Gone Puck Wild - A Minnesota Wild Blog

Photo Credit: Russell LaBounty-US PRESSWIRE

This is going to be a short one. It doesn’t take long to write “ugh”, and that’s the only word for tonight’s game.

Nate Prosser and Niklas Backstrom showed up in Columbus tonight. Too bad the rest of the Wild stayed at the hotel. Prosser tried for a Howe Hat Trick but failed to get an assist…that would have required someone else to score. He did take care of the fight and goal, though.

Backstrom had another 30+ save evening, and while that may not seem so impressive, there was a boatload of solid scoring chances for Columbus created by Wild penalties and all-around poor performance. The Wild took seven, count ‘em, seven minors tonight with four of those going against Nick Schultz. A very uncharacteristic night for Schultz.

I knew it was going to be one of those evenings when the Blue Jackets scored their first goal courtesy of Marek Zidlicky. Zids, please try to not run into our goaltender and knock his stick out of his hand. You are still wearing a Wild sweater. Do that again, and you may not be so dressed.

Honestly folks, there’s just not that much more to say about tonight. It was bad. Bad. BAD. Horrible effort.

I’m going to forget this one with some Sapphire & tonic and wait for Thursday’s game against the Canucks.

Predictions for Thursday: Backs in net. Zids scratched, Lundin plays. Staubitz sits out and Kassian dresses. Seto stays no higher than 3rd line, if not scratched (yeah, I said what you’re all thinking). He’s -12, guys and gals. Mikko returns to center 1st line with Heatley.

One piece of good news…we’ll be introducing a new writer to our staff lineup next week, and I’m very excited about it. That’s all I’m saying for now.

A quick update before tonight’s game at Columbus. Just the big news right now…more extensive stuff in the post-game later tonight.

Remember, tonight’s game is on at 6pm on FSN+. +. +. +. Point made?

Elk River native Nate Prosser has signed his first one-way contract in the NHL for two years with the Wild, supposedly for just over $1.6mil. The way Prosser has performed so far this season, it’s ~$825k of cap space well spent.

Mikko Koivu will not return tonight. He was “almost” there, but the team wants him out for one more game. He has been taking contact in practice. Expect to see him on the ice against the Canucks Thursday.

Brad Staubitz is scratched tonight (so is Lundin, FYI). Kassian will take his place. Hopefully Kassian will stay in for Thursday’s game as well…the Canucks can use a few more bruises.

The big line move today is Devin Setoguchi moving to the third line. Let’s face it, while Dany Heatley has been finding his stride, Seto is stumbling. The hope is that the energy and grind of the third line will rub off on to Seto, letting him get in close to the net and finally put some pucks in there.

That’s all for now folks, see you in a few hours after the game!

Jan 31; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils left wing Zach Parise (9) celebrates his goal during the second period of their game against the New York Rangers at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

Since last I talked about some of the trade rumors from the Wild organization I thought I would talk about the one that everyone fan has been talking about since this rumor started.  You all know who I am talking about.  He is a Minnesotan who is currently playing for the New Jersey Devils.  Zach Parise.

This rumor seems to be the biggest of all the trade rumors going around in the NHL.  So I thought that I should give my two cents worth.  So lets begin.

The Devils have already stated that they are not going to trade him before the deadline.  But if the Devils do not extend his contract then he will become an unrestricted free agent come July 1.  And the Devils appear to not be in any hurry to give him one.  They Devils are having some financial problems, so the may not be able to afford to extend his contract.   And if he becomes a UFA then the Wild can be very aggressive in acquiring him because they would not have to give up any assets.  And Fletcher will have to be aggressive because every team that has some scoring problems will be trying to acquire him.  And lets be honest if it comes to that the Wild would be stupid not to make a bid for him.

His style of play would fit perfectly with Yeo’s trap system.  He is a fast, aggressive skater that would be perfect for pestering any puck carrier.  He also posses a true goal-scorers shot.  He the player, and face of the franchise, that the Wild sorely need.

As for right now, Paris says that “he likes where he is at.”  But you never know with these kind of things.  The Wild have plenty of cap space to go out and get a player like him.   He could end up in a Wild jersey, but not until next season.

UPDATED: Details on rule changes.

“Ugh, all they do is trap.”

“I wish the Wild would go back to playing the trap.”

“Trapping kills the game.”

“Trapping is the best defense ever.”

Ask four hockey fans for their opinions on the “trap system” and you’ll likely get four very different answers. It seems to be a hot topic over on the Wild’s Facebook page since they slumped in mid-December through January, and I’ve found myself repeatedly explaining the system. I’m going to lay my views on the trap out here along with an explanation and examples, and then I can just point to this post in the future.

Continue reading this post »

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

The good news is that the Wild still have sole possession of a playoff spot. The bad news is that the Dallas Stars just got a point closer to taking that spot for themselves.

Even an early PP courtesy of perennial pest Steve Ott couldn’t get the Wild an easy goal tonight. Everything they got, they worked for. Although I’m firmly against trying to spin losses as moral victories, the effort from the boys tonight at the start of the game was not that bad. The speed and energy level left much to be desired as the game went on, but they…for the most part….stuck to the system and were rewarded by staying in the game. Had Dallas netminder Kari Lehtonen not been very much on his game, this would have been a runaway night for the Wild and Dany Heatley in particular.

Continue reading this post »

There is a lot of trade rumors floating around out their concerning the Wild.  I am sure all of you have heard about the recent acquisition of Erik Christensen and a 7th round draft pick.  And I am sure a lot of you have heard about Marek Zidlicky wanting out of the organization for being a healthy scratch for 3 straight games.  Mark has covered that sufficiently so all I am going to say is if your not going to believe in the system and play with it the there is the door.

But there are rumors about who the Wild would trade for if their was a Zidlicky trade.  All of these rumors involve acquiring another forward that can provide offense and help out in the defensive end.  The Wild have a good defensive corp without Zidlicky, or Zanon and Lundin for that matter since they cannot seem to stay in the lineup.  The forwards that the Wild a rumored to trade Zidlicky for are: Jeff Carter, Ales Hemsky, Travis Moen, Tuomo Ruutu and former Wild Dominic Moore.  All of these players would be a good fit for the Wild, some more then others.

It would smart for the Wild to actively pursue Jeff Carter because he could really boost our offense.  And  he would fit perfectly alongside Mikko Koivu.

Ales Hemsky would be a safe bet.  He is not as talented as Carter so he would come with a much lower press tag.  And if he does not pan out then the Wild can let him walk at the end of the season.

Travis Moen has played in a defensive system for the past 3 season with the Canadiens so he would immediately know what would be expected of him.  Moen also understands what it takes to make it to the playoffs and beat a first round opponent.

Tuomo Ruutu has proven to be a good goal scorer and his style of play would fit nicely with the Wild system.

Dominic Moore has also proven to be a goal scorer and would fit in nicely with Yeo’s system.  But depending on how things with the Lightning over the next few games, Moore will become a hot commodity so the Wild will have put a lot on the table just to get him.

These are good trades for the Wild but the Wild should be smart and go after Carter or Moore.  Those two would provide the Wild with some immediate success.

I also found an interesting article from 1500espn writer Judd Zulgad concerning GM Chuck Fletcher after the horrific loss to the Predators.  If you want to read the article that he wrote here is the link.   I would disagree with him on not trading Zidlicky, Lundin or Zanon for reasons I have already stated.  Aside from that I would agree with Zulgad that Fletcher needs to consider trading Setoguchi, Lattendresse and , I know I going to get a lot of flack for this but I am going to say anyways, Bouchard.

Setoguchi has been terrible all season.  he only has 10 goals in 37 games and was a minus 10 after the game against the Predators.  If the Wild are to have some success and possibly make the playoffs they need to do it without Seto.

Latendresse and Bouchard have been dealing with concussion symptoms all season and, like Zulgad says, it would be foolish to count on them for anything right now.

The Wild have plenty of prospects that could make this franchise a real competitor in the years to come but right now Fletcher needs to focus on that future and guide the franchise there.

Former New York Ranger Erik Christensen is wasting no time changing his wardrobe. He will make his debut in a Wild sweater tomorrow night on the road against Dallas, centering the third line. His line mates will be Darroll Powe and Carson McMillan. Physical center Warren Peters will move to the fourth line, giving them even more banging power.

This is definitely a depth move for the Wild, and doesn’t bode well for a timely return of Pierre Marc Bouchard. Bouchard has been a mainstay of the Wild’s power play, but Wild GM Chuck Fletcher singled out Christensen’s stellar shootout record (solidly above 50%) as a key reason for his addition to the lineup. My guess? PMB isn’t going to be back anytime soon. I’d be happy if we see him before playoffs.

Frankly, I think the move has even more to do with Christensen’s familiarity with the Wild’s system of play. He played under Yeo as a member of the Penguins’ organization, and it’s no secret that the Wild have adopted a modified version of the Pens’ style.

We’ll find out tomorrow night how apt this move really was…I’ve got cautious optimism, because our best new players have been those who already know Yeo.

Photo Credit: Alan Maglaque-US PRESSWIRE

The Minnesota Wild announced Friday that they have made an immediately effective trade of Casey Wellman to the New York Rangers in exchange for Erik Christensen and a seventh-round draft pick.

While many Wild fans will be sad to see Wellman go (including me), it’s true that he has not been living up to his potential within the Wild system. Christensen has played under a similar system before during his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and will hopefully adjust very easily to a familiar style of play. Christensen is supposedly on his way to Dallas to meet his new teammates, and with the Wild sending center Chad Rau back to the Aeros we may see Crusher in a Wild sweater tomorrow night.