2024/2025 NHL/WILD Offseason-Season-Postseason Thread

tswoboda wrote:

With the transfer portal, who knows

forgot about that, that’s how they got to where they are now so quickly…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

I think if they were smart they would do away with the expensive Pre & Post game shows and ONLY broadcast the game itself, fans have access to all of the stats and interviews on their phones anyways…

No Audra?!?! Blasphemy

tswoboda wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
I think if they were smart they would do away with the expensive Pre & Post game shows and ONLY broadcast the game itself, fans have access to all of the stats and interviews on their phones anyways…

No Audra?!?! Blasphemy

only if she has her backup singer with keyboard…seriously who watches those shows? Easy way for the team to keep the broadcast costs to a minimal…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

$120 a year for ESPN+ is a great deal…I think the VPN trick to get blacked out home games will ultimately get solved though…

That was the reason I didn’t go with an ESPN+ subscription. Every streaming provider knows how to block VPN use, so it’s just a question of when they want to start doing it to make you pay more. Since this loophole has existed for a while with ESPN I figured the time was coming sooner rather than later.

Yeah there’s nothing to “solve” when it comes to ESPN with VPNs. Shutting down VPNs is so easy that this IDO site even does it, I get blocked here whenever I have a VPN active. So if/when ESPN ever finally decides to shut down VPNs…. I guess I’ll find a new option then. But I think it’s been 4 seasons now and still working

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
$120 a year for ESPN+ is a great deal…I think the VPN trick to get blacked out home games will ultimately get solved though…

That was the reason I didn’t go with an ESPN+ subscription. Every streaming provider knows how to block VPN use, so it’s just a question of when they want to start doing it to make you pay more. Since this loophole has existed for a while with ESPN I figured the time was coming sooner rather than later.

my biggest pet peeve are the streaming apps that don’t allow you to project your phone screen to a TV (cabled or wireless) there are still a few options left (apple TV being one) but my guess is they too will get resolved. This allowed me to watch Twins and Wild games at my cabin up north on the big screen while streamed through my phone, the Ballys app update killed that ability…

I have my fingers crossed the Wild offers a streaming solution next season, I need to cut the cord on Xfinity cable TV as its such a moneypit for how little we actually watch it (but I need to watch the Wild games)

JoeMX1825 wrote:

I have my fingers crossed the Wild offers a streaming solution next season, I need to cut the cord on Xfinity cable TV as its such a moneypit for how little we actually watch it (but I need to watch the Wild games)

I’m in exactly the same boat. I was willing to bite the bullet when all the games were on FSN/BSN, but then to move FDSN to a higher subscription tier PLUS having games taken away by ESPN+, that’s just BS.

Honestly, I thought THIS season was finally going to be where the NHL took control and went to their own broadcast/streaming solution. I don’t see how FDSN is any different than BSN and FSN, so can’t see how this sponsor shuffle would suddenly make them profitable.

Fanduel Sports North, Bally Sports North, and Fox Sports North are all the same thing – just a different name. Not holding my breath for the regional sports network model to go away anytime soon. Even if the Wild ditch FDSN or whatever name they have next year, and the Wild broadcasts games on – let’s call it “WildTV” – you’ll still have to pay the $10-$20 a month for “WildTV”. And I’d expect “WildTV” still gets blacked out from with TNT exclusives and NHL Network exclusives and the oh so dreaded ESPN+ exclusives.

tswoboda wrote:

Fanduel Sports North, Bally Sports North, and Fox Sports North are all the same thing – just a different name. Not holding my breath for the regional sports network model to go away anytime soon. Even if the Wild ditch FDSN or whatever name they have next year, and the Wild broadcasts games on – let’s call it “WildTV” – you’ll still have to pay the $10-$20 a month for “WildTV”. And I’d expect “WildTV” still gets blacked out from with TNT exclusives and NHL Network exclusives and the oh so dreaded ESPN+ exclusives.

The difference is I cut $130+ off my monthly TV/Internet bill when I only needed the TV portion for Ballys…I’ll be fine with just getting local stations via OTA antennas…everything else I can get via my internet connection.

Yes for the few exclusive channel games i’m SOL or I just wait until after the game and watch the recap or the following day and watch the replay on ESPN+

Playoffs are another issue as typically ESPN and TNT have those games (outside of your local market team until a certain round) I can’t remember when ESPN+ stops showing all of them? after the 1st round? so that’s something else to think about and factor in…

TwinsTV is $100 for the season or $20 a month with NO blackouts, now I know this TwinsTV is a MLB network temporary solution, so we’ll see if it holds true in the future.

I’m hoping a Wild option is similar…that would save me around $1,400 a year…

You can cancel cable and sign up for Fanduel Sports North streaming right now for $20 a month. I don’t see how it’s different if you’re paying the Wild directly or paying Fanduel

tswoboda wrote:

You can cancel cable and sign up for Fanduel Sports North streaming right now for $20 a month. I don’t see how it’s different if you’re paying the Wild directly or paying Fanduel

yes, I’ve just heard bad things about their separate streaming solution, maybe they fixed things? You can tell the Wild have been experimenting with their own in-house streaming solution the past few prospect & preseason games…Hoping they ensure better quality if its their own solution than Fan dual…lots of things getting figured out this season, I know Nashville and Dallas and other teams are only going with an in-house streaming solution for their games…

I’ve told myself this is the last season I use Xfinity no matter what, so i’ll go with the best streaming solution I can find next year…

What I can’t understand is that with the regional sports networks losing money constantly, how does it make financial sense to keep skimming games off to other places where fans may or may not follow? You’re just taking ad revenue away from the RSN that carries the majority of the games AND needs the revenue the most. It’s not as if the NHL doesn’t want the RSNs to be successful, right?

I hope the Twins prove that going to a sensibly priced solution with all games in one place is favored both by fans and by the team.

tswoboda wrote:

Yeah there’s nothing to “solve” when it comes to ESPN with VPNs. Shutting down VPNs is so easy that this IDO site even does it, I get blocked here whenever I have a VPN active.

Ive been on my VPN the last two days and have no issues accessing this site.

I assume ESPN and TNT must be paying enough for those exclusive rights that NHL think it’s worth blacking out the regional networks. The one I don’t understand is blacking out their own NHL Network games.

Hopefully if teams move to their own streaming options the NHL will eventually renegotiate the exclusive rights with ESPN and TNT. I just don’t see that happening any time soon

I pay the $20 a month for the FDSN streaming option because I’m also a big Timberwolves fan, so I get access to both of those with the service. I have no complaints this season on the service. Last year there were all sorts of issues.

I’ve used a VPN to watch the Twins for a couple years now with MLB.TV and have had no issues.

CaptainMusky wrote:

Ive been on my VPN the last two days and have no issues accessing this site.

Are you referring to a VPN for work or network purposes? I’m only referring to the generic VPN services, the kind that are meant to mask location by using a bogus IP address. Office or network VPNs wouldn’t be an issue with IDO

tswoboda wrote:

Are you referring to a VPN for work or network purposes? I’m only referring to the generic VPN services, the kind that are meant to mask location by using a bogus IP address. Office or network VPNs wouldn’t be an issue with IDO

Its for work.

Here’s a clue. The NHL has no F’s to give when it comes to the fans. As long as everybody keeps throwing their money at all the various streaming services in order to see every puck drop and every game it will always be this way. They have no desire to consolidate everything and make it cozy and cheap for the fans. They will take their money from whoever wants to stream a package of games. You want to see every game then pay for every streaming service plus a VPN and you might be able to get them all.

I have the Fanduel app at $20 a month. That’s as far as I’m willing to go. I kicked these other streaming services, cable services and satellite service bandits to the curb years ago. If I don’t get to see every single game like last night I have no F’s to give about that.

Someday the leagues, especially the NHL, will understand eyes on their product maximizes their value. Until then I’ll enjoy the 2-3 ESPN+ Wild games per year, rather than a majority of all 82. I have adopted the Caps since they are on almost every night, and it’s been fun watching Ovie chase down Gretzky. Somewhat related note, but how is Russia not in the 4 Nations Cup? They would certainly have a better squad than Sweden or Finland right? And wouldn’t you (the NHL) want Ovechkin there? I have some buddies that are Caps fans, and they are pretty pumped they have no one playing in it…which seems like 2 weeks to get healthy would be quite the advantage down the home stretch.

BigWerm wrote:

Somewhat related note, but how is Russia not in the 4 Nations Cup?

I have seen no official explanation if there even is one, but my thinking was it was about the invasion of Ukraine. Like the Olympics, having an overt Russian presence at a high-profile sporting event is a hot potato. Obviously, the players have nothing to do with Russia’s decisions, but the league has gone out of its way not to do anything to make any “statements” one way or the other and I’d think leaving Russia out of this first tournament is an extension of that.

Just got to reading the full Wheeler article on ranking the Wild’s prospect pool at #2.

Interesting that right at the beginning of the article, he comes out and says it’s two d-men that put the Wild solidly in the top 3–Jiricek and drafting Buium. I have to think it’s not often that the strength of defensive prospects is attention-getting enough to be a major factor a move from from 11 to 2.

I have to say it’s going to be exciting watching a team that has Faber, Middleton, Brodin, Spurgeon, and Bogo and then mix in Buium and Jiricek. Of course, Brodin and Spurgeon are later in their careers, but that’s a heck of a selection of players to use to make up 3 pairs.

Finally, I just like Stramel. I can’t imagine the ups and downs and pressure a kid like that must feel, especially coming from MN. Even as a 3 or 4th line centerman, I have to think if he builds up to the size and strength of a full time NHL’er, we’ll really have something in him.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Interesting that right at the beginning of the article, he comes out and says it’s two d-men that put the Wild solidly in the top 3–Jiricek and drafting Buium. I have to think it’s not often that the strength of defensive prospects is attention-getting enough to be a major factor a move from from 11 to 2.

The big jump from #11 to #2 is also because they graduated no prospects from the 2024 #11 ranking. Usually teams near the top graduate at least 1 or 2 of their top 5 prospects, so even when they add top prospects it’s also offset by what they lost. Wild only lost Hunt and Beckman from the their 2024 top 15 list

Is the goal with Stramel to be the good version of Jordan Greenway? He’s already a big boy listed at 225

Exactly nobody moved off the list and they added two top 10 drafted D technically. The last time they were in the top 5 only Boldy and Rossi made the jump so…

Ice Cap wrote:

Here’s a clue. The NHL has no F’s to give when it comes to the fans. As long as everybody keeps throwing their money at all the various streaming services in order to see every puck drop and every game it will always be this way. They have no desire to consolidate everything and make it cozy and cheap for the fans. They will take their money from whoever wants to stream a package of games. You want to see every game then pay for every streaming service plus a VPN and you might be able to get them all.

I have the Fanduel app at $20 a month. That’s as far as I’m willing to go. I kicked these other streaming services, cable services and satellite service bandits to the curb years ago. If I don’t get to see every single game like last night I have no F’s to give about that.

I kinda agree with this Ice Cap. I get fanduel or ballys or fox sports north or whatever you want to call it these days with my basic package, so I watch them when I’m able to. But that’s as far as I’m going. I’m not getting sucked into multiple services like they want you to on NFL games. If I miss a few games, oh well. I’m sure I’ll miss a few playoff games too because they schedule 9pm start times again…

A. Someone has to play at 9pm
B. Do you make more money sticking with 1 service or more money getting multiple bids against each other.
Sorry wild are not playing on channel 9 anymore. Gophers are not playing on basic cable stations.
Why cuz channel 9 is not paying the money.

tswoboda wrote:

Is the goal with Stramel to be the good version of Jordan Greenway? He’s already a big boy listed at 225

I still have nightmares about greenway. If only he could have been consistent and gave an actual F for 60 to 70 percent of the time he could have been a beast.
If we get out of strammel what Greenway was capable of and showed in glimpses I would be tickled pink. I am not sure they are the same type of player though. We will see. Size wise yes, they compare. I think strammel might be a better skater at the same age, maybe.

3rd line checking center who’s counted on to win important draws and chip in 10-15 greasy goals a year is the niche Stramel needs to aim for in the next 6+ years of the likely Wild roster as we know it now… there will always be better offensive options ahead of him in the top6… IF Trenin can be more consistent and Foligno’s body holds up, those 3 would be a hell of a checking line in a year or two…

I’ve mentioned this comparison before but if he can turn into a Joel Otto type of player the Wild will be happy…

Islanders tonight. Hopefully the Wild can pull off a win in a hostile arena. We all know how tough it is to win at home. Let’s make it 2 in a row.