As I sat down on my sofa Friday to watch the Minnesota Wild Home Opener, I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous and skeptical of the 2008-2009 Minnesota Wild.  On paper, it appeared as though they had taken a step backwards at a crucial time for the franchise.  I wasn’t sure how this scoring starved franchise was going to replace the scoring of Demitra & Rolston.  I was worried that the franchise was relying too much on their homegrown young talent.  Most of all, I was concerned that the 2008-2009 team would lack an identity.

Luckily, what I witnessed was a Wild team that appears to be faster, better skaters, better passers and extremely confident in its approach.  Eric Belanger seems to have picked up a step and is playing with much more confidence than last year.  Brent Burns seems to have continued his rise into a premier NHL defenseman.  Niklas Backstrom picked up where he left last year as an “iron Curtain” in front of the net.  The addition of Marc-Andre Bergeron has added some much need defensive speed and puck moving ability.  Most importantly, for the first time in franchise history, the players didn’t seem to simply wait for Marian Gaborik do something.  Instead, they all played with intensity while relying on their own abilities in the victory.  I just hope that this isn’t a sign that they know it is inevitable that Gaborik will be traded.

I haven't talked much about Mark Parrish being put on waivers and then getting bought out, but there is plenty of buzz about it in the hockey community so I thought I better make a note of it. I even saw a special on him on Fox 9 News Sports Extra last night. He sounded bitter. He said he gave the team everything they asked for and then got stabbed in the back. I also got the feeling he wasn't too fond of Jacques Lemaire's leadership style. Mark Parrish said that Lemaire would often talk in general terms and not give enough specifics on what needs to be done to improve the game play and that Jacques wanted you to figure it out yourself. I can see both points of view on his leadership style, but from my viewpoint it seems like if you get on Jacques Lemaire's bad side, you stay on his bad side - no matter what. That can suck for a hockey player with potential like Mark Parrish.

Here is a comment from W1ldfan on the Parrish situation that I want to feature on the front page: Keep commenting Wild fans - let your voices be heard!

"Mark Parrish is the exact guy that could have made a huge difference in the Colorado Series. I know that he was hurt and so did everyone else. If a guy, that is considered a character guy, goes out in a series like that and just leaves it all out there taking and delivering abuse, while everyone KNOWS he is hurt a team will rally around that guy. Suddenly you have guys like Pav, Gabby, Skoula, Johnson, Butch and other players not known for being physical stepping that aspect of their game a little bit. You saw it in Rod Brind'amor with Carolina, in baseball you saw it with Curt Schilling with Boston and Gibson with the Dodgers in Baseball. If he had taken that role, he would have become a hockey god, right there with Neal Broten, in this state, but instead when talking about home grown Wild Hockey Players all attention will still turn to Darby Hendrickson."

Editors Comment: I don't think Mark Parrish and Neal Broten are even close comparisons, but I respect the point you are making.

Where will Mark Parrish end up? Vancouver Canucks? Nashville Predators? Tampa Bay Lightning? 

I admit I have been MIA for a bit, but I just want to remind everyone that Hockey Wilderness is more than just a Minnesota Wild hockey blog, it is a hockey community....what does that mean? That means that even if I don't post an article or I go missing - any member of Hockey Wilderness can post an article in the Fan Posts section AND you readers should remember to check the Fan Posts section often to see what others have to say . . . also, hockey fans can post pictures, links, quotes, Letterman lists - anything you want in the Fan Shots area.

DON'T BE SHY!!! Help make hockey wilderness more than just another Minnesota Wild hockey blog, make it a pit stop for all things Wild hockey. Contribute!

Hey, I got the schedule on here now - check it out! Minnesota Wild Schedule on Hockey Wilderness.

At the end of last season, I put a poll on my MN Wild Freak blog, asking readers which free agent should be the top signing priority for the Minnesota Wild. Brian Rolston and Pierre-Marc Bouchard tied. Well, we all know what happened to Rolston...but the Wild did manage to sign PMB this weekend to a five-year, $20.4 million contract...funny that is the same amount of money Brian Rolston fetched from New Jersey (20 mil/4 yr). I find it interesting that the Minnesota Wild powers that be determined Bouchard was worthy of a multi-year deal worth 20 mill over Brian Rolston. Clearly, AGE was a big factor.

The Minnesota Wild has always signed guys looking at the future as opposed to just next season. PMB is a young guy and will be able to play at a top level for the duration of his contract and let's face it, Brian Rolston is a bit older and taking the bumps and the bruises of the NHL in three years is going to be tough for him.

With an eye into the future, the Minnesota Wild believes they will be competitive every season, not just next season. I respect that methodology, but at some point, we have to find the player combination that will get us past the first round of the playoffs.

My favorite part about the PMB signing - the verbal agreement that the team will not trade him for 2 years. It was a handshake deal, nothing in writing, but the team agreed to keep him as long as he agrees to step it up. I think it is a good sign that the player and the management team trust each other. Thoughts Minnesota Wild fans??

Ralph Engelstad Arena is one of the finest hockey facilities in the nation. Sure, I have only been to six or seven, but REA in Grand Forks, North Dakota is top notch. I used to work for a corporate sponsor of the arena and we got a behind the scenes tour that was amazing. Now, I have never toured the Xcel Energy Center so I will try and tread lightly here, but I remember saying to the manager of REA and my Grand Forks counterparts that Ralph Engelstad Arena may be better than the Xcel Energy Center. There. I put it in print. I may be one of the biggest MN Wild Freaks out there, but I was in complete awe of Ralph Engelstad Arena and the amenities it offers.

When you enter the arena, you get the same feeling you get when you enter the X - hockey utopia. They have the same big round scoreboard and fancy graphics around the various seating levels, but there are a couple of noticeable differences as well. #1: the huge imported organ - it is gorgeous and puts that little zamboni piano at the X to shame. #2 no surface is unfinished - there are no concrete floors or pillars here, everything is brick or carpet or tile (most marble), including amazing mosaics bearing the Sioux Indian Head logo (don't care where you stand on the Indian logo issue, the mosaics are remarkable) #3 Italian soda machines, yes the Coke machines are imported from Italy - no joke.

I have never seen the Xcel Energy Center locker rooms (except on TV) or the workout facilities, but I was in complete awe of the REA facilities. Top of the line workout equipment and spas as well as a raised shock absorbent flooring system to help prevent injuries. Even the elevator was beautiful! And the huge hockey history murals reminded me of the deep sense of tradition and pride you feel when you enter Mariucci Arena. It cost $104 million to build, but it shows in every aspect.

Want a road trip recommendation hockey fans? Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, North Dakota (but be careful wearing your Gopher gear!)

The Wild announced that the team will open training camp in Grand Forks, North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena on September 20th because the Xcel will not be back to "normal" after hosting the Republican National Convention at the beginning of September. I sort of thought the X might not be ready on time, but I wasn't sure of the exact timeline.

Wild Assistant general manager Tom Lynn is quoted as saying, "Ralph Engelstad Arena is one of the finest hockey facilities in the world, and outside of our home in the Twin Cities, we could not imagine a better venue for starting our training camp in 2008."

I have been to REA before (I promise to post more about that tomorrow) and agree that it is a fine facility, but I have to say I am shocked that the Minnesota Wild didn't work out a deal to keep hockey in the Twin Cities. Mariucci? Blaine? White Bear . . .they have options. Are there any Wild fans out there that are offended that the Wild choose North Dakota? I know they play preseason games there and that the facility is one of a kind, but I am also very loyal to St Paul and the Twin Cities in general...hmmm....

The Minnesota Wild schedule is out! There are some tough games on there. I like that the NHL changed the format a bit to include more match-ups between Eastern Division teams, but I am pretty sure I wouldn't have hurt feelings if the powers that be skipped over the Minnesota Wild playing Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins (@PIT 11/18) or the Minnesota Wild vs Washington Capitals (see Alex O at the X on 11/24).

It is cool that the Wild are in town for most of the major holidays including a long homestand around Thanksgiving (Nov 20 -28 / 5 straight home games) a December 23rd Xcel Energy Center game and the December 31st New Years Eve game at the X.

My most blaring concern is the month of March. Way too many road games. Especially since March is usually crunch time for playoff spots. The Wild have a history of keeping fans on the edge all through March. I am afraid with all of the road games, the edge won't be in our favor.

W1ldfan wrote this:

Tricky, this year to MARCH to the playoffs Did anyone notice that the Wild only have four home games in March out of sixteen? Might not be all that bad if they can rally around themselves and consider it a challenge to win a majority of those games. March is usually a big month as far as standings and positioning go, not to mention the, I'm not sure but believe the trade deadline is in March, could be wrong on that though. The flip side is they have only three road games in Feb. personally I would rather have it the opposite because of the fatigue factor as the season drags on. anyhow I am sure it's gonna be a great year and see ya all at Allorey's.

I completely agree that the March schedule is NOT FAVORABLE. I won't be saving too much money for playoff tickets because it could be a hard year. I will post more of my thoughts about the schedule next week and I will try to figure out how to put the entire schedule in my hockey wilderness sidebar.

I heard through the grapevine that the Wild would release their schedule today and the grapevine was partially correct. The Minnesota Wild announced their season opener game today. DRUMROLL, PLEASE . . . The Minnesota Wild season will officially start on Saturday October 11th at the Xcel Energy Center vs. the Boston Bruins.

The complete Wild Schedule is slated to be released Thursday by the NHL - only one day later than what the grapevine reported...that's not bad.

If you remember last years season opener, it was on Wednesday October 10th vs. the Edmonton Oilers and the Wild beat the Oilers 2-0. The Wild have a history of winning the opener. I am going to try and get some tickets to the game and head out to the X for the opener this year, but I am sure it won't be cheap! The ticket brokers have to love this - an opener on a Saturday night vs. an East coat rival like Boston. It's golden.