Yes, and that move he made when he took it to the net (think it was against Karlsson, but still). He's too worried about putting himself out of position to be more aggressive in the offensive zone, which is too bad because he has some amazing hands and can turn the jets on in an instant.
- SotaPopinski

But at the same time, we've all seen a ton of defensemen hit the league and put up pretty solid numbers, but play an underdeveloped defensive game. That sets that player back, and back, and back in the future (obviously there are exceptions to any trend - e.g. Karlsson).

I think Brodin is doing the right thing by gaining a lot of experience as a positionally sound defenseman with those attributes you described coming second. Now, if he's able to start building on his offensive potential after a few very solid years of playing positionally sound, you're looking at a Lidstrom type defenseman capable of taking his positioning and using it offensively.

Scandella is another defenseman who is projecting him self in that way - get your positioning and strength down, and then start working on producing.

Now, that's the ideal way things pan out, but it's always a crap shoot.

Leo looked pretty good...That bouncer first goal was a tough one, otherwise he seemed to play pretty solid.

I loved the way the defense pinched in to create some offense.

I like the size and grit of Stewart.

I like building up a 5 point buffer...Keep it going Fellas!!!


- mngopherguy

He gambled on the bouncing puck and got burned for it. He should know to always take the body and don't (frank) around with the puck like that, but he was noticeable jumping into the play in the offensive end. Can't expect too much more out of the #6 guy.

But at the same time, we've all seen a ton of defensemen hit the league and put up pretty solid numbers, but play an underdeveloped defensive game. That sets that player back, and back, and back in the future (obviously there are exceptions to any trend - e.g. Karlsson).

I think Brodin is doing the right thing by gaining a lot of experience as a positionally sound defenseman with those attributes you described coming second. Now, if he's able to start building on his offensive potential after a few very solid years of playing positionally sound, you're looking at a Lidstrom type defenseman capable of taking his positioning and using it offensively.

Scandella is another defenseman who is projecting him self in that way - get your positioning and strength down, and then start working on producing.

Now, that's the ideal way things pan out, but it's always a crap shoot.
- deslni01

Well said. Brodin is already so advanced and mature in regards to his defensive game, it's just insane to think about how young he still is. If his offensive game develops even half as much as his d-game, he will be stupid good.

For all the female dogging that Wild fans do about liberties and this State of Hockey club being soft I thought the addition of Chris Stewart would come as a relief. Stewart can contribute to hockey game but will serve as a TRUE deterrent to the BS that the Avs and Blues and other Western Conference teams have gotten away with against the Wild for the last two post seasons.
- Tony Dean

Stewart as a deterrent? Lol. More like a free powerplay after throwing clean hits.The fact fans of neither of the teams you listed were sad to see Stewart go when they got rid of him, nor are they scared to face him on the Wild, should tell you something.

Stewart as a deterrent? Lol. More like a free powerplay after throwing clean hits.The fact fans of neither of the teams you listed were sad to see Stewart go when they got rid of him, nor are they scared to face him on the Wild, should tell you something.
- Antilles

No worries. He's 'Minnesota Nice' now.

Reported on NHL network: Gabriel Landeskog fined $5000 and Cody McLeod fined $3091.40 for their actions at the end of Saturdays game vs Wild.

Hard to believe Roy gets off Scot-free!
- MnGump

I wonder if the league has any issue with what he said in response to a question about Landeskog's fine? I saw it in Rick Sadowski's Avs blog and it's also on Avalanche TV / Patrick Roy - Post-practice (March 3) : "Five grand, he should have hit him, make it worth it at least."

No worries. He's 'Minnesota Nice' now.
- Chinaski

Oh god please don't say that. I hate how Minnesotan's pride theirselves on that poop. One of the reasons I moved

Oh god please don't say that. I hate how Minnesotan's pride theirselves on that poop. One of the reasons I moved
- Tweaterben

That's funny. One of the reasons I stay. I always thought it was more, you're just generally pleasant (or more appropriately not unjustifiably unpleasant) until the situation calls for you not be. I've got no issue with that.

Stewart as a deterrent? Lol. More like a free powerplay after throwing clean hits.The fact fans of neither of the teams you listed were sad to see Stewart go when they got rid of him, nor are they scared to face him on the Wild, should tell you something.
- Antilles

I really like the addition personally, obviously Stewart is non perfect player but timing is huge and to get a chance to return to Central Division for the playoff push. Stewart gets to also showcase himself for UFA this summer. I think this current group needed a guy like Stewart to promote some punch back especially given how Colorado and St.Louis take pleasure in bullying the finesse guys like Granlund, Brodin, and Spurgeon.

I know some of the history on Stewart but I have also seen how players respond to getting in the room with Parise/Suter/Pominville/KaptainKoivu

I really like the addition personally, obviously Stewart is non perfect player but timing is huge and to get a chance to return to Central Division for the playoff push. Stewart gets to also showcase himself for UFA this summer. I think this current group needed a guy like Stewart to promote some punch back especially given how Colorado and St.Louis take pleasure in bullying the finesse guys like Granlund, Brodin, and Spurgeon.

I know some of the history on Stewart but I have also seen how players respond to getting in the room with Parise/Suter/Pominville/KaptainKoivu
- Tony Dean

I understand what you're hoping for, I'm just saying people who have watched a lot of him at his best have basically 0 concern. Stewart isn't a physical presence. He avoids the rough stuff outside of an occasional fight. If all the stuff the Wild do to get fined/suspended (as many in the last 12 months as Blues have in the last 60, iirc) doesn't stop teams from playing physical hockey against them, 1 extra fight and 0 extra checks every 5 games isn't going to either.

Sounds like Vanek staying on the 3rd line tonight.

1)Parise Granlund Pominville
2)Bergenheim Koivu Stewart
3)Nino Coyle Vanek
4)Fontaine Brodziak Haula

How long before Haula or Fontaine take his place on the 3rd demoting him all the way down to 4th line???

Wow how the mighty have fallen... The writing was on the wall with this guy last season when he was demoted to the 4th during Montreals playoff run. And that was when he was seemingly playing well.

Hind sights a bich for ChuFletch on this one... Wild stuck with him for another 2 seasons at a $6+ million per cap hit.

Fletch just can't seem to stay away from OPWUEPS (over pay a washed up elite player syndrome). Finally cuts himself loose of the Heatley boat anchor only to reattach himself to the Vanek one.

Sounds like Vanek staying on the 3rd line tonight.

1)Parise Granlund Pominville
2)Bergenheim Koivu Stewart
3)Nino Coyle Vanek
4)Fontaine Brodziak Haula

How long before Haula or Fontaine take his place on the 3rd demoting him all the way down to 4th line???

Wow how the mighty have fallen... The writing was on the wall with this guy last season when he was demoted to the 4th during Montreals playoff run. And that was when he was seemingly playing well.

Hind sights a bich for ChuFltech on this one... Wild stuck with him for another 2 seasons at a $6+ million per cap hit.

Fletch just can't seem to stay away from over pay a washed up elite player syndrome. Finally cuts himself loose of the Heatley boat anchor only to reattach himself to the Vanek one.
- MnGump

I'd still like to see what he could do with Pominville for a decent stretch of games. Taking Pommer away from Parise isn't going to negatively affect Parise. And taking Vanek away from everyone else isn't going to hurt either. What other options are there?

I'd still like to see what he could do with Pominville for a decent stretch of games. Taking Pommer away from Parise isn't going to negatively affect Parise. And taking Vanek away from everyone else isn't going to hurt either. What other options are there?
- Chinaski

I think the problem now is not that he's not scoring, but more so that he's become an even bigger liability on the ice. Yeo can't afford to give him top 6 minutes anymore with how often he turns the puck over.

I mean how many times over the past month has he taken a Wild puck controlled moment poised to score whether on the PP or otherwise and completely imploded the moment with errent passing or slow legs?

He actually now looks slower than Heater did in his last couple of seasons with the Wild. And much of the time just doesn't look like he wants to bother hustling to make a play. How many times in the last several games has he been sprung on a breakaway or been one on one with the goalie and either missed or tried passing instead of shooting?

I think Vaneks biggest problem is that he needs to re-invent himself. It's clear his abilities are digressing and he's still out there trying to pull off moves and plays that he is no longer capable of making.

I think the problem now is not that he's not scoring, but more so that he's become an even bigger liability on the ice. Yeo can't afford to give him top 6 minutes anymore with how often he turns the puck over.

I mean how many times over the past month has he taken a Wild puck controlled moment poised to score whether on the PP or otherwise and completely imploded the moment with errent passing or slow legs?

He actually now looks slower than Heater did in his last couple of seasons with the Wild. And much of the time just doesn't look like he wants to bother hustling to make a play. How many times in the last several games has he been sprung on a breakaway or been one on one with the goalie and either missed or tried passing instead of shooting?

I think Vaneks biggest problem is that he needs to re-invent himself. It's clear his abilities are digressing and he's still out there trying to pull off moves and plays that he is no longer capable of making.
- MnGump

The only other combination that I think might work for Vanek is to put Fontaine on the wing and Brodziak as the center. That would give them enough defensive responsibility on the line to limit Vanek's weakness in that regard. Fontaine's smarts may be able to create a fair number of opportunites for Vanek, but he would need to almost be in a shoot only frame of mind. The downside to that is the line would likely win zero board battles.

Who knows, maybe Coyle at center for Vanek and Fontaine instead of Brodziak would work better.

The only other combination that I think might work for Vanek is to put Fontaine on the wing and Brodziak as the center. That would give them enough defensive responsibility on the line to limit Vanek's weakness in that regard. Fontaine's smarts may be able to create a fair number of opportunites for Vanek, but he would need to almost be in a shoot only frame of mind. The downside to that is the line would likely win zero board battles.

Who knows, maybe Coyle at center for Vanek and Fontaine instead of Brodziak would work better.
- Chinaski

Or just plain and simple healthy scratch?!

Or just plain and simple healthy scratch?!
- MnGump

This. I don't care who they put on a line with him... he is still going to play lazy, un-inspired hockey, putting forth the least amount of energy as possible.
This signing would have reached disaster status by now if he hadn't been putting up so many assist points in the 1st half of the season. There were mentions of an injury bugging him a couple of weeks ago. I say sit him for a game or two, using that as an excuse, and see how the lineup fares.

What a miserably boring first 2 periods of play tonight. Have to give the team credit for bringing the effort & energy into the 3rd perioud, though. Hopefully Pommer is starting to get the scoring touch again... team needs it badly

Good non conf win to hold pace and finally move past Winnipeg!!! Preds lose 5th straight Finally coming down to earth. Was only a matter of time. Wild only 4 pts behind Chicago now!

What a miserably boring first 2 periods of play tonight. Have to give the team credit for bringing the effort & energy into the 3rd perioud, though. Hopefully Pommer is starting to get the scoring touch again... team needs it badly
- SotaPopinski

Pominville had a good game I thought aside from the goals, but has been much more engaged and physical lately.

From Russo's blog:
Wild's power play is 1 for 19 the past 10 games. Yeo indicated the power play is the only thing about the Wild's game he doesn't like right now.

Probably no reason to make any changes then.

Pominville had a good game I thought aside from the goals, but has been much more engaged and physical lately.
- MnGump

I didn't notice him at all last night until he scored, but he has played with more of an edge to his game as of late.
It looks like the rest of the league has figured out how to play Granlund. There was a sequence in the 3rd period I believe where the defender knocked Granny down 3 consecutive times before stealing the puck and clearing it out of his own end. Pretty alarming to say the least. The more I watch him, the more I hope Fletcher can package him with another piece or two and upgrade the center position this off-season.

Dubs making his 23rd straight start tonight

Dubs making his 23rd straight start tonight


- SotaPopinski

Yeah, might be a good idea now that they have at least a small cushion in the Wild card race to get Keumper some ice time. Not to mention giving Doobs a much deserved rest.

Espeically in a non-conference game where they're not giving any points away.

Yeah, might be a good idea now that they have at least a small cushion in the Wild card race to get Keumper some ice time. Not to mention giving Doobs a much deserved rest.

Espeically in a non-conference game where they're not giving any points away.
- MnGump

Agreed. I'm not too worried about it, as I trust Doobs knows his body well enough to not overdo it, but this would be a good time to get him some rest.
Plus I want to make sure he brings his A game vs the Avs on Sunday because I despise that team in a way words cannot do it justice.

Agreed. I'm not too worried about it, as I trust Doobs knows his body well enough to not overdo it, but this would be a good time to get him some rest.
Plus I want to make sure he brings his A game vs the Avs on Sunday because I despise that team in a way words cannot do it justice.
- SotaPopinski

Well there's a reason everyone views their fans among the worst in the league!