Bad times for Wild beget lots of questions

The Wild's season has taken a turn for the worse, so it's the perfect time for a Russo's Rants Q and A. Star Tribune readers submitted questions on my blog (www.startribune.com/russo), and here's a select (lucky) few:

norrisdiv: If you were Nino, would you ask to be on the first line or first power-play unit?

Russo: I'm assuming this a half-sarcastic question because Thomas Vanek recently did the same. Niederreiter's production (team-best 14 goals) warrants more than the 14:24 he gets per game. Same with his team-leading five power-play goals from the second unit. But he must become more trustworthy, too. He's a team-worst minus-11 for a reason.

tip007: Does the Wild need to stay with one goalie for an extended stretch to build confidence and continuity?

Russo: That was the plan until Darcy Kuemper and Niklas Backstrom got scratched from back-to-back starts due to the norovirus (not kidding, the Wild has gotten the mumps and basically a cruise ship virus) crawling through the team. It'll be harder now with the schedule condensing. Both simply need to play better. What's the old saying, goaltending's 50 percent of hockey, unless it's bad goaltending? Something like that.

Randdlott: Is Charlie Coyle more a role player and checker rather than a scorer?

Russo: He hasn't scored a ton at any level, but I still think he can develop into a power forward. The Wild lacks size and physicality, and that's what the Wild needs him to bring consistently (key word).

Russo: It better, and quickly. The Wild can't have a third pair it has no trust in. Nate Prosser hasn't played well. Christian Folin is young. Justin Falk is what he is. And it's clear the Wild has little faith in Jon Blum and wants Matt Dumba to develop in the minors. With Keith Ballard out indefinitely, a defenseman is a necessity.

Laknee: Chances Mike Yeo is still behind the bench against the Leafs Jan. 2?

Russo: GM Chuck Fletcher says Yeo is "absolutely safe." Of course, if the skid continues another two or four weeks and owner Craig Leipold panics that Xcel Energy Center will go dark April 15, things could change. Some fans are clamoring for Dan Bylsma, but two of the Wild's biggest names — Zach Parise and Ryan Suter — didn't exactly thrive under him at the Olympics. Last year showed patience often pays off, and the Wild's issues go beyond coaching.

ceolson2: How soon before Yeo makes Vanek a healthy scratch to straighten out the locker room?

Mgalaforet: Are the Wild big/physical enough for a Cup run?

Russo: Size is an issue. Chicago gets away with it because it's a team full of stars. But there's a reason the Wild struggles against Los Angeles, Anaheim and especially St. Louis. And I am concerned by Mikael Granlund's disappointing season. The Wild has made a conscious effort to draft size the past two or three years, so fans may need to wait for Alex Tuch, Kurtis Gabriel, Tyler Graovac, etc., to develop.

The_Suss: How does Granlund's performance affect his contract situation?

Russo: Granlund's camp wanted a short-term deal, not a long-term deal like Coyle, Jonas Brodin and Marco Scandella, and the Wild may include a thank-you note.

Massiot: What has caused Kuemper's decline?

Kinnesotan: Keith Yandle, Taylor Hall, Cam Ward; does the Wild go after one?

Russo: Hall would cost a fortune, and I don't get the impression the Wild thinks a change of scenery would turn him into Tyler Seguin. Yandle has defensive shortcomings and I'm not a fan. The Wild needs a power-play bomb, but I feel it needs a right-shot bomb (maybe free-agent-to-be Mike Green), not left. Ward has had a lot of injuries the past few years, is 30 and makes $6.3 million. But he has played much better and the Wild needs a goalie, so maybe the Wild inquires. Goaltending is a long-term issue that needs to be addressed.

ralphieboy07: What Wild players do you think are playing up to their ability this year?

Russo: Over 82 games, Parise's on a 39-goal, 82-point pace, so Parise for one. Suter has been good. Niederreiter and Jason Zucker have been solid. On the back end, Scandella and Brodin have had terrific seasons and Jared Spurgeon was having one until the past eight or nine games.