Wild’s Walking Wounded; Aeros sign former Hill Murray star; Carolina Classic
Posted on April 22nd, 2009 – 4:09 PMBy Michael Russo
Just got back from like a six-hour walk — sandwiched by lunch with my editor. What an awesome day out, eh? Not a cloud in the sky.
One of the things I was thinking about is what training camp will look like next season. Strength and conditioning coach Kirk Olson might be the busiest person inside the Wild this summer — other than whomever the new GM will be.
Look at this rehab list as of now:
Niklas Backstrom — out four to six months following hip surgery Friday
Brent Burns — post-concussion syndrome and shoulder surgery Thursday that will require four months to heal.
Andrew Brunette — reconstructive knee surgery, out four to six months
Derek Boogaard — shoulder surgery Tuesday, out two months
Pierre-Marc Bouchard — concussion
(the way the B’s are dropping, Marc-Andre Bergeron better be careful walking across the street)
Nick Schultz — concussion
Tyler Cuma — still recovering from knee surgery
Oops, forgot Dan Fritsche - broken collarbone
Oh, and I forgot a fairly major one: Mikko Koivu — sprained knee
Essentially, the new GM will be inheriting a mess.
Also, the Wild signed Shoreview native Brian Kaufman to an AHL contract Wednesday to play next season for the Houston Aeros.
Kaufman, 25, played four seasons at Miami University, where he served as team captain this past season for the NCAA runners-up. The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder had 85 points in 125 games during his college career.
“Brian is a smart player with a big body who can play a variety of roles,” said Aeros GM Tom Lynn.
Kaufman played hockey and football at Hill Murray and still holds the Minnesota State record for passing completions (36 vs. Waseca in 2001), passing attempts (83, vs. Minnetonka in 2001) and passing yards (555 vs. Minnetonka in 2001) in single games.
Lastly, I just have to spend a few minutes gushing about last night’s Carolina-New Jersey game. It was one of the most amazing finishes I’ve ever seen. Carolina’s up 3-0. New Jersey rallies to make it 3-3. And, in a rarity, Carolina scores a buzzer-beating game-winner with 0.2 seconds left on a Jussi Jokinen redirection (there are fewer better GM’s than Jim Rutherford, and it’s just so fitting that Jokinen scores the winner after Rutherford snatched him up).
It was just amazing hockey. The rush from the final five minutes kept me up for hours. I was literally standing up watching it.
It was just back and forth, and the play-by-play from John Forslund and color from Tripp Tracy was scintillating stuff. You’ve got to listen to the two of them when Tuomo Ruutu pulled a Jarkko Ruutu and ran over Colin White in a monster check. The broadcast lived up to the action.
I also am posting the following still shot from YouTube of the game-winner.
Click the picture and notice the guy in a black CCM shirt sky-high in the air while strangely few others are cheering? That’s concidentally my buddy Reed Schafer, best known as the former star hockey player of the Nova Scotia Junior A Antigonish Bulldogs, Culver Military Academy Eagles and Indiana University Hoosiers club hockey team. He’s also the son of former Alaska Fairbanks and Notre Dame coach Ric Schafer.
And I think he’s blocking the view of small children with the rare chance of getting to see one of the most exciting playoff finishes ever. Well done there, Reed.
119 Responses to "Wild’s Walking Wounded; Aeros sign former Hill Murray star; Carolina Classic"
Great game last night in Carolina. Russo, you should have watched the finish on the Devils’ broadcast. Whoever is the analyst with Emryck went off about the last goal. He was ranting so much it would have put Greenlay to shame. Classic finish and probably the most exciting regulation buzzer beater I have ever seen.
The Ducks and Sharks played quite an exciting game as well last night. I watched the first two periods. Too bad more regular season games can’t have the intensity of a game like that.
is there video of the goal crossing the line and showing the clock simultaneously? can’t find it anywhere, still skeptical…
M 03…c’mon out…we might sing the Fillet-o-Fish song. Even though lent is over.
What about the guy in the black Canes jersey in the front row who looks like he’s looking down for his beer? He didn’t get to see it even though nobody is standing in front of him!
Ahhh, my boy Marty and his temper tantrum. Beautiful stuff. Love that guy.
Any of you college hockey hounds wanna give me the run down on Brian Kaufman of Miami (OH)? Aeros signed him for next year. Lynn is not sitting on his hands, my friends. I love it. Giving Ms.C some fresh meat to chew on. Good stuff.
A Hill-Murray guy–was captain of Miami this year. Wasn’t a big scorer this year but did pretty well junior year. Probably not really an NHL prospect. Didn’t notice him too much in championship game.
It was a great night…The Devils-’Canes game was amazing, the Ducks-Sharks was terrific and the Blues’ effort in OT was heroic, but fell short. They had 18 shots in OT and couldn’t beat Luongo. Has anyone ever had 18 shots in a single OT period?
I’ve said several times that the money I spend on Center Ice is the best money I spend all year, and last night was another example.
There was a perfect overhead shot of the puck in the back of the net with 0.2 left on the game clock. Not sure if that’s why Marty went off like a crazed maniac on the ice after the game, but there was no disputing the puck was in the next before the clock hit triple Bertuzzi.
While that finish was a classic, all three games of the Fowl/Guppies series has been absolutely brilliant to watch. Complete, high-level intensity from the first faceoff til the final horn in all three games. Truly why I miss not having the Wild in the post season. The intensity is almost undescribable.
Also, Matt Cooke sux.
Blues just couldn’t get it together on the 5 on 3 but they sure worked hard. The winner seemed like a bit of a softie.
And Joe - I heard the same rant. Emrick’s color guy is Chico Resch, former UMD Bulldog and goalie for the Islanders during some of their Cup years. (Billy Smith played more, and is better remembered, but Chico won the first one, I believe.)
Chico Resch is to color commentating as Chico and the Man are to color commentating; which is to say BRUTAL! But, the more you watch the games on Center Ice, the more you truly come to appreciate guys like Bob Kurtz and Al Shaver.
Sure wish we had Gary Thorne though.
Thank you Woodcock. Maybe they’ll end up trading him for a sievy offensive defenseman and a pick. *sigh*
For those of you whom remember, one of the best that was taken from us fans waaayyyy too early, was Tom Mees. It’s been almost 15 years since he drown, and I always thought he was one of the best PBP guys to listen to.
Here’s the video of the overhead shot of the puck crossing the line at .2 seconds left, plus why Brodeur was jumping around like an ape afterward:
http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=23&id=40470
Sorry, I was watching the NJD feed of that game on NHL: CI. I can’t stand the ‘Canes announcers, they are almost as bad as Strangis & Razor in Dallas.
I watched the Canucks-Blues from start to finish. The Canuckleheads have reason to think this team will go far; I haven’t seen a ‘Nucks team that fast since before the ‘West Coast Express’ arrived and departed. St. Louis beat themselves with all the stupid penalties they took throughout the series.
Tonight: Boston says ‘Au Revoir’ to the Habs…
WRT, not to mention, the subsequent riot in Montreal. Agreed, Canucks are good. What an overtime. Pittsburgh series has been awesome. Anybody hear about the T-shirts the Flyers fans have been wearing? Not printable.
I’m guessing it’s worse than this?
http://enrico.blogs.com/.a/6a00d83451af4b69e201156f424ff6970c-pi
Let’s put it this way, el jay…
They played the ‘Chicken dance’ following a Flyers’ penalty in the second period, and when the song’s four-note break came, it came out as, “Hey Ref! You Suck!”
God only knows what they sold for T-hirts out in the parking lot…
Haha, yeah I can imagine… they sell (or sold) these outside the White Sox stadium (US Cellular? Can’t remember) before the Cubs visit.
http://www.myspace.digitalalcoholics.com/cubssuck/gaybar.gif
Yeah, something a little less kind than that. Remember, it’s Philly we’re taking about here!
Time to go watch the pre-riot events (i.e., the Bruins-Habs game)…
Brodeur was upset because Jokinen bumped him before the tip.
I find more funny the guy in the photo right above the last “s” in “Business Class.” He’s leaned over looking down and totally missed the goal!
What about the guy in the black Canes jersey in the front row who looks like he’s looking down for his beer? He didn’t get to see it even though nobody is standing in front of him!
Sorry 114 - missed you comment. But, you know, that saying about great minds and all that.
Sorry to beat this, but this is a great photo. I actually find somewhat amazing how quickly so many of these fans are responding to the goal - at this point in the photo the puck hasn’t even crossed the line yet. Even the ref seems to be extending his arm to signal goal. Great anticipation or great reflexes.
The puck is on the way out in the photo, not the way in. Check it out on youtube and you can see the ref’s arm start to signal as the puck is leaving the net, not entering. Still a great shot. Don’t bury the Habs just yet. May be just a 1-game reprieve, but you can’t get swept in year 100. Can you?
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Well, you’re no fun, DB.
I guess in that case, I think these people are awful slow to react. 
Is it just me or have you ever heard a worse sounding period ending horn than at MSG?
Well- I think everyone has said the goodbyes to the guys responsible for the leadership of the Minnesota Wild on ice.
Everybody remember what Mister Know it all has written with all of my fellow ranters
Yes everyone has moved on including Mister Know it all.
If CL changes directions like I would presume he will do, you can expect
Not as predictable play from night to night
More risks and Drama. Exciting MOMENTS
More suspensions and lack of discipline among the players
A stanley cup run and a team capable of falling apart into a bottom 5 team
They will have a crack at a number 1 overall draft pick in the next 3 years
or he could surprise Mister Know it all and hire from with in and keep the culture and strong direction that has been started… I doubt it
Signed Mister Know it all
So Marty beats St. Patrick’s all time wins record and honors him by doing his best impression in last nights loss. Nice. I don’t think any less of him but it was weird watching him react like that.
I’m hoping Harding is going to get some kind of extension before July 1st. If he gets an offer sheet and we can’t match it we might have some trouble to start off the year…
- Everybody remember what Mister Know it all has written with all of my fellow ranters
I drink to forget what you “type”
- Aeros late 2nd period turnover means our AHL squad is down 1-0 after 2.
Marty looks like that $10M divorce settlement he recently was saddled with is festering deep within him. Hard to be a happy go lucky feller when you get dinged like that.
Suspend Avery for the rest of the series
Habs are Le toast. B’s take ‘em out in 4 straight, Komisarek goes Avery on Lucic with 7 minutes left in regulation, and then to top it all off, Habs get called for a too many men penalty. Who serves it and spends his last minute of the season in the sin bin?
Big Georges Laraque.
Somebody buy Ms.C a drink, will ya?
Added piece from Russo ^^^
“Essentially, the new GM will be inheriting a mess.”
I was just thinking about this today. Our new GM will be bringing in new ideas and possibly an entirely new system. Next year could be rocky and with no Lemaire I’m guess it will be VERY rocky. I’m thinking we’ll hear lots of chirping from Grandpa Sports and the rest of the Risebrough fan club since the club will be bad because we are without his services.
Lets try to manage expectations
Sorry about the Debbie downer post
Robbie Earl ties it up at 2 late for the Aeros.
I have not had time to throw my nickel of thought out here lately but finally found sometime tonight.
First of all……Here’s that drink for ya Ms.C what are we having tonight?
Aeros headed to OT
I know it has been discussed on here to death but I didn’t really think CL had it in him to fire DR after all the praise he had given him up to this time. Given the time that have passed it is now apperant that it was time for a change. DR’s contact was up so from a strict business decision there was no buy outs needed and I really like thought that this move will essentially extend the “honey-moon” with the fans for another 2 - years. For CL’s sake I hope his new GM can turn this team around and that the economy will be firing on at least 4 cylinders by that time.
Something strong and cold. This kinda goes against my margarita-drinkin’ rules, but a frozen rita sounds good. Pouliot is making me roast from the inside.
I’m starving.
Thanks SGS….
Go Aeros!!!!
One frozen double shot rita for Ms. C. comming up….!
Watching all this great SCP hockey is really making me mad that we are missing out this spring. Even in our two recent one and done apperances I have felt much more connected to the games. Yes, it is without doubt great hockey but it truely sucks to be on the outside lookng in.
Here’s to CL hiring a competent front office that can bring us back in as short time as possible for a long long string of play-off runs, Cheers all!
I know it has been discussed on here to death but I didn’t really think CL had it in him to fire DR after all the praise he had given him up to this time.
Yep - I don’t think I thought there was a 10% chance it would happen. One other thing I like about the timing is that DR didn’t hire the next coach - Wheew 
MsC: what else are you having for beverages tonight? Saw Russo’s info for the Calder. Sorry Cal was overlooked. Well another nice young buck was passed over as well, that Blake Wheeler guy.
Michael - a vacation for you soon? Thanks, thanks, thanks for feeding the masses. Maybe the Wild will wait until you are in Hawaii and/or Ireland to announce the new GM and/or new coach.
MsC: plus my quota of beverages has gone unused, so have at it. You bring great mojo to the guys.
Flames roasting the Hawks. Dang that Iron Mike. Games not going my way this year. Well maybe Sharks will resurrect themselves.
Oh a double. Even better! Seriously, I’ve got a ton of writing to do but I gotta say I appreciate you guys caring about what’s going on down here. I’m not sure that happens for other AHL teams very much. It’s pretty special.
Aeros won in OT off a beauty of a shot from Noreau that just beat Legace. I’m so proud of those guys.
Okay, ton of writing to do.
How ’bout them Hawks; 4-4 going into the 3rd after being down 4-1 in Calgary. Quieted the Sea of Red. Does Bowman’s son look like Squiggy or what? Like father like son.
Nice goal by Kessel coming out of the penalty box. Do they not have an offsides rule in the East?? And the linesman was right on the line looking at it.
That’s aweome! Congrats Ms.C and all Aeros fans. Hope the kids can put together a nice run.
This Flames / Hawks game is nuts.
MsC: awesome news! Nice to have some good mojo flowing through this blog.
Michael - does your buddy Reed have a way to get back at you, in a good natured way for razzing him? You could have told us he spilled beer on small children when he was celebrating that goal, and we of course would believe you. wink. wink.
I got nothing.
Mike says:
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Suspend Avery for the rest of the series
Change ‘the series’ to ‘time’ and I’m right there with you.
I didn’;t think the Habs would/could get swept in year 100. I guess I need to do a better job of managing expectations.
Also, I haven’t seen any reports yet, but I’m assuming everyone inside the Montreal organization front office is without a job this morning.
I’m thinking we’ll hear lots of chirping from Grandpa Sports and the rest of the Risebrough fan club since the club will be bad because we are without his services.
Yeah, SGS, Deep and I will be defending the new GM while MKVN and Ice will be roasting him. Would that be ironic?
I got nothing
This is news?
It’s news on Thunder Island.
You know, I’d be happy if the new GM and Coach could at least get a consistent performance out of the team. If that means losing to the top teams all the time and beating the bottom teams all the time, so be it. I hate that the team will hang with SJ or DET one game and then make a backup goalie for PHX or LA look like a hall of famer the next game.
Lucky: to me this is why it’s imperative the new GM/coach battery come in here, get their heads together and then initiate a simple, concise campaign designed to give us an idea for what their vision is for the team.
I’d be willing to give them a couple seasons to mold the team in their image both in terms of personnel and teaching the new system.
But I have to be able to see the goal that they’re working to.
The area I was most disappointed with DR was that I (was one of the suckers that) bought into his 5-year plan. I never expected a Cup parade by now. I was willing to be (and believe I was) patient - as long as the team kept taking the next steps. When they plateaued the last couple season, and DR started flailing for excuses - not solutions - that’s when I got frustrated.
I think a lot of us will be able to extend that patience to the next crew that comes in here - but they’re going to need to sell us.
You know, if Price doesn’t feel loved in Montreal, I’d be willing to swap Hards for him (I’d even toss in a Pouliot, if they couldadd say a 2nd rounder)…you know..to ease the pressure on him.
Also, now that Les Habs sont finis, can we officially start the Saku Talku?
He’s coming off a $4.75M cap hit. He’s 33, but he’s got some hard miles on him. I’d say he’s probably a great 3rd line center, good 2nd line center, over-his-head 1st line center.
I have no interest in paying another 2nd/3rd line center $4M+. Would he take a pay cut to play here, with his bro yes, but in a reduced role?
If Mikko is our de facto #1 center, then is Bela our #4 and Shep (hopefully) our #3? So we’re looking for a #2 center?
Mikko’s cap hit is $3.25M
Shep’s is $1.4M
Bela’s is $1.75M
I’m not sure Saku would take THAT big of a pay cut, would he?
Man PMB is starting to look like the smallest albatross in history. A $4.08M cap hit through 12/13? Granted, a whole season playing like he played from New Years more or less until he got hurt would help make him look more affordable.
Another thought, and then I’ll give the blog back to everyone else….in another system, could PMB be a center again? And, if so, does that either free Shep to play wing (to make room for Saku at center) or relegate Bela to the trade block perhaps? I personally thought Bela was very strong defensively most of the season. But sooner or later we will need these kids to start contributing and Shep seemed like he was turning the corner the last month of the season - his moronic comments about not listening to the coach notwithstanding.
- Yeah, SGS, Deep and I will be defending the new GM while MKVN and Ice will be roasting him. Would that be ironic?
Not sure but it does sound like Russoville’s version of Bizarro World
- Congrats to the Aeros on the OT win and the chance to win the series Saturday.
I’m not sure Saku would take THAT big of a pay cut, would he?
My guess all along ws that is Saku comes, Belanger is traded but who knows now because as you say, PMB could be center now. Come on already CL, we need some answers from the new GM and coach!
Six Goalie- Its not what I type, its what I am saying. I dont have an editor like Russo. I think you get the idea what I am saying “Dawg”
You dont agree with me obviously. You will see I am right about this change of direction being the wrong thing, if this is what CL does “G Dawg”
Saku Koivou will not be here Six goalie. 0 chance unless CL loses his mind
good grief…aren’t you late for art therapy, MKIA?
I say talk to Saku and find out what it would be worth to him to finish his career skating with his little brother for a few years. Maybe a 2-3 year contract worth about 2.5 Mil/ year or so. There needs to be an upgrade at the Centre position and it will not be for free.
Regarding PMB playing Center I pose this question, Can he win a draw? We know he has amazing playmaking abbilities as long as there is not too much traffic but the last thing this team needs is another Center that is less then 50% successful at the red dot.
Ahh…it is nice to be back here!
BDS:
This team has needed a center for two seasons since Walz quit. Another one of Ballgame’s masterful jobs of managing the roster.
NiNY, “Saku Talku”–pure gold, Jerry!
I want to believe that Saku would take a cut to play with Mikko. That choice will be difficult since (based on the past) it seems there’s always a team willing to pay more than us for players–whether warranted or not.
And this is probably obvious to everyone already, but MKIA just predicts everything so that if a couple things actually happen he can say he was right. Right?
The Saku talk may get interesting as the spring/summer progresses. Seeing as how the Habs were uncerimoniously bounced in 4, you never know what is going to happen up there. If there are major shakeups, which is a good possibility, Saku just may want a change of scenerey. Not saying that would prompt him to take a big cut in pay, but it may suade him to look elsewhere to play.
Deep - You are so correct on the need for a quality center over the last few seasons. Looking back at it now it probably is DR’s failure to address this that ultimately led to his dismissal. If this was addressed at last years trade deadline or at the very least last summer it is my opinion that the wild would one, gone further in last years Play-off, two, made this years play-off.
Hey, it is all water under the bridge now. Bring on the new GM, Coach and front offce I need something to second guess….
Why would trade Belanger if Saku is signed here? The centers would then be:
Koivu
Koivu
Sheppard
Fritsche
Olvecky?
PMB fill-in center
I don’t know if I like the looks of this. Its passable but couldn’t we do a little better.
I’m with you sunshine. However, I don’t believe the cap is.
Deep - I don’t know why I thought of you when I heard this on the radio last week.
http://www.kqrs.com/article.asp?id=1274847&SPID=6546
Enjoy and keep her out of your basement…
Sun and kj - I totally agree, why do we have to trade Bella? Would there be a market for Bella anyway.
MsC.,
Meant to ask you - “Pouliot is making me roast from the inside.”
This good or bad?
Would be nice to hear that Pouliot is making a difference down in Houston and getting closer to playing in the NHL…
Lucky - I’m just guessing but I don’t think it is because of his stellar play, sorry!
BDS: Just like there is always room for jello; there is always time for Rosie; especially in a$$less chaps.
Glad to see the Habs get broomed right out of year 100. Did I miss something on the post-game though? Are there a few upside-down parked cars in MTL this morning?
The MSG horn is annoying, no question. Add to the list the COL “Av warning” after goals and the “Duck Fart” they play after a goal in ANA as equally obnoxious. For me though, the MOST annoying thing is some of these PA announcers at other buildings, most notably the dudes in DAL and COL that sound better suited to be announcing a Monster Truck Pull than a hockey game. Yipes!!
Some great hockey in the 1st round this year. Lovin’ every minute of it. That Canes-Devils series is GREAT, as is the CGY-CHG one. ANA-SJS is good too, but isn’t holding my interest quite as much, mostly because I fully expect SJ to do their patented “Best in the Leaque and then choke in the 1st” gig again. And other than the Nucks, the team I absolutely, postively HATE the most is the Anaheim Quackers!! Come on Sharks, get it together and have some Duck for supper!!
I don’t think you HAVE to trade bela, but you do need to create room for Saku among the centers from last season, if you intend for Saku to play center.
It may have been a motley crew, but we did have four guys playing center last season. Now, “one” of them was Itchy/Olvecky, so maybe that becomes an open center job if they can move to wing, or don’t come back.
Sorry for my best attempt at an MKIA post at 8:52 am = what I ment to say was I always thought Belanger would be traded if Saku was signed with DR at the helm - now post-DR I don’t know what to think and I couldn’t be happier
He’s making a difference, Lucky. My F-bombs are up 35% in the last month thanks to him.
Roasting on the inside = bad
Making my palms sweat = good
Does anyone get the feeling that CL is just waiting for the Playoffs to be over to announce the new GM? I’m kinda thinking that he’s got his man figured out, but he might be on a team that is still in the playoffs??…
Thanks for clearing that up. Call me stupid but I’m still holding out hope that he’s just a late bloomer.
If CL is waiting for the playoffs to be over, it might be a little late as the playoffs won’t end until at least at the end of May. Last year, there was a bout a 2 and half week window between the ending of the SC Finals and the draft. That would mean 2 weeks to find a coach or spend the rest of the summer to find a coach? Other teams might be conducting their own coach searches right now. We do want the GM to interview the some of the good coaches before they are hired somewhere else.
Good point Sunshine! I totally agree that it would be a little late if that’s the case! I’m just getting really anxious to know what’s going on!! Just like everybody else I guess…
I’m just hoping there was an initial plan before pulling the trigger!
I think we will be hearing about a GM hiring in the next few weeks or sooner. CL has had time to think this through and probably already targeted a couple of folks. CL just can’t wait too long.
The new GM has to decide if and what type of offer to give to Gaborik, too.
17 players (11 F, 5 D, and 1 G) for a cap hit of $43.7 million. So about $12-13 million to play around for 2 defensemen, 1 goalie, and 4 forwards.
I have to keep everybody on here honest so they dont get carried away with the wrong rants.
Its obvious that Saku will not be here. It would stunt
CL may be targeting a GM candidate that is involved in the playoffs and will wait until that team is eliminated before interviewing and/or filling the post.
His silence on the matter has me thinking that may be the case.
I think he’ll wait, and get the guy he wants.
Obviously thinking stunts MNVNs posts…
Wow!! Those free chicken fingers at Reid’s must have been awful tasty the other day at the presser. Everybody’s CPF over at the Strib actually wrote another column today with a hockey headline again. That’s what? Two this year!!?? Yikes!! Even though it was just a bunch of his usual “yeah Sid, we know all this crap already”-type of stuff, it was still a bit of a shock to see it.
Maybe Sid and Smug will both slip on their Davey Crockett hats and tearfully spoon together in the canoe up north in a few weeks.
Mikkos growth. Nick from New York, my therapist is telling me to say these things on here. My therapist is Good Old Wally.
MKIA: Great. I’ll add “Savior Complex” to the diagnosis. How’d you get along with your mother?
Speaking of “stunted”….. Hummmm…..
KJ,
I like you. You are the only one that likes me. Sometimes I dont feel loved on here, but you always show me that you like me
Next year maybe you can convince Russo I am the ranter of the year
Cynthia Rodriguez the 3rd is my mother Nick from New York
MKIA: but how would you characterize your relationship with her? Were you breastfed?
KJ,
I like you. You are the only one that likes me.
wow…talk about managing expectations. Does this mean OJ liked Nicole? Tanya liked Nancy?
Beamer is my father, but we have historically called him Beaver because he ate loud, had buck teeth, carpenter, and was a swimmer.
So now you have my family Nick from New York
Daddy: Beaver
Therapist: Good old Wally
Mommy:Cynthia Rodriguez the 3rd
think a lot of us will be able to extend that patience to the next crew that comes in here - but they’re going to need to sell us.
many here are on record stating they’d rather go all in and be shatty for 4 years than build so this could be interesting.
the new crew will definately need to manage expectations better than the last crew.
most notably the dudes in DAL and COL that sound better suited to be announcing a Monster Truck Pull than a hockey game. Yipes!!
the dude in colorado used to be flown in by the league to PA the all-star games. at least he was for the one here. this may have changed.
And I’m that crazy uncle that everyone suspects shouldn’t be allowed to babysit you, but can’t quite figure out why. But you’ll never talk.
From yesterday:
one of the best that was taken from us fans waaayyyy too early, was Tom Mees.
+42347132943
Maybe I’m still operating under JL’s spell, but I just cannot see PMB as an effective center.
G*… Really? Wow, that sort of surprises me a bit. Personally, I just have never cared for that type of PAA. Maybe for a MTP or a WWF match, but not for a hockey game.
That’s why I wasn’t too impressed with the AA Center in Dallas and the in-game experience down there. DA hockey crowd, nobody cheering until the mechanical fan on the scoreboard told them too, and the MTP announcer topping it all off. In a word…”Cheesy”.
Maybe that’s why the game-night / in-game experience at the X has been acknowledged as one of, if not the best in the NHL. Now if we can just get them to put some other games of interest on those new flat screen TV’s around the 100 and 200 level I’ll be a real happy camper.
Keep in mind, Geno, that the PA announcers will sometimes ham it up for the locals. The Avs guys is that type - when he did the ASG here, he was good. He certainly has a good PA voice, IMO.
On another note, every NHL arena should now simply do away with the goal horns. What a cliche that’s become.
“Maybe Sid and Smug will both slip on their Davey Crockett hats and tearfully spoon together in the canoe up north in a few weeks.”
laughed out loud.
Also want to send out a shout to 6GS or Stoned (can’t remember which) for the:
“Sid is quietly sobbing and drooling in DR’s lap” laughed at that too.
Sid is just to easy to make fun of.
Paraphrasing what a little birdy chirped on today’s (Thursday) pg 2 of another local newspaper’s sports section:
“Don’t count out LA Kings assistant GM Ron Hextall as a candidate for the Wild’s GM position.”
re: MKIA
“It got weird” - Austin Powers
Only thing that scares me about hearing about GM canadates like Hextall or what’s-his-face in Pittsburgh….is that it’s easy to look good when you are drafting at the top for 3-4-5 years in a row; ie: your team sucked.
It’s a litle different when youn are in the 12-16 range the Wild are in, as well as managing the players we have. I’m much more excited about the ‘up-n-comers’ I hear about from San Jose, Detroilet, or Rick Dudley. They know how to work from the ‘middle of the pack’.
McLean still gives me nightmares. I hope he isn’t even flown here in a middle seat thru Chicago for an interview.
lj: don’t forget to add “in coach” to that penance.
Not saying the Wild has had the most prime drafing slots, but Thelen, Poo Bah and Shep were Nos. 12, 4 & 9. Not exactly late first rounders. Maybe something will click with Shepp in the next year or two, but the book is closed on AJ and Poo Bah.
Poolboy the Tool..um..boy…..hehehehe…. I so need to get out of here.
Been watching a bit of the playoffs, but also rewriting resume, and job hunting and taking care of the Mr and trying to stay on top of the house work (I’m a very tired Bandgeek who has fallen asleep in front of the TV four of the last five nights). I’m very sad for Saku and the other boys on the Habs as they are my Eastern boys. The Caps need a goalie. And the sharks seem to be falling into the same rut they do every year, play really well all season then tank in the first round. Maybe they need to scrifice a few beers and some meat of some kind to the Hockey Gods.
The fat squirrel is back in the tree outside my office window. He’s sticking to the thicker branches today.
I don’t know what the consensus here is, but I am not all that disappointed that Olli Jokinen isn’t in a Wild sweater. After a quick start out of the blocks in Calgary, he went completely flat. He had a decent night last night, although his first goal was a gift on a muffed pass by Barker.
He’s got those Marty Feldman eyes which are kind of freaky. And any player who only does his best work when coached by Iron Mike Keenan is suspect in the character department.
That would have been fun. Smug signs him for big bucks and he turns out to be a head case.
BTW: I liked Pierre Maguire in small doses, but familiarity breeds contempt. I’ve had my fill listening to him in the Flames/Hawks series. Scratch one from the GM candidate list.
Couldn’t agree more Stoned. Olli has never impressed me and continues to not impress me even now that he’s on a good team.
Food, btw
NiNY, Your comments are usually quite good but I am mystified about the desire to hear the “plan”. Doesn’t every team have roughly the same plan–be a perennial playoff team and contend for the Cup? There are certainly times when you see your team aging or running into cap problems where maybe you grab a guy or two at the trade deadline because your time is running out before you have to re-load. But, what magic plan will a new GM have? We will try to stink for a couple of years so we can duplicate the Pens or Hawks and get a couple of top picks? The new mgmt may play a slightly different style and may evaluate our current group of players differently or have some FA’s they are more partial to than JL or DR would have been, but I presume their plan will be to make the playoffs next year and build a cup contender. Would you want them to announce anything less?
