2022 MN WILD/NHL THREAD

As much as I’ve wanted to see Addison playing while he’s up here, Benn hasn’t been bad. He’s actually done fairly well from what I’ve seen.

I really think Addison would help out our dismal PP though.

tswoboda wrote:

I’d be way more excited if this meant the #1 Wild Fans jersey was coming down. I think that should be part of the deal.

One of the most Minnesotan things I’ve ever seen……

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>tswoboda wrote:</div>
I’d be way more excited if this meant the #1 Wild Fans jersey was coming down. I think that should be part of the deal.

One of the most Minnesotan things I’ve ever seen……

Agreed on both accounts. Next will be hanging pictures of all the players with Minnesota ties who have played for the Wild.

mahtofire14 wrote:

As much as I’ve wanted to see Addison playing while he’s up here, Benn hasn’t been bad. He’s actually done fairly well from what I’ve seen.

I really think Addison would help out our dismal PP though.

I was about to post the same thing. What a luxury it is to have a functioning 7th D in Benn. Even though I’m disappointed Addy isn’t getting a shot as Spurgeon’s temp. replacement, it’s better for the team that Benn is playing good hockey. Same for Victor Rask when he gets into the lineup.

What does it say about the Wild that these 3 defensemen who were all but washed last season are playing some really solid hockey this year. Maybe it’s all just a mirage and the wheels fall off at some point. Sure doesn’t look like that though. Maybe I just jinxed it

Bringing Addison out for just warmups isn’t doing his development any good though either… bring somebody like Mermis up instead…

tswoboda wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
As much as I’ve wanted to see Addison playing while he’s up here, Benn hasn’t been bad. He’s actually done fairly well from what I’ve seen.

I really think Addison would help out our dismal PP though.

I was about to post the same thing. What a luxury it is to have a functioning 7th D in Benn. Even though I’m disappointed Addy isn’t getting a shot as Spurgeon’s temp. replacement, it’s better for the team that Benn is playing good hockey. Same for Victor Rask when he gets into the lineup.

What does it say about the Wild that these 3 defensemen who were all but washed last season are playing some really solid hockey this year. Maybe it’s all just a mirage and the wheels fall off at some point. Sure doesn’t look like that though. Maybe I just jinxed it

Don’t worry it’s perfectly normal for a Minnesota sports fan to be expecting the wheels to fall off any temporary success!

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Bringing Addison out for just warmups isn’t doing his development any good though either… bring somebody like Mermis up instead…

Definitely agree with this too. He needs to keep that confidence level.

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
Bringing Addison out for just warmups isn’t doing his development any good though either… bring somebody like Mermis up instead…

Definitely agree with this too. He needs to keep that confidence level.

I imagine they will send him back down soon and bring someone else up. You guys are right, at this stage he needs to be playing and in Iowa he would be getting a lot of ice time.

Koivu had a long presser today to announce the jersey retirement in March. Lots of questions on his role with the Wild moving forward sounds like it’s up to him on whether he wants to be in management or coaching. But he will be involved with the Wild in some way.

I think we all knew his jersey would be retired some day so no shocker there. There seems to be mixed opinions on whether or not it’s warranted and I can see both sides. He was the first captain, played 1000+ games, #1C for most of his career, leads or close to top in almost every stat, and just an all around great guy that you’d want to represent your team. The other side is that retired jerseys are usually for HOFers or guys that won cups and Koivu is obviously neither of those things.

What gets me about Koivu is how his brother is so beloved in Montreal, almost like an all time great there. Their careers are very similar with Saku a little better on offense and Mikko a lot better on defense. But somehow Mikko is a polarizing player to Minnesota “nice” fans and Saku is universally loved by francophone Habs fans. Maybe Saku beating cancer has something to do with it, idk.

The reason Koivu is so loved is because he stayed with the team his whole career. There’s this thing in MN where you are basically treated like a God if you say how much you love this state and then actually stay. If you make MN feel important, they will make you a favorite for the rest of time.

As for his role with the team, Russo has reported numerous times that Koivu purposely tries to keep his distance from the players because he wants the new leadership to not feel like he is lingering around them. Which I really respect.

Road to the Winter classic series starts tomorrow night on TNT!

Doesn’t look like the first episode is going to have anything to do with the Wild unfortunately.

mahtofire14 wrote:

The reason Koivu is so loved is because he stayed with the team his whole career. There’s this thing in MN where you are basically treated like a God if you say how much you love this state and then actually stay. If you make MN feel important, they will make you a favorite for the rest of time.

As for his role with the team, Russo has reported numerous times that Koivu purposely tries to keep his distance from the players because he wants the new leadership to not feel like he is lingering around them. Which I really respect.

Nah I’m saying there’s a ton of MN fans who don’t like Mikko, and I’m not sure why. I realize he wasn’t a great player, but there was a good portion of the fan base that was way too hard on him.

I know that’s what Russo said, but if you listen to Koivu it’s pretty obvious he doesn’t know what he wants to do yet and was basically job shadowing.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Doesn’t look like the first episode is going to have anything to do with the Wild unfortunately.

I heard it’s on Ryan O’Reilly… the coolest guy in the NHL. Affectionately known as “Factor” among teammates and friends. Big man crush on ROR.

I was always kind of meh, on Koivu because that was the kind of player he was. He didn’t stand out and he didn’t hurt you at least too often. Now what I think soured fans on him the last say the last five years of his career was having to listen to Gorg, LaPanta, Walz and the rest of them rave about him pre game and during the game. They would talk him up like he was McDavid, Macar, and Mckinnon all rolled into one.

I didn’t appreciate how many face offs he would win largely because we would never do much with them. But once he left it became obvious how bad we were in the face off circle.

Maybe they didn’t let Ryan Carter broadcast because of that mustache…..He looked ridiculous before the stache, but now he looks straight out of the back of a windowless van!

Addison playing wing tonight….

mahtofire14 wrote:

Addison playing wing tonight….

Yeah. Weird. Maybe he’ll light it up though. Would be cool if he stays there for the pp tonight.

Carter is a beauty. Great guy.
Sounds like Gaudreau is in last minute protocol.

I would have put Ben on fourth line wing and just glue him to a certain guy…
Kind of hope Addison Scores one at wing. Fiala has to be like seriously WTF…

Ripjiggen wrote:

I would have put Ben on fourth line wing and just glue him to a certain guy…
Kind of hope Addison Scores one at wing. Fiala has to be like seriously WTF…

Had a good chance at one in the slot on that PP. Fiala just can’t buy one….

Carter is a good guy. And that haircut fits his personality. Went to high school with his sister.

Kaprizov needs to win this game for them…tough lineup..

Fiala gets a guy who spends 4 out of every 5 games in the press box and a rookie defenseman as linemates….

Line looks the best it has all year.
Oh man Addison could have had a penalty shot there.

Kind of a Dumb fight by Duhaime…Gained nothing and only subtracted from a short forward bench. Wasn’t even really challenged to fight.

Brodin with a bomb

Ripjiggen wrote:

Kind of a Dumb fight by Duhaime…Gained nothing and only subtracted from a short forward bench. Wasn’t even really challenged to fight.

Agreed

Lol, Addison has looked good at wing tonight!

Fiala is so incredibly snake bit this year.

Ripjiggen wrote:

Fiala is so incredibly snake bit this year.

Might just play himself into being affordable on a 3 year extension.

Nice to see the GREEF line back to last seasons dominance. Ek must be Greenway’s security blanket, he’s life Jekyll and Hyde.

KK been watching McDavid’s highlights… he’s so back.

I mean Fiala shooting percentage may have dropped under 4 percent tonight. Hell Gaudreau is a career 6.1 percent and he has seven career regular season goals. Think about that.…I mean Greenway just got a better shooting percentage by getting his first of the year…