Confrontational

That's exactly what I was referring to... IMO, which could be completely off base, but I view that as: "did they get scolded for getting caught too deep and therefore are being told to float higher"...? And since that seems to happen (dramatic change in their approach and play) - then who is telling them that - to which I therefore jump to the staff... Guessing C&D will cover that in an upcoming podcast as he disects this season...

Regarding Darby - I think I was referring more to just the optics of it - him standing behind the bench, etc... And although currently his job duties may be what you say - he was very instrumental in the past... I recall him talking about the powerplay and penalty kill units - which were horrible year after year... I'm not saying he's their focal point for change - but when someone like me, who was a fan forever, leave because he was tired of no change year after year - finally tunes back in and sees him - just makes you wonder how he could still be there - and if they really do want to improve... There's a lot more to it than that - a lot more... You've talked about it on your podcast many times... But there's something engrained in the Wild culture that needs to change... It's almost as if everyone is playing for themselves - including staff - because they know they're always on the hot seat - almost like they're being forced to all play together - or like they're being forced to play a certain style that they don't want... Not sure if I'm doing a good job typing what I'm thinking...

Not sure how Darby still has a job after all these years - so many things need to change... Makes you also wonder if Parise/Suter were really the cancer they told us about... Frustrating to watch...

SJS with the worst differential at -146 (so, of their 82 games, they averaged being down by almost two goals every single game), Chicago second worst at -110, uffda...

Zach Parise back in the house - ugh...

That would have been a good after game presser question... I don't recall the end of the game and which way the ice was slanted... If it were mostly in the Vegas end - then that question should have been asked...

^^ Hockey my whole life - never knew that... Thanks

Senators 7-3-0, MN 5-2-3... Other than those last 10 games - the stats are very close in this matchup (Goal For: Sen 3.19, MN 3.03) (Goals Against: Sen 3.47, MN 3.15)...

Since I have never seen a goalie pulled in OT since last time MN did it - you're saying that forfeits the 1 point...? Also, hate when a game is on Hulu or ESPN+, not sure what determines which games they do on those platforms - but if they want to build the base - makes it hard to keep track where games are at, if you can see them, etc... Like TNT - where you can catch 5 hours of Rocky movies right before a hockey game... If the NHL wants to make it as complicated - they're doing it. I've had the NHL package on Directv for 17 years - you should have access to all games...

Read a lot here - but don't post as much... Watch the 5 min summaries on NHL app usually... Saw this on Insta - wasn't gonna post it because would have to start a new thread - or bury it within one... There's an actually company that builds coozies out of hockey pucks: http://www.instagram.com/reel/C3D9ppyud5q/?igsh=Z2UxbTN2eDBvNm8z A little off topic, but something other than a game day thread...

I haven't been able to keep up on the injuries - but heard there's been quite a few...

I get it - and I'm not try to be salty - but who the hell doesn't want more speed and more structure...? There is just something wrong - for like 15 years in MN - and just can't put my finger on it. I used to think it was the locker room with #20 #9 and #11 ruling the roost - but they leave and little happens. Coach changes - nothing really happens. So, can't put my finger on it - but MN has a top 5 player - and things just never seem to really be pieced together right... It almost feels like every so many games they're in rebuild mode... Players? Coaches? Owners? All fo the above? Just seems like darn near every fricken year they have the same issues - where the team just doesn't have the chemistry or something - no matter who you put on the team... If tomorrow, McDavid came onto the team, with Kirill, I think in 20 games it would look like the life was sucked out of them - why is that...? Bad bounces, bad luck, whatever it is - there'll be a streak of greatness and ease - and then it evaporates sliding into a possible playoff spot... Sh!t, at this point I hope they're talking to Perry... (kind of a joke, maybe)

This no doubt isn't sitting too good with Kirill - and him and the team playing cost the coach his job... The players gotta figure their sh!t out - Boldy, Eek, Brodin, etc... I'd say go into complete rebuild mode - but they can't... That big Wisconsin farmer and his pal are still sucking on the MN tit - and maintaining a team would be incredibly tricky since you consumed so much in Kirill, #20, and #11... Rest assured - #20 don't give one sh!t sitting on his farm knowing he is the partial cause of this... Darby must be a fricken Hoover regarding how he's still on the coaching staff - with sore knees... Might be the nicest guy in the whole world - but holy smokes - how many excuses can he possibly use over the years...? Anyways, hope they bounce back - but it's the same ol same ol... Wonder if they've talked to Kiovu about coming back - cough...

You haven't been watching then - else you'd see the non crisp breakouts out of their own zone - the turnovers on missed passes, etc... As mentioned, and will repeat what I already said, they might be 7-0, but they need to sharpen things up - which, again - is expected, but a 7-0 team, just looking at the numbers, you'd think they were steam rolling teams - and most games so far that's definitely not the case... Although Chicago only has a couple wins - I'm a little nervous about them tomorrow for some reason...

7 - 0 isn't a bad way to start the season either... I don't think they've looked all that spectacular yet in the first seven games - but I imagine all the beer and cheetos while celebrating in the off season will take them a little while to get back into hockey form...

Everything I read though is that they're yet again rebuilding - and he signed a 1-year to hopefully impress - and then next year be a free agent again and go for longer term with them... Wish him the best - but on a fairly dismal team - along with his unflattering stats from last year - I'd say he best find another gear (although all the articles say they brought him on for his leadership, veteran status, top 4 defense pairing, etc)... Much like when Brodin got wrecked by that one play and broke his jaw, etc - Dubma got destroyed the other year and then decided to fight and ended up ripping his pec muscle or something - ever since then his game had changed, dramatically... Suppose that's life in the NHL - just trying to make it through each season without nagging game-changing injuries... Anyways, will be interesting to see what/if he can do anything down there... Same with Zuck...

Well, I see he is finally gone - a little surprised that he got as much as he did in AZ ($3.9m/1yr) - but, at least now something they have to deal with... 10 seasons with the Wild... I see Zucker is now down in AZ as well... Is it pre-season yet...

Well, he'll be wearing #20 - so hopefully just another reason for Suter to fade into the sunset of our memories...

^^ Yea, felt a lot of that 6 years ago with Vegas - and when Tuch and Haula went there - I thought: "well, this is the time." Prior to that - having watch MN down here for 9 year after moving - I really tried to watch more Dallas games - and just couldn't - there was really no attachment to me - so gave up on them... Then Vegas - and I get all the benefits, etc - but I liked their fast team with our MN guys on it - and switched over - I think I was just so exhausted by #20, #9, and #11 - and the PP and PK - I found myself wondering too much when I saw it happen over and over - I didn't want to leave MN - and I hung on for 9 years after I left - but... I still pay attention to the Wild - now more out of curiosity to see if they're continuing to do what frustrated me so much... Working out this morning - ESPN or some channel had Dallas/MN playoff highlights on - and they showed all the cheap shots Krill was taking. He's not going to last long by getting constantly run like that - I like that he fights back - but man o man - he took a pretty good pounding... For longevity sake - he's going to have to figure some things out - along with the coaches... What's interesting is it wasn't really that bad in the regular season - but when playoffs arrived - that was a whole different animal with him and others - everyone was off their game - probably injured, etc... And then with Eek out - crappy timing - but staying healthy is a massive hurdle when playoffs come around... You would have also thought that with someone like Krill with Reeves in the neighborhood - maybe that'd help - but, didn't look that way at all... Maybe the enforcers aren't a huge deal anymore since they have such limited time in the playoffs - but, if someone like Reeves on the team didn't help - kind of makes you wonder how Krill can be protected without someone like that - and if next year it's going to be even a larger issue of him getting run... Ok, enough babbling for one day...

Interesting listening and reading from you guys - you guys know so much more than many of us that just don't have the time, for whatever reason, so thanks... Down here in Texas from MN for 17 years now (born Brainerd, St Cloud for 25 years, Burnsville for several) - (no stars fan btw) - but come on here to understand what's happening with the team... It's frustrating to keep hearing what frustrated me to kind of give up on the team and see it's still happening... Parents still in MN - played up until 5 years ago (53) - and my father (81) still tries to keep me updated on Wild things when we talk - I think he shares my frustrations - and wonders how fans don't hold some people's feet to the fire - especially on the PP and PK - especially special teams... There's just so many moving parts all the time with coaching/players/management... Seems like those things are always in flux and as soon as one takes a step forward - other take two steps back... He also noticed a completely different personality in Suter during a couple of those games - and how aggressive/cheap he was - especially on Krill. He commented that he never did that during the MN years... Anyways, a MN fan, have moved on after too many years of the above and Mikko - but still keep an eye on 'em and maybe looking for an excuse to reengage a little... But, I find them so frustrating... Ok, babbled enough... I'll blame the beers...

Yea, don't get it either... There's some young talent that might be studs that I would be gambling on versus someone who has the experience and is ho hum to go to MN - and his penalty minutes - jeeezus - that's the last thing MN needs... But, who knows...

^ ha...

I'm a fan of Smith - have been for a few years - but I thought he was a little quiet this year - and thought them signing Barb was a good selection... I also absolutely hated when they dealt Fluery - but, Vegas does have pretty good timing of not holding onto their players once they start to decline... Tickets booked for the October 10th game and see them raise the banner...

Imagine the damage that could be done without the Super/Parise noose - could grab 3 or 4 guys in the $2-$4m range and surround Krill... Without that I honestly think I'd fetch top dollar for Krill - absolutely every team would want a piece of him... But, then we're back to our 20 year old issue - and that's that we can't seem to consistently have our guys in another gear - or special teams being a massive threat... I guess I'm just really here to only bitch - there's a lot of tricky decision BG needs to make - and there's a lot of moving parts and impacts based on those decisions... I just get a little nervous that Krill is not looking at MN long term - and my bet is his agent is chomping on increasing his value after next season - where they'll play that game for the highest bidder... Anyways, didn't mean to distract from Michkov - I only know a little bit about him from Bleacher... Derek - always short on time - do you have a podcast that zeros in on our options with Krill - and what happens if MN shops him...?

I don't think Krill will stick around - he has little loyalty IMO... He might have been close to the best thing that has happened to MN - but whether you like it or not - he showed his true colors with his hold out - and that he didn't have much choice other than to get MN out of the way before he could move on for more $ and to a more fully built out team... My bet is he just views MN as buying his time - and getting paid well to do it... I've listened to one of Derek's podcasts - and I just don't see how MN is going to get those types of players and the size/speed they need to dominate - and be consistent... I would bet Krill is keeping his eye on a handful of other teams that he'd jump at if he had the chance... Skilled guy, yes... Loyal, don't think so... No doubt he notices the massive issues with personnel and the gaping holes in coaches who can't seem to ever fix certain critical things... Krill wants to be a star - and I think we all know that's not going to happen in MN - he needs a stronger supporting cast than just him... I almost kind of wish his whole hold out would not have materialized - I think the team could have some very strong components right now if that would have happened - but, there is still that massive consistency issue with most players in MN... I dunno - just have a strange feeling we put too many eggs into one basket with him - and I think he's only looking out for himself and his $...