Trading Koivu (Selke Finalist this year) for a 2nd makes no sense, and makes the team worse. JEE is ready for 3C time, not 1/2C duties.

You could have least signed Hanzal to help with the loss of Koivu.

I agree with the Koivu sentiment, but I think for JEE to succeed, you have to play him with the best players possible. He's a top 6 quality player, not a grinder type you stick on the bottom 2 lines. If you plan on keeping him in the bottom 6 you may as well keep him in the AHL. Also, the wild will not Re-Sign Hanzal. The owner said publicly they regret that trade...

They regret the trade for the loss of picks not Hanzal as a player. He clarified the comment later in the interview. The Wild's 3rd line isn't chopped liver for players. Pommer, Parise, Nino, and Coyle all spent time on it last year. It's not like you're sticking JEE with Stewart and White for 8 mins a night of hitting people. I don't mind a learning year for JEE with some protected minutes. Make him earn his icetime. Koivu's contract ends after next season. Hopefully JEE's play makes it a hard decision for the Wild to resign Koivu.

The Wild's 3rd line makes or breaks the team a lot of nights throughout the last 2 years. Nino/Haula/Pommer was the Wild's best line after Yeo was fired. After Hanzal was acquired the 3rd line was the only line clicking for awhile.