So what kind of return are Wild fans looking for for either of your goalies? As you might have heard we are a little desperate up here in Edmonton.
I dunno. Helping out a division rival, especially if there's a chance guy sticks around for next season? I'd probably start talking around a defensive prospect.
Would a 1st for Mitchell get it done from New Jersey?
Maybe. Willie seems to be a guy that many teams could use. He also seems to be a guy that could fit into any situation without a ripple. A 1st rounder is really nice though...
Then again, I bet Jacques would love to bring in another former pupil like Sergei Brylin. Rolston hasn't been bad so far...
Would a 1st for Mitchell get it done from New Jersey?
I highly doubt that DR will trade a 'heart n soul' player coming into the prime of his career. Mitchell just does too many things well. The following are a list of abilities (in no particular order) what DR would be dealing away:
1. Team leader
2. Team goofball
3. Defensively sound
4. Hard hitting
5. Can and will fight
6. Solid first pass
7. Great skater
Items 3-7 can be found in a good number of D-men around the league, but a guy who does 1 & 2 and knows when to do what is priceless. If we trade him then sign someone like Wade Redden in the offseason, it's still a loss because imagine the Wild with Redden AND Mitchell.
3. New York Rangers deal Nigel Dawes and a 2007 first-rounder to Minnesota for Willie Mitchell and Filip Kuba.
The Blueshirts look like a team capable of getting on a little roll this spring, but they could use an major upgrade on the blueline. The Wild are going nowhere and have a pair of UFA defensemen that could provide a legitimate boost to any contender. Kuba and Mitchell lead Minnesota in ice time and are as steady as they come. Mitchell also leads the team at plus-17, and his 81 penalty minutes testify to his nasty edge.
Dawes is undersized (5-8, 180), but has the tools to be an offensive dynamo. A first-round pick for this year might get the job done, but the 2007 draft appears to be deeper. With so many teams in need of veteran blueline help, the Wild can probably hold out for it.
What's the board think of that? Myself, I'm not keen on moving both Kuba and Mitchell without having some idea of who's coming in to replace them. I'd rather do something involving Kuba and Dupuis, I think.
Oh, I should add that I'm not convinced we could get that sort of return out of NYR. I'm bad at this, though.
What's the board think of that? Myself, I'm not keen on moving both Kuba and Mitchell without having some idea of who's coming in to replace them. I'd rather do something involving Kuba and Dupuis, I think.
Oh, I should add that I'm not convinced we could get that sort of return out of NYR. I'm bad at this, though. [/QUOTE]
I don't go near that trade. I'm not quite as unwilling to trade Mitchell as most others (especially if the return is fair), but I'm definitely not on board with trading both Kuba AND Mitchell. Schultz obviously isn't ready to be a #1, and he'd pretty much step into that role immediately by default.
This trade would guarantee a UFA signing of a top d-man in the off-season, though.
That deal is nuts - the Wild should keep Mitchell. Pay the man what he's worth; the Wild aren't exactly broke. I agree that he is too important to let go.
I don't go near that trade. I'm not quite as unwilling to trade Mitchell as most others (especially if the return is fair), but I'm definitely not on board with trading both Kuba AND Mitchell. Schultz obviously isn't ready to be a #1, and he'd pretty much step into that role immediately by default.
which makes the trade kind of silly, because the Rangers need a defenseman, not two
So, are we done trading, or is there more to come tomorrow? What's the collective gut feeling around here?
more in store baby...
here are the rumors I've seen heard:
Walz, maybe Tqarnvist to Philly...cant find the link tho I think the Star Trib mentioned it
Mitchell or Kuba to Nashville (************* .blogspot. com)
Walz, maybe Tqarnvist to Philly...cant find the link tho I think the Star Trib mentioned it
Mitchell or Kuba to Nashville (************* .blogspot. com)
Basically the interest lies in our defensemen...
Hmm, I thought Nashville had a real deep group of defensemen.
I think the Star Trib mentioned it
