New York Rangers 2, Wild 1; Nolan wears Captain’s C
Posted on March 24th, 2009 – 4:52 PMBy Michael Russo
Wild down to 11th in the West after, predictably, the eighth- and ninth-place teams in the conference played to a shootout (Anaheim won to keep the Wild two points out) and St. Louis won to overtake the Wild for 10th.
The Wild just didn’t create a whole lot tonight (outshot 30-19), but in the end, if Marian Gaborik buries the partial breakaway or Dan Fritsche doesn’t redirect the puck wide on the 2-on-1 or Owen Nolan, after skating around Paul Mara, beats Henrik Lundqvist or Eric Belanger buries the 3-on-2 or Cal Clutterbuck can score on that late scramble, it’s a tie game.
But there’s no what-if’s anymore, not when the season’s quickly evaporating and the Wild lacks such go-to guys right now with the injuries to Mikko Koivu and Brent Burns. The Wild has missed the spark Burns provides for some time. But tonight, you really saw how much Koivu’s absence kills. Not just the 22 minutes a night he plays — “and not just 22 minutes of skating around,” said James Sheppard — but the big minutes. Any big faceoff tonight, the Wild didn’t have a prayer, losing 64 percent of their draws in the game and 29 of 40 through two periods.
That’s not just a stat, folks. It’s an oh-so important stat because it usually indicates puck possession, and the Rangers are a puck-control team that forechecks the heck out of it when they have the puck. And tonight, they usually had the puck.
Marian Gaborik looked real good. He scored his first goal since Dec. 23 and had five shots and four hits. In fact, the Rangers nearly lost their mind when Gaborik clocked Markus Naslund in the second. Also a couple big scraps between Cal Clutterbuck and Sean Avery, and Owen Nolan and Colton Orr.
But in the end, the Wild was a goal short. It’s just a punchless team right now minus some very big players. It’ll be very difficult — or impossible — to overcome.
Penalties really hurt tonight, especially Antti Miettinen’s offensive-zone interference penalty to negate Colton Orr’s first-period rough. That led to Nikolai Zherdev’s sweet goal with 4.4 seconds left in the period. My favorite was Marek Zidlicky getting away with a blatant two-handed slash aimed at Nik Antropov’s stick, then reacting to getting away with it by sawing Antropov’s stick in half. Kind of like when Zidlicky got away with the cross-check in St. Louis and reacted by shooting the puck in the stands, leading to 2 5-on-3 goals. Or when Zidlicky …
Scary moment tonight in the first period when Kurtis Foster’s left leg — the repaired one — gave out from under him going in the corner. Referee Chris Rooney then skated over him, and Rooney’s skate accidentally hit Foster in the head. But Foster was OK and stayed in the game.
Talk to you tomorrow morning.
——————————————–
With Mikko Koivu’s potentially season-ending right knee injury, former San Jose Sharks captain Owen Nolan will don the ‘C’ until/if Koivu returns. He’s wearing it for the first in his Wild career tonight against the Rangers.
Craig Weller and John Scott out.
Kurtis Foster in, along with Peter Olvecky — a scratch last game.
Aaron Voros out for the Rangers.
Opening lines in first game without Koivu:
Nolan-Sheppard-Bouchard
Brunette-Belanger-Gaborik
Veilleux-Fritsche-Clutterbuck
Gillies-Olvecky-Miettinen
I’ll be on Rangers’ radio during the second intermission.
206 Responses to "New York Rangers 2, Wild 1; Nolan wears Captain’s C"
FIRST. Come on Wild and kick some butt for Mikko sake.
Sorry about the last post. Should be Mikko’s sake. Just got out of surgery. I had the nerve endings in my lower back burnt. I had a few drinks and GOOD pain meds. Bear with me tonight.
Party on, theo!
Man, the body isn’t even cool to the touch and they’ve ripped the C off it.
That commercial still makes me LMAO.
Thanks Toivo.
The Quiznos talking oven is creepy.
Ouchy theo, hope you heal up quick.
I am sure yhe next few days will be painless (pun intended) What commerical are you talking about ms c?
Thanks BG.
The Mr was saying yesterday that Biron (Phillies goalie, can’t spell his name) looks like a vampire. So we have a vampire in the east, and a zombie in the west… cool.
Awww, Biron is beautiful. And he has the sweetest accent. I heart Biron.
This VS feed on the other hand is nearly unwatchable. Worst NHL camera work I’ve EVER seen.
The MR says it’s his freaky bright blue eyes MsC, reminds him of the vampires in Underworld.
theo - darn about the surgery, yeah about the pain meds…as long as you are getting better that is the main thing.
Who is wearing the other alternate captain “A”?
Gawd, Russo sounded blissful in this afternoon’s post. Just floating thru the air like a cartoon cat happy.
Just curious MsC, is there a goalie that doesn’t melt your heart from time to time? Did you get your blocker and other hockey gear for your birthday?
Oh, I don’t know underworld but his eyes are just freaky and gorgeous. Especially peering out of his mask. 
M03… yeah, lots of goalies don’t do much for me. Hell, neither of our goalies move me particularly. I mean other than being good goalies.
Okay, who else’s heart just stopped when they saw Foster go down there?
Thanks M 03. If this doesn”t do it, it will be back Fusion.
clutz better finish off whatzhisname
Come on CLUTTER. Kick his a$$.
*ACK!!!!!!!!!!*
Hey Russo, tell that paper of yours to get with the program. It’s getting close to the end of the regular season. Do you think you could show the overall standings so fans can glance and see how close the Wild are from missing the Playoffs?
not to mention adjust the clock on this blog to finally give effect to DST….
Kind of a draw for Cal there. He did get a few good hits to the head in on Avery, there are no swear words strong enough to express what Avery is.
MsC, every time I see Foster go down my heart stops. No more hurting Fossie.
Ah shoot, I lost my radio feed.
MsC - Bob Kurtz’s voice just turned urgent and cold when Kurtis went down.
Nolan - what a guy’s guy!
Where’s Tommy????
Not sure I like that Guy thing you got goin on.
Holy cow. The Wild contingent in NY is surely getting their money’s worth!
How did olden come out in the fight?
Zherdev had WAY too much time there - our defenseman was just watching him. Dammit.
Never mind - Schultzy was tied up - my bad.
Johnsson WAYYYYY out of position. Entirely his fault.
Hmm a chop to Backstrom’s glove arm and we don’t even argue it?
I don’t think it matters how the fights turned out - they managed to get two of our better players off the ice for a significant amount of time. We can’t afford to give in to that.
So what drinking game do we play with this feed, Bandgeek? No Big John Scotts.
WTF is with Drury slashing Backs?
The Ranger’s have really embraced Sean Avery style hockey. I’m all for getting the hit when it’s relevent but the shots they liberties they take in the crease are embarrassing. That was a blatent swing at Backstroms arm right before the goal.
I don’t think the Wild could beat the Aeros. no Talent just a bunch of muckers and crinders.
Grinders
We REALLY need to protect Backs better in the crease. It’s just unacceptable how other teams plow him over, take chops at him, etc.
This team misses Fridge. Not only does it lack heart, it lacks stones with Boogaard out. Beyond Clutterbuck and occasionally SRV, who else will stand up? Nolan has little interest in dropping the gloves anymore, as was evident against Orr, and he shouldn’t have to at this point.
Theo, Orr didn’t embarrass him but I’d say he won for sure. Olden clearly was just like, “Alright, a-hole. I can’t let you pop me in the face and let it go, so let’s just do this and get it over with.”
It’s been an extremely physical game. Which I fully expected, so I don’t know why Scotty wasn’t on the roster tonight. Not like we’re gonna win anyway, so why not at least be tough (my Aeros peeps are laughing at me for saying that, I bet).
Jesus… Owen Nolan takes on one of the leagues top 5 fighters, we get the momentum from the captain - old man - fighting, and Mittens pisses it down our leg with a well timed, offensive zone, away from the play interference…. go Mittens! What a trade for the Rangers, Colton Orr off, and we lose our leading goal scorer.
I’ve already quit keeping track of defensive zone turnovers from Bergeron. Got to 3 in one shift, and I shuttered.
Glad to see the guys come out and play the perfect road period.
Jaque needs to stand up for his boys and demand that goal is reviewed. I’m all for taking a forfiet to Sean Aver’ys team if thats what it takes to send a message to the league that that kind of hockey won’t be tolerated.
This Kingsford Match Light commercial… the guy looks ridiculously like Matt Kassian.
Who actually uses matchlight anyways? Yum, lighter fluid.
“The Quizno’s oven wants you to kill your neighbor….”
That was dumb by Antti. We never even got the PP because of that. yeah, Rangers sacrifice muckers and take two of our guys but we had the PP and Antti blew it. Without Koivu and Burns we are hurting. Gaby is playing like he is still in camp. Not his fault–he is just rusty. Wish Scott was playing just to take one of their guys out.
The Rags are back to being an uberfrustrating team, that’s for sure. After the deadline, I thought Sather would be the first GM casualty this summer, but it looks so far like he’s done something kinda right.
WOOO
OK Gaby, just four more…
I agree. If we are not going with Boogy we should have Scotty out there.
I’m still not sure I understand who got the goal.. Gaby? Was Olvecky on a line with Bruno and Gaby?
Nice hit Gaby!
Did I just see Gaborik hit someone? Surely, my eyes deceive me.
Get a goal, give a goal. Time for a drink. The ms said one more the end of the game. I like my scotch on the rocks and filled the glass. Fair enough.
Ms C, yes. JL’s playing musical centers again.
Again, we lose one of our stars, they lose just a guy.
Anyone notice the difference between these two teams? Look no further than the headgear. Wild looks like Visors-R-Us.
Interesting. Good for Peter.
Whaddaya say, gang. Goalie fight before this is over? I haven’t seen such a chippy game in a LONG time. Esp. between two teams that never see each other.
Nice work by Schultzy to keep him off Backs.
Because we’re a “skill” team, Buster - they’re an Avery/chippy team.
Staal better get something for the shot on Cal.
They need to make protecting their 6 million dollar goalie a little higher priority.
Damn I wish we had Chris Simon right about now. If the league isn’t gonna controll these Sean Avery anticts then someone is gonna just have to end his career a different way.
I could swear I’m watching the MSG Network. No East Coast bias or anything.
And look where our “skill” has gotten us. On the outside, looking in. The Rangers have the right formula for beating the Mild. You could see it from the first shift when Avery had Schultz backing up.
You know, they wonder why Avery is such a dick - quit showing the dickiness in the highlights!
And why again are neither Boogy or Scott in this game?
Well, if the Goalies weren’t Backs and Lundquist…
Can’t see those two fighting.
Where’s Butch?
This is why boogs is needed-f orr-f-lemaire for scratching scott. This coach has to go-doesnt have a clue.
I should say quit glorifying the dickiness.
This game, as much as any, is proof that what this team needs most — and clearly it needs many things — is a hard-nosed defenseman or two.
Boogie’s in MN with a back injury. Kinda hard to play in NY.
I will agree that Scott should be in for Zids.
Damn it boogs, why get hurt before this game. Lemaire should be fired for not putting scott in.
Nice - Cal draws a penalty.
Wow, Cal actually drew a penalty
Clutterbuck is going to have to throw ‘em again tonight.
Man, I am going to miss Gabby. You can just tell that he has boatloads of talent.
Peter…it is a physical, hard nosed game.
PMB is in his protective ’shell’.
Not sure why Scott isn’t in the lineup. The leading Wild goalscorer has to drop ‘em with their goon.
A good night to dress Boogey!
I am surprised how physically Gaborik is playing.
We can’t just wait for the pass to get to us! Geez, Louise, we get picked off a lot!
Once again, Boogie’s hurt and still in MN
Tuesday night Russo radio - Ranger’s edition. His radio gigs are so great!
They are MUGGING us in front of their net - can’t we do the same in front of ours?
kj, in general I understand that theory re: PMB, but 4-on-4 I would expect to see him, but I haven’t either time.
Oh, wait - they’re kind of mugging us in front of OUR net, too.
Gaby. It’s the 1991 World Series. Game 6. You’re Kirby Puckett.
Repeat several times into May.
Boogs has upper body injury-He would have got orr
Kind of shows how sucky our faceoffs really are without Mikko, though.
Skoula…sign. I know some think he has played better this year..but he makes me nervous EVERY time he touches the puck
Any video feed of the Wild fan contingent?
Outshot badly yet again. This team needs to update their talent big time…DUH.
Yeah well he is the one D who is getting the puck out of the zone, RS
Yep, just sorta bangs it along the boards. That is unless he trips over the puck first.
OMG, Wild is giving us national embarassment.
I sure hope we are able to keep Gabby at a reasonable price. I wonder if Lemaire retires if that would have any impact on signing Gabby.
This is setting up like a win to me, but if not I hope we go down 5-1 quick so we can have a little fun with the Avery’s.
Can’t wait to watch the Avery’s in a playoff series. There will be blood.
Embarrassing…what is their problem with getting the puck to the net?
No, this is setting up like a 3-1 loss, that is unless we win.
Let Gaborik call the next coach, I don’t care if it’s Randy Wittman let’s keep Gaborik and if we’re lucky he will recruit a little offense to go with him.
RS–try watching the game and not let your prejudices infect you. Maybe you can actually see what is going on. Skoula is moving the puck out of the zone. We can’t, however, catch or throw a pass.
To all of the Gaborik bashers: Next season when he’s gone, have fun while fighting for the 12th spot in the West cheering for Belanger, Sheppard and the likes along the way…
I’m as frustrated as anyone with the Gaborik situation. I can’t see a way he stays. The Mild can’t afford to sign him, but they can’t afford to lose him. It’s a different team offensively with him on the ice. It will take them years to get anyone who approaches his goal-scoring prowess.
I used to bash him, but WHY? He is talented and IF HEALTHY, can be a fantastic player. I have no doubts. If the last set of surgeries has cured what was ailing him. I would do everything to sign him. You can just see what a spark he brings to the team.
… with Mikko out… listening to the game, you can tell the missed impact of Mikko and his complete game.
Biased against Skoula….I don’t know that I would call it bias. Just a general dislike. At least his salary is well below Johnsson…most overpaid vs talent player on the team.
Let’s not go overboard on Miko. 3 points (1 goal) in his last 10 games.
I am not saying Mikko is not a good player…he is very good. But he alone will not be the difference between a win and a loss.
Whats best all around player even mean, either he’s our best player or he’s not, this season he only can be considered because Gaborik has been out, but basically he and Bouchard are hit or miss sort of players. When there on there great but there are nights when Boogaard is more valuable.
Crap. We’re begging to lose this game.
RS. I will tell the truth on Mikko. He is not a first line center or a goal scorer BUT he is the best TWO WAY hockey center on the second line in the game, PERIOD>
I play for the Wild, the most undisciplined team ever
two bone head penalties mean we have 0 chance to win this game
missin the fish commercial 
Whats with not having a powerplay clock on the screen? I get that they ran into a glitch, but why can’t they just say the penalty started with 5:55 on the clock or ends with 3:55? It’s kind of nice to know.
If Mikko is the best 2 way second line center in the game, how many first liners are better?
Something tells me the Ducks and preds will goto OT we’ve been getting burned on that every time the 2 teams in front of us match up.
Lots but there not all around players, I think all around is the same as the NBA’s best 6th man. It just means best player that we don’t actually put in the discussion with the actuall best players.
Nolan kind of looks like the fight wore him out. He hasn’t been as on top of things as normal.
SHOOT the BLEEPIN puck!!!!!!!!!
I’m so glad Shep has elevated his game with Mikko’s absence!
And in his past 10 games…Mikko is a minus 3.
Bouchards gonna get one
People that yell shoot at games are fun to mess with
Darn diddily arn
Game Over
Okay, I have a new team I hate - they’ve taken Avery’s lead and become incredibly chippy. I used to love Tortorella when he coached Tampa because he was clean, but now - let’s just say he rates somewhere in the Keenan league.
The fat lady has sung, fell over and passed out on this game. Good night all.
SHIIIitttteeee
Of course, we totally earned the loss. Our motto should be too little, too late.
I’ve got 3 playoff teams to hate so I’ll almost have more fun if the Wild aren’t in it and I can flip from game to game.
Pittsburg New York and Vancuver
RS ONE more time. Mikko is playing first line center with a team with no first line wingers, PERIOD case closed.
It’s bad enough that this team can’t score goals, but if they are going to be stupid and undisciplined, let’s just cancel the final 3 weeks of the season to spare us the trouble. On the road, fighting for their playoff lives, down by a goal, 8 minutes left: I know, lets take three minor penalties in those final 8 minutes to ensure that we protect a 1-goal loss.
How can we get a too many men with 8 mins to go and then Schultz throws it out when he has some time therefore killing whatever time we had left. Jeez.
35-19 on faceoffs for Rangers!! Ridiculous penalties by the future “hall of famers” Schultz and Johnsson!! Sheppard stepped up BIG time just as Jacques demanded…he’s the future of this organization! DR: I hope you make sure to sign Veilleux and the rest of the III-tier players while letting the only exciting player to leave for nothing. Pathetic!!
Night all!
Good point Novo. Managing a whopping 19 shots on goal does not help either.
The only bummer about trying to watch the Wild VS games is the chat windows on the internet TV stations. There were like 70000 requests for a link to the caknuckleheads game.
So, I took it upon myself to make a link to the game for them….
http://tinyurl.com/canuckfeedmar24
SNICKER!!!!
What an embarassment. How soon can this team move to another city and then how quickly can we get a new team? I am tired of the Wild embarassments.
Gho$t is the Wild’s best player. However, he cannot put this collection of AHLers on his back and carry them to the playoffs.
Yeah Smug, he is all that was needed to make a playoff push.
WRT…did it look as bad in person?
Then don’t watch and don’t go to the games.
I intensely dislike the Edmonton thirds.
This team and style aren’t going anywhere.
One could read that two ways and both would be correct.
Might as well not get attached to Gaby.
The Twin Cities are not sexy or sophisticated enough for him. Nothing changes that. He wants to be on a big stage.
Risebrough Sux, there is a big difference between Skoula this year and Skoula last year. We don’t have Versus so I did not see tonights game and WCCO was barely coming in so we did not hear much of it either. But, in general, he has not been any problem at all.
Of course Gaby is the Wild’s best player, especially without Koivu.
He is a remarkable talent!
That is really why maybe people could give DR just a little bit of credit for doing anything he could to keep him.
Ice, He had a solid game tonite.
How can anyone be embarrassed because the team we want to win got beat? And, lets see do we have any key guys injured?
If you don’t like the Wild there are always the Timberwolves.
wood…thanks for the advice, but I am a masochist.
Ice, Ice…who’s the real Ice???
Skoula was definitely involved…in a good way.
So, do they fold or show up tomorrow night and get two points? I’m figuring (as the pattern has been all year) that they will win and again raise the possibility that they could stay in the playoff race. At least until this weekend.
The Rags were dead a few weeks ago. Tortorella and deadline acquisitions have energized their team.
Avery fits right in with NYC, just one dickhead more or less.
You want salt in the wounds? Listen to Canucklehead mgmt talk about how they have 4 rock solid centermen; actually 5 if they throw in Demitra. 24 goals for that pess ant Burrows.
“How can anyone be embarrassed because the team we want to win got beat?”
Well let’s see. We built the finest arena in the world for hockey and have filled it to the rafters for what is it, 8 years? One of the finest hockey markets on the planet and our team travels around the country as a representative for “Hockey in Minnesota”. We have fallen from the pride of the NHL expansion franchises to AHL quality in less than a season. I know the fans want better. I know the players want better. Even Smug wants better, but it is looking more and more like he isn’t going to get it done.
I appreciate your optimism Ice, but the consensus around the league on Smug isn’t on an upward trend.
I dont like the Wilds coaching and management tonight
Why ?
Nolan has to fight Colton Orr, that is not his job. Nothing degrades a team more then to see your top goal scorer taken out by a leagues enforcer. Lucky the old man did not get hurt ! Why is John Scott not playing ? Dont the Wild scout ?
They charged the net all night, hmmm John Scott right ? That is why he was called up I thought
Scoring chances, DR, your banged up and could use someone who can help get more scoring chances. Your backs against the wall. Give Benny a shot again. You and JL sticking with this is team and we want this team to gel is cute, but not getting the results. No Kovou, now you have less scoring chances.
You have let this guy mature to the max DR. You need to do your best for the fans
Thanks for not playing Colton Gilles until you are eliminated
MKiA…you had me until you called for Poultine.
SoTB +1
Um…Gaborik credited with 4 hits. Almost as many SOG (5).
That’s got to be wrong, right? I saw that big hit on Naslund. Eddi O was saying it could have been an elbow. Didn’t think it was.
Forwards: Gaborik and Belanger 20+ minutes. Were these two the only two forwards playing tonight? PMB at 12+ minutes and Mittens at 11 minutes. WTF!
That’s been the problem all year long. Some guys just take the effing night off.
can we get anymore pu$$ies on this team not to protect the goalie. We have the most chicken sh&% defensemen in the league. It is so hard to watch these girls in the corners, and in front of the net. We need tough players and you will see a huge difference. FIRE LEMAIRE AND DOUG R. clueless bast#rds.
If boogs and scott were in there it would be a total different game. I agree lemaire is just riding this year out-he dont care if they win or lose. Fire him before he quits.
Just got done with the game on DVR and I have to say the best part was logging in here to find out the Wild got jumped by St. Louis - if there is on thing DR and, by extension, CL need is pressure and finishing behind teams like NSH and STL should help. As far as I am concerned, Smug can excuse grab until the cows come home about this season but there will be no excuses for not getting good players with Gaby’s cap money to come to where “players want to play” this summer.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
AHL quality Stoned? We are still in the hunt for a playoff berth!
kj, my opinion is that it takes a long time to build a successful franchise. And, every step is not forward. There are lots of ways to get there and no right or wrong way.
DR was apparently our architect and I assume he felt the MN fans would not accept a team that was not competitive. And, so that is what we got. But, the cost is lower draft choices so the long-term is it will take longer to get where we want to be.
The rest of the league does not make it easy either. They mostly make their skeletons available to expansion teams.
I don’t know if the Wild have taken a good route or a bad route. But, we have had plenty to enjoy in the meantime. So, enjoy that.
Filling the arena does not necessarily translate to winning teams. Buying a ticket does not give us the right to demand wins. All I am ever guaranteed to see is a hockey game if I go. But, it is much more fun when the place is full and the fans are into the game.
For me, that is good enough.
Maybe DR is the guy, maybe he is not. But, I won’t lose any sleep over it and ultimately all that happened tonight was a one goal loss.
MKiA, I think Scott would have been a good addition to any team playing Avery.
Anyone know how Burns got his “Upper body injury” I don’t remember him taking a hit to the head at all?
Sigh. I was actually looking forward to watching this lackluster effort tonight after work. Gee, that was well worth the wait. Pff.
2 points:
1-I am concerned that DR will get a “pass” this season because the team has had to deal with injuries to its best players. He will be able to whine his way back into the office again next season saying it wasnt his fault all the studs that he brought in got hurt. Further complicating this idea is that I believe CL is dumb enough to buy it. After all, this is a guy who owned the darn Preds and got our franchise gift wrapped to him after dealing with his old franchise hemorrhaging money. He now deals with a sold out arena each night, so what does he care if a few “bloggers” are unhappy with the direction of the team.
2-Is it just me, or shouldn’t the darn GM of our team NOT be doing radio color for tomorrow nights game? If #1 comes true, shouldn’t he be in his office working out a plan for next year with vast number of roster issues, and maybe even considering making an impact first round pick this summer…???
The good thing is half of this team is gone next year….lots of one year contracts….
Gabby is one of the best players in the league….but you can’t build a team around him because of his constant injurys…that puts him in that second teir…….or you get this.
losing gabby hurts….at least he is 7 mil leaving the cap…..unfortunately of all of the F/A’s…I belive only bowmeester is a top teir/franchise foundation player (feel free to add more…..the rest are complementary parts…..signing two of those second teir forwards (camerelli/S. Koivu..ect..) certainly would help, and if they get the right ones coupled with a solid D-man this team can still do some serious damage ….I would love bowmeester to come here, but I don’t see it happening…zids and bergeron are gone…johnnson or skoula would have to be traded/cut in order to make room for bow…..
Mikko is better than %95 of the league…He is a second line center, mainly because that is his best role….
the problem is we don’t have a front line center/winger (that is where the two players mentioned previously would come in) to pair with Butch or Nolan (depending on which two forwards we sign with the gabby/bela/whoever else leaves money..) When Koivu is on the second line….he dominates the game…..think to the colorado series last year…..koivu destroyed the avs……unfortunately theodore suddenly remembered how to play (the same cannot be said for gabby/the half of the team that checked out at the end)
as for dr doing the commentary…..the guys got to do something to change up the pace a little….you can’t spend every waking moment dealing with the same stuff over and over…..who knows…maybe the color gig will give him some sort of appifany….
P.S. At the very least, he is practicing for a couple years from now…when he isn’t a gm anymore!
*rimshot*
Wild down to 11th in the West after, predictably, the eighth- and ninth-place teams in the conference played to a shootout
Darn 3 pt games.
How about this for a solution to teams playing for the guaranteed at least 1 pt tie? Only 1 pt up for grabs in overtime/shootout. Lose in overtime or in the shootout you get 0. Win in overtime or the shootout you get only 1.
I think that would motivate teams to try to win in regulation instead of ‘playing it safe’ and playing to get a point.
I think Burnzie bonked his noggin in practice. Russo said something along those lines a while back.
Good morning, Russoville, from Midtown Manhattan, where the stench of the bad plays of Bergeron and Zidlicky are slowly being overtaken by the smells of the Ringling Bros. Circus, which permeates MSG after the circus known as the Minnesota Wild left last night for Uniondale and tonight’s game with the Islanders and ex-Wild Richard Park (wife’s favorite ex-Wild player ever!)
kj: It not only looked as bad in person, it looked worse, especially after the two fights in the first period. I agree; scratching John Scott for Zidlicky was a horrible move by JL & Co., especially after Zidlicky rewarded his teammates with plays like those that cost him two minor penalties…
More later from the Island…
I’d like to throw it out there again: is there another NHL team that currently employs a 4-some at the center position worse than what the Wild had on the ice last night or will have on the ice tonight? Just curious.
Goody…
I’d rather go to the system that baseball, basketball and football use:
Winning Percentage.
Eliminate points completely. Wins and losses, OT or Shootout win counts as a win, OT or Shootout loss counts as a loss.
Ice…we have a philosophical difference regarding the management of the Wild. It hasn’t happened yet, but the biggest indictment against Smug will be Gho$t walking away and getting the proverbial bag-o-pucks in return.
Speaking of Gho$t, I think Gho$t will sign long term in LA or a one year deal in Vancouver. If that happens (provided that Henrietta and Danielle leave) look for Hossa to sign a one year deal there too.
I’m willing (not that it matters much) to give Smug the offseason to prove he is a competent GM. It would be nice to be in a position to draft Tavares. But, the Wild aren’t lucky with ping pong balls. He needs to acquire talent. Trade Harding at the draft. Draft some scoring forwards, preferably from Western Canada. Dump SRV, MAB, Weller. Re-sign Fritsche, Olvecky. Try to re-sign Skoula (if JL returns) and even Gho$t. Poultine is too young to give up on, so qualify him.
If JL returns, great. If not, try to find a coach whose system pressures the puck. I like what Tortorella has done with the Rags. I really don’t want another ‘defense first’ system. It may make the team a bit more competitive, but it hides their flaws and isn’t nearly as entertaining. Besides, it’s year 9 on the ice. No more ‘expansion team’ crutch.
Once again, go after UFA scorers. Cammalleri, Havlat, Hossa (ha!), Franzen, Saku (a given), Antropov, Knuble.
Fritsche’sMathTeacher, do you really think your point 2 is an issue?
theo - thanks for your update. Wishing you an uneventful recovery and rehab.
Really kj?
Give Smug a chance to PROVE that he is a competent GM? Hasn’t he had enough seasons to prove that and failed? By the way the last 5 draft picks haven’t been good compared to what we could have had. Thelen, Pouliot, Sheppard, Gillies and Cuma. Thelen doesn’t play real hockey anymore. Pouliot cannot do anything but underachieve. Sheppard doesn’t move his feet on the ice, seriously watch him, he is always coasting. Gillies only suffers from the fact that they kept him in the NHL too early, another year or two of Juniors/minors would have given him great confidence I think. And Cuma’s knee injury is a little bit scary as to whether or not he will be back to the level everyone says he was.
Considering we could have had Wolski, Zajac, Stafford, or Green instead of Thelen. Kopitar, Setogucchi, Staal or Oshie instead of Pouliot. I think Smug has had enough chances to prove that he is a competent GM and help this team.
DB - I don’t think anyone in Toronto or Phoenix is bragging about their options at center.
Here is a depth chart for all of the NHL teams, it is pretty good considering how much rotation there is between centers and wingers.
Thompson…you’ll find no bigger detractor than me where Smug is concerned.
I was just trying to show Ice that I am ‘growing’… 
Is there really any AJ Thelen dead horse to whack at still? How many of you that keep brining up Thelen were sitting at home fondling yourself when the Minnesota born player was drafted?
2004: “Awesome pick DR!”
2007-Present: “Terrible pick DR!”
Who was it on this board that was incredibly critical of the Zidlicky trade? It is about time for that guy to play the “I told you so” card.
Granted, Zidlicky is a reason the Wild has won a few games this season, but all it has done is kept the Wild off the league floor. Might have been better off seeing what would have come of Jones and that 2nd round pick.
wild 3 out of 7th 2 out of 8th a win tonight and a tie in 8th with nashville that is if anahiem losses to the avalanche here we go down the stretch
THEY NEED TO WIN ON LONG ISLAND TONIGHT OR THE PARTY IS OVER
and where was john scott lemaire is an awful coach he s gotta go to many changes all the time the only team in hockey that does this ?? why???
- I’m willing (not that it matters much) to give Smug the offseason to prove he is a competent GM.
My sentiments exactly - and we clearly don’t have a choice in this so the more pressure on DR and CL the better. The Nuks had our season last year and look at the response in the off season - we can demand no less.
- Is there really any AJ Thelen dead horse to whack at still?
I don’t think so but the “Get Minnesota Players!” crowd needs to be reminded how well this move worked out.
I don’t agree with the “Thelen was a bust because he’s Minnesotan”. He was just a bad pick. Plain and simple. The kid shot up out of nowhere in his draft year and fooled a lot of scouts including ours. He was just a flash in the pan who happened to peak in his draft year. Isn’t Drew Stafford(picked just after Thelen at 13th) from Minnesota?
I can think of another player who came out of nowhere in his draft year… Benoit Pouliot. So far that one isn’t working out the way the Wild or their fans expected.
The 18 year old draft is a complete crap shoot and some picks are riskier then others. If you look at our most recent first rounders since Thelen and Pouliot we have gone with the safest pick on the board.
Lackluster play? Nonsense!! Out-shot and out-faceoff-ed? Poppeycock!! Listless effort? Don’t see it!! No sense of urgency? Rubbish!!!!
Two thumbs up to our lads for putting on a fine and spirited performance last evening in Manhattan. I’m very proud of them.
They lost for one reason, and one reason only….THOSE DAMN REFS, again. That HAS to be it. What else can it be? Did you see how Rooney tried to kill Foster by kicking him in the head. ARGH!!! An obvious attempt to get him out of the game. And did you see how they let MZ get away with that two-handed haymaker of a slash (before he was stupid enough to draw even more attention to himself to actually get called)? Someone must have missed a memo, because they are NEVER supposed to let the Wild get away with anything!!
The armband-wearing incompetence was off-the-charts again for pete’s sake!! Sheesh!!! How can the League allow this to continue!!
Yup, I see it all clearly now. It’s a conspiracy all right. They’re out to get us. I for one am writing an e-mail to the League to call for an immediate investigation before it’s too late!!
Oh wait…. It’s already too late. Ahhhh… Skip it then.
I do agree that this notion that somehow we ought to be concerned about improving our draft position is nonsense. There are generally only a couple of can’t miss prospects and after that it is a crap shoot. After all, these kids are 18–Crosby was obvious as are, apparently Tavares and Hedman–after that–who knows. We did well on Burns and Koivu poorly on Thelen and who knows for sure yet on Shep, Gillies or Cuma. But it is clear we need to sign scoring in the offseason. Gaby is gone–as much as we might like to keep him. I can’t imagine any contract from the Wild that Gaby would entertain unless the market for him completely shuts down. And somebody somewhere will make him a decent short-term offer.
KJ, fair enough @6:51am. There are plenty of valid concerns.
I think bringing in Dimetra was a poor choice and now we have both Dimetra and O’Sullivan playing in the NW to remind us. The move maybe was with the best of intentions, adding a key center to get the team and Gaby to the next level. What we got was a whining, lazy player with a bad groin and worse attitude. He was a negative influence to the team and maybe to Gaby in particular.
Oddly, most of the posters here embraced the deal when it was made.
I am with you kj, the odds of Gaby being back are infinitesimal compared to the Wild making the playoffs without Koivu in my opinion. But, who knows.
Hockey is alone a game with hard feelings in the heat of the moment but those feelings get soothed over in a heartbeat. Fedoruk seemed to enjoy playing here with Boogey as an example.
So, DR and Gaby could put their feelings aside if they wanted to.
I think Gaby’s only chance to be here is if the market for him is disappointingly low and he might be tempted to sign a short-term contract with a limited NTC to where he would go.
But, if he has games with four hits and five quality shots he will command a good offer from a city he feels is glamorous enough.
His loss to the team just means DR needs to cover it with damn good FA’s. We will not get Gaby’s scoring touch, but maybe the composite will give us what we need worse.
Nolan has proven what the Wild could really use. That is another good wing in his image with a solid body and a mean streak who will stand in the crease and administer beatings as well as take them, and with the good hands to pot a few goals.
Ya KJ, good to see the growth!
Why not make every game worth 3 points. Win, get 3 points. Win in ot, get 2, and the loser gets 1. Same for a shootout…
Geno, has anyone commented on the refs?
I don’t agree with the “Thelen was a bust because he’s Minnesotan”.
And in no way was I suggesting that. Some in the “Get Minnesota Players!” crowd are often too dumb to realize Okposo, Vanek, etc. were selected before the Wild picked in the 1st round while other players with MN ties were not picked near Wild lower round picks.* Others simply think that all Minnesota players live up to their potential and the Thelan case demonstrates that this is not always the case. As the old saying goes, good Minnesota draft picks never die but bad Minnesota draft picks just fade away
* Could the Wild get better at drafting and developing MN/WCHA players, particularly in the lower rounds? Yes. Are they institutionally biased against MN/Americans/WCHA? No - the management thus far has been just average at best - never give Smug too much credit!
beauj says:
March 25th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Why not make every game worth 3 points. Win, get 3 points. Win in ot, get 2, and the loser gets 1. Same for a shootout…
You’d still get teams playing it safe when tied in the third. One point is better than none. Granted, the lure of 3 is greater than the lure of 2, but still. My suggestion of only 1 up for grabs in an OT/shootout game is motivation for the team to win in regulation.
I don’t mind kj’s suggestion of a win is a win and a loss is a loss no matter when they happen.
Iceman:
>>>AHL quality Stoned? We are still in the hunt for a playoff berth!<<>>Filling the arena does not necessarily translate to winning teams. Buying a ticket does not give us the right to demand wins.<<>>For me, that is good enough.<<>>Maybe DR is the guy, maybe he is not. But, I won’t lose any sleep over it and ultimately all that happened tonight was a one goal loss.<<<
Then why bother posting a rebuttal to someone who thinks he is not. You sound like Smug’s mother. “Don’t pick on my little boy. He’s such a sweetheart and really wants to do a good job.” Hey mom. He’s getting paid how much a year to succeed?
Good luck deciphering what I just posted. What a clusterfugue. Oh well. Its the thought that counts.
Heck, I don’t mind that a win is a win, and a loss is a loss, but i don’t like that some games are worth 3 points, and some are worth two. I think it would get teams to try and end it in regulation more, and make each game worth the same number of points.
It looks more likely that the Wild may be looking at a top 10 draft pick in the first round.
Yay! I can’t wait for the draft! (Hope springs eternal.)
On the points thing there is no good answer as I think the 4 on 4 5 minute OTs have been a lot of fun since inception. I have wondered if going to a half point (0.5) for OT/SO wins makes more sense than a full point. I know that will make the standings even harder to read for the “casual NHL fan” but at some point the myth of the “casual NHL fan” has to die outside wherever it is the Thrashers play
Looks like Belanger played the Koivu minutes (22) last night. I wouldn’t mind at this point giving Sheppard first line duties, and letting him play over 20 minutes a night for the rest of the season. It will help the kid grow.
Here are the minutes for our centers last night:
Belanger (22)
Fritsche (15)
Sheppard (13)
Olvecky (11)
SGS,
Just giving my 2 cents on Thelen. A lot of people seem to suggest that he was bound to be a bust just because MN players don’t live up to the hype. I don’t think that is any more true then Canadian players or Euros.
MsC,
Yes the draft is a fun time. I love the buzz leading up to draft day and the excitement of getting new players. Plus all the trades that usually go down in the first round.
The draft is fun but let’s be realistic. Unless you have one of the top 2 or 3 picks, any help from the draft is generally 2-3 years away at best.
Of course, wood… It’s just fun to see what happens. Though this year, we don’t have picks in rounds 2 or 3, so it won’t be as fun unless they trade for a pick somewhere in there.
I think people fail to realize what the issue with Thelen was. He wasn’t a good or bad pick because he was a Minnesotan. He was a bad pick because he was a Minnesotan who was not good enough to play college hockey for one of the big Minnesotan recruiting teams (Minnesota, North Dakota, etc.). Instead he was only able to play for the, at the time, far inferior CCHA.
I guess my point is, drafting people due to where they are from is stupid, drafting Minnesotans who aren’t good enough to play in or near the state is even more stupid.
That being said, the Wild drafting a guy like Schroeder would be incredibly stupid because he is the exact same player as Bouchard, can’t shoot or play in a physical environment, and we need a goal scorer.
I suspect that Harding goes for a pick. I agree it is always fun and everybody looks good on draft day. Frankly I was very pleased when they drafted Pouliot–I thought we got a real scorer. Oh, well. I wonder in Thelen’s case if it was head issues. After all, Michigan State was excited to get him and then booted him off the team.
Thompson, Michigan and Michigan State are not far inferior. Look at their history and the players they get before you post something as dumb as that again.
I don’t believe he said Michigan and Michigan State were far inferior, he said the CCHA was far inferior at the time.
FOOD!
MSU and former N. Mich. coach Rick Comley has put a lot of players in the NHL. Plus, Thelan needed the minutes as a freshmen to ascend the draft board which he did.
richardb, the problem with giving Shep big minutes is they have not been eliminated, and he has not yet earned the big minutes.
I can decipher what you are saying Stoned. Where I am disagreeing with you is in the degree.
IMO, DR has not been incompetent here, though neither has he been outstanding. We have bumps in the road but then so do most clubs because that job is not a science.
Using Thelan as an example, maybe on raw talent he was fine. But, maybe his attitude was not. Or maybe he was not coachable. Or, maybe he hit his peak early which was short of the AHL. Maybe there are other issues we don’t even know.
Minnesotan’s demand good character people on their teams. (Example: even people who hate hockey and had never heard of Simon had negative opinions about DR acquiring him, the same when Parish was not retained.)
So, that is a constraint DR might have in building a team, while NYR’s on the other hand were willing to hire that dickhead Avery, not once but twice.
Some of the people here think the U ought to be like the farm team for the Wild, that would be another constraint.
DR may be the guy making the final decisions on choices but I doubt in a vacuum. Input is from a consensus of their scouts and what they report. He probably never even sees players he drafts in their game conditions.
In us saying DR ignored filling needs for a center, we lose sight of the fact that he could not get those he claimed he wanted, and those he might have gotten he felt would take more cap space than he had for their contribution.
Also, about drafting Minnesota players. I think there would be a good deal more pressure on rookies who are drafted here. It is an added obstacle that makes it hard for rookies to be as successful playing in front of their own fans, but also it is harder for the club to make difficult decisions when the home grown player is only borderline.
Thanks Goody,
Yes woodcock, I did not mean those schools are inferior to the ones around here. I was saying that, AT THE TIME Thelen was there, the CCHA in general, including those schools was rather weak compared to the teams in the WCHA.
This can be seen by the fact that in the NCAA tournament in 2004 5 CCHA teams made it, they had a record of 1-5 and none made the final four. In 2005 the CCHA only had 2 teams combine for a 1-2 record with none making the final four. And to better emphasize my point for the teams around here being better, AT THE TIME, Denver won in ‘04, with 2 teams from the WCHA in the final four and again in ‘05 with all four teams being from the WCHA.
Judging by that I would say the teams, including the one Thelen played for, of the CCHA were far inferior, AT THE TIME. Which I believe is what I said in the first place. So getting back to my original point Thelen was an awful first round pick because even if he was doing fairly well at MSU the fact that the conference was down those years should have prevented anybody from taking him that early.
