Wilderness Walk for 2-14-2012: Game Day Edition

by BReynolds on Feb 14, 2012 9:01 AM CST in Wilderness Walks

We don't normally make a habit of talking about the links before the jump here on the Walk, but today, we make an exception.

Yesterday, we wrote a bit about Justin Fontaine and his rather major misstep on Twitter. As a recourse, the Wild have suspended Fantiane for two games, and added to their social media policy for their players and prospects. It was obvious the Wild were not going to stand by and watch it happen without doing something. The NHL has acted on less, and given the chance, the AHL may have acted in this incident. Perhaps the Wild were being proactive, perhaps not.

Either way, the fact that Fontaine is going to miss two games for something that could have been easily avoided, and didn't even take place on the ice, is disappointing. The fact that the Wild organization acted in a bold manner and made a clear statement that this was not acceptable behavior is impressive. It isn't often that Wild fans get to be proud anymore.

Today, be proud of the organization for simply doing the right thing in a difficult situation. Hopefully this is the last time we have to deal with this in such a close proximity.

First Things First

Vote? Yes Vote - Time to go cast your daily vote. Tell a friend, too.

Wild News

Wild suspends prospect Justin Fontaine 2 Aeros games for slur | StarTribune.com - Rants on the situation.

Wild suspends prospect two games for tweet of gay slur | StarTribune.com - Here is the newspaper version.

Wild prospect suspended two games for Grammys-related gay slur on Twitter | ProHockeyTalk -This will be national news. Already is, in fact.

Yeo: 'We're due for some luck here' - The harder you work, the luckier you get. It's a saying as old as time.

Scandella returns, Foucault expected to make his NHL debut | StarTribune.com - Yep.

First Round Bust: Fan outrage? - MOAR RAGE!!!111

Enemy News

Sports-Ducks : The Orange County Register - Newspaper of the stars.

Anaheim Calling - Your home for the Ducks on SBNation

Battle of California - Your home for all things California hockey.

Tending the Fields

The Third Intermission: Fontaine suspended 2 games for Twitter slur - Here is the Houston side of things.

First Round Bust: A Pair of Frightening Hits For Jason Zucker & Zack Phillips - Oof.

Wild send down Brad Staubitz, Aeros automatically add toughness | Hockey Stop | a Chron.com blog - Be wary, Aeros fans.

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Comments

Koivu:

Hey, who let a dog on the ice? Wait a minute, I think the dog ate our pride!

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 14, 2012 9:43 AM CST reply actions

Looking at the comments section on Puck Daddy's post about Fontaine

Good Lord, some people are really, REALLY thick.

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

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 14, 2012 10:13 AM CST reply actions

Nash Available

How about this – Zids, Harding, Butch, Lats, Nordy, Wally the beer man (is that guy still around), 4 tickets to Disney on Ice, and a 1st round pick for Nash.

Then we go after Parise in the offseason and next year we have Nash-Koivu-Parise and Gooch-Granlund-Heater. Not bad. I don’t see how this could NOT work!

by eamon17 on Feb 14, 2012 10:14 AM CST reply actions

Nash decides where he wants to go apparently

So he won’t want to come to his bread and butter, the Wild! … Seriously, he friggin’ kills the Wild.

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

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 14, 2012 10:17 AM CST up reply actions

Maybe we could make it like the NBA

Tell him that we are GOING to get Parise in the offseason. Sell them both on the idea and have them set it up so they can come here and win 2000 Cups…

I don’t see the hang up. Its SOOOOOOO OBVIOUS!

by eamon17 on Feb 14, 2012 10:26 AM CST up reply actions

wally the beerman got fired for selling to an underage person

Must have been an attractive girl because I tried for three years to get him to sell to me.

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

by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Feb 14, 2012 12:18 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Fan outrage

I think that FirstRoundBust’s Bozek911 has been reading my mind. His post is pretty much exactly what I would have wanted to write. I would change two minor things. My lines would be Heatley-Koivu-Johnson; Seto-Brodziak-Cullen; Christensen-Powe-Clutter. And, I would only trade Brods if the Wild are pretty sure they won’t be able to sign him prior to July 1. For all of the potential talent in the prospect pool, can someone enlighten me if one of them is a better potential 3rd-line center?

by WildEast on Feb 14, 2012 10:56 AM CST reply actions

I think it is going to be Brodziak not wanting to sign here.

by cgp711 on Feb 14, 2012 11:37 AM CST up reply actions

I dont see the big deal about him

He got hot then dropped off massively. I’m so over streaky scorers. Give me steady production or give me death. Down with gritty third liners.

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

by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Feb 14, 2012 12:21 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

The reason you don't see the big deal

Is because you seem to just expect scoring. It’s the little things he does that make him so great. Faceoffs, energy, forechecking, penalty killing. Pretty valuable qualities for any player, really. The production was a bonus, the guy’s a third-liner, you can’t expect him to be a 25-30 goal scorer.

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

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 14, 2012 12:25 PM CST up reply actions

Don't kill

POTF’s dreams of a team where everyone scores at least 20 goals.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 14, 2012 12:29 PM CST up reply actions

Not to mention

How many offensive zone turnovers does he force? I would like to see the number. Especially with him and Johnson on the ice together.

by eamon17 on Feb 14, 2012 12:31 PM CST up reply actions

I'd sum it up like this...

Forced into the top 6, Brodziak’s flaws are too exposed. JS points out well why he makes an excellent 3rd line center. And, the Wild should be in a position to put some decent offensive talent with him on the 3rd line in the future (a la the beginning of this year), so there is no reason the point production has to drop off.

by WildEast on Feb 14, 2012 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

Bah pish tish

I’m just not enamored with him. He would be great steady third line. But our teams filled with third line specialty guys. We need points. Goals.

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

by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Feb 14, 2012 12:46 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Our team is filled with third line guys

Absolutely correct, but of those third line guys, Brodziak is by far the most complete.

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

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 14, 2012 2:35 PM CST up reply actions

Oh...

and also don’t mention that during the 8 games that Koivu missed, Brodziak scored 7 points when he was asked to step up his ice time and his contributions. Let’s also not mention that Dany Heatley’s best scoring games came on a line with Brodziak and Nick Johnson.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 14, 2012 12:48 PM CST up reply actions

Heatley was going to get his regardless

He was close to breaking out all year. The near misses just started going in. Brodziak was inconsequential to that imo. Hence Yeo breaking that line up as soon as koivu was back.

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

by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Feb 14, 2012 12:57 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

yep...

he did it all by himself. Or, you can see Yeo moving Cullen to Brodziak’s wing because of just how good that ‘line’ was playing before Koivu came back.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 14, 2012 1:28 PM CST up reply actions

Im sorry i didnt mean he did it by himself

I just meant he would have got those goals with any competent center. I’m not trying to flame anyone. I’m just not as high on brods as a lot of people here. Its not easy taking an unpopular stance, but I never won any of those contests anyway. Besides it would be lame if everyone agreed. Banter is good.

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

by PUTTINxONxTHExFOIL on Feb 14, 2012 1:37 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Oh, I know.

I don’t disagree with you and claim that Brodz is a top 6 player. What I’m saying is that Brodziak is a damn competent center that provides the Wild with flexibility, and very solid PK and 3rd line play… and is very good at creating turnovers, winning face offs, and puck retention. The guy plays solid, steady hockey, and he is a value to the team almost whenever he’s on the ice.

For the right price, I’d like the Wild to resign Brodziak. This would allow the Wild time to work players like Granlund, Phillips, and Larsson into regular roles in the NHL. Any of those then could start on the wing, especially Granlund maybe next year. Or if Granlund seems ready to be the 2nd line center, keep Brodz at 3rd and for cover and do your best to move Cullen.

However, do not sign him for the wrong price.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 14, 2012 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

Does anyone have a good website for Canadian midget/junior players?

Bemidji State got a verbal from a player on either the Senators or Rebels from the Mississagua Midget AAA team and I’d like to find out more about him if I can. Thanks.

by cgp711 on Feb 14, 2012 11:39 AM CST reply actions

Koivu, Granlund 2012

by Wild_4_life on Feb 14, 2012 11:41 AM CST reply actions

It's insane

That in 17 games without him, they have more wins than in 38 games with him. I still think it’s too big of a sample to just be a simple coincidence. He said it himself that he doesn’t want to change for his coach’s style, that hurts the team.

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

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 14, 2012 11:44 AM CST up reply actions

That's why they really have no choice but to trade him.

But he has played so poorly this season, I doubt they can find a home for him by the deadline. This off-season, he will be moved for under value but how can you keep a guy like this on your team let alone the lineup.

by cgp711 on Feb 14, 2012 11:54 AM CST up reply actions

I'd also like to point out

Those 7 points and +5 in Wild wins? Well, 3 of those assists and a +3 came on a game against the Oilers…the other +4 was in that drubbing of the Nucks early in the season…his only really good games.

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

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 14, 2012 12:04 PM CST up reply actions

*An other +4

Which means he went -2 in the other Wild wins

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

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 14, 2012 12:04 PM CST up reply actions

By the way… this infographic was originally from Puck Daddy. Good stuff.

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

Master of unsustainable passive regression.

by BReynolds on Feb 14, 2012 12:42 PM CST up reply actions

Actually sixteenwins.com

The graphic was presented in an article on Puck Daddy, the graphic was made by sixteenwins.com:

But to really gauge his negative impact and general terribleness in 2011-12, Puck Daddy’s infographics ace Dan Gustafson of SixteenWins.com has created this handy visual aid to The Zidlicky Conundrum:

That site has a number of interesting graphics including a summary of Shanabans. I’d suggest you take a look.

by jjohn24680 on Feb 14, 2012 1:51 PM CST up reply actions