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McNiff's Riffs: Next Wild GM needs a vision

In announcing the departure of GM Chuck Fletcher, Wild owner Craig Leipold said his decision had been made 'before' the Wild's disappointing, if somewhat expected, first round exit from the playoffs... and I believe him.
Chuck Fletcher of the Minnesota Wild attends day two of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft at Consol Energy Center on June 23, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

"Son, your potential is going to get me fired." -Jerry Claiborne, College Football Hall of Fame coach.

I experienced several emotions when I heard the Minnesota Wild was going to let go of General Manager Chuck Fletcher yesterday.

Surprise wasn’t one of them.

READ: More McNiff's Riffs

In announcing Fletcher's departure Wild owner Craig Leipold said his decision on the GM's fate had been made 'before' the Wild’s disappointing, if somewhat expected, first round exit from the playoffs... and I believe him. For a number of reasons this team, which finished the regular season with more than 100-points (a more than respectable number) never seemed to capture the interest, much less the imagination of the Twins Cities sports market this season. The lack of enthusiasm was palpable sitting in the press box at the Excel (lack of) Energy Center.

The question is, who is to blame for the Wild’s current predicament, and better yet, what can be done about it? Instead of trying to analyze Charlie Coyle’s frustrating lack of productivity, or whether or not the Wild should stay with Devan Dubnyk in goal, I think we need to take a look at the bigger picture.

The signing of D Ryan Suter and F Zac Parise in 2012 had many believing a Stanley Cup was inevitable for the Minnesota Wild. Six years later hockey an NHL championship still seems maddenly far away. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

I take Leipold at his word when he says the fans in this market deserve a Stanley Cup: Personally, I’ve been waiting since about 1970. I also believe Leipold wants a Cup as much (or more) than anybody, which is why I don’t understand his putting limitations on Fletcher’s replacement even before the first candidate interviews for the job.

Leipold insists that “this is not a rebuild” job, adding that he believes the current Wild roster needs only “tweaks” to become championship worthy. I believe that message could not only handicap his search for the best GM candidate, but it is a big reason why the Wild are in the predicament they’re in right now.

Here’s a quick exercise to show you why.

  • Describe the Minnesota Wild’s vision
  • Describe the type of hockey the Minnesota Wild play
  • Describe the Minnesota Wild’s prototypical player

If you can respond to any of those requests you’re way ahead of me, and I’ve been watching, and pulling for this team since its inception. The hard truth is that the Minnesota Wild’s on-ice product is as ambiguous as their name.

Let’s not get stuck in the weeds of the moves Chuck Fletcher made in this year or that year: To me, the big problem with Chuck was that he was never able to clearly articulate just what kind of a team he was trying to put together. In hockey, as in any successful business, you have to have a clear vision, and you have to be able to articulate that vision both to your players, and the public.

This premise is nothing new, but people seem to forget it all the time and a clear vision is especially required in sports like hockey, football and wrestling, where physicality can trump talent, and is often the difference between winning and losing.

For proof, look no further than what’s happening right now, up in Duluth, and the success Scott Sandelin is having with his UMD Men's Hockey Bulldogs. The Hibbing native has taken the hard-nosed, aggressive style of hockey he played and coached at North Dakota, and brought it to the Bulldogs. I say it’s no coincidence that North Dakota has taken a (small) step back since losing Dave Hakstol to the Philadelphia Flyers, and Sandelin surfaced at UMD.

Sandelin’s understanding of who he is, and what he wants is clearly evident in the type of player he recruits. That philosophy is then “sold” to the recruit so he clearly knows what type of hockey he is going to play, and understands his role on the team before playing his first game for the ‘Dogs’.

To land the best General Manager available Leipold shouldn’t handcuff him to the current roster or existing coaching staff. You’ll never get a Mike Tomlin if you tell him he has to be Bill Belichek. Both men are successful football coaches because they were allowed to be who (and what) they are.

As for the Wild’s roster, if you’re not going to tank and rebuild your roster through the draft, then you better be able to able to tell, and sell your ‘lambs’ that they are now in fact ‘Lions’. My biggest fear is that Jordan Greenway, who comes to the Wild with a reputation as being a hard-nosed physical player, will become as lost and lacking confidence as Charlie Coyle and Nino Niederreiter appeared to be this past season.

This team doesn’t need to become a goon squad, but players who are coming back next season 'do' need to have their role on the team clearly explained to them. Collectively they all need to be taught, or perhaps reminded, of the elements that separate good teams from great teams.

Did the Wild need a new General Manager? I believe most people would agree that they did. But, whoever gets that role better be able to clearly explain their vision for the type of team that will take the ice, because that, in turn, will impact the head coach and every player currently on the team’s roster (and those drafted this summer).

So, who should the Wild name as their new GM?

Whoever can best explain to Leipold and team president Matt Majka where he or she sees this team next season, in the next 3-years, and over the next 10-years. That candidate's story will (and should) influence every decision the organization makes, from the draft to marketing the team. It will also set the Wild's expectations every time they take the ice.

Success, and a Stanley Cup, depends on a clear vision.

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