I keep thinking the threads say "Running Wild thread". Running Wild is a goofy power metal band, and is also a fine Judas Priest song.
Rolston - Belanger - PMB line is looking sharp!!
Of course, it was against the AHL version of the St. Louis Blues last night -- but they dominated, as you would expect, against those STL younguns.
6 days
Can't wait. Vikings season is almost over.
Just one short week of Wild only.....then its WCHA AND the Wild for the next 6 months!!!
October is my favorite month of the year. Go National League too.
Alas, Narrow... we have sold off most of our extras already!
There's always the chance I might not be able to use the few pairs of tickets I have left (most of em are single seats shared with my Wild season ticket partners) ... and I'll keep you in mind.
Yes, I reupped for the Centre Ice Package... mainly because that's the only way you can really see Eastern Conf teams (grrrrrrr)...
mikko: Yes, I reupped for the Centre Ice Package... mainly because that's the only way you can really see Eastern Conf teams (grrrrrrr)...
I may wait until playoff time to sign up this year if I sign up at all. I will miss seeing the Bruins and Devils though.
mikko: Alas, Narrow... we have sold off most of our extras already! There's always the chance I might not be able to use the few pairs of tickets I have left (most of em are single seats shared with my Wild season ticket partners) ... and I'll keep you in mind.
It would have to be an act of god, or me being completely ass-broke for me to turn down ANY tickets :) Thanks for the "future consideration".
Pouliot needs to prove he can keep the intensity and heart in Houston.
He's good... but sometimes doesn't bring 100%. The new coaching staff in Houston will test him to see if he can maintain it... and if he can he'll be back soon enough.
That said -- given the current lineup.... I'd think you'd agree, barring injuries, there's no more than a "depth" role for these guys (Sheppard or Pouliot) this year....
1st Demitra - Walz - Gaborik
2nd Rolston - Belanger - PMB
3rd Branko - Mikko - Parrish
4th .... this is where Pouliot and Sheppard fit.... along with Moore, Boogie, Kalus, etc, etc. Not much icetime here.
Good Star Trib article on Mikko today
http://www.startribune.com/wild/story/1463172.html
How do you guys feel about the "Lemairing" of the forward lines? Are you of the "gun line" mentality or the spreading out of talent mentality? I guess, I'm sort of hoping we see a "gun line" of Demitra-Mikko-Gabby at some point this year. Mikko can be a playmaker AND stay defensively responsible and I think he'd lead by example and keep the Slovaks relatively defensive minded as well. I've just grown so tired of Walz being asked to center scoring lines. Can't we just use him for what he is 100% of the time? A checking center.....
Going to tonights game! Whoohooo!!!
That for sure drives me a little crazy too. With Walz on the line you know where the scorings going to come from. Gabby-Rolston-Demitra, Gabby-Belanger-Demitra or put Mikko in there. That would give those guys more options. I'm more of spread the talent type, but if you want to spread the talent shouldn't you split up Demitra and Gaborik?
If I had my druthers:
1st Branko - Rolston - Gaborik
2nd Demitra - Belanger - PMB
3rd Moore, Kalus - Mikko - Parrish
4th Shepard,Pouliot,Moore, Kalus, Boogie- Walz anchoring showing the young guys how to work
Its hard for me to say. They both have thier benefits and drawbacks!
If you have a "gun line" there are more scoring opportunities, or atleast you hope, but you also put out all of your talent and its easy for the opponent to simply throw out their best defensive line. Atleast with the "Lemairing" (love that term by the way) of the lines, we have a scoring threat throughout the line-up. The down side of that though is that there may not be production because we dont have the guys who have chemistry together on the same line all of the times.
I guess if I HAD to choose, I would choose a pure scoring line. Even if the other team throws out their best defensive line, you would hope that the skills and creativity of the first line could overcome it and put some more points on the board, while also clearing out some of the defensive depth on the other team, opening up some opportunities for the 2nd and 3rd lines.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard – Eric Belanger – Brian Rolston Mark Parrish – Mikko Koivu – Branko Radivojevic Pavol Demitra – Wes Walz – Marian Gaborik Stephane Veilleux – Dominic Moore – Derek Boogaard
Nick Schultz – Kim Johnsson Martin Skoula – Petteri Nummelin Keith Carney – Brent Burns
The Skoula, Nummy pairing will be either exciting or BRUTAL depending on who we're playing......all. year. long. I'm shuddering at that pairing against San Jose or Anaheim. ish.
Where the heck is Sean Hill?