Icechipper

I realize it's tough pulling meaningful quotes out of hockey players on a slumping team, but the Minneapolis Tribune reporter deserves better than these Capt.-obvious gems in today's edition: Eric Staal: "This is a tough league." Zach Parise: "There's a lot of games left." But hey, this is a Western Swing, so let's dance and keep this party going........win one for Bruce!

And I mention Robson because he's been through some NCAA collegiate battles (Gophers play at home on Olympic rink). Successful goalies out of the U.S. college pipeline include Dryden, Casey, Balfour and Elliot, to name a few.....

Since franchise inception the Wild has been a low scoring team backed by solid goaltending. From Manny Fernandez to Duane Roloson, Josh Harding to Nik Backstrom and now Duane Dubnyk, Wild netminders have given the squad a chance to win. As such, we have always been an organization built to win games 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2. Yet the league is listing toward race horse hockey, with teams that can easily put up 4 to 5 goals a game. If Dubnyk is struggling or injured, overworked, yes, give Robson a look, but if the team wants to win, you go with a healthy Dubnyk as your money stopper.

Good to hear. Worked UND vs. Bemidji State University game. UND 4-1 w/open net goal. UND 2-1 OT Friday. Line handshake after game tonight. Classy.

Kings dress two former USHL Fargo Force skaters in Iafallo and Lizotte. ..

Lots of dumps too few chases....

Had the barmaid put the game on one of auxiliary TVs. Bears Saints on audio so close captioning for Wild-Canadiens. Twice the commentator excuses the Wild because, well, "this is the National Hockey League." Thank you captain obvious. Goalie makes glove save on Zucker and it's "grand larceny." Instead of getting pizzed off, Zucker smiles and pats Kinkaids pads. WTF? Think this is beer league? This is the fricken NHL baby!

Well seems we have now also checked off No. 8, player meeting, while Parise and Zucker are promoting No. 9, throwing their coach under the bus. You can check off No. 5 too, as players contemplate the weird situation where the they give up goals in bunches.

Didn't know Stewart was still around. I guess he fits if you're bringing back the Broads tree Bullies. Fletcher tried to sell Wild fans on his toughness....

Zucker should have blasted that one....Greenway coasting....basically standing around thinking he's blocking lanes. Send big boy to Iowa for a week and take somebody off waivers...

Story line: Toronto asst. coach and defensive guru Dave Hakstol devising schemeso to slow down the Wild while limiting Victor Rask's sniper wrister.

Worse, four of every three Americans sick at math......

Which brings us to excuse #11: "We have to want it....."

Excuse checklist 1. It's only (x) games let's not panic. Check 2. We need dirty goals. Check 3. We're just squeezing our sticks to tight. 4. We need to learn to play hard for all three periods, 60 minutes. 5. We're beating ourselves. 6. Trying to find chemistry on our forward lines. 7. We need to be hard to play against. (Time to goon it up) 8. Proverbial players only meeting (where we take look at ourselves in a mirror). 9. Coach has lost the room. 10. Our division toughest in the league.

At a motel with no feed so watched Trump rally at Target Center. He adamantly opposes immigrants, especially Somalians. Didn't mention Finlanders or Canadians.

Zajac and a defenseman for Zucker and a pick......just me spitballin'

If true this means: 1) Victor Rask is not a $4 million center. 2) Erickson Ek has topped out as a No. 3 center. 3) Parise doesn't want to play center. But could. 4) Koivu may never be 100 % again 5) Iowa can't develop centers but Nico Sturm going there anyway.

Except Stafford has a cannon for a shot. JT should fear for his spot. Worst case he's this year's Matt Read. Best case 13th forward. Shattuck and UND product was USA's stud in 2004 WJR in Grand Forks in tourney that included Ovechkin and Crosby. Good size too.

Kurvers kids too young for scouting roles but an interim gig may be in the cards for the asst gm.

Sports Nation has coach Boudeau sending something like this: Zucker Staal Zuccarello Parise Kunin Fiala Greenway Ek Donato Foligno Koivu Hartman Brown pushing for wing time Rask for center. Suter Spurgeon Brodin Pateryn Hunt Dumba Seeler BelPedio potential no. 7 or 8 Lineup flexible enough to 1) allow transition time for returnees Koivu and Dumba to ease into season. 2) give shutdown role to Brodin and Pateryn and save limited attack/pp role for Hunt and Dumba.

Oops. I forgot JT Brown, much like Boudreau often does in tight games. Suppose he could work the popcorn machine and show the kids how to hustle in practice. And if he takes them out on the town, teaches them about Uber and professional car services, at least those old enough to hoist one.

Those line charts seem reasonable, though as of today it's Tom Kurvers job to provide Boudreau's arsenel. I like Donato's game but don't see him as a starter. Given what has been invested in contracts, I see: Parise Staal Zuccarello Zucker Kunin (Koivu) Rask Donato Ek Fiala Foligno Sturm Hartman Suter Spurgeon Brodin Dumba Hunt Pateryn/Seeker Notes: 1. Not heard anyone say Koivu is ready. Kunin gets a shot till he is. 2. Greenway can play in Iowa where the coaches can convince him to keep two hands on his stick and skate lower to the ice and use his shoulders for position on the boards. 3. I'd want my No. 5-7 D corps to each play at least once a week. Paying a good locker room guy $1 million to eat popcorn and chart shots is stupid. 4. All that aside, at least one on that above list WILL be injured coming out of camp, so that leaves the door open for callups, with Mayhew and Soucy top of mind. 5. Finally, it is highly likely there will be a waiver wire tweak before the opener, maybe we lose or trade Pateryn for a veteran center. You don't pay Rask $4 million to center a couple of bangers like Foligno and Hartman.

We asked to talk to Rangers Drury and got stuffed....do you suppose ownership reading this?

See my earlier post on Fenton. Talking up Fiala and Donato like the next Hull and Oates is borderline delusional.