Blame to go around
First round busts James Sheppard (10 games, 0g-0a-0pts) and Benoit Pouliot (1g-1a-2pts) both are still with the team and contributing nothing on the ice or on the score sheet. I would bet that James Sheppard is now more untouchable; reason, no one would want this useless waste of a uniform on their team. Again, please remind me why this kid was selected in the first round? If the Wild had to trade Sheppard they probably couldn’t get a late 7th round draft choice for his worthless butt. The Minnesota Wild’s off season acquisition Peter Sykora (11 games, 0g-1a-1pts) and is also a defensive liability at -8. I would love to be able to make a million dollars at my job offering little productivity.
The earth shattering off season acquisition of former Blackhawk Martin Havlat has been an utter disappointment and very unimpressive (1g-4a-5pts) and -10 in 9 games. Last season free agent acquisition Owen Nolan has looked old and is contributing very little (11 games, 1g-2a-3pts) and is also a -5. It won’t be long before the boo birds will be raining down on the Wild from the 18,000+ loyal fans that pay too much to watch a team suck this bad. Nice to see Russo asking questions about player performance. [Wild Player stats]
James Sheppard and Benoit Pouliot will be back in the lineup after being forced to sit with us lowly know-it-all scribes the other night.
Coach Todd Richards wants more from both players. He wants physicality, skating, crashing the net and battling.
Sheppard was real good this morning talking: "It gives me a chance to react and make a positive from a negative."
He said watching from upstairs was like watching a video game, which is what I always say. You don't appreciate the lack of time and space the guys have on the ice from up in the pressbox. Everything's in slow motion, but it does give you a good ability to watch and see how plays develop.
I asked Richards about "why Pouliot?" It does seem the underachiever is finally showing some life, but that isn't enough for Richards. He said when he goes into the corners, he better no longer turn away from bodies and better start finishing checks. Funny, but I pointed that out in LA that Pouliot cost the Wild the winning goal bailing out on a check, and I got a bit lambasted for that observation. But he's been a lot better lately. A lot more physical. [Russo's Rants]
Goon, they are pretty much stuck. They can't trade Sheppard or Pouliot because no one wants them. They would probably be claimed if the Wild tried to pass them through waivers, which is not a bad idea, at least we would not have to pay them again and I don't think Sheppard is ever going to amount to anything. Pouliot still might but he just seems so disinterested in everything. After Clutter scored his OT winner the other night the whole Wild bench jumped up to celebrate, everyone but Pouliot that is.
ReplyDeleteI had higher hopes for Nolan this year just so that he could build some value and we could trade him at the deadline. They will still be able to do that but they will not get much for him it seems. He was perfect in JL's system but does not fit into Richards' because he can't skate with the younger players anymore, could still be a solid checker for a contender. Belanger is building some value for the trade deadline so he should be able to be moved. By deadline time, Zidlicky and Johnsson should be moveable since the other teams won't need to pay their whole salaries. While Bruno still has an affordable year left on his contract, he would have a lot of value come deadline time, although if they traded him they would really piss off the fanbase, but at this point, only Koivu, Burns and Clutter should be untouchable. Seriously how bad are our recent Czech additions? I didn't mind the Sykora signing on paper but he has been a bust, I am starting to think Maxim Afinogenov would have been the better signing, he can at least skate and bring some creativity to the ice even if he likes to pout sometimes.
Overall, this team is doomed and it is going to take years for them to recover, I am talking late 90s early 2000s Pittsburgh bad. Need to rebuild through the draft, trade away their aweful contracts if they can (Backstrom anyone?) and just start over. The talent is just not there. Oh and PMB's career is probably over and although I never thought he was worth two cents, he could have fit well on an Eastern Conference team.
Go Wild.
I should clarify before I get the Backstrom supporters on my case, I think he is a great goalie, just not worth 6 mil a year. Cam Ward who is better and younger doesn't even make that much.
ReplyDeleteWith the first pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the Minnesota Wild select...Taylor Hall from the Windsor Spitfires.
ReplyDeleteIt almost looks like the Wild are playing for the 2010 first round draft choice, the only thing is that the locals won't put up for a garbage team.
ReplyDeleteI actually think we are going to see a shake soon, put the two 1st round draft choice bust on waivers if they clear stick them in Houston for good. That would be a good start. I am so sick and tired of watching 51 and 67 lumber aroud doing nothing.
ReplyDeleteThey don't have much in Houston to call up to replace them but I would rather watch Irmen or Earl compete than Pouliot and Sheppard figure skate around the rink. I vote for putting them on waivers and banishing them to the minors until they put up productive stats down there.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see if the locals put up with a crap team. I don't know if the novelty of having a pro hockey team has worn off yet. For me it has and just having a team is not enough, I want a Cup! Hopefully people want to see a competitive team but it may take some more losing before people quit coming and stop watching.
The Wild are absolute dog sh**. It is so boring to watch them I'd rather watch paint dry, and I am pretty much willing to watch just about any two hockey teams play! They say they want to play an up-tempo style, but they're team is built to play defense and trap. Lemaire was right.
ReplyDeleteOn the topic of 1st round picks, what'd you think of the Wild selecting Leddy first round? I nearly died, personally. We needed offense! I thought Jordan Schroeder definitely would've been a great pick (despite his current season, 0 points).
ReplyDeleteIt was a bit of a reach for Leddy I think, maybe if they had gotten to trade down a few more spots but the fact that Schroeder was still there so late and we still didn't take him, it shows that they value building the team around defensemen and not forwards.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why the Wild didn't pick Jordan Schroeder but I think it had something to do with being asked the question if he had any flaws in his game and he said nothing and then he drops to the 22nd in the draft.
ReplyDeleteIf you have seen a Gophers game this season, you have seen there are many flaws to his game.
ReplyDeleteCharles I think the major flaw is that he is trying to do to much and they guys are working as a team, how many times have we seen him take the puck up the ice only to lose it in a turner over to the defense and then the puck is going up ice the other way. I likened him to a former Gopher Kessel.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, they are not playing a team game right now in Minneapolis. Very sloppy and thinking that they can play end to end. They aren't good enough to do that stuff and need to play a team game.
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