A fit of rage from Mike Yeo on Wednesday, combined with a losing pattern has put the Minnesota Wild head coach under the microscope.
While some are calling for Yeo’s head, Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher made it clear on Thursday that Yeo is not in danger of being fired.
“I can’t blame Mike,” Fletcher said, according to ESPN. “We came off a tough loss (Tuesday against San Jose) and I guess the first few drills weren’t executed at a very high level. You can’t let things slip. Guys have to be ready. You can’t be feeling sorry for yourself. I don’t blame Mike. He’s very even-keeled normally. It just shows you how disappointed he was for it to get to that level.”
Fletcher also admitted to the Star Tribune that he’s actively making phone calls, scouting potential trades that could improve the team at a variety of positions; not just goalie. But he’s not guaranteeing any deal, like the reported interest Minnesota has in Carolina goalie Cam Ward.
“To sit around and wait for help to come in from the outside to turn this around is the wrong mind-set,” Fletcher said. ”We’re good enough to turn this around, and that’s up to us, and if we show that, then I’m happy to invest more in the team. But it’s got to start here first.”
As it stands now, Minnesota is in last place in the Central Division. The Colorado Avalanche, winners of seven of its past ten games, beat Ottawa on Thursday night to jump one point ahead of the Wild. Minnesota is in 12th place in the Western Conference, six points out of the playoffs.
