Wilderness Walk for 1-7-2012: Game Day Edition

by JDesthubert on Jan 7, 2012 1:46 PM CST in Wilderness Walks

Regression has hit the Wilderness hard. The Walk has gone from Bryan to Nathan, and now down to me. Someone call the statheads and let them know they were right...kind of...not really...

To call the game against Calgary tonight huge is a massive understatement. The Wild have lost 10 of 11, and dropping another in division game isn't going to help. Another late start with a 9:00 PM game (CST) reminds us all how much realignment benefits the fan base. Wait, what happened to realignment? Le sigh...

The Flames come into this game on a 5-game skid, so this is a team that's ripe for the picking. Don't kid yourselves, this is a must-win game. The team needs a shot of confidence, and the fans need something to be excited about.

Wild News:

Wild Mid-Season Report - The Wild are looking for success. Someone get these guys a treasure map.

Ups and downs of hockey aren't lost on Wild's top prospect - Who doesn't like more news on Mikael Granlund? Plus, a couple final notes about the Wild prospects at the WJC.

A stathead's dream - A look at some of the Wild statistics from the first half of the season.

News across the NHL:

Realignment plan, modified playoff delayed - From the AP, which got their story from the NHL Front Offices. Don't believe everything Mr. Bettman wants you to believe about the "big, bad players' union".

NHLPA Blocks the Realignment - StarTribune look at the Union's block of the realignment

Realignment allegedly off; Wild's Swedes reach pinnacle; Wild recoups and Bouchard hurt - The Rant's version of the realignment block.

Enemy News:

Matchsticks and Gasoline - News from behind enemy lines

Flames make a deal with Lightning - No, the Bolts didn't get a goalie. They're still in the running to overpay for Harding.

It’s only ever been Jarome Iginla and the Calgary Flames - If you don't expect a lot out of Ryan Lambert, you won't be disappointed.

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Has anyone thought of keeping Clutter up on the top line and putting Wellman and Setoguchi with Cullen? Clutter has spent a lot of time up playing with Koivu and Heatley, there’s probably more chemistry between them than between Seto and Koivu and Heatley. Also, this keeps the “speed” 2nd line intact. Wellman, Cullen, and Seto all skate very well.

Lines would be:

Heatley-Koivu-Clutterbuck
Wellman-Cullen-Setoguchi
Powe-Brodziak-Johnson
Gillies-Peters-Palmer/Staubitz/Kassian/Somebody

by Joel Bertelsen on Jan 7, 2012 5:57 PM CST reply actions

Obviously not Palmer now, he's hurt, but once he's healthy

by Joel Bertelsen on Jan 7, 2012 6:03 PM CST up reply actions

Yeo may be trying to jump start Setoguchi’s game.
Also, you phased out Pierre-Marc Bouchard on your lines.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior

by JDesthubert on Jan 7, 2012 6:40 PM CST up reply actions

Ya, I realized that. At first I was thinking just for tonight since Bouchard is out and then I switched over to later and forgot him.

by Joel Bertelsen on Jan 7, 2012 6:56 PM CST up reply actions

I feel ya.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior

by JDesthubert on Jan 7, 2012 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

Think it'll happen?

by Joel Bertelsen on Jan 7, 2012 7:02 PM CST up reply actions

If you mean keeping Clutter on the 1st line, no. He’s a good role player and a great fill-in, but he’s 3rd line material. If the Wild weren’t totally decimated by injuries, Clutterbuck would have never seen time in the top-6.
Moving forward, he really doesn’t have a spot in the top-6. In 3 years, he’ll only fit as a 3rd line guy. His career high in points was 37. This year, he’s on pace for about 30. He’s too streaky to be a consistent top-6 guy.

For tonight, however, I could see him on the 2nd line. I still think Yeo and the Wild need to get Setoguchi scoring and get his confidence going. The kid is a 1st round pick, and he needs to produce to a better tune than 30 points in a season.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior

by JDesthubert on Jan 7, 2012 7:07 PM CST up reply actions

Good job on the Walk, buddy :)

At the same point last year, I did the Walk for Bryan, it’s pretty fun to do too!…

Writing for HW is fun, period.

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

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jan 7, 2012 10:08 PM CST reply actions

Thanks. I noticed at around 1:30 there wasn’t a Walk up and scrambled like hell to get something out hahaha

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Regressing all the way back to high school hockey.
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior

by JDesthubert on Jan 7, 2012 10:36 PM CST up reply actions