he will probably be in Houston or the press box waiting for an injury.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheLeviathan
Nope. Kinda like the 8 page thread on BJ Hermsen when he got drafted - all Verve's starting.
Nice. I read over a chunk of it. I'm encouraged by the kid. It would help this team a lot if he could play center.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe
Though I'm a big fan of this team going after Getzlaf in 2013 if he hits the market. Or trade and resign him with the money we're shedding.
10% chance the season starts on time. Good thing we have college hockey. LETS GO HUSKIES!!!