Alexandron

On 5/16/2019 at 6:08 AM, IllaZilla said:

 

That was the thing with Cullen. He was great at going up to young players and telling them "Hey, when that happens, do this." or "If you see your guy doing this, do that."

 

But ultimately the Wild need to move on from the Staal's and the Koivus and give the Kunin's and Eriksson-Ek's bigger roles...

      Kunin is impressing me more and more. I just read a nice recent  article about him at the main Wild weblink. Most  games last season he played for our big club, he also was  playing at AHL for our farm club as well as he successfully participated(6 goals)  at all 11 games of the Calder Cup playoffs Iowa Wild run. Now I was pleasantly surprised that he joined our USA team few days ago at the IIHF World Championship in Slovakia and played already a game against Germany team on  May,19. According to that article he had a hard time to reach Slovakia country because of his plane emergent landing, and he was using a car to drive in Europe(6 hours) just to get to that world tournament. It seems he made a solid/ serious efforts this season by playing in NHL,AHL,Calder Cup Playoffs and the World Championship. Sincerely, I am proud that we have him in our team. At the end of the article he was asked what type of transport he would like to use in Europe. He answered - cars. I still would prefer to use train - the most cheapest and safest way of transportation there.

     Regarding Ek, I am not sure of his bigger roles at this moment. Hope maybe some day. He is more type of Koivu style of game play. We need some more highly productive players. 

     Second recent article from same main Wild link is dedicating to Kaprizov. Nice interviews were taken during the World Championship in Slovakia from different Russian NHL players about a Kaprizov's readiness to NHL level. Hope we will see him next year.

Agree about Cullen - nice experience, a great teacher, as well as he was the most productive player for the 4th line in the Wild history.

Kevin Fiala had his 4th goal on IIHF World Championship in a game against a team from Austria, which just finished recently. Switzerland team is doing well there - 3 wins already. Kevin put a very nice goal into the net just below the goaltender's bottle, which flied away like a bird from the nest. You can see it on a Fiala's goal reply from that link:

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/wm/gamecenter/playbyplay/4200/24-sui-vs-aut

31 minutes ago, ClusterChuck said:

Does anybody else hear "I got you Babe" playing on their clock radios?

Hopefully instead of a season or two later but we see some testing going on this season, But then that means more line switching which has never done much here.

So we wait 2 years and now the young guys are closer to resigning time and haven't been given a good look and they just become the Coyle and Nino's again.

Then watch Koivu's rehab goes well and he has a season like Staal did 2 years ago. Does he get a 1 year extention then?

I do not think so that he is capable for Staal's 2 years ago (42 goals) performance and very skeptical about his new extension then. It is a time for his nice retirement in one year. 

1 minute ago, IllaZilla said:

Well, it was a good run.

 

Hopefully the Baby Wild can build on this for the future. Nice to see Kunin show some leadership, but disappointed in Donato's performance and really disappointed in Greenway's performance and attitude. Especially since those two took other players spots that helped get the team to the Playoffs.

I agree too. Overall, it was a good (11 games in 2 rounds) team's effort for the first time in their Calder Cup playoffs participation history. Hope , next year they will have a better and deeper success. Specially would like to mention our forward Gerald Mayhew and our goaltender Andrew Hammond who kept us in most games(maybe except just one game out of 11). I like also that finally, Sokolov was involved into the last 11th game of these playoffs run. Thanks that at least he played one game just to feel a real atmosphere of such a difficult Calder Cup playoffs series.  I would like to present the last game summary against Chicago Wolves. Interesting, that the most efforts in that game came from Mayhew (5 shots) and our 3 defensemen (Soucy, Prosser, and Warner). Each had 3 shots into the opponent net. And yes, Chicago Wolves is extremely good team, but we were a pretty competitive to play against it.

https://theahl.com/stats/game-summary/1019595

Finally a Canada team had a win against a team from Slovakia with a score of 6:5. It was a really tough and such a close game for both very good teams of that tournament.

https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2019/wm/gamecenter/playbyplay/4195/19-svk-vs-can

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Regarding a World Championship tournament:

 Our Wild player who is playing for the Switzerland team – Kevin Fiala has already a hat trick during the game 1 against Italy. So far a Swiss team doing well – 2 wins. Russian team is doing pretty well there too – 3 wins. Our Wild prospect Kaprizov is playing for team of Russia at the 4^th line. No points yet for him so far. And Dadonov, Kucherov and Gusev(certainly is a future NHL star, who signed for Vegas) are most productive for the Russian team. Vasilevskiy having 2 shutouts out of 3 games too.

Kaapo Kakko (top 2019 draft prospect) from Finland also had a hat trick during a game 2 against Slovakia team and having total the most goals 5 in this tournament. Team from Finland lost today a tough game 3 against USA in OT with a score 3:2.

Canada team is having a hard time too by playing at this moment against Slovakia team. After 2 periods score is 5:4 for the Canada team because a Slovakian team had already twice a two goal lead during that game.

Crucial game 6 tonight against Wolves at Chicago arena. Our last game at home was not the best – because we lost it with a score 4:7. Donato had his first 2 goals during these playoffs rounds. Chicago coach said that he changed his lines and it did work towards more offensive style and a better production. Why Hammond was not replaced by Kaapo Kakhonen after the 3^rd goal is still a question for me? As well as why Sokolov was not inserted at least once in 10 playoff games is a second question for me too? Iowa Wild team definitely has a pretty nice Wild potential (especially I mean in Wild players - Greenway, Donato, Kunin) to be successful these playoffs , but not using it in full.

17 hours ago, Puck_Pun said:

I voted for the jerks in seven, mostly because that's how I want it to end... though Boston will be quite the challenge.

Did as well. Boston will be a huge challenge. I am still not sure if Mrazek is good enough against Rask. Maybe McElhinney is a better option against him?

2019 IIHF World Championship started today in Slovakia. 1st game and 1st surprise - team of Finland was able to upset team of Canada and win with a score 3:1. Interesting that Finland team has only 2 NHL players. Present interest also that 2 goals out of 3 to Canada net put ranked#2 top prospect eligible for the 2019 NHL entry draft Kaapo Kakko.

Team of Russia won over Norway team with a score 5:2.

2 other presenting an interest games are scheduled for this evening (8:00 p.m.): USA team is playing tonight against Slovakia team and Czech Republic team against Sweden.

1 hour ago, TonyOday said:

1. Iowa Playoff games should be televised in MN

 

2. see 1.

Agree. They should, because it is a very rare event for the Minnesota Wild organization. 

Interesting that Chicago Wolves is a farm club of the Vegas Golden Nights organization since 2017-2018 season. According to Wikipedia "The Wolves are the only AHL team with a full television package. All 76 regular-season games, plus playoffs, are broadcast on WPWR-TV (CW50), and WCIU-DT2 (26.2, U Too)". 

Hope, someday Minnesota will do same way too for attracting more interest and more fans to it.

Iowa WILD WIN again!!! in game 4 against Chicago Wolves with a score 2:1. Series tied 2:2. Gerald Mayhew put 2 goals in that tough game and having already 9 goals and 1 assist in 9 playoff games. Hammond stopped 33 shots out of 34. Next game is on Friday.

Our Wild prospect Kirill Kaprizov was included into the team of Russia for participation at the World Hockey Championship of 2019, which is going to start soon in Slovakia on May, 10. IMO he will get very nice experience because he is going to play together with a most Russian NHL professionals - Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk, Kucherov, Kuznetsov, Orlov, Anisimov as well as with a very promising now Vegas player Gusev and some other Russian NHLers and KHLers. 
Our young forward Kevin Fiala was included to a Switzerland team there.
And our Wild veteran defenseman Ryan Suter is going to play for the US team as well.
It seems teams from Canada, USA, Russia, and the Chech Republic having the strongest rosters this year. And teams from Sweden and Finland also bringing surprises too.
Here is a link about rosters  and a schedule to read:

https://www.nhl.com/news/2019-world-championship-hockey-schedule-rosters/c-307246548

Just a small things to share. The Wild fans made a certain success in 1 year( since May of last year), which I would like specially to mention for this month of May (kind of our home birthday). In one year we have got a 2nd place at this hockeyforums.net site after the Flyers. We passed already a Pittsburgh team with their 13593 posts. And also after the Nino's trade from Minnesota to Carolina, the Hurricane team moved from the last place at this site to the 2nd place from the bottom by passing the Dallas team.  

IOWA WILD WINNNN!!!! with a score of 2:0. Kunin put the 1st goal, and Matt Read assisted to it. At the end of the game Read put one into empty net from an assist of Greenway. Donato and Belpedio had a nice efforts too each by placing 4 shots towards the opponent net. Overall, it was extremely hard game on our home ice.

We are 1:0 after 2 periods in game 3 against Chicago , but Wolves out shot us 20 to 13 in 2 periods. A very tough one goal game so far.

Have some interesting observations:

- regarding a Calder Cup, and for this season especially, because our Iowa Wild team involved for the first time into it.

The most Cups(11) of this Championship holding so far in 82 years of history Hershey Bears as the farm club of the Washington Capitals since 2005. Actually our coach Bruce Boudreau was very successful there and won the Calder Cup in 2006 with that team and with our Wild player Eric Fehr who helped to advanced Bears to the finals of that season by placing a winning goal against Portland Pirates in game 7. What is that mean? That means that Capitals organization taking very seriously to the Calder Cup title as a future prospect preparation for the big club. This year Hershey Bears advanced to the second round and playing against the best AHL team this season – Charlotte Checkers(110 points;51 wins out of 76 games), which is a farm club of the Carolina Hurricanes team. IMO both Carolina clubs (Hurricanes and Checkers) are doing extremely well this season at the Stanley Cup and Calder Cup respectively.

- regarding our club of this Calder Cup.

So far Iowa Wild team is a very good one, but still is not enough to feel more stronger against Chicago Wolves. LIG made a nice observations of our players – pluses and minuses out of their play. The good efforts coming so far from Minnesotans too– Menell, McLain, Rau, Prosser. Interesting that McLain played 58 games(10 goals;10 assists) during the regular season mainly with Sokolov in a 4^th line (who had 16 goals;14 assists out of 60 games). McLain is playing already 5 playoff games out of 8, but Sokolov having none games yet. Wish to see at least few games for Sokolov too at these playoffs series. Maybe he will make his influence into the winning mode against a very tough team Wolves? Who knows?

- regarding our reinforcement trio (Greenway, Donato, Kunin).

They all should be proud that the Wild organization trusted them more than to Ek and to Fiala for advancing the Iowa Wild team to the playoffs season and for the participation to play for this difficult Cup.

Nicely written article by Franc Seravalli I have read on Carolina site of a Hockeyforums.net at the “Behind of Bunch Jerks’ Rise to the Eastern Conference Final” thread. Wish that every Wild and Iowa Wild player will read it as well as our fans.

I am also disappointing about Greenway and Donato's play. Practically no goals out their play. Are they planning to be a real future of a Wild core? I was expecting much much more out of their production in these playoffs as a real reinforcement coming from the Wild team. Only Kunin producing kind of well from that trio.

Agree with LIG and IllaZilla too. After the Stanley and Gagarin Cups this Calder Cup is the most difficult and toughest one in the world, which started its history in 1936-1937. Our previous farm club  Huston Aeros was able to win only once the Calder Cup. The last time  we were capable to reach  just the finals in 2010-2011. This year our very nice team is able to reach finals of that prestigious Cup too, but we need much much more goals ,speed and energy from our reinforcement trio(Greenway, Donato, Kunin) in comparison of what we have seen now in 7 games.

32 minutes ago, wildstars95 said:

wild win wild winnnnn

Wow, Iowa WILD WIN the first round series!!! By beating Admirals on the road with a score 2:1 during the last game and moved to a second round. Hammond stopped 26 shots towards our net out of 27. Cal O'Reilly and Belpedio put 2 goals into the Admirals net. Next round(first 2 games) we will play in Chicago against Wolves on Wednesday and Thursday(May 1st and 2nd).

Both teams clinched the best positions during the regular season in their leagues. Charlotte Checkers had a 1st place in AHL with 110 points(51 wins out of 76 games) and Florida Everblades had a 2nd place in ECHL with 106 points (50 wins out of 72 games). Definitely a big Carolina club Hurricanes has a nice promising potential in their young prospects.

On 4/27/2019 at 1:49 PM, Bear said:

Greenway a disappointment Donato effort seems to be lacking 

Agree, they should step up and not only them. The entire team should. Score in those series is 2:2.Tonight is a last crucial game in that round.

On 4/22/2019 at 2:58 PM, DevinWieser said:

This topic has gone off the rails. By the way go Iowa Wild.

Agree. Back to the topic. Good news - Iowa Wild team just finished a second game against a very tough team Admirals with a second win in a row( 6:1) on our home ice. What is impressing me the most - nice scores for us in both games(7:0 and 6:1). 13 goals into the opposite net and just 1 goal into our net are pretty solid statistics. Goaltending is an outstanding too so far for us on 63 shots towards our net in 2 games.

 

 

 

On 4/17/2019 at 9:30 AM, brelic said:

It's a really unfortunate injury for Svechnikov. Never want to see someone get hurt like that. 

 

At the same time, this is something the league accepts, and fans cheer, as part of the game.

 

Let's call it what it is - it's assault. You want to keep that in the game, fine. But let's not pretend it's a fun-time friendly affair. Really bad things happen in fights and assault. People get hurt. People get brain damage. People die. It's completely unacceptable in ANY other area of life. 

 

I think it will eventually leave the game. It's just a matter of time and shifting perspectives as the older generations die off and younger ones replace them. 

 

 

Agree. Never want to see that during the game.

Thanks for bringing that such a painful topic. I am still shocked/under sadness already for almost a week. And it does not matter for me now who is going to win these series Carolina or Washington. That drama has few aspects which should be discussed in a league because these playoffs will be remembered forever just for that cruel fight. Agree that fight should have never happened. And who is guilty in it we will talk next. Well known that Russia is popular for extremely brave and strong fighters. Personally, for me, the Hurricane coach is guilty that he put provoking Svechnikov against Ovechkin to block his play, but the coach was really able to prevent that incident. A huge coach mistake, who was not smart enough. Second who is guilty was the youngster Svechnikov who did not tell the coach that he is not going to follow Ovechkin during the game but someone else. And that pinching each other started right from the beginning of the 3rd game. Those few aspects are:
1.-coach should never put 2 Russians against each other because they could make a badly damage themselves, and especially if the youngster was previously idolizing the Ovechkin;
2. Svechnikov was smaller than Ovechkin and did not have a lot of NHL and playoffs experience;
3. Ovechkin had fought only 4 times in his career(never against Russians) and never lost;
4. This NHL season Andrei Svechnikov had 62 penalty minutes out of 82 games- it seems a lot for the youngster. I was following our Wild prospect Dmitry Sokolov who was playing half of the last season in OHL Barry Colts team together with Andrei Svechnikov. And Svechnikov always had plenty of penalty minutes there too.
Of course, the fight in a professional hockey will never be eliminated, especially during the playoffs time, because the level of provoking fighting tension is extremely high.
But the saddest part of the happened drama that Svechnikov did not realize well that he is fighting against a much bigger, more experienced, more aggressive player. Nothing else was clicking in his young brain that how he will put his country Russia in front of the world. Just a shame that 2 Russians had a bad fight each other to the level of concussion during the playoffs. Or maybe he wanted to be famous that way because he fought against Ovechkin during his career? When I watched  2 days after that fight we already had 1,42 million views through the internet. Regarding a concussion- yes, definitely was at least micro-concussion, but it was not a bad one because Andrei had his helmet all the time in on his head and that micro concussion mainly happened right away when Ovechkin had a quick hit into the Svechnikov's neck which stopped brain circulation for a few seconds. In that situation Ovechkin it seemed had no other way to stop him.
Anyway, it was a good lesson for youngsters(not only for Svechnikov), before starting a fight they should think well if it is necessary, especially if you are fighting against a famous player from your own country. Instead of fighting, Andrei should say to Ovechkin: "Sorry, I will try to avoid to provoke you during the game in the future, because you are my hockey idol ". 
I have feelings, that Svechnikov will never play for the Russian team in international competitions because of that hockey drama among 2 Russians happened this year.
I remember when recently during the regular season Evgenii Malkin was suspended for one game because he just pretended to hit with a stick one idiot's head (I do not remember the player's name). But what I remembered that this player was hitting badly few times to Malkin with a stick into the back and neck few seconds before the incident. And Malkin had a normal human reaction to give it back to prevent future destruction of the game as well as his body damage, which is especially typical for the Russian character and never is a matter for them a game suspension or a money charge. Probably in those cases, better to give a penalty minutes to a provoking person/player too. 
 

6 hours ago, Starofthenorth said:

Kaprizov just won the cup there now is the time to bring him and his teammate to the state of hockey. The GM better not sit on his hands for too long or those guys will become strangers.

Agree. They both(Kaprizov and his teammate Svetlakov) should be sign first of all and as soon as possible by the Wild organization. Time was already yesterday, but we did not use it in time. Both played and are still playing for the best club in entire KHL,and  having a much much better experience and a higher professional level than players in AHL. No doubt that the level of AHL stays third after NHL and KHL levels in a world  hockey range.  Bigger arena there in comparison to our arena size, is not a big deal. Real professionals accommodate to it pretty fast. And they did play at international competitions in a smaller arenas. Examples, Radulov, Kovalchuk, Ovechkin, Tarasenko, Datsyuk and many others Russian players as well as players from other European countries also previously played in a bigger fields than in US. I did not see a big difference. The main problems for them here - different culture, different language, different style of life, home sickness. If they will pass them successfully then they will be able to show their talent in full if they have it. 

Good news for the Wild fans! CSKA,Moscow team won today for the first time in their history a Gagarin Cup by beating Avangard team,Omsk in OT with a score 3:2. They won all 4 games in finals.Congrats  to our prospects who are playing there - Kaprizov and Svetlakov to get this title at their young age! Both built a pretty good chemistry/communication by playing together, as well as they built a fresh extended playoffs experience because they reached together Gagarin Cup finals two years in a row (last and this year). I think it is a time as soon as possible for our Wild management staff start to negotiate with CSKA team as well as with both players and their agents to move them earlier towards our team.
Another part is also impressed for me a lot for this CSKA team of winners. That was an outstanding goaltending of NY Islanders prospect Ilya Sorokin - 11 shutouts in a regular season and 5 shutouts in a playoffs season this year. Islanders are lucky  to have him in addition of having already in their team  2 outstanding goaltenders.
Here is a short link to read about a Gagarin Cup from Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gagarin_Cup