Things that are on my mind

by Hockeyfan_Miller on Sep 15, 2010 4:05 PM CDT

According to the counter, the Wild's season starts in 21 days, 20 hours and 15 minutes. Meaning, I'm spending a lot of time reading about hockey, and a lot of time getting enthusiastic. Yet there are a couple of key points that I see about our season that article comment-sections keep missing

First off: I'm tired of hearing how "boring" the Wild are. We've seen a 5 goal game, a 5 goal 3rd period comeback, spin-o-ramas, Guigere ducking a shot, NHL hit leaders, Greg Zanon, to name a few off the top of my head. Yes we had a trap system, and yes we've moved on past that. Yes our new system had a slow first year, and yes it will get better. Maybe instead of calling our team boring, you could call it "improving" or "moving forward"

Second: I love having 4 real lines on this team this year. It pained me to see our fourth line never getting any quality time since their purpose was misunderstood. Watching the playoffs last season I saw how much quality checking and 2 way play a quality 4th line provides. John Madden was on a great 4 line team, now he's centering ours. He's a little old, but he knows how to work

Third: I kind of hope that our youth (Wellman, Almond) Don't come right out with the team this year. They're not quite good enough to play on the 3rd line yet, and I don't like the thought of them getting pounded away on the 4th line. Give them some time to get better, then plug them in. Also, I wonder if they can play wing (1st line??)

It's just a start, maybe no one will even read/care about my post. But hey, there's only 21 Days 19 hours and 57 minutes to go

The opinions posted here are not those of Hockey Wilderness

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5 goal comeback against the eventual cup champions no less! In fact, they were leading the NHL in GAA at the time. The thing about last season is we didn’t have the tools to play an up-tempo game. It could be argued that we still don’t have them, but our off-season acquisitions made us a much better two way team, and that’s what was lacking last season. Nothing the Wild did in the off-season hurt them IMO

I agree about Wellman and Almond, they’re no good to us on the 4th line (especially Wellman)…

Also, this is HW, you will always find at least what person who cares about what you’ve got to say! Keep on writing, we’ll keep us reading, and vice-versa :)

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Sep 15, 2010 4:45 PM CDT reply actions

*Keep writing, we'll keep reading

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Sep 15, 2010 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions

*At least one person who cares

Geez, I can’t multitask very well can I? (Eating + typing)

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Sep 15, 2010 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions

By the way, welcome to HW! Stick with us, you’ll have a blast :)

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Sep 15, 2010 4:47 PM CDT reply actions

Well… if nothing else, JS is glad you’re here. So happy, he’s talking to himself.

I was going to say… the only thing about your post that disappointed me is that you did not convert the total time left until the season into seconds. For shame.

I am actually writing a season preview for another site right now, and trying to put together all of the reasons why the experts are wrong. You’re not alone. In fact, you are among many who believe as you do. Welcome to HW. As JS saod, stick around, you’ll enjoy yourself.

Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota

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

by BReynolds on Sep 15, 2010 4:55 PM CDT reply actions

Haha, I have many voices in my head!

And yes, the ’’Experts’’ are dead wrong, which is why I use the dick fingers when I say ’’experts’’. In 21 days, the Wild will start proving them wrong, and I can’t wait to savor it

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Sep 15, 2010 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree with all of your points!

I am excited to see what’s in store for this season.

Oh, and welcome to the Wilderness!

by taralynn09 on Sep 15, 2010 8:32 PM CDT reply actions

Exactly right.

The Wild are a much more balanced team this year, especially with what promises to be a solid 4th line, NHL caliber centers, and maybe even PMB on the 1st line wing. Add to that the expected growth and understanding of the system in the second year, the younger pick ups actually putting some pressure on the starters to keep their games up. I think the Wild are an intriguing story for this year. Which is good as I am a fan and it’s terrible when you aren’t interested in your own team.

by Krotz the Wall on Sep 16, 2010 9:04 AM CDT reply actions

Thanks Guys!

by Hockeyfan_Miller on Sep 16, 2010 10:56 AM CDT reply actions

Yay for a positive outlook!

I’m tired of the trolls who are still moping that Gaborik is gone and about what the former administrative regime did to the team. That ship has sailed and we need to let it go!

We won’t know for sure until the team hits the ice, but I like to expect (and hope and pray) that the team will be better this year.

And, yes, we had some really exciting hockey last year. You forgot to mention one of my favorite heart stopping moments where the Wild had a three on five penalty kill with the same three guys on the ice for the full two minutes. I couldn’t breathe until it was over!

We’re now a few more days closer to hockey season and a few more days closer to Finland!

by minnesotagirl71 on Sep 17, 2010 1:13 PM CDT reply actions

If I remember correctly

That was Zanon, Schultz and Mikko. I love watching Mikko on the PK

by Hockeyfan_Miller on Sep 17, 2010 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I thought it was Burns

I thought it was Burns instead of Schultz…. I don’t remember what game it was, but watching Zanon block several shots and then fall flat on his face on the ice when it was all over – crazy!

by minnesotagirl71 on Sep 17, 2010 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions

+1000

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Sep 17, 2010 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions

They had better build a real contender.

I’m optimistic about the Wild this year. I just hope that this time around that they build a real contender. Packed Excel Center every night with a mediocre team. Somebody’s lining their pockets. There is absolutely no reason that this team should not be playing for a Stanley Cup within 3 years. Lets put the pieces in place to get us there.

by iowaron on Sep 18, 2010 11:09 AM CDT reply actions

With all of the talent that CF is accumulating in the CHL, AHL, Europe and now ECHL, I’m confident that the Wild will become the perennial playoff team that we expect.

by nemo1107 on Sep 21, 2010 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions

coming back

one thing i hope is that Havlat will come out firing, i really like him, and he has skill but he needs to fire and not look for flashy plays. and i really hope bouchard comes back quick, i was sad he was out the whole season. we could’ve used him.

by THE SAVAGE BEAST on Sep 19, 2010 6:31 PM CDT reply actions

I agree

We’ll be better this year. People forget that we weren’t promised a Cup winning team last year. We were promised hockey that was more fun to watch. I think they delivered on that, even if the team didn’t make the post season.

Looking ahead, David Backes is a free agent next summer…

by CitySlicker on Sep 20, 2010 12:18 AM CDT reply actions