Wilderness Walk for 12-17-2010

by BReynolds on Dec 17, 2010 8:54 AM CST in Wilderness Walks

There is much to be angry about here in Minnesota this morning. The largest school district in the state is taking the same tact that big tobacco took years back, saying that there is no proof bullying in school leads to suicide. Indeed, and there is no proof smoking causes cancer, right? Right.

The Wild lost a stinker of a game, and many fans have finally come to the conclusion the rest of us did two weeks ago. The season is over. Who you blame for it tells much about how you view this game of ours, and how much faith you can put into an individual or the team. Head over to Facebook, as that will be the Question of the Day.

There is one more event to be angry about, and I hope to get out all of my thoughts on it later today. For now, it leads off the Walk.

To keep things somewhat light around here, submit some "fact" based information to our rumor tip line, would you?

First Things First

Coach who protested racial slur suspended until April - Peterborough Examiner - Ontario, CA - Back on December third, we brought you a story entitled "Punishment Without a Crime, and a Crime Without Punishment." Well, today, it gets more ludicrous. I will write more on this later. For now, check out the story.

Wild News

Wild, one point from dead-last in the Western Conference, finds new way to shoot self in foot | StarTribune.com -Ms. Counduct said it best last night. "There are times when Russo's Rants really are Russo's rants." Must read stuff. Maybe you'll start to believe it now that Russo said it, since there were those who wouldn't when I did. ;-)

Confusion costs Wild a goal, and eventually the game, to Senators | StarTribune.com - Russo's gamer, breaking down the joy that was last night.

Ciccarelli takes a bow on reunion weekend | StarTribune.com - Dino was honored, but fans were late due to traffic. Thanks MNDOT. Also, some good stuff at the bottom of this one.

Tom Powers: Minnesota Wild crumble in nine seconds - TwinCities.com - It will be a rare occurrence around here, but I actually agree with Tom.

Opportunity missed: Fading Wild let another game slip away in 3-1 loss to Ottawa - TwinCities.com - The mood is not any better across the river, just FYI.

KiPA's Korner

Hitting The Post: Habs rebound; Blues get past Kings - Not that anyone much cares today, but other games were played last night.

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Comments

Not good.

In fact… down right shitty.

by Krotz the Wall on Dec 17, 2010 10:56 AM CST reply actions

Your move, Fletch.

I still have faith you can construct us a team. Rewind and do what you should have done 2 years ago when you took over: blow this shit up and start from scratch. I just don’t see how it can happen any other way.

Now is the time to pull the trigger. Start with the players, coach, trainer, equipment manager*, PR guy, bloggers or whatever. I don’t really much care… just do SOMETHING, please.

It’s going to suck for a majority of fans, and the owner is going to have to eat some crow (based on his comments about winning now) and repeatedly tell us to stay patient. However, I, for one, would feel better backing this team knowing it has a plan to get better sometime, rather than continue to play the “what if” and “maybe” game with what they’re putting on the ice night in and night out.

*Sorry, Tony, nothing personal and I don’t blame you for anything. I’m just using you to illustrate the fact a change has to happen within the organization before anything will change.

by redheadzeb on Dec 17, 2010 11:48 AM CST reply actions

That's pretty much what I said in yesterday's walk.

The only real positive result that I see for the rest of this year is if they work hard to move players to get picks/prospects back. The Wild have to cut salary and get some assets. Then the Wild can work to parlay that into either a good/great player or into another high draft pick.

The core members of this team, that we’ve been hearing about for so long and were so young, are now in the prime ages of their careers and this team is at best a fringe playoff hockey club. Their hands are tied being a cap team, and there isn’t a lot of true top end talent coming up, either to trade for a player or two to help win now or who will be ready to help the team win soon.

The Wild have to make some aggressive moves. On a personal fan note, I just hope that it doesn’t cost the Wild Burns.

by Krotz the Wall on Dec 17, 2010 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

You forgot something...

The only real positive result that I see for the rest of this year is if they work hard

I believe a “Sorry Tom” is on order right there.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota Owner: Komissaari erämaa

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Dec 17, 2010 1:53 PM CST up reply actions

True....

I would edit it in if I could.

by Krotz the Wall on Dec 17, 2010 3:01 PM CST up reply actions

The one thing I've found confusing since the regime change

is their insistence that the team was going up-tempo. And who is their annual first-round selection? A defenseman.

Is the money just not there to get the pieces necessary for the team to be a threat in the West? Or is it that it’s wasted on the likes of Marty Havlat?

"Jason Heyward was a Greek philosopher reincarnated as a baseball player." - Don Sutton

by UMDBHIK on Dec 17, 2010 8:21 PM CST reply actions

Indeed, the money is not there. The Wild are within 1.4 mil (according to CapGeek) of the cap. I really think it is less than that… they have the 11th highest payroll in the league.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota Owner: Komissaari erämaa

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Dec 17, 2010 11:35 PM CST up reply actions