Tuesday update; Gaborik decision after morning skate; Johnsson uncertain
Posted on December 30th, 2008 – 2:58 PMBy Michael Russo
Russo here, back in wintry Minny, where my eyelids are starting to get heavy. Not much sleep last night before my flight.
It’s funny. I took off in Calgary and felt like I landed in Calgary. Same exact weather.
Tomorrow night at 6 o’clock, U.S. vs. Canada in the world junior tournament. That will be an incredible game. I might have to beg the Wild P.R. firm of Sickman & Stanzel to put one of the two TV’s on top of my head in the X press box onto that game.
Brian Stensaas trekked out to Parade today for Wild practice, but it was scrapped. So despite the 5 p.m. game tomorrow, the Wild will have a 9 a.m. morning skate — 90 minutes earlier than normal.
The Wild says Marian Gaborik will take part in tomorrow’s morning skate and decide after if he’ll play against San Jose. The Wild did not yet have an update on defenseman Kim Johnsson, who returned to the Cities from Calgary yesterday because of a family emergency. Owen Nolan may skate with the squad in the morning, but he’s not ready to play obviously.
Wild has already had its worst month in team history essentially. It’s never lost nine regulation games in a month. Currently, the Wild is tied with two other months for the fewest points in a month (7). But because tomorrow is the Wild’s 14th game in December, if it loses in regulation, it’ll theoretically be the worst month in team history.
Semantics aside, no matter how you label it, it’s been a dreadful December for the Wild. I wrote a pretty hard-hitting column for tomorrow’s paper on the state of the franchise.
Not much else. I’ll be on KFAN at 3:35 p.m. and KSTP at 6 p.m. I’ll be at the X tonight at 8 for Minnetonka hockey.
For your perusing pleasure, here’s some All-Star tabulations as voting continues for the starters to the Jan. 25 game in Montreal (voting continues on NHL.com thru Friday):
West
Forwards
Player Team Votes
1. Patrick Kane Chicago 774,062
2. Jonathan Toews Chicago 674,583
3. Ryan Getzlaf Anaheim 607,189
4. Marian Hossa Detroit 385,106
5. Jarome Iginla Calgary 383,917
10. Mikko Koivu Minnesota 167,708
18. Marian Gaborik Minnesota 74,353
Defensemen
1. Brian Campbell Chicago 655,222
2. Scott Niedermayer Anaheim 532,702
3. Nicklas Lidstrom Detroit 526,555
4. Chris Pronger Anaheim 523,113
5. Dion Phaneuf Calgary 453,335
11. Brent Burns Minnesota 99,395
Goalies
1. Jean-Sebastien Giguere Anaheim 511,750
2. Roberto Luongo Vancouver 438,841
3. Evgeni Nabokov San Jose 394,245
4. Chris Osgood Detroit 188,700
5. Niklas Backstrom Minnesota 128,547
East
Forwards
1. Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh 1,385,888
2. Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh 1,266,197
3. Alexei Kovalev Montreal 1,015,622
4. Saku Koivu Montreal 1,000,802
5. Alex Tanguay Montreal 988,944
Defensemen
1. Andrei Markov Montreal 1,099,139
2. x-Sergei Gonchar Pittsburgh 1,046,592
3. Mike Komisarek Montreal 1,027,970
4. x-Ryan Whitney Pittsburgh 1,005,723
5. Zdeno Chara Boston 442,493
Goalies
1. Marc-Andre Fleury Pittsburgh 1,144,018
2. Carey Price Montreal 1,105,655
3. Henrik Lundqvist NY Rangers 150,914
4. Ryan Miller Buffalo 138,096
5. Martin Biron Philadelphia 102,601
x- means they haven’t played enough games to qualify for the All-Star Game. For some reason, Gaborik doesn’t have an x by his name. I would think six would be too little.
Talk to you on New Year’s Eve morning.
165 Responses to "Tuesday update; Gaborik decision after morning skate; Johnsson uncertain"
first
Second
yeah, ah…we don’t do that around here.
Gawd, how short bus.
Okay, from the last thread:
Russo, what’s going on with John Scott? I guess I’ll know if he’s back in Houston in a few hours, but it seems reasonable that they might have kept him in MN.
That…just happened. Shake and Bake! Don’t be hatin’ on my blogging skills.
hey, Russo, from my seat in sec 202, I can see press box TVs. have ‘em put one of the TVs over my head on the WJC, too! I’ll buy you a beer some day if they do it. 
“Nawman, they’ve opened the bah.” So NiNY, when is the bar open here. We need to drown our sorrows. By the way is the US-Canada game on NHL Network? Might be better than watching the Wild get gobbled up tomorrow. Daughter gets tickets to game so I will open the bar early as I won’t be driving anywhere.
Seven isn’t bad. At least I made the top ten list of losers.
I’m guessing Scott is on his way back to Houston. If the Wild would have kept him as a call-up, Russo would have reported on that.
Eight is great. I’m going to blog all day and drown my sorrows in beer. Once I find some friends I will go out. Maybe by this summer.
Eight is great.
Did I catch a niner in there. Are you blogging from a walkie talkie?
Seven: Poster #8
Eight: Poster # 10 and 11
Nine: Poster #12
… it almost worked bro. Next time try a little harder to be stupid.
Jealous much?
My question is this…
How many are planning on watching the Winter Classic?
I, for one, am freakin’ elated there’s something on besides college dumbball. Game coverage starts with the NHL Network’s pregame at 10am, then NBC’s at 11, and game at noon.
CBC, RDS and NBC all carrying the game in HD, so find a good place to watch!
I will be watching for sure, MuN. College football is overhyped, and the bowl games usually aren’t that entertaining.
Zap!
Hey everyone, the wife got me tickets for the game tomorrow for Christmas. It will be our first game. Any suggestions or must do’s while we are there??
I’m watching. Watching practice (PRACTICE?) tomorrow, too, on NHLN.
isnt every game they play practice-fricken losers
Joe, Booing loudly seems to be de rigueur.
I got a bunch of buddies from my league team coming over to watch with some beers, and weather permitting, a little winter BBQ
Of course I will be watching. I made sure my mom picked me up some more hot pockets. She better not bother me either.
joe–on your first game you must say “skoula sucks” 20 times and “kick the crap out him boogs” 50 times “fire DR” 100 times– that should be good for 1st game
dont forget the chicken strips basket
Hey everyone, the wife got me tickets for the game tomorrow for Christmas. It will be our first game. Any suggestions or must do’s while we are there??
My advice to you is to start drinking heavily
Joe, before the puck drops, yell “Let’s go Wild, you can do it!” really loud.
Booing works. More specifically, boo and grumble Skoula’s name everytime he does something that could qualify as being stupid.
MKiA wants to know what you got against hot pockets.
I hope they keep Scott up the D looked alot better without Captain Kimberly and we need to add size on the Back line in a big way, teams drive the net at will on us because we are so small and not physical.
College football is overhyped, and the bowl games usually aren’t that entertaining.
The BCS has made NY day bowl games fairly meaningless and it looks like the NHL is taking advantage - my guess is that this game will eventually makes its way to TCF Stadium or Target Field.
Wow, weather EVER permits BBQs up there this time of year, Gun? Is that as hard-core as it sounds to me?
Just realized I’ve been spelling my name wrong this whole time. Please update your records and let’s try and move past this.
Minnesotans laugh in the face of bad weather - we just had BBQ on Sunday.
I BBQ all the time. Why would weather not permit that?
[door explodes open a la Seinfeld’s Kramer]
…hot pockets?! Someone say hot pockets?
“College football is overhyped, and the bowl games usually aren’t that entertaining.”
It’s getting to the point that I can’t enjoy watching football (NFL and NCAA) on TV anymore.
4 downs, then two truck commercials and a beer commercial.
punt, 4 commercials.
reviewed play, 5 minutes for the review and another 7 commercials.
Just got off my Harry Potter blog and see alot of Hot Pocket chatter.
WTF is the problem with HP’s.
Synthetic cheese, salted meat like product all in a bread like pocket.
I’m going to go upstairs and ask my mom to whip up a couple, right after pi$$ in this Gatorade bottle.
Joe…
Count the spin-o-turnovers.
I think if there are more than 5 you get a free chalupa or something.
Tomorrow night should bring a veritable plethora of s-o-ts.
I love HOT POCKETS!! My mom tried to by me lean pockets once and I didn’t clean my room for a month. That showed her. I dont care if society says I’m overweight. Mmmmm tasty!
“I hope they keep Scott up the D looked alot better without Captain Kimberly and we need to add size on the Back line in a big way, teams drive the net at will on us because we are so small and not physical.”
Yeah you are right. We looked great last night. Oh wait we played like crap and lost. Hmmm.
Pass that gatorade bottle when you are done. I could use a good whizz.
40th! (i hate when ppl post “first”)
that is too funny how many people voted for gabby as an all-star!
Question, with all the problems the wild have why does Brochard (sp) get a free pass. Seems like he doesn’t do anything. Lemaire talks about Polliout and Sheppard but Pierre Marc seems to get a free pass.
pkne - I figure they’re Eastern Conference fans trying to screw the West.
If they put a microwave in the penalty box I can guarantee players would warm up a nice hot pocket before they jumped back onto the ice. They only take 90 seconds to cook! Why do you think Zidlicky (aka #1 HotPocket) takes so many dumb penalties. It’s not because he is out of position, he just loves the pockets of hotness!
Fair enough, you crazy Wintersotans…. 
Bud- First off, vist http://www.wild.com, get some spellings…
Second Bouchard has not gotten a free pass. Not even close, at least not from the fans.
Russo on with Hartman. Sounds like he’s going to pretty much destroy DR in his Strib column for tomorrow.
Nothing malicious. Just laying out how he has left the cupboard completely bare from a draft pick, and prospect standpoint.
This has been discussed here ad nauseum but I’ve never seen it laid out as a whole like The Don will.
I’m guessing that DR would like the fan base to not evaluate his trade history collectively, but more on a trade by trade basis.
I’ve really been pondering this month if DR & JL are the guys to take this franchise to the next level. Lemaire is not the problem. I’m now 100% convinced that the Wild will not reach the next level until the front office is cleaned out.
There is no such thing as inclement weather as far as BBQ is concerned. Now, I’ve heard it said that when its 100 degrees with a 90+% humidity that BBQing might be uncomfortable, but its never too cold to BBQ folks. Or tailgate for that matter. Check this guy out on his durocoated (or similar product) hood of his 77-79 Ford Ltd II.
http://tinyurl.com/tailgateltd2
God I miss that car. I don’t miss the milege, but I miss the car…
Kirk - I agree. It’s like DR is a Pinto - a good enough car to get you around, but we need something high performance, like a Porsche.
Sweet, thanks for all the non-help.
Nice analogy Heather. I wonder if DR still believes he’s the architect of the “Ultimate Build Job”?
Joe:
Just go and have fun. Hope they win the game for you or at least play a good 60 minutes and pop in a goal for you.
I’m guessing that DR would like the fan base to not evaluate his trade history collectively, but more on a trade by trade basis.
that’s funny.
Maybe the “Ultimate Snow Job”.
Joe- I guess I am not sure what you are looking for. If it’s your first game, take it in. Take in the X, just walk around, it is an absolutely beautiful arena.
As for must dos… hit up one of the local taverns before or after the game. Lots of fans around, everyone willing to talk some puck. Other than that… this isn’t Phoenix, there aren’t any game areas and things like that. No “Wild Experience Zone” or anything like that.
Sorry. Just go and enjoy the game. Get into it, and be loud.
So, what weather *wouldn’t* permit then? (I know. I know. The horse is dead.)
Boiling hot or torrential rain, I would guess. Maybe hurricane strength winds. Maybe.
Ms C… depends on what you’re cooking. If you just really want some BBQ, the things will work in any weather, just a matter of how wet, hot, cold, icy, etc the cook is willing to be.
Me? No weather is beyond a good outdoor cooked meal.
I lived in Alaska for a while, and we’d have “Chinooks” - 100 mph warm winds. I drew the line there. And when I lived in Florida, I’d draw the line at a Category 3 warning, but nothing lower than a 3.
I’m guessing that DR would like the fan base to not evaluate his trade history collectively, but more on a trade by trade basis.
POTD
+~
So Buddha. Since we are on a website where a significant number of the posts are dedicated to discussing how health issues affect player performance and ultimately team performance, tell me again why discussing health issues of the team’s President/GM and how they might affect his job performance and ultimately team success is tasteless.
Tell me again why asking the question, “Why did Smug choose to release his story to Tom Powers of all people?” is tasteless?
And this time:
No putting words in my mouth.
No Jerry Springer imitations.
No use of the words “quality Scrubs episode”.
Your last attempt went into my “Sophomoric” file folder.
Main Entry: soph·o·mor·ic
Pronunciation: \ˌsäf-ˈmȯr-ik, -ˈmär- also ˌsȯf- or ˌsä-fə- or ˌsȯ-fə-\
Function: adjective
Date: 1813
1 : conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature
Where would we be without Merriam and Webster?
Thank god the Vikings made the playoffs, it gives me something else to think about. Poor wild 
Deep Breath wanted to talk about offensive woes 5 on 5 etc in the last thread….. Here’s a working of where we stand vs the league on some offensive numbers:
MN WILD:
27th in goals (86)
27th in Assists (149)
26th in Goals for (2.43)
30th in Shots (963)
9th in Power Play Goals (32)
defensively we are:
3rd in goals against (82)
3rd in goals agasnt average (2.32)
2nd in Save % (92.2)
Wanna guess how many of the other “Defense” leaders are on the following set of scores/schedule? 
Dec 28 vs Chicago L 1-4
Dec 29 at Calgary L 1-2
Dec 31 vs San Jose 6:00 pm
Jan 3 vs Detroit 8:00 pm
Jan 4 at Colorado 8:00 pm
Jan 6 at Boston 7:00 pm.
Wanna guess where they sit as far as goals for is concerned?
Its going to be a rough month. No one is arguing that. But let us try not to condemn and put all kinds of folks to the torch just yet. We need our guys to try to get up and play at max for every game. You want to hang administration, be my guest. I know nothing about how a hockey team is run/owned/managed and will not bandwagon pound on each and every decision made by the guys in suits and ties. But lets remember that every guy on that team can be chided for poor performance or mistakes on a daily basis, but they have one thing in common that you and I dont… They play hockey for a living in the NHL. We collective bunch are armchair captains/ enthusiasts at the most. (Or have the pleasure of reporting the goings on to us in a more than awesome fashion)
I can live with losses and and close games, if the effort is there. Show me effort and crisp complete passes that lead to shots on goal and I’ll know the better team won.
I miss hotpockets. Might have to get one or two in leiu of the pizza rolls next week.
Another traffic nightmare this will be I’m sure of it. Good luck out there everyone, maybe I’ll even see you. I’ll be the one giving you a dirty look.
SotB- How did I put words in your mouth? Or act like Springer? And how am I not knowledgable?
You know nothing about me, so you cannot possibly know my knowledge level on the topic. Which, by your definition, makes your comment sophomoric.
Also, I don’t really care if you think it is sophomoric, I really don’t. No more than you care if I think the discussion by a bunch of hockey fans discussing the health of a GM in terms of how it affects their viewing pleasure.
I do enjoy how you set the rules of the debate though.
It is tasteless because I have yet to see a post from you where you show any concern other than that of how it affects the quality of the on ice product. UM’s groin is not life threatening. Cancer is. A groin injury affects only hockey. Cancer does not, it affects his entire life. No concern from you on that though.
Do you really care that much about who he released the info to? Does it matter? At all? Even in the scope of discussing hockey it doesn’t matter.
i tell you what though. Discussing this issue with you is like discussing anything with Dan. No matter what I say, what i do, you are going to tell me you are right, and I am wrong, and call me names, so I’m out.
You win. Discuss whatever you wish, in whatever manner you so choose. You do not need my permission to do so. I’m done with the debate. I find it tasteless, you apparently don’t. So be it.
Buddha — I have not read all of the comments from the last week. What on earth are you and SotB talking about?
FYI
The Aeros signed a center and called up a defenseman from Corpus Christi so I’m assuming Scott (and Kolanos) will be here a while.
Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger
An endless, aching need
I say love, it is a flower
And you, it’s only seed
It’s the heart, afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It’s the dream, afraid of waking
That never takes the chance
It’s the one who won’t be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul afraid of dyin’
That never learns to live
When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong
Just remember, in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lie the seed, that with the sun’s love
In the spring, becomes the rose
Stoned: I think the reason why Powers got the story is that he’s a columnist who writes a lot of feel-good, human-interest sports stories. His jabs are softer than the beat writers and he is fair. He knows a lot more about hockey and probably attends more of the games than any of the Strib columnists.
His story on Nick Schultz’s appendectomy and Skoula from last April were great. Even his “Gabby Road” article in November was pretty good talking about where Gaborik was during the 27 games that he missed.
If you have ever read any of his Wild columns, you would know why Powers was chosen over Russo, Shipley, or any of the Strib columnists.
WATX-
There was discussion a couple threads ago about whether or not DR’s cancer would distract him from making a strong trade, or otherwise distract him from doing his job, and the job of the team.
I found it tasteless to direct the discussion in such a way as to suggest the on ice quality of the team is somehow more important than the health of DR. I feel that regardless of how you feel about the guy, it is tasteless to call him into question because he has cancer.
SotB and a few others found my comments offensive in some way and SotB has taken up the torch to save my soul and convince me I am wrong, and made the suggestion that I have no idea what I am talking about.
If that doesn’t sum it up, I am almost certain he will not let it go, so you can get a better description from him.
Though, Powers tend to get under Lemaire’s skin because he always ask if the Wild is physical enough of a team.
If Nolan comes back after the Sharks game, Kolanos or Scott will go down. MAB won’t be back until mid of January at the earliest.
DR has cancer? Man I’m out of the loop these days.
Buddha,
It would be helpful if you would go back and read my posts on this subject before you went off on your half cocked diatribes.
You don’t have to, but know this. I retired early from executive management because:
1. I could
2. I decided that I could no longer bring the focus and commitment to the job that I felt was necessary to satisfactorily meet the needs of our employees, customers, and other important constituencies.
3. I could not do that because for the last several years I have been waking up every morning next to someone who has been battling an incurable lymphatic cancer. I had to make a choice between cancer and a high demand job. Happily, I chose cancer and I am blessed to have had the option.
Nowhere did I frame this discussion in terms of my viewing pleasure. You did that for me.
So now you know something about me and what I know about executive management and cancer. Not to mention my career focused on spending countless hours in operating rooms with sick and dying people.
You are right. I don’t care what you think. Just don’t misrepresent me and others because your reading comprehension is lacking.
Go Wild.
“Just don’t misrepresent me and others because your reading comprehension is lacking.”
Just more classy debate from SotB. Name calling and insults. Good fun.
Facts do not cease to exist because you ignore them
I think I am going to join KiPA in a sabatacle from Russoville. Maybe one day the debate can go back to a civilized nature without resorting to name calling and insults.
Enjoy the new Russoville all. It isn’t what it was three months ago.
I’m going to have a BBQ’d hot pocket.
And Powers? Heh. It’s got nothing to do with how soft he’ll be in the article. I’m sure Tommy got himself a nice little x-mas present in return for a favorable story.
sunshine says: >>If you have ever read any of his Wild columns, you would know why Powers was chosen over Russo, Shipley, or any of the Strib columnists.<<
I thought it was sacrilege to voice such opinions. I’m a St. Paul guy who grew up on the PP and like all of those guys….well maybe with the exception of Sansavere. Not that I don’t enjoy the Don, mind you.
Ok so, Joe just have fun. If you get to the X early enough you can take a look at the displays about hockey’s history in MN.
MsC the only thing that really stops the Mr from BBQ-ing is if the snow is deep enough he can’t get to the smoker or grill. Oh and tornado conditions.
Interesting, the number of voters from the Eastern conference compared to the Western.
Also, the top two forwards and the top defensemen are all Blackhawks. I guess you could say Chicago has Blackhawk fever again.
Buddha and Stoned:
It seems to me like there is a fundamental gap in communication here - or at least in comprehension.
I do not think SotB (or really anyone) put the performance of the team above DR’s health.
Nor do I think Buddha has been egregiously incendiary or himself insensitive in this matter.
I trust that, should any outside influence begin to impair DR’s ability to perform his duties that he would recuse himself post haste - the ability to better address his own situation being the main rationale, if nothing else.
I don’t think anyone was saying anything along the lines of “I wonder if DR’s illness was a factor in him ‘only’ getting Chris Simon at the deadline, or not re-signing Rolston, or not getting Jokinen or Sundin, or this team not being able to buy a goal or a win” or something to that effect.
I have also had to go through the experience of a loved one battling with cancer. And I was a child of two hospital administrators - one of whom was also a RN by trade. My sister is a NICU nurse (in the TC.) So I’ve heard all the horror stories.
The point is that I like to think I’m as sensitive to the, well, sensitivities of this topic as anyone (at least anyone who hasn’t themself had the disease.) I think the rancor between Buddha and SotB has exceeded the legitimacy of each party’s claim(s) against the other. Particularly because both of you are respected citizens of Russoville.
I’m not sure you’re going to find common ground at this point - at least not in the current vein.
So I ask you both to take a knee on this one for the time being. Go cool off, and then perhaps contact each other outside of Russoville if you want to continue the conversation. I say this because I think this is the best way to a resolution without having to incur the expense of the loss of one or two solid Russotans in the process - for any amount of time.
oops…forgot to close the tag!
joe- wild tix for xmas? sorry but that’s not the best gift this year! but hey, the games are always an experience. you can’t beat the atmosphere. if your tix are club level, go to headwaters grill and treat yourself to $35 buffet!! and enjoy the game!
Now I’ve got to get me a Hot Pocket.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm………..
WildInATN, recently (within the past week or so) Tom Powers of the Pioneer Press did a column on DR’s cancer. It might still be in their archive it you want to read it.
Hey Nick. Your efforts are noble, but let’s just leave this at agree to disagree and attribute it to oil and water. Life goes on.
As an aside, does the medical specialty of epileptology enter into your family background? Knew a fellow with kids at MPA who was taken from us a few years back.
Powers got the story because he got word of Ballgame’s condition from a third party, spoke to Ballgame about it and said he was gonna run something in the paper, at which time, Ballgame, knowing that it was going to be “out there” anyway, decided to give Powers the opportunity for a full interview about the subject.
Name that movie:
“Try the Hotpockets. They’re breathtaking!”
We’re doing my son-in-law to be’s bachelor party at the Oiler’s game on the 15th. I don’t suppose they’ve got lap dances anywhere at the X as yet or is it just on the Club level? Maybe next year when the crowds start to thin out.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Mayor Nick… nice work.
BTW, Scotty is here in Houston playing, so uh, don’t get any of your defensemen hurt. Ya don’t got any extras.
boo and grumble Skoula’s name everytime he does something that could qualify as being stupid.
it doesn’t have to be when he does something stupid. just when he is on the ice.
People can function with cancer. Eric Davis had colon cancer in 97 but rejoined the orioles while still in treatment and hit a game winning homer in the ALCS.
Local bar band legend, Brian Leighton, just had the same surgery DR had and was back on stage a week later.
Point is people can and do live with cancer. Unfortunately, too many people cannot. I think it is fair to question if DR should have worked thru it but just as i believe stoned figured out for himself that he needed to step aside, maybe we should trust that DR knew he didn’t need to step aside.
Skoula still sucks-his lack of physical play costs us every game. Just watch every play hes near the puck.
KiPA:
What is up with Malkin? I am close to agreeing with you that the Pens’ big guys aren’t doing too much.
- I agree with NiNY on the Russoville fued and I hope two solid contributors can bury the hatchet so we can go back to the way we were (i.e wallowing on the cusp of season oblivion)
- Skoula Derangement Syndrome is so last year.
Stoned:
Its okay to mention the paper across the river. Sometimes, they have info that’s not available in the Strib such as DR’s battle with cancer.
Sansevere is as indifferent to the Wild as the Strib sports columnists. Though, I do like his “Body Shots” pieces. Maybe he writes those because he doesn’t know much about hockey anyways.
- Skoula Derangement Syndrome is so last year.
Which brings up an interesting point, how do you measure success in your defenseman?
i’ve referenced shipley many times here
bieksa actually fights. granted it was richards.
Oilers and Sens have to wait another 15 minutes until the electrician comes and gives them electricity.
The players are heading back to the locker room now.
i got no sound on the nuck cast. although comcast sports network was having tech difficulties with the chicago cast.
Gagne out for the rest of the game, result of a huge hit by Bieska. Of course that was during the time where there were some technical difficulties.
huge hit by Bieska
ok, that is why he fought richards. after the fight they showed a replay. couldn’t tell if it was clean or not.
PPG for Daniel
anyone else watching the Nux/Flyers game on CI? Philly broadcast? Is that Bill Clement on color??
Hartnell puts the Flyers up again.
hartnell responds
it is. now that the sound is working
what, did old man Snider outbid Versus for his services??
they finally discovered fire in Edmonton
he did them last year i think. i’ll consult the wiki
there is tough guy mitchell again.
The Pio is reporting that Johnsson will be back in tomorrow’s game — Brothers, the fill-in beat writer, interviewed Johnsson. I guess Gaborik, Johnsson, and Nolan were at Parade skating even though practice was canceled.
I thought about Mitchell too, but frankly I wish one of our guys would be willing to pop a guy in the mouth if he’s taking whacks in the crease like that.
Clement is also host of a Flyers-based radio talk show on WBCB 1490 AM in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The show includes current and former players and coaches, as well as players from the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms and ECHL’s Trenton Titans. He will be entering his 6th season as host of the show, taking over for Gene Hart. He also continues to provide color commentary, working several local Flyers broadcasts for Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia in the 2008 regular season and playoffs.
nice G*. I guess local includes the odd trip to the ‘Couv.
agree but he whines when someone hits him and backs down when challenged.
wiki knows all
he also does color on my NHL09 game
agree but he whines when someone hits him and backs down when challenged.
sorta describes that whole team, including coach, no?
that was my impression last game they played in town
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28439002/
Drunk driving charge for man on Zamboni. The man crushed the Zamboni into a storage wall at 2 am in the morning. Arena is where the (Maine) Portland Pirates play.
LOL…its only funny because no one was hurt.
Did you hear from the announcers say that Vermette suggested as a “team bonding” thing the Sens players should all grow moustaches?
LOL!
the don has spoken. the don is wise
At first I thought it was one of the columnists but it has he name on the end.
Damn! They finally turned on the “We’ll be right back” screen on the Philly Vanc game on NHL Gamecenter.
Nothing will top Darryl the Razor during commercial breaks unedited, but its still cool to hear a little behind the scenes….
I am laughing at the announcers talking about the sign being stuck to Wellewood’s rear end.
That is some funny stuff there.
Russo, well said and thanks for writing that article. It was spot on and it needed to be said.
Russo’s going to have an interesting day on the job tomorrow.
Always fresh, always torn apart Tim Horton’s signs.
Never heard so much talk about someone’s buttocks. Its too bad it wasn’t on Burrow’s a$$ — I would have laughed harder.
RUSSO, Great job on the article. This team is unwatchable right now. And unlike tough spans in years past, this team simply lacks the depth. And instead of improving on the steps forward the last two years, we’re much worse with little to show hope of improvement. I think DR’s time is up. JL is a stud but a miracle worker he ain’t.
At first I thought it was one of the columnists but it has he name on the end.
Me, too. But wow, great column. Last time Russo went on a crusade, it got Skoula a game in the press box.
Me, too. But wow, great column. Last time Russo went on a crusade, it got Skoula a game in the press box.
I don’t think the press box is big enough for the collective guilt we are facing here.
Interesting. LaBarbara to Vancouver for a pick.
Oh my nice save in the Philly game.
Nick.. Clement was the host with Versus, but he was fired because of ratings. That’s why they brought the new idiot in this year. He also worked briefly for NBC but was let go there too. So he went back home to Philly, he does the color for TV now, and some other stuff around town.
Personally, I think he’s the very best color guy anywhere. Hands down, he and Gary Thorne were the duo to watch a few years ago.
…he and Gary Thorne were the duo to watch a few years ago.
+1
Now there are so few “great” guys doing the broadcasting anymore.
It was a good article but to be honest, since we hash these issues over and over and over on this blog that I feel like it carried no weight whatsoever with me.
Maybe seeing it in black and white will have some effect on DR and folks but I don’t think so. They are like teflon, it doesn’t seem to bother them too much. They know they have problems. They are trying to do a good PR spin on it.
What if DR says instead that yeah, we know we have problems but they will be addressed in a timely manner? We would all have the same reaction. Why can’t he make a deal now instead of 4 weeks from now?
Admitting the problem isn’t going to change the fans’ reaction.
T-a-v-a-r-e-s.
Go on, you can spell it with me…
T-a-v-a-r-e-s.
sunshine!!!
+1
kj:
To be honest again, I didn’t think anyone would agree with me.
Wow Russo. This is the hardest hitting article Russo has ever written. Good job ! this needed to be printed.
I have thought about this for 10 minutes after I read the article
How DR can improve
(1) Dump Mike Lynn your assistant GM. Get somebody who is not like you are. I am all for not firing you Doug, but you need somebody who can compliment what you are not. I think Brian Lawton could have been the perfect match, but it might have been just what you needed ! Youthful energy running around, and you can set him straight when it calls for it… That is whats needed
You have surrounded yourself with very mature even keel business type people like yourself. They carefully choose the words they use, etc. Tom Thompson, Mike Lynn, yourself and even coach Lemiare
(2) You and your helpers need to remember the roots of what made this team what it was. HARD WORK, SPEED, DEFENSE FIRST. Every year as the franchise gets older the one thing that should change is that you have players with more skill and can score goals, but nothing changes in your system
(3) Everybody that covers the Wild think the Wild still have that team speed, but in reality you dont. I thought I would never hear the day come when the Wild need to slow down the other team. You jumped on the Ducks bandwagon and now your club has got tougher but your slower. I think Weller Clutterbuck, and Boogy is enough. You need to get speed back for your coach to properly execute with his style
kj- you must be smoking crack. The wild wont fall that low G
It’s not only the anonymous bloggers, talk-show callers, message-board fanatics and newspaper e-mailers
I wanna know which group we are? The board fanatics?
Good column, Russo. It exposed the draft issues, but that’s because they’ve gotten away from developing our picks, in return for filling out a complete roster around Gaborik. You can argue those 2nd and 3rd rounders dealt were for nothing.. But that’s not exactly the case. Cuma’s the only one in the system worth anything right now. True.
But we’ve developed Gaborik, Koivu, PMB, and Burns. We’re trying to further the development of Pouliot and Sheppard ahead of where they should be. However the 2nd and 3rd rounders did get us some players who were needed. But it doesn’t work forever. I can’t say all the picks, or the majority of them were bad, but I think the manner in which they are developed is to be called into question.
But.. Some guys can step from college right into the NHL and do well. I’d love to compare Shep and Benny to similar guys. My current fave is Brian Little, because I hope we could land him somehow, but he’s just 21, and is on pace for 40 goals this year - his 2nd!
Here’s the 2006 draft class that was AHEAD of Sheppard, who was taken 9th.
1. Johnson - still injured in STL, but put up good numbers and solid D last year.
2. Jordan Staal - in his 3rd year, 42pts, 28pts, 21 pts (current).
3. Toews - 2nd year. 54 pts in 64 games in his 1st year.
4. Nicklas Backstrom - 2nd year. Put up 69 pts his rookie year.
5. Kessel. 29 and 37 pts in his 1st 2 years. On fire in year 3.
6. Brassard. Hardly played last year, so this is really his 1st. 25 pts though so far.
7. Okposo. This is really his 1st year. 9pts in 25 games, and he’s been injured.
8. Mueller. 54 pts in his rookie season last year. A bit shy of that pace this year.
And Shep: A dismal 19 pts in his rookie season, and 7 so far this year.
He hasn’t really been put into the pressure cooker any more than some of these other guys, but he’s not getting points, so that is either a reflection on his ability, or how he’s coached and developed. He hasn’t really been rushed out there, as these other guys seem to be able to do it.
See what I mean?
MuN:
I think its the Wild’s philosophy of bringing them up in the NHL. If you look at the first and 2nd years of a Wild #1 draftee, you will see the exact playout of Sheppard’s numbers with the exception of Gaborik and Koivu (21 years old when he joined the NHL and had 1 year in AHL). Burns’ first year was dismal to say the least. His second was just as dismal.
Most of the guys are surrounded by very good players — not mostly plumbers, with the exception of Brassard and maybe Okposo.
MKIA:
We might not need to fall very low. We might get lucky in the lottery and land the #1 pick.
You never know….
I wondered what group we’re in, too. Don’t Russovillians rate a separate mention? Hmph. Where’s my Hot Pocket?
Great column, Russo. Wow. I’ve been waiting to read something like that. Perfect.
Bottom line for me, this team needs a new gm. Lemaire might be the best coach in the league, he’s just in a position with this team where his knowledge and tactics aren’t as effectual s they could be elsewhere. Risebrough has messed up enough with poor signings and drafting and bad trades - he has to be one of, if not The, worst gm in the game. He’s in over his head and he needs to go.
I think that is what Russo was driving at, that upper management (led by DR) has screwed the poosch from what was a very promising situation.
Again, Russo, phenomenal job on the article. Good luck getting any cooperation from these guys in the future, hahahha
The Wild have a good, solid young core. I feel like Burns, Koivu, PMB, Gilles, Shep, Cuma and Harding can be part of a great team.
I think it’s time to stop kidding ourselves with the idea we have players with no trade value. That’s bull. I love Nik Backstrom, but he’s got the most trade value of anyone that we’ve got right now. Trade him to a team that needs a goalie to contend (Kings?) or a goalie away from legitimate Cup aspirations (Philly?) for what you can get. Draft picks, players.
We need to cut Gabby and get what we can. I love Gabby- when he’s healthy. He’s like Havlat in that there’s gonna be SOMEONE who wants him, but is too injury-prone to be someone to build a team around.
Getting what we can for them- and a high draft pick as well- can change us from an anemic team to a great up-and-comer in a few years.
you know, last year was the first time, I felt that the first Wild draftees were very strong at the same time.
(2000) it was rookie Gaby by himself.
(2001) emerging Gaby with rookie Schultz. (2002)Gaby with developing Schultz and rookie PMB.
(2003)Gaby with emerging Schultz, developing PMB and rookie Burns.
(2005)Then it was Gaby and Schultz with emerging PMB and Koivu with developing Burns.
(2007) Finally, Gaby, Schultz, Koivu, PMB, and Burns were all on the same page.
That took 8 years just to get 5 players to reach where they were last year.
The main problem continues to be the abyssmal drafting, which has done nothing to provide the team with prospects or a future. As I stated yesterday, only three players in this team’s history have played serious minutes in the League and were drafted after the second round (Sekeras, Boogie & SRV). You couldn’t find three more interchangable parts to be sure. Maybe Clutterknuckles will be added to the list. Add to that the 2004 AND 2005 draft classes are complete busts (unless Poo-Bah cranks it up REAL, REAL fast). Drafting in the first round has been reletively successful for the team, but they have failed painfully when it comes to the players an organization needs to “stock the cupboards” in the farm system. I’m not ecpecting this team to find a Zetterberg every year in the 8th round, but to have only 3 role players see ice time in the League that were drafted past the third round is atrocious.
*inhales*
so, does the Don’s article officially kick off the “FI-RE RISE-BROUGH, clap, clap, clapclapclap” chants at the X?
Gang, if you want change, you gotta ask for it. If CL is going to fly in for the game tonight, LET HIM HEAR IT.
Otherwise, this is just meaningless, anonymous internet posturing…
Joe wants the cup- my tidbits for your gametime experience:
1- get there for pre-game skate. Burns flips pucks into the crowd (usually to school age kids).
2- find Wally the beerman and get a photo (phone/camera, etc) with him. He is a true ambassador.
3- enjoy your beverage(s).
Wishing all in Russoville a decent new year. Thanks to Michael and Brian for their time and talents.
Trust me when I tell you that I have been making sure CL hears it.
I can’t recall a time (even back to the North Star days) where I have had to boo my club off the ice so many times. And I don’t just boo for no reason. If the club is skating hard and trying but are still getting beat I can deal with. However, when they simply “float” and don’t at least put the effort in is when I get vocal.
I got an extra ticket for tonight, but instead of taking my soon to be six-year old son and try to explain to him why dad was booing the home club, I grabbed a buddy of mine.
Unlike those jokers that play at Target Center, we will not sit around and allow ownership to have poor mgmt in the front office for years on end only to destory what little good there is about this club. We were all patient to DR’s “plan” and grumbled under our breath as he sat passive during the FA periods in years past with the promise of “once good, we stay there”. Yet here we are… not even one year removed from the Division Title.
Russo - Great article. Maybe the next one could be a collection of quotes from DR over the past 7 years about “the plan” and how we need to be patient.
NiNY - if it gets ugly tonight (and it probably will)… i’ll see what I can do about getting that chant going for Russoville.
I couldn’t agree more with Russo’s article and several comments here. In a pre-season article, Russo pointed out how offensively challenged we would be and also how thin with inevitable injuries to players– hence where we are in the standings. I’m sorry, but DR is stuck in his own shmuck when he can’t see that this is the house he’s built. We’ve cited many examples of his decisions that have created this situation. Happy 2009 everyone!
Mr. Russo,
The other day you eluded to nobodies scoring against us or something like that. Being a season ticket holder since the beginning, one thing I’ve noticed over the years is how we are able to keep many of the big guns in check but allow the nobodies to be overlooked. Does this ring a bell “Billy Nobody, his first goal of the season, first NHL point of his life”…in March, after being in the line up all season. Possible topic of a future article…I know the obvious is that he’s playing against the lesser defensive pair or a bunch of call-ups playing on the checking line but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Thanks to you (and Stensaas) for the blog!
Great article Russo. I’m sure the Wild brass can afford to purchase a paper and I hope they do.
You guys who want to fire DR, it can be so much worse! Be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it and discover it is not what you wanted at all.
Hypothetically, somebody comes in and rebuilds the team in their own image. Maybe they look down the roster and trade Burns and Koivu because they have high value.
JL does not feel comfortable and leaves.
We get the equivalent of Bill Mussleman, or Keenan to coach. They coach kicks and screams, the team takes off until it crashes and burns.
Then because that failed, the process starts again.
Schmidty, well if you look carefully in the North Star record books you will find the teams performance was much worse and for a much longer period of time! They were pretty awful for many years, but with flashes of brilliance.
How do you think the North Stars got so many #1 draft choices?
The headlines say the TWolves surrended a 29 point lead last night to lose the game.
We may have some mistakes at the GM level but that does not demonstrate incompetence.
All our frustrations have been heaped on Skoula. Now it is DR?
side salad= breakfast=food
Ice: I know how they got them, as I was there with the other 3,400 fans night in and out. My point was I didn’t boo them because as bad as they were most nights the put the effort in. It was a matter of talent with them, they didn’t have any.
Much like the early Wild teams. They played hard and regardless of win or loss you left the X knowing they did their best. As the years progressed the fans pleaded with DR to makes some moves to start advancing this team… he did little until he snagged Rolston, followed that by the Demo trade, a few other small moves and we end up winning the Division. DR’s plan… even if slow progressed this team to win the toughest division in hockey.
And then, comes this past off-season. DR sits on his hands and ends up losing both Rolston & Demo (knowing full well he wanted to keep one of them)… then he makes DESPERATE moves for anyone to save face and can’t even get that done. He follows that up with “hard-talk” about getting Gaboriks deal done before the season starts because we all know what “could” (and did happen).
He never once set a deadline with Gaborik like he should have. He followed that up with the dismissal of Parrish and like that… 62 goals and 81 assists are gone from the Wild lineup. And that’s not counting Gaboriks numbers.
His passive approach to being a GM has sunk this club. His changing of pace has killed our ability to do anything. He went from slow & steady, build from within… to trader Jack… and then tried to do slow & steady again. Personally I think he’s chick$hit to make a move because of the ones he feels he screwed up before.
It is time for a change at the GM spot. I think JL has done his best with what he has… and unfortunately DR’s laziness will even drive him away at the end of the season.
DR needs at least one blockbuster deal and quickly to save this season, and save any reputation he has left. Like the one where he got Edmonton to give us a #1 for Roloson. Those types of trades. If he doesn’t, look for the Wild attendance to drop like a rock. Heck, the stands are already thinning this past month to the point where I would bet only 15,000 fans even show up. That number will continue to shrink as this poor effort continues.
A change is needed!!
Hey Mike, that must have been a tough article to write, but it is really true. Nice work…I do hope they keep letting you in the locker room. The story is dead accurate, and the fans understand how troublesome the future looks right now. Hope the owner is as frustrated as I am
If the Wild brass actually believes that — and it appears to — it needs to leave its press-box throne and actually tip-toe — and I stress, tip-toe — through the stands.
Take that Doug Smugsborough - Thanks Russo!
food
Shakespeare said it: Alas, poor Gaborick. In this famous scene, Hamlet picks up the foul-smelling skull of the former court jester, Yorick. He notes that kings and lowly jesters are both headed for the same end … decay. We knew him well, Horatio.
