Goon's Ramblings

From Charley Walters
Wild assistant general manager/player personnel Tommy Thompson on Friday in Toronto interviewed Erik Johnson of Bloomington, Phil Kessel of the Gophers, Kyle Okposo of St. Paul and Peter Mueller of Bloomington. All are expected to be among the top 12 players chosen in the June 24 NHL draft.

Johnson is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick, Kessel among the top five. The Wild have the Nos. 9 and 17 picks, and Mueller or Okposo could end up being the Wild's first pick. If the Oilers win the Stanley Cup, the Wild's No. 17 pick would become the No. 30 pick.

In his interview with the Wild, Kessel said he enjoyed his freshman season with the Gophers except for the disappointing season-ending upset playoff loss to Holy Cross and said playing for Team USA in the recent world championships improved his confidence.

Kessel said whether he returns for his sophomore season at Minnesota will depend on which team drafts him and that team's needs. The same for Johnson, who has committed to the Gophers.

Goon's Perspective on this
The quickest way to make a Gopher fan mad at you is to tell them that Erik Johnson will never wear an "M". You might even get a punch thrown at you. If Johnson doesn't make it to the University of Minnesota next season I think it could be devastating to the Gophers chances. The Gopher defense is not very good as it stands right now and they need a big man that plays a shut down game. Most of the Gophers defensemen are great wings disguised as D-Man, great on offense but have no idea where the blue line is.

I would not be surprised to see Kessel gone from the Gophers roster next season.
The NHL is changing to a skating game and Kessel's style suits the NHL game as it stands right now. The NHL is show casing skating teams that can get up and down the ice, not a bunch of poor skating Goon's the size of middle linebackers like Georges Laraque who add nothing to the game but to get into numerous fights and play three shifts a game adding nothing to the score sheets but PIMS.

Speaking of Georges Laraque
At the end of Wednesday's game, and the results all but in the books with the Canes leading 5-0, Edmonton Goon Georges Laraque laid one of the Carolina Players out with a dirty checking from behind hit (I believe it was one of the Adams boys). This hit was one of the cheapest hits I have seen during this season's Stanley Cup playoffs. There is no room for these types of hits in Hockey on any level. Checking from behind is a gutless, cheap, dangerous play. Erik Cole was taken out by the same kind of play by Pens defenseman Former B.C. Eagle Brooks Orpik. It was no mystery why big George was out on the ice for. Laraque was out there to start a fight and rally his team.

While I like fighting and think its part of hockey, act of violence like checking from behind, spearing, blatant high sticking have no room or place in hockey. I hope Commie gives Laraque his due and smacks him around a bit.

Update on the Commodore Side Show
Just to keep everyone updated on the Commodore Side Show (ala former third liner Nate Miller from KFAN). Mike made a big play that probably saved a goal and turned the game around in Carolina’s Favor. With Edmonton leading the game 3-0 Mike Commodore had a huge shot block, in the ensuing play the puck was brought back up ice and resulted in the puck being deposited in the net by Rod Brind’Amour.