5-game winners

There is no question that going on a 5-game winning streak is a milestone for this Minnesota Wild club, considering they dug themselves a huge hole very early in the season by dropping 5 in a row. But our new look Wild are on a tear as of late and the on-ice product has been delivering exactly what Coach Todd Richards said it would when he was introduced as the teams new bench boss. The team is playing an aggressive up-tempo style that is a more exciting brand of hockey to watch, the results of which produced a nice winning streak.

It is not every day that our Wild rattle off 5 in a row, and in fact was last done by the 07-08 version when they started the season hot winning their first 5. So this streak is definitely one to remember. However, as nice as it is to see our favorite NHL team succeed, there are a few things that are a bit unconventional about the way they have gone about posting these wins. First off, you would be hard-pressed to recall another Wild team that gives up the games first goal as often as the current team does. For the season, Minnesota is 7-9-2 when its opponent scores the first goal of the game. But during this 5-game streak, where the Wild have surrendered the opening goal in every game, the team has been perfect and won them all...not exactly a good way to start a game but if the formula works, I guess it works. For the season, Minnesota is 6-3-1 when netting the games first goal. The second stat that goes against a winning wisdom that has emerged during this 5-game winner is that this team has found success in erasing a 2-goal deficit, a sure sign of confidence. The Wild managed a comeback in Colorado, when they were trailing by 2 after the first period, and then stunned the Ducks in Anaheim by not only once coming back from 2-goals down, but did it a second time when Anaheim took a two goal lead mid-way through the final period.

The end result in spite of giving up the games first goal and climbing back from 2-goals down? A five game winning streak.

Score baby

It's a pretty simple formula and one that has proven to be successful so far this season for the Wild. Score 4 goals or more and your chances of winning dramatically improve. Yeah, it's not an earth shattering concept in today's NHL, but worth pointing out because this franchise has always been a goal-scoring-challenged group. But taking a look at what this team has done to date, the Wild have earned at least a point in every game they have netted at least 4 goals, going 5-0-1.

Point streak

After laying an egg early in the season and earning a measly 2 points in the teams first 7 games, the Wild are currently on a 7-game point streak, earning 13 points in its last 7. This is the seventh time in franchise history that the team has gone on a 7-game point streak.

Month-by-month

There is little question that Minnesota is playing solid as of late and would certainly be sitting much higher in the standings had it not been for that horrible start to the season. If you look at the results on a month-to-month basis it is pretty clear that this team has improved steadily over the course of the season.

• October: 5-9-0
  
• November: 5-3-3
  
• December: 3-0-0

Now it is very early in December, and the team just started a 5-game road-trip that will end with a game in Vancouver next Saturday, but things have certainly turned for the better for this Wild team.

Koivu's breakout

It seems that every season, Wild Captain Mikko Koivu has another 'breakout' season...and so far this season is no exception. The Finish star, who was the teams top draft pick (6th overall) in 2001, has increased his offensive production every season since he entered the league in 2005. And he is currently on pace to shatter his season career mark in goals (20), assists (47), & points (67).
Koivu's games played & points-per-game breakdown is as follows:

• 05-06: 64 gp/.33 ppg
  
• 06-07: 82 gp/.66 ppg
  
• 07-08: 57 gp/.74 ppg
  
• 08-09: 79 gp/.85 ppg
  
• 09-10: 27 gp/1.07 ppg

Koivu currently has recorded 9 goals and 20 assists thru 27 games, and should reach a career high 80+ points by seasons end.

One month at a time

Nobody likes where our Minnesota Wild is sitting in the standings, but to further abuse an overused phrase, it is what it is. The unfortunate thing about their position however, is that if it were not for a huge and most likely fatal misstep very early in the season, this team would be sitting pretty nicely in the Western Conference. It was the Wild's #3-#8 games of the season where the teams post-season fate may have been sealed, that 5-game road-trip that ended with Minnesota earning zero points. But since that ill-timed trip, the Wild have steadily improved and have looked like they are a team to be reckoned with.

That opening month is definitely one to forget. The team went 5-9-0 and it will most likely be looked upon as the killer month and the center of the teams downfall. You cannot stress enough how key that early 5-game losing streak is and will eventually become by seasons end. But as the team continued it's journey with a new front office, new head coach, and new system, they have looked better and better and the proof is in the numbers. The month of October produced a total of 10 points for the Wild out of a possible 28, good for a .357 point percentage, which is the stat used by the NHL instead of a traditional winning percentage. The teams record after the first month of play stood at 5-9-0. But enter November and enter better results. Minnesota finished the month 5-3-3, good for 13 points and a .590 points percentage. But the sad fact is that missed opportunities early hurt this team badly...consider that had the Wild gone .500 and earned 5 points on that opening 5-game road-trip, they would be only 1 point out of a playoff spot. But as it sits, Minnesota is tied with the Anaheim Ducks for last in the West with 28 points.

Points are coming

The Wild have earned points in 10 of their last 13 games, dating back to late October when the team grabbed 4 points from Eastern Conference teams in New York (Rangers) and Pittsburgh. And more encouraging is that Minnesota has earned points in four straight games, going 3-0-1 to end the month of November. There is no doubt that this team is playing much better than they did earlier in the season, a fact that is somewhat puzzling because the injury's that they have incurred. But the brand of hockey that Coach Todd Richards has introduced has finally been getting results in the standings.

New guys contributing

One thing I liked about Minnesota's previous coach Jacques Lemaire was that whenever the team added a new player to its roster, that player was immediately put into the fire in every circumstance possible. One does not know if this was done to test the player or to further evaluate the players potential, but either way is was always fun to see. And it seems as if coach Richards subscribes to this idea as well. Both Andrew Ebbett and Guillaume Latendresse have seen quality minutes at even strength but also power-play time as well. Ebbett has logged 1:30 with the man advantage while Latendresse has seen 1:11. Ebbett has even played a total of 3:12 when the team was shorthanded. And both have found newly arrived success with the Wild on the score-sheet. Ebbett has recorded 1 goal in three games with Minnesota, most importantly scoring the shootout winner in the teams 3-2 win over the Avalanche last night. And Latendresse has also found the back of the net in his short tenure with the team, as he has one goal in only two games.

The turning point

The Wild's most recent home-and-home sweep of the Colorado Avalanche may be looked at as the turning point, if there happens to be a happy ending to this regular season. The Wild controlled the majority of the play in both games and came away with 4 points, starting a two game winning streak, equaling the teams longest winning streak of the season. But the key to these two games was the way that the Wild found success and the fact that the success, once found at home, continued on the road the following night. It was hard work, a tenacious forecheck, and timely goals, that lifted Minnesota in both games. And the fact that there was no let-down on Saturday at the Pepsi Center after winning at the Xcel Energy Center on Friday, was most encouraging and shows that this team has really come around.

New system finally arrives

Now that is what we have been waiting for.

Ever since the Minnesota Wild hired Todd Richards to coach this team and he uttered the phrase 'fast-paced' as one way to describe the style his team would be playing, we have been waiting patiently. Game after game we have gone from witnessing nothing close to a fast paced game to spurts of fast paced play. But so far have we have seen nothing reminiscent of a team going all out in any kind of fast paced manner for an extended period of time. Tonight however was different. Tonight, NHL game 0234 will go down as the first time fans witnessed the full product on display as the Wild's defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2. The system has arrived.

Call it the early season slump, the new system funk, or whatever you want. But until tonight, this team had not played a complete 60 minute game. But they were awfully close in this game. Start to finish, the Wild carried the majority of the play and really ramped up their game. This 'fast paced' style we have been waiting for really shone through, as it was obvious that something finally clicked on that Minnesota bench. Shift after shift, player after player, it was constant pressure from our Wild. Even Derek Boogaard got into the act and had two shots on goal somewhere in his 8 shifts. And they were both legitimate scoring chances. When is that last time that has happened?

This was one for the DVR, not because of the win, but because of the historical nature of that win. Our Wild really looked the part tonight, as they finally unveiled this new system that we have all been hearing about. The question now becomes, did this new system come with any consistency attribute?

Close call

The Wild's sellout streak is still intact, now reaching 375 games after hosting the Stars tonight in front of another huge crowd of 18,558. However, I have to believe that Thursdays game against the Vancouver Canucks has to be the closest this franchise has been to going under capacity for a game. The crowd at the X that night was 18,105, only 41 tickets over the capacity of 18,064.

This is a great streak...but unfortunately will most likely come to an end this season.

Trick or Treat? Wild fans receive both

The trick was played on us by our new GM Chuck Fletcher and new Head Coach Todd Richards. They sold Wild fans on the notion that under this regime, we would see a more exciting brand of hockey. The treat for Wild fans will be an all-out rebuild of this roster.

It was not so long ago that the buzz was in the air. The new look Wild would be playing an aggressive style that would prove to be not only more pleasing for the fans to watch, but would also result in a more successful team. What was missed by most was one simple thing. Our roster did not change enough along with the changes in coaching philosophy and style. You want to run a horse in a race, you actually need a horse. Folks are finally coming around and seeing this. But the fact is that this team has too many average players to push the puck and force the play as much as is needed in an 'uptempo' style of play.

Looking at the additions made by our Wild this past off-season tells me one thing, and that being they are all expendable. We did not pick up young and promising minor leaguer's, but instead a few steady veterans and one high-profile scorer. The end results will prove to be that come the trade-deadline, most of these players may be gone. And that is probably the approach that should be taken. You will not hear it from the Wild front office, but as the season drags on with limited on-ice results, this team will move closer and closer to the process of a major overhaul. Much of the thanks for this goes in part to our old GM for not stocking up on young talent. If we had it, make no mistake, they would be here soaking up minutes and valuable experience. But because the Wild's minor league system is lacking in talent, option 'B' was to fill the roster and hope for the best. But the best may not be good enough and the time to unload may come.

Rookie mistakes

You could essentially classify all Wild players as rookies at this point. It looks at times as if this team has no clue as to what they are supposed to do. The mental errors that are usually seen from the 'younger' crowds in training camp, are becoming regular habit for much of this roster. But the rookie-type mistakes that may be the most obvious are the ones coming from Coach Richards. To be fair, he is a rookie at leading an NHL team. But there is really no excuse for limiting the ice time of a player who is supposed to be one of your leading scorers. And to not only bench a seasoned scorer, but to then turn around and scratch him from you lineup indicates that there may be much to be learned.

Coming in, fans expectations may have been too high. This is because of the 'trick', but that blame goes squarely on the shoulders of the Coach and GM, both of whom did the selling. But by all indications prior to them being hired, Fletcher and Richards are two individuals who are projected to become very successful in the NHL...let's hope that all the pre-hire chatter was not all hype.

End result

It may be a long and painstaking period for Wild fans. But I truly believe that this team is moving ever so close to being in a total overhaul mode, thus the 'treat'. Only seven players on this roster have deals that extend beyond next season. Of those, Martin Havlat, Brent Burns, Nick Schultz, and Niklas Backstrom may be the only ones worth holding on to. And even from that list, two could arguably be used in deals without having sellers remorse. The obvious priority that needs to be first and foremost, is signing Mikko Koivu to a long-term deal this off-season. Beyond that, look for another 'new look' Wild come next season...trick or teat?

DirecTV update

Without going into the pricing details, let's just say that after a few phone calls and emails, this is one satisfied customer.

Remember that DirecTV is without the Versus network, as the two sides have yet to reach a new deal on carriage. So I decided to roll the dice and voice my displeasure to DirecTV. The results of my efforts include all of the regional sports channels (sports pack, over 35 channels)...and NHL Center Ice for the remainder season.

Not bad...

Just as I expected...almost

Finally, others are getting on board. I thought it was a bit obvious, but more and more are seeing this Minnesota Wild team for what it is...a few 'higher-end' players surrounded by a bunch of 'nice' players. And the drop-off between the high and nice is pretty severe. It was written by Russo in his blog that 'It's forwards just aren't that aggressive, and don't have the wheels. This will be something Chuck Fletcher will have to address in future transactions if Todd Richards is going to deploy a skating, fore-checking system.'

Finally, someone that actually reaches some readers has pointed this out. After all, the sales pitch that was delivered by new GM Chuck Fletcher, then re-pitched by new Coach Todd Richards, had most believing that the problem and fixes for this franchise was a simple 'system' switch. But what those same believers forgot was that in order to play this up-tempo style, more aggressive and wheel bearing players are needed. It's rather simple and can be read below...'System this system that'.

A couple of things to consider with this new approach to the game that our Wild have taken with their current roster...they average only 2 goals a game, which ranks 28th in the league. And behind the blue line, an area that had always been solid with Minnesota, they have given up 3.33 goals per game, good for 24th.

But beyond these few stats, what says it all is their record, 2-7-0.

As for this team being almost what I expected? It's worse.

In-box prospect report

Minnesota Wild Prospects Report – Oct. 20, 2009

HOUSTON AEROS (3-3-0-0, 4th in West Division) – The Aeros earned their third weekend split of the season, defeating the San Antonio Rampage, 5-2, before falling to the Texas Stars, 5-1, in a shootout at Toyota Center Saturday. Houston handed the Rampage its first regulation loss of the season with the help of two goals from RW Duncan Milroy on Friday night. RW Danny Irmen, C Peter Zingoni, and D Ryan Gunderson also scored for Houston in the win in front of 6,567 at Toyota Center. The Aeros fell to intra-state rival Texas on Saturday night. RW J-M Daoust scored the lone Houston goal and G Wade Dubielewicz replaced Anton Khudobin in net after he gave up four second period goals. The Aeros face the Lake Erie Monsters Wednesday night before traveling to San Antonio for a series with the Rampage this weekend.

Koivu named captain for the 09-10 season

As expected, Minnesota Wild General Manager, along with Coach Todd Richards, made the popular choice, and correct decision, when they announced today that center Mikko Koivu will serve as the teams permanent captain for this season. Left out was the notion that he will serve full-time for years to come, but I would guess that he will wear the 'C' as long as he is employed by owner Craig Leipold.

Koivu was the obvious choice, especially amongst fans. There were however, several other picks that could have been made that would have also made sense. Andrew Brunette and Owen Nolan are two players that command respect, both because of their work on and off the ice, but also because they are seasoned veterans who have had very successful careers. A case also could have been made to name Brent Burns or Nick Schultz as captain as well. But in the end, Koivu is really the face of this team and franchise.

From season #1 back in 2000-01, the team has always rotated the designated captain, and it worked out fine. Coming in as an expansion team, with a new identity, it seemed like a good idea since they really did not have a franchise leader. But that changed long ago and this move was long overdue. With the changes made from the front office to the bench boss, this was one of those things that you knew would crumble, along with a few other things that as of yet, have not turned out all that well (but it's early).

As for the history of who's been captain of this team...by my count the Wild have named 22 different players as captain. Some of the not so obvious choices include Scott Pellerin (November 2000), Matt Johnson (December 2002), and Alex Henry (October 2005). And again by my count, the longest serving captain in Wild history was Brad Bombardir, who captained the team for 8 months and the teams 2003 playoff run, followed by Andrew Brunette and Koivu, who both led the team for 7 months. Hopefully now, the history will change forever and fans can start counting seasons or years, not months.

Along with the Koivu news, the team also announced that serving as alternate captains, on a rotating basis, will be forwards Andrew Brunette, Martin Havlat, & Owen Nolan, and defensemen Kim Johnsson, Nick Schultz & Greg Zanon.

The official release is below...

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009

MINNESOTA WILD NAMES MIKKO KOIVU CAPTAIN

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher and Head Coach Todd Richards announced today that center Mikko Koivu will serve as the team’s full time captain for the 2009-10 NHL season.

“Mikko possesses all the qualities you want your leader to have,” said Richards. “He is passionate, has a great work ethic and competes for everything. The way Mikko plays defines him as the leader of our team.”

Koivu, 26 (3/12/83), has recorded five points (2-3=5) in seven games with the Wild this season. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound native of Turku, Finland led the team in scoring in 2008-09 with 67 points (20-47=67) in 79 matches setting career-highs in assists, points, penalty minutes (66), shorthanded goals (four) and game-winning goals (three) and ranked third in the NHL in face-offs won (857) and fourth in face-offs taken (1,625) for a 52.9 face-off percentage. Koivu also served as the team captain four times last season (October, November, January and March/April).

In his fifth season with Minnesota, he has tallied 189 points (59-130=189) and 210 penalty minutes in 289 career games. Koivu ranks third on the Wild’s all-time list in shorthanded goals (six), fourth in assists, fifth in scoring, seventh in goals and 11th in games played. He was originally selected by Minnesota in the first round (6th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

The team will rotate the alternate captains each game among a leadership group consisting of three forwards (Andrew Brunette, Martin Havlat and Owen Nolan) and three defensemen (Kim Johnsson, Nick Schultz and Greg Zanon).

Great seats are still available for all Minnesota Wild home games including Wednesday, Oct. 21 when the Wild wears its new third jersey for the first time against the Colorado Avalanche at 7:00 p.m. For more information on single game ticket packages visit www.wild.com/ticketpacks.

-- WILD --

Follow the Minnesota Wild on Twitter and Facebook.

A permanent captain...finally

The old system of rotating captains was a novel and cute idea, for an expansion team. I understood, at the time, the value of doing it this way, as everything was new, from the front office to the players. It would have been tough to give the franchise a face early on with so many unknowns in the locker room. But as time wore on into season after season, it became pretty clear to everyone except our old coach, that it was time to hand over the reigns to Mikko Koivu, our only true franchise player. Well that announcement is finally coming. Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher will be holding a 'Captain' announcement on October 20 following the Wild’s 10:30 a.m. practice at Xcel Energy Center.

Of course, no official word has been issued on who will be announced as the captain, but I am pretty confident that Coach Todd Richards and Fletcher see Koivu in the same light as the fans, as the teams franchise...the official release is below.

For Immediate Release
Monday, Oct. 19, 2009

MINNESOTA WILD TO ANNOUNCE TEAM CAPTAIN TUESDAY

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club will hold a press conference to unveil the team’s captain on Tuesday, Oct. 20 following the Wild’s 10:30 a.m. practice at Xcel Energy Center. The press conference will take place in locker room #3 on the event level of Xcel Energy Center at approximately 12:30 p.m.

WHO: Chuck Fletcher, Todd Richards and Minnesota Wild captain
WHAT: Minnesota Wild to Unveil Team Captain
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 20 at approximately 12:30 p.m. following 10:30 a.m. team practice at Xcel Energy Center
WHERE: Xcel Energy Center locker room #3 (Todd Richards postgame press conference room)

For more information please contact the Minnesota Wild’s Aaron Sickman at (xxx)xxx-xxxx or Ryan Stanzel at (xxx) xxx-xxxx.

Great seats are still available for all Minnesota Wild home games including Wednesday, Oct. 21 when the Wild wears its new green jersey for the first time against the Colorado Avalanche at 7:00 p.m. For more information on single game ticket packages including a GO GREEN pack visit www.wild.com/ticketpacks.

-- WILD --

Follow the Minnesota Wild on Twitter and Facebook.

System this, system that

The catch phrase being thrown around this season, 'new system', seems to be taking on a life of its own. New Wild and rookie head coach Todd Richards was to bring his brand of hockey to the Wild, which was supposed to be an uptempo style that theoretically results in a more exciting game to watch. This new system, although new to fans who have watched the Wild in seasons past, is nothing new to the players, who have played hockey throughout most of their existence. And since the Wild have not gotten out of the gate as quickly as a Jacques Lemaire coached team has as in previous years, the 'new system' seems to be the catch phrase as to one of the major reasons the team has struggled early. The idea that installing a different fore-check, new circumstances when to pinch, and different defensive assignments on the ice for example, are all things that good teams can adapt to. The problem we have here is that this team is just not that good.

Coaches all over the league want to brand their team, make a footprint on their squad. I have no doubt that Richards is eager to do that with the Wild. However, one has to consider what hand they have been dealt before making a play or move. Minnesota's hockey club is far from a team that has the ability to open things up to the point where they rely on out-scoring their opponents with offensive skills. Sounds funny because that is how you win at this game, scoring more goals than the team you are facing. But consider that teams also win in this league because of a defense that allows fewer goals than the opponent. Remember the phrase that I am sure all of you hockey players heard growing up, 'a good defense is a good offense'? What we have here is a collection of mostly mediocre offensive players who have been asked to extend themselves beyond their scoring abilities, thus their defensive responsibilities have suffered.

I will give this team the injury factor benefit of the doubt, as right from the get-go, the Wild have suffered some key losses to some of the teams better players. Unfortunately though, the weakness because of this has been exposed...lack of depth. I read earlier from a respected writer that Minnesota has some of the best depth in the league at the forward position. I don't see it. Not only is the team thin up front, an argument can be made that we don't even have a legitimate complete top line of forwards. A few of Minnesota's rostered centers, for example, would better suited for the minors...a bad way to have set your lineup. And until GM Fletcher can make a move to solve their center problems, this team will never be able to find wins on a nightly basis.

Now to this mysterious system that the players seem to be having a hard time grasping...one that should have been picked up before the season started because after all, it's just hockey folks. The stories have gone something like, 'the team was drilled so long with a Lemaire defensive system that it is taking a while to de-program them'. Hogwash, plain and simple. These are professionals who have been trained to play the game. It's not rocket science and there is no doctoral training being introduced. It's basic X's and O's that are being missed, not learning a new system, plain and simple.

from the in-box

Hockey Unplugged - The next Wild Hockey Unplugged will take place Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at Champps located at 1641 Plymouth Road in Minnetonka. Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to participate in an open ‘mic’ question and answer session and receive an autograph from Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora. Autograph tickets for each player will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Outlook is perplexing...no faith in 'system'?

Usually going into a season, I have a pretty good handle on how the season will play out. Of course, the NHL season can be quirky with injury's, but minus the games lost due to the IR factor, I can normally see things clearly. Unfortunately, I don't have a clue going into this season. The puck finally drops tonight for our Minnesota Wild and I have no idea how this team will finish and am at a loss, as I don't know what to think or believe about this current team. I do believe that even with the roster shakeup and the departure of the teams one true star, Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher found a way to improve his team this off-season. But I am not so sure that I have faith in the 'system' that new head coach Todd Richards is preaching...because I still don't think that the team has enough fire-power.

The hole filled by Fletcher when he added Martin Havlat was an outstanding plug to find. He will be the player that make fans forget about our previous noodle-groin scorer Marian Gaborik...but only if he stays healthy himself. We have been through the 'scorer is scratched' ringer, and it would be nice to see a full season from our go-to guy. But if you look at a 4-season comparison in games played, Havlat has missed more games (138 missed) over that time period compared to Gaborik (121). The good news is that the most recent season was spectacular for our new go-to guy, as he recorded 77 points in 81 games last season, and all signs point to him continuing that success. But even though I believe that adding Havlat was huge, the real find for Fletcher may turn out to be the addition of Petr Sykora. It's not every day that you can get what should be a 50 points producer into camp on a 'try-out' basis.

One of the strong zones that has been pretty constant throughout the Wild's short existence has been the D-zone and with it, very solid goaltending. In fact, the goaltenders that the Wild usually roll out have usually been a top goaltending duo in the league. And our current #1 guy, Niklas Backstrom, is coming off a stellar season. Not only did Backstrom set franchise records for wins (37) and shutouts (8), he was the only goaltender in the league to place in the top 5 in shutouts, GAA (2.33), save % (.924), and wins. Now with that said, the great Wild debate in the past has been whether or not the goaltenders in particular, were the benefactor of a 'defensive system' that was instilled by our former coach Jacques Lemaire or did the Wild always get it right when acquiring goalies. We should get our answer this season. Even if Backstrom seems to be having an off-year, waiting on the bench is Josh Harding, who is seen as a starter by many in this league. So this team does have able and competent players between the pipes but it is yet to be seen what effect the 'system' will have on their games.

On the blue-line, the one thing I do find refreshing is that defense will be leaned on more heavily for offensive production and will be expected to be in the play in the offensive zone. This is something that has always been a thorn in the side of the old regime, but the outcome of holding our D back had always been a solid D-zone. With this new system, I would expect more production from a guy like Brent Bruns, who should have a great season, but will also not be surprised by the teams increase in goals against. I would also expect Nick Schultz to continue his defensive style, and really don't know what to think about our new guys, Greg Zanon and Shane Hnidy, as they both have not been offensive-defensman in the past and would expect them to be hopefully solid shut-down guys.

I would agree with most observers that, for the most part, this team has improved this off-season. However, there is one glaring area that has haunted this team for several seasons and was not addressed by our new management...the lack of scoring centers. The fact that the team was still experimenting with Pierre-Marc Bouchard at this position tells a lot. The team did add Kyle Brodziak (from St. Paul....Alberta), who is a solid two-way player, but other than Mikko Koivu, the team does not have a good scoring center.

I am more confused now than when I started this post. If you were one of the few that waded through this, you can probably tell that this is a mess start to finish, which scares me. Because I cannot get a handle on this team, the only conclusion I can come up with as to why that is may be because of our new 'system'. I love offense and scoring as much as the next fan, but one of the comforts I had with Lemaire was the fact that the team almost always played great defensive hockey. And for a group of players who were not the most gifted scorers, which is what the Wild have had in seasons past, that was a real blessing. From day one, the Wild have never been a slouch in the D-zone and that carried them to many wins.

And from what I see from this current team...not a a lot of gifted scorers.

Your expectations

A new season, a new start. The Minnesota Wild will definitely have a new look this season. Not only will fans see some new faces wearing the jersey, but behind the bench will be the biggest change fans will see, and it is not just the face. When Minnesota's original coach left, Jacques Lemaire took with him a sense that I always felt from day one...that the team will play competitive no matter who we saw on the ice. I always expected that the games would be close and that the team would fight hard, and that is usually how it played. And it was understood that these close games would be the product of a great defensive effort, and not an outpouring of offense. But as time rolled along, the 'sure thing' of seeing the Wild put forth a solid effort started to evaporate and thus the changes were made. But now that we have a new bench boss in Minnesota native Todd Richards, what do fans expect?

I heard Coach Richards give an interview a few days back. The question was posed about what fans can expect from the team under his guidance. In the question, a reference was made to the playoffs, and the answer was a text-book company line. Richards stated that his goal was and he expected the team to make it to the post-season. Good answer, but how realistic was it? Of course I want the team to succeed. I don't for one minute think that this organization is in an all out rebuilding mode...but we just lost a Hall of Fame coach who, whether you liked him or not, knew what he was doing. Lemaire was the master in getting the most out of each and every player. Enter a 'rookie' head coach and I will choose to play the 'wait and see' approach. There is no doubt that a change was needed because the master was losing his students, but if fans expect a sudden burst in the offense, I am afraid your disappointment may be on the horizon. If you think that the Wilds rock solid defense will continue flawlessly during this coaching transition, well then you are more of an optimist than I am.

As for me, I don't know what to expect. The style of play should not change all that much because realistically, we don't have the fire-power needed to open things up the way that most fans would like. And as I insist is the case, all NHL teams play one form or another of a trap system, so I would expect much of the same from this team. The question is will Coach Richards defensive 'form' be perfected the way it was with this team for almost all of Lemaire's reign and whether or not he can get more offense from much of the same mediocre scorers? If not, this could be a long NHL season.

I loved the coaching choice made by GM Chuck Fletcher. I think the time was right for Lemaire to leave and for this team to move away from the standard re-treads that this league seems to roll on. Coach Richards has new ideas, his own system, and comes from successful organizations...let's hope that he can pull off a bit of a 'Lemaire' miracle and keep this team competitive from day one, because roster wise, we are still sitting with a lot of holes that need to be filled.

Training camp info

The time is finally here. This Sunday, September 13, players hit the ice for the official opening of the 2009 training camp. And you will not have to wait long if you are interested in seeing first-hand our Wild team, as both Sunday and Monday, from 11:00 to 12:30, fans are invited to the Xcel Energy Center to have a look at the new team. 43 players have been invited to participate, with the possibility that more players may arrive late off of the teams prospect roster, which is currently playing in the annual Prospect Tournament in Michigan.

Listed below is the camp schedule. Click here to view the full camp release, including both the camp and prospect rosters.

2009-10 Minnesota Wild Training Camp Schedule*

All Times listed are Central

Friday, September 11 11:30 a.m. Minnesota Wild preseason media luncheon at Xcel Energy Center

Saturday, September 12 10:00 a.m. Media day at Xcel Energy Center

Sunday, September 13 10:30 a.m. Practice/Scrimmage at Xcel Energy Center

Scrimmage open to public at 11:00 a.m.

Monday, September 14 10:30 a.m. Practice/Scrimmage at Xcel Energy Center

Scrimmage open to public at 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, September 15 10:30 a.m. Morning skate at Xcel Energy Center

GAME AT ST. LOUIS 7:00 PM

Wednesday, September 16 10:30 a.m. Practice at Xcel Energy Center

Thursday, September 17 10:30 a.m. Practice/Scrimmage at Xcel Energy Center

Friday, September 18 10:30 a.m. Morning skate at Xcel Energy Center

GAME VS. COLUMBUS 7:00 PM

Saturday, September 19 11:00 a.m. Practice at Saint Thomas Arena

Sunday, September 20 9:30 a.m. Morning skate at Xcel Energy Center

GAME VS. CHICAGO 5:00 PM

Monday, September 21 10:30 a.m. Practice at Xcel Energy Center

GAME AT COLUMBUS 6:00 PM

Tuesday, September 22 11:00 a.m. Practice at Xcel Energy Center

Wednesday, September 23 10:30 a.m. Practice at Xcel Energy Center

Thursday, September 24 10:30 a.m. Morning skate

GAME VS. ST. LOUIS 7:00 PM

Friday, September 25 10:30 a.m. Morning skate at Saint Thomas Arena

GAME AT CHICAGO 7:30 PM

Saturday, September 26 11:00 a.m. Practice at Xcel Energy Center

Sunday, September 27 10:30 a.m. Practice at Xcel Energy Center

Monday, September 28 10:30 a.m. Practice at Xcel Energy Center

Tuesday, September 29 10:30 a.m. Morning skate at Wachovia Center

GAME AT PHILADELPHIA 6:00 PM

Wednesday, September 30 11:00 a.m. Practice at Xcel Energy Center

Thursday, October 1 9:30 a.m. Practice at Xcel Energy Center

12:00 p.m. 2009 St. Paul Chamber Face-Off Luncheon at Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront

* All times and dates are subject to change.

Ticket info

It is time to pitch those tents, Wild fans. This Saturday regular season single game tickets go on sale at the Xcel Energy Center at 9:00 AM. And for fans who would rather get a good nights sleep, any remaining tickets will go on sale at noon at all other Wild ticket locations. Unfortunately however, the organization took the route that our local NFL team has taken in years past, by introducing the 'two-for' game package. This package makes it mandatory that when you purchase a ticket to see the the Rangers, you must also buy into the Coyotes game. In additon, the Penguins game is included in the 'two-for' package, as the Predators are the sister team to this deal. The good news is that the Rangers and Penguins are the only two games included in this package but all bets are that this package will be expanded to include more games next season.

Yahoo Fantasy

We are still looking for participants in our 6th annual NHL fantasy league. The link to the right will guide you to the proper place to sign up. This game is open to all skill and knowledge levels, from the fantasy rube to the fantasy rookie. It is a good time and I can almost guarantee that you will find it enjoyable.

My Jacques' back in Jersey

I am sure I am in the minority, but I liked what our former coach was doing and had accomplished with our Minnesota Wild. He was given the pieces, mostly grade 'B' at best, and put together a puzzle that was not always the most entertaining to look at, but competed on the ice and got some good results considering. And when it was announced on April 13 that he was 'stepping down', I could only wonder what life would have been like had our young franchise been guided by someone else, a coach who perhaps played that wide-open style that some fans seem to think exists outside of the Olympics...and the only conclusion I could come up with was that our team would not have had a winning season in it's eight-year existence.

Today former Wild head coach Jacques Lemaire was hired by the New Jersey Devils. It is great that he is back into the league again, and will 'no doubt' have his new team in the hunt at seasons end. He returns to the team where he instilled his 'system' that was so successful, today every NHL team plays it to some variation. In the 1994-95 season, Lemaire coached his Devils team to its first ever Stanley Cup Championship and also captured the franchises first two division titles during his 5-season stint there.

There will be no comparisons done by me regarding our new coaching regime versus the old. This is a new Minnesota Wild era, and fans should only look forward, not backwards. New Wild head coach Todd Richards will definitely have his hands full when things heat up this fall, but it would be unfair to thrust him into Lemaires' shadow. But there are a few in the minority, such as myself, who think that Jacques did what he could and played it smart with what he had to work with. One can only hope that our new coach is as smart when judging the talent he is given.