Lemaire You Know: The August Doldrums and Minnesota Wild Tangents
We’re christening a new, irregularly published series here at Gone Puck Wild that takes a sporadic look around the league and around the internet. Got a suggestion for Lemaire You Know? Drop it in the comments.
That picture? That’s Christophe Lemaire. He’s a jockey as far as I can tell.
Minnesota Wild News
I posted a bit over at The Hockey Writers on what we can expect from Jordan Schroeder. The Wild signed him in early July.
Devin Slawson discusses whether the Wild are pretenders or contenders at The Hockey Writers.
Mar 1, 2014; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Vancouver Canucks forward Jordan Schroeder (45) during practice the day before the Heritage Classic hockey game against the Ottawa Senators at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Around the League
Travis Hughes talks about why it’s time to “drastically overhaul minor league hockey in North America” at SB Nation. There’s talk of a CHL and ECHL merger, which could create a more logical, single league below the AHL that NHL teams could be affiliated with as well. There’s also talk of the AHL moving some teams out West. NHL teams like the Sabres and Stars are moving to gain full control of their AHL affiliate and it makes sense that there’s a change in the weather and an overhaul may be afoot.
Hockey Analytics: Why they help and what’s coming next.
Seems like what’s coming next is player tracking. I have mixed feelings about this, but if the NHL makes the information accessible the way the NBA has, it could be great for the sport and for writers who are interested in writing about stats.
Has Brendan Shanahan made Toronto Maple Leafs “bulletproof”?
This article is from a little while back, but it’s worth re-visiting and sharing. “The Culture Change We Actually Need” by Jake Sundstrom for Fear the Fin.
Outside the NHL:
There are a lot of teams from the former WCHA in Eric Burton’s piece: Big Ten Hockey: Five Must-See Non-Conference Series. Included, U of M Gophers vs. St. Cloud State, which will be a great series this season.
Connor McDavid really impressed at Canada’s junior evaluation camp.
Kiruna IF of the Swedish Division 1 league are incredible and not because of their on-ice play. They’ve been on a historic campaign to become “the first LGBT-certified sports franchise in Sweden.”
On Minnesota
Minnesota declared August 2 Paul McCartney Day. Which is fine, I guess.
Minneapolis is a beard friendly space.
Around the Internet:
Want “Weird Al” to play the Super Bowl? There’s a petition for that.
The contemporary classical radio station Q2 Music, a part of WQXR and WNYC, will be doing a 24-hour marathon of emerging female composers that should be very interesting. I’m hoping to hear a little Missy Mazzoli, Caroline Shaw, Angélica Negrón, Hildur Guonadottir, and, I hope, some voices I’ve not heard.
Because
Moonface – “City Wrecker”
A track off the new EP from Spencer Krug’s (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown) solo project.
Wildbirds & Peacedrums – “Off Beat” —
this video is almost NSFW
Track off the forthcoming release from a band who hasn’t put out an album in far too long. (
)
Operators – “True”
A track off the new EP from Operators, featuring Dan Boeckner from Wolf Parade, Divine Fits, and Handsome Furs.
Ólöf Arnalds – “Half Steady”
From her forthcoming album. (
)
Zammuto – “The Great Equator”
Off the new album from Nick Zammuto, the former The Books leader.