Philadelphia Flyers 3, Wild 1
Posted on January 8th, 2009 – 6:01 PMBy Michael Russo
I’ve got to make this quick. I cannot even explain to you how close I came to calling work tonight and saying, “Run AP.”
Yes, I’ve got what the team’s got. And it ain’t pleasant. I deserve sick pay for this one.
First of all, only in the NHL. Philly’s Josh Gratton got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for NOT fighting!
In the first period, Gratton goaded Big John Scott into dropping his gloves for a fight. Gratton then turtled so badly, he might lose his Broad Street Bully stripes. He turned and skated away. Instead of throwing just Scott into the box for unsportsmanlike conduct for dropping his gloves, referee Dave Jackson was aware of what Gratton did, as in, “You want to go?” so Jackson evened it up by throwing Gratton in, too.
Then later in the period, Erik Reitz and Arron Asham got unsportsmanlike’s for trying to fight during a TV timeout. The linesmen wouldn’t let them, so when they came out of the box, they did. I’d be surprised if Jacques Lemaire didn’t lose his cool with Reitz on that one. Up 1-0, all over the Flyers, the crowd out of it and Krys Kolanos sure looking like he was about to draw a holding penalty in the offensive zone. Not a good time to fight.
But, quite frankly, it didn’t matter. The Wild wouldn’t have scored on the power play anyway.
Tonight was a case where the Wild was skating too well. I mean it. The Wild was all over the Flyers in the first period and a good chunk of the second, so the Flyers kept taking penalties. That turned out to be the death of the Wild, which went 0 for 8 on the power play, taking just nine shots. It had the game’s first six power plays, including a 1:03 5-on-3 and it didn’t come close. Guys were swinging and missing or missing the net or shanking shots or overpassing.
It was ugly. Then, truly fitting, the Flyers needed just seven seconds of their only power play of the game for Mike Knuble to redirect a Mike Richards shot through Niklas Backstrom for the winning goal.
The Wild has scored the fewest goals in the NHL. It’s scored a paltry 27 goals in the last 16 games. The Wild just can’t score. It’s a tired story.
And when it’s power play goes south, tonight happens, because we all know the Wild can’t score 5-on-5.
This is why I keep saying I don’t believe the Wild can sustain it the rest of the season without the acquisition of a scorer.
As Jacques said, “Sometimes I’m wondering if they like to score.”
But it’s personnel, too. I know I keep picking on these guys, and I do think they’re going to be good players, but Benoit Pouliot is a power-play killer. And James Sheppard on a 5-on-3. Sorry, but he’s got no goals and two assists in the last 19 games.
But this is the personnel Lemaire’s got to work with. As Lemaire said this morning when we were asking about the personnel he’s been using on the power play: “What other choice do I have?”
Some extemporaneous stuff:
The Houston coaching staff attended tonight’s game because the Aeros play in Hershey tomorrow. I can’t believe they’re tearing down the Spectrum this year. Even if Niklas Backstrom didn’t make the All-Star Game, his trip to Miami probably would have been cancelled anyway. The Flyers placed Backstrom’s pal Lasse Kukkonen on waivers today. If he goes to the minors, he won’t have an All-Star break at the same time as Backstrom. It’s always good to see my old pal Panotch, as we call him, who now works for Comcast after years covering the Flyers for Inquirer. The best thing about being in the rink tonight was I didn’t have to watch 15 of the same Braydon Coburn commercials on the NHL Network. Note to the NHL: Shoot another darn commercial.
OK, I’ve got to go. I am ill-stricken. Talk to you from Columbus, although if I feel the same I might bail on practice.
194 Responses to "Philadelphia Flyers 3, Wild 1"
He who played great=Gillies or Pouliot?
Bandgeek if you missed it, see my post at the bottom of the last thread for my reply to meeting up at the February 11th game.
Wooo Hockey!! Way to jinx Backs right from the get go Dumb and Dumber. Ya hosers. I need to go make the hamburger helper, suppers real high class tonight.
kgopher the Mr and I are in the upper level. We’ll stop by before we head up if we don’t get there to late.
That guy should change his name to Turtle. If your gonna be a dink at least fight and get it over with.
Scott needs to shave the stash. It’s a little to adult movie actor for my liking.
wow! They look fantastic so far!
Sounds good Band. I said I would wait for the Mr. to get home from work before watching them game so we are starting the game late.
nice jump all the way around so far.
Nice hustle from cluts
Wooo, nice way to come back from the flu Steph.
great pass by c-buck. nice to see someone crash the net besides nolan.
quiet here tonight?
And away goes puck possession in the offensive zone with that drop of the gloves…yay.
Monsieur Dan
Redux. Vers le haut vôtre.
Merci beaucoup. Pardon my French. Its a regional dialect.
I missed the fight, who won?
Wouldn’t really give it to either, more forearm to head than fist for both of them. I think Reitz lost an elbowpad before he shoved the flyer to the ice.
Shoving the Flyer to the ice smells like a win (sort of) to me. Go Reitzy.
Good job Stephane … I will bet Dan the Hockey Expert is thrilled right now.
Philly is not playing as mean as I expected.
Speaking of jinxing, why would Gorg mention the 10-1 Wild record against the east?
Michael,
I know this is a little off-topic, but I see the Star-Trib’s Newspaper Guild cut off talks with the owners today, and a bankruptcy filing is expected in the next few days.
Do YOU pay for your crackbery….or will we have to plan to pitch in to keep your ’services’ here on the blog?
And yes, 1st period looked good. Let’s hope they keep it up!
Who has been more valuable this year…Backs or Mikko?
I say Backs
Mikko is going to score tonight…2 goals in the past 16 games…slump…maybe that is why he did not make the all star team
Mother Smurfer.
5 on 3; lets do something with this boys.
they look terrible this period. I’m getting more and more fed up with this sit back on the lead crap.
Holy Gorg all up in our living room…anybody else see that…cant stand that guy
i’m tellin ya, when guys are healthy enough, PMB needs a few games in the press box with Benny. Something needs to wake him up.
Saw that also. The Mr called it a good mood killer.
Yeah I saw that too Backs. Anyone else find it funny that SRV calls him Mike all the time?
MuN: I agree with you about PMB. I could add a few others but I won’t. We did not score on a 5 on 3. That will come back to haunt us.
Mittens owes a goal on that one. I would like to redeem it in the third period please.
Ewwwww…. the kids sittin behind JL was picking his nose…. ewwwwwww.
We look bad on the PP tonight. This team needs to shoot the puck…
Backs32, either guy is great to have on your team. But, the foundation I want to build on is Mikko because of his attitude.
BAcks maybe be more valuable to the team but maybe he is more easily replaceable.
I love Bon Jovi “Living on a Prayer”
I cannot believe that little Gratton effer. Well, I can, he was a plague upon the AHL, too. And he’s fought Scott andgot the snot beat of him. That was embarrassing for Scotty on the surface but way more embarrassing for Gratton.
I’m still watching the first period. I think Reitzy got edged there in his fight.
That sucks! You kind of felt that it might have been coming.
Well, their opponent just scored their second goal. Game over then?
They played well in the 1st but haven’t been playing as well since & have gotten some bad bounces. Hope we can come back.
Well, how many times have the Wild tied it or came back in the third to win the game?
Once, maybe twice. The odds are against us for sure. I am still hopeful….a little.
The Wild lost this game going 0 for 6 on the powerplay.
Saw Youngblood & Slapshot for the 1st time ever in the last week or so. Youngblood last night, Slapshot last week.
And there’s the fork. Done.
Our power play stinks worse then cat poo tonight & the fact that the Flyers just scored again s u c k s!
Monkey plunger.
So this is what it looks like when a team doesn’t play “prevent” with the lead…
So, if I’m only halfway thru the second, is it even worth my while to do anything other than put it on one click FF?
Its over.
If they were at home, I expect we would be hearing boos. I see shades of December in this game.
And there’s the fork. Done.
Nah, that was the second goal.
and that is the game folks…finish the road trip out strong with a W in Columbus
I recommend FF.
Have Biron been tough as Greenlay say or have we been just awful?
Didn’t say I had a lot of hope we could come back because that just isn’t something this team does well.
Someone here mentioned something about the team winning and things still being ‘broken’.
Welcome back December.
I’m wondering if a few of the boys have a touch of the plague going through the team. They were showing the bench earlier and a few (2 or 3) were looking really really pale and more out of breath than they usually are after shifts. One was SRV, to much to soon for him? I guess we’ll see how many come down with it in the next few days.
KJ shutup…no need for that
One more year for Shep and if nothing comes out of it get rid of em…sick of DR saying he is untouchable
Shep - 2 goals, 6 assist, -16, all in 39 games…am I missing something here
Can I just mention what a prick Hartnell is?
I am loving the physicality of Reitz tonight, though. Chippy can’t be rewarded.
Nice pass MIKKO…so passionate
Backs 32…were you paying attention to how they played in Dec?
Um, it was a lack of scoring and specifically a lack of success on the PP that mostly undid them.
This game (though they are still skating) was lost because of a lack of scoring and specifically no PP success.
Sorry if my honesty upset you.
Zids played decent as a goalie again.
BG - they do look worn down. I think it’s simpler - they give up just as easily as the fans do. They probably think it’s a big fluke that they’re winning, just like the fans (apparently) do. It’s not easy to fake confidence, and if you tell someone they suck enough, eventually they’ll believe it.
Yes I was paying attention…just saying that I would like to put that behind us if ya know what I mean
Mikko - 2 goals in 16 games…goes to show how important the captaincy really is
1 positive thing out of the game was scoring an even strength goal. Only positive thing at this point. Not our best game.
kj: yep, shades of December again. I guess the Nolan factor is wearing off. 
I was hoping we can ride the Nolan factor for a few more games. ( Huge Sigh)
Okay, 2 clicks FF. Yucko.
But to give props where they’re due, Pouly played hard tonight.
I was actually impressed with Pouliot. But the bar was admittedly pretty low.
Although, if what BG thinks is accurate - maybe they’re getting ‘run’ down… 
sunshine…even IGoW is imperfect…LOL
Does Brunette have “the plague?” He looked terrible tonight, I felt. Nolan didn’t look bad but that’s because I don’t remember seeing him. Thought Shep and Kolanos were at least giving strong effort.
When did Bruno last look good?
Pouly played hard
He was on the ice?
Ms. C - I completely agree! I’ve been calling for Bruno to be benched for weeks! FIND THE PUCK IN FRONT OF THE NET! Earn your paycheck!
They’re giving all the guys a room of their own when they get to Columbus to try and stop the plague from spreading. I’m out, long day tomorrow and need to get some laundry done before I turn in.
Please do not say Shep played good…same with Benny
Busts of draft picks there
Also, Bruno might be the slowest skater in the NHL
Someone slap PMB in the face…if spinning counted as a point, he would lead the NHL and be a starter in the all star game
I thought the “d” seemed really worn down the last few minutes….maybe partly a short bench…part the Flyers do finish their checks!
Don’t worry about the ‘December Blues’ until we see how they play Saturday night, eh?
I have always wondered what the winning percentage is for teams that do not score on a 5 on 3. Cannot be good.
I felt like I saw Pouly going to the net more than anybody else.
If they played well, we should say so. Give credit where’s credit is due and give criticism where criticism is due.
Maybe Pouliot is trying to copy Kolanos or at least learning from him.
Not a bad idea since Kolanos does drive to the net a lot more than some other players.
Exactly. I’m not saying I like Pouliot or that he was effective, but he played hard. That’s something from Loaf there.
Well if the definition of playing well is driving to the net then yes…but other than that he still needs to develop a lot more….like putting on 20 pounds for starters
Lousy finish to a promising start.
I said he played hard, not well.
Why is Gretzky dressed like a mobster?
Poul-Loaf!
When Poutine just won’t do.
Not a good effort tonite by ‘da boys’.
Hopefuly two nights in beds away from each other will stop the ‘creeping crud’ disease that is afflicting the club.
B-b-b-Benny should be t-t-t-traded. One hand on the stick going towards the opponents’ net doesn’t work in the N-H-L. Get him to play the right way or get rid of him. Tired of him blowing chances like he has every right to.
Can someone tell Belanger again that he should stop with those sharp angle shots? He’s only hit it once.
I think it was PMB who passed him the puck and he skated with it a little until he was almost passed the goal line before shooting it. Of course it missed the net.
Lemaire has to think about how he can get PMB scoring. His results are not too impressive. Keep in mind Nolans age when you speak of expectations. He looks a bit tired
PMB, twenty three minutes of ice time… -2 and NO SHOTS on goal. ICK
PMB is lost out there without you know who
Benny is a joke of a first round pick…prolly should have been a 2nd rounder possibly 3rd rounder
Shep better turn into Mikko in two years or else….
Backstrom better be resigned or DR is done for
anythings else?
Johnnson is extremely overpaid
Zidlicky was better in Nashville of all places
Bruno is getting really old…very slow
Koivu might be pretty pissed that he did not make the all star team….frustration
Oh and our best offensive talent is out of Minny and I dont blame him
Top it off…the Wild have a mascot…cmon! (ha jk) the youngsters like shep and gilles love him
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Sorry to hear it, Russo! I had one of those things back around Halloween and lost 10 pounds over a weekend. Took a while to gain it back, too. Yogurt and Gatorade. Enjoy your flight!
I actually think the guys played a good, hard game. Problem is without goal scorers you have to play perfect to win, and that’s a lot to ask every night.
If I had to be perfect at my job every day i’d be fired.
gotta get rid of sheppard-this kid cant skate and doesnt have a clue what hes doing out there-like watching high school player-
it was nice not see skoula tonight also.
well, they started out good until near the end of 2. they looked flat and tired in the 3rd. maybe they’re all getting ‘russo virus.’
Team wasn’t that far out of it. Botched the PP’s but they carried the play a lot.
Maybe more guys have Montezuma’s revenge than are mentioned.
Hey, nice goal there, Bobby Ryan!
i know im drinkin again but we need to score some goals and Shanahan is still lookin for work and bruno would be the second slowest guy in the NHL. but the guy could give us some much needed scoring and im sure would come cheap to as of monday the cheapest owner on the local sports scene
Thanks for the Scott quote on Gratton in the paper, Russo. I didn’t see him hit him but I’m awfully glad he got the chance. I’ve hated that weasel in Houston for a long time. Hope he lost the respect of his teammates a bit last night.
Ms. C: That’s the point of what Russo was trying to say. Scott didn’t hit Gratton, because as soon as Scott dropped his gloves, Gratton turned chicken and ran away.
Somewhere, the Broad Street Bullies are laughing at Gratton…
No, he said in his article that Scott laid a big check on him later in the game. That’s the hit I’m talking about that I didn’t see (because I was 2xFFing through the game and rightly so).
Gee, sounds like the Wild played ‘their game’. Sometimes it seems this team is good at everything but scoring.
I like JL’s quote about how he thinks maybe they don’t like to score.
Not a good effort tonite by ‘da boys’.
I was doing other things but tried to keep one eye on the game and thought they appeared to be taking the play to philly but couldn’t get the puck in the net.
was i wrong or is this no win = poor effort?
The effort was there, 5-on-5, but the powerplay was terrible. It seems sometimes like the guys think they will get benched or called out in the paper if they throw the puck at the net. I’m not sure if the guys in the lockerroom are aware of this or not, but they HAVE to score ugly goals (i.e., tips, redirects, rebounds, etc) in order to win. They just don’t have a great deal of offensive talent. You score those type of goals by throwing the puck at the net. Look at Olden’s last few goals. Where has he scored them?
The best thing about being in the rink tonight was I didn’t have to watch 15 of the same Braydon Coburn commercials on the NHL Network. Note to the NHL: Shoot another darn commercial.
+ 1,000
Wondering if Franchise doesn’t have a slight case of the drizzlers. May sound blasphemous, but I thought he looked weak, physically, last night. He was getting beat along the boards in many puck-battles that I saw. Not saying we ship him immediately, but just wondering if he, too, isn’t feeling the affects.
ms.c…when you figger out how to 2xFF live events, let me know won’t you?
It’s pretty obvious that DR has a choice:
1) Trade an asset for proven scoring.
2) Status quo (’hey - we’re in it for the long haul. developing players takes time’).
3) Underpants (BG, this one is for you)
I really didn’t think it was that bad. Other than the PP, that is. I thought the Philly goals were pretty good goals, and we really did carry the play for a good amount of the time.
The problem, as Russo talks about above, is that they have approximately 0.00 finishers.
I know Bruno’s got the iron man thing going, but A) it’s not helping and B) didn’t JL kill someone else’s ironman streak once before? He’s playing like he’s snake bitten, all mental, like. Unless the IGoW can sit him down, share some peyote with him and open his consciousness again, I say give him a popcorn break. It’s not like you’re going to miss his offense.
And, lets keep in mind: the Wild, who had been 3-9-1 in the preceding 13 games (including losses to the Avs, Preds, Coyotes, Kings and Blues), have now gone 3-1-1 against the Sharks, Red Wings, (Avalanche), Bruins and Flyers. And they have ebola.
What if the situation had been reversed and Philly had been coming into our building on that hot streak, with the dazzling drizzlers eviscerating them? We would have expected our boys to dispatch them.
I’m okay with that loss, particularly since, other than the PP, they didn’t really fold up the tent.
Just out of curiousity - and I claim up front that I am no GM - but with Jordan Staal signed to a 4 year deal yesterday at about $4 mil per year, would it behoove the Wild to call up +Benny for Staal trade?
We are in essence swapping $4 mil a year guys in PMB and Staal. We get a second line center, PMB gets to be put on a line with a guy who will finish (Malkin), and Benny gets a fresh start somewhere else. Plus of all the guys who are on the Wild, PMB and Benny are built for the East the most - less physical.
Again, I am not expert, and I am sure I will get blasted by KiPA if he decides to come on anytime soon :), but just an idea.
Lets try the first paragraph again…
Just out of curiousity - and I claim up front that I am no GM - but with Jordan Staal signed to a 4 year deal yesterday at about $4 mil per year, would it behoove the Wild to call up the Pens and guage interest in a PMB+Benny for Staal trade?
No problem with the way the boys played last night, aside from the abomination known as the powerplay, but can this team keep it’s collective head above water scoring 1 or 2 goals per game? The last few games have been nice, but the schedule does NOT let up for the next 22 games prior to the deadline.
How about this? Kimmie J and our 1st round pick to Atl for Kovalchuk. Then, sign both Kovie AND Gaby to extensions worth in the neighborhood of $5 million/per each. 
Also, if the Pens would deal Staal for Benny and Butch, not only should Ballgame do that immediately, he should also make available at the Hockeylodge whatever the Penguins’ Brass is smoking!
DB - I said “guage interest” :). I didn’t say I think it would happen.
PS… Malkin for Gabby!!!
Hah, I thought for a moment that +Benny was Bouchard’s new nickname. Thought it was pretty genius other than I’d put the + after the name.
Seeing as how the team spent almost an entire period on the PP, the fact that they were so bad at it isn’t entirely dismissible in my book. One of them (which I was blissfully FFing though) I was watching in disbelief that it was even a PP, they spent so much time in our zone. Terrible.
It’s not like you’re going to miss his offense.
Nothin from nothin leaves nothin…
Gun: Wasn’t impuning your trade scenario, just stating that if the Pens would agree to that, that Ballgame should waste zero time accepting.
Problem #1 with the PP = PeeWee on the point.
Problem #2 with the PP = fear and loathing in the offensive zone.
Problem #3 with the PP = win the damn draw.
How about this…next time the Wild get a PP, intentionally play with 4 skaters. There’s no rule in the NHL that says you MUST skate with the man advantage… 
fear and loathing in the offensive zone.
The fabled Hunter S. Thompson system!
I say give him a popcorn break
i’m not arguing against this but who do you play in his place?
Yep NiNY…Gonzo Offense.
i’m not arguing against this but who do you play in his place?
Welcome to JL’s dilemma. It’s called playing the cards that DR dealt.
who do you play in his place?
Engebretson looked pretty spry.
whom are we stating needs a popcorn break?
Bruno, DB
Engebretson looked pretty spry
dig it.
whom are we stating needs a popcorn break?
its been suggested that brunette might need a game off. I am not judging the move but it’s one thing sitting weller for gillies or benny for pouliot. i’m wondering if we have anyone that makes it sensical to sit brunette.
Quite the dilemma, there, regarding Bruno. He doesn’t seem to be the only one whom needs a sit down, but with the cupboard about as bare as it can get, whom do we play instead?
benny for pouliot
should read benny for kolanos
i’m not arguing against this but who do you play in his place?
yeah, that’s the problem, eh?
Maybe they should just go with IGoW and some peyote?
Engebretson looked pretty spry.
that’s funny. Well played.
Maybe they should just go with IGoW and some peyote?
IGoW needs to take the team to Joshua Tree over all star break.
How about IGoW and I take the peyote and go to Las Vegas. He can buy.
Not to put a damper on anyone’s Friday, but last night was the 13th time in 16 games the Wild has scored 2 goals or less. Not breaking any new ground stating the Wild can’t score goals, but it has been really bad of late.
Here comes DeepBreath Downer
wah-waah
Who to sit? Throw the following numbers in a hat, ask a random fan to pull one out during warmups?
24
15
18
67
51
12
Hope you’re feeling better Russo. Same to Skoula. When you’re up to it, is it already time again to accuse the forwards of lacking talent and get them fired up and SCORING?
IGoW needs to take the team to Joshua Tree over all star break.
LOL…
“okay boys, everyone have a seat here, on the ground, in a circle, like. Veilleux, did you remember to bring the SPF 90 like I told you? Put it on, man, put it on! Okay, we’re going to need a fire. Who can make fire? Boogaard, has your family discovered fire yet? Booga…Weller! Don’t let him eat that scorpion! Okay guys, every one take one of these, right, plenty to go around, right…who was responsible for the lighter? Burnsie! No! Burnsie! That’s a bad snake, bad snake, Burnsie! That snake will hurt you man! Okay, now when I say so, everyone light up…jaysus, Benny, I said ‘when I say so’, man why are you always in ahead of the play like that? Hang on, wait, Gillies did you bring the permission slip from your mum? Hand it over here, good. What was that, Kim? Well, who told you to wear your nicest suit out here? Not me. I mean, just because you have all that money doesn’t mean you have to spend it. Okay, boys, light up!”
*five minutes later*
“What’s that, Bruno? Oh, yeah, I know…it’s just Butch man. Yeah, I’m just going to let him keep running in circles like that. He ain’t hurting anyone.”
*two minutes later*
“So, like, boys, eh? What if this sand and dirt here? What if it’s really ice? What if…what if that cactus over there is really JS Giguere? Why not, man? Why can’t Giguere be just a cactus? If he’s a cactus, why can’t we shoot on him? Go! Go to the cactus. Anyone can go to the cactus! Why not us, man? Why not us? Let yourself go, man. Let youself be the rain that feeds the cactus…no wait, the rain only feeds the cactus like once every five years, we gotta score more than that…like, let yourself be the coyote that walks past the cactus in the middle of the night, man. It’s dark in the night, but the coyote uses its superior coyote powers to walk past the cactus even when it’s night, man. We…we’re the coyote. No, Weller, not The Coyotes, we’re the real coyote. The real coyote, man. Out in the wildern…the coyote lives in the wild, man. We’re the wild. We’re the Wild!”
*bows down*
That was f’kin awesome, Nick.
NiNY = POTY
Boogaard, has your family discovered fire yet? Booga…Weller! Don’t let him eat that scorpion!
+10
Gun: Not really trying to be a downer, just stating the cold facts about Ballgame’s roster that simply cannot score goals.
Nice job Nick! Though in the sentence quoted by Gunslinger, I’d have gone with ‘clan’ instead of ‘family’.
DB - just thinking of that SNL skit. No worries, I share your concerns
Thread’s dead, baby. Thread’s dead.
It has been a quiet day…
ha…I think everyone got the munchies….
Watch the recent Entourage episode where Eric Roberts brings his ’shrooms and they go to Joshua Tree in his old RV. Classic. HBO on Demand.
Hey, Stoned - you never gave me my Russobucks for naming the restaurant Nolan owns.
Brittania Arms
You’re right, this thread has officially died.
I hope this isn’t a reflection on Russo’s state of being.
G*, early this morning you asked, and it was ansered but I thought the team skated well/played well last night. Mostly they did not take advantage of their opportunites and overpassed until some opportunities disappeared and missed the net a few other times.
What surprised me is that Philly was not physically intimidating as I expected they would be.
Whomever speculated that Koivu maybe have had Montezuma’s Revenge, that my take too because he just did not seem his energetic self.
Ice: It was I that thought Franchise looked a bit “off” last night. I don’t remember him getting beat so many times along the boards in 1-on-1 battles for the puck. But, I gotta belive it’s difficult to play when you’re thinking to yourself on the ice “should I trust this fart?”
wow nick that was awesome…..
i’m speechless on that one
I think the team is desparate enough to go after shanahan….the problem with him is he is just as slow as nolan and brunette.
Not to mention the fact that we are pretty close to the cap already…
the only way we sign shanny is if we trade kimmy for a cheap/fast center, to offset shanny.. (like vermette, legwand, wiess, afenigenov, not a center, but it will work)
If Shanny is gonna come back to the rigors of the NHL, don’t you suspect he will do so with a team who has a legit shot at hoisting LSC at the end of the year? Wild are more than a few steps away from that level.
that too
For the life of me, I can’t see Shanny in the IRR. Not even a little.
Unless, of course, Ballgame can convince him that playing in front of knowledgeable fans and a sold out arena every night is compensation enough
anyone know where there is a list of availible free agents, can’t find one on espn, or nhl.com
unfortunately there isn’t much of an option for dr other than trade for a scoring forward, the problem is, what scoring forwards are out there?
Unless, of course, Ballgame can convince him that playing in front of knowledgeable fans and a sold out arena every night is compensation enough
When in doubt, go with what got you here DR
Maybe the best site around if you want info on NHL numbers/salaries
Deep, I’m guessing he was looking for a list of currently unattached players (probably not too many). I believe all you’ll get from nhlnumbers is those who were last summer or those who will be in upcoming summers.
If that’s the list argon is looking for, it will be a short one. Aside from Shanny, is Marty Gelinas still out there? I pray to Gretzky that Ballgame isn’t looking in that direction to provide his roster with scoring. Ish.
was pretty sure there wasn’t much….just trying to find all of the options out there….I am a man with little to no sports hope right now…..need some good news…
In addition to the small talent pool, it would also mean making room on the roster for them. With a trade, that kinda works itself out automatically.
The 12:33 post attributed to Deep Breath was me - sorry, didn’t look at the info before posting.
“should I trust this fart?”
Farts, like the French, can never be trusted.
WOW - PMB on the point during a PP is such an incredible disgrace. Add to that, the fact that PMB has all but disappeared from the team.
I was one of those folks who said PMB was never worth the money that he want to get paid this summer. I hate the fact that Butch is proving me right.
Currently I don’t think we could even pull off a PMB & Gabby for Doug Weight trade. The value of those two has fallen that low.
I honestly feel like the best route for the Wild this season is to …
1) TANK IT, let the kids play,
2) Trade Backs for a scorer/picks or prospects (in that order)
2A) Trade Kimmy scorer/picks or prospects (in that order)
3) Convice Bruno and Nolan that next year WILL be better, keep them here this year as mentors and plus they will be fresh for next year.
4)draft HIGH this summer because of our poor record, or bundle some picks from the trades and draft a top ten kid.
5) Sign a real sniper or two with the money left over by not paying Gabby, Kimmy and Backstrom.
6) Let Scott play in Kimmy’s absence for the rest of the season. Next year Reitz, Fozzie, CUMA and Scott can battle for the remaining spots behind Burns, Schultz, Skoula and Zidlicky.
7) Harding will start and Brust or Shaefer will back up.
The defense/Goalie positions may not be as “Lock down” as they are now, but if we can’t score ourselves it doesn’t matter anyway. Hopefully the newly traded for or FA signed snipers can contribute enough to make up for the weaker D.
That is my humble suggestion.
Very funny Nick. I needed the laugh, loved the part about PMB running in circles. Doesn’t this team seem to get a bad case of the stomach flu every year? Since that happens I think that as soon as 1 player gets it, they quarantine him & book everyone in their own room until the danger has passed.
kgoph, either that or try to intentionally get everyone sick and over it at once. A couple really bad games vs. 4?, 5?, 6? where we’re missing one or two players?
I don’t expect the team to get much better under DR. He doesn’t have a good record for trades, not a good record for signing highly sought FA’s, not a good record for drafting gems in later rounds and we won’t get a high first round pick because we’re just ‘good enough’ to prevent that.
If we expect a big improvement, we’ll either have to tank it to get a high first round pick for a couple years, DR will have to have a miraculous turnaround in his abilities to draft and trade, or DR will have to be replaced.
That said, I still am optomistic that this team could do pretty well if they could only start scoring!
That is a good idea too and having them sick during the Christmas or All Star break would be perfect. But if they are all too sick to play at one time we are in trouble. Better get a lot of Depends so they don’t have to worry whether or not to trust a fart.
That said, I still am optomistic that this team could do pretty well if they could only start scoring!
It can be such a simple game sometimes, can’t it?
you don’t think the wild would mind sending pouliot or sheppard down to the minors to get some seasoning? We need more bodies, not the same.
(sorry Ms. C, for bringing up the thought of pouliot in an areos jersey)
that is the worst kind of sickness…..especially when you trust the fart!
That does pose an interesting question. What if a team has enough players sick that they can’t field a team for a game? Would the league allow a re-schedule? Force them to play with 5 forwards and 3 d? IR the sick ones for a week and play callups?
Heh, Nick, yeah maybe as a pre-season “team bonding” thing, the team shoulda gone to Burning Man, eh? The Doc Ellis approach to scoring goals probably is worth a try. What’s the worst that could happen?
As for Mikko, it wasn’t just last night. He’s looked a bit fatigued for a while IMO.
then the areos are fielding a 10 man team!
Play sick and keep their heads up.
Last December, didn’t half the team get sick on their California road trip? I vaguely remember Russo saying players were making a run back into the locker room ever so often when they were playing LA and Anaheim. The team had to give the players their own room.
I could be wrong.
of course koivu is fatigued, he has been playing lidstrom type minutes out there….getting snubbed for the all star game is probobly the best thing that has happened to him all year….
It gets tiring carrying an entire team the whole year without any one stepping up to help out.
backstrom is in need of a rest pretty soon as well I would think
I think the team’s nickname should be “Pearl”. As in no Jam. Get it?
That was in response to this quote:
That said, I still am optomistic that this team could do pretty well if they could only start scoring!
Which I don’t think anyone disagrees with. They’re getting ridiculously good defensive play and goaltending. If they can score three goals, it’s almost a guaranteed victory.
Ooooh, I got the first switcharoo!
I was Ken N.
I’ve been running around in circles
Without any direction
I’ve been lost here for so long
I’ve forgotten who I am..
and also
I’m waiting for the last train
Bound for somewhere
I’m playing with my last chance
On the line
I think it’s really now or never
You know I have to try…
Cruxshadows, Waiting to leave
That song was stuck in my head for most of the game. Figured I share.
Pretty obscure switch. Who is Ken N anyway?
Yeah, that 3rd goal has been elusive. In the last two games, that 2nd goal has been hard to come by, too.
18 games out of 40 they’ve gotten 3 goals (this includes OT & SO wins). 15 of those are wins.
If you break those 3-goals games of the 40 total into chunks of 10… uh oh.
1-10: 6x
11-20: 5x
21-30: 4x
31-40: 3x
They can’t possible only do it twice over the next ten, can they?
Went to a high school game this week and saw at least three pro scouts in the stands. Our very own Ernie Vargas, Tampa Bay Lightning scout, and Florida Panthers scout.
I was trying to figure out which player/s they came out of the wood work for because no player was head and shoulders above the rest. There were no Zach Budish type players (size and skill) on the ice. There were a bunch of good players but I don’t know how scouts can tell which 17 yr old kids have a chance to play in the NHL someday.
MediaCom just gave me a replay of the game last night. I was on hold for a tech support issue and so I re-watched the last half of it (or more).
Interesting how you see different things.
The Wild definitely had their when it was 1-0 and 1-1. The Flyers did too and Backstrom was a stone wall at least until later in the game.
But, the Wild did have their share of scoring opportunities 5 on 5 (I think). Maybe a question of shots not getting through, some missing the net, and goalie making good saves.
A little finer or quicker shots and shots from a better angle with one less pass would be the ticket.
its minnesota…..of corse no one will stand out, beacause minnesota kids are always good!
if I had learned how to skate, I’d probobly be toiling away in some echl team right now, with them saying…
“he should be playing better, he’s from Minnesota for gods sake!”
I wish dr would make the trade already…
I’m getting tired of this constant speculation
On Saturday, I am going to invite some friends over to have a game-watching drinking party. Take a drink or a shot for every time Terhaar says “X shoots wide of the net.” Only Wild players no CBJ players.
Get new people expose to the game while having fun.
High School Hockey, I do not have any insight to your question on projecting talent, but there might be one thing they can see.
Quickness and Explosive Power compared to the people around them.
Sometimes they call it foot speed in skating and the shot. They might also be able to rate hockey sense and puck awareness is seeing how opportunities are developing but the quickness that allows the player to take advantage of those opportunities.
Burnette is a slow skater, but until this year he was effective anyway because he was quick with his stick and quick to make little movements so he could hold the puck until an opportunity to pass or shoot presented itself.
wow, sushine….be prepared to be absolutley hammered!!!!
Get new people expose to the game while having fun.
Puking isn’t fun. 
If they lose horribly, I might be puking regardless.
FOOD.
