Michel on Sports

Grading the Minnesota Wild's Defensemen And Goalies

2013-03-13T19:58:00.000-05:00

We're halfway through the 2013 NHL regular season, and the Wild find themselves in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. With half the season left, can the Wild hang onto a Playoff berth? Or, will they suffer another late-season swoon that causes them to miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season?

One way or another the answer to those questions figures to lie in the play of the club's defensemen and goaltenders down the stretch. With the Wild still struggling to produce consistent offense, their defense has been the major catalyst for their success throughout much of the season. And their defense will be the reason they either make or miss the playoffs, because this club is not going to turn into a goal scoring juggernaut overnight.

So, what better time than the season's mid-way point to hand out grades to the Minnesota Wild's defensemen and goaltenders.

Goaltenders:
Niklas Backstrom- B
Backstrom, in the final year of his contract, is having a solid season between the pipes for the Wild. Backstrom has started in 19 of the Wild's 25 games this season, thanks in large part to backup goaltender Josh Harding's battle with M.S.

Despite the larger than expected workload, the Finnish goaltender has shined this year. Backstrom boasts a robust 91.4 save percentage; a svelte 2.29 goals-against-average; and is tied for fifth place in the NHL with 11 wins.

With those solid numbers, plus his reliable, and steady every-night-presence in the net make Niklas Backstrom one of the Wild's team MVPs so far this season. He will have to continue and even improve upon his play in the second half of the season if the Wild are to make the Playoffs this year.

Defensemen:
Jonas Brodin- A
Brodin, a 19-year-old rookie from Sweden, has been absolutely phenomenal in the 22-games he has played with the Wild so far this season. He is playing 22-minutes a night, which places him second amongst all rookies in time spent on the ice.

His hockey smarts and skating ability are both off the charts for any player, let alone a 19-year-old rookie. The plays he makes in his own zone to get the puck out of danger and up the ice are incredible. This kid has the talent to be a Norris trophy winner once he fills out and gains strength, which is the one aspect of his game that he lacks. But with that said, he such an effective skater and smart player that he rarely puts himself in situations where his opponent can line him up for a big hit. I can not wait to see how good this kid is in five years.

Ryan Suter- A-
Suter's 27.26 minutes played per-game lead the NHL. His 18 points scored place him in a tie for fifth place amongst all NHL defenseman. And to think- most Wild fans thought he was a bust in the first month of the season. Are you kidding me? Of course the guy was going to have a bad plus/minus- he was/is playing almost 30-minutes a game. So, it's reasonable to think he might be on the ice for a few goals against. Especially, when the team was struggling a bit early in the season.

Now that he is comfortable in his surroundings, he is beginning to produce at almost a point per-game pace. He his undoubtedly the best defenseman the Wild have ever had. And it is not even close.

Clayton Stoner- B
Stoner is having another solid season for the Wild on the back line. He is a plus-2 which leads all of the Wild d-men in the plus/minus category. His style of play is not graceful, but it can be effective. Stoner excels at the defensive aspects of his position. He is sound positionally and an effective poke-checker of the puck.

Jared Spurgeon- B
Spurgeon has excelled for the Wild since coming back from a foot injury that cost him eight-games early in the season. His three goals scored are tied for the team's lead at the defense position. Spurgeon, despite being undersized, has turned into a solid puck-moving defenseman for the Wild. He is solid defensively, while still managing to be apart of the offensive side of the game at the right time.

Tom Gilbert-C+
Gilbert's three goals scored have him tied with the aforementioned Jared Spurgeon for the team's lead amongst defensmen. Meanwhile, he is a team worst -9 in the plus/minus category. Those two stats kind of sum up his up-and-down play at times this season. A more consistent performance from Gilbert down the the stretch run would be a boon for the Wild's playoff hopes, as the Wild should expect a little more from its second most experienced defenseman.

Justin Falk-C
Falk's play has been up-and-down this year. And this is not shocking, since he has played that way ever since becoming a member of the Minnesota Wild. At times he looks like he could turn into a solid two-way defenseman; other times he plays like a career minor league. The only thing consistent about Falk; his refusal to use his size night in, night out. Despite that, he has played solid enough in most games that he hasn't hurt the team's success single-handily (I'm thinking of you Kyle Brodziak).

Handing out Grades to the Minnesota Wild: Part 1- Forwards

2013-02-22T21:24:00.000-06:00

Amazingly, the Minnesota Wild has already played 16 games so far this season, which represents one-third of their schedule for this season. Due to the compressed schedule, this season has flown by rather quickly. With eight wins, six losses and two overtime/shootout losses, the Wild find themselves tied for seventh place in the NHL's Western Conference standings.

The Wild have had an up-and-down season to say the least. They continue to have trouble scoring goals. And they have yet to play a truly complete 60-minute game were they are firing on all cylinders. Despite all of that the Wild would find themselves in the Playoffs if they began today.

**The following grades are based on the first 16 games of the season**

Zach Parise: A
-Parise has been worth every penny of his $98-million dollar contract. He has been a factor for the Wild every time he hops over the boards and onto the ice. His hustle, determination, and ability to win puck battles have made him the Wild's best and most consistent performer, to date. Parise leads the Wild with seven goals, and his 12-points are good enough to tie him with Mikko Koivu for the team's scoring lead.

Mikko Koivu: A
Koivu, the Wild's captain, has been excellent, as usual, so far this season. Tied for the team lead with 12-points, Koivu continues to provide a steady two-way game for the Wild. He remains the squad's best face-off man, penalty-killer, and passer. And with nine assists, he leads the team in that category as well.

Matt Cullen: B
Despite a slow start to the season, Cullen has rebounded nicely, recently. In fact, after his three-point game last night against the Edmonton Oilers, Cullen now has nine-points on the year, which places him into a tie for third on the club's total points list.

Cal Clutterbuck: B
Clutterbuck has provided his usual energy throughout most Minnesota Wild games this season. His 49-hits lead the team, once again. Also, he provides a smart defensive brand of hockey, with occasional flashes of offensive flair. He has a great shot and if he could ever learn to hit the net consistently he could score 20-25 goals a season.

Dany Heatley: B-
Heatley has five goals and nine points so far this season. Those numbers are decent enough for a team that can't score, but they do not tell the whole story of his season. His skating has completely fallen off a cliff. While never the fastest skater, Heatley has slowed down even more this season. To the point that he might be the slowest top-line player in the NHL.

Devin Setoguchi: B-
His play the first three weeks of the season was so bad that fans were clamoring for him to be traded or released. Now, he has scored three goals in the last two weeks and the fans are back on his bandwagon. He needs to continue his recent stretch of consistent play to stay in the lineup and the good graces of the fans.

Mikael Granlund: C+
Granlund, the Wild's prized rookie, has played very well recently after being forced to sit a game out because of his inconsistent play early. The Wild and their fans need to be patient and allow this 20-year-old time to adjust to the the more physical style and smaller ice surface of the NHL game, because he has the talent to be a star in this league. I liked the way he has changed his game and played more physical after being benched early in the season.

Zenon Konopka: C+
Despite not getting a lot of ice-time, Konopka has quickly turned into a fan favorite. He plays a physical, in-your-face brand of hockey. His 52-penalty minutes leads the team, and is four-times more than his closest competitor on the Wild. As an aside, I would have loved to have seen what he would have done to the Oilers after Taylor Hall's cheapshot on Cal Clutterbuck. Sadly, Konopka was a healthy scratch for that game.(Let's just say things might get messy the next time the Oilers and Wild play.)

Torrey Mitchell: C+
Mitchell has not gotten a lot of ice-time due to him being on the team's fourth line. But when he has gotten the chance, he has flashed great speed. In fact, he may be the fastest skater on the Wild. Besides speed, Mitchell also brings solid energy and grit to the lineup. I would be in favor of him getting more time to showcase his talents.

Mike Rupp: C+
Rupp, who has played in seven games since being traded to the Wild, has provided the team with much needed size. He has also been a physical presence in front of the opposing team's net-minder. He has been exactly what the Wild traded for.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard: D
Bouchard has just three points on the season in fourteen games played. Quite frankly, that is not acceptable from a player who receives playing time on the second line during 5-on-5 play, while also playing with the number one power play unit. His biggest problem is his continued refusal to shoot the puck (like most of the team, in fact). He must step up his play, or he will be riding the pine a lot more the rest of this season.

Kyle Brodziak: D-
Well, was there any doubt about who was going to get the worst grade among the Wild's forward group. Brodziak has looked awful so far this season. His -6 plus/minus rating is the worst on the team. For a guy who excelled at shutting down the opposing teams top forwards the last two season, that is a pretty damning statistic. Also, he has flat-out looked lost on the ice at certain times this season. And he has lost all of his confidence playing the game. He appears to be thinking way too much; passing when he should shoot; shooting when he should pass; etc. Hopefully for his sake he can turn his game around before it's too late.

Coyotes Nip Wild; 2-1

2013-02-04T23:30:00.001-06:00

Message received loud and clear--through two periods that is. One day after the demotion of two players from the second line to the fourth, and just six hours after swapping fourth line forwards (Darroll Powe to the New York Rangers, Mike Rupp to the Minnesota Wild); the Minnesota Wild played their best first two periods of the season. That wasn't enough though as the Wild fell to the Coyotes 2-1 in the desert.

The Wild outplayed the Phoenix Coyotes throughout the first two periods; Coming up with a 12-6 advantage in scoring-chance opportunities and controlling the play throughout the first 40-minutes of action. Yet, the Coyotes were the team with a 2-1 lead after two periods of play--thanks to goaltender Mike Smith

Smith, who led Phoenix to the Western Conference Finals last season, stopped almost everything the Wild threw at him. He made 21 saves; several spectacular. And he also had help from his goalpost, as the Wild rung two shots of the pipe( Jonas Brodin in the second period, Pierre-Marc Bouchard late in the third period).

Wild goaltender, Nicklas Backstrom, made 30 saves in a losing effort. Backstrom played OK in net for Minnesota. Although he allowed a terrible rebound off a weak shot from Radim Vrbata, which Phoenix forward Martin Hanzal was then able to bury into an empty cage. Hanzal's goal gave the Coyotes a 2-0 lead, and was the eventual game winner.

Zach Parise scored Minnesota's lone goal after stealing the puck and sniping a quick wrist shot from the faceoff circle past Mike Smith. This was a milestone goal for Parise, as it was the 200th of his NHL career.

Forwards Mikael Granlund and Devin Setoguchi both bounced back with solid games after being demoted from the second line to the fourth line. Granlund, in particular, seemed much more confident throughout the game as he seemed to skate with more purpose. He was able to create numerous scoring chances throughout the game both in front of the net and behind the net. Unfortunately, Phoenix defenseman, Keith Yandle made a skate save on him in the first period that kept the game scoreless.

ETC:

With the loss, the Wild's record falls to 4-4-1
Minnesota is now win-less in four road games, and has gathered just one point, out of eight possible points, away from home.
Parise leads the Wild with six goals.
Defenseman Ryan Suter played almost 28 minutes to lead the team in ice time.
.Minnesota Wild prospect, Charlie Coyle, made his NHL debut and played very well. His size and skill will help the Wild.
Phoenix had an announced crowd of, 9,508 fans( there was maybe 7,000 people there tops).... In case you were wondering, that means the stadium was 55% full.

Thoughts on the Minnesota Wild

2013-02-04T21:15:00.001-06:00

Well, the Minnesota Wild find themselves with a 4-3-1 record after two frantic, somewhat sloppy and altogether enjoyable weeks of hockey. Despite the uneven beginning to their campaign, the Wild find themselves just one point behind the Vancouver Canucks, for first place in the NHL's Northwest Division.
And, if the playoffs began today, the Minnesota Wild would be tied for the sixth seed in the Western Conference.

So, all-in-all, not a bad start to the regular season for those who happen to be members of the Minnesota Wild organization, or supporters of the team. With that said, let's take a look at the first two weeks of the season in "rambling" fashion.

Zach Parise is the best grinder in the NHL...He gives 100-percent every time he hops over the boards and onto the ice...Whether he is trying to gain position in front of the opposition's net, or battling for the puck along the boards, he is always working his tail off. And that has become one of the main reason for his success in the NHL...Also, It probably doesn't hurt that he is a great skater, with a solid shot and tremendous hockey sense.
The same Minnesota Wild team, which provided the Chicago Blackhawks with their first loss of the season on Wednesday, managed to get absolutely steamrolled by the Anaheim Ducks, a little over 48-hours later...How does that happen??? How does the Wild follow up their best game of the year, with their worst??
The loss, which left Minnesota win-less in their first three road games of the year, was, by far, the worst game the Wild has played this season...
If you watched this game, you know the final score was not indicative of how poorly Minnesota played..... Without the play of Wild goalie, Nicklas Backstrom, who played phenomenally well, despite being under siege throughout the majority of the game, the Ducks could have easily won this game 8-1 or 9-1....
The Wild, has got to play better on the road..... I know they have played only three games away from the Xcel Energy Center, but those three games have been the three worst games the Wild has played this season..... IF they continue to struggle on the road, they will fail to make the Playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.
All in all, this Minnesota Wild team has shown flashes of brilliance, but they need to put a complete game together before I can consider them a true contender.

Minnesota Wild News and Notes

2013-02-04T20:56:00.003-06:00

It has been an eventful past two days for the Minnesota Wild; With the team calling up prospect Charlie Coyle and trading forwards Darroll Powe and Nick Palmieri to the New York Rangers for forward Mike Rupp.

Meanwhile, both Devin Setoguchi and Mikael Granlund have been demoted to the fourth line of the Minnesota Wild because of their lack of production on the second line.

Obviously, with the acquisition of Rupp and the promotion of Coyle, the Wild is looking to add more size up front. As both Rupp and Coyle will bring power and size to the lineup.

Coyle is the Wild's top prospect, and was the MVP of the QMJHL's Playoffs last season. His game combines power with great hands. He will add size, power, and skill to whatever line he happens to play on.

Rupp, the newest member of the Wild, is a fourth line player that is willing to drop the gloves at anytime. He will bring a much needed dimension of grit to the squad. And he will add even more character to a team that already has Matt Kassian and Zenon Konopka. Plus, he has a ton of Stanley Cup Playoff experience, which Minnesota definitely could use if they manage to find a way into the postseason tournament.

Neither Powe nor Palmieri should be missed by Wild fans. Powe, scoreless through eight games this season, is a decent depth forward that has the ability to kill penalties when he is on his game. Yet he is scheduled to make just over a million dollars both this season and next, which is too much for a player of his caliber. Plus, the Wild is loaded with forward prospects, so Powe was deemed expendable.

Palmieri basically had no chance to see the ice in the near future for the Wild. He has produced decent numbers in the minors, but with the depth the Wild has at forward he would have had a hard time even cracking the NHL roster.

All in all, I like the like the moves the Wild have made. After watching the first eight games of the year it was glaring how much the Wild needed to add size up front. With the additions of Coyle and Rupp, the Wild has succeeded in doing just that. And since they only had to give up two spare parts to acquire said size, I would deem the trade a solid maneuver. One, that will hopefully help the Wild to compete harder on the ice every night.

Minnesota Wild: Week In Review- Analyzing the Minnesota Wild's first week of play

2013-01-28T21:58:00.001-06:00

Well, we're five games into the Minnesota Wild's season, and the results so far have been mediocre at best. The team's record sits at 2-2-1, which is OK. The problem is, they have just one point in their past three contests( two regulation losses, and an overtime loss to St. Louis). So, panic is beginning to set in here in Minnesota. With that said, let's get to three observations and some quick hits I have about the Wild after the first week of the season.

The Minnesota Wild have a great first line:
Minnesota's first line of Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley have combined for 10 of the Wild's 13 total goals this season. In addition to the goals they have produced, they have also provided constant pressure on the opposing team. Often possessing the puck in the offensive zone throughout the whole of their shift. Without this line producing the way they have, there is a good chance the Wild would still be looking for their first win of the season.

More Depth, Please
Yes, the first line has been great for the Wild. However, the rest of the forwards have not produced nearly enough. The second, third and fourth lines have combined for just two goals in five games. If you think that is going to be enough production for this team to make the playoffs, you've probably got an online girlfriend you've never seen before; are drunk; or have recently purchased Green Bay Packers stock and now think that you are a part owner of the team (Here's some free advice: never use real money to buy something that is worthless and fake).

Anyway, Mikael Granlund and Pierre-Marc Bouchard are the only forwards not on the top line to have scored this season. That has to change if the Wild want to make the playoffs. Because you can't expect the first line to continue to produce the way it has all season. And if the Wild can not find consistent production from their second, third or fourth lines, this will be a long, goal-less, and very disappointing season (kind of like last season, the season before that, and the season before that).

How to get a more balanced line up?
The only remedy to get the second, third and fourth lines to be more productive is to switch up the lines or call up prospects from the minors. Now, you don't want to break up the first line because they have played great together. So, what else can you do to get more offense?

Do you call up prospect Jason Zucker from Houston? Zucker has been the best player for the Aeros (the Wild's minor league team). And is known for his offensive capabilities. But if you call up Zucker, someone will have to be sent down to Houston or released. And while the lack of productivity from some players has been noticeable, the season is only a week old. So, you don't want to give up on anybody just yet because things could still turn around. However, if this is still a topic of conversation at this time next week, the Wild may be forced to call up Zucker and potentially others, because they can ill-afford to wait for certain guys to find their game in a shortened season.

So, changing up the lines is your best bet. One change that has already happened is swapping Pierre-Marc Bouchard for Matt Cullen on the second line. I have been clamoring for this change since Bouchard was cleared to play. Matt Cullen may be a great guy, but I've had enough of watching him fail to be ready for Granlund's passes, and I'm sick of his inability to finish around the net. Quite frankly, he is not a second line NHL player anymore.

By putting Bouchard with Granlund and Devin Setoguchi head coach Mike Yeo has shown he understands the urgency of the shortened season and that he will make changes if you're not producing up to your capabilities. It is now up to Bouchard and Granlund to produce the expected results on the ice. And I think they can. Both players are offensively gifted and creative with the puck, so this should open up room on the ice for Setoguchi to shoot. And he has a great shot. Now, he just needs to remember where he stowed away his accuracy during the lockout.

The addition of Cullen to the third line should make them better defensively. As Cullen is a far superior defensive player, when compared to Bouchard. Hopefully he, Kyle Brodziak and Cal Clutterbuck can shut down the opposing teams' top line, while potting a few goals for themselves in the process.

Quick hits:

Ryan Suter has been better than his numbers indicate( - 5 rating and on the ice for 10 of the first 13 goals the Wild allowed). But, someone should indicate to him that it is OK to clear the opposition from in front of his own net. Twice, in the past two games, he has allowed someone to stand right in front of his goaltender, while he looks on from five feet away doing nothing. In both instances, goals where scored. Now, I'm not sure if this was Shea Weber's job in Nashville. But come on, it's hockey 101-never let an opposing player camp in front of your net unabated.
Zach Parise has been as good as advertised. In fact, he has exceeded even the loftiest of expectations placed upon him before the season started. With five goals in five games, to go along with four assists, he has been in on nine of the thirteen goals the Wild scored this season. He has been worth every penny paid to him. I shudder to think where the Minnesota Wild would be without Zach Parise.
Jonas Brodin, the Wild's 2011 first round draft pick, has been impressive in the first two NHL games he has played. His speed, skating ability and hockey sense have been incredible for a 19-year-old rookie. Once he adds more strength to his game, he will be a dominant NHL defenseman for years to come.
Anthony Laplanta, the Wild's TV play-by-play guy is pretty awful at his job. He displays a severe lack of passion and knowledge for the game, in my opinion. The fact that he has the job because he came cheap is another mark against Wild owner Craig Leipold, whose team has yet to make the playoffs since he bought them five years ago. Just saying.

Minnesota Wild VS Nashville live blog

2013-01-22T22:15:00.001-06:00

Tonight's Minnesota Wild VS Nashville Predators game marks the first time that Wild free agent signee Ryan Suter faces his former team. So without further ado, let's get to the game.

7:07- Puck Drops on the Wild's third game of the season.

7:09- Anthony Lapanta, the Wild's TV play-by play guy, is absolutely horrendous at his job. His voice puts me to sleep. And his play-by-play style is as boring as going to a Minnesota Lynx game. Something, I can say with pride, that I've never done before.

7:11- Fight!! Zenon Konopka, who has a broken nose, tussles with Richard Clune. This is Konopka's second fight in three games with Minnesota. I like the grit he brings to the Wild. Neither guy is able to connect with any big blows.

7:16- The Wild has brought a consistent forecheck to this game so far.

7:18- Wild goal! Dany Heatley shoots from the point and the puck is deflected in off Klein's glove into the back of the Nashville net. Zach Parise is credited with the goal. Apparently, he also deflected the puck in front of the net. Either way, it's a Wild goal.

7:21- This is the best the Wild have looked this season. By far. They have had a consistent forecheck going throughout the whole of this game so far. This is the first time they have had that this season.

7:23- Nicklas Backstrom with a huge save off a Mike Fisher re-direction in front of the net, as he was getting run over by one of his own defenders. Nice.

7:28- Penalty on Nashville- Nick Spaling goes for tripping. Let's see if the Wild can continue their hot start on the power play.

7:30- Good pressure on the power play so far for the Wild. But Predators goalie Chris Mason has made a couple of nice saves to keep the Wild off the board.

7:32- Mike Fisher with a diving poke-check to keep Mikael Granlund from having a breakaway. Great play by Fisher.

7:33- This game has a much better flow than the Wild's previous game against Dallas. The Dallas game, in all honesty, was a snooze fest. Again, Lapanta's terrible play-by-play didn't do that game any favors.

7:36- Nate Prosser takes his turn at the sprawling poke-check and succeeds. As he spoils a breakaway chance for Nashville's Gabriel Bourque.

7:39- Goal! Nashville scores. Nick Spaling scores on a rebound chance in front of the net. The game is now even, 1-1. The assists go to Yip, and Klein.

7:40- Nashville is bringing it to the Wild now. This game has been a solid back and forth affair.

7.44- Period ends with the score tied 1-1. Enjoyable game to watch so far.

First Period thoughts

Parise is a grinder. He is constantly battling for the puck and never gives up on a play. He definitely gives his all every game.
Barry Trotz, Nashville's head coach, is one of the best in the league. Despite having a small payroll, he consistently finds away to keep his team in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.
The Wild needs to keep playing hard. Nashville is playing it's second game in as many nights and should get fatigued as the game goes along. Especially, if the Wild can continue to press them like they did during the first 15-minutes of the first period.
It's time to move Pierre-Marc Bouchard up to the second line to replace Matt Cullen. Bouchard has the offensive skill to play with Mikael Granlund and Devin Setoguchi, while Cullen is more of a defensively orientated player who would work well on the third line. The Wild needs to generate more offense in five-on-five situations, and this would be one way to do that.

Second Period

8:04- Puck drops to begin the second period.

8:06- Nick Spaling of the Nashville Predators has been all over the ice tonight. Impressive player for Nashville.

8:07- Parise with a solid slap shot that is stopped by Mason.

8:08- The Wild's fourth line with a great shift. They controlled the puck in the Nashville zone for the whole of their time on the ice, and were able to get a few chances on goal.

8:09- Check that. Darroll Powe takes a penalty at the end of his previously impressive shift.

8:11- Parise draws a penalty and is denied on a glorious chance in front of the net. Mikko Koivu set him up. four-on-four action now. Nashville's best player, Shea Weber, goes off for the penalty.

8:13 Heatley has brought his "A" game tonight; great pass by him to set-up Tom Gilbert for a splendid scoring chance. Gilbert then tries to make an ill-advised extra pass when he was all alone, which results in turnover.

8:17- Konopka with a sliding block. He plays his tail off every time he sees the ice. Just watching the game; it appears the Wild is playing it's fourth line more in this game than previous games this season

8:18- Backstrom stones Martin Erat in front of the net. Another nice save from Backstrom. He looks more in control this game.

8:20- Penalty on the Wild! Justin Falk goes off for interference. Nashville with the power play.

8:21- Wild defenseman Clayton Stoner with a huge hit on the penalty kill. Meanwhile, Backstrom with another nice save on, I believe, Martin Erat.

8:22- Penalty is killed off by the Wild

8:24- The Predators have out-played the Wild so far in this period.

8:26- Koivu is stopped on a two-on-one with Parise by Chris Mason. Glad to see he shot the puck there instead of making the difficult pass attempt over to Parise. That's the one thing about Koivu's game he needs to improve: shooting the puck. He has a solid shot, but too often, he tries making the difficult pass over letting it rip.

8:36- Call me a homer, but I think the Wild has the hardest working first line in the NHL. They never give up on the play and are constantly battling. It's a great thing when your best players are also your hardest workers as It forces everyone on the team to work just as hard as they are. Because if the best players on your team are busting it, you better be as well.

8:39- Penalty on Nashville! Brandon Yip goes off for Roughing. He argues the call but he clearly punched/forearmed the Wild's Jared Spurgeon.

8:40- With just some 40-odd seconds left in the period, the Wild could grab the lead on the power play here and deal a serious blow to the momentum Nashville has built this period

8:41- Second period ends with the score still tied at 1-1.

Second Period thoughts

The Nashville Predators controlled the play in the second period. They had the better scoring chances and seemed to have the puck more in the offensive zone.
This game has gone about the way you would expect between these two teams; tight-checking, defensive, and neither team making any glaring mistakes.
Nashville plays such a solid, patient, and defensive orientated game. They remind of the early-to-mid-2000 Minnesota Wild teams under Jacques Lemaire; very defensively sound with few mistakes.
Minnesota needs to get the puck deep into Nashville's zone more. With Nashville playing its second game in as many nights, the Wild need to make them work. Because, you have to figure, the Predators will run out of gas here in the third period.

Third Period:
9:00- Puck drops on the third period. The Wild begins the period on the power play.

9:00- Update: The Wild goal has been changed from Parise, to Heatley.

9:01- Matt Cullen is stoned by Mason on a wrap around attempt.

9:02- Cal Clutterbuck lays out Hal Gill with a hard hit. Gill, a giant on the ice, is not an easy man to take down with a clean check.

9:05- Zach Parise show off some great hand-eye coordination as he catches a pass out of mid-air with his stick at center ice.

9:06- Clutterbuck lays out another Predator behind the Nashville net. Moments later he decks a Predator at center ice. Great sequence for Clutterbuck there.

9:07- Granlund shoots wide on a backhand attempt in front of the net. The puck came to him off of a crazy carom from behind the Nashville net.

9:14- Penalty! Coincidental minors. Patric Hornqvist goes off for Nashville- goaltender interference. Clutterbuck goes off for the Wild- hooking. 4-on-4 action for the third time tonight.

9:17- Clutterbuck has been all over the rink for the Wild this period. He has, by far, been the best player on the ice for either team this season.

9:18- Nashville is showing signs of fatigue lately. The Wild need to capitalize on that in the final 10 minutes of the game.

9:21- Goal! Predators! Crazy play leads to the Nashville goal: Loose puck at center ice trickles down towards the Wild net and Backstrom leaves his net to play the puck at the top of the circles, but Martin Erat beats him to it, and slides the puck into the empty cage to give Nashville the 2-1 lead.

Horrible play by Backstrom. As he was undecided on what to do, and left his cage too late to retrieve the puck. He either needs to let Erat have the partial breakaway there or come out of his net sooner.

9:23- First time the Wild have been down in the third period of a game this season. Can they tie it up? It will be hard to do against Nashville, which has one of the best defensive teams in the league.

9:28- Heatley denied twice by Mason in front of the net. Including once on a rebound attempt of his own shot. Good effort there by the "Heater". Heatley has really played well in this game; showing some nice moves with the puck.

9:30- Granlund is showcasing his skill in this game. He has made a few plays in limited space that no one else on the Wild team could do. Sadly, no one can put the puck home from him, because they are not expecting it to come to them.

9:32- Minnesota's top-line is buzzing right now. Mason robs Parise and Heatley on back-to-back chances. Koivu also had a great chance, but can't capitalize. Nashville is forced to ice the puck, again. Now, Nashville calls timeout. The Predators on the ice are gassed and can't leave because of the icing.

9:36- Backstrom robs Hjornqvist in front of the net to keep the game 2-1. Big save, as it keeps the Wild alive in this game. One minute left and the Wild goal is empty.

9:37- Penalty! Bouchard goes off for a slash with 25-seconds left. The face off will be down in Minnesota's zone. Tough to come back now. Backstrom will have to come back into the net here for the face off.

9.38- Goal! Nashville scores on the power play as David Legwand fires one past Backstrom on a three-on-one opportunity. 3-1 Nashville.

9:39- Game over. Nashville wins 3-1, and hands the Wild their first loss of the young season.

Third Period Thoughts:

This was another evenly played period. Nashville was able to capitalize on a lucky bounce and a mistake by Backstrom to score the eventual game-winning goal.
The Predators played another solid period in the third. Despite losing Ryan Suter, they still find a way to get the job done.
Whenever I watch Nashville, I get flashbacks to watching the Wild under Jacques Lemaire. It may not be the most exciting hockey to watch, but it gets the job done.
The Wild's first line continues to excel and create good scoring chances. Once they start putting the puck into the net consistently, it will be hard to slow them down.
Backstrom's play on the game winning goal was horrendous. He had no shot of playing the puck before Erat and should have just stayed in his cage.
Clutterbuck was a force in the third period. He was hitting everything on the ice, which is typical of his play. He is a joy to watch.

Overall Picture:
The Wild drops its first game of the season. Of course, any loss in a shortened season is not a good thing. Yet, I thought this was the team's most consistent performance to date. They caught a bad break in the third, which cost them the game. But they were in control of the game and had Nashville on the ropes until Backstrom wandered out his cage.

If the Wild compete like they did tonight, they will win more games than they lose this year. The Wild had a bit of a let down in the second period. But overall, they played a solid game and I was impressed with their effort and performance tonight. Once the goals start coming, and they will come, this team will be hard to beat.

Michel's Ramblings on everything but the Wild

2013-01-22T19:09:00.000-06:00

Since my gig at HookedOnHockey has ramped up (http://hookedonhockeymagazine.com/minnesota-wild-victorious-1-0-over-dallas-stars/), I have not had the time to write about anything else besides hockey. With a few moments to spare before I start another live blog on tonight's Minnesota Wild vs Nashville Predators game, I thought it would be prudent to do another ramblings on non-Wild related subjects. Let's get to the ramblings brought to you by Ticket King, with the Alabama Shakes (a great fucking rock n roll band) providing the background music.

This particular Minnesota Gophers hockey team is the most talented team since the 2002-03 edition. Coincidentally, that team was also the last Gophers squad to an NCAA Championship. The 2003 team was led by Thomas Vanek (who currently leads the NHL in points right now).This years team is led by Nick Bjugstad. Bjugstad, a first round pick of the Florida Panthers, plays a lot like Vanek; Physically overpowering, while at the same time possessing tremendous hands and offensive skill.

The only problem with this edition of the Gophers hockey team: playing up or down to the level of competition they are facing that particular evening. This is a team that absolutely dominated Boston College and Notre Dame, the second and third best teams in college hockey. Yet, they have also tied Alaska Anchorage once and were nearly beaten by them a second time.

If the Gophers can find a way to play like they did against B.C every game, they will bring home another NCAA Championship. One that is long overdue for the school. Let's face it, the Gophers should be the Ketucky/Duke of NCAA hockey; winning and competing for championships every year. Ten years is way to long to have not won a title. That's a fact.

I don't hear many people saying, "the Wolves are better off without Kevin Love" anymore. Now that the squad has completely tanked without him. This team lacks athletes and can not guard anybody; that is the problem with the squad, not Love.

Why do Minnesota sports fans always want to get rid of their best players? The crowd clamoring for Love to be traded is dumber than the fat little chick's mom from the TLC show. So is the crowd clamoring for the Vikings to trade Percy Harvin. Why would you get rid of these guys? Neither guy is at their peak trade value, and it's not exactly like all-stars from either sport are harassing their agents to come play here. Just because a player makes comments about "your team" that you don't like-is not reason enough to get rid of him. It is hard enough to acquire star players in this market, let's not trade them all away because they are outspoken.

The fact is you need good players to win championships. Would it be great if every athlete was as good of a guy as Greg Stiemsma? Yes. But you would be a fool to think you you could win a championship with him as your centerpiece. There is a reason he and his ilk play 5 minutes a game, if at all: they're not good.

Rodney Williams has had four years at the University of Minnesota to develop a jump-shot and/or a post game; and he has had woefully come up short in adding either facet to his game. I'm sick of watching him disappear in Big-Ten Conference games. He should be embarrassed with his play lately.

Hey Tubby, this isn't hockey, so quit platooning your players like it is. Your bench, quite frankly, is horrible this year. The time has come to stop playing them in close games.

Also, the Gophers have to stop turning the ball over so much. You can't beat good teams if you have 10 turnovers a half.

With all that said, I'm still buying the Gophers making a Sweet Sixteen run this season. This team is too experienced and too talented to not make it there. And if they fail to do so, Tubby should be fired. He has won as many NCAA Tournament games as I have in his time with the Gophers-ZERO.

In other news, it's been two months since coach Kill has had a seizure, I think. Congrats. Now keep getting those two star recruits, so we can beat a bunch of creampuffs and get to a bowl game again. How does he have a job still? It's beyond me.

Spending $15million dollars on two back of the rotation starters: Priceless. Any time you have the chance to sign a guy coming off Tommy-John surgery who strikes out 4-batters-per-9 innings pitched, you have to do it. On top of that, when you can add the sixth starter in the Pirates five man rotation, again, you have to make that move. Twins fans: you're fooling yourself if you think this team is going to win over 70 games this season; they have five number-5 starters, and not one of them has the potential to win over 12 games this season. When your ball-club is disappointed that Nick Blackburn got injured-because he was the potential opening-day starter; your in trouble, and you should be embarrassed for your teams fate in this upcoming season.

How cool is it that two brothers are coaching against each other in the Super Bowl? My parents are happy when my brother and I make it to dinner within 15 minutes of the time it has been scheduled. I can't imagine what their reaction would be to us both coaching in the Super Bowl.

Ray Lewis may have killed two people, but I still respect him...Although, I hope the 49ers win, because I would love to see Randy Moss win a Super Bowl ring. He is the second best receiver of all-time. And it would be fitting, if he ended his career by winning a Super Bowl.

The fact that Cris Carter is not in the Hall Of Fame is a joke. He played with mediocre QBs his whole career and still put up historic numbers. Vote him in this year. Speaking of Hall of Fames, Cooperstown has turned into a joke because of the baseball writers who refuse to vote in Barry Bonds and the like. Yes, they used PEDS, but regardless, those players are definitely Hall of Fame worthy. The Hall of Fame should be about the players of the sport; not the people who are covering the sport. Plus, if we are only voting in non-cheats and good guys we can then remove half of the players in the hall. Including: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, etc. What a joke.

Wild vs Stars Recap- Harding Shines

2013-01-21T19:51:00.000-06:00

--Reviewing the Minnesota Wild's 1-0 victory over the Dallas Stars --

The Minnesota Wild, led by goaltender Josh Harding and forward Zach Parise, shut out the Dallas Stars 1-0 on Sunday night. This victory was especially sweet for Harding, as this marked his first NHL game since being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The fact that he was able to shut out the Stars, while playing in his first game with the disease, is a remarkable story and accomplishment.

Zach Parise, hometown hero, scored his first goal as a member of the Minnesota Wild to stake the Wild to a 1-0 lead. The goal, scored on a rare 4-on-3 man-advantage halfway through the first period, was the Wild's third power play goal of the young season and was all the scoring the Wild would need on this night. What, with Josh Harding playing superbly between the pipes all game long.

This night belonged to Harding win-or-lose. Making his first appearance in a Wild sweater since being diagnosed with M.S., Harding stopped all 24 Dallas Stars shots he faced, to record his 7th NHL shutout. His biggest save came with about a minute to play; as he denied Ray Whitney's attempt from the slot, which preserved the Wild's slim 1-0 lead.

Three Stars Of The Game:

1st Star: Josh Harding- Harding is an obvious choice for the star of the night. He was able to blank he Stars in his first start since being diagnosed with M.S. Congrats Josh, you deserve all the kudos and recognition for your performance that I'm sure you will receive.

2nd Star: Zach Parise- Parise scored his first of hopefully many goals as a member of the Wild. He also displayed the talent, speed, and hard work that he is known for.

3rd Star: Cal Clutterbuck- Clutterbuck led the Wild with 5 hits in this game, and tied for the team lead with 5 shots-on-goal. He appeared to have the most energy of any player on the ice in this contest.

-Game Thoughts:

This game was a defensive struggle throughout, as both teams were unable to generate any sort of consistent offensive pressure.
The majority of the game was played in the neutral zone. Once the Wild scored to go up 1-0, they seemed especially content to play a defensive orientated game.
Both teams lacked energy at times, which was to be expected since both clubs were playing their second game in two nights.
The Wild were the benefactors of a fortunate break that afforded them the glorious opportunity to score their first and only goal of the game: A Star's defenseman broke his stick while his team was on the wrong end of a 4-on-3 penalty kill. That incident resulted in Pierre Marc-Bouchard having all day to find Zach Parise for a one timer, which he buried for the game's lone goal.
Josh Harding played fantastic in net and deserves all the recognition he rightfully will receive. But Dallas Stars netminder Cristopher Nilstorp played fantastic in defeat, and deserves some recognition for his performance as well. Nilstorp, making his NHL debut, made 31 saves and allowed just one goal in defeat. In my opinion, he looks like he should, at the very least, be a solid NHL backup.
Jaromir Jagr looked good on the ice as well. Yes, he failed to produce a point, but the X-CEL Energy Center is the only current NHL rink he has yet to pot a goal in. Jagr, who has scored in the most arenas of any player in NHL history, looked like he will be a solid offensive presence for the Dallas Stars this season. He just has such good vision of the ice and such deft hands, that it doesn't matter if he has lost a step or two.

Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche- Live Blog/Diary

2013-01-20T03:23:00.000-06:00

Pre-Game:

8:00 PM- Finally, the wait is over. After being locked out for over four months the puck is finally about to drop on the ~~2012~~/2013 Minnesota Wild season. Now that the puck is about to drop, all of the lockout garbage is rendered moot. Yes, it was a terrible ordeal for the sport. But, the game is back. And instead of bitching about the lockout, hockey fans can now bitch about their team. Which, in all honesty, is exactly what was wanted all along. Anyway, the following is a live blog/diary of the Minnesota Wild VS Colorado Avalanche game. (That was the last reference to the lockout in this post, I swear.)

First Period:

8:05- The entire Minnesota Wild roster is being announced. With each player skating to center ice after their name is announced, to greet a Minnesota Wild season ticket holder. Enough. Enough! Enough with all the apologies and pandering to NHL fans, by both the players and owners/teams. If the owners and players were truly sorry, the lockout would have never happened. But it did. So, just shut-up and play hockey. Because all the apologizing, pandering, and sucking up to the fans comes across as self-serving. I don't need an apology, I just need the NHL. (OK, I lied. But, seriously, the previous sentence will be my last on the lockout.)
8:11- Zach Parise and Ryan Suter received the loudest ovations of any Wild player introduced.
8:14- Back from commercial, in time to hear more pandering. And the obligatory, "We have the best fans in the world", quote goes to... Mike Yeo, the Minnesota Wild head coach. Hopefully you had him in your pool.
8:17- The puck officially drops on the Minnesota Wild season.
8:21- Avalanche goal. John Mitchell with the marker. Milan Hejduk, notorious Wild-killer, makes the play by throwing the puck out front. Mitchell bangs it home. Not the start the packed X-CEL Energy Center was hoping for.
8:23- First fight of the season for the Wild-Zenon Konopka vs Cody Mcleod(a very reluctant participant). Lots of jersey pulling and not many blows landed. Mcleod, whose team is up a goal, does not want any part of this. The fight ends in a draw
Konopka gets an extra two minutes for interference. Colorado receives the first power play of the game
8:25- Niklas Backstrom stones Jamie McGinn twice from in front of the net. Two big saves for Backstrom and the Wild there. Backstrom has looked shaky early. So, hopefully those saves calm him down.
8:34- Still here. Not a lot of scoring opportunities for either side.
8:35- Whoops. Ryan Suter with the tripping penalty. Colorado gets a second crack on the powerplay.
8:36- Wow! Colorado forward David Jones just missed a wide open net on the power play. Followed by Paul Stastny hitting the post. The Wild should be down 2-0. That could come back to haunt the Avs'. You have to capitalize on glorious chances, such as those, if you want to win.
Backstrom is shaky. He is giving up a lot of juicy rebounds on chances that shouldn't warrant them.
8:38- Somehow, the Wild escapes unscathed on their penalty kill. But Colorado is still very much in control of this game.
8:43- Ugly performance for the Wild so far. Minnesota has yet to establish any kind of presence in Colorado's zone. Which has led to the majority of the game being played in Minnesota's end of the rink. If this keeps up, only one end of the ice is going to need to be resurfaced at intermission. Yikes.
8:50- Colorado is just physically dominating the Wild right now. Their forecheck has been relentess and they are hitting everything in red on the ice. The Wild can't even get out of their zone. What channel is the Timberwolves game on?
8:51- Devin Setoguchi gets plastered at center ice. Neither he, nor I, saw the number of the mack truck that just crushed him.
8:52- Hey, the puck was actually in the Avalanche's zone for over 30 seconds. Nothing good comes of it, except for the fact that we can now be sure nothing is wrong with that side of the ice. With the way the Wild have played so far, you would have been right to believe that the Avalanche's zone was a Kardashian. Because the Wild have refused to enter it for more than 10 seconds at a time.

First Period thoughts:

Colorado dominated the Wild throughout the whole of the first period. The Avalanche controlled the play; were more physical, had more scoring chances and out-shot the Wild 12-5.
Minnesota needs to match Colorado's intensity, or this game will not be pretty from a Wild perspective.
Some good news for the Wild: Pierre Marc-Bouchard looks completely healthy. Bouchard, who has missed over a year due to concussion symptoms, was the Wild's best player in the first period. As he was strong on the puck, and able to absorb a couple of body-checks without incident. If he can continue his strong play, Bouchard would give the Wild a sixth forward who can score points consistently.
Even Manti T'eo is embarrassed with the way the Wild played in the first period.
All kidding aside, that was an ugly, nervous, and inconsistent performance from the Wild.

Second Period:

9:12- The puck drops to begin the second period.
9:15- Bouchard with a good forecheck. He has been the Wild's best player so far.
9:15- Penalty on Colorado's Steve Downie. This will be the Wild's first power play.
9:17 Dany Heatley scores! Heatley scores off a rebound from a Zach Parise shot. Koivu and Parise get the assists. Bouchard with a nice hustle play to keep the puck from being cleared outside the Avalanche's zone. Bouchard's play was the most integral in the Wild's goal scoring sequence. If that puck gets across the blue-line and out of the zone, the Wild doesn't score.
9:19- Well then. The Wild scores again. Mikael Granlund deflects the puck past Avalanche goalie Seymon Varlamov off a Devin Setoguchi wrist shot. Wow! Granlund with his first goal in his first NHL game. (Solid start for my Calder pick.)
9:20-Erik Johnson loses his footing and crashes heavily into the base of the boards. Thankfully, he skates off on his power a couple minute later. That could have been much worse than it appears to be.
9:22- The Wild looks like a completely different team this period. Simply put, they are forechecking much better now. Which is leading to more scoring chances.
9:24- Two Colorado Avalanche penalties put the Wild back on the power play for four minutes(after this commercial break, of course). Downie with a crosscheck and a rough in the same sequence. This is a huge opportunity for the Wild to create some distance between themselves and the Avs.
9:28- Another penalty on the Avalanche. O'Byrne goes off for holding Parise's stick. The Wild will have almost two minutes of 5 on 3 power play time.
9:29- Huge save by Varlamov on a Matt Cullen rebound attempt. Game is still 2-1, Wild.
9:30- Moments later Varlamov robs Parise on a one-timer opportunity in front of the net.
9:31- Varlamov! Heatley robbed by Varlamov on a one-timer try.
9:31 Heatley scores again!! Looks like puck went in off his skate in the front of the net. Parise and Koivu with the assists.
Pick up Heater' in your fantasy league. Two power play goals already tonight.
Now, that's more like it. The Wild with three goals in the first ten minutes of the second period. That kind of play is exactly what the Wild fans are expecting this season.
My sincere gratitude goes to Steve Downie. Steve, thank you for losing your temper and costing your team. His penalties have completely changed this game in the Wild's favor. Absent his penalties, I'm sure the Wild would find themselves in a much more precarious position than it is right now.
I also want to know what head coach Mike Yeo said to his players at intermission. Because the Wild look like a completely different team so far his period.
9:38- Erik Johnson is back on the ice for Colorado. Good news for Avalanche fans.
9:40-Penalty on the Wild's Cal Clutterbuck for holding. He just tackled an Avalanche player. This is a big penalty kill for the Wild. Allowing a goal here would let Colorado right back into the game.
9:43- The Wild kills off the Avalanche power play.
9:44- Bouchard is stopped on a breakaway by Varlamov. Varlamov, despite giving up three goals this period, has played well. He has made a number of nice saves to keep his team within striking distance.
9:45- Stop me if you've heard this before, but the Avalanche just took another penalty. This time it is on Jan Hejda for high-sticking Zenon Konopka. Konopka is bleeding, so this will be another four minute power play for the Wild.

A goal here would just about ice the game. This is a splendid opportunity for the Wild to show their killer instinct. That's assuming they have one.

9:50- A big save by Backstrom- shorthanded- on John Mitchell. Backstrom, with the splits to keep the puck out of the net there.

9:52- Period ends, with the Wild leading the Avalanche 3-1.

Second period thoughts:

As bad as the Wild looked in the first period, they looked just as good in the second period.
The Wild absolutely dominated the period. They were able to put pressure on Colorado throughout the whole of the second period, which led the Avalanche to take numerous penalties. This allowed the Wild to outshoot the Avalanche 18- 5 during the second period. Quite a turnaround from the first period.
The Wild's powerplay looks lethal. They were able to score twice with the man advantage in the second period. Plus, even when they were unable to score on the powerplay, the Wild was still creating chances and maintaining possession of the puck in the Avalanche's zone. A great start and hopefully a sign of things to come. Because you need to have a good powerplay in order to consider yourself a true playoff contender.

Third Period:

10:08- The Wild starts the period off with powerplay time still remaining.
10:10- Colorado is able to kill off the powerplay.
10:11 Devin Setoguchi with a huge center ice hit. No, Wild fans- that was not a typo.
10:13 Parise and Koivu are going to be fun to watch play together this season. Both guys are winning every loose puck battle they find themselves in. And both players are out-hustling the Avalanche at every turn.
10:15- Goal! Cody Mcleod with a backhander past Backstrom. 3-2 game now. (Mcleod scoring, really??)
10:16- The Wild comes right back with a great chance for Setoguchi. But he is unable to capitalize.
10:19- Announced crowd of over 19,000 for tonight's game. The 19,000+ is the sixth largest crowd in Wild history.
10:22- Mikael Granlund with an outstanding defensive play followed by a beautiful shot-block to stop a small Colorado flurry. The kid really can do it all.
10:24- Varlamov with another nice save. This time stoning Parise from the slot.
10:25- John Mitchell takes another Colorado penalty. He retaliated against a Cal Clutterbuck check by slamming Clutterbuck in the face. Which drew him 2 minutes in the box.
10:27- Not much from the Wild on the ensuing powerplay. Colorado is down 3-2 with a little over seven minutes to go in regulation.
10:31- Justin Falk lays out an Avalanche player in the Wild's defensive zone. That, right there, is exactly what Falk needs to do if he wants to see the ice once Marco Scandella and Jonas Brodin are healthy enough to join the Wild.
10:34- The Avalanche has had the better of the play so far here in the third period. I'm definitely getting nervous now.
10:35- Cal Clutterbuck, with a "twisted wrister"(copyright John Buccigross) from the circle, but Varlamov robs him with the glove.
10:37- Steve Downie hits the post, with three and a half minutes to go. He could have tied the game there. The Wild still lead 3-2.
I'm not religious by any means, but thank God for Steve Downie. His play tonight has been bad enough to make Lennay Kekua rollover in her grave right now.
10:39- The Wild with possession of the puck for over a minute in the Avalanche zone. Despite that, they are unable to score.
10:39- Goal!!! Scratch that last blurb. As Pierre Marc-Bouchard snaps a rebound past Varlamov to give the Wild a 4-2 lead.
10:40- Timeout, Avalanche. Colorado pulls their goalie; desperate for two goals in two minutes.
10:43- Game Over. The Wild wins 4-2.

Third period thoughts:

While the Wild's play in the third period was not up to par with their second period performance, it was infinitely better than what they showed in the first period. And, obviously, it was a good enough performance to seal the win.
It was nice to see Pierre Marc-Bouchard rewarded with a goal late in the period. Bouchard played a great overall game. And was probably the best player on the ice for the Wild tonight.
Steve Downie hit the post with a little under four minutes to go for the Avalanche. His shot, had it gone in, would have tied the game. But, alas, it was not meant to be.
Tough game for Downie tonight, as his penalty barrage in the second period turned the game in the Wild's favor and seemingly halted the rather significant momentum advantage Colorado had owned up until the moment his carelessness struck.

Final Thoughts:

Solid victory for the Wild. The powerplay looked fantastic, which will be key to their success, or lack thereof, this season.
Even with much-heralded new-comers Zach Parise and Ryan Suter making their respective Wild debuts, the stars of this game were two longtime members of the franchise: Pierre Marc-Bouchard and Mikko Koivu. Koivu had two assists and was all over the ice; both in the defensive zone and offensive zone. But the star of the game has to be Bouchard; he was the best player on the ice tonight for either team. His hustle play to keep the puck in the Avalanche zone was the biggest play of the game and directly led to the Wild's first goal- which completely turned the game around in the Wild's favor. Bouchard, who made his presence felt on the ice all night, also scored late in the third period to ice the game for the Wild.
The Wild must improve its even strength performance. During 5-on-5 play, Colorado controlled the game and certainly had the better scoring chances. Improving their play while at even-strength is imperative for the Wild, because the Wild are not going to score two power play goals in every game.
Above all else, this was a solid first game performance and win for the Wild tonight. As the team gets acclimated to each other on the ice, their performance should improve. In the meantime, the Wild got a much needed win in its home opener. While it wasn't always pretty, it still counts for two points in the standings. And that is all that matters on opening night.

Analyzing the Minnesota Wild's 2013 Schedule

2013-01-13T01:19:00.001-06:00

For a look at the entire Minnesota Wild schedule:http://shagsonsports.blogspot.com/2013minnesota-wild-schedule.html
The Minnesota Wild open the season with three straight home games, and six of their first eight games are at home. This is the perfect opportunity to pick up some early points, while at the same time gaining an idea of how to play with each other(#hockey porn) on the ice. As mentioned before, I expect the Wild to struggle just a bit to start the season, due to all the new pieces joining the team, and so little time to prepare for the season. But to open with three consecutive home games is more than the Wild could have hoped for. Now it is up to the team to take advantage of the schedule and produce some wins early in the season. They will need them as the season unfolds.
The Wild's longest home-stand this season is three games. They have four home-stands of that length. The longest road trip for the Wild is also three games. Minnesota has three road trips of such length; including two in the month of April.
The toughest stretch for the Wild: February 21st-March 9th- The Wild play eight games during this period, with six of those games on the road.
As mentioned above, the easiest stretch for the Wild is the first two weeks of the season, in which they play six of their first eight games at home.
Minnesota starts the season at home against the Colorado Avalanche and finishes the season on the road against them, as well.
The Wild has 8 back-to-back games. Four of those back-to-backs feature both games on the road. Minnesota has two sets of back-to-back games were both games are at home, and two sets of back-to-back games that are split home and away.
Minnesota travels to Nashville on March 9th. This will be the first game back to Nashville for former Predator, Ryan Suter. The Wild hosts the Predators on Janurary 22nd and February 9th.
The Wild will have three of their first seven games on national TV.
In all, the Wild have six games scheduled for a national TV audience. They are: FRI, Jan. 25@ Detroit NHL Network; SUN, Jan 27@St. Louis NBC Sports; WED, Jan 30 vs Chicago NBC Sports; WED, MAR 20 @Detroit; NBC Sports; TUE, APR 9 vs Chicago; FRI, APR 26 vs Edmonton.

Minnesota Wild Schedule

2013-01-13T00:19:00.000-06:00

The NHL schedule is finally out. Here is the Minnesota Wild's 2013 schedule.

JANUARY

OPPONENT

TIME (ET)

Sat, Jan 19

vs
Colorado

9:00 PM

Sun, Jan 20

vs
Dallas

8:00 PM

Tue, Jan 22

vs
Nashville

8:00 PM

Fri, Jan 25

@
Detroit

7:30 PM

NHLN

Sun, Jan 27

@
St. Louis

6:00 PM

NBCSN

Tue, Jan 29

vs
Columbus

8:00 PM

Wed, Jan 30

vs
Chicago

8:00 PM

NBCSN

FEBRUARY

OPPONENT

TIME (ET)

Fri, Feb 1

@
Anaheim

10:00 PM

Mon, Feb 4

@
Phoenix

9:00 PM

Thu, Feb 7

vs
Vancouver

8:00 PM

Sat, Feb 9

vs
Nashville

8:00 PM

Mon, Feb 11

@
Calgary

9:00 PM

Tue, Feb 12

@
Vancouver

10:00 PM

Thu, Feb 14

vs
Colorado

8:00 PM

Sun, Feb 17

vs
Detroit

6:00 PM

Thu, Feb 21

@
Edmonton

9:30 PM

Sat, Feb 23

@
Calgary

10:00 PM

Tue, Feb 26

vs
Calgary

8:00 PM

Thu, Feb 28

@
Phoenix

9:00 PM

MARCH

OPPONENT

TIME (ET)

Fri, Mar 1

@
Anaheim

10:00 PM

Sun, Mar 3

vs
Edmonton

8:00 PM

Tue, Mar 5

@
Chicago

8:30 PM

Sat, Mar 9

@
Nashville

8:00 PM

Sun, Mar 10

vs
Vancouver

8:00 PM

Tue, Mar 12

vs
Anaheim

8:00 PM

Thu, Mar 14

vs
Colorado

8:00 PM

Sat, Mar 16

@
Colorado

3:00 PM

Mon, Mar 18

@
Vancouver

10:00 PM

Wed, Mar 20

@
Detroit

7:30 PM

NBCSN

Sat, Mar 23

vs
San Jose

2:00 PM

Mon, Mar 25

@
Dallas

8:30 PM

Wed, Mar 27

vs
Phoenix

9:00 PM

Fri, Mar 29

@
Dallas

8:30 PM

Sat, Mar 30

vs
Los Angeles

8:00 PM

APRIL

OPPONENT

TIME (ET)

Mon, Apr 1

vs
St. Louis

8:00 PM

Wed, Apr 3

@
San Jose

10:30 PM

Thu, Apr 4

@
Los Angeles

10:30 PM

Sun, Apr 7

@
Columbus

6:00 PM

Tue, Apr 9

vs
Chicago

8:00 PM

NBCSN

Thu, Apr 11

vs
St. Louis

8:00 PM

Sat, Apr 13

vs
Columbus

8:00 PM

Mon, Apr 15

@
Calgary

9:00 PM

Tue, Apr 16

@
Edmonton

9:30 PM

Thu, Apr 18

@
San Jose

10:30 PM

Sun, Apr 21

vs
Calgary

6:00 PM

Tue, Apr 23

vs
Los Angeles

8:00 PM

Fri, Apr 26

vs
Edmonton

8:00 PM

NHLN

Sat, Apr 27

@
Colorado

7:30 PM

Minnesota Wild Season Preview Part 2: Q&A TIme

2013-01-12T23:04:00.001-06:00

Minnesota-Wild-2013-season-preview-part1
For part one click on the link above.

By the time the puck drops on the Minnesota Wild season, January 19th, it will have been over eight long months since they last took the ice in an NHL contest. A lot has happened since the Wild lost 4-1 to the Phoenix Coyotes on April 7, 2012; Zach Parise and Ryan Suter signed with the club as free agents; the NHL lockout (remember that?) robbed the team of half its games; team owner, Craig Leipold,-reportedly a hawk during the lockout- was involved in a shouting match with free agent defenseman Chris Campoli during the intense labor negotiations; elite prospect Mikael Granlund made his long-awaited North American pro debut; and, last but not least, goaltender Josh Harding was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. With that said, let's get to the second part of the 2013 Minnesota Wild season preview, and answer some questions.

Will the Wild start the season slowly?
-With a ton of new players, there are bound to be growing pains for the Wild to begin the season. And with a short training camp, there will not be a lot of time to work out the kinks before the games begin. Because any sort of losing streak will be even more magnified thanks to the 48-game schedule, the Wild can not afford to fall too far behind the pack in the tough Western Conference. IF this team can tread water in the first month of the season, they will put themselves in prime position to make the playoffs. As they should get better as the season goes along; growing accustomed to each others movements on the ice and coach Mike Yeo's system.

Who will be the Wild's best player this season?
Good question. For the first time in years, there is actually a debate on this topic. But the answer is the same as it has been for the past while: Mikko Koivu. Koivu, the Wild's captain, is the most underrated player in the whole of the NHL. He is a great all-around player; equally adept at the offensive and defensive aspects of the game. Plus, he competes as hard as any player in the NHL. With those qualities and the addition of actual NHL caliber talent to his team, he should post the best numbers of his career on a per-game basis.

Which prospect(s)(besides Mikael Granlund) will make the Minnesota Wild's roster out of training camp?
-The Wild are loaded with elite prospects. The hockeys future website named Minnesota as having the best group of prospects in the NHL. But the Wild have room for maybe just one prospect on the big-league squad, as of now. And if Pierre-Marc Bouchard is cleared to return from his concussion in time to start the season, there will probably not be room for any prospects to make the club out of training camp.

If Bouchard is unable to play right away, look for prospect Jason Zucker to start the season as the Wild's third line left winger. In fact, even if Bouchard is healthy, the Wild should find a way to play Zucker on its third line. He has great speed and has averaged a point-per-game (16goals, 17assists, 33 games played)so far this season for the Houston Aeros, the Wild's AHL affiliate. Plus, he had a cup of coffee with the Wild late last season. So he knows what is expected of him, and how the game is played at the NHL level.

Can Mikael Granlund win the Rookie of the Year(Calder Trophy)?
-Yes. This kid has all the skill in the world. And he is sure to receive a large share of ice-time- including significant time on the power play. Plus, he will be playing with fellow Finnish countrymen Niklas Backstom and Mikko Koivu, so he should be comfortable on the ice and in the locker-room. He has the talent to be the best player in Minnesota Wild history. You might be saying big deal. And I would grant you the Wild don't exactly have the history or legacy of the Montreal Canadiens. But look at this list of Wild greats Granlund has the chance to better: Maxim Shushinsky, Warren Peters, Andrei Zyuzin, Mark Parrish, Cam Barker, Eric Belanger, Colton Gillies, James Sheppard, Chris Simon and the immortal Antti Miettinen. Need I say more? Those are some illustrious names right there. And I would put any of those guys up there with the Rocket Richard's, Jean Beliveau's and Guy Laflleur's of the ice hockey world.

Are the Wild a legitimate Stanley Cup contender this season?
Despite the optimism and high fan expectations, the Wild are a not a legit threat to win the cup this season.While they should be an improved team, you can't expect them to make the jump from missing the playoffs the previous four seasons to being a cup contender this year. That is just too high of a goal. Did the team get better in the offseason? No Doubt. But the Wild still need to add an experienced, quality top 3 defenseman to be considered a cup contender. They are too young on the blueline to be expected to bring home a cup this season.

Where will the Wild finish in the Western Conference standings?
-The Wild will end the season in sixth place in the Western Conference. Yes, the Minnesota Wild added a lot of talented pieces to its roster this past offseason. But you have to remember that the Wild scored the fewest goals in the National Hockey League last season. They also managed to finish dead last in shots-on-goal per game, with just 26.5 shots on net per game. Although that number should rise with the additions of Parise, Suter, Granlund, et al.- it will not rise enough to make the Wild an instant Stanley Cup contender. Especially in a truncated season, with an abbreviated training camp and little practice time during the season.

Making the playoffs, however, should be the team's lone goal this season. And, as the old cliche goes: once you make the playoffs-anything can happen. Just ask the LA Kings.

Minnesota Wild 2013 Season Preview Part 1: Line Combinations and Defensive Pairings

2013-01-09T18:14:00.000-06:00

2013 Minnesota Wild Preview Part 1: Line Combinations and Defensive Pairings

The Wild enter the abbreviated 2013 season with high expectations; thanks to the free agent signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter and the arrival of star prospect, Mikael Granlund. Will the team meet these expectations? Will they succumb to the pressure and fail to produce the expected results? What will the lines look like? What prospects will make the team out of training camp? Can the Wild win the Northwest Division? Those are just a few of the many questions surrounding the Wild this season. Let's try to answer some of those questions.

-What will the line combinations be to start the season?
The first line appears to be Mikko Koivu at center; Zach Parise at left wing; Dany Heatley at Right wing. That is a top-flight first-line grouping in the NHL. If those guys can find the right chemistry, they should be able to put the puck in the net and lead the Wild to a playoff berth.

Centering the second line will be Mikael Granlund. His left wing will be Matt Cullen. Devin Setoguchi will be the right wing on this line. Now, if Pierre-Marc Bouchard is cleared to play (Bouchard has not played in over a calender year after suffering a concussion. This is the second time he has missed a whole year's worth of time due to a concussion. He claims he is 100%, but he has not faced any contact yet. So, yeah, his status is murky. ), he may replace Cullen on the left side of this line. This grouping of players will bring a lot of skill to the ice, especially, if (and this is a rather big if) Bouchard can return to his pre-concussion form. But they will be an undersized group, and each player has a history of injuries. Can they withstand the physicality of the NHL, and produce points consistently?

The third and fourth lines are the hardest to figure out at this early date. Kyle Brodziak will undoubtedly center the third line, with Cal Clutterbuck as his right wing. The left wing is a bit of a question mark: If Bouchard is cleared, does Cullen slide down to play left wing? Does the Wild call up prospect Jason Zucker, who leads all AHL rookies in goals scored, to play on the third line? Or, does the third line left wing slot get filled by Torrey Mitchell, an off-season free-agent signee?

Without knowing who is going to make the team, assigning names to the fourth line is, at-best, an educated guess. The one certainty on the fourth line appears to be, Zenon Konopka, another of the Wild's off-season free-agent signees . Konopka's grit, faceoff ability, and willingness to drop the gloves make him a shoe-in to play center on the team's fourth line. Potential wingers on the fourth line include: Torrey Mitchell, Darroll Powe, Matt Kassian, Stephane Veilleux and Jake Dowell.

My best guess on how the lines shake out to start the season: Cullen starts on the second line, Zucker plays third line left wing, and Mitchell and Powe start the season as Konopka's wingers on the fourth line. Sadly, I don't believe Bouchard is/can stay healthy. Which is a shame, because he is a dynamic player, with a ton of skill, who would look great next to Granlund and Setoguchi on the Wild's second line.

What will the Wild's defensive pairings look like?

-As of right know, the Wild are a tad thin on the blue line for my taste. Due, in part, to injuries and inexperience. With Marco Scandella and Brian Connelly both injured recently in the AHL, and star-prospect Jonas Brodin still out at least a month with a broken collarbone, Minnesota signed veteran defenseman Paul Mara to a minor league contract today and invited 2012 first round draft pick Matt Dumba to training camp. While it's doubtful, in my opinion, either player will make the Wild, I believe the moves show the Wild front office is concerned with their depth on defense.

The number one pair of defensemen will be Jared Spurgeon and Ryan Suter. Both of these players have great skating and passing ability. Suter, another free-agent signee, is also a top-flight, shut-down defender-- something the Wild have not had in the history of the franchise, with all due respect to Brent Burns, a young Willie Mitchell, Kim Johnsson, Filip Kuba, Nick Schultz, Cam Barker, and Petteri Nummelin.

The second pair of defensemen will be Marco Scandella and Tom Gilbert. Gilbert, acquired in a trade with Edmonton at last season's trade-deadline, might be the Wild's most underrated player not named Mikko Koivu. He can skate, pass and shoot. Plus, he can defend. All in all, Gilbert is a solid second-pair defenseman. Scandella, a Wild draft pick, is an up and coming d-man. He has a solid shot and is adept at making the first pass out of the zone. But what he really excels at is defending. He has the size and skill needed to play defense at a high-level in the NHL. And he should only get better as he gains more experience at the NHL level. He is injured, but he should be ready to go soon.

Clayton Stoner, Justin Falk, Nate Prosser, Matt Dumba, Brian Connelly, and Paul Mara will be competing for the final two spots on defense. Stoner, a Wild veteran, has the inside track on one of the final two spots. The other slot is up for grabs. Look for Falk or Prosser to claim the final spot, while the other serves as the extra defenseman on the roster until Brodin is ready to go. Dumba, who must be returned to Juniors if he doesn't make the roster, could throw a wrench into those plans with a terrific camp. But I'm skeptical the Wild would burn a year of his contract in a shortened season.

This has been stated ad-naseum by me and others who follow the Wild, but it bears repeating: on paper, this is the most-talented roster the Minnesota Wild has ever fielded. And Frankly, it's not even close. With that said, you don't earn points on paper, you earn them on the ice. Can this team gel in a condensed time-frame and find the right chemistry, which is so improtant in pro-sports? We wont have an answer to that question until the season unfolds.

But an important thing to remember-- we are having a season, finally. We now have the opportunity to watch the games, to watch the ebb and flow of the hockey season, with all of it's up-and-downs, which is the only thing hockey fans have wanted throughout this moronic lockout; the ability to watch the best game in the world. And I, for one, can not wait for this season to get started.

***PART 2 Tomorrow**

5 Predictions for the Minnesota Wild in 2013- Plus Bonus Predictions

2012-12-30T13:16:00.001-06:00

The following predictions are based on my belief that there will be an NHL season in 2013. The NHL and NHLPA can't possibly be dumb enough to lose another full season, right? RIGHT? Especially, when they are so close on so many issues. Both sides know that losing another full season would irrevocably damage the game and it's popularity; causing each side to lose money and sponsors. Plus, it would create a smaller revenue stream in the future. And if there's one thing we know the NHL and NHLPA can agree on: it's the fact that both sides like making as much money as possible. With all that said, let's get to the predictions.

#1. The Minnesota Wild will make the playoffs as the #6 seed in the Western Conference.
-The Wild have not made the playoffs since the 2007-2008 season. The drought ends in the upcoming abbreviated season. If you remember, Minnesota made a huge splash this offseason- acquiring the two most sought after free-agents on the market in Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. With Parise and Suter, plus other newcomers: Mikael Granlund, Torrey Mitchell, and Zenon Konopka, the Minnesota Wild have their most talented and deepest roster in franchise history. All of this talent should add up to a playoff spot, even in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.

#2. Minnesota will start the season slow.
-Yes, the Wild added a lot of talent to its roster this off-season. But once a deal is struck and the lockout is ended, there will not be a lot of time to prepare for the upcoming season. And this will negatively affect teams who are integrating a lot of new members to there roster. I mean, with only a one-week training camp and a lot of players new to the Wild's roster; there are bound to be some growing pains when it comes to learning head coach Mike Yeo's system. However, with the kind of talent the Wild is adding to its roster, they should be able to weather an early storm or two.

#3. Mikko Koivu will still be the best player on the Minnesota Wild
-Koivu, the Wild's captain, and the most underrated player in the NHL, will still be the team's best all-around player. Koivu, a center, can do it all on the ice; He wins faceoffs; Plays the body; Is excellent defensively; Has great vision; Is a deft passer; Has great hands; and most importantly: he plays hard and to win every single night. His one issue has been staying healthy. If he can avoid injury this season, he should post the best numbers of his career. Plus, he will be playing with Zach Parise every night. And I will go out on a limb and say Parise is just a tad bit better than the Antti Miettinen's of the world that usually line-up next to Koivu on the ice.

#4. The Wild Will be a Fun Team to Watch
-Even hard-core Wild fans have to admit that their team hasn't exactly been thrilling to watch play throughout the years. (Jacques Lemaire.) That should change this year. Mike Yeo, Minnesota Wild head coach, wants to play an aggressive, up-tempo game, featuring a strong forecheck. And this year, he has the horses to do so. Last year's team started out playing an aggressive style. But injuries forced coach Yeo to dial his system back. With all of the talented additions to his roster, look for Yeo to ramp up his system and to do away with the dreaded trap style of play. Which should make for some entertaining hockey. And hey, maybe the Wild will even finish in the top half of the league in goals-scored. (A man can dream.)

#5. Mikael Granlund Will Win the Calder Trophy. (Rookie of the Year)
-Granlund, Minnesota's first round pick in the 2010 NHL draft, will finally be making his NHL debut once the lockout ends. His debut will come with a lot of pressure attached, as fans in Minnesota have been waiting for what seems like an eternity to see him make his Wild debut. Yet, nothing this elite-prospect has shown indicates he will shrink from the moment. Granlund, the AHL Rookie of the Month in November, has 8 goals and 10 assists in 19 games played so far for the Houston Aeros this season, despite missing time with a severely sprained ankle. He certainly has the pedigree and talent to win the Calder Trophy; In 2010, he was named the rookie of the year in the, SM-liga, the top pro league in Finland, as an 18-year-old. I expect big things from him this year and the years to come.

Other Predictions:

Despite many fan's unrest with the lockout, (myself included) the NHL will see its TV ratings and attendance grow in most markets.
-The fact is hockey is/was growing in the United States. And even with the lockout, I believe it will continue to do so. Technology has advanced to the point that the casual fan can see the game better on his/her HDTV screen, which will bring more eyeballs to the sport. Also, TV ratings are up for all sports, because more people want to watch the games in the comfort of their living room, and because sports are the last thing left on TV that need to be watched live. Added all up, this portends success for the NHL in the future. Especially, when you factor in that hockey is at its best when seen live, in-person. This should help boost the attendance numbers in the short-term, while the stigma of the lockout wears off.

Sidney Crosby will be the MVP of the NHL
-Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain, is hands-down the best player in the league. He will have more leeway on the ice and less worry of taking another head-shot, because of his work in trying to get a deal done to solve the lockout. Plus, you have to remember that he has barely played over the last two years and is sure to be fired up and looking to make up for lost time. The best player in the league with more room on the ice; equals an Art Ross Trophy, a Ted Lindsay Award, and a Hart Trophy for the Kid.

The Detroit Red Wings will take a step back.
-Detroit, the best franchise in the NHL for the last 20 years, will take a step back this season. They are extremely thin on defense and will miss Nik Lidstrom's steady prescence on the blue line dearly. Plus, they are getting old in a lot of key spots. They will still be a playoff team, but they will not be a cup-contender.

Your 2013 Stanley Cup Champion will be the Chicago Blackhawks.
-Chicago won the cup in 2010 and will win it this year. Despite having the most talented team in the league the past few years, the Blackhawks have failed to live up to their lofty expectations. That changes this season. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will lead this team to another cup. And they must, for the Blackhawks will be in salary cap hell for the foreseeable future after this season.

Adrian Peterson is Really, Really Good

2012-12-22T23:20:00.001-06:00

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings running-back, is the best player in the NFL, and it's not close. Without Peterson, the Vikings would be staring another 3-13 season in the face. Instead, they are fighting for a playoff berth with only two games remaining in the regular season. And Peterson deserves all the credit. As he is the Vikings' offense.

Peterson, who tore his ACL one year ago, is having the greatest season by a running back in the history of the NFL. Peterson has: 1,812 rushing yards through 14 games;(an NFL record) 11 rushing touchdowns; six games with at least 150-yards rushing; a 6.3 yards-per-carry average, and an NFL leading 909 rushing yards after contact. All-Day, has rushed for 30% more yards than his closest competitor, Marshawn Lynch, who has 1,379 yards rushing. That's just incredible. Wait, there's more: Doug Martin is second in the NFL with 572 rushing yards after contact-just 337 yards behind Adrian; And Peterson needs just 294 rushing yards over his last two games to break Eric Dickerson's record for most rushing yards in a single season. Dickerson rushed for 2,105 yards in 1984.

What makes Peterson's season even more incredible is the fact that he has received no help from the Vikings' passing game. Christian Ponder, the Minnesota Vikings QB, has thrown for 1,093 yards and seven touchdowns in his last eight games. Meanwhile, Peterson, in the same time frame, has run for 1,313 yards and nine TDs. Peterson's 1,313 rushing yards over his last eight games, are the most rushing yards accrued over any eight-game span in NFL history.

In the last eight Minnesota Viking games: Peterson is averaging 164.1 rushing yards; the Vikings' passing game is averaging 121.5 yards; Peterson has 15 rushes of 20-yards or more; the Vikings' passing game has just 9 plays of 20-yards or more; Peterson is averaging a ridiculous 7.5 yards with each carry he receives; The Vikings' pass offense is averaging just 5.1 yards per pass attempt.

How good would Peterson be with a real QB on his team??? How terrible would this Vikings' team be without Adrian??? I mean, opposing teams know that the Vikings are going to be running the ball, and they still can't slow Peterson down. Defenses' are stacking the line of scrimmage with 8,9 guys, yet Peterson continues to gash them on the ground.

On the other hand, Christian Ponder is facing rudimentary pass-coverages and defenses focused 100% on stopping the run, and he still can't make plays in the passing game. Which leads me to believe Ponder is not the answer at QB. But that's another story for another day.

What Peterson has done this season is spectacular; He has had the greatest season ever by a Minnesota Viking, regardless of position; He is on the cusp of breaking Eric Dickerson's record for most rushing yards in a single season; He has dragged this mediocre Vikings team near a playoff berth; And most importantly- he has cemented himself as the greatest athlete of all-time in Minnesota. And it's not close.

In Minnesota, we have been blessed to watch some great players play for our teams: Killebrew, Allison, Carew, Puckett, Blyleven, Santana, Mauer, Modano, Broten, Gaborik, Mikan, Garnett, Page, Eller, Marshall, Tarkenton, Krause, Carter, and Moss. But none of those men can match Peterson when it comes to talent and production. Peterson is already a top-5 back in NFL history and a first ballot hall-of-famer. And that's if he retired today.

As a Minnesotan, I'm so glad that I get the privilege and opportunity to watch Peterson's greatness each and every week. Every time he gets the hand-off from Ponder, there's an audible gasp in the crowd, because they know that he has the chance to score from anywhere on the field. And that gasp is why we are all sports fans. It's the thrill of not knowing what is going to happen; the thrill of competition. Minnesota has never been blessed with a better competitor than Adrian Peterson. So we should enjoy him while he lasts, because Adrian Peterson's only come around once in a great while. 30-years from now, we will be telling our kids/grandkids stories about how great his career was. And they will not believe us, because his career has been something that needs to be seen to believe.

The 2012 NHL Lockout- Greed, Ego, and Stupidity

2012-12-08T16:48:00.000-06:00

As the NHL lockout continues to drag on, it gets harder and harder to comprehend how greedy, moronic, shameful and egotistical both the Players Association (NHLPA) and the Board of Governors (NHL Owners)have acted, throughout it all. After last Thursday's charade, the damage both sides are doing to the league and the sport of hockey is palpable.

Now, if this does get settled in time to hold a season this year, who wants to watch? Why should the fans of the sport come back? Who wants to spend their hard-earned money on a league that treats their fans this poorly? It's embarrassing that the two sides have waged a war that neither can win, over issues that should/could be solved with relative ease. Especially, if the two sides cared even a little bit about the sport/league that they are involved with. No professional sports league is bigger than it's fans. Without the paying customer there is no NHL. And sadly, with the way these negotiations have unfolded so far, the NHL, as it currently exists, appears to be dying a slow death.

What's Worse? Both the NHLPA and the Owners appear to be blissfully unaware that these questions exist. This just goes to show how ignorant, clueless, and arrogant each side is. Neither side has an answer to these questions because they haven't put one ounce of thought into what the fans think. In fact, both sides seem to think that as soon as a deal is reached the fans will come back. Which is such an arrogant mindset, and a prime reason the league is in the shape it is in.

People are creatures of habit. With the NHL being virtually invisible in the United States because of the lockout, the casual fan has moved on. He, or she, is watching the NBA, college basketball or any one of the million channels that they have on their TV, nowadays. The casual fan has now got in the habit of coming home from work, grabbing a beer, and watching the Sixers-Heat game on TNT. Whereas, they used to do this with the NHL. When the NHL comes back, if it does, will people break their habits and watch the game again? The casual fan has gotten used to not having the NHL in their life. And that could spell doom for the NHL.

And what about the sponsors of the NHL? How can the league continue to irritate the companies that fund it? How upset do you think Molson is? They paid the NHL hundreds of millions of dollars to advertise their products. And as of right now, there is no NHL to broadcast these spots, commercials, etc. Talk about wasting money. No matter what happens in the future, big companies are going to be hesitant to sign up with the NHL. Why would they risk sponsoring a league that shuts down every six years?

Another overlooked factor in this lockout: How angry is NBC? NBC is the NHL's only television partner in the United States. So, by definition, they are not someone the NHL can afford to upset. But, of course the NHL already has angered the network. By canceling the Winter Classic, the NHL denied NBC an event that is a huge ratings draw, and money maker for the network.

Another reason for NBC to be livid at the NHL- the NBC Sports Network. NBC started the NBC Sports Network(NBCSN) last winter. Much of the content for that channel is centered around the NHL. Now, they have no NHL games to broadcast. Which leaves a huge hole in their programming for the Winter, Spring, and early Summer. I mean, they have a repeat of the second round of the PGA's Franklin Templeton Shootout playing in prime-time on Monday Night of next week. A repeat of the second round, not the final round, of a PGA silly-season event IN PRIMETIME! Even the BigTen network is embarrassed for NBCSN.

What, you may ask, was originally supposed to fill the Monday time-slot? Only, an NHL game between two of the league's original six teams and biggest draws- The Boston Bruins playing at the Detroit Red Wings. I mean, I know, there's a lot of rich, old, and or senile people who may watch a golf repeat, but I have to think NBCSN would rather have the Bruins-Redwings game playing on their network, Monday Night. Television revenue is based on ratings. The higher a program's rating, the more companies pay to advertise their products during that program.With no NHL programming to broadcast, NBCSN is not drawing the type of ratings needed to make their network profitable. And the network has every right to be upset at the NHL for this.

As a person who has religiously followed the NHL for all 29 years of my existence, I have never been so ashamed and scared for the league. I have stuck with the NHL through all of it's ups and downs. I didn't quit the league when it allowed my Minnesota North Stars to leave for Dallas; I became a Vancouver Canucks fan, mostly because of Pavel Bure; I stayed up late watching games on ESPN2; I found the games broadcast on OLN before that network became Versus; I still watched even when every game seemed to be 2-1 in the late 90's early 00's; I came back after the lost season; I rooted for the Crosby-Ovechkin rivalry because I wanted the game to grow in America; I was overjoyed, and ecstatic when the league announced that Minnesota would be getting the franchise that became the Minnesota Wild; I was bouncing off the walls this summer when the Wild signed Zach Parise and Ryan Suter; Finally, a Minnesota team spending money and trying to win a championship. Then, the lockout came.

Currently, I feel conflicted when it comes to the NHL. The feeling of joy I once received from watching the greatest sport in the world has slowly dissipated. In it's place, are feelings of anger and despair, toward the league I once loved. With every day that the lockout continues, I find myself drifting more and more into an apathetic feeling about the NHL. I find myself questioning my allegiance to this great sport. And I wonder, how many others feel the same way I do? Sadly, I think I know the answer. And it's not good for the NHL.

Vikings' Week 12 Reactions

2012-11-28T17:13:00.001-06:00

Week 12 outcome: Bears 28- Vikings 10

Sadly, the game was not as nearly as close as the final score indicates. The Bears thoroughly dominated the Vikings on Sunday.
Christian Ponder is not the long-term answer at QB for the Minnesota Vikings; he still struggles to read NFL defenses; He too often locks onto his primary target; He refuses to go through his receiver progressions; And he can't throw the ball over ten yards with any sort of accuracy. Those are exactly the traits you want in a franchise QB, right?
Where was Jared Allen? Other than a dirty hit on Bears' offensive lineman Lance Louis, Allen, was invisible. Going against a depleted and otherwise terrible Bears' offensive line, Allen did nothing. He has to produce more, if the Vikings are going to be a factor in the playoff race.
Jerome Simpson, you are terrible. Dropping, three passes, is not exactly the way to get the ball thrown to you more.
Bill Musgrave, meet Adrian Peterson. Peterson, the Vikings' best player, by far, was not involved in the gameplan until the second half. By that point, the game was practically out of reach. With Percy Harvin injured, Peterson is the only player on the Vikings' offense that NFL offenses fear. He should be getting at least 30 meaningful touched per-game. I mean, have you seen the Vikings' WR group?
Even in garbage time, AP runs hard. He is truly a special player. A player that deserves better than this Vikings team. Peterson deserves to be playing in the Super Bowl. Sadly, for him, his QB is Christian Ponder and he is a Viking. So, the odds of that happening are slim, to say the least.
Kyle Rudolph continues to impress. When he gets the ball thrown his way, good things tend to happen.
Jarius Wright, the rookie WR, continues to impress as well. He could be a solid slot receiver in the near future.
The Vikings need a big, prototypical WR; A receiver that can go and get the ball down the field and in the redzone; A receiver that can make Christian Ponder look OK by snaring a few of his errant throws.
Besides QB, WR is Minnesota's weakest position. Both in terms of talent and depth. Besides Percy Harvin and Jarius Wright, the rest of the Minnesota WR's should be playing in the UFL, the CFL, or the arena league, not the NFL.
Just a hunch, but I can envision a scenario that involves the Vikings trading for 49ers QB, Alex Smith. Smith, a game-manager at QB, but highly efficient, is going to be available this offseason. And his skill set is exactly what this Vikings' regime seems to want at the QB position.
He is, basically, what the Vikings hope Ponder can grow into.
If the above scenario happens, I will not be happy. Smith is OK. But he would not be the long-term answer this team needs at QB.

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears Preview

2012-11-24T20:45:00.001-06:00

On Sunday, November 25, the Minnesota Vikings(6-4) will take on the Chicago Bears(7-3) at Soldier Field. The Vikings, with six wins against four losses, are a game behind both the Bears and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North.

Meanwhile, Minnesota is technically tied with the Tampa Bay Bucs and the Seattle Seahawks for the second and last NFC wildcard spot. Both of whom have six wins against four losses. However, both the Seahawks and Bucs own a tie-breaker advantage over the Vikings, as a result of defeating them earlier in the season. Effectively, this places the Vikings a game behind both teams.

Minnesota appears to be catching Chicago at the right time. As the Bears have lost two games in a row. And will have a short week of rest and preparation for Sunday's game, as a result of playing Monday night in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, the Vikings have had two weeks to recuperate, rest, and game-plan for the Bears. So, they should be fresh and ready to play Sunday.

In all likelihood, this is the biggest game of the season for the Vikes. And it is a winnable game for them. They will be the fresher team and Chicago is reeling. This is the type of game that you have to win if you want to make the playoffs.

If Minnesota wins, they will have a legitimate chance to not only make the playoffs, but also win the NFC North Division title.

However, if the Vikings lose to the Bears on Sunday, it would be devastating to the their playoff chances. Because after Sunday's game, the Vikings still have two games left with the Green Bay Packers(7-4); a home game against the Bears; and road games at the St. Louis Rams(3-6-1) and the Houston Texans(10-1).

Since Minnesota is likely to be favored in just one of those games(at St. Louis), Sunday's contest against Chicago is as close to a "must-win-game" as there is.

With that said, here are the keys to tomorrow's game for the Vikings:

The D-Line must get pressure on the QB - Jay Cutler will be starting at QB for Chicago tomorrow. He will be making his return to the Bears' lineup after missing the past 1.5 games due to a concussion. Chicago gave up six sacks in their loss to San Fran on Monday. And their offensive line has looked horrendous all season. If the Vikings can get pressure on Cutler, with just their D-Line, it will allow them play zone coverage and keep seven guys back on defense. This will help keep Bears' WR Brandon Marshall contained. Also, Cutler, is prone to make mistakes and boneheaded throws when he is under duress. So, it would be ideal for the Vikings to have as many players as possible in coverage to nab Cutler's errant throws.
Capitalize on Cutler's Mistakes- Bears' QB Jay Cutler, is usually good for at least two-three bad throws into coverage a game. The Vikings have to take advantage and intercept those passes when Cutler makes them. They can ill-afford to drop them. If the Vikings' defense can give their offense a short field to work with a couple of times in this game, it would greatly aid Minnesota's chances for victory. The Vikings' offense is going to struggle to score points on this Bears' defense. Especially, if they have to drive the length of the field on the majority of their possessions. So, turning a short field into points is the best chance Minnesota has to win this game.
Get Kyle Rudolph involved between the 20's- With Percy Harvin not playing, Rudolph, the Vikings tight-end, is the team's best available pass-receiver. The Vikings must involve him in the game-plan, in order, to keep the Bears from loading up 9-10 men in the box to stop Adrian Peterson.
Attack Brian Urlacher- Urlacher, once a great player, and an 11-time pro bowler, is a shell of his former self. Minnesota should be looking to get the ball deep, down the middle of the field in the passing game. This is the part of the field that Urlacher is asked to patrol in the Bears' cover 2 defensive scheme. Sadly, for Chicago fans, he is unable to do so anymore. This is where Kyle Rudolph should come into play. If they can hit Rudolph or Jarius Wright in the seams of the Bear defense, they could run for days.

Rely on the run, but mix-up the play calls- Everyone knows the Vikings want to run the ball, and run it a lot. This is fine. The Bears have struggled against the run lately. As both San Fran and Houston had success running the ball on Chicago, in recent weeks. But the Vikings must mix in the pass on early-downs to keep the Bears defense honest. Effectively passing the ball in early down and distances will allow the Vikings running game some breathing room. Which will be key, if the Vikings are to win. Because we all know what Adrian Peterson can do, if he gets even the smallest of holes.

Prediction: Minnesota 20-Chicago 17
- Adrian Peterson ties Robert Smith's team record of five straight 100-yard rushing games, Jared Allen harasses Jay Cutler all game long, the Vikings force three turnovers and win the game.

Houston Aeros Update

2012-11-21T17:24:00.001-06:00

The following is a quick update on the Minnesota Wild's AHL team-the Houston Aeros.

Standings: In 16 games played, Houston has seven wins, six losses, one overtime loss and two shootout losses (7-6-1-2). They trail the Oklahoma City Barons by one point for second place, and are currently seven points behind the Charlotte Checkers for first place in the AHL's South Division. The Aeros are currently tied with the Rochester Americans for eighth place in the AHL's Western Conference. This is important, as only the top eight teams from each conference will make the playoffs

Stats: Houston has scored 56 goals this season. A number that is good enough to make them the AHL's second highest scoring team at this point in the season. Disappointingly, they have allowed 52 goals to be scored against them, which is the second-highest total allowed in the AHL so far.

Player Updates:
-Mikael Granlund, the Wild's top prospect, has missed the past eight games for the Aeros due to a sprained ankle. Before suffering the injury, Granlund had 4 goals and 8 assists in just 8 games played. Plus, he was named the AHL's Rookie of the Month for the month of October. Granlund's 1.5 points per game led the AHL at the time of his injury.

-Charlie Coyle, Minnesota's number two rated prospect, has been just as impressive as his teammate, Mikael Granlund. Coyle, in his first professional season at any level, has 7 goals and 4 assists on the year. He has also played major minutes on the penalty kill for the Aeros this season. Aeros' coach John Torchetti, and general manager Jim Mill, both believe Coyle will be making his debut with the Wild this season (If we have an NHL season). Both men have praised Coyle for his hard work every night, his strength in front of the net, and his defensive zone play. All rare traits for a rookie to possess.

-Jonas Brodin- Unfortunately, Brodin, the Wild's best defensive prospect, suffered a broken collarbone in the same game Granlund sprained his ankle. In the eight games he played played in before getting hurt, Brodin was able to record 2 goals and 2 assists.

-Jason Zucker's 13 points, places him in a tie with Aeros veteran Justin Fontaine for the team's scoring lead. Zucker, another top-ten Wild prospect and AHL rookie, has 7 goals and 6 assists in 16 games played. He also leads the team with 39 shots on goal.

-Johan Larsson, yet another top-ten Wild prospect and AHL rookie, has 5 goals and 5 assists in 16 games played. Larsson has played on the penalty-kill and has displayed the defensive and offensive capabilities needed to become a future NHL player.

-Zach Phillips, another of the Wild's highly rated AHL rookies, has scored 1 goal and 4 assists in 14 games played. Out of all of the Wild's top prospects playing in Houston, Phillips has struggled the most. He is a team worst minus 7 in the plus/minus category. His lack of foot speed is noticeable at the AHL level.Bre

-Marco Scandella was one of the Wild's best defenseman last season. In Houston, he has picked up his play even more. Scandella has 9 assists in 12 games for the Aeros. And he leads the team in minutes played per-game.

-Matt Hackett, the Wild's top goaltending prospect, has struggled so far this season. He has 4 wins, 5 losses, and 2 shootout losses(4-5-2). Hackett also boasts an inflated 3.14 goals against average this season. And he has a save percentage of just 89.3%. Which is unacceptable for a starting goalie at any level. Hackett must pick up his play this year if the Aeros are to be as successful as they should be.

NBA Season Predictions Part 2

2012-11-02T19:33:00.000-05:00

NBA Season Predictions Part 1

6. The New York Knicks will struggle to make the Playoffs.
-I don't know why anyone would pick the Knicks to be good this season. And it has nothing to do with the fact that they let Jeremy Lin walk. They will struggle this season because they are a horrendous defensive team and they employ two of the most overrated players in the league- A'mare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo is a ball-hog, who refuses to pass, and dribbles in a stationery position for 7-10 seconds before he decides to jack-up a contested 20 foot jumper. That style of play is the reason he has won only two Playoff series in his career. A'mare has knees that are so bad they can not be insured, and is the worst defensive player in the league. The Knicks will be lucky to make the Playoffs this year. And if they do, it will be another quick 1st round exit.

7. 2012/2013 NBA Western Conference All Overrated Team
PG- Jeremy Lin- Parlayed a solid two week stretch with the Knicks into a huge contract from the Rockets. Now, he is in Houston, a city that ESPN doesn't care about. So let's see if he continues to be the Tebow of the NBA.
SG- Kobe Bryant-You can be a great player, which Kobe is, and still be overrated. He shoots too many contested jump-shots, doesn't play defense as well as he once did, and hogs the ball way too much to still be considered an elite NBA player. Yes, he will still find a way to get his numbers. But he is not nearly as efficient as he once was.
SF-Rudy Gay- He got paid. Now, he can't make a jump-shot from the perimeter to save his life. Also, he refuses to take the ball to the rim as much as he should/could. The Grizzlies were/are a better team with him not in the line-up.
PF-Blake Griffin- Plays no defense what-so-ever, injury prone, has no low post game, whines all the time, and is a terrible free-throw shooter. But he can dunk. So none of that other stuff matters, right?
C- Anthony Davis- Yes, I think he will be the best rookie from his class. But he has a long way to go before he can be rightfully compared to Tim Duncan, Bill Russell etc.. He has no back-to-the-basket game. And is extremely raw in all facets off his game. So to compare him with two of the best players of all-time, makes no sense to me, yet.

8. 2012 NBA Eastern Conference All Overrated Team
PG-Deron Williams-He has only been slightly above-average ever since he was traded to the Nets from the Jazz. Granted, he has been on two bad New Jersey teams since the trade. But his play has definitely fallen off. At one time, there was a question as to who was the better point guard between Williams and Chris Paul. In hindsight, that question seems ridiculous.
SG- Joe Johnson-He is basically stealing money at this point. He has the worst contract in the league.( 4 years left at $20 mil a year.) All of that money is being paid to a slightly above-average player. A player that plays no defense, and has no discernible skills besides a slightly above-average shooting stroke.
SF-Carmelo Anthony-Covered in the first paragraph. Suffice to say that I'm not impressed with his game, or the way he plays. And from the look of it, neither are his teammates on the Knicks.
PF-A'mare Stoudemire- Covered in the first paragraph. His knees are so bad the Knicks can't get his contract insured. Oh, and he is probably the worst defender in the league.
C- Roy Hibbert- Getting paid max-money now, thanks to a contract extension he signed this summer. Why? He has yet to put together a full season that includes him: staying healthy, while at the same time producing. Yes, hee can block shots. But he doesn't do it a prolific rate. Especially, for a guy well over seven feet tall. He also has a horrible, awkward, and ineffective post game. Which is unacceptable for a man that is 7'2".

9. Eastern Conference Playoff Teams
-1. Miami Heat-Overwhelming favorites to repeat as NBA Champs, in my opinion.
-2. Boston Celtics- The only team in the East that has a chance to hang with the Heat in a potential Playoff Series.
-3 .Indiana Pacers- The Pacers are a solid team. Which is good enough to win the third seed in the horrible Eastern Conference
-4. Atlanta Hawks- Having a healthy Al Horford for the entire season will be huge for this squad. Plus, they shed Joe Johnson's outrageous contract, and added Louis Williams to replace him, at 1/4 of the cost.
-5. Chicago Bulls- Even without Derrick Rose, this is still a fundamentally sound, well-coached team. That is good enough to tread water in the East until Rose returns from his torn ACL, in February.
-6. Philadelphia 76ers- Philly added Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson,and got rid of Andre Iguodala and Louis Williams. In my opinion, they lost more than they attained. But in the East, they are good enough to finish sixth.
-7. Cleveland Cavaliers- The Cavs' are an intriguing up and coming team. If Kyrie Irving can improve upon last season's rookie of the Year campaign, they could be a surprise Playoff team.
-8. Milwaukee Bucks- If nothing else, Milwaukee will be fun to watch this season. With two ball dominating guards that love to shoot,(Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings.)they have the potential to be explosive.

10. Western Conference Playoff Teams
1. San Antonio Spurs- The Spurs may be aging, but they will have the best regular season record in the West. Due, in large part, to the chemistry issues the Thunder and Lakers face. As both of those teams have to integrate new players into their respective rotations to begin the season.
2. OKC Thunder- Even without James Harden, this is still a dangerous and deep team. But, do they have enough depth and firepower left to make another NBA Finals appearance?
3. LA Lakers- They have an excellent starting five and no bench. Which is reminiscent of the Heat from last year. They will need time to figure out how to play together. But come Playoff time, they will be the team to beat in the West.
4. Denver Nuggets-They would be the number two seed in the East. But they play in the West, so their chances of making a deep playoff run are limited. Yet, I feel that if they draw the right opponents in the Playoffs, they could make a run.
5. Utah Jazz- A dominant front-line leads the Jazz. The Jazz play a different style of basketball than most teams. Whereas, most teams are going with smaller, more athletic line-ups, the Jazz are going with tall, powerful bruisers. They will be a tough out come playoff time.
6. Memphis Grizzlies- The Grizz are another dangerous Western Conference team. They are deep, and have the most underrated player in the league, Marc Gasol, to lead them. If Zach Randolph is 100%, they could win a playoff series.
7. LA Clippers- Chris Paul is the only reason this team makes the Playoffs this year. They have a terrible coach and too many players. Which is a recipe for disaster. Also, they play no defense besides Caron Butler, and Paul.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves- The Wolves' could be a tough out in the Playoffs, if they make it. Treading water, while Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio recover from injury will be the key. They can ill afford to fall too far out of the race in a stacked Western Conference

NBA Season Predictions Part 1

2012-11-02T15:56:00.001-05:00

Predictions for the upcoming NBA season.

1. The Miami Heat will repeat as NBA Champions

-The Heat are loaded again this season. And they also have Lebron James, the best basketball player since Michael Jordan. Lebron finally won his first NBA championship last season. And he continues to improve his game each year. I don't see anybody beating this team in a seven game series. As Lebron is just too good, and is at the peak of his basketball powers right now.

2. Oklahoma City will take a slight step back this season.
- The Thunder traded away James Harden, a top 20 overall player, just before the start of the season. Now, I still think the Thunder are a great team. But any team that loses an integral member of their core group, is bound to regress somewhat. I think the Thunder start the season out poorly, as they integrate the new members of their team. However, once they gel and get used to life without Harden, they will once again be in the Western Conference Finals. Yet, I don't see them making the Finals again without Harden.

3. The Lakers will win the Western Conference
-With the Thunder's trade of James Harden, there is no doubt anymore that the Lakers are the favorites to represent the Western Conference in this year's NBA Finals. Despite struggling to an 0-2 start this year, the Lakers have the most talented roster in the West. And they will eventually gel into a cohesive basketball team, that plays together and dominates their opponents on a nightly basis. Now, it might take until January for that task to be accomplished. But once they get comfortable with one another, look out.

4. The Minnesota Timberwolves Will Make the Playoffs
-Despite not having Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio (their two best players) until January, Minnesota will make the Playoffs for the first time since 2004. The Wolves' early season schedule is manageable. And with the depth added in the off-season, (Kirilenko, Roy) to go along with the continued improvement of Nik Pekovic and Derrick Williams, they should be able to withstand the early season injury problems.

5. Awards Predictions
-MVP: Lebron James- Best player in the league on the best team in the league. Enough said.
Others in the mix: Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Tony Parker, Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul
-Most Improved Player: Ty Lawson- Lawson is a great point guard for the Denver Nuggets. He continues to improve with every season he plays in the NBA. Look for him to lead the Nuggets to at least 52 wins this season.
Others in the mix: Kyrie Irving, Omir Asik, Danilo Gallinari, Nik Pekovic,
-Defensive Player of the Year: Serge Ibaka- Ibaka blocks a ton of shots, which appeals to the people who vote for this award. Plus, perennial DPOY. Dwight Howard, is reviled by most of the people who follow the NBA. So I think Ibaka is the beneficiary of said revulsion towards Howard, and picks up his first DPOY award this season. Even though, Howard is the best defensive player in the NBA.
Others in the mix- Tony Allen, Dwight Howard, Ron Artest
-Rookie of the Year: Anthony Davis- Davis should win this award easily. He has the requisite skills to be an elite NBA defender right-away. Plus, the other members of his draft class don't appear to be as ready for the NBA as he is.
Others in the Mix: Damian Lillard, Thomas Robinson, Jonas Valanciunas.

Who will win the NFC North this year?

2012-10-22T17:14:00.000-05:00

Who will win the NFC North this season?
The correct pick to win the NFC North this season is the Green Bay Packers. Despite being in third place at the time of this writing, the Packers boast the best all-around team in the NFC North. Plus, they have the easiest schedule remaining out of all of the NFC North teams. Those two factors, plus the Vikings' and Bears' regression to the mean, should allow the Packers to win the NFC North for the second consecutive season.

Talent:

In the NFL, the most important position on the field is the quarterback. And the Packers have the best QB in football, Aaron Rodgers. Now, that he has gotten himself back on-track, the Packers are playing at an elite level, once again. With Rodgers, and the best wide-receiver group in the NFC North, the Packers' offense is head-and-shoulders above any of the other NFC North offenses. And can single-handedly keep Green Bay in any contest. The Packers' offense is the best unit in the NFC North on either side of the ball.

On the defensive side of the ball, Green Bay is mediocre at best. Still, mediocre is an improvement over last season's horrible defensive unit. And since Green Bay won 15 games with a horrendous defense last year, there is no reason to think they can't win 11 games with a slightly below average "D" this year.

Chicago has a great defense. And they have carried the Bears to a 5-1 start. But it is an old defense. One that will wear down as the season progresses, I fear. The Bears' offense is OK. QB Jay Cutler is too up-and-down for my tastes. And the o-line is terrible. But Matt Forte is a great running back.

Minnesota has a great running game in its own right. They have the best back in all of football, Adrian Peterson, and a solid o-line. But their passing game leaves a lot to be desired. As they struggle to get the ball down-field. And their QB Christian Ponder, is still learning on the job, as he makes too many ill-advised decisions with the football. Wide receiver Percy Harvin is a stud, though.

The jury is out on the Vikings' defense. The Vikes have a good pass-rush and run-defense. But their pass-defense is still suspect. They have had the luxury of playing against Blaine Gabbert, Matt Hasselback, Jon Skelton, and Alex Smith so far this year- not exactly Hall-of-Fame competitors. Once the competition increases, this pass-defense could be in trouble.

Schedule:

After playing their previous three games on the road, the Packers have just four games left away from Lambeau. Including, trips to all three NFC North rivals. Plus, a contest against the Giants in New York. They have five home games left. And they are all relatively easy games. They host the Jaguars, Cardinals, Vikings, Lions and Titans.

Meanwhile, the Vikings still have road games left at Houston, Chicago, Seattle, Green Bay and St Louis. Plus, they host the Bears and Packers. Chicago still has games left on the road against San Francisco, Minnesota and Detroit. The Bears also host the Texans, Packers and Seahawks, all of whom are tough opponents.

Based on their remaining schedule, Green Bay should be favored to win in seven out of their nine remaining games. So it's definitely possible for the Packers to go 7-2 down the stretch, and finish the season with an 11-5 record. An 11-5 record should be good enough to win the North. Especially, when you factor in the Vikings' and Bears' tougher schedules in the second half of the season.

As you can see, the Packers close the year with five out of their last nine games against fellow NFC North opponents. The Pack dominated this division last season. And, I look, for that to continue this year. They have already crushed the Bears once this year. Which, to date, is the Bears' only loss. If the Packers' dominance over their NFC North rivals continues this year, Green Bay will successfully defend their NFC North crown this season.

With the best QB and offense in the division, plus an easy remaining schedule, the Packers are poised to overcome their early season hiccups and win the NFC North division. The Vikings will fade down the stretch as their schedule toughens up. Meanwhile, the Bears will stumble to a Wild-Card finish.

Predicted Final NFC North Standings
1. Green Bay 11-5
2. Chicago 10-6
3. Minnesota 9-7
4. Detroit 6-10

NBA Preview Northwest Divison Part 1

2012-10-22T15:15:00.002-05:00

1. Oklahoma City Thunder-
Last season the Thunder dominated the Northwest Division. Finishing, nine games ahead of their closest competitor, the Denver Nuggets. Eventually, Oklahoma City won the NBA's Western Conference and advanced all the way to the NBA Finals last season. Where, they eventually fell to the Miami Heat in five games.

Once again, the Thunder enter this season as the decided favorite in the Northwest Division. Led by young superstars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden along with a solid supporting cast
Oklahoma City is one of the favorites to win the NBA Title this year.

The Thunder return all of their starters and most of their bench from last season's NBA Finals team. A washed-up Derek Fisher is the lone exception. As he was not brought back for this season. Which will only make the Thunder better. They will replace Fisher and his unproductive, plodding minutes with returning PG Eric Maynor. Maynor, who will be working his way back from a torn ACL he suffered last season, is a huge upgrade over Fisher at the backup PG position. And is one of the best backup PGs in the NBA.

Best Player: Kevin Durant. Durant, who is the second-best player in the NBA, can do it all on offense. He has led the league in scoring for three consecutive seasons. Which makes him the first person since Michael Jordan(1996,97,98) to accomplish that feat. Durant has improved his game every year that he has been in the league. So look for him to improve his defense and low-post game this season, after both where exposed in the Finals.

X-factor: Russell Westbrook. Westbrook is an elite PG in the NBA. He can get his own shot whenever he wants. Which has made him a great player. But it has also led to him forcing things too much at time. He needs to improve upon his decision making this year. And make sure that Durant touches the ball on offense as much as possible. Westbrook will never be a true pass-first PG, but he can still be great and lead his team to a title, if tweaks his game just a bit.

With the experience gained from an NBA Finals trip and the motivation from losing the Finals to the Heat, The Thunder should be the Western Conference's Finals representative this season. They have gotten better as team, in each, of the previous 3 seasons. And that should continue this season. They have the pieces and the foundation in place for an NBA title this season. And anything less would be a disappointment for them, I believe.

Houston Aeros Preview

2012-10-12T16:24:00.000-05:00

The following is the Houston Aeros' AHL roster for the 2012/13 season. The Aeros are the Minnesota Wild's AHL affiliate.

Forwards:
Mikael Granlund,Charlie Coyle, Kris Foucalt, Jason Zucker, Brett Bulmer, Jarrod Palmer, Chad Rau, Johan Larsson, David McIntyre, Carson McMillan, Justin Fontaine, Nick Palmieri, Zach Phillips, Joel Broda.

Defenseman:
Marco Scandella, Jonas Brodin, Drew Bagnall, Tyler Cuma, Kris Friedheim, Brian Connelly, Steven Kampfer, Chay Genoway.

Goalies:
Matt Hackett, Darcy Kuemper.

This has to be the best roster the Houston Aeros have ever fielded. Thanks to the NHL lockout, the Wild's top 5 prospects: Granlund, Coyle, Brodin, Zucker and Phillips will all be in the Aeros' opening night line-up. Also included in the opening night line-up; Johan Larsson, and Brett Bulmer. Both of whom, are considered future NHL players.

Rounding out the roster are, Marco Scandella, a top-four defenseman for the Wild last season. And goalie Matt Hackett, who projects to be the Minnesota Wild's starting goaltender in two years time.

The Aeros' top line of Zucker-Granlund-Coyle might be the best line in the entire AHL this season. Granlund is considered to be the top European prospect in the game. And was on his way to suiting up for the Minnesota Wild this season, before the NHL lockout ruined that plan. Recently, he recorded a four goal, one assist game against the OKC Barons.

Meanwhile, his line-mate, Charlie Coyle, scored two goals in the same pre-season game. Coyle is a top 25 NHL prospect, in his own right. And is coming off a season, in which, he was named the QMJHL playoff MVP.

With future NHL players Johan Larsson, Zach Phillips and Brett Bulmer providing scoring depth on the second and third lines, the Houston Aeros have the potential to be a potent, high-scoring offense.

Defensively, Houston will be led by Marco Scandella and Jonas Brodin. Brodin is the Wild's top defensive prospect. And he was expected to compete for a roster spot with the Wild this season. Instead, he will be making his North American professional debut for Houston. Brodin is coming off a summer, in which, he had a strong showing for Sweden in the World Championships as an 18-year old.

Scandella, blossomed into a solid NHL defenseman last season with the Wild. He needs to use his NHL experience to provide leadership and know-how to this young Aeros team, while continuing to improve and develop his own game.

The Aeros' will be strong between the pipes this season. Starting goalie, Matt Hackett, is a future number one goalie in the NHL. And he has posted solid numbers, in-goal, for the Aeros the previous two seasons. Darcy Kuemper, his backup, was the 2010/11 WHL goalie of the year. Winning, the Del Wilson trophy for the Red Deer Rebels that season.

All in all, this should be a very good Aeros team. One that should make the AHL playoffs easily. Especially, if the NHL lockout drags on. There are 9-10 players on the Aeros' roster who are considered to be future mainstays on the Minnesota Wild's roster.

If you are a Minnesota Wild fan, keep tabs on this team. These players are the future of the organization. And it is a very bright future. Something, that these players hope to prove in Houston this season.
Plus, the Aeros should be entertaining to watch or listen to. Because they will have a ton of speed, play-making and athleticism. And sadly, the Aeros on TV or radio may be the closest thing to the Wild that we get this season.