Showing posts with label Minnesota Wild. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minnesota Wild. Show all posts

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Matt Cooke is Waived, Twitter Responds

Today is a very good day. Since my least favorite player in the NHL was finally waived from the Minnesota Wild, I thought I would celebrate by posting some of the Tweets that I found on Twitter.









See, it's not just me. Many other fans feel the same way. And yes, I agree Cooke is one of the dirtiest players ever to play the game of hockey. He makes Ulf Samuelsson look semi-clean.


Breaking News: Matt Cooke put on Waivers in Minnesota

According to Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada fame, the Minnesota Wild have put Matt Cooke on waivers for purpose to buy out his contract.

First off, I am friggin ecstatic. I couldn't be happier. It's well documented, I have never been much of a Cooke fan, I think he's one of the dirtiest players to have play in the NHL. Second only to Ulfie Samuelsson. What sold it for me was Cooke's career-ending, dirty hit on former Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard.

Also, this means a couple of things, the Wild are going to move forward with some of the talented, younger and less expensive forward prospects.

Second, the Wild need to clear some cap space to make room for Devan Dubnyk. Per Michael Russo.
The Wild, looking to clear cap space this offseason, has placed veteran Matt Cooke on waivers. If he clears, the next route would be a buyout.

Cooke, 36, who had an injury-ravaged season and was limited to only 29 regular-season games and seven playoff games, has one more year left on his contract at a $2.5 million cap hit with a $3 million salary.
Finally, I am sure that the Colorado Avalanche fans will be ecstatic with this move as well. Finally, Goon's World would like to wish Cookie well in his next endeavor. Maybe the Pittsburgh Penguins will pick him up off waivers? Probably not though.

Sunday, May 03, 2015

Crawford takes a Scandella Slap Shot off the Mask



What a slap shot by Minnesota Wild defenseman Marco Scandella. Also, it looks like the Scandella slap shot stunned Cory Crawford. No quiet room for Crawford.

Minnesota Wild: Vanek Victim of Poor Officiating



Minnesota Wild forward Thomas Vanek was assessed a two-minute minor for goalie interference. You can watch this play all day long and it's still not a penalty. The on-ice officials in this game should be ashamed of themselves. This is brutal, and some of the worst officiating that I have seen in some time.



You can see that Vanek didn't agree with the call either.

Saturday, May 02, 2015

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Odds for the Stanley Cup

Odds to win the 2015 Stanley Cup
New York Rangers                     13/4 
Chicago Blackhawks                 4/1 
Anaheim Ducks                         9/2 
Minnesota Wild                         11/2 
Montreal Canadiens                   13/2 
Tampa Bay Lightning                 15/2 
Washington Capitals                  9/1 
Calgary Flames                         12/1 

The odds to win the Stanley Cup come from Bovada,

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Minnesota Wild's Second Round Schedule


The NHL has finally released the schedule for the Blackhawks vs. Wildseries.

Friday, May 1 8:30 p.m. (central) Minnesota at Chicago NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

Sunday, May 3 7:30 p.m. (central) Minnesota at Chicago NBCSN, CBC, SN360, TVA Sports

Tuesday, May 5 7:00 p.m. (central) Chicago at Minnesota NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports

Thursday, May 7 8:30 p.m. (central) Chicago at Minnesota NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports

*Saturday, May 9 TBD Minnesota at Chicago TBD, TVA Sports

*Monday, May 11 TBD Chicago at Minnesota TBD, TVA Sports

*Wednesday, May 13 TBD Minnesota at Chicago TBD, TVA Sports

*If Necessary

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Minnesota Wild Move On: Handshake Line; No One Threatened



Tonight, Minnesota finally won a Stanley Cup Playoff series on their home ice. This was the first time ever. I love the end of the series handshakes. No one from either team threatened to kill anyone or kick their ass. No one was pulled out of line.

While the Blues are a great rivalry, there doesn't seem to be a lot of hatred between the two teams. Maybe it's because the players on both teams know each other very well.

Video: Zach Parise Has Filthy Mitts #Buccigross



Today, the Minnesota Wild defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-1. With the win, the Wild win the series 4-2. What's more impressive, there were five goals scored in this game: Four-of-five goals were scored by former college/WCHA hockey players.

Hey, I am not done yet, three-of-four goals were scored by former Fighting Sioux forwards.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

This Pretty Much Sums up the Wild's Night




Tonight, the Wild got outplayed, out worked and looked like a bunch deer in the headlights. I think Zach Parise sums it up best with his post-gane comments. Not a great effort by the hometown team, but the series is tied 2-2.


Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Yep, Steve Ott is a Rodeo Clown



Yes it's true, Steve Ott is a rodeo clown. Personally, I would recommend circus clown instead. Rodeo clowns actually have a purpose in life.

I am so glad that someone from that national media has finally said this. I think the Wild should be applauded for their restraint and not taking the bait from the St. Louis Blues. It has been fun to watch the Wild players just look Ott and smile and skate away.
Jim Souhan, Star Tribune – Wild fans will want to treat Steve Ott as a villain. He’s not. Villains are frightening. Ott is more like junk mail — annoying but meaningless, and soon to be stuffed in the proper recycling bin.

If the St. Louis Blues were intelligent, they would be feeding off the talent of Vladimir Tarasenko. Instead, they are feeding off the idiocy of Ott, a supposed enforcer who plays like a child, holding sticks and patting heads instead of just once hitting someone square.

When Ott actually had a chance to help his team with a third-period breakaway, he lost the puck, then fanned on a pass in the crease. He’s not a hockey player; he’s a rodeo clown.

Sometimes Ott mimics a tough guy late in games, when the hockey portion of the evening has ended. Monday, with his team down by three goals in the waning moments, he jumped on the smallest player in the game, Jared Spurgeon.
I think that Ott's attacking Jared Spurgeon needs to be addressed at the right time and place. For the most part, that’s not the Wild game. The Wild are ranked 20th in the NHL in fighting majors and don’t have any players with more than five fights. Wild forward Chris Stewart has been in eight fights this season, but has only been in three as a member of the Wild.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

(Video) Jason Zucker Goal in Game One Against the Blues



Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker scores an absolutely beautiful goal in game one against the St. Louis Blues. Zucker missed 27 games to a broken Clavicle. Zucker's return is like getting a player at the trade deadline. Zucker adds another speedy forward to an already fast lineup.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Enter Devan Dubnyk

On January 14, 2015, the Minnesota Wild acquired Devan Dubnyk (97-91-26, 2.69 GAA, .914 SV%) from the Arizona Coyotes for a third round draft pick in the 2015 NHL entry.
That move appeared to be a steal as Dubnyk started 38 games in a row for the Wild. During those 38 games, Dubnyk went (27-8-2, 1.78 GAA, .936 SV%) and helped the Wild qualify for the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Wild finished with a (48-26-8) record and will play the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Needless to say, Dubnyk helped Wild turn their season around. Without Dubnyk, the Wild would be scheduling their tee times and playing golf. Since the Wild acquired Dubnyk, they’re a plus-43 goal differential. That’s the best in the NHL.
In three games against the Blues, Dubnyk is (2-1-0, 2.62 GAA, and .918 SV%) against the Blues this season.
Last summer, Dubnyk signed a one-year deal worth $800,000.00 with the Arizona Coyotes and will soon to be an unrestricted free agent. Based on his performance with the Wild, Dubnyk is set to cash in during the NHL’s 2015 free agent signing period. The Wild might want to consider offering him to a contract as soon as possible.

Wednesday, April 08, 2015

Wild Are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs


The Minnesota Wild are going through a rough stretch. The Wild have lost 11-of-13 games (2-7-4) and if the Stanley Cup Playoffs started today, the Wild would be golfing.

Currently, the Wild (18-18-5) are in 12th place in the Western Conference and are seven points out of the final Wild Card spot.

Even though the Wild are struggling, head coach Mike Yeo still has confidence in his team. To many Wild fans, these are empty, meaningless words. They want wins, not platitudes.
“I still have confidence in this group,” Yeo said after Sunday’s game. “Still know what we’re capable of, but there’s no doubt the clock is ticking here.” (Michael Russo)

While there are some fans that will disagree with me. I think it’s a good thing the Wild didn’t fire Mike Yeo. The Wild (45-27-8) are going back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and since January 13, 2015 have gone 27-9-3 (.730). 


The Wild acquired goalie Devan Dubnyk (27-8-2, 1.73 GAA, .938 SV%). Also, Dubnyk five shutouts and has added two assists. I guess you could say that the rest is pretty much history. 

Tuesday, April 07, 2015

How the Wild Make the Playoffs


Startribune’sMichael Russo had the Wild Playoffs Possibilities’. All of these possibilities make your head spin.  

The Wild would clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Blackhawks in regulation OR if they win in a shootout AND any of the following occurs:

  • the Flames fail to win in regulation or overtime;
  • the Jets lose in any fashion; or
  • the Kings lose in any fashion.
    * The Wild also would clinch a playoff berth if they lose to the Blackhawks in overtime or a shootout AND any of the following occurs:

  • the Kings lose in regulation;
  • the Kings lose in overtime or a shootout AND the Jets lose in regulation;
  • both the Flames and Kings lose in any fashion; or
  • the Flames lose in any fashion AND the Jets lose in regulation.

Saturday, April 04, 2015

Zucker May Return to Wild Sooner than Expected



The Minnesota Wild received some really good news. Their speedy forward Jason Zucker may return to the lineup sooner than expected. In 48 games, Zucker has scored (18g-5a—23pts). Zucker's 18 goals rank him fourth on the team in goal scoring despite missing the last 24 games.
Rachel Blount, Star Tribune – After watching Jason Zucker skate through a full-throttle practice Friday, Mike Yeo was asked if the timetable for the Wild winger’s return had been accelerated. The coach said no, then added — although with lots of qualifiers — that the answer might be an unexpected yes.

“Kind of eyeing possibly the last couple of games [of the regular season],” Yeo said. “But we’ll make sure on that first.”

Translation: Zucker, who broke his collarbone on Feb. 9 and wasn’t expected to play for three months, might be back in the lineup next week. Though it was hardly definitive, Yeo’s pronouncement was so surprising that he was asked to clarify it, just to ensure he had been heard correctly. After saying for the past couple of weeks that Zucker was still “a ways away” from getting the green light to play again, Yeo now hopes to get him into the lineup during the three-game road trip that ends the regular season.

The popular winger was clearly overjoyed to hold his own during a demanding, fast-paced practice at St. Thomas Ice Arena. Yeo was almost as happy as Zucker was.

Monday, March 23, 2015

(Video) Dion Phaneuf and Kyle Brodziak Fight



Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf and Minnesota Wild forward Kyle Brodziak drop the mitts. I would say that this was a good fight. I am actually surprised that Phaneuf fought.

Sunday, March 08, 2015

Wes Walz explains the Hockey Code: Chris Stewart fights Cody McLeod



FSN hockey analyst and former NHLer Wes Walz breaks down the Hockey code after Chris Stewart fights Cody McLeod. I am very excited the Minnesota Wild picked up a tough guy that can actually fight and play the game.

Monday, March 02, 2015

Differing Opinions of the Wild Dismantling the Av's



As I mentioned yesterday, I am not anti-fighting. I understand the hockey code and I don't think fighting should be taken out of the NHL game. I recently covered this subject in another post at the Hockey Writers.
the NHL game is evolving, and fighting is becoming less prevalent. That’s a positive development. In today’s game, there’s not a lot of room on an NHL roster for a five shift, four-minute player that can only fight.

Okay, in Scott’s defense, over the past five games that he’s played in, the Sharks behemoth has averaged about six minutes a game. That being said, the Sharks have seen little if any production from him. He’s taking up space in the lineup.

Teams no longer can afford to have a tough guy taking up space on the player’s bench. One dimensional players like Scott are a dying breed. So why is a player like Scott still in the NHL?


That being said, what Cody McLeod did at the end of Saturday's game needs to be addressed further. It was a bush league move that should cause him to be fined and or suspended. I predict nothing will happen to Mr. McLeod. According to Michael Russo, the NHL will announce today the Colorado fines for Patrick Roy, Gabriel Landeskog and Cody McLeod.

For those that think that Sean Bergenheim hit on Nathan Mackinnon was dirty, go back and watch the video of Bergenheim's hit on Nathan Mackinnon. This was a textbook example of a clean shoulder-to-chest. Nothing more, nothing less.

I found this blog post on Mile High City and this paragraph is worth reading just to get the other side of the argument. I also found it comical that Avs fans are calling Minnesota a dirty team. The Wild don't even have a designated pugilist and their agitator Matt Cooke is currently on the IR. I have watched 85-90 percent of the Wild's games this season and they are not a dirty team. Especially with Cooke out of the Wild lineup.

If you’re keeping track at home, Kyle Brodziak (4) and Ryan Carter (3) lead the Wild in fighting majors. Those two are hardly heavy weights.
MacKinnon just got elbowed in the face and is bleeding all over the ice. Heads straight to the locker room. No call because these refs are completely overwhelmed by this game. Avs do get a call in their favor...somewhere but I missed it completely. Avs on the PP. Avs PP continues to be more flaccid than a stale banana. Barrie taking all kinds of chances pinching and Iggy does a great job getting back to help mitigate a Wild 2-on-1. Avs running out of time real quick now. (PS on second look, MacKinnon looks to have received a shoulder to the face, not an elbow. I retract my officiating complaints, sort of). (Mile High Hockey)
Maybe the refs didn't call it because it was a legal hit.

Hockey is a physical game and injuries happen as are result of physical contact. Again, this was a legal textbook shoulder-to-chest hit. The players own stick breaks his nose. How does this act warrant McLeod jumping two of the Wild's star players? It doesn't. Also, goons taking a run at star players that don't fight breaks the hockey code. It's a bush league act.

I also think that the NHL doesn't want neanderthal goons taking runs at star players because one of the players was hurt with a legal check or because the other team doesn't want to fight. That's not the Wild game.

Sunday, March 01, 2015

Cody McLeod Jumps Mikael Granlund and Fights Charlie Coyle

I want to be clear, I am all for fighting and sticking up for your teammates. I get that, but what the heck is Cody McLeod doing? Or better yet, what is Avalanche coach Patrick Roy doing?

My question is: Wouldn't this be an intent to injure? McLeod took a run against an unexpecting player after the faceoff. I don't know?

Second, Charlie Coyle and Mikael Granlund are skilled players, they're not goons. You really don't want to see Coyle or Granlund stuck in this situation.



If you're a Minnesota Wild, you're probably talking about this today. The Minnesota Wild the Colorado Avalanche are at it yet again. In four games against the Wild the Avalanche has scored a grand total of one goal.
There are rules in place to prevent what McLeod did, but you need the refs to actually call it.

“That’s garbage is what it is,” Yeo said of McLeod’s antics. “You feel it was going that way all game long. They were obviously very emotional all game long. In an emotional type of game, we did a good job of keeping our focus and I really think that was the difference in the end.”

Asked what he thought of Roy putting out McLeod, Yeo said, “We’ve seen the league respond to things like this. There’s rules in place to try to prevent things like that and I’m quite certain that they’ll take a good long look at that.”

We’ll see if the league does examine this and determines the only thing that kept this from being an instigator with less than five minutes left is that the refs decided not levy one for some unexplained reason. (Michael Russo, StarTribune)
Apparently, Av's coach Patrick Roy sent their goon out at the end of the game because of a legal shoulder-to-chest hit.



If you don't believe me that this is a legal hit check out the GIFs embedded below.