Benched Zidlicky: 'I can't be quiet'
Two trade deadlines after the Wild signed defenseman Marek Zidlicky to a three-year contract extension, the Wild might now look to trade Zidlicky before this year's Feb. 27 deadline.
The Wild has an unhappy veteran on its hands.
Zidlicky was a healthy scratch for a third game in a row Tuesday night, and in a bruise to his pride, it came against his former team, the Nashville Predators. During an unsolicited interview after Tuesday's morning skate, Zidlicky said he would consider waiving his no-trade clause if he continues not to play.
Zidlicky scratched for first time as a WildRight when they brought up Nate Prosser yesterday with no injuries to defensemen, I figured Zidlicky was on his way out fo the lineup if we woke up this morning and found nobody traded.
The way Zidlicky played the past two games, something had to be done. It's one thing not to score, and we've written on and on about his offensive woes. But it's another to continue to play a guy that's a defensive liability constantly.
Where the Wild things....drop out of the playoffs??I would like to start by crediting a previous article, about the Minnesota wild. it mentioned the desperation of Chuck Fletcher, to maintain a playoff spot. in my personal opinion, I think their offense is doing it right; the defense, not so much. A defensive defenseman, along with a puck-moving man may be what the wild need. Clearly, Schultz and Lundin cannot man the blue-line at the required level, so what could the boys in burgundy be after? lets take a look:
Harding ignores trade talkJosh Harding isn't oblivious to the fact his name is churning through the NHL rumor mill.
It has been almost 10 years since he was drafted, so he knows how it works. The Wild goalie is a potential free agent and it's five weeks to the Feb. 27 trade deadline.
So since the Wild has yet to talk contract with him, could Harding help the Wild land that much-coveted top-six forward?
Wild GM Fletcher desperate, and other teams know itAs the Wild aired things out in a team meeting in hopes of easing tension that has infiltrated the sinking team, and as the Wild hit the ice at the Toronto Maple Leafs practice facility in hopes of ending a 10-game road winless streak Thursday against the Leafs ... Chuck Fletcher was on the phone.
The Wild general manager was ducking behind signage, slipping into hallways, finding quiet spots in quiet areas -- his Blackberry always at his ear.
Are the Wild interested in making a deal?The Wild is down to 11 forwards right now, and so far, no callup. I've been told Fletcher has been trying to make a trade before calling up a player. I just don't know what he can do without delving into the prospect pool. And that, he has said he is unwilling to do unless it's a deal that makes sense for the future.
On the actual roster, I think the only player that maybe can get you a top-6 forward is Josh Harding, and again, that's a maybe. Tampa Bay may be looking for a goalie as long as it's one for the future.
Some guys available? Maybe the Rangers' Wojtek Wolski, who has been a healthy scratch lately, and Erik Christensen, who hasn't played since Dec. 17 and then basically asked to be sent to the minors on a conditioning stint so he could play. Fletcher does have a history with him from Pittsburgh, but, man, that'd be just adding a body in my opinion.
Wild hoping to buy The Minnesota Wild, like many teams, don’t quite know yet if they’ll be buyers or sellers, as it depends on where they sit in the standings come Feb. 27.
They’re certainly hoping to be buyers and, if that’s the case, it’s pretty obvious they’ll be looking to upgrade a 29th-place offense.
"We’ve been talking to teams for a couple of months now," Wild GM Chuck Fletcher told ESPN.com Thursday. "We haven’t scored a lot of goals this year. I think there’s room for internal improvement, I think we have guys who will score more goals. But obviously if we could find a way to upgrade our team, we will."
Wild for an Upgrade?Firstly: Happy new year :D!!! Thanks for all the support and criticsm from the readers of my writing.
I thought, whgile on the topic of fresh starts...how about the Minnesota Wild? The most obscure thing, aside from a second line of Bouchard-Cullen-Powe, and a third line of Gillies-Brodziak-Johnson; is probably their defensive lines.
Schulz-Scandella
Prosser-Falk
Zidlicky-Zanon
No, I don't know why it works so well, nor do I know who Nate Prosser is. What i do know is an upgrade couldn't hurt. If the Wild want to do damage in the playoffs, they will very likely need to acquire some experience and...well...more experience. SO who could be on the move?
MacTavish visits Wild, remains top candidateSeven weeks after being the first candidate to be interviewed for the Wild's coaching vacancy, Craig MacTavish continues to intrigue the franchise.
The longtime former Edmonton Oilers coach still is considered a strong candidate -- if not the leading one.
According to multiple sources, "MacT" spent part of last week in the Twin Cities. He had his second formal interview with the Wild and toured Xcel Energy Center and the team's locker-room facilities.
Minnesota Wild have talked with Craig MacTavish The Wild have talked to former Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish about their coaching vacancy, according to the Edmonton Journal, but the man in charge of the search said the team is in "no rush" to name a successor to coach Todd Richards.
General manager Chuck Fletcher, while declining to divulge specifics on his search for a coach to replace the fired Richards, said he's talking to candidates and others, "but there's certainly no rush. Nothing's changed."
