Sunday update
Posted on November 30th, 2008 – 2:14 PMBy Brian Stensaas
Practice today was optional for Wild players; blogging is not. So here I am with this brief report from a ghost town of an Xcel Energy Center.
Just how optional was today? Head coach Jacques Lemaire didn’t even skate. Mario Tremblay ran practice. Nothing too up-tempo for the eight players on the ice (Clutterbuck, Gillies, Pouliot, Weller, Reitz, Boogaard and the two goalies). It was what I would categorize as a relaxed practice. At one point, Backstrom skated in on defense during a drill. And in perhaps a holdover from last night’s action, Harding and Gillies went at it - playfully.
Ah, yes. Last night. I mentioned Friday that while in town and taking in the Wild game, my father wanted to see “a few skirmishes” against the Lightning. He asked one game too early. Too bad we didn’t travel to Nashville. Dad would have gotten his fill of fights.
Weller’s got a nice bruise under his left eye as a souvenir from one of his two fights last night. Veilleux wasn’t around, so I didn’t get to ask him about his tilt. And, not surprisingly, Boogaard could only smile when I asked him about Saturday’s game. To review Boogaard’s stat line: One shift, three seconds, one penalty, five minutes in the sin bin.
A game like Saturday’s can throw some spark into a team. It will be interesting to see how the Wild comes out tomorrow against Colorado, an opponent that has plenty of history with the Wild. Also - I’d be fibbing if I said I wasn’t anxious already for this coming Saturday back in Nashville. Looks like my first Wild road trip might be action-packed.
OK - that’s it from me for today. No word yet from the Wild on whether it will call up a center in the event Eric Belanger once again is a no-go. And the coaching staff met after “practice” to discuss December’s captain, which will be announced Monday.
Who’s your pick?
62 Responses to "Sunday update"
Mikko
KOIVU!!!!!!
Koivu or Bruno
Last night’s game was fun. It’s always nice to see a little “old time hockey” I would like to see Koivu as the fulltime captain. I know it probably will not happen until Lemaire retires,but you just dont find guys that can bring that much skill combined with that much of a competitive drive very often.
Koivu is the Captain! He was drafted to be the captain and has proven that this really is his team. The time is right to make it happen for good.
I know it probably will not happen until Lemaire retires
I hope Mikko gets the permanent C and JL’s detractors are proved wrong - #9 is the first natural captain the Wild has had.
Stencils… buddy… pal… Cal? Or is it a secret.
And, of course, Mikko. No question. It’s time for the perma-C.
Boogie!!! Oh… wait… I suppose I should pick someone with a chance (le sigh) I guess that means I’ll have to go with either Mikko or Bruno, but I only say Bruno if it has to change. Mikko is a natural leader that the other guys listen to. He should be named captain permanently. I still have 3 big plastic bins of Christmas Ornaments to dig out. I wonder where the Mr has run off to, he hasn’t finished putting the garland on the stairs.
Sunday morning jottings
(1) The Wild made Nashville look silly last night. My question is why did Nashville play like that ? We have never seen them play like that before. Could Russo shed light on wht he might know ?
(2)I am curious what the news is on gaby. Obviously Russo knows something and cant say. How long does it take for his injury to heal.
(3) Misconduct- Does Kassima fight as a regular ? and does he score or how he looks ?
(4)One has to wonder whether or not Burns has some unfinished business with Backus on Wednesday
(5) If the Wild win the next two games I am thinking Fridays game is for first place
As much a Burns fan I am, Koivu is THE CAPTAIN.
Period.
Gho$t news? MKSS…please.
Puterschmidt says:
November 30th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
First off, I’m not tearing down our D. When I saw Tootoo take out our goalie and then Yawnson start a slap fight with Tootoo only to let the GOALIE come and take over it got under my skin. Tyler Durden, isn’t the first rule of playing Defense to protect the goalie.
****************************************
The first rule of playing Defense is to not talk about playing Defense.
You should know that, I shouldn’t have to tell you again!
Koivu has earned the right and the privilege of being named permanent captain for the rest of this season. He truly has become ‘the Franchise’ for the Wild. Despite what the rest of the NHL thinks (e.g., Gaborik/Uncle Moneybags/Gho$t), Koivu is the straw that stirs this drink.
Period. End Item.
MKIA: Could you go terrorize Canucks.com? You would be great with the rest of those children…
I’ve got it down to three players.
1. Mikko Koivu
2. Mikko Koivu
3. Mikko Koivu
Koivu ftw.
MKiA, yahoo sports tells me that Gaby has had a setback and he isn’t even skating on his own anymore….
My pick: Koivu.
Koivu should be permanent. He IS what all teams look for as a “C”. The guy is simply sensational and the true leader of the team.
ATX…Russo reported that last week.
I see yahoo is right on top of things… 
Can we PLEASE stop with the Brent Burns at forward business? Let him be a superstar defensemen not a medicore forward!!!
Captain K as in KOIVU!!!
There is only one answer: MIKKO KOIVU
I hope that I didn’t come off as a JL “detractor”. I think that we have been lucky to have him as our coach from day one. I just know that he is very set in his ways, and since the Wild have never had a permanent captain.I won’t believe it until I see it.
From the last thread: I think they did a fine job of grilling you on the last string Puter, but if you don’t know what the trap is, how do you know the Wild play it?
Current topic - Mikko has got to get the C for the third sraight month. No? Who else has even made a case?
Bruno
Koivu!!!
But if it has to be someone else…Nolan.
I agree w/everyone else. Koivu. plain and simple. no changes–he deserves it.
Two things:
1) Give Franchise the “C” for good
2) Move Ingelwood Jack back to the blueline. Not only is he one of the top blueliners in the game, but he was getting BETTER scoring chances while on the blueline. We seem to be wasting his true talent by playing him out of position, ala, Demo of a year ago. Get him on the blueline where he belongs. The team may be starved for offense, but IJ is not the answer.
Deep-agree 100 percent!
kj, saw Reusse stole your name for Gaby when giving out his turkey awards.
As soon as Belak was traded, I knew there would be more fights between him and Boogaard.
Ghost was used to described Gaborik about a year ago in article written by Souhan.
I’m pissed.
Now that I got that out of the way, I’m gonna elaborate, like you knew I would. See, I just finished reading Ratgen’s blog about yesterday’s game, and couldn’t disagree more and wonder if we were watching the same game?
About the only thing I agree with is the fact that the Preds didn’t play too disciplined, but then again, they got screwed in the 1st. Weller should have gotten 2 minutes for the hit on the icing call. Suter got 2 for not shutting his mouth. He should have let his coach do the arguing. His 2 minutes was deserved. The 2 that Weber got was justified. Weber did exactly what he should have - he stuck up for his partner. If Suter would have kept his mouth shut, it may have only been a 1 goal game. Get on a roll of frustration after frustration, and you see what happens.
Other than that, the Wild were not so good. Actually, they kinda stunk, but got away with a win because the Preds not only played horrible, but they gave the game to us on the PP.
Minnesota had 11 minutes and 26 seconds of 5 on 4, and 1 minute 48 seconds of 5 on 3 during the game. A grand total of 13 minutes and 14 seconds.
Nashville scored 1 even strength, and 1 power play goal, to 1 even strength and 5 power play for the Wild. Take out the PP goals, and we’ve got an evenly scored game, yet the Wild only managed to outshoot the Preds 29-17 despite 13+ minutes of a man advantage?? Over half a period that should have been a shooting gallery, but where were the shots?
We got blasted in the faceoff dept again. Benny and Shep need to practice, because they didn’t do a good job, and neither did Koivu for that matter, but controlling the faceoff is an important facet of the game.
The race to the pucks? It went up and down. For a while, we’d win a few, then they would. Later in the game, we started losing most of them when the shell game started.
Now as to the “amazing” 5 PP goals…I could take any 5 of you here and whip in 5 goals in 13 minutes of man-advantage time. This wasn’t a stellar feat by any means. In fact, I saw it as a showcase of how inept our PP was. Officially it was called 11 chances, but I’m looking at minutes. The 5 goals cut short a bunch of minutes that would have been added to that 13 minute total, had they not been scored. However, I’d think when you get that much time you should be putting in more pucks.
So, how’d we do with a lead? Lucky, that’s how. If Nichol, Weber and Tootoo hadn’t taken costly 3rd period penalties, the outcome could have been much different. A 4-2 game with 14 minutes left, and a passive defense: Recipe for failure. I don’t think we did anything to protect that lead well, other than not take stupid penalties. However, B-B-B-Benny took 2 dumb ones and Zid did take 2 more needless ones in that game, the last of which led to Legwand’s goal in the 3rd.
Anyway, I get pretty fed up with people that write “fan blogs”, where they imagine that a “W” translates into such a dominating performance that we need to exalt the virtues of the game, and turn a blind eye to bad hockey.
14-7-1 just past the 1st quarter, and a pretty good November behind us. Better start playing some decent hockey or we’re gonna fall fast, and soon. Just look at the schedule come Dec. Calgary twice, St Louis twice, San Jose, Chicago, Anaheim and Vancouver. Play those teams the way we’ve been playing and you can chalk up a big “L” for those games.
Shot totals: 29-27.. I had typo if that looks strange why I complain about that lol!
Some of it I can agree with. Effort, still an issue for the wild. Passive D with a lead, uglier than the jerseys. Faceoffs, a problem. Scoring, still MIA.
But I still think it was a dominating effort. So we scored a lot of points on the PP? Who cares, PP is a part of the game. We were disciplined and took advantage, they weren’t and didn’t. We had 12:29 man advantage, but they had 5:57 of their own to work with.
Shot difference, or lack there of, not a great indication (Should add that I missed most of the second half). I’d rather see a scoring chances, comparison, because it doesn’t always translate. Certainly not for the wild who have never been a throw the puck at the net and crash team.
And I’ll take a meager 5-11 PP any day. 45%? Sold.
Mike Up North- The Preds got spanked and are not as good as the Wild, end of story. The Wild dont have Gaby in the lineup even. Trotz had no control of his troops in the game.
Keep in mind players have a long season. You will be blogging at the end of May and in to June Mike up North.
Wild Road Tripper will then know that Mister Know it all is just what his name is
So, July 1st brought complaints and claims that the season was already a failure. Then came the hot start to the season, and still complaints and claims that unless they started playing better hockey, things were going to fall apart.
Then they struggled a bit, but still come out of November with the team’s best record for the month in the history of the franchise, and coming off of a 6-2 win, and still all I see are complaints and claims that if they don’t play better the season is going to fall apart.
I won;t say the complaints should stop, it’s your right to complain, and this is exactly where you should do it.
All I would like to know is this.
When are the nay sayers going to give the team some freaking credit?
I seem to remember Slover mentioning Gho$t in a story…but I thought it was 2 seasons ago. Give credit where credit is due, eh sunshine?
I would have been impressed if Reusse used a dollar sign. Or called him UM. Then he could have proved he knew something about hockey…
I would love to see Koivu as the permanent captain, but if I were a betting man, I would say Johnsson may be the guy.
RUSSO- props from your colleague at the Denver Post!!! Second question into the Avs mailbag.
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_11109108
1. Saturday’s game was absurd. What seems to be lost in the pointless fights and 5 powerplay goals, is that the Wild still can’t score 5 on 5.
2. It’s a no brainer, the only captain should be Mikko. To put the C on anyone else would be foolish.
3. Boogaard is the worst player in the league. Hell, he doesn’t even belong in the league. The 3 seconds he got on Saturday was plenty of ice time for that talentless buffoon.
3. Who gives a crap about Gaborik. Foster is going to beat him back to active play. Marian is just another soft Euro.
4. Wild win tonight. No Sakic, who is the only Wild killer on that roster. Also, Budaj has a tough time with the Wild. His record is 2-3-2 at the X, but his gaa is almost 3 and his save percentage is only 89.9% Plus, Stastny has been just terrible that last month.
Only 1 choice for Captain…….Koivu!
M 03: Was Dater the dude that wrote that obnoxious piece on Versus.com about talking trash and tried to co-opt the Don saying the Wild would catch a break against the Caps due to the fact that most of their top talent was going to be hurt?
I find it hard to use saturday’s game as an example of the wild not being able to score 5 on 5. Sure the stat sheet says they scored once but they didn’t have to.
when the wild get blanked in a couple games where they are not on the powerplay 1 out of every 4 or 5 minutes, then I’ll listen.
I’m not ever going to say I like Dater. Not ever. However, for the brilliant minds on here that insist the Wild still play a trap… read this:
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_11109310
It’s not a trap. It’s really just a solid, defense based system.
At least not the “trap” that people are so worried about.
I should explain that the system is trap-based. But so is the system in Montreal, and the system in Anahiem. Anyone care to accuse them of boring, trap hockey?
It’s time….make Mik’s the captain for good. Number 9 has proven himself as our franchise player and core leader. The rest of the guys I am certain would agree. It’s time!!
NiNY…bingo. SloverDater wrote that.
Funny thing about the ‘trap’.
Prior to expansion (Original 6) every team played it.
Prior to the 2nd expansion (WHA) every team tried to play it.
Then along came the Oilers.
I think the Wild carry that ‘trap’ label because they have over-achieved as a team, with virtually no big offensive stars.
NiNY…bingo.
Funny thing about the ‘trap’.
Prior to expansion (Original 6) every team played it.
Prior to the 2nd expansion (WHA) every team tried to play it.
Then along came the Oilers.
I think the Wild carry that ‘trap’ label because they have over-achieved as a team, with virtually no big offensive stars.
Man, I give up.
I cannot understand what triggers being moderated here.
I had this long dissertation on the trap.
Oh well. I know I am right…
Well done kj. I’ll go ahead and agree with you.
Wow, why so defensive on the trap? get it defensive on the trap…ah never mind.
Anybody catch the NY Rangers game yesterday? Voros is his same old side show self. Banging his stick on the glass after a goal, etc. He get’s into a fight and then on the way to the bench he starts screaming and throws his elbow pad on the ice. I gotta believe Jock wouldn’t put up with that.
Because I am sick of people saying the Wild are boring, and then saying it is because of the trap. I get that you are trying to be funny right there, but the fact that you throw around the word trap, like the bulk of the drones around the NHL who put no effort into learning the game. Instead trap espousers choose to follow whichever mindless drone in the media called it a trap to begin with, simply because JL used the system to perfection to what? Oh yeah, win a cup.
The reason I am so defensive is because I am tired of people who use big wirds they don;t understand to make themselves sound smart when they can’t even explain the basis of the claim.
How’s that for Monday morning funny there Puter?
wirds = words. Nice typing style I have there.
hardy frickin’ har
In the case of Dater, wirds is more accurate…
http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/79618-gaboriks-stock-plummeting
Who did not see this coming?
i hope this comes back and really burns UM.
Wird, Buddha. 
All hail the trap.
Captain: Mikko Koivu! Why is there NO INFORMATION ANYWHERE about Gaborik? Russo.. give us some news here. Is he done for the season? Until the playoffs? Another month? Why? What is the injury? Time for you to do some reporting!
Anyone think that Foster when he finally gets healthy, will just play out the season down in Houston?
I mean it sounds like he won’t be ready to go until January at the earliest. So in reality he won’t be in game shape until February. Then there is only 2 months left of the regular season, and why would the Wild want to mess with the defense at that point.
I’m thinking the Wild let Foster play it out in an Aeros uniform.
Then when the season ends, they look at all the FA defensemen, and make some decisions about who to offer contracts to.
Buddha, I can agree with you on the preseason ‘naysayers’, however I haven’t ever really been one of them. I think you’ve heard negative thought from various sources since prior to July 1, and you’re sick of hearing about it.
But to make a statement like this: “When are the nay sayers going to give the team some freaking credit?” really isn’t fair to say, since I can’t describe anyone who’s been consistently negative and ignoring the positive.
Just because someone doesn’t always point out the positive aspects doesn’t mean they don’t see them. There have been positives this year. There’s games we’ve played well, and I do expect this team to win the division and do better than last year. Granted, we’re missing a chunk of goal scoring with Gho$t injured, but I’m sure after the trade we’ll have much better production, but my point is that doesn’t translate into wins alone - you have to play good hockey, and the majority of the past 10 games haven’t been as solid as the first 10-12.
JEFFS468:
That article is by Garrioch, who’s a known hack as far as writing about either the truth, or actual possibilities. It’s a no-brainer his value is falling, but to go as far as to say: “nobody is going to dare touch Gaborik” is phony journalism.
There are teams that want him, and Garrioch will be the last to know who. He’s a retard.
GreenStar says:
December 1st, 2008 at 8:39 am
I find it hard to use saturday’s game as an example of the wild not being able to score 5 on 5. Sure the stat sheet says they scored once but they didn’t have to.
when the wild get blanked in a couple games where they are not on the powerplay 1 out of every 4 or 5 minutes, then I’ll listen.
did you watch the month of november???
the entire month was a display about their lack of ability to score 5 on 5.
