Lets play Hockey

Are the Wild going to have any goal scorers this year? I would hate to think Cullen is the big scorer.

BTW, shoot-outs suck.

I really like what I see this year from our MN Wild and I think we are looking at a 5 or 6 seed playoff team here this year. Yeo’s system is really fun to watch and I think he has the players he needs to make his system work.

Wild’s top line of Setoguchi/Koivu/Heatly is probably one of the top 10 lines in hockey and they will put a pile of pucks in the net this year. Cullen has seemed to find his groove in Yeo’s system so far and I think that line of Bouchard/Cullen/Latandresse is going to be a real sleeper this year.

The real test will be on our young defensive core, but so far they have looked pretty well. They move the puck well and break out of our zone very quickly, allowing our forwards to apply contstant pressure in the offensive zone. I also think we have the second coming of Burns in Scandella and Speurgon has been quite a nice suprise so far as well.

Next year will be the year for a long playoff run im thinking. With Granlund and Coyle on the way, we should have 3 dominant lines that will put up a ton of goals.

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I really like what I see this year from our MN Wild and I think we are looking at a 5 or 6 seed playoff team here this year. Yeo’s system is really fun to watch and I think he has the players he needs to make his system work.

Wild’s top line of Setoguchi/Koivu/Heatly is probably one of the top 10 lines in hockey in my opinion. Cullen has seemed to find his groove in Yeo’s system so far and I think that line of Bouchard/Cullen/Latandresse is going to be a real sleeper this year.

Our defense look pretty good as well. They move the puck well and break out of our zone very quickly, allowing our forwards to apply contstant pressure in the offensive zone. I also think we have the second coming of Burns in Scandella and Speurgon has been quite a nice suprise so far as well.

Next year will be the year to watch though in my opinion. With Granlund and Coyle on the way, we should have 3 dominant lines that will put up a ton of goals.

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But, but , but………how do you explain losing to the Islanders, Senators and needing a shoot-out to get a point from Edmonton?

I don’t doubt they will be better. But a 5 or 6 seed might be drinking the cool-aid. I hope you are right.

And yes, I know it’s early in the year but….Hockey will always get the conversations going here.

Isles and Sens were there home opener so extra energy from players and fans.

Not drinkin the cool aid yet but have playoff hopes for this team.

Even though they lost at Edmonton in the shoot out, we still got a point and great goaltending. I do agree with the comments on the first and second lines. One thing I was pleased to see was the maturation of Colton Gilles. This kid is going to be a stud here in the not so distant future. I like the hustle so far. Shultz better pull up his knickers and get physical or he may find himself in the soup line! Gooch, Heatly and Koivu may (And are!) suprising a few people with their speed. But they need to start getting some people in front of the net! It should be a fun year. I am not making any predictions for the playoffs, I am just happy to see improvement!

It’s early, and its a new system. There will be some bumps in the road for sure but I think they will suprise alot of teams this year. The thing i’m most impressed with is that it appears that Yeo has his guys buying into it and it has shown flashes of being very effective when its run correctly.

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One thing I was pleased to see was the maturation of Colton Gilles. This kid is going to be a stud here in the not so distant future. I like the hustle so far.

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I couldn’t agree more with this! Well said!

You guys are confusing me. For the record, the Wild won last night in Edmonton and got 2 points. They have 5 points for the season.

I like what I’ve seen so far. Backstrom used to be great in the shoot outs, but he hasn’t looked very good yet this season. They also had a preseason shoot out with Edmonton that they lost.

For the record, the wild won last night at home . They really played well and the only reason it went to OT was the Edmonton goalie standing on his head in the 2nd & 3rd. I thought they played a solid game & very fun to watch.

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For the record, the wild won last night at home . They really played well and the only reason it went to OT was the Edmonton goalie standing on his head in the 2nd & 3rd. I thought they played a solid game & very fun to watch.

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Yes, you are right. I should know because I gave the tickets I had to my parents. Those first few posts had me all confused.

Backstrom is a very good goalie, but he has always been the worst goalie in the NHL on shootouts.
I wish that when they get into shootouts that they would put Harding in.
I think that Yeos system will prevail in time.

GO WILD

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For the record, the wild won last night at home . They really played well and the only reason it went to OT was the Edmonton goalie standing on his head in the 2nd & 3rd. I thought they played a solid game & very fun to watch.

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I agree! The islanders goalie did the same thing he came up really big and had some crazy saves… They had a lot of chances. Its a new system for the team. Give it a few games. Its just the beginning of the season… Rome wasn’t built in a day…

Since my son in law plays for San jose, I have watched former teammates Seto for a few years and Heatley for a short time. Seto has alot of upside but is streaky. Heatley is a great sniper who occasionally seems to lapse into being a basket case. The guy can score. These guys will put the puck in the net if given the opportunity but they have to be set up as it my impression/observation that they won’t do it on their own. They thrived in SJ because of Joe Thornton.

They’ll thrive too in MN with Koivu, Seto, more than Heatley. Seto’s minutes are going to go way up this year.

I though the first 10 games they would be, or I hoped they would be, a 500 team and then I’d start having more expectations. There was a big change over and a new coach. They need some time.

They are really starting to stock the cupboards and I am really looking forward to next year. Any success this year is a bonus for me.

As for Backstrom and the shootout, last year he had a better save percentage in the shoot out than Miller and Thomas. Its a stupid way to end a game period. I’d rather see 5 more minutes of 3 on 3 hockey for cripes sake.