Wild

[Hockey Guy]

I heard on Home Ice (XM Radio) that they are picking the Wild to be improved, but still toward the bottom in the West. I know I'm bias because I'm a season ticket holder, but I think they will finish in the top three of their division, and top 5 in the Western Conference. I could see them possibly even winning their division. They're still a Minnesota team so that means they're prone to letting they’re fans down (Like the Vikings pretty much every year), but it could happen. What do you guys think? Buzzy?

[drizzle]

They will be good, but saying they are a Minnesota team so they will probably let us down is ridiculous. I'm tired of hearing Minnesotans pout because their pro team doesn't win the championship. Pining for a championship doesn't bring you one. Support your team and enjoy the game. We should be happy that we have pro teams here.

[PierBridge]

I think that's a reasonable expectation based on our off season moves....

Go Wild.......

[8-Ball]

I second that.. They will definitely be more entertaining and put more biscuits in the net than in the past. I don't know much about the D-man from Philly, but all the hockey gurus are really pumped about him running the point on power play. I had the Center Ice package last year and watched a bunch of games, and I swear I never heard his name mentioned. Was he injured, or did I have one too many cocktails?

[RePete]

On paper the Wild should kick some butt this year. Fernandez will be key. I think he roller coasters, and last year was a decent year for him, so let's hope he has another good year. I still can't figure out why Rolly couldn't play with this team last year??, because I felt he was the better of the two.

Johnsson (sp) is a great addition to the D. He's pretty solid both offensively, and defensively. He's been around alot longer than I thought.

[buzzsaw]

Playoffs baby and the surprise team in the west!! The Edmonton Oilers of 2006! Optimism reigns supreme!

[Hockey Guy]

Driz- Are you OK? Do you need to settle down and take your medication. Everything’s going to be alright.

I do support our Pro teams, hence the phrase “I’m a season ticket holder”. I’m not whining about anything. It’s a fact that Minnesota teams rarely if ever meet expectations. The Wild blew away expectations with their playoff run a few years ago. The Twins exceeded expectations by a long shot in ’87 and ’91, but if you want to make some real money in Vegas, bet against them whenever they play a sub-.500 team. Kansas City is terrible and they have won half their games this year against the Twins. It doesn’t mean I don’t support them or follow them. It’s just a fact.

Vikings in ’98… I don’t think I even need to go there. Vikings a couple years ago when all they had to do was beat the worst team in the NFL in the last game of the season to make the playoffs… Maybe you could even say all those years that Denny was coaching them and couldn’t get past the first round of the playoffs.

The #1 ranked Gophers losing to Holy Cross just might, in some peoples mind, be considered a little short of expectations.

I just like to watch and support the teams without any expectations. That way I love it when they win but don’t get irate when they loose. I leave the whining to the fanatics that get their expectation bubble so big every year that they look like they're going to have a heart attack when that bubble bursts. In ’98 I actually was at a bar and witnessed grown men crying and throwing stuff at the TV after the Vikings v. Atlanta game. Apparently they had already booked all their travel plans to go to the Super Bowl!

Don’t confuse fact with whining. Especially when it was stated in a joking manner. I support all the Men’s pro teams in this state except the Timberwolves. I don’t support them because I grew up playing hockey and I just don’t consider basketball a sport. I would probably love basketball if they raised the hoop 4 feet and made checking legal. As it is right now, it’s just not for me. That’s just my opinion. Do you want to rip on me for that as well?

[buzzsaw]

Quote:

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don’t support them because I grew up playing hockey and I just don’t consider basketball a sport. I would probably love basketball if they raised the hoop 4 feet and made checking legal. As it is right now, it’s just not for me.

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Oh so solid! How much fun would it be to allow checking in BB! Now they slap another guy on the hand and it's FOUL!

[upnorthtmh]

I have high expectations for the Wild - they let a number of nonperformers go, thank god. And I think they will have much more offense than relying only on Rolston or trying to spring Gaborik with a long pass to middle ice. And watching the Boogie man bust a few heads is always fun. I would expect the Wild, Colorado and Calgary fighting it out for 1st place. Edmonton lost both Peca and Pronger who made a huge difference for them. And Vancouver will be a bust. Can't wait for season to start.

[mnwild]

Did anyone hear about the Wild holding an open practice this Saturday at the X?? I heard something this morning on 93x but never heard exactly what day and time..

[mnwild]

Just an FYI, the open practice is this Sunday @ noon.

[Hockey Guy]

I heard yesterday on XM Home Ice the so-called experts again. They had three guys picking the 8 teams from the West that will make the playoffs and also 4 “Dark horses” that have a chance if all the planets are aligned perfectly. None of them even mentioned the Wild! I can’t believe that! I look at their line-up and I have to say I’m pretty impressed. I’m not even going to try to spell these names correctly, but here it is:

Demitra, Gaborik, Parish

White, Ralston, Bouchard

Walz, Dupuis, Koivu (if they move him to wing)

Those first to lines are solid, scoring threats. The third line are all very hard working, fast players. They still have Boogaard busting heads, and possibly Wyatt Smith and Matt Foy to bring some energy.

The Defense looks solid with Johnsson, Carney, Foster, Nummelin, Burns, and Skoula. I’m not sold on Schultz yet, but he’s young and promising. Besides, they have to be better now that they dumped Kuba the all-star!

[8-Ball]

HG- Typical for the sportswriters-we don't get a mention-nothing new. I am excited about our chances this year,too. I heard that Skoula, who used to be one of the Av's top 4 d-man, that he had "Kuba-itis" last year, before he got here. He still had it in the games he was on the ice for us at the end of last season. I always thought he was an above average d-man: Good on the point, good skater,quick hands, etc. I hope he regains his earlier form. Him and Johnson from Philly could be great manning the point on th PP. I think Schultz is making good progress-it took him awhile to "get it", but has become more vocal and physical. Has a decent shot. Could get a little faster, but he is serviceable on D, IMO.

[mnwild]

Who's ready for some hockey tonight?? I have been waiting for this day for months now, can't wait to see the product the Wild put on the ice. Its going to be and exciting year for the wild and their fans.

[RePete]

I went in on season tix with some folks and drew tonights game.. It's gonna be great!!

LETS GO WILD!!

[Reynolds]

I have only been getting updates on the games as I am stuck out of the country, but the first line has produced all of the points thus far. Nice to see Gabby and Demitra scoring right off the bat.

[bulldoggie]

White scores in overtime WooooooHooooooooooo

[Reynolds]

How about that, the Wild pull out an overtime win in the season opener at home!!!

[jwhjr]

Nice start to the season!

[mnwild]

Awesome start, that 1st line is going to be something else. It was nice seing Gabby, Demetra and Radio get points last night.

[solbes]

Yeah, props to the Slovak line. I was also pretty impressed with the second line with Rolston and Bouchard. Tons of opportunities there, just didn't get it to go. Since the Wild usually lose by only 1 or 2 goals, a little bump in the power play and first line is going to get us extra wins this year. No question.

[mnwild]

3-0 start, shootout win last night what more can you ask for??

[solbes]

I'm pretty excited so far. The Nashville game was one of the most entertaining games I've seen them play in a long time. Not really their traditional style of hockey, but fun nonetheless.

Who do they play next, Caps? Five game homestand is a nice way to start the season.

[Hockey Guy]

I would love to see them go 5-0 on this home-stand. After this they play the Kings, Ducks, and Sharks. I’m not too impressed with the Kings but they are good. I think the Sharks and the Ducks are the two best teams in the Western Conference. One of those two teams or maybe the Wild will be in the Cup Finals this year.

[Fergus Mor McErc]

The Wild are winning. Jacques Lemaire signs on for three more years. I couldn't be happier. Maybe we'll have a season like Lemaire did in '76-'77. Yeah, that's a lot to hope for, but a guy's allowed to dream a bit.