…The day after
Posted on February 15th, 2009 – 2:33 PMBy Michael Russo
For some reason, being down at the rink today, I had Ben Harper’s, “Another Lonely Day,” reverberating inside my head.
I just felt like the song was apropos.
The Wild didn’t go on the ice this morning. To add insult to injury after last night’s blown 3-zip lead, the Ottawa Senators, before their trip to Nashville, was practicing at noon while Wild players were behind their locker-room door being talked to by General Manager Doug Risebrough.
By all accounts, it was a very positive meeting. In other words, Risebrough’s sole objective was to put last night’s loss behind them rather than a wake-the-heck-up meeting. Risebrough also made clear his belief that there are only “four or five good teams in the league” and “the rest of us are all the same.”
In other words, get your act together and you can make the playoffs. The problem, of course, is the Wild is out of the playoffs, won’t play again until Thursday, has four days now to think and hear about last night’s meltdown and the reward for being so patient to play again is Calgary, Detroit and Chicago.
For most of what went down today, I implore you to read Monday’s article because quite frankly, I need to make this quick. I’ve got a lot of things to do that I saved for today because I didn’t expect to have to head down to the X.
But couple tidbits:
– Marian Gaborik is skating, Risebrough said, and Risebrough maintains that he expects Gaborik to eventually return to the Wild’s lineup, not somebody else’s. However, Risebrough said Gaborik has a big physical that he must pass March 3 in order to really ramp up his training. You know me by now. I’m a conspiracy theorist. I find it interesting that 1) Risebrough knows the date because he normally lets Tom Lynn handle details about most everything and 2) March 3 is one day before the trade deadline. Or maybe it’s just a coincidence, eh? 
– Risebrough did his best to lower expectations for any “magical trade deadline” move for a scorer. Risebrough said, grinning, “He’s recovering,” meaning Gaborik. He said all teams are in the same boat, and because half the league is pretty much right up against the salary cap ceiling, he said most teams will be ”switchers,” and can’t “add, add, add.” More on that in the paper.
– I asked Risebrough what’s going on with Niklas Backstrom, and I got the customary, “I don’t know.”
– Lastly, I thought it was interesting that Risebrough wanted myself and the other Wild beat writer to interview him in the locker room right after the meeting with lots of players around. Typically, he’d want to go into a room somewhere or a hallway. But Risebrough clearly wanted players to see us interviewing him, and at times, he even raised his voice to air his overall point over again, which was, “Today was about you’ve got to get through these things, you’ve got to get by these things.”
My opinion? The Wild’s in deep trouble. Starting next week, the Wild opens 14 of 17 on the road. This is a team that’s shown zero ability to win more than two games in a row this season. That’s the facts Jack.
As Brian Rolston used to say, “it is what it is,” and this is a consistently inconsistent team that gains and loses confidence by the hour.
With that, enjoy your Sunday. Talk to you after Monday’s practice.
118 Responses to "…The day after"
I feel so much better now to know that DR showed up to talk to the team he assembled. I wonder if DR considers McHale as his mentor?
After viewing the Nashville and Ottawa games in person this past week, I’m ready to shine up the clubs.
DR talking to this bunch on Sunday is like George W. Bush landing on the aircraft carrier.
“Mission Accomplished” ???
Yeah, right…the only thing consistent about the Wild right now, is their inconsistency. Russo has know it for a long time, and so have most all of Russoville.
That six-game road trip starting at the Saddledome in Calgary Feb. 27 could be a death march for this team as it currently exists. We may have a new goalie, new forwards, new everything by the time they come home from Anaheim after the March 8 game at Honda Center.
Oh, wait: This is DR’s team. Nothing will change. Mediocrity rules!
Why wouldn’t DR know about Gaborik’s March 3rd date? If he doesn’t know, then he’s a worse GM than I thought.
I am already surprised that he doesn’t know what’s going on with Backstrom’s situation. Unless, of course, he knows and keeping mum about it. Though, come on… these two situations are two of the most outstanding and uncertain issues for the Wild. He better be intimately aware of the happenings.
The time for sweetness and all is over! DR should have been slamming heads!
MissConduct, last thread. I agree, there is no real reason to believe the team does not respect the coach.
Sunshine, I have never thought that “head slamming” had any positive effect unless people are so stubborn they won’t make necessary changes.
Here, you have guys that did what lots of teams to, get a lead think they won and coast until it is too late.
Hopefully, they learn something from it.
JL’s comment, “now they need to pay the price for letting the game get away”.
WRT, +1.
this game reminded me of when they played the Caps back in Dec. only that game they actually won, luckily.
and i also have a hard time believing DR knows nothing about backstrom’s situation. it’s his f-ing job!
Those lost two points will be very costly.
There is one incentive for the team to make the playoffs:
The revenue from two additional home games. IIRC, the NHL pays the player salaries for the playoffs - they get X dollars depending on when they are eliminated.
So, all of the gate receipts are club money. No wonder DR was down there today. His bonus is in serious jeopardy!!!
I can picture all the players rolling their eyes - like a classroom full of kids getting scolded for chewing gum.
According to Forbes, the Wild had 44 Mil in gate receipts for 07-08.
With increases, it would put the value of each home game at over 1 mil per game. Not including parking, concessions, etc.
There’s a pretty good financial reason to make the playoffs.
And that hits DR where it hurts.
Well, if all they are doing is rolling their eyes Wild09, they will not stay in the NHL long.
This was a serious loss, it would be difficult for them not to be aware of it.
Does anyone really think either DR or the agent would reveal what is going on between Backstrom and the Wild right now?
It’s interesting to see Russo feeling similar to how I feel. This team is in trouble. I don’t feel they’ll win a game in the next 3. I hope I am wrong.
As far as disrespecting the coach. Burns did it on the PP. And I think JL has been after him all year “trying to do to much”. I feel we’ve been hearing from JL frustration the team is not doing
or playing how he’s coaching them to.
This team, and how they play are a direct reflection of JL as coach. And DR feels the best way to encourage his team to play better is a meeting.
It seems to me that being part of the 25 team group is just fine with DR. While I appreciate that he is just calling a spade a spade, my problemn is that this is HIS spade that WE all have to live with.
The only way for me to read those comments are that, to DR, everything is going according to plan, and the team is performing to his expectations.
In a word: average.
It was one thing to be average when we were two years old, or before we made the playoffs twice in a row, or won our first division title. But that’s all water under the bridge now and I feel we have a reasonable expectation for more than average.
…And remember that I didn’t even see the game last night…
NiNY: “…And remember that I didn’t even see the game last night…”
For which, Nick, you should be ever thankful…
The Wild are playing like they know they have no chance. Its one thing to say publically that you are in the hunt. But when you are on the team, you know where you stand. If you believe you are near the top of the heap, you kick it into gear when the chips are down and you show killer instinct in games like last night. On the other hand, if everybody is looking around the locker room thinking, “We haven’t got what it takes”, you get a game like last night and inconsistency.
Smug has not assembled a playoff competitive team. He knows it, Jock-U knows it, the team knows it and we know it. Yes, they can pull it together at times. They are professional hockey players after all. But where the difference between winning and losing is slim, attitude makes all the difference and these guys aren’t playing at all like winners.
That man travelled 15 hours by bus 495 feet from his office on foot to say that?
A real “Let’s really try to win this one boys” moment brought to you by management.
Obama and DR in 2012,
The perfect pair! Promises of a sure-fire plan, void of details and nothing to be accountble for, except for raising the price to commoners.
Okay folks, a crappy game and a critical juncture in the season, with good teams that usually take it to us as our next opponents. It was alluded to in an earlier post and I put it out to you now:
Where is Burns? I suppose, we can blame JL for making him a forward and then taking him back, but the fact remains that we all thought he was going to emerge as a stud, a Norris candidate even, and it hasn’t happened. He’s such a nice kid and was making such progress, but this year it seems like he’s stalled and frankly, I think he’s getting a free pass. Not sure what that’s about…
I liked Puckhead’s comment about McHale.
This orginization is really beginning to remind me of the Wolves.
I’ve lost my enthusiasm for this team and I’m not alone. Apathy is a terrible thing for any franchise, but especially one that has had the support of this one.
sorry, jeff, but i’d have a hard time believing that DR is NOT a conservative. maybe palin/risebrough would be a better option.
The DR bashing is starting to rival the Childress bashing. C’mon of course he knows what’s going on with Gabby and you can bet he knows what he plans to do with Backstrom, it may not be what we all want to happen but he knows. His style may be annoying but the guy is’nt a dope. Oh and in case you missed it, the owner already gave his blessing to DR so you can stop wasting your time and everyone elses by calling for his head. I’m not saying I agree one way or the other but “it is what it is”.
When was the last time you heard a trade rumor about Voloshenko? That made me laugh.
Ted - Russo touched on the Burns thing during his radio spot with Souhan this morning.
NiNY - glad someone else missed the game. I got home last night and pulled open the blog. The yeahs faded and the grumbling surged.
Got to finish on a positive note - Mr. Tom Reid - I hope you are getting the best medical care possible and your recovery is uneventful. Sending out only good vibes to you and your family.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
The yeahs faded and the grumbling surged.
I like that. Not that it happened but kinda poetic.
JeffT from last thread, lighten up a little. No need to be incensed and offer to duke it out because someone does not like your opinions.
Lots of people don’t like my wisdom either, it is just the way it is.
This team is not going to make it to the playoffs!!!!! As Russo pointed out 14 of the next 17 on the road. I would clean house including a new GM and Coach! If they cant sign Backstrom trade him. This is how bad it is Nolan is a top point guy. I like Nolan still do but at 37 he is top scorer. CLEAN THIS MESS UP
Hope none of you got injured from jumping off the bandwagon.
The playoffs are further away this morning than they were yesterday, but I will still enjoy the team.
MsC - Is Fozzie playing tonight for your Aeros? Or is did I recall incorrectly? Thanks for the comment about the writing. I just wish there was a spelling fairy feature for this blog (and all the online applications recently filled out). Something that would poke you in the side of your head with her magic wand before you click the submit comment bar.
Spelling and punctuation M 03, oh how I love a spell checker.
Most errors people make on this blog are carelessness and not seeing what we just wrote, but spell check is great.
Now I started to use FireFox (Mozilla) because I was having trouble with Explorer crashing … and guess what?
Firefox underlines the words I misspell in red before I send them to this blog!
I assumed it was part of something the Tribune was doing but after your comment it must be FireFox.
We’re going to have to start padding the walls in here.
Kurtis Foster with 2 more assists for the Aeros tonight. I think that makes 4 points in 4 games.
Granted it is just the AHL, but it would be great if Foster could continue that scoring help when he gets back to the Wild.
Before we get too excited remember that Foster was about a #6 D with a strong shot on the PP.
Pens canned Therrien
It’s over boys. Another season wasted because they did not resign talent and go after other quality players. Backstrom will be gone too. The whole front office needs to be fired. How long will the stupid Wild fans put up with this bull…
woodcock: I’d still take Foster over Skoula. Skoula should be considered a No. 6 defenseman unless (or, until) he releases the photos of whomever in management he has in a compromising position. 
(OK, I was just kidding about the photos.) I’m not kidding, however, about Skoula being a No. 6 D; his play has not warranted anything above that…
WRT has a case of Skoula derangement syndrome. Apparently there is no cure.
Dampland - thanks for the update. Just seeing Kurtis’ hard, hard work pay off is very cool.
hey M, any luck with a job yet? you do HVAC right? Genz-Ryan is hiring FYI.
Fire Risebrough!!!!! Man, Leipold is an even bigger idiot owner than Glen Taylor. Just watch, the Wild will either miss the playoffs or get blown out in the first round…AGAIN…as I predicted at the beginning of the season. Risebrough IS the problem…but I am starting to wonder about Lemaire. Although if the Wild doesn’t do anything in the playoffs this year, I think this will be Lemaire’s last year….his choice.
Risebrough is NOT a DOPE???? And we can use the Simon trade to prove this out. We can use Doug’s own words in saying top free agents would love to come to Minnesota. We can see how he has handled the Gaborik, Rolston, Backstrom FA situation, The Demitra trade….yeah right…Risebrough IS A DOPE!!!
Yeah, another 2 for Foster tonight. Can we keep ‘im? Though he did get a stupid penalty for mouthing off at the ref and the Wolves converted. That kinda chapped me.
Brusty played. He was awesome. Happy Ms. Conduct.
And I finally met AiH! Very cool! Never in my life have I enjoyed meeting new people until it was Hockey People I was meeting and now I love it. 
Fozzie, Fozzie, Fozzie….If I have to hear about him being the savior of the seaon anymore I’m going to vomit. It will be more of the same as 5′9 forwards pound and forecheck a 6′5 235 lb Defenseman all night in front of our net and lean on Backstrom until he is worn down to nothing at the end. Bergeron, Johnsson, Skoula and Fozzie can all be waived as far as i’m concerned. Watch and learn from the Defensemen we will be seeing in our next three games.
It’s the way it is and the way it shall be.
wow sound’s like the wilds gm is as dumb as the twins.i think all of our gms in the pro sports in minnesota need to leave and never look back.
Pie: Skoula derangement syndrome?? Yeah, that’s it…whatever trips your trigger, I guess…try 3 seasons of watching Skoula fill his own net with mistakes, losing pucks, not checking, turning in front of his own net and getting the puck taken away, etc., etc., etc. and you’ll see why he should be traded.
Foster may not be the savior of the season. But he’ll be better than Martin S., most any day of the week.
Iceman-Love the bandwagon comment. This has been a really frustrating season for our boys, and especially us fans. I do agree with most on here that they will have a tough go of it in the playoffs, or even making them. But what everyone seems to be missing is that THIS IS JUST A GAME! The sun will still rise in the east, birds will fly south for the winter, and we’ll enjoy the entertainment that these guys bring us from October to April. Hopefully every couple years or so we’ll get to enjoy them into late May and early June. Curious to know how many people on here have ever run an NHL team? Seems like a lot of them are former front-office personnel with all the knowledge on here…wow.
WRT: Question. Who has coughed up the the puck more this year. Zid, Burnsie, Bergy or Skoulsie?
the answer is burns!
Remember the whole point of the CBA was to make everyone equal. Mission accomplished, except for the fact when players get together and decide where they want to play ala detriot (or their next best chance to win a cup). This would be the other 5 teams DR was talking about.
There are two major steps the Wild need to take which will be interesting to watch. Neither one will have to do with us making the playoffs or not this year.
#1 The next 5 year plan, continue to maintain a winning philosophy that may or may not payoff (i.e. Sharks win but never win when it counts) Or do you deep 6 yourself and go for a rebuild(i.e. pens enough said)Philosophy of the ownership will be huge here. Milk the cash cow and run it on the cheap, or When a great signing oportunity comes along take it (Think Quebec trading for assets and winning for a decade) Also, passing on desperation signings (the twin sisters, please dont do it).
#2 Will Wild fans turn into wolves, vikes, and twins fans and only support the team when they are winning. Those outdoor baseball games in the middle of the summer where it is 40 degrees (or colder) and the team stinks should be a great indication of fan support in the future. The lack of fan support forces ownership to run the team on the cheap, creating a tough cycle to break. By the reads on this site lately looks like fair weather city to me.
Last point, the Wild are in a trade for assets position with some of the players they have. Backstrom/Harding, Gaborik are obvious ones. But dont forget Veilleux, Skoula, Bergeron are all 09/10 UFA. Also throw in, Johnsson, Boogaard, Zidlicky (UFA 10/11)as players other teams would want that would get a good return given the have the correct need and decide to make the push for the cup. Trades for 3rd 4th liners are fresh start trades (think Fritsche) which can sometimes payoff but not much. If you want a big impact trade you need to give up something big (thats how trades work).
Can someone teach MAB to skate forward when he tries to make a pass or when there is less than a minute left in the game instead of continually skating backward toward his own goal line to turn a 60 ft pass into a 70 foot pass?
Unfortunately (fortunately?) Bad Marty was not the worst of the Wild’s issues last night.
Sure, his play has been spotty, but he hasn’t been the train wreck of Skoulas past.
I think the marketing mavens are missing a HUGE opportunity. Instead of this “Team of 18,000″ nonsense (obviously they never have more than 6 skaters on the ice or 25 players on the roster) they should use a slogan every Wild fan (and even the management and players) can get behind:
“It is what it is”
Skoula’s play this year tops Fosters any year so far. Probably has to do with being a free agent soon.
Yeah, Skoula is hoping to cash in a 2 mil deal. Maybe he’ll try to sign with Detroit, unless 86 yr old Chris Chelios is playing for the league minimum.
Maybe Foster can hit the net after he comes back this year. hopefully the doc realigned his sights when he fixed his leg.
i’m really just soooooo bored with this team…tired of ripping on risebrough, too, yawn…
WRT, if that is your view on Skoula then it proves you either aren’t watching hockey or don’t know your a–from your elbow. Skoula has played very solid D all year–he is a solid second line D who plays good conservative D. Your opinions now mean zilch. But maybe they always did. Open your eyes, watch the game and then draw conclusions.
March 3rd for Gaby= Thats good stuff for a fan to know
14 of 17 on the road should not worry anyone. This team is trying to much extra stuff at home. The road will be good for them. I will say Gaby would be a nice treat to see him the 3rd week of March
I am ready to say put Burns at forward again when they are able to get Foster a shot. Burns is not doing enough on D
I don’t mean to be the ornery new poster, but I have to get this off my chest: Skoula is pretty good. He’s unfairly earned his reputation b/c he’s got a few highly visible, iconic f-ups in his past that were obvious to even the semi-obtuse fans — you know, the ones that can’t stop yellling “shoot” on every power play — but overall he’s very solid defensivley and has in fact grown to become pretty consistnet with the exception of maybe a couple games in the last couple years. Anyone who thinks Foster is better is an idiot, frankly. The sixth defenseman on this team is Bergeron (third-liners routinely go around him like a little pylon), and since Foster has more upside based on his size and the possibility he may use it some day, he’s better long-term if he can fully recover. Zidlicky is a defensive liability more than Shoula and I believe costs about 3 times the money–I still don’t get that signing and I’d trade him in a second for anything of value. He cost us the game last night and despite his power play production is too costly in salary and shoddy D to justify. Burns has been very inconsistent, but needs a free pass b/c of the way he’s been handled. I agree he’s coughed it up more than anyone the past few months. And all 3 of the above recent regulars have coughed it up more than Skoula, so you idiots that can’t stop bashing Skoula, please just watch these games and stop the Skoula Cliches of the ill-informed. Here’s something I’ve been thinking about: many say fire DR, some say JL. I think you are all correct: one of them it seems has to go. They’ve known each other for 30 years and seem like chums but it seems like they aren’t very compatible because DR seems to like to collect players (forwards mostly) who need to play with a certain type of player to be at their best or anywhere near it(PMB, Bruno, Nolan, Gabby, Boogaard…just kidding about Boogs…guys who, if you put them out with just anyone, won’t be a shadow of what they’d be with the right complimentary linesmates), and JL just can’t seem to stick with set lines for more than a couple games. Either JL needs to agree to stop juggling these lines so DR can build a roster based on “fit,” or DR needs to start taking guys that aren’t so role-specific… or one of them needs to go. I lean toward letting JL go as crazy as it might sound because it’s easier to change a coach than a roster, and I know the constant line-juggling messes with the psyche and confidence of the players–especially the young ones. Don’t believe it? How many times do you hear Burns credit Carney for his coming-of-age? I think young NHLers are like little babies (dont’ mean that in a bad way) in that they thrive in routines (learning in steps) and get confused and inconsistent when the routines are disrupted.
MKiA, you have a good point about playing at home.
Though last night I think the three goals came too easy, not as a result of effort. And, so they did not put in a good night either mentally or physically.
Might want to work in a paragraph break here and there, new guy.
want to say something…..but everything has been said….
trade backstrom/gabby/nolan (love him as a player, and has been solid, but if we can get a prospect/pick for him right now….)Zidlicky/Bergeron/SRV…..
I don’t know……maybe it will work…..Leiopold needs to get his hands a little dirty if we stand pat…..I think…….
oh well back to my video games…..at least there I can asemble a team how I want……
p.s……any of you guys play nhl 09 on the ps3?……
Go Wild!!!!! Hopefully we can wake up a little!
First the positive, I won’t have to pay for playoff tickets cause this team is headed south.
Now the negative…..
“the rest of US are mostly the same”… And we are losing DR so what does that tell you. It means what you have is NOT working. Time to do something different. Christ this is a lazy GM.
What’s going on with Backstrom? “I don’t know”. Really? I hate to dog on the reporters here but you accepted that answer? Come on! It’s his job to know and it’s the writers job to push that… And if he truly doesn’t know, then he should be fired on the spot.
When will CL wake up and realize that DR is not only about to cost him a lot of playoff cash, but continue to manage by sticking his head in the sand at crucial times for this franchise.
If I was a player and some GM came in and fed me the line of crap DR is selling after knowing that he knows full well that this team is short SEVERAL scorers (not just Gabby)… I would have sandbagged the rest of the season, saved the fans some money and hopefully got his ass canned.
I’m done with “stuck in the mud” DR and his complacency with being average.
I think I have been very fair about Skoula this season. I have not ripped into him nearly as much as in the past; he hasn’t done nearly as many dumb, mis-timed things to warrant it. But, he still scares the devil out of me when he takes the puck, and circles around at the edge of the goal crease, with an opportunistic forward nipping at his heels. He is a UFA after this season, and I want him gone. The Wild can do better than Martin Skoula.
So there.
I can’t believe that I am actually going to post that I agree with MKIA.
Road games could in fact be a good thing for this team. There is added pressure when playing at home, there is added comfort when playing at home, there are added distractions when playing at home. On the road, not as much pressure, the team does things as a team (meals, etc.), no wives/girlfriends, no kids, no zoo (Burnsie), only hockey.
Burns - If you’re DR and serious about getting this kid’s head back on straight and developing him the way he looked to be prior to this season… He really took off when playing with Yoda (Carney). This year, perhaps he’s missing that elder, veteran, stabilizing presence. Now, who’s going to mentor Burnsie? Johnsson? Schutlz? IMO, DR should look to trade a D (Zidlicky or MAB) for another Yoda - though hopefully one that can stay out of JL’s doghouse and put in a few more goals.
What’s with the confidence issue? I’ve seen every Wild player on the team do amazing things, they have the right coaching staff, they have the right fans, right facility- WTF?
I think the fart in the lockerroom is DR and his lame, ball-less, transparent ways of handling the players.
*The foster situation excluded.
Additionally, I feel stright up lied-to by that Leipold owner. Didn’t he say he was gonna get us the right stuff for the cup? When’s that happening? I guess you can’t walk in and say “Hey. I’ll be the new guy cashing the checks around here so keep ‘em coming losers.”
And, in yet another case of bad Wild timing…
…the season ticket renewal packets and playoff ticket renewal info will be sent out tomorrow to Wild STH’s…
And I’ll be waiting until the very last day to send mine in WRT!
And to think… Pitt is just outside the playoffs with the same 59 points that the Wild has and yet there are two VERY different worlds.
In Pitt - Unhappy with settling fires the coach to show its fans it serious about winning… less than one year from being in the cup finals. Just being ok isn’t good enough for them.
In Minny - Our GM uses excuses like “the rest of us are all the same” and our answer for the scoring drought we have had for six months is “he’s recovering”. I don’t want to see JL go… but it shows you that this Mgmt Team isn’t commited to winning or to a drive for the Cup.
Hope none of you got injured from jumping off the bandwagon.
The playoffs are further away this morning than they were yesterday, but I will still enjoy the team.
I will also, but I enjoy making slapshot references too.
Ruutu got fined for mugging Cal on the bench. That’s nice, even though it’s pocket change. Wasn’t expecting anything.
Speaking of mugging, did that ‘new’ video of the Weller/Souray fight ever show up on the internets?
“the rest of us are all the same”
DR…the Common GM. The best of the lousiest and the lousiest of the best.
Like I said before…
“It is what it is”
I think the wild will move zidlicky in march. I cant see him helping much with the confidence level so up and down. He could be replaced by a vet blueliner like others have mentioned here, Or whatever crazy trade DR can put together. The guy is way to quiet and takes too many penaltys to be helping us right now.
msC, i thought there were harsh rules for doing something like that from the bench. IMO, he should have gotten 2 for ‘unsportsmanlike’ and a game ms.conduct. that was BS. i really thought i’d see some retribution for that, like boogey kicking his a$$, but obviously the whole team had their tails between their legs all night long. besides, ruutu would have just ran and hid behind someone anyway.
“It is what it is”
there’s some reason i really like that line….oh, maybe it’s because i’m starting to not care anymore. although, i still enjoy and support this team, they are no longer competitive enough to even make the playoffs.
“It is what it is”
Does that mean other teams say about the Wild:
“They are who we thought they were”
It seems to me that since its inception this club has been plagued by inconsistency. It has followed the club from one year’s team to the next. Am I remembering wrong? Would this not point toward coaching/management and not just the players?
This quote from Smug via Russo about the trade deadline has me scratching my head.
“I’d say we’re all switchers now,” Risebrough said. “There’s not a lot people can do. … You’re not parachuting something in. You’re going to give to get. You’re not going to add, add, add. It’s impossible.”
WTF?? Then why was your strategy to wait until the deadline to trade Gaby? What he has promoted all along is that peak value is reached at the trade deadline. Now he is saying that isn’t true. Which is it? The President/GM is supposed to know that and behave accordingly. And what is he doing giving pep talks in Jock-U’s locker room? That’s like the captain of the Titanic telling everybody to “Get your trunks on. We’re going for a swim.”
“I think I have been very fair about Skoula this season. I have not ripped into him nearly as much as in the past; he hasn’t done nearly as many dumb, mis-timed things to warrant it.” WRT
Actually he has had few if any of those mistakes and indeed far fewer than any other D. That doesn’t make him the best D but he has played quite well this year.
“The Wild can do better than Martin Skoula.”
Not for the money. Actually one of either the TSN or SI writers had a column about the bargains in the NHL this year and Skoula was one of them. We probably won’t get to re-sign him because someone will pay market value for him and he will want to go to some place where fans actually watch the game being played and judge him on his performance on the ice. Too many, like the clown in 101, who constantly yells at him, are unable to think for thmeselves.
No, Marty won’t make the flashy hit or the spectacular offensive play but he will block shots, keep his man from getting a clear shot and tie guys up in the corner and get the puck loose. Good solid defensive play. Yes, he will make mistakes as all D do but night in and night out he will give you a solid, workman-like performance. I for one will miss him if he goes.
27 games to go, 59 points in 55 games.
We can expect 27 points if they continue the .500 play…and likely less with the schedule and travel. 86 points will not make the playoffs.
The idea that “we are like everybody else” (mediocre), is just a horrible message to the fan base. No faith here!
I have minimal problems with Skoula this year. Frankly, he has played better and more consistent than Burns unfortunately. Can’t do as much, but does what he does best. Your right Woodcock
There is only ONE person who can truly save this team…
…and that is Craig Leopold. He has got to fire this idiot (we all know which idiot I’m talking about) and probably clean house - losing most of the people responsible for putting this team together. If Leopold really put winning a Stanley Cup as the top priority for this organization, there is no way in hell he would keep this moron around any longer. We have one of the very best coaches in hockey and we will probably lose him to retirement after this year. What a waste. If JL thought this team was heading in the right direction, he would probably return next year. But I don’t see that happening. It’s a shame that we fans will probably have to stop going to the games (and the sellout streak comes to an end) before Leopold will actually do anything. Then it will be the Northstars all over again. Sellouts when they’re winning and 1/4 of the seats empty when they’re not. It will break my heart when that happens. Wake up NOW Leopold, before it is too late!
Chuck says:
February 16th, 2009 at 11:26 am
There is only ONE person who can truly save this team…
…and that is Craig Leopold
AMEN TO THAT!
The Wild are playing like they know they have no chance
if this were true then how did they manage to produce the 1st period they had?
If the Wild decided they were to move a defensemen, I would rather have the Wild trade Bergeron than Zidlicky. I feel that between the 2 of them, Marek has less weaknesses.
But I gotta give Bergeron props for his awesome hip check on Saturday. Too bad some Ottowa punk took exception to a CLEAN hit, and started a fight.
I am so sick of players starting a fight after a CLEAN hit. Checking is part of the game guys! I’m all for sticking up for a teammate if he gets run from behind, or cross checked or elbowed.
But if it is a clean hit, you gotta just take it like a man and continue to play the game.
I’ve said it since the start of the season but I think we should miss the playoffs and be sellers at deadline. 2009 is supposed to be a deep draft and we’re supposed to be building for the future. Having a top 10 pick in a solid draft would sure help that.
The idea that “we are like everybody else” (mediocre), is just a horrible message to the fan base
i agree, bad delivery.
but when you do look at the west standings, it appears to be true. You have the good (3 division leaders and chicago) and then the rest (maybe minus st louis and colorado) who are all in roughly the same position in relation to each other.
Pittsburgh is 5 points out of 8th. that is not “just outside the playoffs”
I am so sick of players starting a fight after a CLEAN hit
I agree but, back in the day, if you looked at gretzky for too long, someone was going to knock your eyes out. so I’m having trouble reconciling this. maybe it is because there are fights on clean hit to anyone, not just your crosby’s of the league.
I’d disagree Green* about your Pitt comment.
5 points with 27 games left, is more than doable… Remember, this isn’t they aren’t in the West where there are 12 teams fighting for the last few spots. In the East only about 10 teams are trying for the eight spots and they have several cream-puffs at the bottom of the conference that can get them points night in and night out.
Regardless…. the Wild is AT BEST a first round loser without any moves by our clueless GM.
Agree, G*. What do you want him to say? You want Riser to try and blow smoke up their butts telling them they’re better? They’re not! They’re mediocre in the midst of a mediocre league, and the point is, if they can hold it together, work just a little hard than the other mediocre teams, they’ve got a shot. And the message wasn’t for the fans, it was for the team. They know the deal.
gREENSTAR:
I can agree with you. My prblem is it could have been so much more had the GM taken care of rolston before last year, and received soome talent for Gabby before this season, we might have the additional 60 goals that would have made a huge difference. I do not like the idea of justifying medicrity by saying everybody else is the same. Just did not have to be that way in my opinion.
we’re supposed to be building for the future
When that future arrives, will Smug and TooL be saying this?
Risebrough also made clear his belief that there are only “four or five good teams in the league” and “the rest of us are all the same.”
What exactly were the expectations for the current future and at any point will the expectation for a future future involve a large, shinny cup that Smug might recall from decades past?
SGS,
If we could only get a hold of a DeLorean and some Plutonium we could send those 2 back to 1999 and figure it out!
I know we’re all a little despondent right now, and the outlook isn’t as rosy as we’d like, but every team has it’s bad day, and maybe this was ours.
Imagine being a Ducks fan, with your team fighting for one of the same playoff spots we’re trying to get, and having your team give up eight goals - at home - to Atlanta (including two shorties.) We’d have people here opening a vein if that happened to us.
I bet Risebrough and co. are spending all their time coming up with excuses as to why we didn’t make the playoffs this year.
1. No one could have predicted Marian Gaborik’s long term injury. It’s Marian’s fault the team couldn’t score goals not ours.
2. We put too much pressure on the kids to carry our season and pick up the slack. They couldn’t make up for the loss of Rolston, Demitra and Parrish. (Russo and most fans knew this before October)
3. The western conference is such a tight race. We were in it but things just unexpectedly fell apart at the end.
Feel free to add your excuses.
Well Ducks fans can fall a sleep at night knowing the have Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaff locked up long term, Bobby Ryan showing why he was picked 2nd in 2005. I’d trade anyone of our forwards for one of these guys save for Koivu…
Right again, Greenstar, except the Ave’s did beat the Red Wings in the last couple days. So, even the cream puffs can make noise.
I do not like the idea of justifying medicrity by saying everybody else is the same. Just did not have to be that way in my opinion
No it didn’t. it would have been nice to have rolston here but it is pure speculation that we’d be in a better position. hell it was just a few days ago many a person were saying the didn’t miss him.
to me the biggest curve ball was #10. I’m with CL that we probably would have 4 more wins or at least more OT losses if he wasn’t out. If there is management failure there it is that we were completely unable to absorb any portion of that loss.
5 points is a lot further out than it looks. certainly doable but they have some serious work in front of them.
They couldn’t make up for the loss of Rolston, Demitra and Parrish.
again, just a few days ago there was lengthy posts stating we’ve covered these players adequately.
(Russo and most fans knew this before October)
so then why all the shock that the team is in the position it is in if we all knew this before october?
DR makes a comment, everyone wants to put spin on it.
If people would spend as much wrath directed toward guys like Petters and Madoff, as DR, then maybe the cheaters who have helped derail the economy would find it lots more difficult to foist scams on the public.
Are most people shocked or just frustrated? Doesn’t shock me one bit.
Goalieguy: Most informed hockey people know the Ducks are at the end of their run. They’re done like dinner. Pronger will be traded (to wherever his wife wants to go next) and Selanne and Scott Niedermayer will both retire. JSG is being replaced with Jonas Hiller, but since he is the face of the Ducks franchise, he will be hard to move (and whomever gets him will pay a steep price, IMO).
Atlanta, on the other hand, they already know they’re toast and have nothing to lose if they go all-out. I saw bits ‘n’ pieces of that game last night, and it wasn’t pretty.
Woodcock: I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree about Martin S., since you are correct in that he is less of a worry now than he has been in the past. I still would feel better if he was somewhere else…
Dampland: I agree with you re: Zidlicky vs. Bergeron. Zidlicky has less negatives than MAB does. Besides, we need a space for Foster when he returns off the conditioning assignment.
Heh. You’ve all been having fun debating your own speculation, eh? It did make for a good read. So, I’m gonna speculate.
MuN’s Predictions
(not in any particular order)
Wild miss the playoffs this year.
Gaborik, PMB and Backstrom are traded.
Boston wins the Cup
Wild make a few roster changes in the off-season.
Most of this group groans and moans until next spring, calling for Doug’s head.
Wild continue to make a profit.
Rinse and Repeat.
WRT, I tend to agree with you on the Ducks. They do seem to be at the end of their run. I of course will disagree with you on Skoula as I want him to come back for all the reasons I have enumerated. Zids and Bergeron were added to give us strong shots on the point. It was pointed out when we added them that they did make mistakes in their own zone–and they do. With Foster coming back maybe we get rid of MAB but let’s not forget that Foster was kind of a hanger-on at D before he got hurt. We all like Foster–he is a good guy who had a terrible injury. But we should remember that he often made mistakes and altho he had a booming shot on the point, he often had to yell “fore” before he let it go as no idea where it might go and he also was occasionally reluctant to shoot as JL pointed out. It is not clear to me that Foster will be with us next year.
MuN, The Wild will continue to make a profit as long as the fans continue to support them. But your “prediction” implies that somehow the Wild are saving on salaries. Unlike the Twins, they are not and they are very close to the cap.
MuN…Rinse and Repeat…I like it.
wood…even IF the Wild spend to the cap, they make money. They have enough revenue in gate receipts, concessions, etc to keep the money pump primed.
It all comes to an end when the sellouts stop…
sorry wood…I misread your post.
carry on!
If we could only get a hold of a DeLorean and some Plutonium we could send those 2 back to 1999 and figure it out!
- Last year’s theme: Fight to the End
- This year’s theme: Back to the Future - Huey Lewis will do the Let’s Play Hockey call at the final home game
I forgot about the rinse and repeat!
I’m starving.
MuN, except PMB has a verbal no trade. I’d think DR would be bright enough to not violate that as it wouldn’t look good to future FA’s he’s trying to sign.
As terrible as it sounds, I am ALL FOR the Wild entering into the Tavares/Hedman lotto.
Trade Backstrom for picks or a scorer (now before we lose him in FA for nothing.)
Trade Gabby now for the best pick we can get (Maybe a 2nd rounder?) and hope we pick high in that round.
Trade Yawnson for another scorer or picks.
Then with the Wild tanking it the rest of the season, we finish with a high pick, maybe even multiple first round picks, and grab some players who can make a difference. (I’m not sure I would mortgage the farm to get Tavares however. He is good, but I’m not sure he is the next superstar everyone predicts)
So in 2009/2010, the Wild start the season with Harding in Net. And Cuma or Scott on Defense (or take Hedman if he is available).
Yes, the overall team D might suffer, but the current “Defense first” philosphy is not working.
Plus with the scorers we got in the trades, and perhaps the surprise impact of one of our extra high draft picks, we could perhaps create a team that scores more than 2 goals a game.
What do we have to lose?
DISCLAIMER - I do not profess to being the GM God; just playing a little armchair GM, since we nothing else to do until Thursday.
Dampland - with all the scorers we are going to trade for, the Wild will make the playoffs and the teams dumb enough to trade away NHL scoring will not
nothing else to do until Thursday.
Man, it’s gonna be a long week, isn’t it?
Aeros don’t play until Thursday either. Poop.
Playoffs!!!
Playoffs???
green* quotes:
>>>The Wild are playing like they know they have no chance
if this were true then how did they manage to produce the 1st period they had?<<<
As I noted in the post, they are professional hockey players who can pull it together at times, but they don’t have the mental toughness that comes with being confident in their game.
If you’re not going to take the time to read the entire post, why take the time to post a misguided and previouusly answered question?
Of course, this is all above and beyond the fact that the Sens were pathetic in the first 15 minutes of the game.
food!
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