Which was going to happen? Was Minnesota going to continue their good play against the Eastern Conference, or were they going to fall apart on the road? Would the Wild halt yet another opponent's losing streak, or would they battle hard and play the role of spoiler for a team desperate for playoff positioning? The way things looked at the start of the game, it certainly seemed like Philadelphia had the Wild's number. But, once the final horn sounded, the Wild were the ones skating away with two points.
The first five minutes were awful for Minnesota, as they squandered the few good chances that they had, and gave up two quick goals. But after that, the team seemed to calm down and remember what they had come to the rink to do. Even after Philadelphia made it 3-1, the Wild kept crawling back, and the final period and overtime showed exactly why the Flyers are desperate for good goaltending. The game-winning goal wasn't a great shot by any means, but it was knocked into the net by the Flyers themselves, after it was mishandled badly.
Game pluses:
- Casey Wellman. When the Wild looked down and out, one of the players who seemed guaranteed to push into the offensive zone and create chances was Wellman. If he can keep skating like this, his first NHL goal shouldn't be too far away.
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak was almost taken out of the game thanks to a high blind-side hit. Instead, he finished strongly, and showed why throwing the puck at the net will result in good things, as he scored the game winner.
- John Scott. The big defenseman had his goal taken away from him, because Andrew Brunette may have tipped the puck out front. Still, Scott was a strong defensive presence, and he definitely created the tying goal. He also was quick to jump to the defense of his team, even if Casey Wellman got there quicker.
Game minuses:
- Andrew Ebbett. The Wild center was skating with the top line, and he was victimized on the two first-period Flyer goals. While he also had a great breakaway chance while shorthanded, he couldn't pull the trigger, with the puck sliding harmlessly to the back wall instead. That goal would have made it 1-0 Minnesota, and instead, a short time later, it was 2-0 Philadelphia.
- Brent Burns. The Wild defenseman is definitely feeling more of his game, but, unfortunately, that game has recently looked unfocused and undisciplined. Burns seems like he's trying to do everything on his own, and he isn't using his vision as well as he could. Forcing the puck up-ice leads to turnovers, and Burns has given up more than his share of pucks recently.
- Niklas Backstrom. Not to take anything away from the way he buckled down and kept the Wild in the game, but the goals given up were not great goals by any means. Backstrom has not shown himself as a lights-out goaltender this season, unlike last season. It may be the difference in the system, but, all told, he still has to find ways to stop the puck, and he hasn't been as strong at that this year.
Next up: The Wild will try and keep their meager playoff hopes alive tonight when they head to Detroit to take on the current 8th place team in the conference, the Red Wings.
Showing posts with label Kyle Brodziak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kyle Brodziak. Show all posts
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
2009-10 Game Sixty-Nine: Wild 4, Oilers 2
The Minnesota Wild had an opportunity to match the mark for the longest current home win streak against any opponent. Coming into the game, the Wild had beaten the Edmonton Oilers twelve times in a row at St. Paul. After the game was over, the Wild had tied the mark, thanks to a strong all-around game, especially with some great play by the team's centers.
Those centers might have been feeling a little pressure, given that the Wild signed a college free agent who could be looking to take a job away from one of them. Minnesota brought Casey Wellman from the University of Massachusetts, and almost played him in his first chance. Wellman's debut was put on hold, but he did get some time to skate with the team during warm-ups, and might see time in the upcoming game against the Nashville Predators. Meanwhile, the rest of the Wild stepped up, and responded in a huge way after Edmonton twice tied the game. This was especially notable given how the on-ice officials almost seemed to be trying to hand the Oilers the win. Don't believe it? Watch the play that lead to the eventual 5-on-3 Edmonton power play, and try and find two clear penalties in that scrum.
Game pluses:
- Centers. On a day where the Wild added a coveted player (beating out 21 other teams) to their center ranks, the team's current line-up of centers stepped up in a big way. Strong play is expected out of Mikko Koivu, but Andrew Ebbett notched a multi-point game, Kyle Brodziak was forechecking, and James Sheppard showed a compete level that he hasn't shown often this season.
- Martin Havlat. The Wild winger keeps finding ways to get himself into the quiet areas on the ice, and he was rewarded with a big insurance goal.
- Chuck Kobasew. Kobasew hadn't scored since his hat trick the day after Thanksgiving. A nice way to break that streak is to put home the game winning goal, especially after Edmonton kept clawing back in.
Game minuses:
- Officiating. It was yet another lousy game called by the officials, with plenty of bad or missed calls going both ways. Still, the penalties that put Edmonton on a 5-on-3 jump out as some of the worst ones. Yes, there was a penalty on that call. But the second?
- Late defense. The Wild held on at the end of the game, but they certainly didn't help themselves by giving up 20 shots to the Oilers in the third period. This was the first time gave up that many shots in one period all season.
- Antti Miettinen. Yes, Miettinen scored. However, he also missed on some great chances, by putting the puck too far or too high. He may not be a sniper, but for a team that could use more scoring, being that badly off target has to change.
Next up: The Wild try to roll off their fourth win in a row, and keep moving themselves up the standings, when they face the Nashville Predators next.
Those centers might have been feeling a little pressure, given that the Wild signed a college free agent who could be looking to take a job away from one of them. Minnesota brought Casey Wellman from the University of Massachusetts, and almost played him in his first chance. Wellman's debut was put on hold, but he did get some time to skate with the team during warm-ups, and might see time in the upcoming game against the Nashville Predators. Meanwhile, the rest of the Wild stepped up, and responded in a huge way after Edmonton twice tied the game. This was especially notable given how the on-ice officials almost seemed to be trying to hand the Oilers the win. Don't believe it? Watch the play that lead to the eventual 5-on-3 Edmonton power play, and try and find two clear penalties in that scrum.
Game pluses:
- Centers. On a day where the Wild added a coveted player (beating out 21 other teams) to their center ranks, the team's current line-up of centers stepped up in a big way. Strong play is expected out of Mikko Koivu, but Andrew Ebbett notched a multi-point game, Kyle Brodziak was forechecking, and James Sheppard showed a compete level that he hasn't shown often this season.
- Martin Havlat. The Wild winger keeps finding ways to get himself into the quiet areas on the ice, and he was rewarded with a big insurance goal.
- Chuck Kobasew. Kobasew hadn't scored since his hat trick the day after Thanksgiving. A nice way to break that streak is to put home the game winning goal, especially after Edmonton kept clawing back in.
Game minuses:
- Officiating. It was yet another lousy game called by the officials, with plenty of bad or missed calls going both ways. Still, the penalties that put Edmonton on a 5-on-3 jump out as some of the worst ones. Yes, there was a penalty on that call. But the second?
- Late defense. The Wild held on at the end of the game, but they certainly didn't help themselves by giving up 20 shots to the Oilers in the third period. This was the first time gave up that many shots in one period all season.
- Antti Miettinen. Yes, Miettinen scored. However, he also missed on some great chances, by putting the puck too far or too high. He may not be a sniper, but for a team that could use more scoring, being that badly off target has to change.
Next up: The Wild try to roll off their fourth win in a row, and keep moving themselves up the standings, when they face the Nashville Predators next.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
2009-10 Game Sixty-One: Wild 6, Canucks 2
It felt like it took a long time to reach the Olympic break, but that's just because NHL teams were playing at such a rapid clip. And, while the next two weeks are all about international play, after the Olympics are over, the league will return to its frantic pace. Of course, the Minnesota Wild had to feel like it took them even longer to reach the break, after the stoppage-filled debacle against Atlanta to start the weekend. The Wild desperately needed something to get them going again, and all it took was a home game against their most-hated rival to spur the team to playing as a unit.
How fitting that they would play so well just before having to play against their regular teammates for a couple of weeks? And how fitting was it that the Wild would end up going into a long break with possibly the biggest swing in momentum they've experienced yet this season? Minnesota still has an outside chance of making the playoffs, but, for the next two weeks, no questions will be answered. With twenty-one games left to play, the Wild sit five points back, and there's a pile of teams ahead of them in the standings. Still, beating Vancouver, and beating them soundly, had to feel good for a team that suffered through a couple of games that they should have won earlier in the week.
Game pluses:
- Kyle Brodziak. It must be something about playing the Canucks. Brodziak has put together very impressive games against Vancouver, notching three points this time around.
- Greg Zanon. While the score was huge in Minnesota's favor, a lot of the defensive play was looked over. Zanon acted as a secondary goaltender a few times, helping keep the puck out of the net when Niklas Backstrom found himself out of position.
- Cam Barker. The newest member of the Minnesota Wild played a strong game, keeping it simple in his first appearance. He stood tall defensively, and blasted his first Wild goal into the net. The goal may have been meaningless for the score, but it spoke volumes for Barker.
Game minuses:
- Niklas Backstrom. He wasn't stellar in net, but, thankfully, didn't have to be, thanks to some help from Zanon, Barker, and a huge outpouring of goals from his teammates.
- Eric Belanger. Not that he played a bad game, per se, but Belanger is one of the players who should feel a little pressure after the Kim Johnsson trade, and he looked fairly lackluster on the ice.
- Darcy Hordichuk. As the season wears on, it's easier to find opposing players that get under a team's skin. Hordichuk has definitely succeeded in doing that. The last time Vancouver and Minnesota played, Hordichuk claimed that he was sent by his coach to fight, and then backed off of the comment. This time, he was a textbook example of a third man in a fight, and he did so by tossing Derek Boogaard to the ice from behind, with something resembling a horse collar tackle. Given that it would have been a penalty in the NFL, it wasn't surprising to see Hordichuk get hit with a 2-5-10 (instigation/fighting/misconduct) penalty.
Next up: The Wild don't return to the ice until March 3, when they face the Calgary Flames. The catch? March 3 is also the trade deadline. How different might the Wild look at that point? In the meantime, Olympic hockey should help keep you sated.
How fitting that they would play so well just before having to play against their regular teammates for a couple of weeks? And how fitting was it that the Wild would end up going into a long break with possibly the biggest swing in momentum they've experienced yet this season? Minnesota still has an outside chance of making the playoffs, but, for the next two weeks, no questions will be answered. With twenty-one games left to play, the Wild sit five points back, and there's a pile of teams ahead of them in the standings. Still, beating Vancouver, and beating them soundly, had to feel good for a team that suffered through a couple of games that they should have won earlier in the week.
Game pluses:
- Kyle Brodziak. It must be something about playing the Canucks. Brodziak has put together very impressive games against Vancouver, notching three points this time around.
- Greg Zanon. While the score was huge in Minnesota's favor, a lot of the defensive play was looked over. Zanon acted as a secondary goaltender a few times, helping keep the puck out of the net when Niklas Backstrom found himself out of position.
- Cam Barker. The newest member of the Minnesota Wild played a strong game, keeping it simple in his first appearance. He stood tall defensively, and blasted his first Wild goal into the net. The goal may have been meaningless for the score, but it spoke volumes for Barker.
Game minuses:
- Niklas Backstrom. He wasn't stellar in net, but, thankfully, didn't have to be, thanks to some help from Zanon, Barker, and a huge outpouring of goals from his teammates.
- Eric Belanger. Not that he played a bad game, per se, but Belanger is one of the players who should feel a little pressure after the Kim Johnsson trade, and he looked fairly lackluster on the ice.
- Darcy Hordichuk. As the season wears on, it's easier to find opposing players that get under a team's skin. Hordichuk has definitely succeeded in doing that. The last time Vancouver and Minnesota played, Hordichuk claimed that he was sent by his coach to fight, and then backed off of the comment. This time, he was a textbook example of a third man in a fight, and he did so by tossing Derek Boogaard to the ice from behind, with something resembling a horse collar tackle. Given that it would have been a penalty in the NFL, it wasn't surprising to see Hordichuk get hit with a 2-5-10 (instigation/fighting/misconduct) penalty.
Next up: The Wild don't return to the ice until March 3, when they face the Calgary Flames. The catch? March 3 is also the trade deadline. How different might the Wild look at that point? In the meantime, Olympic hockey should help keep you sated.
Monday, February 1, 2010
2009-10 Game Fifty-Five: Wild 2, Sharks 5
On Saturday night, the Minnesota Wild skated into San Jose. As long as the play stayed even strength, the Wild had enough to play with the Sharks, and possibly even beat them. Unfortunately, Minnesota gave up too many power plays, and San Jose took advantage, proving why they are one of the best teams in the league yet again.
For awhile, at least, it looked like Minnesota was going to get the better of San Jose. The Wild were working hard, limiting Sharks chances, and getting some opportunities of their own. Even with a banged-up goaltender, the Wild were doing a fairly good job of keeping San Jose out of the net. That is, they were doing a good job even strength. The first six goals scored in the game were scored with the man advantage, and, while Minnesota may have been called for some questionable penalties, they didn't do enough while on the penalty kill to shut down the Sharks, or the league's goal-scoring leader.
Game pluses:
- Power play. In a weird game, the Wild scored twice on the power play, and got good opportunities on other chances. However, when you give up four power play goals, even clicking twice just isn't enough.
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak had a great feed to set up Cal Clutterbuck's tenth goal of the season, and his work on both sides of the ice helped hold the Wild in as long as they lasted.
- Owen Nolan. The veteran consistently brings everything he can to the ice. A game after taking a shot off of the wrist, Nolan got set up and fired a pretty wrist shot for the first goal of the game.
Game minuses:
- Penalty kill. This goes without saying, but giving up a franchise-record 4 power play goals? The Wild were just disjointed while a man down, and spent too much time chasing the puck.
- Shots. The Wild took plenty of shots during the game. They just didn't get enough really high-quality shots on the net.
- Luck. Sometimes, you have to make your own luck, and the good teams in the league tend to do that. This is an area where Minnesota has often struggled, as either a fluky bounce ends up in their own net, a puck just can't get shoveled into the opponent's open net, questionable penalties, or posts hit. Still, the Wild had chances until the fourth Sharks goal took the wind out of their sails, and, if they had been able to create a little of their own luck, the outcome might have been very different.
Next up: The Wild head to Dallas for a Groundhog's Day game against the Stars.
For awhile, at least, it looked like Minnesota was going to get the better of San Jose. The Wild were working hard, limiting Sharks chances, and getting some opportunities of their own. Even with a banged-up goaltender, the Wild were doing a fairly good job of keeping San Jose out of the net. That is, they were doing a good job even strength. The first six goals scored in the game were scored with the man advantage, and, while Minnesota may have been called for some questionable penalties, they didn't do enough while on the penalty kill to shut down the Sharks, or the league's goal-scoring leader.
Game pluses:
- Power play. In a weird game, the Wild scored twice on the power play, and got good opportunities on other chances. However, when you give up four power play goals, even clicking twice just isn't enough.
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak had a great feed to set up Cal Clutterbuck's tenth goal of the season, and his work on both sides of the ice helped hold the Wild in as long as they lasted.
- Owen Nolan. The veteran consistently brings everything he can to the ice. A game after taking a shot off of the wrist, Nolan got set up and fired a pretty wrist shot for the first goal of the game.
Game minuses:
- Penalty kill. This goes without saying, but giving up a franchise-record 4 power play goals? The Wild were just disjointed while a man down, and spent too much time chasing the puck.
- Shots. The Wild took plenty of shots during the game. They just didn't get enough really high-quality shots on the net.
- Luck. Sometimes, you have to make your own luck, and the good teams in the league tend to do that. This is an area where Minnesota has often struggled, as either a fluky bounce ends up in their own net, a puck just can't get shoveled into the opponent's open net, questionable penalties, or posts hit. Still, the Wild had chances until the fourth Sharks goal took the wind out of their sails, and, if they had been able to create a little of their own luck, the outcome might have been very different.
Next up: The Wild head to Dallas for a Groundhog's Day game against the Stars.
Friday, January 29, 2010
2009-10 Game Fifty-Four: Wild 1, Avalanche 0
Suffice it to say, but this most recent victory was anything but by the book. For most of the game, it was easy to see which team was playing in the second night of a back-to-back situation, and which team had been resting for a couple of days. But somehow, the Minnesota Wild pulled out a victory, snatching it from the jaws of defeat with under five minutes to play. They finished their season series against the Colorado Avalanche with an impressive 5-1 mark, and the way the contests have gone this season, Colorado is probably hoping that they won't see this same Minnesota team again come playoff time.
The Wild were outplayed for much of the game, and they couldn't mount much of an offense. However, in many ways, the Avalanche had just as many problems, and they weren't able to get the puck into the Wild net, despite a goaltender suffering through hip problems who was playing for the second night in a row. Still, with the way that this season has gone for Minnesota, they had to feel in good shape entering the third period tied. They took control of the final frame again, creating the game's only goal with some hard-nosed hockey. It wasn't pretty, but this Wild team needs road wins more than they need pretty wins.
Game pluses:
- Martin Havlat. He started the play that created the game-winning goal, so it was only fitting that he get to finish it. Still, nobody could have expected that Havlat would be able to score while smothered by three Colorado defenders. This is the player that the Wild made the big off-season move for, and he's definitely feeling his game now.
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak played the puck well, and his positioning and awareness showed when he fed the puck back to Havlat for the winner.
- Josh Harding. Harding needs to get some more goal support, but completing a shut-out while banged up and exhausted had to feel good. Interesting to note that the last time Harding played two nights in a row, he won both of those, as well.
Game minuses:
- Power play. The Wild just couldn't get anything done with the man advantage, and that ineptness almost burned them in the end. While winning the game takes away the sting, it should never have been close.
- Passing. Part of the reason why the Wild couldn't do anything on the power play is because they simply didn't have a passing touch all night long. They couldn't get the puck from tape to tape, with a few exceptions. Even when the passes were crisp, too often they were a little too late to turn into a scoring chance.
- Injuries. Niklas Backstrom is out with back problems. Josh Harding aggravated his sore hip, which casts doubt on his ability to play Saturday. Owen Nolan took a slap shot to the hand. The Wild was just starting to get healthy again, so the last thing they need is more players to miss time, especially when both goaltenders are questionable.
Next up: The Wild look to keep their roll going when they take on the San Jose Sharks.
The Wild were outplayed for much of the game, and they couldn't mount much of an offense. However, in many ways, the Avalanche had just as many problems, and they weren't able to get the puck into the Wild net, despite a goaltender suffering through hip problems who was playing for the second night in a row. Still, with the way that this season has gone for Minnesota, they had to feel in good shape entering the third period tied. They took control of the final frame again, creating the game's only goal with some hard-nosed hockey. It wasn't pretty, but this Wild team needs road wins more than they need pretty wins.
Game pluses:
- Martin Havlat. He started the play that created the game-winning goal, so it was only fitting that he get to finish it. Still, nobody could have expected that Havlat would be able to score while smothered by three Colorado defenders. This is the player that the Wild made the big off-season move for, and he's definitely feeling his game now.
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak played the puck well, and his positioning and awareness showed when he fed the puck back to Havlat for the winner.
- Josh Harding. Harding needs to get some more goal support, but completing a shut-out while banged up and exhausted had to feel good. Interesting to note that the last time Harding played two nights in a row, he won both of those, as well.
Game minuses:
- Power play. The Wild just couldn't get anything done with the man advantage, and that ineptness almost burned them in the end. While winning the game takes away the sting, it should never have been close.
- Passing. Part of the reason why the Wild couldn't do anything on the power play is because they simply didn't have a passing touch all night long. They couldn't get the puck from tape to tape, with a few exceptions. Even when the passes were crisp, too often they were a little too late to turn into a scoring chance.
- Injuries. Niklas Backstrom is out with back problems. Josh Harding aggravated his sore hip, which casts doubt on his ability to play Saturday. Owen Nolan took a slap shot to the hand. The Wild was just starting to get healthy again, so the last thing they need is more players to miss time, especially when both goaltenders are questionable.
Next up: The Wild look to keep their roll going when they take on the San Jose Sharks.
Monday, January 18, 2010
2009-10 Game Forty-Nine: Wild 4, Coyotes 6
Too little, too late. That might be the mantra for the Wild season, but it was certainly in play against the Phoenix Coyotes. The Wild had a golden opportunity to do what they've done so many times this season, entering the third period down by a goal. Cue the circus music and the defensive lapses, and the Wild suddenly found themselves in a 5-1 hole. That was followed by Minnesota firing off three goals, including two power play markers, to bring themselves back to within one, but that ended up being all she wrote, as Phoenix took advantage of another opportunity to seal the deal.
Part of the Wild's current woes certainly deal with only one line really being active and playing well throughout the game, and it certainly isn't the "top" line of Mikko Koivu, Andrew Brunette, and Antti Miettinen. The Wild will be shuffling those players around before the Dallas game, and it could lead to some interesting new combinations. It could also see a player return to the ice after a long hiatus, in the form of Petr Sykora.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Hard to argue with a guy who gets a hat trick, and had a couple of opportunities for more. He now leads the Wild in goals scored.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat had three assists to help drive what offense the Wild showed, and his chemistry with Latendresse is amazing.
- Kyle Brodziak. Rounding out Minnesota's best line, Brodziak was solid at center, and he engineered a couple of the tic-tac-toe plays the ended up in the net.
Game minuses:
- Top line. A combined -13. Almost no shots. No goals whatsoever. Is it any wonder that they're being split up?
- James Sheppard. Sheppard was something of a ghost on the ice, not really making himself visible. When he did appear, it seemed like it was to make a bad play. Not good for a kid trying to prove that he belongs in the league.
- Niklas Backstrom. True, more than a couple of the six goals he gave up were on plays that he had no chance of stopping. But Backstrom needed to do more to find a way to keep Phoenix out of the net on the other plays, and he simply didn't have the stuff in the desert.
Next up: The Wild face the Dallas Stars in Dallas, looking for a positive end to this road trip.
Part of the Wild's current woes certainly deal with only one line really being active and playing well throughout the game, and it certainly isn't the "top" line of Mikko Koivu, Andrew Brunette, and Antti Miettinen. The Wild will be shuffling those players around before the Dallas game, and it could lead to some interesting new combinations. It could also see a player return to the ice after a long hiatus, in the form of Petr Sykora.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Hard to argue with a guy who gets a hat trick, and had a couple of opportunities for more. He now leads the Wild in goals scored.
- Martin Havlat. Havlat had three assists to help drive what offense the Wild showed, and his chemistry with Latendresse is amazing.
- Kyle Brodziak. Rounding out Minnesota's best line, Brodziak was solid at center, and he engineered a couple of the tic-tac-toe plays the ended up in the net.
Game minuses:
- Top line. A combined -13. Almost no shots. No goals whatsoever. Is it any wonder that they're being split up?
- James Sheppard. Sheppard was something of a ghost on the ice, not really making himself visible. When he did appear, it seemed like it was to make a bad play. Not good for a kid trying to prove that he belongs in the league.
- Niklas Backstrom. True, more than a couple of the six goals he gave up were on plays that he had no chance of stopping. But Backstrom needed to do more to find a way to keep Phoenix out of the net on the other plays, and he simply didn't have the stuff in the desert.
Next up: The Wild face the Dallas Stars in Dallas, looking for a positive end to this road trip.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
2009-10 Game Forty-Three: Wild 1, Blackhawks 4
Will the real Minnesota Wild please report to the Xcel Energy Center? Is the Wild the team that rattled off ten wins through December, thanks to some opportunistic goal scoring and impressive defense? Or are they the team that's currently in a tailspin, finding themselves further and further from a playoff spot thanks to a four-game losing streak, while surrendering at least three goals for the past six games?
More troubling, are both teams the current representation of the Wild? The last four losses, with the exception of the game against the Ducks, the Wild were playing against teams that have propelled themselves towards the NHL's elite, and the last two games specifically have been against conference leaders. The Wild simply don't have the finishers to make themselves competitive against some of the better teams in the league. Maybe today's call-up of Robbie Earl will help pull this team off of their recent skid, but even Earl's call-up makes for some interesting managerial moves.
Plain and simply, Robbie Earl playing tonight, unless it gets deemed an emergency call-up due to players being injured, means that he'll have to be thrown on waivers before returning to Houston, so he could end up being here for the long haul. This is due to Earl not being on an entry-level contract, so his free call-up time was limited. With the Wild's playoff hopes dimming rapidly, it might also be the best time of year for GM Chuck Fletcher to start seriously evaluating who he would like to see wearing a Minnesota Wild jersey next season, and start trying to work his magic through trades to improve the team in the long run. Remember, it wasn't too long ago that the Chicago Blackhawks were one of the worst teams in the league, and through good drafting and smart trades, they assembled themselves into a powerhouse. It's time for Fletcher to start making moves to help the Wild do that in the next couple of years.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Proof that Fletcher can spot talent that fits his team, Latendresse has been a huge acquisition for the Wild, and he notched another goal against the Blackhawks. He had another couple of chances later in the game, but was stifled on each.
- Martin Havlat. Wild fans are starting to see the type of player that Havlat can be on any given night, as he continues to direct the play around him. He helped set up the Latendresse goal, and created chances for plenty of other players.
- Clayton Stoner. Stoner may not have had the strongest game of the season, but his poise while playing against some of the bigger and tougher NHL teams has been impressive, and he hasn't made any glaring mistakes.
Game pluses:
- Kyle Brodziak. Yes, the line of Brodziak/Havlat/Latendresse was buzzing the net all night, but Brodziak was one of a few Wild players to show a problem that the team has. When the puck ended up on his stick, he just couldn't finish and take the goal.
- Andrew Brunette. Brunette suffered the same problems as Brodziak, not being able to finish. Brunette had opportunities at wide open nets, but delayed too long, allowing Chicago to get back into position, turning a golden opportunity into a momentum breaker.
- Greg Zanon. The third minus almost went to the Wild for allowing so many odd-man rushes, or to the officials for some glaring no-calls, especially when Josh Harding was knocked down shortly before Chicago's second goal. However, Zanon was plagued all night by bad passes and out-of-position play. His clearing attempt in the third period that gave Chicago the 5-on-3 power play was just the capper to a rough night.
Next up: The schedule just doesn't look good for the Wild, as they come fresh off of playing the New Jersey Devils and the Chicago Blackhawks, only to return home and face the Calgary Flames, a team that has regularly had the Wild's number.
More troubling, are both teams the current representation of the Wild? The last four losses, with the exception of the game against the Ducks, the Wild were playing against teams that have propelled themselves towards the NHL's elite, and the last two games specifically have been against conference leaders. The Wild simply don't have the finishers to make themselves competitive against some of the better teams in the league. Maybe today's call-up of Robbie Earl will help pull this team off of their recent skid, but even Earl's call-up makes for some interesting managerial moves.
Plain and simply, Robbie Earl playing tonight, unless it gets deemed an emergency call-up due to players being injured, means that he'll have to be thrown on waivers before returning to Houston, so he could end up being here for the long haul. This is due to Earl not being on an entry-level contract, so his free call-up time was limited. With the Wild's playoff hopes dimming rapidly, it might also be the best time of year for GM Chuck Fletcher to start seriously evaluating who he would like to see wearing a Minnesota Wild jersey next season, and start trying to work his magic through trades to improve the team in the long run. Remember, it wasn't too long ago that the Chicago Blackhawks were one of the worst teams in the league, and through good drafting and smart trades, they assembled themselves into a powerhouse. It's time for Fletcher to start making moves to help the Wild do that in the next couple of years.
Game pluses:
- Guillaume Latendresse. Proof that Fletcher can spot talent that fits his team, Latendresse has been a huge acquisition for the Wild, and he notched another goal against the Blackhawks. He had another couple of chances later in the game, but was stifled on each.
- Martin Havlat. Wild fans are starting to see the type of player that Havlat can be on any given night, as he continues to direct the play around him. He helped set up the Latendresse goal, and created chances for plenty of other players.
- Clayton Stoner. Stoner may not have had the strongest game of the season, but his poise while playing against some of the bigger and tougher NHL teams has been impressive, and he hasn't made any glaring mistakes.
Game pluses:
- Kyle Brodziak. Yes, the line of Brodziak/Havlat/Latendresse was buzzing the net all night, but Brodziak was one of a few Wild players to show a problem that the team has. When the puck ended up on his stick, he just couldn't finish and take the goal.
- Andrew Brunette. Brunette suffered the same problems as Brodziak, not being able to finish. Brunette had opportunities at wide open nets, but delayed too long, allowing Chicago to get back into position, turning a golden opportunity into a momentum breaker.
- Greg Zanon. The third minus almost went to the Wild for allowing so many odd-man rushes, or to the officials for some glaring no-calls, especially when Josh Harding was knocked down shortly before Chicago's second goal. However, Zanon was plagued all night by bad passes and out-of-position play. His clearing attempt in the third period that gave Chicago the 5-on-3 power play was just the capper to a rough night.
Next up: The schedule just doesn't look good for the Wild, as they come fresh off of playing the New Jersey Devils and the Chicago Blackhawks, only to return home and face the Calgary Flames, a team that has regularly had the Wild's number.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
2009-10 Game Twenty-Three: Wild 1, Bruins 2 (SO)
The Minnesota Wild ran into another perfect storm at home against the Boston Bruins, something that has happened more times than they should be comfortable with. Not only were the Wild coming off of an extended break, but they were facing a Bruins team that was in the middle of a perfect road trip. Add to that the fact that the Wild had to play short-handed all game thanks to injuries and illnesses, and it amounted to a huge mountain to climb.
Well, the Wild may not have climbed all the way up the mountain, but, in many ways, they made it out of the foothills. Even with all of the reasons that Minnesota shouldn't have been a presence in the game, they were able to sneak a point away, pushing the Bruins into the shootout. Minnesota even had numerous opportunities to win the game, especially late, but missed on chances at open nets and loose pucks, or in the shootout. Meanwhile, Boston looks to be regaining some of their form from last season, when they lead the Eastern Conference in points.
Game pluses:
- Andrew Ebbett. Ebbett became the newest person to play a game in a Wild sweater, joining the team off of waivers, and he made an immediate impact. His size could hurt him, but right now the Wild need goal scorers.
- Defense. The Wild were able to keep the Bruins from putting 20 shots on goal. Too bad they couldn't do more with the chances they had.
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's captain entered the shootout, and dropped the puck into the net. While he isn't a shootout guarantee, the Wild would still be pretty happy if they could just have him take all three shots, since the rest of their options are having problems finishing.
Game minuses:
- Undressed. The total salaries of players who missed the game for Minnesota is close to $18M, and that number doesn't look to be going down drastically anytime in the near future. The Wild have already faced adversity, but they need some luck on their side, and some players need to return from injury as soon as possible.
- Kyle Brodziak. The Wild forward has been playing hard as of late, but a foolish penalty late in the game almost cost Minnesota the one point they did get in the standings.
- Slow start. The Wild got off to a rough start, getting pinned back into their zone early in the game. However, they were able to weather the storm, and get their own chances. The game could have been off to a much worse start.
Next up: The Wild didn't play on Thanksgiving Day, but they'll return to work the day after, in the first part of a home-and-home series with the Colorado Avalanche.
Well, the Wild may not have climbed all the way up the mountain, but, in many ways, they made it out of the foothills. Even with all of the reasons that Minnesota shouldn't have been a presence in the game, they were able to sneak a point away, pushing the Bruins into the shootout. Minnesota even had numerous opportunities to win the game, especially late, but missed on chances at open nets and loose pucks, or in the shootout. Meanwhile, Boston looks to be regaining some of their form from last season, when they lead the Eastern Conference in points.
Game pluses:
- Andrew Ebbett. Ebbett became the newest person to play a game in a Wild sweater, joining the team off of waivers, and he made an immediate impact. His size could hurt him, but right now the Wild need goal scorers.
- Defense. The Wild were able to keep the Bruins from putting 20 shots on goal. Too bad they couldn't do more with the chances they had.
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's captain entered the shootout, and dropped the puck into the net. While he isn't a shootout guarantee, the Wild would still be pretty happy if they could just have him take all three shots, since the rest of their options are having problems finishing.
Game minuses:
- Undressed. The total salaries of players who missed the game for Minnesota is close to $18M, and that number doesn't look to be going down drastically anytime in the near future. The Wild have already faced adversity, but they need some luck on their side, and some players need to return from injury as soon as possible.
- Kyle Brodziak. The Wild forward has been playing hard as of late, but a foolish penalty late in the game almost cost Minnesota the one point they did get in the standings.
- Slow start. The Wild got off to a rough start, getting pinned back into their zone early in the game. However, they were able to weather the storm, and get their own chances. The game could have been off to a much worse start.
Next up: The Wild didn't play on Thanksgiving Day, but they'll return to work the day after, in the first part of a home-and-home series with the Colorado Avalanche.
Friday, November 13, 2009
2009-10 Game Eighteen: Wild 3, Lightning 4 (SO)
Two plays that dramatically changed the course of the game. One huge mistake that handed the win away. One point left behind on the ice in Tampa Bay, as the Minnesota Wild dominated the Lightning for 60 minutes, and still lost the game.
The two plays that were mentioned above? One was on the short-handed goal that put Tampa Bay on the board. Shane Hnidy was banged up in the play, thanks to a tripping non-call. Instead of an immediate whistle when Tampa touched the puck, play was allowed to continue, and the Lightning scored. Given that Brent Burns was called for a trip after getting his stick caught in a player's skates earlier in the game, and a whistle was blown right away when a Tampa player went down with an injury later in the game, this play stood out. The second play was Chuck Kobasew's goal that was waved off by the officials, because it bounced off of his glove. Because it touched the glove, it was waved off, no matter that there was no forward motion. If it had been a skate, at least the goal would have stood. If he'd bounced it off of his stomach, the Wild take their fourth goal of the game. But because it hit his glove (and barely hit his glove), the goal was disallowed.
Still the Wild should have had this game. To go from leading 3-1 to losing 4-3 in the shootout is a tough pill to swallow, but hopefully it will lead to Minnesota learning to take care of their business on the ice. Late mistakes gave Tampa enough life to claw back into the game that they had no right to be in.
Game pluses:
- Owen Nolan. How pretty was Nolan's goal, giving the Wild the 3-1 lead? The grizzled Irishman may be trying to show the kids how it's done.
- James Sheppard. Sheppard has been having a rough season, and things probably aren't turning around yet, but he made some great plays against Tampa, including the play that set up Benoit Pouliot's goal.
- Greg Zanon. Zanon is a shot-blocking machine, and he's giving the Wild something they may not have realized they were missing.
Game minuses:
- Kyle Brodziak. The biggest mistake of the game for the Wild came off of Brodziak's stick, as he somehow completely lost the puck while on a 3-on-1, leaving it behind instead of making a pass. It was a glaring example of a lack of awareness.
- Marek Zidlicky. Zidlicky has a lot of offensive upside, and he's been a more consistent defenseman this season. However, against Tampa he stopped moving his legs, and took some foolish penalties after the Lightning pulled to within 1.
- Killer instinct. The Wild just didn't have the drive to finish off the Lightning, and they paid for it in the end. They had multiple opportunities to put the game out of reach, but resorted to a "pass first" mentality, instead of peppering the net with shots.
Next up: The Wild don't have time to dwell on the loss, as they face the Washington Capitals this evening. Luckily for Minnesota, it appears as though they won't have to face Alex Ovechkin.
The two plays that were mentioned above? One was on the short-handed goal that put Tampa Bay on the board. Shane Hnidy was banged up in the play, thanks to a tripping non-call. Instead of an immediate whistle when Tampa touched the puck, play was allowed to continue, and the Lightning scored. Given that Brent Burns was called for a trip after getting his stick caught in a player's skates earlier in the game, and a whistle was blown right away when a Tampa player went down with an injury later in the game, this play stood out. The second play was Chuck Kobasew's goal that was waved off by the officials, because it bounced off of his glove. Because it touched the glove, it was waved off, no matter that there was no forward motion. If it had been a skate, at least the goal would have stood. If he'd bounced it off of his stomach, the Wild take their fourth goal of the game. But because it hit his glove (and barely hit his glove), the goal was disallowed.
Still the Wild should have had this game. To go from leading 3-1 to losing 4-3 in the shootout is a tough pill to swallow, but hopefully it will lead to Minnesota learning to take care of their business on the ice. Late mistakes gave Tampa enough life to claw back into the game that they had no right to be in.
Game pluses:
- Owen Nolan. How pretty was Nolan's goal, giving the Wild the 3-1 lead? The grizzled Irishman may be trying to show the kids how it's done.
- James Sheppard. Sheppard has been having a rough season, and things probably aren't turning around yet, but he made some great plays against Tampa, including the play that set up Benoit Pouliot's goal.
- Greg Zanon. Zanon is a shot-blocking machine, and he's giving the Wild something they may not have realized they were missing.
Game minuses:
- Kyle Brodziak. The biggest mistake of the game for the Wild came off of Brodziak's stick, as he somehow completely lost the puck while on a 3-on-1, leaving it behind instead of making a pass. It was a glaring example of a lack of awareness.
- Marek Zidlicky. Zidlicky has a lot of offensive upside, and he's been a more consistent defenseman this season. However, against Tampa he stopped moving his legs, and took some foolish penalties after the Lightning pulled to within 1.
- Killer instinct. The Wild just didn't have the drive to finish off the Lightning, and they paid for it in the end. They had multiple opportunities to put the game out of reach, but resorted to a "pass first" mentality, instead of peppering the net with shots.
Next up: The Wild don't have time to dwell on the loss, as they face the Washington Capitals this evening. Luckily for Minnesota, it appears as though they won't have to face Alex Ovechkin.
Friday, November 6, 2009
2009-10 Game Fifteen: Wild 2, Canucks 5
Let the excuses roll in. The Wild didn't take an injury-riddled Canucks team seriously. Too much time between games caused them to lose their skating legs. The team still hasn't adjusted to the time change.
Unfortunately, the truth of the matter is that the basement-dwelling Minnesota Wild played one of their least-inspired games of the season, and, after stealing games from the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins, collapsed hard, letting Vancouver take the game from them with ease. The Wild couldn't skate, couldn't pass, and couldn't shoot. Just as soon as they looked like they were able to start turning the tide, Vancouver would give the Wild a power play, and any sense of momentum was destroyed. To make matters worse, the Wild lost leading scorer Eric Belanger in the second period with an unspecified upper body injury, which explained the mixing and matching being done with his linemates.
Game pluses:
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak became the first Wild player to score two goals in one game this season, and scored both by picking up the trash and gathering in rebounds.
- Cal Clutterbuck. The Wild's hit leader assisted on Brodziak's first goal, and generated some chances on his own.
- Chuck Kobasew. Rounding out the only Wild line that looked like it wanted to win, Kobasew helped Brodziak and Clutterbuck create opportunities, and applied some good hits to shake Canucks loose from the puck.
Game minuses:
- Niklas Backstrom. After being the biggest reason the Wild defeated New York and Pittsburgh, Backstrom became their biggest liability. He wasn't sharp, and none of the four goals he gave up were highlight reel shots.
- James Sheppard. Sheppard has looked lost all season, and still hasn't put together even an assist, now through fifteen games. Sheppard also coughed up the puck early, leading directly to Darcy Hordichuk's goal that set a slow-moving Wild team into reverse.
- Derek Boogaard. Not that there weren't other players who made serious mistakes, but taking an undisciplined penalty at the end of a period, and then making it worse by turning it into a double-minor, all while your team is down by a goal? Not smart, and the Canucks converted the power play for a 2-0 lead that they never looked back from.
Next up: The Wild will get better than this, and they'll develop consistency, but the question remains as to when that will all happen. Perhaps the game Saturday against the visiting Dallas Stars will give the team some life.
Unfortunately, the truth of the matter is that the basement-dwelling Minnesota Wild played one of their least-inspired games of the season, and, after stealing games from the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins, collapsed hard, letting Vancouver take the game from them with ease. The Wild couldn't skate, couldn't pass, and couldn't shoot. Just as soon as they looked like they were able to start turning the tide, Vancouver would give the Wild a power play, and any sense of momentum was destroyed. To make matters worse, the Wild lost leading scorer Eric Belanger in the second period with an unspecified upper body injury, which explained the mixing and matching being done with his linemates.
Game pluses:
- Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak became the first Wild player to score two goals in one game this season, and scored both by picking up the trash and gathering in rebounds.
- Cal Clutterbuck. The Wild's hit leader assisted on Brodziak's first goal, and generated some chances on his own.
- Chuck Kobasew. Rounding out the only Wild line that looked like it wanted to win, Kobasew helped Brodziak and Clutterbuck create opportunities, and applied some good hits to shake Canucks loose from the puck.
Game minuses:
- Niklas Backstrom. After being the biggest reason the Wild defeated New York and Pittsburgh, Backstrom became their biggest liability. He wasn't sharp, and none of the four goals he gave up were highlight reel shots.
- James Sheppard. Sheppard has looked lost all season, and still hasn't put together even an assist, now through fifteen games. Sheppard also coughed up the puck early, leading directly to Darcy Hordichuk's goal that set a slow-moving Wild team into reverse.
- Derek Boogaard. Not that there weren't other players who made serious mistakes, but taking an undisciplined penalty at the end of a period, and then making it worse by turning it into a double-minor, all while your team is down by a goal? Not smart, and the Canucks converted the power play for a 2-0 lead that they never looked back from.
Next up: The Wild will get better than this, and they'll develop consistency, but the question remains as to when that will all happen. Perhaps the game Saturday against the visiting Dallas Stars will give the team some life.
Monday, November 2, 2009
2009-10 Game Fourteen: Wild 2, Penguins 1
Less than twenty-four hours after the Minnesota Wild earned their first regulation home win for the season, they faced a daunting task. That task? Head to the home of the Stanley Cup champions, and try to avoid extending their winless streak on the road. Who would have predicted that they would do just that, handing the Penguins one of very few losses?
Even more interesting, the Wild were actually outplayed in a lot of areas of the game. In a lot of ways, it was very similar to the way that the Wild played against the Edmonton Oilers a few weeks back, where the team that was better throughout the game ran into a hot goaltender and some stellar defense.
Game pluses:
- Eric Belanger. He paid a price late in the game, taking a stick across his nose. But his goal with 0.6 seconds remaining in the first stood up as the game winner, and it helped ease the pain.
- Niklas Backstrom. One again, Backstrom stood tall in net, keeping the Wild in the game. The difference this time is that he got a lot of help when he coughed up the few rebounds he did. Most of the time, however, it was one shot and an immediate whistle.
- Marek Zidlicky. Arguably, the best play made by the Wild all game was when Zidlicky goaded Sidney Crosby into a fight to end the second period.
Game minuses:
- Defensive zone possession. The Wild couldn't get the puck on their sticks in their own zone. Even worse, they couldn't seem to get the puck out without giving up a scoring chance.
- Opportunism. Aside from Kyle Brodziak's goal from the side of the net, and Belanger's quick release, the Wild just didn't seem like they could put themselves in the right place much of the game.
- Officiating. Both teams committed penalties that didn't get called, but Pittsburgh seemed to get a bit more benefit. While not every penalty can, or should, be called, sometimes games can get out of hand if the players are allowed to skate too freely.
Next up: The Wild have some time off, which might be the last thing they want with their current momentum. They'll face the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
Even more interesting, the Wild were actually outplayed in a lot of areas of the game. In a lot of ways, it was very similar to the way that the Wild played against the Edmonton Oilers a few weeks back, where the team that was better throughout the game ran into a hot goaltender and some stellar defense.
Game pluses:
- Eric Belanger. He paid a price late in the game, taking a stick across his nose. But his goal with 0.6 seconds remaining in the first stood up as the game winner, and it helped ease the pain.
- Niklas Backstrom. One again, Backstrom stood tall in net, keeping the Wild in the game. The difference this time is that he got a lot of help when he coughed up the few rebounds he did. Most of the time, however, it was one shot and an immediate whistle.
- Marek Zidlicky. Arguably, the best play made by the Wild all game was when Zidlicky goaded Sidney Crosby into a fight to end the second period.
Game minuses:
- Defensive zone possession. The Wild couldn't get the puck on their sticks in their own zone. Even worse, they couldn't seem to get the puck out without giving up a scoring chance.
- Opportunism. Aside from Kyle Brodziak's goal from the side of the net, and Belanger's quick release, the Wild just didn't seem like they could put themselves in the right place much of the game.
- Officiating. Both teams committed penalties that didn't get called, but Pittsburgh seemed to get a bit more benefit. While not every penalty can, or should, be called, sometimes games can get out of hand if the players are allowed to skate too freely.
Next up: The Wild have some time off, which might be the last thing they want with their current momentum. They'll face the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
Monday, October 19, 2009
2009-10 Game Six: Wild 2, Oilers 5
On the first night of back-to-back games, the Minnesota Wild skated hard, fought for the puck, and, even though they were missing some of their top players, they ultimately outplayed the Edmonton Oilers in most areas of the ice. Unfortunately for the Wild, even a great effort can fall apart, as the Wild's mistakes almost invariably created scoring chances for the Oilers, and Edmonton made their chances count.
The Wild fought hard through the game, and looked like they might have been able to take their first road win of the season during portions of the game. By the time the third period started, however, Minnesota had obviously spent too much of their time on the road trailing their opponents, and they came out relatively flat-footed. It didn't help matters that the Wild power play continues to showcase stunning displays of ineptitude, interpersed with a few sparkling plays. The effort put forth by Minnesota should have landed the team a win, but, without finishers like Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora, the Wild just couldn't get the puck into the net.
Game pluses:
- Benoit Pouliot. When Havlat and Sykora went down, the Wild challenged a few players to step up. One who has done so is Pouliot, who is starting to show a physical side, as he gets to the front of the net.
- Andrew Brunette. The veteran continued his points streak, scoring at least once per game for the Wild since the first puck drop. That quiet leadership is needed for a team in danger of falling apart.
- Kyle Brodziak. The former Oiler put together an impressive game against his old team, fighting for the puck all game long and shaking it free from more than a few Oiler sticks.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. Harding has designs on being a starting goaltender in the league. His last two starts showed a goaltender who might have a place in the league, but that league might be the AHL. His delay of game penalty early in the game was completely inexcusable, as was the way he dropped the puck, practically handing Edmonton their third goal.
- Second chances. The Wild took a ton of shots. They just couldn't get there for the rebound most of the time. They need to get better in front of the opposing net if they want to make something of the perimeter shots they're being given.
- James Sheppard. While one of the players asked to step up did so, another stood in the same place, if not taking a step backward. Sheppard is showing why development in the AHL can be so important, as he still hasn't developed into the player he was expected to be.
Next up: The Wild traveled from Edmonton to Vancouver, hoping to finish the road trip on an up note against the Canucks.
The Wild fought hard through the game, and looked like they might have been able to take their first road win of the season during portions of the game. By the time the third period started, however, Minnesota had obviously spent too much of their time on the road trailing their opponents, and they came out relatively flat-footed. It didn't help matters that the Wild power play continues to showcase stunning displays of ineptitude, interpersed with a few sparkling plays. The effort put forth by Minnesota should have landed the team a win, but, without finishers like Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora, the Wild just couldn't get the puck into the net.
Game pluses:
- Benoit Pouliot. When Havlat and Sykora went down, the Wild challenged a few players to step up. One who has done so is Pouliot, who is starting to show a physical side, as he gets to the front of the net.
- Andrew Brunette. The veteran continued his points streak, scoring at least once per game for the Wild since the first puck drop. That quiet leadership is needed for a team in danger of falling apart.
- Kyle Brodziak. The former Oiler put together an impressive game against his old team, fighting for the puck all game long and shaking it free from more than a few Oiler sticks.
Game minuses:
- Josh Harding. Harding has designs on being a starting goaltender in the league. His last two starts showed a goaltender who might have a place in the league, but that league might be the AHL. His delay of game penalty early in the game was completely inexcusable, as was the way he dropped the puck, practically handing Edmonton their third goal.
- Second chances. The Wild took a ton of shots. They just couldn't get there for the rebound most of the time. They need to get better in front of the opposing net if they want to make something of the perimeter shots they're being given.
- James Sheppard. While one of the players asked to step up did so, another stood in the same place, if not taking a step backward. Sheppard is showing why development in the AHL can be so important, as he still hasn't developed into the player he was expected to be.
Next up: The Wild traveled from Edmonton to Vancouver, hoping to finish the road trip on an up note against the Canucks.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
No arbitration hearings for Wild
Today, it was announced that the Minnesota Wild have avoided arbitration entirely with their stable of players. The Wild only had two players that even had the chance of ending up in an arbitration hearing, with each player going there in a different way.
Kyle Brodziak elected to take the Wild to arbitration, and was rewarded with a 3-year, $3.45M contract. Brodziak's contract should ensure that he's with Minnesota for a while, as he helps shore up their weak center position. Brodziak's route to arbitration was a calculated risk that he could get more from the team than what was expected, which may have paid off for him.
Meanwhile, Josh Harding was sent to arbitration by the Wild itself, possibly a similar risk by the team as to the one that Brodziak took. Harding signed with the Wild for a one-year deal, reportedly in the $1.1M range. Of course, if Brodziak's contract could be construed as a way to keep the center with the Wild for a while, what does a one-year contract for Harding say?
In many ways, the Wild have been grooming Harding for a trade since before Draft Day. With the acquisition of Wade Dubielewicz, Minnesota currently has three goaltenders, and, it could be argued, two starters. Harding has become the odd man out, and a one-year contract could be the Wild's way of saying, "Keep your bags packed", since any trade would allow the new team to negotiate an entirely new contract, without any carry over.
By the same token, only having a one-year contract could keep other teams away, because Harding may get looked at as a "loaner" player. Without a longer contract, he may not have the incentive to resign with any team that lands him, and may pursue free agency once his year runs out. You can bet that he'd get a good look from the other 29 teams in the league.
Of course, there's always the chance that the Wild signed Harding to a one-year deal to keep them from arbitration, and as a bit of a precaution in case Niklas Backstrom either falls apart, or suffers a severe injury. But, if that's the case, Chuck Fletcher may just be the most cautious GM ever, and his pursuit of players like Martin Havlat and Nick Leddy seems to indicate otherwise.
Kyle Brodziak elected to take the Wild to arbitration, and was rewarded with a 3-year, $3.45M contract. Brodziak's contract should ensure that he's with Minnesota for a while, as he helps shore up their weak center position. Brodziak's route to arbitration was a calculated risk that he could get more from the team than what was expected, which may have paid off for him.
Meanwhile, Josh Harding was sent to arbitration by the Wild itself, possibly a similar risk by the team as to the one that Brodziak took. Harding signed with the Wild for a one-year deal, reportedly in the $1.1M range. Of course, if Brodziak's contract could be construed as a way to keep the center with the Wild for a while, what does a one-year contract for Harding say?
In many ways, the Wild have been grooming Harding for a trade since before Draft Day. With the acquisition of Wade Dubielewicz, Minnesota currently has three goaltenders, and, it could be argued, two starters. Harding has become the odd man out, and a one-year contract could be the Wild's way of saying, "Keep your bags packed", since any trade would allow the new team to negotiate an entirely new contract, without any carry over.
By the same token, only having a one-year contract could keep other teams away, because Harding may get looked at as a "loaner" player. Without a longer contract, he may not have the incentive to resign with any team that lands him, and may pursue free agency once his year runs out. You can bet that he'd get a good look from the other 29 teams in the league.
Of course, there's always the chance that the Wild signed Harding to a one-year deal to keep them from arbitration, and as a bit of a precaution in case Niklas Backstrom either falls apart, or suffers a severe injury. But, if that's the case, Chuck Fletcher may just be the most cautious GM ever, and his pursuit of players like Martin Havlat and Nick Leddy seems to indicate otherwise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
