The 2014-15 Minnesota Wild: Goaltenders

Photo: Andy King/Reuters

Last year, the line for Minnesota's goaltenders was "just good enough is no longer acceptable". Well, they were just that. They were beyond good enough. They were great. Minnesota used five goalies in the 2013-14 season and all five played a role in helping the Wild reach the postseason for a consecutive season.

Preseason Game Three Thoughts

Photo: Brad Rempel-USA Today

In last night's preseason game, it was the Wild edging the Jets 4-3 thanks to a late Jared Spurgeon goal. Here are some thoughts from last night's game:

Trade Destinations For Niklas Backstrom

Photo: Dennis Wierzbicki/USA Today

Today, Mr Russo of the Star Tribune is reporting that the Wild are shopping Niklas Backstrom to various teams. In the story Russo says that the Wild would be willing to retain some of Backstrom's salary to see if they can get a taker.

No Need For An Amnesty

Photo: Mike Carlson/Getty Images

When the clock strikes midnight tonight, the NHL's amnesty buyout window officially opens. While some teams appear to be destined to use one (Buffalo-Ville Leino, San Jose-Martin Havlat, New York-Brad Richards), the Minnesota Wild strike a curious case as they have one amnesty left.

2013-14 Season In Review: Niklas Backstrom

A summary of Backstrom's season in one photo. Photo: USATSI

Hey remember Niklas Backstrom, the franchise's leader in most goaltender categories? Lets look back at his shortened season.

A Busy Tuesday: Backstrom Shut Down, Mitchell Wants Out

Will Chuck Fletcher move Torrey Mitchell today?

Shortly after the team acquired Ilya Bryzgalov yesterday, GM Chuck Fletcher stated that due to the injury Niklas Backstrom has sustained, he will be shut down and will more than likely be done for the season. The announcement that Backstrom will be shut down was not surprising in the least given he has not played since January 30th and the Olympic break did very little to help heal his abdominal injury.

3 on 3: Trading For A Goaltender

A rare sight in 2013-14: Josh Harding and Niklas Backstrom. Photo: Ann Heisenfelt/AP

With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, there has been a lot of talk about the possibility of the Wild trading for a goaltender for the season's final month and a half. So let's dust off the three on three and take a look at the good and the bad about acquiring a new netminder.

A Refresher

Photo: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo/Pioneer Press

The Olympics are over. The NHL returns tonight. There is a slight feel like this is a second opening night, due to the disconnect we experienced from the Olympic break.

But now that the NHL is returning, lets take a little refresher course on the Wild, as they get set to begin the stretch run.

Gameday Thoughts

Photo: Ann Heisenfelt/AP

Wild host the Blackhawks tonight at 7 PM. Since I have about 1,000 (slight exaggeration) thoughts right now, lets get on with it.

Thoughts From Hollywood

Somehow, the Wild got two points last night. Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today Sports

Though last night was one of the more lopsided games in terms of puck possession by any team this year. And yet, it was one of those nights where the score was far from the story of the game.

The Top 13 Stories of '13

Photo: Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images

Since we are winding down 2013 today, it makes sense to take a look back at the best stories from 2013. So to commemorate the year 2013, we will take a look back at the 13 best stories for the Wild.

Chalk Talk: Blame Defense, Not Backstrom

Last night, in an ugly display of defense by both teams, it was the Jets defeating the Wild 6-4 at MTS Centre last night. Now before you all sit there and try to say that Niklas Backstrom is terrible, please take a look at some of the goals that were scored on him last night.

Calm Down

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Yesterday the Wild announced that Josh Harding has been placed on IR due to a change in his MS treatment. He is expected to miss the next three games and return for the game in Winnipeg on December 27th. The move signals the return of Niklas Backstrom, the number one goalie to open the season, as the primary goalie for the Wild.

3-on-3: Wild After 20 Games

Josh Harding has played a huge part in the Wild's hot start. Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images 

Essentially, we are a quarter into this season. Pretty crazy considering we have only been playing hockey for a month and a half now, but when you think about the compressed schedule due to the Olympic break, it makes sense.

So now that the Wild have completed roughly a quarter of their season, lets do a little three-on-three for the team as a whole.

Moving On

Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn/USA Today

Last night, we witnessed one of the worst individual displays of hockey from Leafs forward Nazem Kadri (this is where Leaf fans quit reading).

In one hockey game, Kadri managed to distribute a shot to the head of Niklas Backstrom (which caused the Wild goalie to leave the game) and handed out another high blow to Mikael Granlund, which earned him a match penalty.

Monday Thoughts

Photo: Gerry Broome/AP

Good afternoon everyone. Good to see the squad pick up a shootout victory after we talked about the lack of goal scoring in shootouts on Saturday. Here are some thoughts as we head into a three game home stand:

Leave Darcy Kuemper Alone

-NHL.com

In a back to back series in Buffalo and Toronto to open up the season, Mike Yeo thought it best to start two goalies in the two games instead of just one (like he did several times last year). Josh Harding took the Monday night start in Buffalo, leaving last night's game with Toronto for young netminder Darcy Kuemper.

The 2013-14 Minnesota Wild: Goaltending

“Goaltending beats top notch scoring anytime!” – Eddie Giacomin

This will be the sixth season that the Wild will open the season with Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding tag teaming in between the pipes. Together, they have been solid and have continuously given the Wild every chance possible to win games. But entering this season, both have question marks and appear to look not as strong to the casual fan as they used to. And now it seems both are not at 100 percent entering the season.

NHL To Send Players to 2014 Olympics

At long last, the NHL finally announced this morning that they will be sending their players to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver was some of the best Olympic hockey in recent memory, and featured a gold medal game that went to overtime between Canada and the United States (although the U.S. would like to forget the outcome.

The Wild are expected to have several players participate for their various countries. Mikko Koivu (Finland), Zach Parise (USA), Ryan Suter (USA), Jonas Brodin (Sweden), Jason Pominville (USA/Canada), Mikael Granlund (Finland), Nino Niederreiter (Switzerland), and Niklas Backstrom (Finland) are the logical choices to play in Sochi. Should all these players end up playing, it would clearly be a team record for number of players participating in the games.

It won't be until January when the official rosters are unveiled. There are Olympic camps coming up in August, and that should offer a better idea as to who should make the team (perhaps).

Look for more news today as the long awaited NHL schedule will be released...


Follow Giles on Twitter @gilesferrell

Stay Away From Bernier

Yesterday, it was reported that there were three teams left in the sweepstakes for Los Angeles Kings backup goaltender, Jonathan Bernier. The Wild were one of those teams. They are joined by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers, as the teams who Los Angeles has their list narrowed down to.

Bernier has been the Kings backup netminder for three seasons. This past season he played in 14 games (not a bad number considering the short 48 game season), and posted a 9-3-2 record with a 1.88 GAA and .922 save percentage (the last two stats were better than the Kings number one starter, Jonathan Quick). To compare, Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom had a 2.48 GAA and .909 save percentage, but, the Kings defensive core is a bit more polished than the Wild's.

The Kings are selling Bernier as a starting goalie. So that means LA will be asking for some kind of package involving a goalie prospect to backup Quick, and some combination of top prospects and high draft picks.

Clearly, the Wild are looking at backup options for if/when they should let Niklas Backstrom leave via free agency. They do not have the confidence in Josh Harding to take over as the number one, and they feel that Darcy Kuemper is still a year or two away from playing regularly in the NHL.

The fact remains, that the other two teams in this race (Toronto and Philadelphia) are very desperate for a goalie like Bernier. The Wild are desperate for a starter too, but not on the level like the two other squads (see Ilya Bryzgalov, James Reimer, and the word woof). Both those teams have the means for a deal like this, and would be more willing to part with their key prospects/draft picks to add Bernier.

Minnesota does not have its first round pick in this year's draft, as it was traded to Buffalo in the Jason Pominville deal. They used one of their top two goalie prospects, Matt Hackett, in the same deal, clearing the way for Kuemper to be the goalie of the future. Johan Gustafsson will be in the AHL next year, but he is a ways off from the NHL too. The prospect pool is still deep, but the type of prospects LA would want from Minnesota should clearly be stamped as "untouchable" (i.e. Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker, Jonas Brodin, and Matt Dumba).

Bottomline: Toronto, Philadelphia, and Minnesota are locked into a bidding war for Bernier. At some point, the two teams from the East will simply take the bidding past a point that will be beyond ridiculous. GM Chuck Fletcher needs to stop once it goes beyond that point. He should not part with Kuemper, any one of the "untouchable" prospects, and their draft picks (in fact, the Wild should be looking to move back into the first round).

Refrain from acquiring Jonathan Bernier. Get Backstrom to re-sign at a lower price, or find someone else to take the starting job (Marc-Andre Fleury is available). The asking price is too great.

There may not be a better option than Bernier, but you can find cheaper options who can still get the job done...


Follow Giles on Twitter @gilesferrell