Pre-Game Skate 11/6/14: Wild @ Senators, Parise Concussion, Harding Update
The Baby Wild played a very, very early game this morning for an audience of mostly kids on field trips. It was ugly.
The team went down 4-0 early and scored three to get back in it before losing 5-3. The team is 2-8 on the season and things are getting a little ugly. The best thing this Des Moines Register article had to say about the game was that kids were dancing to songs from Despicable Me.
Worse yet, coach Kurt Kleinendorst stormed out of the building after the game without talking to anyone.
Things are not going well in Iowa.
News
– The NHL’s COO John Collins said today that advertisements on jerseys are “coming and happening”. Uproar ensued. It looks dumb, yes. But it’s not like the jersey is a hollowed playground. There’s already advertising on there with logos. The rink is covered in logos. Every segment on the game is promoted (or even off the game, Hi the Wild’s I-35 limo whatever report…). We aren’t in uncharted territory here. It was just a way of thinking that the NHL was different than other leagues, when the NHL probably, in total, sells way more of the game than most leagues. The power play is always some sort of drill bit sponsored non-sense. Broadcasts happen from the Mall of America studios. Live broadcasts happen with special advertising. The goaltending update is a month away from being Chets Shoes Steel-toed Look At Wild Goaltender Injuries. This is hardly selling out. If you’re upset about this, you probably should have spoken out a long time ago.
– Voynov’s attorney is trying to get the NHL to lift the ban on him playing while things are sorted with his domestic abuse charges. It’s hard to have sympathy for him. Rolland Hedges, Voynov’s agent, is now saying that Voynov’s suspension is infringing on his client’s rights. It’s not.
Speaking of which, if you haven’t pledged on Hockey Fights Domestic Violence yet, you should consider it.
Basically the campaign has you pick your favorite player and a stat and use that to donate to a domestic violence shelter or other charity of your choice that helps fight domestic violence or provides services for the victims of domestic violence.
The formula on the site reads “(your favorite players stats) x (a small dollar amount) = regular donations to a domestic violence non-profit of your choice.” Easy right.
Two examples:
Every time Kyle Brodziak misses an empty net and/or a fan complains about it x $.50 = world is a tiny bit better.
Or my pledge: Koivu assists x $.50 & Niederreider goals x $.50 = world is a tiny bit better because of you.
Or you could follow the lead of a user who is call his donation #suckitVarlamov and is donating every time a player scores on Varlamov.
– Marc-Andre Fleury got a four-year contract since last we talked, but I covered that in my weekly column at Rotowire, so I’ll just drop that link there and you can read that if you care and/or aren’t totally burned out on hearing about how most people don’t really think MAF is all that great.
Wildlings
As you’ve no doubt heard by now, Zach Parise has a concussion and is expected to return soon. Tony Abbott Wiseau has a nice piece at Hockey Wilderness about why Parise shouldn’t get rushed back. That was written before it was revealed that Parise has a concussion. This piece still applies though. Be careful with the health of your best player and if you’re Parise, be careful with your own health long-term.
Chad Graff at the Pioneer Press talks about the progress toward Harding’s return following his preseason broken foot.
Tonight’s Games:
(all times CST)
Wild @ Senators, 6:30pm
Here’s my game preview.
Oilers @ Bruins, 6pm
Panthers @ Flyers, 6pm
Flames @ Lightning, 6:30pm
Devils @ Blues, 7pm
Paul Stastny has missed the last eight games with a shoulder injury, but will return tonight. He had four points (1-3-4) in his first four games before getting injured.
Penguins @ Jets, 7pm
If you’re only watching the Wild and not paying attention to anything else, you might have missed that the Jets are actually looking pretty decent. They’re third in the division with a 7-5-1 record and they’re still without Evander Kane. On the other hand, their 5-on-5 Fenwick For is 48.51%. Early in the season, but their advanced stats make it look like there will be regression. They’ve scored the fewest goals in the division while playing more games than everyone but Chicago and Colorado.
Predators @ Stars, 7:30pm
The Stars held players-only meeting following their loss to the Kings this week. Awfully early in the season for that kind of thing. They’re moving Antoine Roussel up to the top PP unit tonight to try and get things going.
Maples Leafs @ Avalanche, 8pm
Carter Ashton has been suspended 20 games for violating the league’s Performance Enhancing Drugs Policy. Sounds innocent enough, as he claims the drug was in an inhaler he started using following an asthma attack. He didn’t appeal the ruling.
Islanders @ Kings, 9:30pm
Justin Williams’ streak of 225 consecutive games will come to an end tonight after he was struck near the eye by Stars defender Brendon Dillon last game.
Canucks @ Sharks, 9:30pm
Tyler Kennedy is set to make his season debut tonight. He had a rough year in San Jose last year and found himself getting scratched pretty frequently, while guys like Andrew Desjardins and Mike Brown were getting into the lineup. Hoping for a bounce-back for him.