Jason wrote:
> Hey, if the Wild win then I don't care HOW much they spend...
>
> But alas, I see your point. BUT I also have great faith in the MN Wild
> organization. They are the best in the league, no question. They put a
> competitive, entertaining team on the ice- a team that'll bust their butts-
> and they'll do it without earning ridiculous Jagr-type contracts.
>
> The Wild have great prospects. This past summer I was wondering why they
> made no high-profile moves... but then I realized they have some of the
> smartest people in hockey running the show. I think the Wild will surprise a
> lot of people this year. They're doing it already... 6-3 win against the
> Flames? Come on now... and that was without Koivu and Gaborik!!
>
> P.S. I'm from Winnipeg and I'm the biggest Wild fan in Canada! (well, until
> the Jets come back ;)
IF the Wild win, I could care less as well. The Minnesota Twins have won
(up until this year) with a very low payroll. Just this morning the GM
for the Wild is saying this is a transition year. He has now said this
5 years in a row. When does the transition years end? The Wild could
be a great team NOW if they signed a few key free agents. Not a
wholesale change, just a few key additions. We are $16 million below
the salary cap for this year. 3 key players at $4 million/year would
have been nice. As it is, the current owners and GM are telling us fans
that we will be lucky to make it to the playoffs this year, we are once
again in a transition mode. Well, I say that since they are too cheap
to sign established talent, they have themselves to blame. They do NOT
need to dismantle the team, just add a few players. They are really
masters at setting low expectations.
Here are the facts.
Wild will be around 10th in the league in total revenue.
They will have the 3rd LOWEST payroll.
Sometimes people want to ignore facts and live off hype. The Wild have
been able to spew there hype and the fans love for hockey in Minnesota
is still greater than the fans desire for a winning team....for now.
BUT....as what happened with the Minnesota North Stars, if the team does
not start winning, attendance will fall. This is the nature of many
Minnesota fans. Norm Green moved the team to Dallas because he said he
could not make it in Minnesota. I just hope the Wild owners recognize
their thrify ways will work for another year or two, but soon enough the
fans will grow restless and look elsewhere for entertainment if the Wild
do not put a better product on the ice.
From a business standpoint, if the Wild were an openly traded
corporation, you would buy their stock. Very profitable. Currently
however, many sports rags rate them no higher than 27th in the league as
far as predicted win-loss. I have more faith in our coach and we will
not be 27th in the league. But even with the great win over Calgary
last night, I was in attendance, I think they will have a tough time
making the playoffs. In the 3rd period you could see the Wild were
severly outclassed. But they had guts and pulled out a win. This will
not be an easy season. The players will give it their all. But boy,
what could have been.
>> Stay informed about: NHL Salary Cap $39 million, Wild cheapest at $22 million 
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