FLETCH!

Ok, so it has been awhile since I wrote about the Minnesota Wild. I am not a fairweather fan by any means and will always support my favorite team. The way last season ended however was very tough to swallow. The players quit on the fans, the team and on each other. It was one of the most pathetic displays I have ever seen in Minnesota sports history. I don't mind if a team loses as long as the effort is there. The bar has been set high by past Wild teams espescially the 2003 team.

A lot of "fans" called for Todd Richards head early and often in his 2nd year, which is the Minnesota way whether it makes sense or not. Todd Richards only issues as a head coach were a lack of experience and assertiveness. The latter being the only reason I am OK with and can understand his dismissal. He lost the players late in the 2011 season and to the degree he lost them would never get them back on his side. Having said that, the problem was the players and a lack of character! I do think Todd Richards will make a good head coach WHEN given another opportunity with quality and character players.

So onto the 2011 offseason...

Todd Richards was fired and Houston Aeros first year head coach Mike Yeo is promoted and made the third head coach in Minnesota Wild history. Some question this hire as a Todd Richards clone. To a certain extent this is true but as I said above Todd Richards wasn't the problem, other than losing the players late in the season. That is where the big difference between the two will come into play. Yeo is more assertive and demanding of his players. He will set expectations early and demand accountability, which has been lacking. This showed in his turn around of the Houston Aeros when he took them to the Calder Cup Finals, although they did end up losing, the transformation in 1 season was amazing!

Then there is the players on the NHL roster and depth in the system. What would and what could Chuck Fletcher do? Doug Risebrough, in his near decade run in charge of the Wild left the cupboard bare and absent of talent with the exception of a handful already in the NHL that were selected early on in his tenure. Towards the end every move Risebrough made fizzled.

Early in Chuck Fletchers tenure he tried to spark the team with big acquisitions, but the chemistry and effort was lacking, as the system was changing and players refused to adapt. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of good players on this team but MAJOR changes were needed with clear expectations and accountability standards set for those that remain.

Fletcher started the overhaul about 3 weeks ago when he dealt D-Maxim Noreau to the NJ Devils for C- David McIntyre who played his 1st pro season last year and appears to have some upside. The center position has long been a weakness of the Wild and defense appears to be a strength moving foward with Noreau unlikely to be re-signed and being unrestricted. So Fletcher got an asset for a walking player, a refreshing change.

Then came the 2011-2012 Entry Draft held here in Saint Paul. Expectations were high as the Wild were drafting high after a down year and changes needed to be made. Fletcher was tight lipped and made it clear he would be building from within and not as active in free agency.

After a solid 2010 draft Fletcher immediately showed he would be aggressive and wanted to add quality and depth rather than just for need. Fletcher took Swedish defenseman Jonas Brodin with the 10th pick who easily could have gone higher but fell to the Wild. That was followed by a huge but not unexpected trade with the San Jose Sharks. Brent Burns one of the players singled out for a lack of effort and consistency at the end of the 2010 season was moved, although he was a fan favorite in Minny. In exchange the Wild received highly regarded Centerman Charlie Coyle and RW Devin Setoguchi, an excellent skater and goal scorer, both glaring weaknesses in the Wild system under Risebrough. In addition as part of that trade the Wild sent a 2012 2nd round pick to the Sharks for their #28 overall 2011 1st rounder.

With the #28 overall pick from the Sharks, Fletcher again went after the Center position selecting Zach Phillips, also very highly regarded, which added sorely needed depth at the position. The rest of the draft was a success as well with a lot of quality young players selected and an empty cupboard starting to fill up nicely.

The Wild shortly after the draft acquired LW Daroll Powe from the Philadelphia Flyers for a 2013 3rd round draft pick. Powe is a hard hitting gritty forward, a lot like fan favorite Cal Clutterbuck, although with a little less goal scoring ability.

Fletcher followed up his 2nd very succesful draft and bold trade of fan favorite Burns with a 2nd blockbuster trade, again with the San Jose Sharks. This time he sent enigmatic winger Martin Havlat for Dany Heatley, a gifted skater and goal scorer who has not produced for San Jose in the playoffs. Havlat, although a quality player never fit in here in Minny and frequently displayed a lack of effort unless it was a spotlight game. He never established any chemistry here although he was provided opportunities with different linemates.

In another minor move the Wild also acquired former Minnesota Gopher Jeff Taffe, adding depth and grit to a team sorely lacking both. Taffe was signed to a 1 year 2 way contract and gives the Wild some depth and flexibility.

There have been rumors of Tomas Kaberle-D being signed as well, however I believe this to be highly unlikely. The Wild has enough veteran leadership on the D line and many of the young guys that stepped up at the end of the 2010 campaign have earned a chance for regular play and to show if they belong in the NHL.

This doesn't mean Fletcher is done though, and I do expect another minor move or two in the coming weeks. Not to be forgotten is the addition by subtraction with the release of D-Cam Barker, as well as not re-signing forwards Kobasew & Miettinen who frequently disappeared from games.

Finally Andrew Burnette, thank you for 6 great years (split) in a Wild sweater. Your effort was never questioned and you were a true overachiever and will never be forgotten & #mnwild forever! Good luck my friend, but I will have to boo you playing for the hated Blackhawks, for those old enough or wise enough to be aware of true Minnesota hockey rivalries.

Time for realignment, but that is another story.