No thank you to Craig MacTavish as the next coach of the Minnesota Wild!!!

Sportsnet.ca

According to Michael Russo the beat writer from the Star Tribune for the Minnesota Wild hockey teams says that Craig McTavish is an emerging candidate to be the head coach of the Minnesota Wild. All I can say is; that I hope not, seriously, I don’t think McTavish is a good role model for youngsters and there are other better candidates for this head coaching job that the Wild can select from.

If you don't remember or maybe you weren't alive yet, former Boston Bruins Craig MacTavish struck and killed a young woman while he was driving his car under the influence of alcohol, he plead guilty and was sentenced to a year in jail. Kim Radley died as a result of a senseless incident and MacTavish got a mere slap on the wrist as he lived in dormitory like conditions at the Lawrence Correctional Alternative Center. Hardly a fitting penalty for MacTavished, you can barely call it a jail type setting.

“Hockey players have not been the only victims, either. Craig MacTavish, a player at the time and now the coach of the Edmonton Oilers, pled guilty to vehicular homicide in 1984 after killing a woman in a car accident while he was impaired. He spent a year in jail, and spoke against drunk driving as part of his community service. “

While I am sure that some of you will say but that it was a long time ago and what’s the big deal Goon, however, I ask you to look at this way, think of the victim and her family, Kim Radley would have been 53 years old today if her life hadn’t have been cut short by a selfish drunk driver. I am being serious, do we really want a coach of the hometown team the Minnesota Wild to be a former felon that committed vehicle homicide? Which in my opinion was a very preventable and unnecessary death. If I am missing the point, please tell why, I also imagine that I am not the only one that feels this way.

Michael Russo, Star Tribune ----With the Wild in the early stages of its deliberate search to find a replacement for Todd Richards, veteran coach Craig MacTavish has emerged as a strong candidate.

According to multiple league sources, the former Edmonton Oilers coach has had a handful of conversations with Chuck Fletcher and was recently interviewed by the Wild general manager at a Toronto hotel.

The 52-year-old MacTavish, who coached the Oilers from 2000 to '09, has been unwilling to talk about any of the NHL coaching vacancies other than to say he's "recharged" and ready to return to coaching.

"He's one of my favorites," Los Angeles Kings veteran forward Ryan Smyth, coached by MacTavish for six seasons, said in a phone interview Thursday. "He knows and understands the game very well and was exciting to play for. He understands the players very well. He knew me more than I did at times."

MacTavish, who guided the eighth-seeded Oilers to within one game of a Stanley Cup in 2006, would bring instant credibility to the Wild bench. He won four Stanley Cups in his 19-year playing career player -- three with Edmonton and one with the New York Rangers.

One of the great defensive centers, the well-spoken MacTavish brought that same acumen to his coaching. He's known as a defensive-oriented, technically sound coach, one who's a shrewd in-game bench manager and good communicator.

Wild to be tougher this season?

In reading Michael Russo's blog it appears that the Wild have found a decent replacement for their one dimensional stone handed goon Derek Boogaard that took the big money and the bright lights of New York. Reading this makes me happy.

The players got more and more crabbier as the scrimmage went on. Staubitz, taking exception to a hard hit from roster hopeful Justin Falk, dropped the gloves with the big defenseman. Remember, Staubitz, acquired for a draft pick from San Jose on the day of the NHL Awards ceremony (I remember because I was in Vegas), has had 20 fights in 82 NHL games.

Staubitz is a tough, good skating cookie, and he's only played forward for two years after spending his entire junior and minor-league career at defense. The one great strength of the Wild this year should be those third and fourth lines with good skating, hard-working guys like Nystrom, Staubitz, Kyle Brodziak, Cal Clutterbuck, John Madden and as of now Chuck Kobasew.

After further review the Vikings and Favre suck

I know this is a hockey focused blog for the most part but I am not happy with the Vikings play to date this season. In fact I wasted another afternoon watching a listless effort by the guys in purple. I think it's going to be a reoccurring theme this season. Earlier this summer when I looked at the Viking’s schedule I told a co-worker that the Vikings are going to go 5-11 this season. I didn't think they would go out and immediately try to prove me right.

I think the problem with the Vikings is the drama queen Brett Favre, It’s no mystery that Favre is a was a good player during his day but I think that his selfishness is finally catching up with the Vikings. Favre again missed all of the two a day training camp and after the two a day practices were finally over, the Prima Donna decided that he was well enough to practice with the team. I think after watching the past two weeks, I think Favre should have spent more time in Mankato and less on the farm back in Mississippi.

During the first quarter the Vikings had a chance to kick a field goal and take the three points, Favre waved the punting team off and the Vikings went for it. The Vikings didn’t get the fourth down and the ball was turned over on downs, that was a defining moment in the game. I blame Childress for that, because he is the coach and he should have taken the easy three points without even thinking twice.

I would actually take a losing season if we could get rid of Brad Childress. I am sick and tired of athletes getting paid a lot of money to put a poor effort on the field. What do you do? The Vikings have spent millions on a championship caliber defense and offense and they can't beat crappy team like Miami.

Lastly, when you in the Red Zone you can not turn the ball over two to three times, that is unacceptable. Also, when you have you opponent inside their one yard line, you can not allow yourself to give up a 50+ yard run, that's unacceptable, defensively, you pin your ears back and try to get a safety or force a three and out punt.

ATV accident knocks out Wild's Sheppard

Actually, I want to give props to Fire Helmet Guy 26 for bringing up this little news nugget on my facebook page today. As many of you know I am not a fan of Wild forward James Sheppard and I believe that he is a first round bust and a waste of a uniform and a roster space and that the Wild have held on to him way too long and have given him way too many chances and should have cut their ties with him after last season. It’s like someone in the Wild management believes one day Sheppard is going to wake up and become a star player in the NHL. Sheppard has scored an unimpressive 11 goals - 38 assists for 49 points in 224 career games. If I was the Wild GM for even one day I would trade his worthless ass for a bag of pucks and a dozen Christian Brothers hockey sticks.

To me Sheppard is a brutal reminder of the previous general manager and uber buffoon Doug Risebrough, who was a complete and utter failure as a general manager for the Minnesota Wild. Because of Risebrough’s incompetence he has single handedly ruined the Minnesota Wild and it will take years for Fletcher to dig out of the mess that Risebrough has created.

Star Tribune ---- Less than two weeks before the most pivotal training camp of his NHL career, Wild center James Sheppard was in an all-terrain vehicle accident Saturday and could miss up to four months.

Sheppard, in Vail, Colo., to train at high altitude in preparation for the Sept. 17 opening of training camp, broke his left kneecap and underwent surgery Saturday night.

The circumstances of the incident were being investigated by the Wild on Tuesday, as well as the next course of action. An exact timetable won't be known for a few weeks.

Sheppard's agent Mark Guy said that during a "guided tour" with other NHL players after training, he swerved to avoid a truck on the path and hit his knee.

"Personally, we're really disappointed in what happened," coach Todd Richards said. "I met him before he went out. It looked like he was in great shape. It looked like he had done everything physically to get himself ready for this camp, and then something like this happens.

Friday Links

I forgot to add this story the other day but former UND defenseman Rick Wilson will be an assistant coach with the Minnesota Wild. You can expect the Minnesota Wild to be better defensively with Rick Wilson on board.

A former University of North Dakota defenseman, Wilson brings a ton of experience to the Wild's relatively-inexperienced bench. He has spent the past 20 years as an assistant or associate coach with the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Wilson began coaching hockey 24 years before Todd Richards’ playing career even ended. In fact, when Wilson began coaching his alma mater, the University of North Dakota, in 1978 as an assistant, Richards was just 12 years old.

He turns 60 today and summers in Bemidji. As I've mentioned on here and Twitter, the delay had to do with working out the contract because Tampa Bay and Dallas each have to pick up a portion of his two-year deal.

After spending one season with the North Stars in 1992-93, Wilson moved to Dallas with the franchise’s relocation and spent the next 15 seasons with Dallas. Over that time, Wilson helped guide the team to seven division titles, two conference championships, two President’s Trophies and a 1999 Stanley Cup. [Russo's Rants]

There has been an on going debate this summer about the state of college hockey and how College Hockey has been losing top blue chip recruits to the OHL. While I don’t like seeing players leave early and sign with their professional teams, I would rather see that player play with their college team for one or two seasons than not have them play in college at all.

Julie Robenhymer from hockey buzz has a really good story on this subject.

I was then asked why I thought NCAA players were leaving school for the CHL or AHL. We could talk about the difference in educational opportunities and the number of games they can play or not play and the time available for them to spend in the weight room or not, but that's rather pointless because it's really all about having options.

What's the difference between what Cam Flower did in signing a pro contract and Nick Leddy signing a pro contract?? Fowler has the option of going back to his junior team if he doesn't make the cut in Anahiem where as Leddy had to cut ties with the University of Minnesota because of NCAA eligibility rules. He doesn't have the same options that Fowler does and in my opinion, is making more of a commitment.

Some guys think they're ready. Some guys just want a change of scenery. Maybe there was a coaching change and the new coach wants to make changes that don't allow a particular player to develop into the best player he can be... The real problem is that we only see college players leaving for juniors because they can, but we NEVER see junior players leaving for the NCAA because they CAN'T and it really skews the perception that one is better than the other when really they're just different paths with different options available to them.

I think the NCAA could improve if they gave a kids more options like major junior hockey does. Personally, I like the option where if a kid tries out with his professional team and doesn’t make his NHL team, that player has the option of going back to his junior team and continuing his development. While I know it’s never going to be an option with NCAA division I hockey, I can see why some players might choose the CHL over the NCAA. Like others have said there is no one size fits all route to the NHL and college is still getting great players into NHL. I am not going to bash one or the other.

Another thing that I don’t like is the fact that once a kid signs with a CHL team he is considered a professional and is no longer eligible for division one hockey, I think it is a dumb rule and I would like to see college hockey change that rule.

Fetch from the college hockey blog takes a stab at this issues in a blog post titled Two Early Departures, Very Different Circumstances [Click to read]

I do think that Sid Hartman should stick to writing about things that he knows about like football, basketball and finally baseball. I should think twice about quoting this Sid Hartman post on anything that relates to hockey but it does make for some interesting reading.

The Big Ten commissioner didn't see the 18-game conference basketball schedule being extended. But he did say that on the table is a possible Big Ten hockey championship, once another school adds hockey as a sport. Five conference schools now play the sport: Minnesota and Wisconsin in the WCHA, and Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

Sid are you sure they aren't talking about maybe a possible Big Ten Hockey Championship and maybe not a Big Ten Hockey Conference?

Maybe just maybe there is more to this than Jarred Tinordi backing out of his commitment to Notre Dame Fighting. I mean things aren’t always as they seem. However you look at it, it’s a big loss to the Fighting Irish. Also, I guess we can mark Dale Hunter down as not being a fan of Jeff Jackson or a fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Ouch! I was always told if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all.

The London Knights have run against an old foe in the battle to sign Montreal Canadiens first-rounder Jarred Tinordi.

The coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is Jeff Jackson, a former Guelph Storm coach who once accused the Hunters' Knights of playing "prehistoric hockey."

Tinordi has committed to suit up for Jackson in South Bend, Ind., this fall. The Knights, who own the big defenceman's OHL rights, aren't giving up hope.

"We think he's a very good player," London coach Dale Hunter said, "and it's not like they're (Notre Dame) the best team in their league.

"They're not Boston (University) or anyone like that."

The Knights aren't the same club Jackson remembers, either. After his Storm departure in 2003, the Hunters transformed London into a team dominated by skilled forwards with puck possession and power-play success.

Jackson is regarded as one of the top coaches in U.S. college history. He guided Lake Superior State to two national titles in the 1990s, helped build the foundation of the United States national development program (where Tinordi played and captained the under-18 team to gold this year) and turned the Irish program around.

But Notre Dame finished a combined 13-17-8 last season. The Knights won 49 games and Hunter was named OHL coach of the year for a third time.
[London Free Press]

Mike Modano to the Wild?

Having grown up in Minnesota during my youth and being a rabid Minnesota North Stars fans until Norm “Greed” Green up and moved the team to Dallas; I would welcome a return of Mike Modano to the Minnesota Wild. From reading the rumor mill on line it would appear that Modano is also being courted by the Detroit Redwings and San Jose Sharks; Modano being from Livonia, Michigan would also make the Redwings a logical place to finish his hockey career, if he didn't sign with the Minnesota Wild.

The door has officially been opened for future Hall of Famer Mike Modano to perhaps finish his NHL career in the place it started.

Wild GM Chuck Fletcher said Friday that he spoke with Modano this week about the Wild's interest in signing the former North Stars center to a free-agent contract.

"We're interested in speaking to Mike about his future plans," Fletcher said. "We obviously have interest in doing anything that will make our team better, and we just want to sit down with him and see if there's a mutual fit." [Red Star and Sickle]

I think Modano would bring leadership to the Wild locker room as well as add speed and needed points to the Wild’s unimpressive line up. What do you think? Do you like the idea of the Wild attempting to get Modano to end his career in Minnesota?

Matt Cullen to the Wild?

This move makes a lot of sense to me. It would appear that the Minnesota Wild are interested in signing former SCSU star and UFA Matt Cullen, according to an article in today's Red Star and Sickle.

Maybe three times will be a charm for the Wild and Matt Cullen.

For the third time in Cullen's career, he will become a free agent when the clock strikes 11 Thursday morning. For the third time in Cullen's career, the Wild -- in need of a center -- is expected to pursue him.

The Wild couldn't lasso him the previous two times, but the team might have a better chance this go-around.

"To be honest, at the point I was at four years ago, I don't think I could have handled playing in Minnesota," said Cullen, a former St. Cloud State standout who played in three consecutive boys' hockey state tournaments with Moorhead in the '90s. "But just growing and maturing as a person and a player, to the point of having a young family now, I think I'm at a good spot where I can handle it and excel there.

This is a move that I believe makes sense for the Wild. 1.) It gives the Wild a home grown kid on the Wild from the State of Hockey. 2.) Fills a needs in the offensive zone, for the Minnesota Wild are offensively challenged. 3.) It probably wouldn’t cost the Wild all that much and Cullen is a good two way center that plays both ends of the ice. You also can’t discount that he won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes.

What about Paul Martin?

NHL Fanhouse blogger Bruce Ciskie has an interesting blog post about former Gopher Paul Martin and his free agency status. You would have to wonder if the Minnesota Wild wouldn’t entertain signing him to appease the State of Hockey. What do you think? Would he fit into the Wild’s plans? The Minnesota Wild need two top-nine forwards and have $11.5 million in free cap space to spend. The Minnesota Wild have 19 players signed so far.

Martin doesn't throw vicious checks, but he's still effective in his own zone. When the puck is on his stick, he makes smart, effective passes and has very little panic when faced with forecheck pressure. He isn't a high-scoring defenseman like Gonchar is, but he'll still make a good fixture on a team's second power play unit, and he is capable of 50 points over a full season if he's in the right system and can stay healthy.

He's a good player, and he isn't likely to cost an arm and a leg. Where's the love?

Perhaps Martin isn't considered an elite player, which makes perfect sense. Of course, then it makes no sense to have teams practically salivating over Hamhuis, who is virtually the same player minus a pretty serious injury this past season. Does Martin's rough contract year mean the Devils have the inside track on signing him because he's not a desirable player?

In the grand scheme of things, it seems Martin is being penalized because he broke his forearm blocking a shot -- a totally freak accident that is not a recurring injury. This isn't Marian Gaborik's groin. It's a broken bone suffered in a situation that is highly unlikely to ever repeat itself.

Outside of that, he's been a very steady player for a very good team for a number of years. Martin's exploits go all the way back to high school in Elk River, Minn., when he was one of the best players in a hockey-centric state. He was then a major part of two Minnesota Gopher national championship teams.


ShareHis consistency should get him some bites in free agency, assuming he's interested in leaving New Jersey. If a team like Phoenix, Atlanta, Minnesota or Toronto come calling with the right deal, it's going to be hard for Martin to say "no," regardless of where his NHL loyalties lie now. He can help those teams with his steady defensive hand, combined with his underrated puck skills on the power play.

Crossposted at the Hockey Wilderness.