At the All-Star Break, how should we evaluate the Minnesota Wild's season. If you just ignored the manner in which the season progressed and looked at the current result only you'd have to be pleased. The team is 8th in the Western Conference and would qualify for a playoff spot if the season ended today.
Unfortunately we know how they got here, though. The started off the season great and played an exceptional November, zooming their way to first in the entire league. Then mid-December came along and they played like the worst team in the league for about a month. Now it appears they're playing a little better and go into the break on a 2 game winning streak.
What is the cause for this inconsistent play? Injuries, for one. Youth and inexperience also. And add the fact that Dany Heatley is continuing his fast descent down the goal-scoring mountain and you have the season in a nutshell.
As long as I'm evaluating the team, it's probably fair to evaluate my blog. Like the team, my blogging has been inconsistent at best. I mean, only 18 posts since the season began, how is this possible? My only explanation has to do with (a) complacency and (b) HBO. The terrific start for the Wild got me pining for the playoffs to start and it turns out they were still months away. In addition to that I started subscribing to HBO and watching a lot of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "The Wire". In fact, I often think Larry David would be an interesting character on "The Wire". He'd be pretty good.
Like the Wild, I will plan to be at my very best when the season resumes on Tuesday. But unlike the team, I can't trade myself to a contender if my blogging lags.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Please Don't Panic, Chuck
One month ago the Minnesota Wild were riding high, things were going great. They were on top of the Western Conference, the Houston call-ups were all producing and Mike Yeo looked like a genius. Fast-forward to today, the team is struggling badly, the rookies look over matched and their captain is out for at least a month. What should be done?
Wild GM Chuck Fletcher is at a crossroads here. He can make some moves to help the Wild maintain their playoff spot or he can be patient. The easy thing to do would be to trade some of their young players and prospects for quick fixes. Deal Charlie Coyle and Josh Harding for Zach Parise, or how about Marco Scandella for Ryan Malone? If the Wild made a few moves they'd have a good shot to make the playoffs this season and the fan base would be happy.
But I wouldn't do that. This team is built for the future, not for the present. Sure, they played out of their skulls good hockey in November, but that was an anomaly. This team as it's presently constructed isn't a top-tier team. This squad's brightest days are ahead with such players as Mikael Granlund, Jason Zucker, Johan Larsson and the aforementioned Coyle. Scandella will come back from Houston and be a better player.
Two seasons from now this team will be a Cup-contending team with the current roster plus the prospects coming of age. Why trade one or more of them now so the team can get into the playoffs as an 8 seed? I'm not saying Granlund is as talented as Evgeni Malkin, but can you imagine if the Penguins had dealt the rights to #71 just to make the playoffs before Sidney Crosby arrived?
Patience is hard here, especially with our recent playoff drought. But listen to me now and believe me later when I say this team will reach a Cup Final within 3 years if they don't trade any of their top young guns.
Wild GM Chuck Fletcher is at a crossroads here. He can make some moves to help the Wild maintain their playoff spot or he can be patient. The easy thing to do would be to trade some of their young players and prospects for quick fixes. Deal Charlie Coyle and Josh Harding for Zach Parise, or how about Marco Scandella for Ryan Malone? If the Wild made a few moves they'd have a good shot to make the playoffs this season and the fan base would be happy.
But I wouldn't do that. This team is built for the future, not for the present. Sure, they played out of their skulls good hockey in November, but that was an anomaly. This team as it's presently constructed isn't a top-tier team. This squad's brightest days are ahead with such players as Mikael Granlund, Jason Zucker, Johan Larsson and the aforementioned Coyle. Scandella will come back from Houston and be a better player.
Two seasons from now this team will be a Cup-contending team with the current roster plus the prospects coming of age. Why trade one or more of them now so the team can get into the playoffs as an 8 seed? I'm not saying Granlund is as talented as Evgeni Malkin, but can you imagine if the Penguins had dealt the rights to #71 just to make the playoffs before Sidney Crosby arrived?
Patience is hard here, especially with our recent playoff drought. But listen to me now and believe me later when I say this team will reach a Cup Final within 3 years if they don't trade any of their top young guns.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Captain Obvious
To state that "Wild forward Dany Heatley needs to score more" is akin to the following statements:
1. The Sun needs to come up tomorrow morning if we're going to be able to sustain life on Earth.
2. Boy, I sure hope gravity works tomorrow when I'm driving to work.
3. A cold beer would taste good right now.
And while I do like the fact that the local newspapers are covering hockey, I'd like it so much more if anyone outside of Mike Russo would tackle a real hockey topic. For example, what Lou Nanne thought Brian Lawton had that Steve Yzerman didn't.(*) That still bothers me.
(*) Someday I'll post my argument here that Lou Nanne, by way of poor drafting, was responsible for the North Stars leaving.
1. The Sun needs to come up tomorrow morning if we're going to be able to sustain life on Earth.
2. Boy, I sure hope gravity works tomorrow when I'm driving to work.
3. A cold beer would taste good right now.
And while I do like the fact that the local newspapers are covering hockey, I'd like it so much more if anyone outside of Mike Russo would tackle a real hockey topic. For example, what Lou Nanne thought Brian Lawton had that Steve Yzerman didn't.(*) That still bothers me.
(*) Someday I'll post my argument here that Lou Nanne, by way of poor drafting, was responsible for the North Stars leaving.
Struggling for Eighth
Yep, it's been a while since I've put up a Wild-related post on this site. I've been busy breaking down the new season of ABC's "The Bachelor" and believe me, I have plenty of thoughts in that area. But since this isn't a Bachelor Blog, I'll write for a bit about my favorite National Hockey League Team.
They were first place in the Western Conference a few weeks ago and are now struggling to maintain the 8th seed. What has gone wrong? I really don't know. Were they the best team in the West? Obviously not. Are they one of the worst? No, not that either. I suspect they'll pull out of this tailspin soon and spend the rest of the regular season fighting for a playoff spot.
Clearly they are a better team and Columbus, Anaheim and Edmonton. This much I know. Are they better than Dallas, Colorado, Calgary and the Quebec Coyotes? Some nights they are, other nights not so much.
They were first place in the Western Conference a few weeks ago and are now struggling to maintain the 8th seed. What has gone wrong? I really don't know. Were they the best team in the West? Obviously not. Are they one of the worst? No, not that either. I suspect they'll pull out of this tailspin soon and spend the rest of the regular season fighting for a playoff spot.
Clearly they are a better team and Columbus, Anaheim and Edmonton. This much I know. Are they better than Dallas, Colorado, Calgary and the Quebec Coyotes? Some nights they are, other nights not so much.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)