Angst is up after a third winless Wild homestand in 2016 (that's what being a bubble team yet again and two wins in the past 13 games at Xcel Energy Center causes), so naturally it's time for another Russo's Rants Sunday Insider Q and A.
Kev0256: Please use your crystal ball. How many years will it be before we are a serious contender?
Russo: I have my doubts this roster in its current form can be one, so it'll come down to external moves and how good the next rung of prospects (Jordan Greenway, Alex Tuch, Joel Eriksson Ek, Louis Belpedio, Gustav Olofsson, etc.) truly are. I don't know if this is a tired group or if it just hit its ceiling the past two years, but there's no way around the fact that this has been a disappointing season. As fired coach Mike Yeo even said, things never felt right starting in training camp. They've been maddeningly inconsistent, haven't had one prolonged stretch of great hockey, and the negativity inside the locker room has been palpable.
Yathinkso: Is Chuck Fletcher on the hot seat?
Russo: Owner Craig Leipold hasn't commented on the status of the Wild GM. While he has indicated that Fletcher is safe, if the Wild misses the playoffs or bows out quickly, Leipold will have to take an honest appraisal of everything, and that includes Fletcher's track record in terms of trades, drafting and free-agent signings.
Gkloner: If you were GM, give me one player who you would realistically add to this team trading one of the current defenseman.
Russo: I'd go after Montreal's Alex Galchenyuk or San Jose's Logan Couture. I don't know if either's gettable. I know there's been much chatter about Edmonton's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov. I'd avoid the latter like the plague.
Oldtimepuck: Will the Wild sign North Dakota's Drake Caggiula or any other decent college free agents?
Russo: I'm not in a position to confirm names, but yes, the Wild has interest in some college free agents. Not a great crop this season, and this is always overblown anyway.
Funkadelic: What team(s) appear to be the most likely trading partner(s) this offseason?
Russo: If the Wild is truly interested in Jonathan Drouin, Tampa Bay. I also believe Kuemper will be dealt. A team to watch is Calgary. The Flames have no goalies signed past this season. With Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter entering the final year of their contracts, they could be bait.
hockey 81611: Which pending unrestricted free agents get re-signed in Justin Fontaine, David Jones, Jarret Stoll, Ryan Carter, Chris Porter?
Russo: Maybe none, although the last two would be the likeliest because they fill their role well and would be cheap.
nstars16: Wild need to get tougher. Does Kurtis Gabriel fit that spot in the future?
Russo: I don't think he's a full-time NHLer, although I don't disagree with your thought. The hope would be to add toughness through guys who can play regularly like prospects Greenway, who's having a great freshman year at Boston University, Alex Tuch.
Tgnerer: Who are the Wild looking to add this summer?
Russo: There's no use speculating until we have a firm grasp of available cap space, and that'll be determined once we see how much money Jason Zucker and Matt Dumba cost, if the Wild makes trades at the draft and if the Wild buys out a veteran in June.
Wakebrder: Who will the Wild buy out? Thomas Vanek vs. Jason Pominville.
Russo: Pominville would be more costly. I'd consider Vanek.
djoh6568: Who is the prospect with the best chance of making a difference next season?
Russo: If center Tyler Graovac's healthy, I'd go with him assuming we're no longer considering Mike Reilly a prospect.
Mngabe: What does John Torchetti have to do to make his job permanent?
Russo: Maybe beat Chicago? I say that kind of sort of tongue in cheek, but the Wild would have to go on a run. Minus a trip the conference finals, I think the Wild has a coaching search with Torch in the mix.
ARRAY: Would Yeo consider leading a high-profile American college program?
Russo: No idea what program you're referring to, ha. I think his intent is to be an NHL head coach.
Michael Russo can be heard on 100.3-FM and seen on FSN • Blog: startribune.com/russo • Twitter: @russostrib • E-mail: mrusso@startribune.com