LATEST STORIES FROM WILD PUCK BANTER
Evaluations at the Break
At the All-Star Break, how should we evaluate the Minnesota Wild's season. If you just ignored the manner in which the season progressed and looked at the current result only you'd have to be pleased. The team is 8th in the Western Conference and would qualify for a playoff spot if the season ended today.Unfortunately we know how they got here, though. The started off the...
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17 days ago
Discuss
Please Don't Panic, Chuck
One month ago the Minnesota Wild were riding high, things were going great. They were on top of the Western Conference, the Houston call-ups were all producing and Mike Yeo looked like a genius. Fast-forward to today, the team is struggling badly, the rookies look over matched and their captain is out for at least a month. What should be done?Wild GM Chuck Fletcher is at a crossroads...
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25 days ago
Captain Obvious
To state that "Wild forward Dany Heatley needs to score more" is akin to the following statements:1. The Sun needs to come up tomorrow morning if we're going to be able to sustain life on Earth.2. Boy, I sure hope gravity works tomorrow when I'm driving to work.3. A cold beer would taste good right now.And while I do like the fact that the local newspapers are covering...
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January 10, 2012
Struggling for Eighth
Yep, it's been a while since I've put up a Wild-related post on this site. I've been busy breaking down the new season of ABC's "The Bachelor" and believe me, I have plenty of thoughts in that area. But since this isn't a Bachelor Blog, I'll write for a bit about my favorite National Hockey League Team.They were first place in the Western Conference...
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January 10, 2012
Chapter 1
In an attempt to explore the uncharted waters of my creative mind, I have decided to write a short fictional story about Jacques Lemaire, Abraham Lincoln and a 1974 Ford Pinto. Here is the first installment: Maybe it was something I ate. I should learn from my reckless eating habits, but it appears that I had finally gone too far. It was late in the evening, I had just finished...
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December 31, 2011
A Glimpse of Future Glory
As I sat at my computer yesterday afternoon reading the injury news about Devin Setoguchi, Cal Clutterbuck and Josh Harding I came to the very realistic viewpoint that the Minnesota Wild were primed for a poor performance in Los Angeles. The team was riding high, but they were near the end of a West coast road trip and missing several key players. I told myself a 5-1 loss wouldn...
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December 09, 2011
At the Rinks: The CRIC
It isn't too often that I add new features to the site, but I think this will be a successful one. Each week I will attend a local high school hockey game and submit a review of the rink. This week: The Coon Rapids Ice Arena, or more affectionately dubbed "The CRIC".Last Saturday I attended the first boy's high school game at The CRIC, a contest between Coon Rapids...
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December 07, 2011
A Look at the New Rivals
With NHL Realignment a done deal, it is time to say goodbye to our Northwest Division rivals and hello to a new bunch in the unnamed Central Conference. While I'll miss watching Roberto Luongo skate to the bench mid-period after being pulled, I have a hunch I'll like getting to bed a bit earlier and not having to watch many away games starting at 9:00 Central Time.With that...
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December 06, 2011
Great Teams of NHL History
On this Thanksgiving it's time to give thanks for the Greatest Teams in National Hockey League history:(1) 1984-85 Edmonton Oilers ~ finished first in the NHL with a 49-20-11 record on their way to winning a 2nd straight Stanley Cup. The team, led by Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri and Mark Messier were just beginning their dominance. Could score at will.(2) 1967-68 Montreal Canadiens...
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November 24, 2011
Possible Playoff Matchups
The Minnesota Wild are 1st in the Western Conference, so we thought it'd be a good time to look at some first round playoff match ups against possible #8 seeds:(1) Wild v. Red Wings ~ as of today I'd say Wild in 4 games because the Wings are getting older and would be completely tired out by the time the playoffs roll around. This series match up is very unlikely, however...
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November 21, 2011
Good Things Come in Threes
The Minnesota Wild are currently in 2nd place in the Western Conference. I got an extra Spicy Chilito in my bag from Zantigo on Monday. And now today I found out I can watch classic episodes of Good Times online at TVland.com. Dynomite!
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November 16, 2011
Letters to the Editor
With the Wild in Calgary tonight (I'll be watching the game from the Chipotle Basement) I thought this would be the perfect time to another edition of "Fake Letters to the Editor".Dear WPB,In your estimation, which Sunday comic strip character most closely looks like Wild winger Pierre-Marc Bouchard?-C. Schultz, St. Paul.DEAR C: I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A LOT LATELY...
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November 08, 2011
Last Canucks Post
Remember back when the Vancouver Canucks used to have a Stanley Cup contending team? Last year they finished first in the Western Conference, made it to the Cup Final and came within a few goals of hoisting the trophy on home ice. But then the unthinkable happened...they choked away a Game 7 on home ice, something nearly impossible to do."There's always next year" said some of their...
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November 06, 2011
The Blonde Curse
After countless hours reviewing film, I think I've finally come up with a reason why the Minnesota Wild don't have much (ok, any) success in the playoffs: it's that blonde chick that always sits behind the home bench. Since she started sitting there many years ago, the Wild have had only one successful playoff run. Could she be the Wild's version of the Wrigley Billy...
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October 27, 2011
I'm Huge in Horlivka
I did some in-depth analysis last night of the traffic (and lack thereof) on this web site. What stood out to me was where most of my readers originate from. With that in mind, here is a list of countries with the most visits to Wild Puck Banter:1. USA.2. Ukraine.3. Canada.4. Finland.5. China.What strikes me is my popularity in Ukraine. On a per-capita basis, this is the country...
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October 25, 2011
Raising Capital
In an attempt to try and earn some cash to pay for NHL Center Ice(*), I've decided to sell the naming rights to my basement, home of Wild Puck Banter, to the first corporation that offers me $171.00. Imagine your company's name in a post like this:"Pierre-Marc Bouchard sure had a crappy game last night. I swear I saw him turn over the puck at least 8 times from my...
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October 21, 2011
Blasphemy
I know I'm prone to knee-jerk reactions, but isn't that in the job description of a hockey blogger? Well, it hurts me to say this, so I'm just going to take the "rip the band aid off" approach and say it. Mikko Koivu might not be as good as we think he is.Since the lockout it's been accepted fact in the State of Hockey that Koivu was the best player on the...
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October 19, 2011
82-0-1 Within Reach
Well, last night sure was encouraging wasn't it? The new guys paid immediate dividends, Backstrom was very sharp and I found a new flavor of Doritos to enjoy. Looking ahead, I'm fairly confident they'll be battling for a playoff spot and may even win the Cup. On the not-so-positive side, Terhaar and Greenlay haven't improved one bit and I had to mow the lawn yesterday...
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October 09, 2011
2011-12 Predictions
As is the case with many hockey blogs, I offer you my predictions for the upcoming season:Mikko Koivu and Devin Setoguchi will represent the Wild at the All Star Game.Nik Backstrom will start 60 games.PMB will miss 40 games.Star-Tribune hockey wonk Mike Russo will complain about having to go to Detroit.Dany Heatley will score 30 goals.Vancouver and Calgary will suck. (I'm really...
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October 04, 2011
Retire Number 55
If I were a hockey betting man, I'd lay a small wager on this. And while it may come off as sounding completely ridiculous, it's not too far-fetched to predict that someday Nick Schultz's #55 will be hanging from the rafters of Xcel Energy Center. Why, you ask? Well, here are my reasons for believing so:1. He's played more games than anyone in a Wild sweater, currently...
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September 21, 2011
Center Ice v. Gamecenter Live
Since the lockout I've purchased NHL Center Ice every year on Direct TV. The coverage has been mostly good, with most of the games appearing in high definition. My only major complaint has been the lack of HD broadcasts for Hockey Night in Canada. Last season The NHL Network usually carried the early game in HD, but the late game (probably featuring a certain unnamed club from...
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September 05, 2011
Do You Believe Me Now, Trinity?
In 1995 Keanu Reeves starred in a terrible film based on a good short story called "Johnny Mnemonic". It was a science fiction film in which Keanu played a cyber courier with a data storage device implanted in his brain. The film was poorly received and bombed at the box office. Keanu's fledgling film career was near done.
So what does he do? A few years later he decides...
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September 03, 2011
No Pee-Wees in our House
My youngest son is 11 years old and has decided to leave the world of travelling hockey. Hold on a second, let me go get that box of kleenix. Ok, much better. Like I wrote, competitive hockey is over (at least for a year) in our household.
Hockey for him started at the age of 6 when he could barely skate. He learned quickly and became a fan of the game. Near the end of a long first...
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August 31, 2011
Mustering Hatred for Winny
How does one generate hate towards a city and its hockey team when there is no history in place? It's very easy (almost too easy) to hold bad feelings towards the Vancouver Canucks. From their roster to their overrated city, I have no problems whatsoever feeling good about whenever the hockey team stumbles. It also takes me little effort mustering up hatred towards another Wild...
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August 29, 2011
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