Hats off to the wild. Played their hearts out.Their future is bright, get a few more scorers, and with youre defense you will be a team of the future. You just played THE BEST TEAM in hockey and a couple of goals here or there you would still be in it. Power plays 0 for killed you. Cant wait till next year when we play you 5 times. 
Well said but they also need healthy and solid goal tending. Then they will be a force to be reckoned with!!
The Wild were fun to watch most of the year. Tough to win when you have a few key injuries to a team with not much depth. Chicago is #1 for a reason. Congrats and good luck to the Hawks. I Hope we can match up better next year. I’ll be watching to see what the wild do in the off season.
It was a fun year for the Wild. The Parise & Suter signings, the short season (that was great!) and making the play-offs. However, they have a long way to go. They were dominated by the Blackhawks.
You guys are being a lot nicer on them than I can at this point. They didn’t play playoff hockey and when they did, they won. No one was finishing checks, mixing it up and getting the hawks off their game.
I think Heatly could have made a difference, especially on the PP. Heater even during the regular season liked to face wash guys and mix up after the whistle. Ironically his aggressive play against the Sharks was why he was out.
I don’t know how much the goaltenders being hurt played into the Wild psyche. It shouldn’t have, but who knows. Man, I waited all these years to see Backs in the playoffs and then he gets hurt minutes before game one and may not be back with us next year.
A lot of people are being critical of the first line, but I put that more on the Blackhawks. I think they did a great job on our #1 unit.
We are very fortunate to have a young trio like Zucker, Coyle and Brodin. Now if Granlund would pull his head out. And hopefully Dumba is ready to go next year.
Butch is probably gone. Heater might get the amnestied contract. And Backstrom might be out.
I’ll say Butch is a lock. We already got enough small players on the team and Pominville brings the same game. Heater might have to be amnestied just to get us under the cap. Backstrom I think may be back at a lower salary. The problem is there might be a good market for goalies, as in a lot of teams will be looking for one in free agency.
I didn’t mention Cullen, because I think he’s a lock to come back.
I am going to end this post abruptly because I am still ticked off at the lack of heart, urine and vinegar on this team.
I hate to say it but have to agree with Pug on this one. 
Not much fight in the boys last night. They need a little more heart and a lot more fight for their pride attitude.
it’s been a problem for a long time and I hate to say it but the common denominator is Koivu.
they should change their nickname to wildly inconsistent.
I told my buddy that we needed to start a fight right at the beginning of the game. That would have set a better tone. As far as the goaltending goes, I really like Harding but you can’t give up rebounds to a team like the Hawks. I tried not to expect anything from them this season. Next season will be different.
DT
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they should change their nickname to wildly inconsistent.
Pug you love Hockey; you coundn’t stop talking about them all year. 
This was not the type off playoff hockey I expected’ I was hoping for more of that game 4 action but it didn’t happen. I think they were thoroughly outcoached and out played by a very good team that will go deep in the playoffs.
Rivalry started? who knows; they swatted us like a mosquito. Probably next season we will be playing them as Stanley cup champions.
The Wild made probably the biggest move in the History of NHL free agency, remember that?
This playoff season didn’t work out, but I think they moved forward, and I am looking forward for some more playoff wins in the future.
Its hard for me to get upset about them losing to the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are a much better team and I would expect the better team to win 3/4 or 4/5 times. A weak goal like the second goal can really kill the energy. I’m really hoping that Suter and Parise step up as more of a leadership role and Koivu slides back in the ranks. He is very inconsistent and it is reflected in the rest of the team. I hope they don’t change a whole lot before next season. If the Wild could get Vanek and the goaltending is better next year, it will be a fun season.
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Pug you love Hockey; you coundn’t stop talking about them all year.
I’ll be with them through the ups and down. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the Wild. I just get frustrated. I defend them more than I am hard on them.
I wonder if Backs had the sports hernia or start of it at the end of the season. I don’t think Harding should have started last night, because it was obvious he wasn’t 100%. I could easily use it as an excuse, but the players in front of them just didn’t do enough to where it would have mattered if our tending stood on its head.
It would be nice to get through a season relatively healthy.
It would also be nice if Fletch went out and got a PP coach and told Yeo, you listen to him and let him coach the PP in practice or you are out of a job. I don’t know how much influence he has on it now as a head coach, but as a assistant in Pittsburgh, fans rejoiced when they let him go, blaming him for their PP woes. To that end, I don’t know how you can blame just Yeo as an assistant and lead Bilsma get a free pass as head coach and then when Yeo gets a head coach job, now that blame gets shifted to him.
If I had to point my finger at anyone to blame for not having a stanley cub contending team other than Doug R it would be Lemaire getting the most out of the team with minimal talent and always finishing right in the middle so the wild never got a high pick. Look at the blackhawks, and the penguins They were near or at the bottom for years getting #1 overall picks. That is huge in building a winner. My guess is that Yeo is gone and Tippet, or Ruff will be hired. I would prefer Tippet though. If Lemaire was 10 years younger I would love to see what he could have done in the next few years with this team if the prospects mature like everyone thinks they will. They have many issues that need to be addressed. Would hate to have Fletchers job. I really get annoyed at the people pointing fingers at the first line. Until last night both first lines were kept off the scoring sheet. They played against each other and shut the other down. The big difference is that Chicago has more scoring depth and their 2nd and 3rd lines scored, oh and that our PP was dreadfull.
I agree that the 1st lines canceled each other out, however I will also say that our 1st PP should have been able to do something.
When you get out scored 17-7 in a 5 games series……….
When your power play is 0-17……………
You make your tee times. 
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I agree that the 1st lines canceled each other out, however I will also say that our 1st PP should have been able to do something.
I would’t say that the first lines cancelled each other out. Parise and Koivu were -6 and -7. I would expect closer to 0 if that were the case.
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I would’t say that the first lines cancelled each other out. Parise and Koivu were -6 and -7. I would expect closer to 0 if that were the case.
That’s tough to argue, you got a point.
Hypothetical questions for you guys.
If Lemaire were coach for the next 5 years, what kind of success would you expect with the current and future state of the team?
My opinion? At least 1-2 finals appearences… I am still not a Yeo fan. I don’t hate him, but I don’t feel that he receives the respect from his players. He doesn’t seem to be able to generate the sense of urgency unless it is a very urgent situation. Bounce backs from losing streaks were slow and painful. Lemaire never lost more than 3 in a row in his first 4-5 seasons.
Lemaire had his run, he won’t be back.
It’s Yeo’s job unless they want to dump a bunch of money and get Ruff.
You can look all you want at coaching but Q was a ordinary coach until he hit Chicago and got the players.
I’d say pretty much the same results with slower plodding games and lower scores. Just look at his record:
Personally, and I know this is sacrilege, but I think he was just an above average coach. Not to mention we’d have to get rid of Zucker because he shoots too much, although JL would like his speed.
This is why I cringe when people bring up Lindy Ruff. Same style of play. I prefer being frustrated over being bored.
I gotta disagree. I say forget about his time in MN. Look at NJ. That’s a respectable record without having Riesborough as GM. I think that he was the achilies heel when Leamire was here.
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I told my buddy that we needed to start a fight right at the beginning of the game. That would have set a better tone.
We couldn’t have played any better the 1st 15 minutes until the 1st of the 2 softy’s killed the players and us fans momentum/hopes.
While I agree we would win more games with Lemaires style it isnt going to happen and I tend to agree with Puggster.
Fun season give Yeo a chance and hope the players who actually decide the games “coaching = over-rated” and make the move only if things don’t go well.
I don’t see Hawks even sniffing the Cup this year. I say they lose next round to be honest.
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I gotta disagree. I say forget about his time in MN. Look at NJ. That’s a respectable record without having Riesborough as GM. I think that he was the achilies heel when Leamire was here.
I still say that’s just above average and not elite. His cup win was in a strike shortened season. He started out hot as a coach and began to fade bit.
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