Tonight, the Wild face off against the Chicago Blackhawks for the second time of this preseason. For the record, the 'Hawks took the game Friday night 4-3, which was especially troubling after the Wild ended the first period with a 3-0 lead. While it's hard to pin that game on any one player, Eric Reitz may have dodged a bullet with Tomas Mojzis being placed on waivers.
Of course, Reitz may not be able to stop looking over his shoulder, as the Wild's first-round draft pick, Tyler Cuma, turned in a good enough game in the Wild's 2-1 shootout win over Buffalo that he'll be back for another game tonight. The kid's 18, and isn't expected to even play in Houston this year, but he could surprise everyone. The Wild is also known for pulling some very young players into the line-up if they have the skills.
But a bigger story than the saga of the defensemen is that tonight, for the first time this preseason, Marian Gaborik is expected to be on the ice. This is very important for both Minnesota and Gaby, since we're a little under two weeks away from the start of the season, and his contract status is still up in the air. If Gaby can turn in a strong performance against the young Blackhawks, we almost expect the Wild to hand him a huge salary on a silver platter. If he struggles in the slightest (or, worse, reinjures himself), we can see Minnesota try to low-ball their guaranteed superstar, and then watch him leave shortly into the year. The Wild need a gamebreaker, and the only one they've got is #10. It's time to (potentially) overpay.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Preseason Game One: Minnesota 2, Columbus 1
Preseason hockey is always rough, at least at the very beginning. Like every other sport, coaches are trying to get used to players, players are trying to get used to their teammates, and the officials are trying to remember how to call the game itself. To top that off, at least with regards to the Wild, if you don't have a ticket for the game, you aren't going to see (or hear) anything while it's happening, and need to rely on other media the next day.
Well, one thing that it seems everyone can agree on is that, while the Wild won the game 2-1, it wasn't pretty. Penalties called left and right, including, according to some scribes, some questionable calls (and one very questionable call that could result in Danny Irmen being sent back to Houston soon), and a lot of time spent by both teams on the power play or penalty kill. Of course, special teams can often be what wins hockey games, and the lone Blue Jackets goal came on the power play.
The other thing everyone seems to be in agreement on? Benoit Pouliot. From what we've read thus far, the kid just plain out-skated everybody last night at the Xcel, put some terrific moves out on the ice, and played a very solid game. It sure won't hurt his chances of locking down that 4th line center spot (which might lead to a quick promotion to 3rd line, behind Koivu and Sheppard) to have a solid game. And, by all accounts, his 3rd period game-winner was a beautiful backhand, and it helped to remind the fans that they weren't just watching a march to the penalty box.
Tomorrow, the Wild head to Chicago to face the Blackhawks. We'll probably be back after the weekend to see what we can find on that game. We're also watching to see which big names get sent down from the NHL club, just in case there are any surprises (and to see if Irmen really did shoot himself in the foot with that boarding call).
Well, one thing that it seems everyone can agree on is that, while the Wild won the game 2-1, it wasn't pretty. Penalties called left and right, including, according to some scribes, some questionable calls (and one very questionable call that could result in Danny Irmen being sent back to Houston soon), and a lot of time spent by both teams on the power play or penalty kill. Of course, special teams can often be what wins hockey games, and the lone Blue Jackets goal came on the power play.
The other thing everyone seems to be in agreement on? Benoit Pouliot. From what we've read thus far, the kid just plain out-skated everybody last night at the Xcel, put some terrific moves out on the ice, and played a very solid game. It sure won't hurt his chances of locking down that 4th line center spot (which might lead to a quick promotion to 3rd line, behind Koivu and Sheppard) to have a solid game. And, by all accounts, his 3rd period game-winner was a beautiful backhand, and it helped to remind the fans that they weren't just watching a march to the penalty box.
Tomorrow, the Wild head to Chicago to face the Blackhawks. We'll probably be back after the weekend to see what we can find on that game. We're also watching to see which big names get sent down from the NHL club, just in case there are any surprises (and to see if Irmen really did shoot himself in the foot with that boarding call).
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Trained and restrained
Well, folks, we haven't really been following too intensely the Wild's training camp, and now it's over. Scrimmages over the past couple of days, and some hard practice sessions, according to all reports that we've seen. All of this is in preparation for the Wild's first preseason game tomorrow night, against Columbus.
The Wild are looking at a bunch of skaters, and will probably keep 23 on the team when it comes down to it. Aside from their off-season acquisitions, it seems almost a lock that Benoit Pouliot and Eric Reitz will be up with the team, and Cal Clutterbuck has an outside shot. People keep talking about the chances of Krys Kolanos making the trip, with others quick to point out that bringing him along would cause Pouliot (and possibly Belanger) to be looking over their shoulders all season, and could be an unhealthy distraction. Still, the Wild are only running with 4 centers, and only two of those are really reliable (Koivu and Bouchard). The defensive corps are also going to be called on, as both goaltenders are looking at contract years.
But what about the biggest question mark the Wild have right now? Well, it seems as though the Team of 18,000 is no closer to signing Marian Gaborik, who is trying to position himself as a top 5 player (not top 5 for the Wild, but top 5 for the NHL). He's asking for too much, but he's also a key piece that the Wild need if they want to be able to vie for #7 or #8 in the conference this season. Besides, if Gaby gets the contract he wants and turns out a career season, it'll make the Wild bosses look like geniuses. The problem (other than the difference in money)? The injury-prone winger is out with a leg injury that could trouble him the rest of the pre-season, and into October. The longer he sits, the less likely that the Wild will pull the trigger and grant him the cash he's looking for.
We'll know a lot more about this year's team after we get a couple of preseason games under our belts. That being said, let's bring on the Blue Jackets.
The Wild are looking at a bunch of skaters, and will probably keep 23 on the team when it comes down to it. Aside from their off-season acquisitions, it seems almost a lock that Benoit Pouliot and Eric Reitz will be up with the team, and Cal Clutterbuck has an outside shot. People keep talking about the chances of Krys Kolanos making the trip, with others quick to point out that bringing him along would cause Pouliot (and possibly Belanger) to be looking over their shoulders all season, and could be an unhealthy distraction. Still, the Wild are only running with 4 centers, and only two of those are really reliable (Koivu and Bouchard). The defensive corps are also going to be called on, as both goaltenders are looking at contract years.
But what about the biggest question mark the Wild have right now? Well, it seems as though the Team of 18,000 is no closer to signing Marian Gaborik, who is trying to position himself as a top 5 player (not top 5 for the Wild, but top 5 for the NHL). He's asking for too much, but he's also a key piece that the Wild need if they want to be able to vie for #7 or #8 in the conference this season. Besides, if Gaby gets the contract he wants and turns out a career season, it'll make the Wild bosses look like geniuses. The problem (other than the difference in money)? The injury-prone winger is out with a leg injury that could trouble him the rest of the pre-season, and into October. The longer he sits, the less likely that the Wild will pull the trigger and grant him the cash he's looking for.
We'll know a lot more about this year's team after we get a couple of preseason games under our belts. That being said, let's bring on the Blue Jackets.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
In town, but for how long?
The Minnesota Wild are holding some early training camps, getting prospects and young players up to speed before the season begins. A surprise guest at the camps was none other than the Wild's 7.5 million dollar man, Marian Gaborik.
This could be a very good sign, especially as Gabby's getting back into condition following his off-season hip surgery, repairing something that he said plagued him during his 83 point season last year. It also could be an indication that the contract negotiations between Gaborik and the Wild are moving in a positive direction.
But there is a dark lining. Gaborik is being non-committal at this point, simply saying that negotiations are progressing, that he's got one season left on his contract, and indicating that he knows he'll be highly sought after should he become an unrestricted free agent after this upcoming season. Could those lures be too big for this large fish in an admittedly small pond? Only time will tell, and Gabby appears to be focused on the game on ice, preferring to let his agent and Wild management handle the game on paper.
All we can really know is that, if the Wild are forced to let Gaborik go by failing to sign him to an extension, the team's faithful may start pounding down the doors of the Xcel, looking for management's heads on pikes.
This could be a very good sign, especially as Gabby's getting back into condition following his off-season hip surgery, repairing something that he said plagued him during his 83 point season last year. It also could be an indication that the contract negotiations between Gaborik and the Wild are moving in a positive direction.
But there is a dark lining. Gaborik is being non-committal at this point, simply saying that negotiations are progressing, that he's got one season left on his contract, and indicating that he knows he'll be highly sought after should he become an unrestricted free agent after this upcoming season. Could those lures be too big for this large fish in an admittedly small pond? Only time will tell, and Gabby appears to be focused on the game on ice, preferring to let his agent and Wild management handle the game on paper.
All we can really know is that, if the Wild are forced to let Gaborik go by failing to sign him to an extension, the team's faithful may start pounding down the doors of the Xcel, looking for management's heads on pikes.
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