Wild 2014/2015 Regular Season

[bbfenatic]

Cooke is big loss for this team. Just look at last years playoffs. He is a great leader and locker room guy.

Locker room guy (supposedly) and last year's playoffs ....any more reasons he is such big loss for this team? His absence will not affect outcomes of games and we'll do fine without him IMO.

[bobberineyes]

They were doing real well early on when he was in the lineup. ...scored some important goals, but since he was out for a while it's like he never got back on track. I was against the idea of him coming here but after a couple games he grew on you. I thought he was a pretty decent utility player, but then again you play as many games and take hits like he has its bound to catch up.

[CaptainMusky]

I think Lou Nanne talked him into it. It was pretty cool however he was landed.

yep and nanne actually asked Doc if he would do it this year and his response was "if the schedule works out absolutely". He actually mentioned it was something he's followed for years. That would be awesome if he did it. Best in the biz!

Thorne was great but Doc is on another level.

[CaptainMusky]

Locker room guy (supposedly) and last year's playoffs ....any more reasons he is such big loss for this team? His absence will not affect outcomes of games and we'll do fine without him IMO.

you always have to out hyperbole and conjecture in your "takes". Just look back at what happened to McKinnon when cookes line was matched up with him. He was a one man wrecking crew and then what down completely.

That's proof enough for me.

[10,000 Casts]

I figured it was there secondary crew, I didn't know it was the Blackhawks crew. And I think just about all play by play guys are better than ours and the whole coverage is better. Last year we had a bunch of games on NBC and this year we only have a few. I wish we had more, the guys doing the Bruins game tonight are the best. Also Hanamann freaks me out but I like Jamie Hirsch.

[bbfenatic]

you always have to out hyperbole and conjecture in your "takes". Just look back at what happened to McKinnon when cookes line was matched up with him. He was a one man wrecking crew and then what down completely.

That's proof enough for me.

My posts are straightforward, I make a comment or ask a question, you (or someone) respond, and then I may respond back...that is what forums are for...are they not? I don't have to agree with you and you don't have to agree with me...makes it fun for conversation sake IMO.

As for Cooke being a "one man wrecking crew" against McKinnon...he might have a good shift now and then but he's not even a top 12 guy on our team IMO so I stand by my opinion that the Wild are no worse off with Cooke out and Schroeder (or whomever) in the lineup...A "big" loss or "huge" loss for the Wild would be Parise, Dubnyk, Sutter, Scandella, Zucker, etc but Cooke...nope...he's easy to replace and his replacement more than likely will be more productive IMO. If you listen to Yeo's presser he never indicated losing Cook would be a big loss or have a negative impact on the team and in fact commented how Schroeder brings a new dynamic to his linemates.

[Bear55]

Cooke is a loss, maybe not a painful significant loss now that we have some depth but the guy has played a lot more playoff games than Schroeder has career games. He kills penalties, hits, plays smart hockey, the other teams have to at least be aware of him on the ice. I certainly like him on our 4th line vs 3rd but whatever. I've been pleasantly surprised by Cooke the past couple of years, he has made a solid/positive contribution to the team save for the kneeing incident last year.

[CaptainMusky]

As for Cooke being a "one man wrecking crew" against McKinnon...he might have a good shift now and then but he's not even a top 12 guy on our team IMO so I stand by my opinion that the Wild are no worse off with Cooke out and Schroeder (or whomever) in the lineup...

No one here has said he was a top 12 guy. That doesn't mean it cannot be a big loss to the team. Production on the ice doesn't always equate to pts, but shutting down the opposition, which Cooke has been quite good at.

I agree, this doesn't mean they have no shot at making the playoffs now, but I would prefer to have him in the lineup vs not come playoff time if we are able to make it. The stretch run is when you want guys like Cooke in the lineup, his experience pays off.

I like having Schroeder in the lineup, but I hope he can pick up some of the PK time that Cooke normally would. Definitely a better offensive threat with him in the lineup but its the defense I want to see which I am not sure if he is capable of.

[bbfenatic]

Man is the West ever starting to bunch up at the bottom of the playoff hunt...as of today there are 8 teams within 7 points of each other...some on the slide, some on a roll (Wild). It will be interesting to see what teams make significant moves on or before March 2nd's trade deadline to bolster there chances to get in and/or win the Cup.

[CaptainMusky]

its getting exciting for sure BB!! I sure hope the Wild can stay in the thick of it until the end.

Trade deadline will be interesting. Already lots of talk of potential trades in the works and likely landing spots for guys.

[10,000 Casts]

Cooke's stats are pretty weak but he's a gamer. I'm sure if you looked at their record without him, it is worse than with him. He doesn't make mistakes, he hustles, he is an agitator and this teams needs some emotion.

And I still don't like the guy.. Wish they never would have signed him..

[OnAFly]

Last two days Russo has been hosting 9-Noon on KFAN. It's nice to have real hockey talk for an extended period of time. Not that PA doesn't throw hockey in the mix, but his is a football show with other segments.

[bbfenatic]

Cooke's stats are pretty weak but he's a gamer. I'm sure if you looked at their record without him, it is worse than with him. He doesn't make mistakes, he hustles, he is an agitator and this teams needs some emotion.

And I still don't like the guy.. Wish they never would have signed him..

10,000...He makes plenty of mistakes, I hope he hustles, his agitation has hurt more than helped IMO and this team has plenty of positive emotion right now. As far as winning more with him in the lineup, if that is true that would be more of a coincidence than it is a reason and probably could say that about many players in the league...I am done with Cooke now. Sounds like Schroeder is going to stay in for now but would not hurt to give others the chance if he does not play well IMO.

Parise has put this team on his back and it seems to have sparked some Vets to play better who have been so-so like Vanek, Koivu, Pom, Sutter. 7 out of next 12 are against teams all towards the bottom and fighting for the playoffs...if momentum and confidence is the difference (along with the stellar tending we've received from Dubnyk) I like our chances to make up some ground now till end of Feb and we'll need the extra points cuz come March till the end of the year our schedule is super tough.

[bbfenatic]

Last two days Russo has been hosting 9-Noon on KFAN. It's nice to have real hockey talk for an extended period of time. Not that PA doesn't throw hockey in the mix, but his is a football show with other segments.

I have not caught him...bummer...I do get his tweets and Russo is passionate about the Wild and hockey in general...PA tries but certainly is not a natural with hockey...does it more because the Wild are the only thing going in MN this time of year....and we are The State of Hockey!

[Bear55]

Feb is a make or break month for us, lots of winnable games against bubble teams. If we are in the hunt I don't see us making any big trades, just a little help on the bottom pair D would be nice.

[schmitty3]

Well tonight's games could not have gone any better for the wild. Det. over Col 3-0, TB over Dal 5-3, Fla over LA 3-2, and SJ is up 3-0 on Van in the 3rd.

These next 3 games are all huge.

[solbes]

Well tonight's games could not have gone any better for the wild. Det. over Col 3-0, TB over Dal 5-3, Fla over LA 3-2, and SJ is up 3-0 on Van in the 3rd.

These next 3 games are all huge.

I was just going to post the same thing. Rooting tonight for Blackhawks (vs the Pets to our north) and the Penguins (vs Flamers). Wonder how the Wild will handle the 3 days off and then 3 huge games in 4 days.

[RuKiddingMe]

Yeah I was watching that all unravel lastnight also, the Av's Det game was a little nerve racking, but when Roy pulled the goalie with 3 mins left it was pretty obvious he was desperate and it wasn't going to end well.

The Wild can gain some serious ground on these guys if they can continue to put up some W's - the Av's game on Saturday should be fun, both teams know time is waning and they need to get going.

[lungdeflator]

They jumped up 2 places with that win last night! Canucks on Monday and then Jets on Tuesday. Jets are on the slide. 4/4 or 3/4 points the next 2 games would be huge!

I think the D is playing alot better lately compared to that stretch through December and Janurary. They aren't letting alot of shots through to Duuuuubbbbsss but he has come up with big saves when needed, especially when things get tight towards the end of games. Brodin was in a great postion to slap that puck away from the goal line too, that was close!

[CaptainMusky]

Its amazing how the team looks when they have some confidence in their goalie.

Heads up play by Brodin for sure. Lucky dubnyks legs were apart or that puck would have likely bounced right back in the net.

These next few are very big.

[OnAFly]

5 game win streak and we gain 2pts on a playoff spot. Still gonna be a tough road to late April hockey, but it sure will be fun to watch at this rate.

Go Avs tonight!!! (In regulation only, of course )

[schmitty3]

Only gained two points on the 8th spot but we've passed 3 or 4 other teams and the teams in front of us have played more games than us. Can't say it enought next two games are huge.

[OnAFly]

This is true. Every game from now until we either make it or are eliminated are huge. Every win will feel like a step in the right direction. Every loss will feel like 2 in the wrong direction.

COL up 1-0 on the Peg right now.

PLEASE NO OT

PLEASE NO OT

PLEASE NO OT

PLEASE NO OT

PLEASE NO OT

PLEASE NO OT

PLEASE NO OT

[CaptainMusky]

I really wish the NHL changed the point system because it tilts a reward to an OT game being a 3 pt game. At some point it could lead to teams intentionally tying to force OT so they at least get a point.

It should be 3 pts regulation win, 1 pt each team for regulation tie and additional pt for OT win or shootout win. Then all games are 3 pts.

Agree NO OT!!!!

[bobberineyes]

It's good to see they have some confidence back with a more consistent net minder , but they have some serious ground to cover. Sure they came out flying last night with total domination in the first but these one goal games are not going to fly as the season winds down.