Patrice Bergeron's Fluky Goal (VIDEO)

In the box score it will read, Patrice Bergeron (6) Wrist shot - ASST: Brad Marchand (11), Zach Trotman (4). In my opinion, it's God Awful goaltending by Niklas Backstrom.

Mike Yeo: Wild starting job in goal wide open

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As we make our way towards the NHL season there's more hockey news starting to emerge. The Wild are going to have a stable of goalies this season. According to Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo, the position is wide open.

NHL Insider -- The Minnesota Wild will enter training camp next month with three goaltenders, Josh Harding, Niklas Backstrom and Darcy Kuemper, competing for the starting job. Wild coach Mike Yeo said each will have a chance to win the No. 1 job.

"I have to say we're kind of open right now, to be honest with you," Yeo told Michael Russo of the Star Tribune on Wednesday during an appearance at the Minnesota State Fair. "We're going to have some scrimmages … but we're going to have to pretty quickly determine who we want to give a greater workload to after that. That's going to be a good challenge."

Obviously, they Wild are going to  need to sign Darcy Kuemper who remains an unsigned restricted free agent. There's also many questions about Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding's health. Neither has been able to play a full season the last two years.

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Minnesota Wild: Questons at the goaltending position

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The Minnesota Wild's goaltending situation has been a subject of discussion.

John Kreiser - NHL.com -- Who's the goalie? -- Niklas Backstrom, Josh Harding, Darcy Kuemper, Ilya Bryzgalov and John Curry (who won his lone late-season start) all had at least one victory in a season of tumult for Minnesota goaltenders . Harding was 18-7-3 with an NHL-best 1.65 goals-against average, but he didn't play after Dec. 31 because of the effects of his battle with multiple sclerosis. Backstrom struggled all season and played a total of 22:25 after Jan. 11 before season-ending abdominal surgery. Minor-league call-up Kuemper (12-8-4, 2.43 GAA) and Bryzgalov (7-1-3, 2.12 GAA), acquired in a trade on March 4, got the Wild to the playoffs.

The question now is who fits where this season. Fletcher and coach Mike Yeo said they are content to go into training camp without a designated starter and see what happens in a competition between Backstrom, Harding and Kuemper (Bryzgalov remains a free agent).

"We have three guys who are quality goaltenders, three guys who at points in the season have been our starting goaltender and played very good hockey," Yeo told NHL.com. "We're expecting some good competition in camp."

From ESPN's Katie Strang's Chat on ESPN...

Michael (Minnesota)

If you were Chuck Fletcher, what would you do with your goalie situation? Are you tempted to sign Brodeur?

Katie Strang (1:05 PM)

If I were Chuck Fletcher I'd be extremely concerned about my goaltending situation. I know he said publicly that there will be training camp competition with Harding, Backstrom and Kuemper but I wouldn't feel too confident with that. That's why, since the trade deadline, many assumed Brodeur would be a great fit there. His sons also play at famed hockey prep school Shattuck St. Mary's in Fairbault, MN. Makes a lot of sense. But I think Brodeur is holding out for potentially an injury situation that opens a spot up.

I think if there’s one question going into the 2014-15 season, it’s the Minnesota Wild’s goaltending situation. Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding’s health issues are well documented. Darcy Kuemper has yet to sign a contract. I am not so sure that the Wild want to add Martin Brodeur to the mix.

Josh Harding should be in training camp

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This story came out this past weekend, I think it’s a subject that’s worth some discussion. Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding was on fire on December 31, 2013, and then he was finished for the season due to symptoms from his Multiple Sclerosis.

NHL.com -- Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding is expected to be healthy and ready to play in time for training camp, general manager Chuck Fletcher said Friday.

Harding left the Wild on Dec. 31 to deal with symptoms related to his multiple sclerosis. Before his illness forced him from the lineup, Harding was enjoying a breakout season, going 18-7-3 with a 1.65 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. After missing several weeks, Harding skated with the Wild during the Stanley Cup Playoffs but never made it back into the lineup before Minnesota was eliminated in the Western Conference Second Round.

"I think his battles are well chronicled and well known. I think he's feeling well at this point in time," Fletcher said. "The goal for him is, much like last summer, to build up and get to a point where he'll be able to come into training camp and play well. There's been nothing that I've heard of to lead me to not believe that to be the case."

Harding had All-Star numbers when he was playing. I also think if the Wild had Harding or Darcy Kuemper against the Blackhawks, the Wild might have advanced to the third round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The biggest question surrounding the Wild is what they’re going to do with the goaltending position. During the regular season, the Wild used five goalies. Four goalies played 12 or more games. Harding and Kuemper were the most consistent. Both goalies played over 25 games, and had save percentages of .915 or better with a winning percentage of at least (.580).

One goalie I would like to see the Wild part ways with is the overpaid Niklas Backstrom, the guy was wildly inconsistent last year and has been hurt on and off the last few seasons. The Wild are on the hook for $3,416,667 a year for the two seasons. That’s too much money for a goalie that posted a (5-11-2 record, a 3.02 GAA and a .899 save percentage).

Chris Kreider scores on Wild goalie Backstrom

I was watching this game last night and I had to stop watching it, I ended up watching the World of Outlaws World Finals. Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom was brutal, nothing short of horrible. Especially on this goal by Chris Kreider. I mean seriously, this is a very weak goal. I would expect a goalie of Backstrom skill set to stop this. This is a shot that Kreider completely whiffs on. Let's not forget that Backstrom is being paid a lot of money to stink up the joint.

Maple Leafs' Kadri suspended three games for Bush League hit (Video)

First, I was out of town and away from the computer, but this hit did get my ire. I don't like this hit one bit, it's a dangerous hit and it's unneeded. In my opinion, the headline should read, Maple Leafs' forward Kadri suspended five games for bush league hits. Second, why isn't there any supplemental discipline for the hit on Minnesota Wild forward Mikael Granlund? That's a dirty hit in my opinion as well. I don't know, maybe I am not looking at this objectively because I am Wild fan? Thoughts on this?

But I digress.

Nazem Kadri's hit on Niklas Backstrom is a chicken wing elbow. Anytime a player extends the elbow like this, it's intentional. I don't care what the players says at his hearing. The NHL has suspended Nazem Kadri three-games for his elbow on Backstrom.  Also, watch the suspension video, it's utter crap. I would use another word, but it's now a word that is used on this blog.

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.

(Video) Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom injured during warm ups.

Shall we say that the series is not starting out well for the Minnesota Wild, as their starting goalie Niklas Backstrom was injured during warm ups. The Wild's Backstrom was tied for first in wins with Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Niemi.

The backup goalie, Josh Harding has played in only five games all season long and only two games since January 30, 2013 and was unimpressive in relief against the Edmonton Oilers letting in three goals in the first four shots that he faced. The line on Harding, 1-1-0 .863 Save percentage and 3.20 GAA.