Winter Classic Snub Again

With word today that next season's NHL Winter Classic will be played in Pittsburgh by another two Eastern Conference teams, I have to ask the question: When is it our turn? Bring the New Year's Day game to Minnesota; play it at Target Field. Pittsburgh versus Washington? Please, let's give the national TV audience some variety. No one likes steak and caviar every night, mix in a pork chop once in a while.

I pledge not to watch any more Winter Classic's until Gary Bettman apologizes to all Minnesotans and to Wild Puck Banter personally for this snub, this giant oversight. All we want here is a little respect, is that too much to ask?

I'd be less upset if they'd just bring the game west of the Mississippi River for a change. It doesn't have to be in Minnesota...Denver would be a great setting as well. But as we know, it's all about generating TV revenue, and like it or not, over 97% of the American public lives within 2 hours of NYC. (bad attempt at sarcasm)

Coney Gut Bombs

With the Stanley Cup Finals coming up, I offer you the perfect food to offer your guests. Make Coney Island Hot Dogs. Not chili-cheese dogs, there is a difference. "Coney Gut Bombs", as I like to call them, are skin-on wieners(*) that are covered with a sweet meat sauce made of various items including beef, brown sugar and ketchup. There are many recipes for this mixture, and most are good. Add mustard and onions to taste and you'll have a great combination for your viewing party.

As far as a drink to pair it with, I suggest going with beer. Maybe something a bit lighter like Bell's Two-Hearted Ale. You can't miss with that.

(*) This is sure to get me some hits from people not exactly looking for hockey information.

Guillaume Latendresse: How Much?

Clearly the first priority in this off season for the Minnesota Wild is signing power forward Guillaume Latendresse to a multi-year contract, but at what cost? His numbers in a Wild uniform last year were terrific...55 games, 25 goals, 12 assists. If you compute that over an 82 game season he'd have 37 goals, 18 assists for 55 points.

Comparably speaking, I liken him a bit to Dustin Penner. Penner's a big forward who can score. Last season with the Edmonton Oilers, Penner's numbers looked like this: 82 games, 32 goals, 31 assists for 63 points. Granted, Penner is 26 and Latendresse is only 22, but I still like the comparison.

Penner is in the middle of a 5 year, $21.25m contract with the Oilers. While I don't think I'd sign Latendresse to a 5 year contract at this point, I think the average salary is acceptable. If I were Chuck Fletcher, I'd try and ink him to a 3 year, $12.0m contract. If he balks, offer him a one year, $4.5m contract. Then again, if I were Chuck Fletcher I'd have a much bigger TV and I probably wouldn't be writing this blog.