Heartbreaker in Motown; Schultz injures eye
Posted on April 5th, 2009 – 3:29 PMBy Michael Russo
I had a major scare tonight. I carried my laptop downstairs to the press room after the game. When I got back after working the locker room, my computer went all blue screen on me with those terrifying words, “Beginning physical memory dump.”
The last time that happened to me? In this exact room in 2002 the moment I found out Scotty Bowman just let slip after winning the Stanley Cup that he was retiring as Detroit’s coach.
Amazingly, I hit the on-off switch and my computer booted up. In 2002, it never turned back on. Anyway, I wrote the two quickest stories of my life this afternoon just to get it into the paper in case it happened again, which it didn’t thank goodness.
The Wild’s season went blue screen tonight, and unlike my laptop, they won’t recover.
Season ended tonight, folks, the moment Marian Hossa — the man who snubbed the Wild’s long-term deal last summer — scored with 54.3 ticks left.
You would need a math genius from M.I.T. now to figure out a way the Wild can make the playoffs. The Wild’s three points from eighth with three games left, but when you really look at the tiebreakers, they’re really four points out because you’d have to overtake St. Louis/Nashville even if you caught ‘em.
And think both those teams won’t win again? Heck, think the Wild has the ability to win three in a row anyway?
In the past 10 games, the Wild’s executed perfectly a win-one, lose-one pattern. As I promised you three weeks ago, if the Wild didn’t put together a winning streak, it could not one-point its way into the playoffs and it could not win-one/lose-one its way into the playoffs. The Wild hasn’t won two in a row since February, hasn’t won three in a row since November.
Teams that can’t put together a single real winning streak in a season shouldn’t have been in this position anyway. But that’s an indictment of the system.
Tonight’s loss was deserved, but it was heartbreaking nonetheless. The Wild was outshot 44-23, 34-11 at one point. Only Niklas Backstrom, a shaky Chris Osgood, and a couple posts, too (first period must have been sponsored by the Minnesota & Michigan Iron Range’s cuz Koivu, Hossa and Hudler hit iron), allowed the Wild to even be a minute from overtime.
And then, in one flawed, fatal last-minute shift, three players — Cal Clutterbuck, Eric Belanger and Marek Zidlicky, according to coach Jacques Lemaire — made mistakes.
Belanger fell. Clutterbuck joined Marian Gaborik on a forecheck when he shouldn’t have. But as often is the case, it was Mr. Zidlicky who caused the 2-on-1 by again carelessly stepping up in the neutral zone like he’s done so many times this season (most recent on Zach Parise in New Jersey, resulting in Brian Gionta’s nail in the coffin).
Zidlicky got lured into stepping up on Pavel Datsyuk. One pass later, 2-on-1 between Tomas Holmstrom and Marian Hossa.
Game over. Season over.
Lemaire roasted the players, but I point you to the game story for those quotes. The locker room was pretty glum after the game, obviously, because this week vacation plans will begin and native country’s will begin to phone about world championship availability.
Nick Schultz sustained an eye injury around the 10-minute mark of the second period. I did not see it happen, and nobody seemed to know what happened. However, it started to bother him and he didn’t return. It’s not believed to be serious. He never had to leave for the hospital. He was able to return to the Twin Cities with the team and will be evaluated Monday by team doctors.
Schultz, one of three Wild players to play every game this season, has only missed two regular-season games in his entire career because of injury and an exploding appendix.
Kim Johnsson was outstanding getting all the extra ice time, but unfortunately his 30 minutes forced him to take one shift off in the final minute. Too bad for that.
Clutterbuck had a goal and an assist. The goal was his 10th, making him the third Wild rookie to ever score 10 (Marian Gaborik, 18, and Kurtis Foster 10). Gaborik also scored his seventh goal in eight games since his return, and 10th in 14 games this season.
Real quick tidbit from tonight, but referee Mike Hasenfratz, the same ref who called the phantom penalty on Mikko Koivu a few weeks back, assisted on Jiri Hudler’s first goal tonight. Schultz was trying to rim it around. It hit Hasenfratz’s leg, and it amounted into the perfect pass to Henrik Zetterberg.
Zetterberg was phenomenal today. Nine shots, one assist, 13 of 19 faceoff wins.
OK, I want to click publish before my computer rolls up and dies. Stensaas on the team Monday, although I may be the one writing. We’ll determine that tomorrow.
86 Responses to "Heartbreaker in Motown; Schultz injures eye"
didnt deserve it anyway. major moves needed for next year, lets get something done for once
i think the stribs time is off by 1 hour current time is 4:44
Russo: OK, I want to click publish before my computer rolls up and dies, just like the Wild do.
Fixed it for ya! 
Going in to this game we didn’t have a snowball’s chance in he** that we’d make the playoffs. Now, even the players are convinced.
Anyone trade Zidlicky for a used puck bag?
Out of hope, out of belief. I just feel empty. The season’s pretty much over even though there are those three ginormously important games to play.
And my hand is feeling like it’s gonna die. Shouldn’t take hockey so seriously? Well, my hand and computer desk say no, I say yes. Looking forward to the next season and…well, what’s there really to look forward to? Gaby won’t sign, no FA in their right minds won’t sign here…we’re screwed. Big time.
I think the time has finally come. Fire DR and lets get a GM that actually knows how to build a team instead of hoping ill-drafted players turn into the next Phil Kessel or Jon Towes. JL deserves better players from his GM and because of DR I wouldn’t blame JL if he just left for FLA for good.
No math genius needed as Russo is saying is needed
This is between Minnesota, St Louis, Nashville for 8th
Currently each team has 3 games left
The Wild can win the next 3 games if they can spank Calgary like they did
So the Wild end up with 89 points if they win 3
St Louis and Nashville cant get more then 2 points each in the next 3 games,
then both teams finish with 88 and the Wild are in the playoffs with 89. Rather simple math
This math problem should be more simple after Tuesday
Phoenix plays at home against St Louis Tuesday. If Phoenix wins, and the Wild beats Dallas, everything changes for the Wild and its expectations to make the playoffs.
I can very easily see Nashville getting only two points in the next 3 games it plays- Chicago- Detroit@Detroit- Minnesota@Minnesota
The Wild has some control over Nashville becasue they play them. The Wild will need the Blues to mess up. The WIld need Phoenix and Colorado to get pumped at home and beat them.
We have to assume that Columbus will get beat by St Louis in the last home game for St Louis. Maybe Hitchcock can do something for his buddy Lemaire
Anyone care to roast me now for stating how bad that Zidlicky and Bergeron are defensively? Y’all did it before the season started and early in the season. Where are you now?
Fire DR, he’s an absolute joke of a GM! Sign Gaby, let’s get a new coach. Zidlicky is one of the few d’s that can actually do something offensively, he’s more dangerous up front than Veilleux and Belanger toghether! Yes, he screws up occasionaly, but I definetely take him over Foster or Schultz (he was horrible today, he is solely responsible for Hudler’s goal). Foster is just as much of a liability as Mr. Bergeron, who’s still in the process of learning how to skate. Zid can actually spark up the offense. Also, it should be mentioned Skoula has been the best Wild D in the past few months.
About 55 seconds left in the game, my verbal comment required moderation.
Skoula has been the best Wild d-man not named Kim Johnsson in the past few months, maybe.
C’Bus will make sure that the Wild do not win 3 in a row.
I wonder how they’ll beat the Preds on Friday when they’re eliminated b4 then.
Jack….you don’t know… 
Zidlicky and MAB are defensive liabilities for sure. However, they added something the team desperately needed - offense.
The real problem is that too many forwards are offensive liabilities. This team didn’t score enough goals to be in the playoffs.
Replenishing talent on the roster will take time. No top UFAs are coming here. Even if MN is supposed to be Where Players Want to Play™.
I still think the current team is better than the one last year. It’s too bad Burns and PMB couldn’t finish out.
Sure, there are some weaknesses that need to be dealt with in the off season.
When does the five year plan start?
Nobody seems to realize that even if the Wild makes the playoffs as the 8th seed in the West, another first-round exit would be very likely (vs. San Jose or Detroit).
This Wild team has not come even close to showing the consistency needed to compete against an elite team in a 7-game series, even with Backstrom standing on his head in net and Gaborik scoring every game.
At this point, the best thing for the franchise would be to miss the playoffs (NAS, STL deserve it more anyway) and get the better draft pick heading into an offseason that will hopefully see some major changes.
The new five year plan will start after the Excuse Grabbing is finished.
Who is developing in Houston and what about draft picks? Last fall, the THN NHL season preview, Mr. Russo gave this team low ratings on what prospects where in the pipeline and draft picks. So it goes.
Michael, glad the blue screen of death didn’t take over your laptop. Have a safe commute home.
Minnesota may be Where Players Want to Play , but not where players are enticed to play. There’s a big difference there, friends. DR (if he’s still here) has to be able to entice FA’s to play here. So far, the Wild’s result in that department has been abysmal.
The real problem is that too many forwards are offensive liabilities
Exactly.
When does the five year plan start
When Dear Leader (DR) tells us comrade.
KJ with the “wisdom quotes” today!
Aside from the realism, and math aside, it’s nice to see reality setting in now. Everyone’s mad, angry, and ready to cast blame.
This was a .500 team all along, and most of you said so last summer after the UFA season passed with no significant picks.
Kimberly Johnsson was what??? Outstanding.. Ya for the opposiong team again. This Defense needs a major overhaul and should be built around Burns, Schultz and Scott Next season. Zitlicker is a waste.
Time for Jaque to go… Does he know what forechecking is??
i just don’t know what i’ll do with out hockey it’s gonna be awfully boreing
Schultz and Scott as the core of next year’s defense?? Are you out of your mind? Schultz was awful today and he’s offensively impotent. And let’s not kid ourselves about Burns. He’s been very sketchy all season long. This year’s Burns was inferior to last year’s Burns by miles. Johnsson is a great skater and can move the puck, although his offensive numbers are certainly subpar to his paycheck.
I think this year’s defense was better than last year’s…just look at the super low GAA. What Wild needs to do is to get rid of Belanger, Veilleux, and certainly not count on James Sheppard to be the go-to-guy. He’s been a disappointment so far. As Russo pointed out, for whatever reason this guy is untouchable…well, I guess it worked with Skoula, maybe it will work with Sheppard. But I have no hope for Belanger…
wild1: there will be hockey, just other teams in the SCH playoffs. darn reality.
I think that Burns will be back to where he was last year as soon as he gets put back at defense permanently. I have to agree with Bulldog in saying that the Wild should build around Burns, Schultz, Scott(if he proves capable of being an everygame d-man), and maybe even Skoula( I can’t believe I just wrote that, but if he can play the way that he has played the last two games all the time he may be worth keeping around). I know Schultz had an awful game today, but one poor game, and 80 steady games is what Schultz gives the team every year. I agree that Bergeron and Zidlicky added some offense this year, but IMO it was nowhere near enough to cover for their poor defense.
I dont get that the future is bleak for the Wild. I agree some draft picks have not worked out, and Marion Gaborik may not be back. The Wild owner I am sure is not a Carl Pohlad type owner. I look for the Wild to be agressive in this off season
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
just make sure you guys dont support the wild with buying the merchandise or anything to support the team. I sold 80% of my tickets this year to the suckers. Leipold needs to see numbers before he makes a decision. When numbers change then people get fired.
M 03, what do you keep saying that gets moderated? ;~}
MKiA, I agree with you, the future is not so bleak at all. I am not saying the Wild deserve to be higher in the standings than they are, only that though the season is a disappointment it is not a complete disaster.
Russo wrote that it was a boring team, hell here we are with three games to play, we have had some injuries to guys who were not replaceable, we have lost some heart-breakers and still we are not mathematically eliminated.
With the right combination of FA’s and draft choices the team can reload fast.
Just look at St Louis, in January lots of people on this blog had already written them off. How quickly things can change.
Lets look at what happens before we decide it can’t happen.
Every body on a team cannot be a Gaby or a big star. Belanger and SRV may not be gifted scorers but they do have a role to play on the team. I think it depends upon who you might replace them with that determines whether they stick or not.
But, two really solid wings would go a long way in the standings. I do not think one will be Gaby but who really knows?
puckit, I will continue to buy Wild merchandise. I do not care to be an “unofficial GM”.
I never eat at the games or buy anything to support this crap team and management. They have to get rid of a lot of players and coaches and DR before i ever support this joke team.
I am going to buy a skoula jersey-NOT–
F this bs run team and the players. If they change the fighting rules the fans will say byebye. I never buy anything to support the Team of 18000 fools.
Fans need to get their frustrations be heard. I’m already boycotting any Wild related purchases…I’m not paying a cent to DR’s pocket. I feel about him like the public feels about those AIG managers.
Ice…I think the reason it is ‘bleak’ is exactly what Russo commented on:
Young talent up and down the league that are far superior to the Wild.
Zero stars on the roster (after Gho$t is just a memory). Aneimic scoring. Playing passive hockey to have a chance to win is not very entertaining. JL has done what he has had to do with this team - lower to GAA to an unsustainable level to try and compensate for the lack of scoring talent.
There will be NO established top UFAs coming here. It will be more of the same: old players trying to get a couple more years, reclaimation projects or Miettinen types - no one player to replace Gho$t’s goals.
So, I’ll still watch and wonder…wonder when the management here will try to win, wonder where Gho$t will end up, wonder what it would have been like if the North Stars stayed and got sweeheart deal (i.e. new area, all revenue). They did win a cup 4 years after they left MN ya know…
oops…lower to = lower the
Russo is so right with his editorial. The only thing I could add is get Rid of Risebrough, He is the most incompetent GM in the NHL. His plan for the future stinks just like his team, Only losers here are the Team Of 18,000 suckers.
kj, I detested and do detest Norm Greed, but the city fathers are equally to blame for the North Stars leaving. For practically an insignificant investment they would still be here.
I thought that they had finally stabilized as an organization under Gainey.
But, the Wild could conceivably get to 88 points yet. That is only five wins less than last year.
They digressed as a team when we would like to have seen them move up like the Blue Jackets. Part of that is no doubt a thinner system so they could not come close to covering the injuries.
But, put Gaby back in this lineup and they probably exceed last years point total.
People may not like DR, but on the scale of W/L’s there are plenty of organizations not doing that well.
only five less wins than last year. a healthy gaby would have been at least that. our leading scorer missed 20 games; chalk up another couple of wins. our best d man missed the last 15; chalk up another win. my point is this; injuries derailed this season plain and simple. a healthy team would of been back to back division winners. hell tell me if im wrong; but i do believe that we will be the first team in history to finish in the top three in goals against and not make the playoffs!
Well, I only lurk here but my take on the season is pretty similar to many others. I wanted Gabby traded before the season started, but I really can’t argue with what DR put together this year. If Gaborik had been even semi-healthy, this team would be in the playoffs. I can’t stand how brutal our drafting outside of the 1st round has been, but DR did put together a decent team for this year.
Also, with Detroit’s goaltending being highly suspect and their D starting to show signs of age they can be beaten. SJ loves to choke in the playoffs. The Wild possibly could have competed this year if someone would do them a favor and knock out Calgary.
So, I give DR a pass for this year, but not the past. I’m bored with Jacques’ system and prefer strong forechecking. Throw in my irritation at our lack of drafting skill, and I’d love to see both of them gone.
We have a decent young core and if we can somehow find a couple very good forwards and keep the core together, we could be competitive in a few years. With Gabby gone I’d like to see us blow this up a bit, lose for a couple years and get some higher draft picks. We certainly have shown we can’t get it done drafting mid to late first round.
Injuries are part of the game.
Injuries test an organization’s depth.
This organization had no depth answer for Gho$t’s injury and did nothing to try and replace his scoring.
I’m sorry but injuries = Excuse Grabbing™ for management.
kj, some injuries are simply not replaceable by any organization, especially in one that does not have “NHL ready” replacements. So, it is as much realism as it is “excuse grabbing”.
I have never faulted DR for not moving more decisively to sign or trade Gaby at a certain time.
In fact, I think the organization bent over backwards to retain him, and why not? He can be an amazing talent that is not really replaceable. And, we do not know what sort of talks were in progress or whether the offers were “assets in kind” when Gaby’s groin broke.
Perhaps though, DR needed to find a scorer from somebody’s scrap heap to sign and and rehabilitate and send him to MissConduct’s care in event Gaby’s health became an issue. Maybe, however, those type of players are simply not available.
Do you think St. Louis is saying “if only we were healthy…”.
How about Nashville? They have been decimated by injury as well.
My comment about Gho$ts scoring concerned doing something after he was injured and opted for surgery. Smug stood pat. That once again proved to me that winning this year wasn’t a priority to management.
I think fans in this market deserve more than mediocrity…
In fact, I think the organization bent over backwards to retain him, and why not?
We can only speculate as to why Gaby can’t seem to get away from DR fast enough but I think it is safe to say that the lack of a second option at center, particularly when you know JL is going to use Mikko defensively as he sees fit, is a huge problem for Gaby. Next, remember what did DR to Demo in his contract year: made him play a position that he couldn’t score from. And what can DR do about the center issue now? Promise Gaby that there will be an upgrade over Belanger and Shep next year. Good luck with that DR. So if this type of roster management is “bending over backwards” to keep Gaby, I think a 100 year old person could out limbo Smug.
hey dont forget the ducks they have two games left and if they lose 2 there stuck at 88 wild can pass them up and who know the blues lose two out of three and the wild chance just got a bit bigger it will take a few things to happen but the fat lady has not sung yet but she is getting close
DOUG RISEBOROUGH NEEDS TO BE FIRED FOR HIS CHEAP ASS DECISIONS whether Lemaire returns for another year or not. The next one who needs to go is Zidlicki as he just doesn’t get it no matter how many times he’s told. Does he have a brain like the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz?
He sure doesn’t know how to use it as his actions sure show because for every 1 thing he does right, he does 3487 things wrong. We need defensemen like Chris Pronger, Sergei Zubov, or Sergei Gonchar. They are defensemen, Zidlicki is a puppet and there is a huge difference between those 2 because look at their plus/minus ratings and if Riseborough chooses to argue that, then he needs to check into a sanitarium for 387 yrs.
And even if we do resign Gaborik, he’s not the Messiah or some disciple of Christ because I have never ever seen a team that specializes in Murphy’s Law any better than the Wild at Xcel Energy. 2 forward, 10 back is not progress, it’s congress if pro and con are opposites. Get the point, there Doug because you’re becoming a disgrace to the sport and to us fans. With your style of management the Stanley Cup won’t even get to this state because what is gained by losing in the 1st round of the playoffs like you did last year and what makes 3 yrs from now any different? Your job is to rip off and disappoint the fans and there is no excuse for pity and crocodile tears with that beer mug in your hand. We need guys like Ovechkin, Crosby, Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, Grant Fuhr, and Paul Coffey even if it may cost you your job and Tom Flynn’s as well.
Jim Souhan said it best, next year the Wild will look like Dwayne Casey on skates.
I would sure love to live in a world where every possible (and some impossible) excuse is available to me when I fail. That would be really neat.
When this team started DR asked for five years to deliver a team that improved consistently, if slowly, to the point that it was.a perennial Cup challenger. That was the whole build from within mentality.
That was the payoff for what was probably going to be a relatively unsuccessful team for the first few years. Then he got JL to sign and the team overachieved.
Two straight one-and-dones in the playoffs followed by an excuse-filled failure to finish in the top half of the conference does not to me represent improvement.
If that is good enough for you then so be it. But don’t sit there and try to tell me my expectations were not realistic for this year - I only expected them to make the playoffs and win a round to represent improvement.
Frank: you lost me at “Jim Souhan said it best…”
Hey Russo, what about Pascal Dupuis and his 15 goal rookie season?
Hey Russo,
Was Lubomir Sekeras too old to be considered a rookie? He also had 11 goals his first year in the NHL.
Wow, I didn’t realize only 3 rookies have ever scored 10 goals for this team. Says something about the offensive quality we draft doesn’t it? This team doesn’t score goals and clearly doesn’t try to draft guys that can so the obvious fix is to get rid of the guy making the picks. I hear though that DR makes his picks based off what Lemaire says so I guess both of them have to go.
Injuries are part of any sports team, amateur or pro. The key is what you do when they happen.
DR and TooL did nothing when Gaby said he needed surgery. He did nothing for three months. And now, the Wild are paying that price.
Regardless of how you feel about Gaborik, Risebrough or Lemaire, the fact is that this team is now paying for its’ past mistakes, both in the handling of current players and the lack of foresight in drafting future talent.
It’s time to change the locks on the President/GM’s office at 317 Washington St., St. Paul…
Losers make excuses; winnners make due.
I hear though that DR makes his picks based off what Lemaire says so I guess both of them have to go.
Actually poor communication between JL and DR has been a problem with some players in the past (such as Dominic Moore) and I have never heard that JL does anything for the draft other than be there. You must also be getting hockey opinions from Souhan 
Souhan…really? Ouch…
DB: +1. True words.
But don’t sit there and try to tell me my expectations were not realistic for this year - I only expected them to make the playoffs and win a round to represent improvement.
they were only unrealistic in that the talent level assembled was insufficient. this goes back to JL’s comments to sid. I believe once he realized the horses were not there, especially after it was known that #10 wouldn’t be around all year, he turned down the expectations and then enjoyed the season.
i don’t have an issue with expecting playoffs and a series win, but those dreams were shot pretty early in the season, weren’t they?
Do you think St. Louis is saying “if only we were healthy…”.
they have been for a few years.
i don’t find injuries a cop out. what did NBC say, 200+ man games to injuries this season? I don’t care who you are, that is hard to deal with. then add in that many of those games were to 2 or 3 of your top 4 or 5 players. that is a challenge that not many teams can beat. would washington be where they are if ovie was out all year? then take green off the ice for the last 15 games or so? it’s not an excuse but reality although it still doesn’t make it right.
back at the media luncheon, DR’s address was centered around dealing with adversity. that all teams would have adversity and how you dealt with it was key.
I wonder how he would grade himself with dealing with adversity?
No doubt we would have been better with a healthy Marian Gaborik this season but that only proves one thing, we are utterly dependant on Gaborik to carry our team. Without him we are a .500 team. Don’t get me wrong Koivu and Burns are great players to build around but did either prove to be go to guys or game breakers in Gaborik’s absence?
Now I’m not saying we need to blow up the entire roster but changes are needed and I strongly believe those changes need to start at the top. This sit on your hands and do nothing philosophy hasn’t paid off. You build an elite team with good drafting and development, savvy trades and key free agent signings. Trading for Fritche and recruiting Eric Belanger doesn’t take us to the next level.
Sorry for the long post.
back at the media luncheon, DR’s address was centered around dealing with adversity. that all teams would have adversity and how you dealt with it was key.
I wonder how he would grade himself with dealing with adversity?
G* this is why my frustration is centered around him. Yes my expectations where probably shot early in the season, but did they have to be? DR seems to me to change his outlook for the team with every new situation to arise (ie injuries) or every new Stanley Cup winner (Anaheim, Detroit, etc).
Somewhere between birth, a surprise run to the WCF and a division championship, DR managed to lose focus. I get the sense that, if asked what the personality of his team is, he wouldn’t be able to give a clear answer.
To be sure, some of that is expected with a team this young (overall) and I’m not hanging him on the franchise’s relative youth.
But he sold me (anyway) on a clear vision at the outset. I feel like we’ve gotten pretty far afield from that vision now. And with nothing to show for it - like playoff success or a deep farm system or heck even a deep NHL roster.
I wonder how he would grade himself with dealing with adversity?
A+ - the Excuse Grabbing™ rant in the media was his Picasso.
I get the sense that, if asked what the personality of his team is, he wouldn’t be able to give a clear answer.
absolutely. and we still have a team that is afraid of the front of the net.
But he sold me (anyway) on a clear vision at the outset
me too. i think the changing of the rules part way thru is vision has shifted the timeline and is something that DR hasn’t adjusted to very well. although perhaps his prudence with contracts will pay off?
kj, 6GS, WRT and others had some darn good posts and some right-on opinions here on this one. Good stuff.
Once again though, I find myself in head-scratching disagreement with the Iceman. I’m curious as to how in the world you can defned Smug’s handling of the Gabby situation. We “bent over backwards” to retain him? I can see a tiny bit of truth in that statement, but the reality is that after it became painfully obvious to EVERYONE except Smug that Gabby and his agent were playing them like a cheap fiddle, he should have been dealt last summer when his value was at an ALL-TIME HIGH. Period!! There is NO defendable reason for that not happening, unless you consider complete, total, and utter arrogance (you know…the “Gabby will sign here ’cause EVERYBODY wants to play HERE” thing) as a defendable reason.
Also, FA’a and draft choices are NOT going to bring this team up to any level of prominence any time soon. FA’s DO NOT want to come here!!! Why is that so tough to understand? And even if the Wild secure a good kid in the 1st round, we have NO 2nd or 3rd round picks this year. There is basically NOBODY in Houston who can come in next year and make a significant impact either.
STOP SIPPING THE KOOL-AID AND GET THESE THINGS THROUGH YOUR HEAD!!!!!
My advice to all STH’s on this blog and within earshot at the X is to contact Mr. Leipold and express your frustrations. Believe it or not, the man actually reads and answers his own e-mail. We pay the bills and have every right to do so. Please though, be business-like and courteous. That usually goes a lot further than the “Fire that freakin’ jerk DR!!” stuff. Will it help sway him on any decisions regarding the franchise? Who knows. But it sure as hell is better than blabbing to the Acct reps and getting the typical “Company speak” back in your ear.
Next season it will be hard to disappoint me too much concerning the Wild, simply because…barring any astronomical and unprecented moves by the organization, my expectations will be SO low, well…..you know.
One other thing to consider….
When bemoaning this season and the fact that the Wild will miss the playoffs by anywhere from 2-5 points probably, consider the fact that Mr. Zidlicky has single-handedly cost the Wild at least 4, and probably more like 6-8 points this season by his careless mistakes.
Yesterday while watching the game, when I saw him step-up I just looked away from the TV, took a deep breath, and waited for the goal horn.
Why not try and dump him at the draft and maybe get back that 2nd or 3rd round pick this year.
How close to ‘Islander-esque’ do the Wild really want to get? How far down the tubes do they really need to be? Or, to answer a previous post, who was commenting on the Wild being in ‘limbo’…
‘How low can you go?’
The problem with the Wild is that they wont admit to themselves what they really are. They don’t see themselves as down the tubes and DR feels as though they are competitive and will be in the next few years. In reality they are only going to get worse in the coming years with no good young players advancing through the system.
If they really want to improve they will need to go even lower. Look at the Blues, the Blackhawks, Pittsburgh. They were all absolutely terrible for 3-4 years and look where its gotten them. Excellent young players who will help their teams for years. You can’t even try to compare Sheppard, Gilles, or Bouchard to the top young players on any of those teams.
STOP SIPPING THE KOOL-AID AND GET THESE THINGS THROUGH YOUR HEAD!!!!!
why is it when you don’t agree with someone who has a negative outlook you are simply just “sipping kool-aid” ?
I understand it is popular to bash the local clubs, I really get it, but I don’t get why we must bash a fan for being positive.
G*, this is the internet, isn’t that how things work around here?
I was so bummed yesterday that I avoided all Wild talk, news on the Wild, and everything Wild.
So bummmeddddd!
this is the internet, isn’t that how things work around here
thank you for snapping me back to reality
Where’s the FIRE DR option on the Poll??? That would’ve been my first choice if it was there.
G*…
Myself, I do not “bash” the Wild or any other local team because it’s “popular” to do so. That comment / reasoning actually puzzles me a bit.
I am a STH. I’m a fan. I invest thousands of dollars in this franchise every year. I want to see it succeed. I realize that success though is NOT always mere wins and losses, but development and movement in a postive direction as an organization. The Wild is NOT doing that or moving that way. For all the reasons that Russo, myself, and so many others on this and other forumns have expressed recently, it no longer is “opinion” but rather hard, cold reality. The NHL and pro sports in-general have certain “constants” that can’t be ignored. That is what all the so-called “nay-sayers” are referring to.
People aren’t bashing Smug or the Wild because it’s “popular” to do so, only because we want much more, and quite frankly…deserve much more, than what we are seeing / getting.
kj, love the trademark…don’t know how to do that, but is that your TM or is that DR’s?
BadDog @ 10:44 +1. I was wondering the same thing myself.
I am a STH. I’m a fan. I invest thousands of dollars in this franchise every year.
so am I, what’s your point?
PREDICTION TIME tues wild win over dallas,oilers win over kings blackhawks over preds coyotes over blues wild 85 preds 86 blues 86 oilers 86
THEN ITS BACK ON GO WILD
OOPS OILERS 85 AND THE SHARKS ARE OFF UNTIL BACK TO BACKERS FRI SAT OH OH LOOKOUT TWO LOSSES BY THE DUCKS IN A ROW AND ANYTHING IS OPEN THEN
I’ve got no problem with people b!tching. none problem at all. I don’t understand why you are claimed ignorant for choosing not to join in though.
Where I defend DR is I think it is better to have a plan then the knee jerk reaction of just dumping Gaby early. If the plan does not work you adjust it. Sometimes the tinkering may not work either.
For instance, after the lockout DR decided Brunette would not cut it in the new NHL and cut him. I have heard him several times admit it was a mistake. Trading for Demitra may have been a mistake but maybe not. Maybe it was just acquiring a solid player who did not fit the coach.
Frank - Souhan the “Numerologist” has not written much about hockey that I would take to the bank.
Geno, that some FA’s do not what to come here is different than saying all FA’s. Maybe this is not the place for pure scorers. Maybe guys who play both ends of the ice are a better fit for us anyway.
So far as DR trading Gaby, I guess if the GM views him as an awesome talent then he would want to keep him, or keep him long enough to exhaust all possible scenarios of getting him signed and only when there was no alternative then get the highest value possible in a trade. That he got hurt is a risk taken and DR lost that hand.
The process of negotiation is fraught with personality conflicts so it should not be a shock if they go a little sour between Gaby and DR along the way.
Consider the implications of signing Gaby long-term. I would hope it takes awhile and due consideration is given to all aspects of what signing the guy means before you even make the offer.
Like real estate sales, the GM and staff needs to look at comparatives (around the league), then you needs to look at your their own team and see who is coming up that needs to be accounted for and how much Cap Space you can afford. Blah, blah, the point being it takes time.
Then, I suppose you need to account for what you know or believe about the player and his desire to remain with the club.
DR did go to Slovakia to meet with Gaby, I think that is beyond the normal of what GM’s customarily do.
It was reported a high offer was made and rejected, but usually there is a negotiating process after than with parties meeting in the middle. It seems the response from the agent was not forthcoming.
All that takes time. That he got hurt and was useless to us during the year does not mean the plan is necessarily bad or the execution of the plan was necessarily bad either.
Sometimes there is just bad luck. I do not want to categorize the Wild like the TWolves but those ping pong balls the TWolves never get are simply bad bad luck.
Net1…that was my contribution to all things Russoville. Someone else referred to it as Excuse Grabbing (TM) and since I am an HTML know-it-all-wannabe, I modified it to Excuse Grabbing™
I suppose Smug will want .03 every time we use it…gotta make up the lost playoff game revenue somehow…
Doom & Gloom… Doom & Gloom.
Oh, I dunno there G*….
Maybe if you reread THE REST OF MY POST starting directly after what you snipped out, you might get what my point is. Doubtful, but you just might.
Sheesh……
geno, why is it everytime you post here, you make yourself out to be so high and mighty? like you’re the only one with an opinion! maybe you should learn to respect other peoples’ thoughts for once.
sheesh…..
I agree that a GM should be allowed a fair amount of time to “plan his work, and then work his plan”. Even time to adjust the plan a little when necessary. All that being said I would say that yesterday showed exactly how far the team has come under the current GM’s plan. In a game that the team absolutely had to have they looked no more competitive against the Red Wings than they did in their first couple years in the league. If it were’nt for the great play of Backstrom it could’ve been a 6 to 2 final. BTW good posts today, I enjoy reading everyone’s takes.
I don’t make myself out to be anything Net1. If you take it that way, that’s your problem.
Apparently you confuse disagreement on certain issues as not “respecting” other people opinions. I guess if we all don’t see things from your slant then we don’t “respect” you. Boo-hoo. Whether certain folks on here agree or diagree with one another, personally I think the majority of folks have some pretty decent knowledge of the subject at-hand, myself included. If you see that as “high and mighty”…well, once again…tough bounce.
And lastly, if someone calls me out about something I’ve posted without fully reading or even understanding what I said, you darn well better believe I will respond to that.
