Old Traphead

Ok, I've been a little slow lately with new posts. Sometimes even Minnesota Wild bloggers need a break from the trap. From the defense-first hockey stylings of the Wild. From evil coach Jacques Lemaire, who refuses to allow even his most offensive-minded players to score goals(*). A break from the constant rhetoric between Dougie Ballgame and Ron Salcer. A break from all things Wild-related was what I needed, and that I got. Now I'm ready to start again.

Truth be told, I also grew bored with my bit, "The Top 10 Players of All Time." It really made realize this team isn't quite ready for a Top 10 list yet. It'd sort of be like coming up with the "Top 10 Tavaris Jackson TD throws": a tough list indeed. That being said, here is the remainder of the list:

1. Marian.
2. Walzie.
3. Pierre-Marc.
4. Rolston.
5. I don't know, maybe Antti Laaksonen.

Beerwise, the list would've been led by Guiness Draught and followed by some non-domestic ales. There, list complete.

(*) Regular readers know I don't really believe this, but it seemed like a good time to take a cheap shot at old Traphead.

Number 5

This says it all...


Beer #5: Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy ~ Perfect summer beer for after mowing the law.

Number 6

Number 6: Nick Schultz ~ I am intentionally not showing a picture of Nick in this post because he is seldom noticed when he's on the ice. A quiet leader, Schultz has been a rock for this team since day one. He isn't flashy, nor is he overly physical, but Nick plays with a steadiness that is needed on a Jacques Lemaire team.

Beer #6: Sam Adams Winter Lager ~ for some reason I equate this brew with watching late night west-coast NHL games. Very good, but I'm glad I can only get it seasonally; it might not seem so good if it were available year round.

Tomorrow: The Top 5 begins with the scorer of the greatest goal in Wild history. Yes, I gave too much away there.

Number 7

Number 7: Pascal Dupuis ~ yes, Pascal Dupuis. Take a look at his career Wild numbers: 334 games played (5th in team history), 67 goals, 74 assists for 141 points. I'll always contend that had Dupuis played for a different coach, the guy would put up 25 goals a season, but a majority of the time Lemaire threw him on the checking line instead. Dupuis responded by becoming a very good defensive forward. He was later traded to the Rangers for Adam Hall and has eventually ended up with the Penguins.

Beer #7: Stella Artois ~ this belgian brew is perfect for a sunny afternoon out on my patio, Hockey News Preview in hand.

Number 8

Number 8: Willie Mitchell ~ Mitchell was the team's best defensemen on the pre-lockout Wild. While Willie didn't score often, or really EVER, but he was a shutdown machine on the PK. Willie really proved his worth during the 2003 Cup run and his stellar play garned him much national recognition. During the 2005-06 season he desired to sign a long term deal with the Wild, but DR thought his pricetag of roughly 3.0m per season was too high. Willie was dealt to Dallas in a trade that brought fan favorite Martin Skoula to the club. Mitchell eventually got his asking price from Vancouver and DR had to overspend to get Kim Johnsson.

Beer #8: Miller High Life (Light) ~ this is my bowling alley beer. An American original, nothing says "pick up the split" like this brew. Three or four go down with little difficulty.

Number 9 with a Bullet

The list continues...

9. Brent Burns ~ although he has only been a regular contributor to the team since the lockout, Burns has become this team's best defenseman. Drafted as a forward, he was switched to defense and excelled. Sure, he plays a bit reckless a times, but that's part of his charm. Ask most hockey wonks to name the best 5 young defensemen in the league and his name will come up every time, usually right after the overrated scarecrow in Calgary. If I were doing this list over in 3 years, something tells me Burns would be near the top, but for now he's at number 9.

Beer #9: Sleeman's Cream Ale. No explanation to give here, it's just a good beer.

Added: my favorite BB moment (gotta love the grin on his way to the box):

The Countdown Begins

Ok, we're almost at October 11th, right? Well, maybe not. Until then I'd like to present my list of the TOP 10 WILD PLAYERS EVER. Starting at #10, each day I'll post a bit about that player and, as an added bonus, include my Top 10 beers. Here is number 10:



10. Manny Fernandez ~ expectations were sky high for Manny when he was brought over from Dallas, but sure enough Manny started being Manny and shared several injury-ridden seasons with first Jamie McClennan, then Dwayne Roloson and finally Nik Backstrom. He was forever pissed off and thought a bit too highly of his abilities, coming across as the guy who thinks the company wouldn't run without him. Having said that, he's arguably the greatest netminder in Minnesota Wild history (real short list mind you), and I'll always remember him for his stellar play in the 2003 playoffs against Colorado and Vancouver.

Beer #10: Summit Extra Pale Ale ~ locally brewed just down the highway from the X, this is a fine brew that I enjoy whenever I'm out for happy hour. Goes great with stale, bar-popped popcorn and sure as shit gives me a headache every time I drink it.

Tomorrow: Number 9 is revealed.

September!

Finally it's September, hockey fans. There are several reasons why I think this is the best month of the year:

1. The weather cools off.
2. Primetime football is back.
3. NHL training camps open.
4. MLB pennant races.
5. New TV shows.
6. Kids back in school.
7. Sleeping with the windows open.
8. Marian Gaborik sightings at Kramarczuk's.
9. Playing street hockey in shorts and PMB jersey.

I could go on a bit longer, but I've got a pancake to eat.