CreaseAndAssist

I was talking about this with my dad. Back in the KITN 29 days (Wildcat growl), Wally and Frank were great on the air and I still think peak High School Tournament was Wally on the play by play and Lou Nanne as the analyst. And that family was the ones that helped preserve was was left when the Marathon Club (that I think had the Hobey Baker) had a fire.

We said as much on our latest podcast. And its why this team will likely be nothing more than a highly paid Stanley Cup pretender organization at best.

Crease And Assist: Episode #42, Pour One Out for Al Shaver In this episode, @MNSOTA, Kalisha and I discuss which player should the Minnesota Wild try to move this season, what are people's expectations for next season if the roster stays mostly as is, Al Shaver memories and we answer listener questions too! Give it a listen! Reminder of the draft party on June 28th, at Tom Reid's Hockey City pub from 5:30PM-10PM. I hope you can be there!

Jack Edwards had a pretty good interview on Voice Behind the Voice Podcast, especially when he talks about the day ESPN became a mockery of itself. But he seemed to not handle the criticism very well and only dug in his heels to act like a jackpipe when challenged. Glad he's retiring. BUT BACK TO THE ACTUAL topic on hand... Al Shaver lived a full life, as did Bob Cole. Both great broadcasters who were terrific at capturing the moment and adding to the atmosphere of the even without making it about them. And son Wally and grandson Jason are an outstanding legacy as hockey play-by-play men who loved the game as much as their father and grandfather did.

Yurov re-signs with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, 1-year, $434,000 deal. So 'Yurov Watch' comes to a quick and unceremonious end!

He certainly didn't mind sharing his feelings about the team if he didn't think something was right or perhaps getting a bit sarcastic about a non-call. While that's usually shamed in today's broadcasters, I'd be happier with that than today's brown-nosing, excuse-making homers so many teams have working their broadcasts.

That's pretty fair. Although I thought Spurgeon's game was in decline even before he got hurt this season. He looks slower and more timid which for a pint-sized defenseman who is getting older is not a good sign. But they definitely need him to be top notch if this team is going to do anything; and by anything I mean just making the playoffs. I don't have a big issue with Danila Yurov spending one more season in the #KHL either, but I think he could make a bigger impact. IMO, it was kind of like Eric Staal when he arrived, he was a force multiplier. He helped the team have two dangerous lines. I think Yurov could do that. However, next year...it's going to be the same underwhelming team needing just about everything to go right in order to make the post-season and still probably do nothing once it gets there. My only fear is that Guerin will add another big grit guy because of the mental fragility discussed in their post-season press conference.

And Yurov basically wants a bunch of bonuses, most of which Russo feels he has no chance of achieving but the team has to be able to pay for those bonuses which makes him perhaps too costly next season with its cap constraints.

Legendary voice of the Minnesota North Stars and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Al Shaver died of a sudden illness at the age of 96. I've seen a lot of people share their memories of his play-by-play over the years. Hearing him say, "He Shoots, he scores!!!" is probably my earliest memory of hockey. What are your memories of Al Shaver and his broadcasts?

Danila Yurov won the Gagarin Cup with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. Although according to Russo, it sounds like the Wild are not planning on having him come over until AFTER next season.

The Athletic's article was reasonable, but it's nothing any of us haven't been saying here for well over a year now. And as Bill Guerin has locked into his bro's, giving them term and NMC's he's shutting out the young talent. He said during his press conference he wants them to push for a spot, but they've already guaranteed a spot to the 30+ year old guys. I've been saying it for a long time now (probably over two years) that this year is the point of no-return for Kaprizov. The No Trade clause kicks in and now they have to gamble they can convince him to re-sign or he walks for nothing; and is he all that excited to play with Mats Zuccarello now as he was earlier? Not so sure. He seemed to be pretty productive playing with Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy. Zuccarello looks like a lost puppy without Kaprizov, but good thing we locked him down to another 2 years with an NMC eh? I agree with you. I didn't think the team looked nearly hungry enough, Guerin sounded like he wasn't sure what needs to be done which isn't a good sign who certainly locked into his 'vision' just prior to the start of this season. They had plenty of opportunities to seize the playoffs this season, even with injuries etc but they choked away games late and then couldn't beat anyone decent to save their lives. And to be honest...doesn't that mean they got what they deserved? They didn't deserve to be on some post-season run. I can't see them beating any of the other teams in the playoffs right now. This team is committed to its path now. Those bad deals are done and they'll be here for a while. Will the team be able to show Kaprizov its going to be contender and get him some more help? At what point will ownership want off this Missouri Boat Ride that Bill Guerin's put this team on?

Firstov was rather noticeable the last 3-4 games. Looking comfortable, showing off his on-ice vision. I wish he'd take the opportunity to shoot more than he did. But he looks very skilled and fast enough to be a possibility next season if he had a good training camp. Beckman had 3 goals (1 each) in the last 3 games of the season. Even though by the time he got back the team was out of the playoffs and was probably disappointed by being given much of an opportunity he still came back, played hard and made an impact at the end.

Yet we are keeping one or possibly both of them for next season. The 2024-25 Minnesota Wild: Locking into Mediocrity!

I don't think there is a why beyond simply looking at the results of it. It's not all bad, but there are still quite a few busts if you look at the last 25 years of the players made with that selection (13th Overall) in the draft. 2023 - Zach Benson (BUF) 2022 - Frank Nazar (CHI) 2021 - Matt Coronato (CGY) 2020 - Seth Jarvis (CAR) 2019 - Spencer Knight (FLA) 2018 - Ty Dellandrea (DAL) 2017 - Nick Suzuki (VGK) 2016 - Jake Bean (CAR) 2015 - Jakub Zboril (BOS) 2014 - Jakub Vrana (WSH) 2013 - Josh Morrissey (WPG) 2012 - Radek Faksa (DAL) 2011 - Sven Baertschi (CGY) 2010 - Brandon Gormley (ARZ) 2009 - Zack Kassian (BUF) 2008 - Colten Teubert (LOS) 2007 - Lars Eller (STL) 2006 - Jiri Tlusty (TOR) 2005 - Marek Zagrapan (BUF) 2004 - Drew Stafford (BUF) 2003 - Dustin Brown (LOS) 2002 - Alexander Semin (WSH) 2001 - Ales Hemsky (EDM) 2000 - Ron Hainsey (MON) 1999 - Jani Rita (EDM) 1998 - Michael Heinrich (EDM)

Crease And Assist Episode #41: Death of a Wild season Kalisha, @MNSOTA and myself discuss what we thought Bill Guerin would say at the post-season presser as well as what he ended up saying. We also have Way Too Early Slogans for the 2024-25 season and listener questions too including lots of talk about the Arizona / Salt Lake City situation. Give it a listen! Thanks to @IllaZilla and @Tomdog for chiming in with Slogans (which we read on the air)!

I thought the exact thing as I heard that comment from the press conference. It basically screamed...no one is pushing out #90 and #89. Or maybe they'll get one shift to prove it and if they don't...they won't.

I have felt they've been doing what they've wanted for a long time. They play the way the players decide is best. If Kaprizov and Zuccarello is on the line they have to pass it 15 times before they even think about shooting the puck. If its Eriksson Ek and Kaprizov are together they might crash the net... But the style varies by the line that is on the ice and its been this way through multiple GM's, coaches and obviously many different rosters. In Guerin's post-season presser, he mentioned the need for the players to have more swagger, more FU to their game. Although he agreed with the comments from players that the team is mentally fragile and that they didn't handle adversity well (injuries, etc). I still think this team doesn't really know what it wants to be or is what its best at being. It has one superstar...some very good to good players and some warm bodies. But its random, inconsistent and the result didn't really surprise me.

Simple takeaways from this presser... "A lot of inconsistencies" Defended Marcus Johansson a lot Said the team is mentally fragile Hynes and Guerin felt there is a lot of things to work on Trades, Free Agents, Draft...going for it for next season and not just waiting until Cap hell is over... Said rookies / young players are going to have step up and take spots occupied by vets and encouraged them to do it, or at least push for it to push the vets to be better. Brock Faber played with two broken ribs the last month

Oh, they certainly were the cancers people told us they were. I know that for a fact. As far as Darby goes, his role has mostly been as the guy running the practice coach. That's why he's kind of stayed on throughout different regimes.

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It is interesting that the Wild's continued mediocrity can keep a person sane. Honestly, one would think the Wild would be detrimental to mental health. It has been fun chiming in at the end and feel free to meet up at the draft party at Reid's on June 28th.

The 13th Overall pick has a pretty ugly history if you've ever looked at it.

I will have to look for that, although it hardly surprises me to see them kiss Guerin's ass.

Wallstedt played last night in Iowa. So I am going to guess its Fleury's start.

Minnesota Wild (39-33-9) 87pts 6th in the Central 3.02 Goals For Per Game (21st in the NHL) 3.16 Goals Against Per Game (20th in the NHL) 22.3% Power Play (12th in the NHL) 74.6% Penalty Kill (30th in the NHL) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #97 Kirill Kaprizov ~ 45G 50A = 95pts 2. #12 Matt Boldy ~ 29G 38A = 67pts 3. #14 Joel Eriksson Ek ~ 30G 34A = 64pts 4. #7 Brock Faber ~ 7G 39A = 46pts 5. #38 Ryan Hartman ~ 21G 23A = 44pts Top 3 PIM's: 1. #5 Jake Middleton ~ 77 PIM's 2. #38 Ryan Hartman ~ 72 PIM's 3. #24 Zach Bogosian ~ 63 PIM's Top Goaltenders: 1. #32 Filip Gustavsson (20-18-4) 3.06GAA .899% 3SO 2. #29 Marc-Andre Fleury (17-14-5) 2.98GAA .895% 2SO Vs. Seattle Kraken (33-35-15) 78pts 6th in the Pacific 2.59 Goals For Per Game (29th in the NHL) 2.83 Goals Against Per Game (8th in the NHL) 20.5% Power Play (18th in the NHL) 79.4% Penalty Kill (17th in the NHL) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #19 Jared McCann ~ 29G 32A = 61pts 2. #22 Oliver Bjorkstrand ~ 20G 37A = 57pts 3. #7 Jordan Eberle ~ 17G 27A = 44pts 4. #10 Matty Beniers ~ 14G 22A = 36pts 5. #37 Yanni Gourde ~ 9G 22A = 31pts Top 3 PIM's: 1. #3 Will Borgen ~ 65 PIM's 2. #37 Yanni Gourde ~ 62 PIM's 3. #6 Adam Larsson ~ 55 PIM's Top Goaltenders: 1. #35 Joey Daccord (18-18-11) 2.45GAA .916% 3SO 2. #31 Philipp Grubauer (14-16-2) 2.85GAA .899% 2SO Lines: Seattle Kraken Burakovsky~Beniers~Eberle McCann~Yamamoto~Schwartz Kartye~Gourde~Bjorkstrand Tatar~Bellemare~B. Tanev R. Evans~A. Larsson Oleksiak~Borgen Dumoulin~J. Schultz Daccord Grubauer Minnesota Wild Kaprizov~Eriksson Ek~Boldy M. Johansson~Rossi~Hartman Ohgren~Khusnutdinov~F. Gaudreau Shaw~Lucchini~Chisholm Middleton~Faber Brodin~Bogosian Merrill~Goligoski Fleury Gustavsson