Thomas Vanek and Sabres 'suffering'

Wow! This is an interesting post from Fantasy Sports Portal. I guess there are a few NHL teams that need scoring and goaltending would probably take these high-end players off of their hand for the right price.

Bruins Rangers and Wild Transactions

Alternate logo since 2003. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Boston Bruins have resigned Tuuka Rask and Patrice Bergeron to eight-year contracts. Bergy’s deal is worth 52 million and Tukka’s deal is worth 56 million dollars.

The Minnesota Wild have signed Jonathon Blum and Jon Landry to one-year, two-way free agent deals. Landry will more than likely play with the Iowa Wild of the AHL. Blum is a former first round draft choice for the Nashville Predators and played in 35 NHL games last season, I suppose Blum will have a chance to make the Wild out of training camp, he will definitely add to the competition for making one of the final six spots in the defensive corps.

The New York Rangers have signed former Minnesota Wild pylon Justin Falk to a one-year contract worth 975,000.00. Yikes, thank God Wild fans will no longer have to watch the slow footed Falk getting walked by Western Conference forwards anymore.

Updated NHL free agent signings

DATE	NAME	POS	FROM	TO	Total	Years	Avg/Yr
								Jul 10	Zidlicky, Marek	D	New Jersey	New Jersey	$3M	1	$3M
Jul 10	Corrente, Matt	D	New Jersey	Carolina	n/a	1	n/a
Jul 10	D'Agostini, Matt	D	New Jersey	Pittsburgh	$550K	1	$550K

Yesterday, was a light day for free agent signings.

Related articles

• Marek Zidlicky: Why the New Jersey Devils Brought Him Back for 2013-14 (bleacherreport.com)
• Devils re-sign Zidlicky (myrtlebeachonline.com)
• Janssen, Hoeffel re-signed by New Jersey (timesunion.com)

If the Wild were to get Thomas Vanek

What once looked like a pipe dream is now looking more and more like a possibility. Since April, it’s been no secret that the Minnesota Wild are interested in acquiring former Minnesota Gophers and current Buffalo Sabres Forward Thomas Vanek. The buzz has been picking up more and more… I for one think that Vanek would look very good in the Wild Christmas jersey, or that’s what I call it.

On Monday, Minnesota Wild beat writer Michael Russo was filling in for the host Paul Allen on KFAN 100.3, during the second hour of broadcast a caller asked Michael Russo of the Star Tribune if the Minnesota Wild were trying to acquire Buffalo Sabres forward Thomas Vanek and he said yes.

Looking at the website Capgeek you will see that after this season Dany Heatley is an unrestricted free agent and his contract is off the books next summer, the Minnesota Wild will be able to comfortably sign Vanek who is also a unrestricted free agent. Heatley is currently making 7,500,000.00 and Vanek is currently making 7,142,857.00.

Here is the current forward crop per Michael Russo, you can only imagine what Vanek would do to the Wild Lineup.

Zach Parise ($7.5+M)-- Mikko Koivu (6.75M)--**Jason Pominville (4.505M)
*Jason Zucker ($833,333)--*Charlie Coyle (975K)-- Dany Heatley (7.5M)
Matt Cooke -- (2.5M) Kyle Brodziak--(2.83+M)--*Nino Niederreiter (2.795M)
Mike Rupp (1.5M) -- Zenon Konopka--(925K)-- Torrey Mitchell (1.9M)

Wild Hockey: Keith Ballard something positive

Today, I was out riding my bike, kind of percolating. Sometimes, I do some of my best thinking when I am out riding my bike. When I am out riding the bike I like to listen to my iPod and catch up on some of the podcasts that I might have missed while I was at work.  Today, I was listening to Michael Russo's podcasts who was filling in for Paul Allen on KFAN 100.3.

First off, KFAN should consider hiring Michael Russo, I really like his approach to talk radio, maybe I am the only one that feels this way, but I like how he approaches a radio show. Maybe it's because Russo isn't trying too hard, he's just himself when he fills in for Paul Allen. That's what I like about his shows. While he might not be as polished as a Paul Allen or a Jeff Dubay and Judd Zulgad, he's fun to listen to. Plus, he talks hockey, that's not something that happens a lot in this area. I wish there were more radio shows that simply talked about Hockey 24/7. Especially in the state of hockey.

For some reason, the sports talk radio hosts seem to want to ruin a good show talking about basketball and baseball. Today, Russo was interviewing newly signed Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard... This was a good interview to listen to, if you haven't heard it yet. You can listen to this interview on the embeded audio posted below. The interview starts at the 24:00 minute mark.

I think the Minnesota Wild are going to benefit from the Keith Ballard signing.

Minnesota Wild fans react to the Matt Cooke Signing...

The Wild signed Matt Cooke. Bye. pic.twitter.com/kGuVseF62o
— Abby (@ybba2215) July 5, 2013

Minnesota Wild Won't Earn Any New Fans By Signing Matt Cooke - Rant Sports http://t.co/eDMaOi42xY
— Minnesota Wild 24x7 (@MinWild24x7) July 7, 2013

Since initial shock I have decided to give matt cooke a chance...plz surprise us wild fans, we cud use some positivity right now
— Tyler Martin (@wildgeorge12) July 7, 2013

Sick of this Wild franchise. Fans have nothing to be excited about. Matt Cooke?? I have absolutely zero interest in this bum.
— mleegwater (@mleegwater) July 7, 2013

Still extremely upset about Matt Cooke😣
— Rachel Herbert (@dustyherb) July 7, 2013

@braja57 @Russostrib From Pens' HR and a Matt Cooke superfan. Good guy off the ice? Sure. The point is, he played the wrong way for years.
— Jordan Hansen (@JordanBHansen) July 7, 2013

There is way too much emotion flying around over Matt Cooke. Try using common sense folks.
— Giles Ferrell (@gilesferrell) July 7, 2013

If you are comparing Heatley, Cooke and Clutterbuck or any two thereof, just stop. Don't care what your personal feelings of each are. Stop.
— Jeremy (@knowsknothing) July 7, 2013

There is no way of sugar coating it the Wild's Matt Cooke is a P.O.S.

Yesterday, my good buddy Redwing77 pinged me on Twitter to let me know that the Wild had picked up Penguins d-bag Matt Cooke. I was in the process of picking my daughter up from daycare, so I hadn't been paying attention very closely. So, he confirmed one of my biggest fears. The Wild had picked up the Penguins unrestricted free agent Matt Cooke. I also have to wonder if the NHL's Department of Player head Brendan Shanahan already has Chuck Fletcher's cell phone number in is speed dial?

@goon48 MATT COOKE with the #mnwild! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
— Daniel Levitt (@DanLevitt7) July 5, 2013

I don't care what Matt Cooke says or what the Globe and Mail says about Matt Cooke, he is the same d-bag that ruined the career of Marc Savard and has been suspended over 27 games by the National Hockey League. This is not a good pick-up for the Minnesota Wild.



To all of those people out there that say, "oh, you're going to learn to love this guy." There's no way; there's not a snow balls chance in hell, that I will ever come to love or respect this worthless piece of crap. Never! There is no way to justify this signing, what-so-ever. Again, this is a very bad signing by the Minnesota Wild.

With the Cooke signing, the Wild's star players are going to have open season on them now. The first time Cooke runs around and starts hitting people from behind or catches someone with a questionable hit and he won't drop the gloves, someone is going to run Zach Parise or another star player from the Wild. Mike Rupp is going to be extra busy having to defend this clown.

Here's what the Wild GM had to say on signing the gutless puke Matt Cooke.

Michael Russo, Star Tribune -- Fletcher called Cooke the ideal third-line winger — blocks shots, has scored 12-19 goals in seven of his 12 full seasons despite little power-play time, “angles well, cycles well, is good along the wall,” skates well and has played more than 1,000 regular-season and playoff games.

He won a Stanley Cup with Wild coach Mike Yeo as Pittsburgh’s assistant in 2009. Still, because of his reputation, some Wild fans voiced shock and vitriol at the signing on social media — a similar reaction to when former Wild GM Doug Risebrough traded for Chris Simon in 2008.

“Matt is a player that brings a lot to the table,” Fletcher said. “I think when everybody watches him as a player and focuses in on what he is now as a player versus what his reputation is as a player, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised of what you see.”

Again, there is only one way to deal with a player like Matt Cooke, insert Evander Kane.

@hockeywildernes @goon48 https://t.co/FU7Dc0UkYB
— Jay Medin (@jaymedin) July 6, 2013

Related articles

• Wilderness Walk 7/6/13: Matt F!#$^@& Cooke Edition (hockeywilderness.com)
• Penguins Puke Matt Cooke boards Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• 2013 Free Agency Open Thread: Day 2 (hockeywilderness.com)
• Minnesota Wild trade Setoguchi, sign Cooke (hockeywilderness.com)

The Wild make some Wild moves (RW77) - UPDATED

Alternate logo since 2000. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Free Agency has started and with it comes some interesting moves.

First, the Wild traded away Devon Setoguchi for a 2nd round pick, but that's a "who cares" kindof trade.  The big news?

THE CHEAPEST HACK IN THE NHL IS NOW A MINNESOTA WILD!

Matt Cooke, more famous for ending careers than winning games, signed a 3 year contract with the Minnesota Wild.


Ok, the upside to this:  Matt Cooke is a big hitting forward that is an obvious replacement of Cal Clutterbuck.  He has been on winning teams in the past.  He can score goals on occasion.  He was nominated for the Masterton and lost to current Wild Josh Harding.

The downside?  This is a player that is almost universally reviled.  I say almost because the Pens fans still defend him for the same reason, invariably, that Wild fans will inevitably defend him:  He's on your team.  Another downside?  He's one blindside Savard-esque hit from being McSorley'd.  This guy skates on thin ice everywhere he goes.

CORRECTION:  3 years $7.5 million contract or $2.5 million a year.  THAT, my friends, is OVERPAYING worse than Stalberg's new contract.

He did have a decent year last year blocking shots but then again, someone had to because Marc Andre Sievry couldn't.

Trust me when I say it:  This was a BAD idea.  If the Wild really did want Cooke's services, they should have gone for a 1 year contract with a club option (if that's possible) for a second year.  He may have only had 36 PIM in 48 games last season, but he's still one of the most if not the most dangerous skater in the NHL and that's saying something (as a Red Wings fan who couldn't defend the Wings' signing Bertuzzi).

Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) on Twitter said it best:  The Wild traded 1 year contract of Devon Setoguchi for 1 2nd round pick and 3 years of Matt Cooke.

Be Proud Minnesota.

Goon the Magnificent Carnac: Ballard to the Wild

Back in May I was suggesting that the Minnesota Wild pick up Keith Ballard and yesterday the former Gopher defenseman was signed by the Minnesota Wild. Also, two players that I wanted to see gone from the Wild roster are no longer here.  I am thinking, I need to go out and buy a lottery ticket this weekend. Below is what I wrote...

Based on what I have seen during the past season, I would say that the Minnesota Wild are challenged defensively, after the first defensive pairing of Ryan Suter and Jonas Brodin, the Wild are thin on defense and need some help.

Granted, Jared Spurgeon is a great up and coming offensive defenseman and Marco Scandella proved to be a nice surprise during the Wild's short playoff run. After that, Justin Falk proved that he's a defensive liability and at times look like a big green road cone. Former Badgers defenseman Tom Gilbert looked to have taken a step back this past season and I was unimpressed with his play as well because he was a defensive liability.

In my opinion, the Minnesota Wild could use a solid stay-at-home defenseman or two. Former Minnesota Defenseman Keith Ballard "could" be a candidate for an amnesty buyout in Vancouver and might be available to come to the Minnesota Wild at a reduced rate.

I know people get lucky sometimes but here is what I submitted for the season grades for Tom Gilbert and funny how things worked out for the Minnesota Wild.

Tom Gilbert: D

The former Wisconsin Badger Tom Gilbert is an utter disappointment in my opinion, that Wild are being cheated, he’s not worth the money he’s being paid. Gilbert is being paid a hefty four million a year to be a turnover factory and an unimpressive top-six defenseman. If I was a general manager for a day, he would be the first Wild player out of Minnesota; Justin Falk would be number two. The Wild should consider his four million dollar contract for an Amnesty buyout this summer as well. If they Wild could trade him for a bag of wood hockey sticks I would urge them to consider the deal. One positive is that he can’t play any worse than he did this season. Nowhere to go but up for Gilbert, I don’t think he can play any worse. Looking at the stats, in the plus/minus department, -11 is brutal.

Wild to buyout Tom Gilbert

English: Tom Gilbert in 2009. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to Michael Russo, the Minnesota Wild might have found their first candidate for one of the two compliance buyouts. I think it would be a great move. Gilbert was absolutely brutal last season on the blue line for the Minnesota Wild.

Michael Russo, Russo's Rants -- The Wild plans to place Tom Gilbert on unconditional waivers, sources say. That is the first necessary step to buy out the remaining one year of the veteran defenseman’s contract.

When Gilbert clears, the Wild plans to use one of its two allowable compliance buyouts on the 30-year-old native of Bloomington.

What's unclear, and we'll know soon, is whether Gilbert will go on unconditional waivers today or tomorrow. A correction to yesterday's blog: Teams have until tomorrow to put somebody on unconditional waivers for the purpose of using a compliance buyout by tomorrow's 4 p.m. CT deadline.

Gilbert will receive $1 million in each of the next two seasons (two-thirds of his $3 million salary), but it will free up an additional $4 million of salary cap space this summer for the Wild.

The move is designed to give Minnesota more flexibility this offseason. One can assume the Wild will need to add a defenseman or two this offseason. Gilbert would be free to sign with any team once free agency opens at 11 a.m. CT Friday.

Here was my grade season ending grade for Tom Gilbert that I submitted for the Hockey Wilderness. Incidentally, I look like I will be getting my wish as Justin Falk was traded this week to the New York Rangers.

Tom Gilbert: D

The former Wisconsin Badger Tom Gilbert is an utter disappointment in my opinion, that Wild are being cheated, he’s not worth the money he’s being paid. Gilbert is being paid a hefty four million a year to be a turnover factory and an unimpressive top-six defenseman. If I was a general manager for a day, he would be the first Wild player out of Minnesota; Justin Falk would be number two. The Wild should consider his four million dollar contract for an Amnesty buyout this summer as well. If they Wild could trade him for a bag of wood hockey sticks I would urge them to consider the deal. One positive is that he can’t play any worse than he did this season. Nowhere to go but up for Gilbert, I don’t think he can play any worse. Looking at the stats, in the plus/minus department, -11 is brutal.

Related articles

• Tom Gilbert: Wild Trade Bait? (hockeywilderness.com)
• Minnesota Wild Final Season Grades: Right D (Staff Writers Grades) (hockeywilderness.com)

Catching up and moving forward

Well the NHL playoffs are over. Finally, we can move forward, the College Hockey season is roughly three months away.  The Stanley Cup Playoffs were exciting and a grind as well.

Moving forward, I close one chapter and open another one. Last September, I was invited to write for the Hockey Writers Combine by the former editor Andrew Eide.  The Hockey Writers Editor Bruce Hollingdrake decided that he no longer wanted to have a number of 'off shoot' sites connected to THW.  I was invited to write for the Hockey Writers and I can now be found here as a lead college hockey writer.  Below are two of my latest submissions. 

Should Puck Over Glass be an Automatic Penalty?

Calgary Flames Acquire Smilin’ Corban Knight

I was also invited to write for the Hockey Wilderness by Bryan Reynolds on his way out the door as editor of the Hockey Wilderness …. So, now I will write a weekly college hockey column or two during the regular season as some Wild related stuff.  Currently, during the summer months, every Saturday afternoon have been writing a weekly column that’s published at 2:00 p.m..

This was one of the latest. Stupid Penalties: Two minutes for taking your helmet off during a fight

I have also continued to write for the new hockey blog Get Real Hockey which is owned by Former NHL great Bernie Nicholls. Click to view 

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Wild resign Backstrom

According to Michael Russo, beat writer for the Star and Tribune,  the Minnesota Wild have resigned their starting goalie Niklas Backstrom to a new three-year deal worth 10.25 million. For the people that aren’t good at math, that’s 3.42 per year for Nik.  

With the signing of Backstrom, the Wild now have $3,321,132.00 in cap space left and still have to sign forward Cal Clutterbuck, defensemen (x2) Jared Spurgeon and Justin Falk. All three players are restricted free agents. Some have suggested that Falk is a defensive liability and the Wild should let him walk.

Now we have to wonder who that Amnesty buyout is going to be? I have a suggestion, from the blue line, former Badger Tom Gilbert.

Say it isn’t so; are the Wild interested in the Penguins sieve?

Wow! This looks like a ready-made disaster. There has to be a better option in net for the Minnesota Wild than Marc-Andre Fleury who recently hasn’t been able to stop a beach ball and was relegated to opening the Penguins bench door during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Michael Russo, Star Tribune -- Fletcher has said his priority is to re-sign Backstrom, and Backstrom, 35, wants to return. But salary-cap space is limited, so the Wild might decide to trade for a long-term No. 1 goalie or decide whether Kuemper or Johan Gustafsson can eventually take the reins.

The Wild has also expressed interest in Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury, who backstopped Pittsburgh to the 2009 Stanley Cup but has struggled in the playoffs the past two seasons and was ultimately unseated by Tomas Vokoun in this year’s playoffs. Fleury has not asked for a trade, however

Thoughts on this one?

A Few more Ramblings by Redwing77

Minnesota Wild (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As usual, I will caution you that what I'm about to say is my OPINION only.  If you wish to consider it fact, that's fine.  I try to infuse as many facts as I can in my OPINION, but I'm not shooting for a run of the mill blog entry here.

Boston's Overcoming of Odds or Toronto's Epic Collapse?

Boston came back from a 4-1 deficit to win 5-4 in OT which can only be described as an incredible collapse by Toronto.  Sorry Goon, you can say that it was the determination and skill of Boston players to fight back from being down that much to win if you wish, but.... Toronto should have won this game.

Is the series a collapse by Toronto?  This one I'm not so sure of.  Neither team held a two game advantage.  It was 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, etc.  I think it was a pretty good series overall, but one, again, Toronto should have won.

The Hart Trophy

Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, and John Tavares are the three finalists.  Not Toews.  Brad Schlossman wrote a nice article explaining this and how some nice hockey media writers are questioning why, but...  Comon.  In a shortened season you go to your go-to player if that player puts up respectable enough numbers.

Sidney Crosby is going to win it.  Does he deserve it?  His stats are not poor enough to say "No," but then again, Ovechkin had a rough start and really poured it on.  At one point, I believe Washington wasn't even very competitive early on...  Tavares is just the dark horse on a team that played better than expected.  Tavares is the Stamkos of this year's Hart Trophy finalists.  Bless him he's good enough, but the NHL has other ideas.

Crosby will win it hands down.  Gives the media and the NHL the PR angle for the offseason.

Crisfield decommits from UND.  What does that mean?

Overall, not much.  Things happen.  Not sure why, but whatever the reason is, it happened.  What does it mean for UND?  Our game is changing.  And it has to thanks to the rules and the officiating.  It took long enough but I think it was bound to happen eventually anyways.  In short, North American hockey is becoming more European (Don Cherry is probably having a stroke about this...well that's karma because his suits just about give me epileptic seizures).  Physical hockey is being squashed for finesse.  Good news for my Red Wings.  Bad news for my UND.

So next year you can expect UND to be NOT very physical on D.  The only physical D we really have are Panzarella and Senkbeil (who might not have even played D last season?  Don't remember... and I don't know if he's especially that physical either).

Good news for Haters though.  They'll be able to diversify themselves away from the usual "Fire Hakstol" to "Hakstol is recruiting Gopher wannabes and wusses!"  Whatever.  We saw it last year as your PIMs went down again last season.

Minnesota Pro Sports Fall on their Faces again

Folks, I've watched Minnesota Pro Sports all my life and I've watched some collegiate endeavours as well.  I was watching when UMN Football coach Glenn Mason just about did cartwheels because they made it to the Music City Bowl.  And listened as he explained that just making a Bowl game is the mark of a successful program.

I was there when Twins GM Terry Ryan said Free Agency solves nothing and proved it by signing awesome players in Ruben Sierra, Rondell White (who he said would be a middle of the lineup power hitter that will hit 30 homers.. yet his career high was around 23), and a few fat pitchers.  No, Mr. Ryan, the way YOU run free agency solves nothing.  And the Twins have a bunch of conference titles and first round exits (showing that their conference was weak to begin with).

I was there when Wolves GM Kevin McHale signed Latrell Spreewell and all those incredible contracts and explained that he built a winner... Yup.  Wolves up until VERY recently, were the punchline.

The Vikings.... they don't sign free agents and they can't draft... or they couldn't for a long while.  They sniffed the promised land once but well.... they left their "dominant" offense in the hands of a kicker.

The Wild... OY.  Talk about a flawed team.

The attitude that a well rounded team is one that mixes a random strategy, a dart board, and the word "potential" pervades Minnesota pro sports.

The truth as I see it is this:  None of these teams will win it all.  They're not run the right way.  Some have bad ownership (Wolves, Wild, Twins for the longest time).  Some can't draft (Wild, Wolves, Vikings for the longest time).  Some can't evaluate talent (all.. though the Twins SOMETIMES hit home runs).  Minnesota Wild sign Parise and say that their goal scoring problems are over.... and you guys believe it!  Really?  It's the same statement they said when they went out and got Havlat...and Heatley...  I hate Pittsburgh but they didn't stop at Crosby.  They seemed to focus on one basic need at a time.  They drafted offense and then goaltender... their D stunk.  Then they worked on D... and now mediocrity like Fleury and Dupuis have their names on the Cup.  Minnesota's strategy?  Draft two way players, gritty defensive forwards, and some speed.  No finishers.  No scorers.  No grit in the offensive zone.  PM Bouchard is overrated and he's a perimeter player anyways.  Koivu and Parise... that's it.  Granlund might be good but who knows?  You all thought Brett Burns was good too.

What I'm getting at is that there seems to be absolutely NO strategy to building a Minnesota Pro team.  They just focus on the long term (how many times did Terry Ryan say the word, "potential" when describing any Twins player?  No "Now" talent at all) and never seem to get restless for the present.  Hey, I know the feeling.  I used to be a Cubs fan.  Offended that I'd compare teams that have been to the championship game far more times and far more recently than the hapless Cubs?  Think about it.  Take away the 105+ year futility streak and what do you have?  You have Minnesota.

The Wild need scoring.  They need to draft scoring.  They need to sign scoring.  They should basically do that ONLY for a year or two.  It's lopsided, I know.  But you aren't going to win the Cup with a team of Zuckers, Veillieuxs, Clutterbucks.  You've got Koivu and Parise... You need 2 or 3 more scorers.  You need two SOLID lines of scoring talent.  Pittsburgh can roll almost 3 lines and that's excluding their D.  It's why Pittsburgh will win, I kid you not, 2 more Cups, before Minnesota plays Game 1 of the Finals.

Minnesota is getting better... but will it continue?  What will this offseason bring?  I think the draft is a BIG indicator.  IMO, if the Wild draft anything but scoring talent in the first 3 rounds of the draft, I think they're just destined for a higher payrolled version of the same old same old.

Related articles

• Dustin Brown elbows Jason Pominville (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

So do the Wild fire the head coach Mike Yeo?

So it begins…Will he stay or will he go? I think that Mike Yeo is a good hockey coach. In my opinion, I think the Minnesota Wild are going in the right direction, I think a change at the head coaching position at this time is counterproductive. The Wild have a lot of good players that are ready to make a contribution to their program, in the minors. Jason Zucker, Charlie Coyle got great minutes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

As for some of the replacements that some have suggested… I am sorry, but I will take a pass on Lindy Ruff. Ruff was the head coach in Buffalo for 15 years and he has as many Stanley Cups as Mike Yeo. As far as Dave Tippett goes, he’s a good hockey coach, I would rather see him than Ruff any day, if there had to be a change at the head coaching position.

Michael Russo, Russo’s Rants – Now big questions have to addressed this offseason, and … I will address that in Saturday’s paper.

One, obviously has to do with Yeo. GM Chuck Fletcher is safe, I believe. If Yeo isn’t safe, it would come from the GM, not the owner. And with Lindy Ruff and maybe even Dave Tippett dangling, this will be a lasting topic unless Fletcher publicly puts it to bed.

But Fletcher will have to evaluate everything, and that includes the job he is doing.

I still think the Wild’s future is bright, but the Wild isn’t big enough up front, isn’t fast enough and doesn’t have enough finishers. The blue line is an issue. The Wild will have to find a way to accomplish this. If you don’t get to pick first or second overall or third overall or whatever, like Chicago did with Kane and Toews, and Pittsburgh did with Crosby and Malkin, it’s hard to replicate that route.

Yet another blog(s)

I didn’t really mention it here yet, but I have been asked to write for the Hockey Wilderness. So, I will be writing about Wild Hockey college hockey as well. Here are a few of my of my articles. I was also recently picked up by Get Real Hockey which is own by former L.A. Kings forward Bernie Nicholls.

Wild fans are getting anxious

Wild's Zucker says, “I'll take it from here”

Saturday Morning Pontifications: Wild pull disappearing act in Chicago

Mike Yeo has Wild on the right track: Friday Morning Reading

Minnesota Wild Goaltending: Thursday morning Pontifications

WILD OFF SEASON

S/T Bryan Reynolds. I thought it was a interesting picture so I put it up.

Bryan Bickell hits Tom Gilbert

In football we used to have a saying, it's better to be the hammer, than the nail. Ouch! Check out this big time hit by Chicago Blackhawks forward Bryan Bickell puts on Minnesota Wild Defenseman Tom Gilbert.

Don Cherry talks about Josh Harding on HNIC Coach's Corner

On tonight's Coach's Corner, Don Cherry mentioned Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding. I thought it was a nice touch by Don Cherry. I was talking to someone the other day, and it would make a nice story if the Minnesota Wild were able to make it out of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Obviously, it's a tall order, especially against the Presidents Trophy winning Blackhawks and with a goalie that hasn't played very much the last few years. No matter what happens to the Wild going forward, I think that Josh Harding has played pretty well.

Jason Zucker game winner against the Blackhawks

For the most part I thought that the Minnesota Wild were the better team today, except for the two-four  minute period of time where the Minnesota Wild tried to sit on the lead and it came back to bite them in the back side.

Zucker: On the game winning goal "I Just tried to get it to the net and tried to go up high cause it was open and it did." #mnwild
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) May 5, 2013

Zucker: "That crowd was unbelievable and you feed on that stuff."
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003) May 5, 2013

(Video) Jason Zucker levels Brent Seabrook and then stands over him....

In the first two games of the series the Minnesota Wild got outhit, out-hustled and were beat to the puck in every instance. Through two periods of play the Wild have been better. I think it's a fitting way to end the period. Nice hit by Wild forward Jason Zucker as he put a nice hit on Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook