Tuesday update
Posted on December 2nd, 2008 – 2:32 PMBy Brian Stensaas
Unlike Sunday, when six skaters and the two goalies showed up for practice the day before a game, Wild practice this afternoon was mandatory. Jacques Lemaire was asked if, after last night’s six goals allowed, Sunday’s skate was the last optional practice for a while. I’ll do my best to type out Lemaire’s exact reaction: “Heh. He he heh. Yessss.”
Yeah. Jacques was laughing. After seeing what he called the two worst periods of hockey last night, what else was there to do?
Lemaire, known as a defensive coach, said he actually slept well after last night’s 11-goal game, though. The reason? “I was very tired.”
The two scratches from last night, Cal Clutterbuck and Colton Gillies, were the first two on the ice this afternoon. The entire team then skated through a 50-minute session. Kurtis Foster was even there, though he just skated for about the first 15 minutes.
In a shocker, a lot of the practice was spent inside the blue line … And if you believe that’s actually shocking, you weren’t paying attention last night or haven’t yet watched your TiVo replay. Breakdowns in the defensive zone killed the Wild last night.
Josh Harding went through four sticks this afternoon. Think there was a little intensity?
The Wild has played six of its past seven at Xcel Energy Center and is 2-4 in that stretch. So much for a home-ice advantage.
Lemaire said it is a lack of focus that has been a primary problem. “It’s like we’re thinking about Christmas,” he said. “‘What am I going to get for Christmas?’”
A few weeks back, Phoenix coach Wayne Gretzky said his team looked like a junior club playing against an NHL team after losing to the Wild. Now Lemaire has played that card. Today, he said at times last night it appeared Wild players as a collective were “kids” on the ice making poor decisions.
Not a lot of time to grow up. St. Louis is back in town tomorrow.
131 Responses to "Tuesday update"
Harding broke 4 sticks or shots broke 4 sticks???
He’s got to dump those graphite goalie sticks… 
Stencils…think Flutterpuck will get back into the lineup tomorrow?
We have tickets…we are excited…we know they will have an extrordinary effort.
Good stuff from Lemaire as usual
This team is hard to get a read on. One night, they look like they might actually make it out of the first round. Then, a disaster like last night appears. Maybe a guy could take the body once in awhile so opposing forwards can’t cruise around in our zone and go completely unattended, shooting at will at Backstrom. I agree with Lemaire for a change-it could have even been worse. Easily could have been 10 or 11-5.. Disgusting.
PLEASE PUT BURNS BACK ON DEFENSE!!!!
funny how now the term entire team includes foster but not gabby
Dear Santa,
I would very very very much like four new goalie sticks for Christmas this year. I’ve been good.
-Josh
Nice update #2. Much appreciated. How long til the Don is on the Blog pimping Russo Radio??
Tomorrow night had better be a beatdown…
1. it’s inexcusable for Clutterbuck to ever sit out a game unless he’s hurt. 2 in a row is just stupid.
2. Why a top 10 defenseman in the league is still playing forward when the defense sucks so bad is beyond me. However, it’s no surprise to me the Wild sucked last night. You take the C away from the only true leader on the team, what do you expect, and it didn’t help Backstrom had his head up his ass for 2 periods.
3. Jacques needs to be fired. It should’ve been done coming out of the lockout, it should’ve been done after last year when the Avs killed the Wild in the playoffs, and it needs to be done right now. the Dallas game was the first time in Backstrom’s career he lost a game in regulation when he had the lead going into the 3rd. It’s because of bad coaching which resulted in bad defense. Then last night, for the first time in Wild history, the team scored 5 goals and lost. They are now 69-1 when scoring 5 goals. Again, bad coaching resulting in bad defense. For a defensive coach Jacques has done a terrible job this year. 3rd period comebacks buy a few teams, the entire defensive collapse last night. For the benefit of this team, Jacques needs to be fired. This team is treading water, not moving forward like it should. With Jacques as the coach there is exactly a 0.00% chance this team ever wins a Cup, and just about the same percentage that it even gets to the Finals.
And I’ll just post this from the end of the previous thread. I’m probably six weeks behind on the discussion, but I’ll catch up eventually.
I’m sort of fascinated by the Gaborik drama, though I’d much rather it be over with so I could maybe get somebody to finally say something about what’s really going on there. Regardless, I still think Risebrough’s a fool to have let it come to this.
And while we’re dumping on the team…
Skoula, he’s been better this year, but that’s still a pretty low bar for him to clear. He’s still out there on the ice for his share of goals, and has pretty much no offense to contribute.
And Veillieux is still my least favorite Wild player. I really don’t see how he contributes, really. He’s terrible at clearing the zone. He’s not really strong enough, IMO, to be an effective defensive forward. He’s got little offense. I think he often makes poor decisions. And while he’s got decent speed, he doesn’t seem that quick to me, nor does he seem to anticipate very well. He hustles. I’ll give him that.
But overall, I can’t really complain about where the team is right now. And while the Dallas and Colorado losses aren’t terribly inspiring, they’ve typically been playing much worse in early December. So we’ll see. If they can resolve the Gaborik situation without completely getting bent over, they just might be able to put a pretty good showing this season.
lack of focus my st paul a@@. Its the damn coach that keeps on switching these lines. Get shep,skoula,veilleux off the ice and put clutterbuck,scott in the line-up and keep the players on the same fricken line. Why is this coach not seeing this sh#$ and whats going on with this GM. If the fans know more than the coaches and gm-there is a problem.
your right
John… Scott????
Careful what you wish for there, Fitzy.
dead on fitz
Dan,
So what you’re saying is you’ve got a fever and the only prescription is… More Clutterbuck?
I still don’t get why this is being pinned on Skouba.
Zidlicky has been worse, but at least contributes offensively. MAB has been putrid. If you want a D-man to head up to the Popcorn Palace, start with MAB.
Buttertruck ain’t the cure to all our ills either.
And John freakin Scott is not the answer for the blue line either!
JMP, I actually snorted there…
WOW, how in the world did JL win all those Cups, when it appears to some that he is such a stupid/incompetent hockey mind?
I find it amazing that there are so many people on this blog who, while not employeed in any fashion by the hockey business, seem to believe they are a better coach/GM than the current regime.
So I guess we should all be rooting for Barry Melrose to become the new Wild coach?
I’ll pass on that one.
I wonder if Gillies had a good practise today? His development in practise must be getting better and better everyday and my bet is that by seasons end, he’ll be one of the better youngsters in the league at practise.
Practise makes perfect Colton, hold your head up! Someday you may actually get into a rhytham of a few games in a row when you learn to practise well with NHL coaches and team mates.
JMP says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Dan,
So what you’re saying is you’ve got a fever and the only prescription is… More Clutterbuck?
what I’m saying is nobody in their right mind could possible think the team is better off playing Boogaard, Weller, or Veilleux over Clutterbuck.
Jacques use to be a good coach, but he’s been terrible post lockout.
Anyone know how many more games I will have to miss watching this year, since they are on VERSUS?
I hate the NHL on VERSUS. Dang Gary Bettman
Dampland says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
WOW, how in the world did JL win all those Cups, when it appears to some that he is such a stupid/incompetent hockey mind?
did you see the teams he played on? he won the Cups because the Habs were loaded and couldn’t be stopped.
Apparently you don’t realize Jacques has exactly 1 ring as a coach.
Dampland says:
December 2nd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Anyone know how many more games I will have to miss watching this year, since they are on VERSUS?
I hate the NHL on VERSUS. Dang Gary Bettman
another 4
Did you know:
That the Minnesota Wild has the highest percentage of total goals for that have come on the power play in the entire league?
We have scored a total of 64 goals this season (2.78/gm, 17th in the league), and 27 of them have come with the man advantage. That means that 42.19% of our goals (forty-freakin-two percent!!!) have come on the power play.
Now I’m still not bashing Skoula this season. He has been much better. But he doesn’t bring any offense (even though he’s been a little more involved lately it seems.)
But, if we’re talking about which defenseman to banish to the popcorn booth right now, you simply can’t sit any of the guys that actually help us offensively - and that includes both MAB and Zids.
(I’m not sure why we’re talking about sitting a defenseman in the first place, but that’s just me.)
I’m not pinning last night on Skoula. I’m just not jumping on the “Skoula has played well” bandwagon, either. He’s been better. I’ll give him that.
toivo: I don’t think anyone’s saying he’s going to get any Norris votes. I think most of us are saying what you’re saying: he’s been playing better. That’s pretty much it.
But, considering the amount of crap slung onto his name around here in the past (by myself included), this represents a significant turn of events among Wild fans.
One more than you.
yeah, one gets the feeling Avery is had about enough of the crappy results and relative anonymity in Big D (at least as compared to NYC and LA) and is, er, reaching out, in his own special way.
Huh, Elisha Cuthbert, though…maybe that’s why everyone seems to think Gaby wants to sign in LA so bad. Anyone know if she’s a F1 fan?
Practice? Bah! We don’t need no stinkin’ practice. We’ve got a few players with skill and talent! I mean look at Sunday! Only 8 players practiced on Sunday and look how we did on Monday! 5 goals - 5! - count them 1,2,3,4,5!
Huh, what? The other team scored 6? So?
We’ve got a few players with skill and talent!
Another classic Danism. Maybe Dan can remind us again which games are home games, which games are away games and which games are home games played in another city?
I absolutely love to read the comments from the nay-sayers that the Wild need to fire everyone!! After every loss, it’s fire JL, fire DR, fire, fire, fire!!!!
Must be people sliding over from the Vikings blog (FIRE CHILDRESS NOW!!)
Funny.
JMP: MORE COWBELL!!!!!
SGS- There are things we know, and things we don’t know. Then there are things we know we know, and things we know we don’t know. After that there are things we don’t know we know, and things we don’t know we don’t know.
You know?
I hope C-buck gets back in. I like watching him hit people.
Tyler- I say fire JL, DR, TL, C-Buck, Burnsie, the water guy, the ticket guy at the boxoffice at the X… say… first guy from the left.
After that, fire the Zamboni guy, the concessions people (who are volunteers), the Red Cross, and each and every hockey fan in the place.
While we’re at it, fire the dog, my grandma’s cat, KG, and the guy from the Second Wind commercials too.
Then… then this team will be AWESOME! Win every game 7-0
Anybody see the article on Burke’s my way or the highway press conference? The guy’s got ego. No doubt about that.
I fear that Jock-U’s age and old school disciplinary methods are catching up with him in his ability to relate to younger players and particularly superstars. Policy or not, taking away the C from Mikko is a bad move. There has never been a Wild player I can recall who has so embodied the word leadership. Sitting down Cannonball is like grounding an A student. Better to pull him aside and discretely remind him that you put him on the ice because he appeared to be an NHL caliber player. Don’t prove me wrong. If you are going to use that benching tactic, you have to use it with everyone. Frankly, after last night, we should have more guys in the press box than on the ice.
I have tried to remain optimistic, but home losses to the Nux and Avs and the poor play during this long stretch of mostly home games do not bode well especially when the Wild schedule has been so soft and we have played so few NW division games. When those games start coming fast and furious with many on the road, this team’s weaknesses stand to be starkly exposed unless Smug pulls off a very helpful trade.
Lemaire doesn’t need to relate to the younger guys. They don’t need to be friends. He needs to give them the tools, assistance in bettering their skills, and a game plan to win games. Simply put, just coach them. If they listen to him and follow his game plan, then this team will better off. When guys start thinking on their own, then we have problems. That’s what happened in early March. Some guys started going off on their own and they stopped playing like a team.
Lemaire can’t force these guys to be sharp on the ice or to skate harder in a game. That’s the players’ job. Lemaire can’t hold their hands in the game. He has given them every opportunity to win games and they, the players, are shooting themselves in the foot. Did Lemaire tell Zidlicky on the PK to rim it behind our net instead of zipping down the ice?
Did Lemaire tell the forwards to get back to the defensive zone slower and not offer their usual support to the defensemen? I don’t think so to either.
The C is not taken away from Koivu because no one has the C. The players know it and the fans know it. You might not like it and they might not like it but that’s the way it is on the Wild. It will be that way until Lemaire leaves. Just accept it.
Why worry about the C when there are bigger problems to worry about it? Our third period play, sloppy defensive plays, and giving up a goal quickly after scoring one. These are more essential to the win/lost then who wears the C. We don’t win or lose base on who wears the C. If that’s the case, then some of these players need to question their commitment to this team.
buddha:
“and things we don’t know we don’t know”
Unconscious incompetence. The death knell of management.
Elisha Cuthbert. Lost interest in her when she got caught in the animal trap on 24. Lame. What kind of gal dates guys like Avery and now Phaneuf.
SotB. Good post. I feel frustrated over the Wild. I love them but like a stray dog they will bite you. The Wild are one heck of good team. Is it coaching? Is it the GM? Is it certain players? I don’t know. The Gabby situation is not good. JL is missing a key player. The trade should have happened before the season. But all in all, I think it is a little of each of all these. But as was said from Stone, we have been playing weaker teams and when we start playing the big boys prepare yourself for the worse.
Oh man… sloppy seconds? I shouldn’t, but I find that pretty funny.
I guess I can be pretty immature. 
Clutterbuck shoulda been in the last 2 games. Gilles is a waste of air! Clutterbuck hits players and knocks them off the puck. I didnt see much of that last night. Maybe a few times by Wheller and once by Skoula….Johnson looks poor last night. Burns needs to get back to defense not offense.
I mostly agree, sunshine. But I also think it’s possible that Lemaire is getting too old, too. Can’t prove that, of course, but it is something I wonder about.
What kind of gal dates guys like Avery and now Phaneuf.
A slut
Super Puck Bunny. 
But yeah, she could choose a lot better given the rather plentiful buffet. Then again, those guys are probably just perfect for her.
Ok, gather up boys, I want to talk about talent and skill. It takes talent to have real skill and without skill you have no talent. So to increase your talent I want to practice skill drills. Power drills turn and create holes and holes create space and space allows talent to shine, shine like a clean sheet of ice and you need ice to practice.
Ok, let’s go out and play some hockey.
Elisha Cuthbert is hot even if she appears to be a big time puck slut. What is this “puck bunny” description? Always has been “puck sluts” to me.
Anyhow, if you stopped paying attention after 24, your loss. Assuming you like girls…
I would also like to point this out to all the Wild Management naysayers:
PLAYER - GP - G/A/PTS
Rolston - 4 - 1/1/2
Demitra - 15 - 7/6/13
Parrish - 11 - 4/3/7
TOTAL GAMES PLAYED: 30
TOTAL POINTS: 22
TOTAL PPG: .733
TOTAL CAP HIT: 9.489 mil
Brunette - 23 - 8/8/16
Miettinen - 23 - 6/13/19
Nolan - 15 - 5/5/10
TOTAL GAMES PLAYED: 61
TOTAL POINTS: 45
TOTAL PPG: .737
TOTAL CAP HIT: 8.138 mil (includes Parrish buyout)
For those of you who said the Wild didn’t pick up enough offensive power after letting Demo go, not being able to re-sign Rolston, and buying out Parrish… as they say, the proof is in the pudding.
So far this year, we have a slightly higher PPG for the big 3 replacements, and much more consistency in the durability category.
I’m not saying DR is a genious, but people think they can do a better job of being a GM, and wanted his head for not retaining this talent, but we are no worse off than what we would have been with last year’s talent, and we got this year’s production at a better rate, even with Parrish’s buyout on the books.
Cap Hits come from NHLnumbers.com. All other player stats come from the team websites.
Gunslinger,
Good analysis, but there is one glaring omission.
Sunshine says;
>>Lemaire doesn’t need to relate to the younger guys.<<
I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on what constitutes good leadership. This team is short in critical areas and it needs to play beyond its capabilities to be competitive. That is exhausting and it will catch up with them over the course of a long season. One can manage with a carrot or a stick and too often now I see Jock-U leading with a stick. Beyond all the other things a coach does, the most important is to create a credible vision on how to succeed. Players are smart enough to know when the vision is credible and when it is just rhetoric. If it just rhetoric, then you have to lead with a stick. The fact that Jock-U is in the position of having to do it that way may not be his fault, but it is still an indication that all is not right in the organization.
On the C, you are right. It is not the defining problem for the Wild. However, Jock-U had an opportunity to put a stake in the ground and make a statement that “This is the way I want you guys to play.” He felt it was more important to have the opportunity to use it as a carrot for other players. In most cases I could agree, but Koivu strikes me as a rare find and in this instance, I disagree.
Anyhow, if you stopped paying attention after 24, your loss. Assuming you like girls…
Some of you like ‘em dumb but I would like to think I am more discriminating. IQ must exceed bra size.
Why worry about the C when there are bigger problems to worry about it?
no shat.
i’ll repeat…if you need to have that extra cloth in the shape of a C on your sweater to be a leader, you ain’t no leader.
If we need to sit a D man, not sure why since they’ve been fine up to last night, i’d pick reitz.
clutterbuck is 21 years old and in his first season in the NHL. He was not on the team to start the season and not expected to be here very long once called up. he plays maybe 10 minutes a game. statements suggesting that he should never be scratched and is maybe the 3rd best player on the team, puzzle me.
For those wanting to watch tonight’s Stars/Flames game for Avery, sorry.
I just got this e-mail from the League:
NEW YORK (December 2, 2008) — Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery has been suspended indefinitely, pending a hearing with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in accordance with the provisions of NHL By-Law 17 and Article 6 of the NHL Constitution for conduct “detrimental to the League or game of hockey,” the National Hockey League announced today. The suspension was imposed following inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game, made by Avery earlier today.
avery is a clown and his schtick is wearing a little thin
If you asked Koivu about the “C” situation, he would have nothing to say. Do you think he wastes his time thinking about how he should be captain? No. He is the epitome of the selfless competitive player. All the fans get worked up over what they think is right or (most of the time) wrong with the franchise. What would Mikko do? He would stay focused on the reality of his task, working his butt off to maximize his efforts and talent.
I can see it now “WWMD?” bumper stickers across the land of hockey.
G*: I don’t think Reitz is the D problem, MAB and Skoula are (albeit Skoula has somewhat righted his ship of state this season). We are asking MAB to do things he probably has never been asked to do before. He is not a top-4 defenseman, never has been, never will be. Skoula should never have been counted on to be anything more than a 5-6th defenseman, yet JL and DR have counted on this guy to play wa-y-y over his head, hence the ‘brain cramps’ over the years.
As for Sean Avery; he is a stopgap for the Stars anyhow, and with the wheels starting to come off in Big D, and Modano nearing retirement, Jim Lites will have to do something with the ‘troika’ of GM/Coach management down there. Too many chefs, not enough food…
I agree with kj. How did Harding break the sticks? Blocking shots? Stick saves? Or was he using his stick like an axe, Billy Smith-style, to clear his crease of guys standing around in front of him blocking his view of the puck?
Excuse me, it should have read state of hockey(TM) not land. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Beadwench: We already have “WWWD” stickers (’What Would Wellstone Do’), so if the Wild can turn a buck from it, they probably will…
I’m buying one. I think they are handing them out for free at the taping of Wild Unplugged tonight with Koivu and Foster
Bettman is probably just jealous…
Seriously, I hope his ‘hearing’ takes 9 months and that a$$ clown is done ’till next year.
Wow, thanks for the heads up, Stencils. Think I’ll still let the DVR chew on that game just to see what the buzz is.
How many of you get the distinct feeling that 90%+ of the Stars locker room feels relieved (for the time being) to have him out of their hair? 4 years seems like a REALLY long time right now.
Stencils- terrific info. I just thought you & the Don just let us play without supervision.
I love how Tom Hicks is now saying that if the NHL hadn’t suspended him, the Stars would have. Sounds good but I’m not sure I buy that.
I’m in total agreement ms. C. I was starting to think that we might see him catch a stick up high in practice or something like that. I couldn’t believe the quotes from his teammates. Wow. Maybe teammate isn’t the right word.
Sure, burst my sarcastic bubble. Although I’m thinking that “What would Mikko do” isn’t going to help with things outside of hockey much. I’m sorry, I don’t think he would have a good answer for “Do these shoes match this purse?” He is a guy after all.
Sideshow Avery.
Stupid moderation. Let’s try.
Sure, burst my bubble. Although I’m thinking that “What would Mikko do” isn’t going to help with things outside of hockey much. I’m sorry, I don’t think he would have a good answer for “Do these shoes match this purse?” He is a guy after all.
Again with the moderation. Let’s try.
Although I’m thinking that “What would Mikko do” isn’t going to help with things outside of hockey much. I’m sorry, I don’t think he would have a good answer for “Do these shoes match this purse?” He is a guy after all.
Arrg. All of my comments are being moderated. Miff, Later then
I think it’s even funnier that he got suspended for his sloppy seconds. Nice!
The NHL seems to have an odd way of deciding suspensions. Avery gets suspended for running his big mouth but the NHL looks the other way on dirty hits? Sure they’ve dished out a few suspensions when needed but look at the Pronger fiasco last season! They weren’t going to do anything about his skate stomping until they got flamed by the media and finally gave in.
And Dallas just happens to play in Calgary tonight…whoops, there, Sean Avery, wrong team, wrong time, wrong town, your plan backfired, now you’re categorized as another John Rocker.
Nice goin’ pal.
In a way, didn’t the league just PROTECT him by suspending him today?
Oh well, I’m over it.
Avery gets a big “whatev” from me.
Agreed NiNY. Avery may be the only guy on earth who would make me pull for Phaneuf. It would be kind of interesting watching the schoolboys fighting over the girlfriend; especially if she was sitting in the front row. What we need now is for Cuthbert to comment in the papers that she released Avery because he was undersized and lacking in skills.
For what it’s worth. I agree with Dan’s post at 2:49 on the Clutterbuck and Burns situations. I’m still a supporter of Lemaire, but I think it’s about time he pulls his head out of that dark, stinky hole and put Burns back where he belongs.
Mister Know it all has been asked by the regulars to do my jottings more often. With Mister Know it all so so busy all the time it will be hard. I have had countless emails from Wild Road Tripper, KJ, and Sunshine requesting me to do Jottings daily. I will do the best I can.
(1) Josh Harding will start on Wednesday I bet- I think that Backstrom will start regardless of how well Harding does
(2) Something is really wrong for the Wild to not give a timeframe for Gabys return. Maybe before they did not know, but come on now, they must have an idea now. This is disrespecting a responsibilty you have to some of your fan base. This does not seem right to me
(3) Burns at forward is the only way the Wild get to be the best that they can be. The announcer on Versus said that Burns should be on D. I say he is wrong and I am Mister Know it all !
(4) Foster comes back and gives the Wild yet another shooter on the D and Eric Reiitz certainly is a starter now. That gives you 8 Dmen. It seems to me that the Wild have tough decisions to make soon. Gaby and Foster comeback and they are both extras. The Colton Gilles call is on the horizon
(5) Clutterbuck reminds me of Dino. Very similar player. Dino has great balance and strength on his skates and was not afraid to get knocked around. Dino is natural scorer where Clutterbuck is not. Clutterbuck is working on his shooting and this might get very interesting for fans like the Wild Road Tripper. Clutterbuck impresses Mister Know it all, and I think he will score 20 goals this year.
Clutterbuck reminds me of Dino and that can only mean Wild fans will be watching him score as well as hit in games to come
Signed
Mister Know It All
Mister Know it all has been asked by the regulars to do my jottings more often. With Mister Know it all so so busy all the time it will be hard. I have had countless emails from Wild Road Tripper, KJ, and Sunshine requesting me to do Jottings daily. I will do the best I can.
(1) Josh Harding will start on Wednesday I bet- I think that Backstrom will start regardless of how well Harding does
(2) Something is really wrong for the Wild to not give a timeframe for Gabys return. Maybe before they did not know, but come on now, they must have an idea now. This is disrespecting a responsibilty you have to some of your fan base. This does not seem right to me
(3) Burns at forward is the only way the Wild get to be the best that they can be. The announcer on Versus said that Burns should be on D. I say he is wrong and I am Mister Know it all !
(4) Foster comes back and gives the Wild yet another shooter on the D and Eric Reiitz certainly is a starter now. That gives you 8 Dmen. It seems to me that the Wild have tough decisions to make soon. Gaby and Foster comeback and they are both extras. The Colton Gilles call is on the horizon
(5) Clutterbuck reminds me of Dino. Very similar player. Dino has great balance and strength on his skates and was not afraid to get knocked around. Dino is natural scorer where Clutterbuck is not. Clutterbuck is working on his shooting and this might get very interesting for fans like the Wild Road Tripper. Clutterbuck impresses Mister Know it all, and I think he will score 20 goals this year.
Clutterbuck reminds me of Dino and that can only mean Wild fans will be watching him score as well as hit in games to come
Signed
Mister Know It All
If you want to see some crazy a$$ sheet turn it to RLC right now. That is some gnarly stuff.
I meant TLC… not RLC
I think it is premature to say that Clutter is like Dino so he will score 20. But I’m not Mr. Know it All despite being called MKiA frequently here in Russoville.
However, I do really enjoy seeing Cal skate around and hit everything he sees.
And Stoned, we don’t know that Elisha’s IQ is smaller than her bra size. She did graduate HS. I found this out about her today…
Elisha Ann Cuthbert (born November 30, 1982) is a Canadian-born actress. Cuthbert is known as the former co-host of the Canadian children’s television series Popular Mechanics for Kids.
Doesn’t seem to jive with her taste in guys… IMO.
She did graduate HS
Yes but it was Canadian high school. She can skate backwards, win a face-off or forecheck, but the jury is still out on IQ.
No lies now. You’ve been searching Google Images all afternoon haven’t you? Is your Dickie Dunn?
Ooops. Is that a suspendable offense of the boards behavior policy?
Snap! I knew Avery was a Jackass but wow!
I like how he tries to casually drop it in there, “Yeah, I love being in Canada… sloppy seconds.” WTF?
No lady deserves to be talked about like that in public. +1 for the league, yet I was looking forward to seeing Phaneuf knock Avery’s block off even before this occurred.
SotB is officially in ‘time out’…
MKSS…please. Dino? Is that all you got?
Dion ‘the Protector’ vs Sean ‘Turtle Wax’ Avery.
PPV Channel 649…
Blocked at work SotB.
But I might watch the Girl Next Door later. Or try to find out what that Canadian children’s television series Popular Mechanics for Kids is really all about.
And although it was clever, I think you should get 2 for unsportsmanlike on the play on my name. I’m not as harsh as the NHL and won’t get you suspended indefinitley.
I think that the league was trying to prevent a “Bertuzzi.” I don’t think anybody deserves to be injured, but at some point Avery has to answer for his actions in the media. Calling Ms. Cuthbert a C-dumpster on the ice is one thing, but to do it where millions of people will see is another. If this game became a blowout can you imagine the mess it would cause? What’s an instigator/intent to injure when you’re up four goals?
I just hope that when he is dealt with, it’s not something that will cause hockey as a whole to be scrutinized unfairly. That being said: sloppy seconds… heh… I bet they break up now that Phaneuf has that ringing in his ears in the bedroom. Ouch.
Here you go. Just in time to put on your Xmas list. A 6 DVD boxed set culling the best episodes from a 5 year run with your hosts, Elisha, Jay, Vanessa & Taylor.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/marketing/pm4kids/
2 is fair. If McGough was reffing, I’d be takin’ a shower.
Versus rocks!! At least I know I’ll be able to watch the Wild in HD four more times when they play on Versus. Why the Wild would allow Ch45 and FSN to broadcast in anything but HD is beyond me. I’d rather watch Tampa play Dallas on HD over the Wild on our cheap, low-tech broadcasts. I’ll grant you that it was terrible seeing Johnsonn in HD last night.
Last week on KSTP CL said all Wild games and/or all NHL games would be in HD in a year or two - here’s hoping he is right!
A year or two? Stations have to be HD compliant and broadcasting by February 2009. Doesn’t that speed up their time line?
I wish
It is important to understand that the DTV transition is a transition from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. It is not a transition from analog broadcasting to High Definition broadcasting.
http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#faq6
Mister Know it all is saying that he skates like Dino and has great balance like him. Almost like when he is on ice he has the same balance as he would on land
Other similaraties
not afraid to mix it up
throws big hits
is around the net
I hear from reading the paper that he is working on his shot and he already has a decent one. I dont think Clutterbuck will see the goals Dino had, but to me after watching him the last couple of times, I can envision him being a 25 to 30 goal scorer in the league soom
I see. Digital not HD.
Thanks.
Meanwhile, MKIA will convert from nonsensical ramblings to coherent dispatches in February 3009.
Only wisdom is spoken from these lips Six Goalie. Another thought, do you think that Mike Modano will stay in Dallas this whole year ? Dallas will lose avery now. That team is going down hill, and at his age I doubt he wants to play in meaningless games. I think DR should think about it. Give Gaby a center
- 3.5 million cap hit for this year and next for Modano, I don’t think so but the Wild could use a player like him.
- Buying out Avery’s 3.9 million cap hit 4 year contract that started this year - ouch!
SGS- I don’t think they would have to buy him out. Most contracts have a clause for this kind of thing…
Lucky Dallas if that is the case - I wonder if the Wild had one for Simon last year. Thanks for converting to self-enlightenment around 500 BCE
Hey… I do what I can.
Man, I made all the wrong decision for my FH teams tonight. Pfft.
decisionS
Shipley provides that latest Gaby Watch update:
But at some point, coach Jacques Lemaire said, “We’ll need somebody.”
“We get out of right now,” the coach continued. “We have to put (Brent Burns) up front and we managed to do OK. But …”
….
Gaborik doesn’t appear to be skating, even on his own, and is rarely around the team. Lemaire said he doesn’t expect him back any time soon. Neither do his teammates.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_11123180
Gaby who?
I vote trade zids, mab,skoula, and johnsson to anyone who will take them.
Haha more bs trade rumors…this time Gabby to the Isles!
you’ve got to be kidding me. I laughed out loud when i heard this crock.
“Chyaaa… RIGHT!” (wayne)
On another note, Kolanos scored his 13th goal of the season.
I pray for injuries to SV so our young guys can play some games.
Bring up Kolanos.
Hope Gabby will change his mind.
oh and Modano rules.
Id trade for him anyday.
That might convince Gabby to stay maybe.
Could you imagine Modano and Gabby on a line?
It would be insane!!!!!
state of hockey should have the best usa born kid.
Give the stars johnsson and schaffer since turcos wheels are falling off.
Oh and maybe JL will start using forwards as defenseman, hey it might just work
I’ll bite Toivu… Since its so early, I can’t think of the ommission…
Fedoruk?
While we are waiting for a fresh feed, this was posted earlier in the week in the Russo blog- First question covers hockey systems, the second question is a tip of the hat to NiNY’s question to the Don ‘who do you like to read’: http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_11109108
Also, many of you don’t care for Dater, but give him props for his wicked sense of humor on the second question: http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_11001171
Mikko, Fozzy & Falness provided a great evening of upbeat hockey talk. Kudos.
Chris- You pray for injuries to SV? Seems a little cold hearted doesn’t it?
What is with all of this talk of imagine a line of Modano and Moneybags?
Mo is old and has lost his step, and Moneybags is fragile and already broken. You would have to find a process by which UM would be a hockey player, and one where you could turn back the clock far enough so Modano was 85 years old.
As with the talk oh so long ago about even up for Malkin… we should probably lose the dream of Modano coming here. The Wild are not going to trade for him, and the Stars have no reason to give him up. Trading Johnsson and Shafear would only show that DR does not have his priorities striaght.
hopefully Schultzie’s coooking up some nice broken glass omelets for the boys right about now.
I’d like to think this will be a 10-0 butt-kicking of the poor Blues tonight.
I think DR should think about it. Give Gaby a center
I’d rather give Gho$t a shove down the stairs.
I think of the old Nintendo game, Punch Out:
Gho$t = Glass Groin
Ah yes… Mike Tyson’s Punch Out. Otherwise known as “How fast can you hit the two buttons?”
Give Gaby a center. I think we have one. One that is better than Mo, and the same guy just happens to be better than Moneybags.
Anybody care to summarize what happened to Avery and why Dallas will be stuck with his contract on a big cap hit?
He is such a piece of crap in my opinion.
I’d like to think this will be a 10-0 butt-kicking of the poor Blues tonight.
With the lack of defense last game, and JLs practive regimen, we will be more likely to see a 1-0 win
Never mind my Avery question, I see what it is all about.
- At least Glass Joe showed up for every fight
- The Dallas newspaper has this on Avery’s future:
Asked how the team moves forward with Avery, Hull and Jackson both said they would await the league’s decision on the suspension and then react. Neither would say that Avery’s career with the Stars was in jeopardy. The Stars are tied to the contract, which is guaranteed, but they can try to trade him, place him on waivers or wait until the summer and buy out the remaining three years of his contract.
Hull and Jackson said that kind of talk was premature, but each had strongly-worded statements.
….
Modano was just a little more cryptic, hinting that maybe Avery might not return to the team.
“It’s going to take some time,” Modano said. “It certainly will be a situation we’ll have to address when that time comes … if it does.”
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/120308dnspostarslede.24c8965d.html
First off, Tyson’s Punch out for NES is probably the best game ever made! Second… anyone kinda see the resembalence between Glass Joe and Jeremy Roneick. Third, I don’t apreciate Avery talking about my GF like that however, IMO I think the league exaggerated it alil’ bit. I mean, maybe fine the guy and suspend him for one game + team fines and consequenses and call it a day. I hate the guy but… indeffinetly seems alittle harsh. Its not like he McSoreley’d Brasher in the head or something… ya know?
Did I read correclty in that this is Avery’s first actual suspension? After all the crap he’s pulled IN games, he gets suspended indefinantely for a Jr. High comment made before a game?
The NHL just screwed itself out of huge ratings for that game. I would have loved to have watched Phaneuf throttle Avery.
Gun - He was suspended earlier this year already… no?
TheGun: McKenzie speculated that letting him off for his prior transgressions played a part in this latest one being the straw that broke the league’s back.
I don’t know Budda.
It wouldn’t be a surprise though if ESPN was incorrect on something about hockey though…
DALLAS — Of all the cajoling, snide remarks and other stunts Sean Avery pulled on the way to becoming the biggest pest in hockey, never had he gone so far that the NHL believed it had to suspend him — until Tuesday.
…
At the bottom of the Dallas Morning News article there is a table of Avery’s transgressions - there are fines listed but no suspensions.
Why oh Why is Skoula on this team or better yet in the NHL??? He should be playing on a No-Check League somewhere in Europe!!! I live in Denver and am a former Season Ticket Holder for the Wild. I watch every game on Comcast and attend the Games at the Pepsi Center. I proudly wear the “W” but am embarrassed by this Pu**y!!
I proudly wear the “W” but am embarrassed by this Pu**y!!
Another Avery fan checks in…
Come ON Russo.. do some reporting and give us some REAL information on GABORIK.. what is injured, how long is he out, etc.
Skoula has played well this season. Is he an All-Star D–no. Is he a great offensive D–no. But he plays a solid game and has been very good this year but for the mistake on Mon. He doesn’t make bone-crushing hits but does occasionally. What he does is use his body to get the puck away from the opposition against the board and then move it out of the zone and prevent solid shots on net. At times he will skate it out. Those who claim he is a terrible D aren’t really watching the games this year.
MRoFG - Please explain to me how Russo is supposed to report on Gaboriks injury and timeframe when neither the player, the GM, nor the trainer will comment on it?
Russo does not apply Eklundosis in his reporting repetoire. He’s not going to make something up to appease you. He will report when he has facts.
I just don’t get all the fuss over Skoula. Has the guy had some highlight reel gaffes. Oh yeah. But I see Koivu and Burns and Schultz cough up the puck and know one bats an eyelash. woodcock describes him well. I think part of his perception problem is he is not the kind of guy who can make up for a brain cramp with some fancy scoring play. He is only visible when he makes a mistake. Otherwise, he is just doing his job well in an unspectacular fashion. I think he needs to feel the love. Anybody up for a Skouba fan club?
brunch
As far as firing Lemaire for lack of defense:
Have we not given up the least amount of goals in the NHL? I woudl guess were are in the top 10 in every year in our existence.
Also, Lemaire has coached us to a top 5 in the league in penalty kill since he has been here.
Now our power play is second only to Detroit’s, which is an absurd 33%.
I guess we could blame the coach but I doubt anybody but Scotty Bowman could do a significantly better job.
Why don’t we just dump Gaborik? We seem to be doing perfectly fine without him. I don’t think he deserves to stay here if he has barely played for us this year and still won’t come to an agreement on his contract.
