Wilderness Walk: Mike Yeo Edition

by BReynolds on Jun 17, 2011 8:01 AM CDT in Wilderness Walks

Everyone calm down, the Walk is only around for a day or two. It's summer. It's too hot to walk. That said, there are a few stories about the hiring, something that is not surprising, and you need to be aware of them. So, with out further adieu:

Why Mike Yeo? | StarTribune.com - Russo lays it all out on his blog. He's right. This is a brave choice.

Yeo a bold pick to take over Wild | StarTribune.com - Newspaper edition.

Wild go young, again, with the selection of Mike Yeo as head coach - TwinCities.com - Article from across the river.

Bob Sansevere: Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher puts his neck on the line in hiring Mike Yeo - TwinCities.com - This must be big news to bring Sansevere into the conversation.

With the hiring of Mike Yeo, Wild must be hoping second time's the charm - TwinCities.com - Sigh. Sorry, Tom.

Report: Minnesota Wild expected to announce Mike Yeo as next head coach on Friday | ProHockeyTalk - PHT joins the fray.

Is Mike Yeo the right head coach for the Minnesota Wild? - Puck Daddy - NHL Blog - Yahoo! Sports - Great post from Wysh. The power play stuff will haunt Yeo forever. Can't find a single Pens fan that still holds that belief, though.

Have you found an article not included above? Post it in the comments.

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It's still cool enough...

for a little morning jaunt. Thank you kindly, sir.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 17, 2011 8:03 AM CDT reply actions

Heh...

He’s only 2 1/2 years older than me and he’s going to be a head coach for an NHL team. Lucky bastard.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 17, 2011 8:20 AM CDT reply actions

You ever wonder where you went wrong? ;-) I do.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN

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

by BReynolds on Jun 17, 2011 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Ha!

Well, sometimes, a little bit. It does make me wish, every now and again, that I could go back, actually work in practice, and put in time in the off season working on getting stronger, fitter, better. You know, just to see if something could have happened.

Now, my goals are for things that I’m still ‘young’ for… like being a writer. Or, doing things that I want and are willing to work to be great at, being a father.

Still, I’m just a little envious of a guy like Yeo.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 17, 2011 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions

“It’s too hot to walk. " Where the heck are you living? It’s been chilly here all week!

by shleske on Jun 17, 2011 9:43 AM CDT reply actions

Bryan lives in Hell... because he's the devil. Don't we all know this by now?

Don’t you remember the picture that I drew of him for his birthday? http://www.hockeywilderness.com/2011/3/5/2030335/happy-birthday-bryan

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

Author, watchdog, enforcer and french-canadian connection for Hockey Wilderness.

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jun 17, 2011 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions

It is currently 73 degrees. That is exactly 41 degrees too warm.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN

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

by BReynolds on Jun 17, 2011 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

by shleske on Jun 18, 2011 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Minnesota Pens fan here

Yeo took a lot of flack in Pittsburgh for the underperforming power play, featuring talents like Gonchar, Malkin, and Crosby. Then he left Pittsburgh and the power play still underperformed, so most people blame player execution, not Yeo.

From what I’ve heard, Yeo’s a solid coach and should be good for the Wild. Though I don’t think it will matter who the Wild get to coach if they don’t get some more talented players…

"90% of the game is physical. The other half is mental." - Yogi Berra

by cyroose on Jun 17, 2011 9:48 AM CDT reply actions

That is absolutely the bottom line...

Talent, work ethic, and attitude… that has been the shortcoming of the Wild for the last 4 years, or much longer for the talent department. Yeo can certainly address two of those things, but he can’t do much about the talent. Without more upper level talent, the Wild will always be stuck on the outside looking in.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 17, 2011 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm not sure how I feel abou this?

I guess keeping expectations low is one way to go? Not going to be critical, yet, but didn’t we just play this game…

Being from Minnesota, it would be rude to put something clever here.

by redheadzeb on Jun 17, 2011 10:51 AM CDT reply actions

I'm okay with it for two reasons...

1. I was not very intrigued by the veteran names this time around, as opposed to when Richards was hired. Both Hitchcock and MacT would represent going back to a style that the Wild are in the midst of transitioning away from… a style that is perhaps not as effective in the game anymore. Hitch has had some poor times developing younger players. MacT had only rare success in Edmonton.

2. Yeo hopefully will come with the Wild’s commitment to finally reshape the roster, to turnover salary and players, and try to refocus play with players that fit. As such, I think that Yeo will be a credible player developer. He had drive, confidence, and a winning demeanor. He has 5 years of assistant coaching experience, including superstars and grizzled veterans. He’s been on a staff that lost a Stanley cup and won a Stanley cup. He is known as getting the best out of his players, being respected, and holding players accountable.

Bottom line, I had no more expectation that Hitchcock or MacT would be successful than Yeo. The prior two would represent a further commitment to getting back to the playoffs quickly, relying mostly on what the team has. What it has is a lack of talent, work ethic, and the ability to gut out wins. Fletcher has claimed that he is looking to be aggressive and committed to turning over this roster, to retool. I think a fresh voice, a confident and successful player developer, is probably the best guy for the job.

Honestly, your reservations are more about the guy just here than the one coming in.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 17, 2011 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Fair enough, good points

I’m ultimately going to be okay with it because he’s coaching our favorite team. It’s kind of all in for Chuck Fletcher here. If this doesn’t work out—for whatever reason… Ouch. Justified or not.

Being from Minnesota, it would be rude to put something clever here.

by redheadzeb on Jun 17, 2011 6:42 PM CDT up reply actions

At the same time...

He can’t really afford to play it safe. He needs to put his foot down and get the team back on track by any means necessary. Long-term, this is likely the best choice.

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

Author, watchdog, enforcer and french-canadian connection for Hockey Wilderness.

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jun 17, 2011 9:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Absolutely...

I think Fletcher’s line recently is one both of reality and necessity. He IS looking to aggressively add talent and change for the better the Wild’s lineup. With two years of moderate change, mostly around the edges of the team’s talent and roster, and a string of missed goals, progress has been delayed, and the young guys that will make a big difference are still a little ways out. Fletcher and the FO have to go “all in” with this or they will all be out of a job in another couple years.

by Krotz the Wall on Jun 21, 2011 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Most annoying part of press conference, I am trying to listen to it on KFAN and PA won’t shut up asking about Bruno! Get over it! He’s not coming back nor should he!

by cgp711 on Jun 17, 2011 11:15 AM CDT reply actions