Weekly Wild Update: Week of 1-30-2012

by BReynolds on Jan 30, 2012 11:02 AM CST in Features

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A week long break for the All Star Game really needs to be reexamined. It is absolutely terrible for what seems to be a large number of fans to go without any NHL hockey at all for a full week, just so the corporate big wigs can have their fun. Obviously, the feelings around here for the ASG are well known, and we could even put up with it, if only there didn't need to be such a long lay off to make it happen.

Right now, players beg out of the silly spectacle, those who do go look to be having a good time, but ask the average Joe Hockey Fan, and it all adds up to a lame event that forces the league to be off for a week. No other league shuts itself down for a week for this type of event. It's a joke and it needs to stop.

Thankfully, things get back into gear as we head down the stretch and toward the trade deadline.

Last Week

Well... there was the... and the... with the... Last week sucked. Of course, there was the one game in Colorado, which the Wild did win and put themselves back inside the playoff bubble. Then... nothing. For five days.

The Week Ahead

The NHL schedule makers must have a real sick sense of humor. The Wild play at home on Tuesday against the Predators, then go back on the road. To where? Colorado. You know, where they JUST WERE. Then, they fly back across the country to Columbus for one game before coming back to the X.

But the new alignment doesn't make sense because of travel. Yeah. Sure.

Games against the Predators are always fun. They shouldn't be, but they are. Plus, you get an up close and personal look at Ryan Suter, a player who, if he makes it to UFA status, Chuck Fletcher will likely make a strong push toward. Finally, you get the chance to deal with the good folks at On the Forecheck, which is always a bonus.

The games against the Avalanche and Blue Jackets will likely be less fun. The Avs, always just so exciting to watch, and the Blue Jackets with their terrible record, meaning the Wild are almost guaranteed to lose. This week could easily go 3-0, or 0-3. Should all depend on which team comes out of the frustratingly long All Star break.

The chips are down. Time to pull it together or call it over.

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Comments

Crunch time... 2.0

Really, it’s been crunch time for a while now, but this next 2 week stretch will be telling. No matter what, I don’t see the Wild being buyers at deadline, at most maybe some sort of swap.

These are 3 winnable games this week, even though the Preds are good team and the other two games are on the road. Let’s the see what a few days off will do with this team.

Yeah, 5 days off for All-Star Game is ridiculous. I’m not a big fan for any during the season all-star games, it’s just counter to the idea of both the league AND the concept of an ALL STAR game. The NFL, at least realizes how pointless the game is and puts it on an already off week at the end of the season. If the NHL held the ASG the weekend after the SCFs, at least people would tune in for a little bit of fun and the last hockey game until the next season starts.

by Krotz the Wall on Jan 30, 2012 11:17 AM CST reply actions

I don't know, I'm feeling pretty good about this week.

Maybe it’s the break or the 50 degree weather talking, but they’ve now played two good games without Koivu and have hopefully realized they can survive for a little bit without him. As much as I would like to see Suter playing here next year, I think the Wild are back in the category of place no free agents want to come to unless they have a tie to the area. And I don’t think one year playing at Wisconsin is enough of a tie for Suter.

by cgp711 on Jan 30, 2012 12:55 PM CST reply actions

That's probably the biggest reason why we can hope for the Wild to push into the playoffs this season...

The team will be shedding a good amount of salary next year, and will be in position to shed even more the following. Yet, the biggest positives for the Wild will still be controlled by the team. If the Wild can pull things back together, push into the playoffs and demonstrate that the system works, this is a playoff team/coaching staff with even more talent set to hit over the next 2 years or so… the team will have some nice positives going into the off season.

1. They will have a very good amount of cap space.
2. They will have young guys, on rookie deals, pushing to fill spots on the roster.
3. Can afford to spend some money on a player to add a + level player in a role (like a Suter or Parise).
4. Will have demonstrated that Yeo’s system and his coaches can produce a winning, competitive team, despite a lot of injuries to top players, and a major mid-season swoon.

Of course, I still feel that it’s a long shot that the Wild will actually go hard after any of the top FAs. I’m sure they’ll be in some of the conversations, but I just don’t know that they’ll want to enter into a long term large contract just as the new class of rookies starts hitting.

by Krotz the Wall on Jan 30, 2012 1:08 PM CST up reply actions

I'd make a hard push for Parise

Just because of all the “star” UFAs this summer, he’s probably the most likely to sign here. I think by now, everyone on here knows I am a Parise backer. I just look at it this way, do they want to possibly waste their time on Suter, waiting for him to make a decision, giving him the hardest push while Parise is snatched up by the Wings or something? (Not saying he is going to pull a Kovalchuck and make everyone wait for months but it could happen) There’s no doubt, the Wild need a player like Suter probably a bit more than they need a player like Parise. But he will help the team and his name is going to sell a lot of tickets as well.

by cgp711 on Jan 30, 2012 1:31 PM CST up reply actions

I hope they at least talk with him...

See if he’s interested. The Wild should be interested in him, that’s for certain. As for being the most likely to sign here, I don’t know about that. Yeah, he’s from here, but that didn’t even help the Gophers get him. Who knows.

by Krotz the Wall on Jan 30, 2012 1:56 PM CST up reply actions

I agree they should give him a call but I think there is a greater probability that Parise were to sign here rather than Suter. I have no science or inside information or anything like that. As for not going to the Gophers, Parise’s dad was the AD at Shattuck which had a longstanding relationship with UND, ultimately his dad had more sway than Lou Nanne. If it’s worth anything, I think Zach just bought a house in Orono.

by cgp711 on Jan 30, 2012 2:37 PM CST up reply actions

He bought it in Dec

Heres hoping he will be livng there during the winter months next year

by Burnsie4mvp on Jan 30, 2012 4:10 PM CST up reply actions

The Preds are on fire, they'll be tough customers.

But a Wild win would be COLOSSAL.

I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jan 30, 2012 12:57 PM CST reply actions

You guys are really great and all...

…but you can’t get the 2 points. Sorry :D I wouldn’t mind giving you the third point, though!

I am looking forward to this game, though. It’s always tons of fun!

Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-

by davisca on Jan 30, 2012 11:51 PM CST up reply actions

sharing is caring

If you could just tell your team to lend us the two points, we’ll gladly spot you sometime next season.

Don't know what I'm fighting for, but I know what I'm fighting against

by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Jan 31, 2012 1:33 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Hmm....

Tempting.

Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-

by davisca on Jan 31, 2012 12:12 PM CST via Android app up reply actions

I thought you wanted us back on top :(

Oh well, you want to do this the hard way? We’ll do it the hard way. You guys are going down!

…All of what I just wrote is what she said!

I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jan 31, 2012 10:51 AM CST up reply actions

That is indeed totally what she said!

And I do want to see you guys back on top, I just don’t want you to take Preds’ points away to do it, haha. Plus, we’re in the middle of trying to stick it to the Hawks, Wings, and Blues… I would love for you to beat Colorado, though!

Hands go uuppp..... AND THEY STAY THERE!
-nashvillepredators-

by davisca on Jan 31, 2012 12:12 PM CST via Android app up reply actions

No doubt this week is huge

How far away is Koivu now? anyone know?

And you can tell that the bandwagoners have jumped off now, theres 400+ tickets still left on stubhub one day before the game

by Burnsie4mvp on Jan 30, 2012 1:14 PM CST reply actions

Russo hoped to get an injury update later today...

haven’t seen anything so far.

by Krotz the Wall on Jan 30, 2012 1:19 PM CST up reply actions

GLAT is at practive according to Russo's tweet.

by wildfansec108row11 on Jan 30, 2012 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

MK

Also said that Glat and Mikko skated before. opps Practice*

by wildfansec108row11 on Jan 30, 2012 2:16 PM CST up reply actions

Lets hope the trade deadline nightmare scenario doesn’t play out again this year.

Wild were in 5th place at the deadline, effectively tieing Fletch’s hands, only to be in 9th a week later (and dropping like a rock)

by Pewterschmidt on Jan 30, 2012 1:56 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I see 'not doing anything much'

as the most likely outcome no matter where they might be in the standings. The Wild don’t have much to sell that will get much of anything… probably just Brodziak, and who knows what the takers might be. The Wild are also not in the position to sell a pick and prospects for a rental player because the team really isn’t in the the WIN NOW at almost any cost stage.

by Krotz the Wall on Jan 30, 2012 2:10 PM CST up reply actions