Thursday, September 13, 2007
An Off-Season Look at ... The Minnesota Wild
By Jes
Over at Das FanHaus, I have a capsule preview of the Minnesota Wild, a team which will give the Canucks a great deal of competition in the Northwest division.
Just like the Canucks, the Wild pretty much stood pat, and did very little other than trade Manny Fernandez for Petr Kalus.
I know it's hard to believe, but Marian Gaborik has never had more than 40 goals or 70 points in a season.
He's got Pavol, he's got speed, he's got health (I hope), so now is the time to break the 40-50 goal plateaus and show us that he's a true star. There has been so much potential for this guy to skate circles around the league, but various factors, self-induced and not, have held this guy back. Really, he's got a huge salary, and needs to start earning it.
Here's the salary structure for the Wild.
It wasn't so long ago that the Wild had a pretty decent roster chalk full of cheap guys. Now? They are a fairly expensive roster, with few bargains to be found. Johnsson is pricey, Parrish is overpaid, and the rest of their stars are well compensated.
The Wild still have some room to add another piece or two, especially at RW, where Parrish isn't so productive any longer, and Koivu is playing out of position.
I fear the Avalanche' offence, but their goaltending is suspect. The Wild have a well-balanced team, a great coach, and good goaltending. It will certainly be a tight race between the Canucks/Wild/Avalanche, and I expect many great divisional matchups throughout the season.
Over at Das FanHaus, I have a capsule preview of the Minnesota Wild, a team which will give the Canucks a great deal of competition in the Northwest division.
Just like the Canucks, the Wild pretty much stood pat, and did very little other than trade Manny Fernandez for Petr Kalus.
I know it's hard to believe, but Marian Gaborik has never had more than 40 goals or 70 points in a season.
He's got Pavol, he's got speed, he's got health (I hope), so now is the time to break the 40-50 goal plateaus and show us that he's a true star. There has been so much potential for this guy to skate circles around the league, but various factors, self-induced and not, have held this guy back. Really, he's got a huge salary, and needs to start earning it.
Here's the salary structure for the Wild.
It wasn't so long ago that the Wild had a pretty decent roster chalk full of cheap guys. Now? They are a fairly expensive roster, with few bargains to be found. Johnsson is pricey, Parrish is overpaid, and the rest of their stars are well compensated.
The Wild still have some room to add another piece or two, especially at RW, where Parrish isn't so productive any longer, and Koivu is playing out of position.
I fear the Avalanche' offence, but their goaltending is suspect. The Wild have a well-balanced team, a great coach, and good goaltending. It will certainly be a tight race between the Canucks/Wild/Avalanche, and I expect many great divisional matchups throughout the season.
Labels: Marian Gaborik, Mark Parrish, Minnesota, Off-Season Analysis, Pavol Demitra, Wild
Friday, March 23, 2007
Those Damn Pesky Wild(s) >:(
by Jes
It's been harder to cheer against the Minnesota Mild this season now that two of my favourite players, Pavol Demitra and Marian "Potatohead" Gaborik (BFFL), have teamed up together to provide them with the Supersonik Slovak Scoring Duo.
The Canucks? They have zero Slovaks and two Czech bald guys. As hard as Jan Bulis might try, he can't really emulate The Pavol.
It doesn't help that the Wild don't have many players, other than EMO Wanker/Foo Fighter wannabe Brian Rolston, that I despise with much fervor.
As awesome as the Canucks have been since Christmas, the Wild have nearly as good, and now have a team record 8-game winning streak, leaving them right on the Canucks asses like a couple on Davie Street.
The Wild also set a team record with their 43rd win, and don't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down.
Comparing the Canucks and Wild's records for 2007, we see a lot of ass-kickery.
Of course, much of this has to do with the return of Potatohead from an injury which cost him about 20 games. Once he returned, Demitra rediscovered his touch and now the Wilds are on fire. D'oh...
Story Link:
Every time I watch the highlights, I'm waiting to see the Minny highlights and watch these two perform some on-ice magic.
Yeah, I find myself cheering when the Wild score (only for these two, anyway), which is just....wrong!!
If the Canucks get knocked out of the playoffs, and Minny is still in it, you know who I'll be pulling for...ohh...my stomach hurts just thinking about it. If the Canucks and Wild had to meet, it would be hard to cheer against Pavol.
So much anguish...
These guys are far cooler than you could ever hope to be!
It's been harder to cheer against the Minnesota Mild this season now that two of my favourite players, Pavol Demitra and Marian "Potatohead" Gaborik (BFFL), have teamed up together to provide them with the Supersonik Slovak Scoring Duo.
The Canucks? They have zero Slovaks and two Czech bald guys. As hard as Jan Bulis might try, he can't really emulate The Pavol.
It doesn't help that the Wild don't have many players, other than EMO Wanker/Foo Fighter wannabe Brian Rolston, that I despise with much fervor.
As awesome as the Canucks have been since Christmas, the Wild have nearly as good, and now have a team record 8-game winning streak, leaving them right on the Canucks asses like a couple on Davie Street.
The Wild also set a team record with their 43rd win, and don't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down.
Comparing the Canucks and Wild's records for 2007, we see a lot of ass-kickery.
Vancouver Minnesota Edmonton
JANUARY 8-1-3 7-4-2 sucky
FEBRUARY 8-3-1 8-2-2 suckier
MARCH 9-1-1 9-1-1 suckiest
Of course, much of this has to do with the return of Potatohead from an injury which cost him about 20 games. Once he returned, Demitra rediscovered his touch and now the Wilds are on fire. D'oh...
Story Link:
Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra have been on the same NHL team for 75 games, but they're making plays like a duo that's skated together for years.
Gaborik scored twice and Demitra had a goal and two assists as the Minnesota Wild won their franchise-record eighth consecutive game, beating the St. Louis Blues 5-1 on Thursday night.
"I try to look for him every time when I have a puck," said Gaborik, who has combined with Demitra for 66 points in Minnesota's last 24 games. "I make those three or four steps, and I know the puck's going to be there. It's good to know that. We've been great that way, and it's working."
Every time I watch the highlights, I'm waiting to see the Minny highlights and watch these two perform some on-ice magic.
Yeah, I find myself cheering when the Wild score (only for these two, anyway), which is just....wrong!!
If the Canucks get knocked out of the playoffs, and Minny is still in it, you know who I'll be pulling for...ohh...my stomach hurts just thinking about it. If the Canucks and Wild had to meet, it would be hard to cheer against Pavol.
So much anguish...
These guys are far cooler than you could ever hope to be!
Labels: Brian Rolston, Marian Gaborik, Minnesota, musings, Pavol Demitra, Wild
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Small-Town Hockey
by Greg
Missed this the first time 'round -- Patrick McGrath in Friday's New York Times, with a feature on high school hockey in northern Minnesota.
It's a worthwhile read, though there's some odd editing (there's a mention of a legendary high school championship from 1969, but no further details are provided). And, it won't seem revolutionary to anyone who's read that subset of American literature that deals with small communities that orbit around sports (cf "Friday Night Lights").
Still, it's a nice little feature, and it contains this insight into the life of Minnesota hockey legend Henry Boucha, discussing representing his town in that 1969 state championship:
"Just playing for your community, that's the greatest gift for an athlete.... It's an immense feeling, like having sex for the first time."
Missed this the first time 'round -- Patrick McGrath in Friday's New York Times, with a feature on high school hockey in northern Minnesota.
It's a worthwhile read, though there's some odd editing (there's a mention of a legendary high school championship from 1969, but no further details are provided). And, it won't seem revolutionary to anyone who's read that subset of American literature that deals with small communities that orbit around sports (cf "Friday Night Lights").
Still, it's a nice little feature, and it contains this insight into the life of Minnesota hockey legend Henry Boucha, discussing representing his town in that 1969 state championship:
"Just playing for your community, that's the greatest gift for an athlete.... It's an immense feeling, like having sex for the first time."
Labels: high school hockey, Minnesota
