Game of the Week Season 3: Minnesota Wild vs Philadelphia Flyers

Well, this week I decided to put two teams that I don't normally use in this week's Game of the Week. They don't meet each other much in the regular season, but the Wild and Flyers seem like a good match up where the Broad St. Bullies may be able to slow down the Wild's momentum in real life? Could a simulated scenario work just the same?

I was intrigued by the way Coach Boudreau would help out a team that was building something special with a bunch of key free agent signings. Did they get everything to gel?

In Philly, I don't know if they are going to say they are in a rebuilding process. They are clearly middling with an underachieving roster and a young coach that doesn't get people that excited about the process. Should the Philly community "trust the process" with the team?So, how did I do? Are you satisfied with this series? Are there two other teams that need featured in this Game of the Week series? Please tell me in the comments section below!
Do I need to use more junior teams or feature more teams from Europe? I don't quite know what you want from this series yet.

I don't think I do enough higher stakes games on the series. Perhaps I will do a Stanley Cup game between two random teams? So, make your predictions soon! What two teams will we see in the Stanley Cup finals this year? Pittsburgh versus Chicago?

Coaching Carousel Creates Caustic Canadians Cantankerous Cacophony

It didn't take very long for the Ottawa Senators and the Minnesota Wild to find replacements to their underachieving former coaching staffs. But there is a few glaring things that the mainstream media isn't quite talking about (or find enough reason to bring up) is that these two coaches hired within days of one another are retreads from other NHL teams. And then there are the Montreal Canadians who sources tell me have fans that are quite tired of Michel Therrien's second tour of duty there. They demand a French-Canadian coach and two of them have just been gobbled up by other teams. And as a side note, Marc Crawford, who is assumed to, wants to get another kick at the can and getting an assistant job with the Senators.

Bruce Boudreau has come from successful teams with the Capitals and Ducks, however, both of those teams have underachieved mightily. He had plenty of success building teams in the ECHL and American Hockey League before getting the call up to Washington D.C. His system brought a new resurgence to the Capitals utilizing Ovechkin in more ways than one by making him more of a two-way player. But his welcome was worn out by mid-season of 2011. The Ducks were also in a state of disarray looking for some way to generate offense easier than the Randy Carlyle coaching style. But again, the same pattern emerged as Bruce's playoff impotence arose once again. I think the Minnesota Wild will have a new direction with Bruce, but once they get into playoff contention, are the Wild going to go home early in the playoffs too? They already have that now with the coaches they had. This is where the bigger complaint of more rehashing of coaches comes from in guys that never seem to win at the major league level. Will the Wild just use Bruce to get them into better shape and then promote someone else to take over from there? We'll keep an eye out on how this new hire in the Twin Lakes transpires.

Guy Boucher on the other hand is another familiar face. Besides being a stand-in for a 007 villain, Boucher has been in a few teams before getting fired and winding up coaching in Switzerland. He's another guy similar to Boudreau in that he's been successful in the American Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior League. He developed players for the Canadians in Hamilton, expecting to be called up eventually. But the Canadians went another way retreading Therrien and Boucher took the Tampa Bay Lightning job. He didn't last long in Tampa only fighting through some lean years and eventually getting fired in his third year of a four year contract. Again, I don't understand how Boucher could do better than what Ottawa had given that his past track record in the NHL isn't a great resume.

Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said they interviewed "just under 10" candidates to be their new coach.

The CBC article doesn't list the rest of the names they spoke to, but I wonder how many new names that could've gotten a chance to coach at the NHL level.

The "Rooney Rule" in the NFL is supposed to bring about changes in their coaching world exposing new candidates instead of rehashing familiar faces. It could very well work out for both Boudreau and Boucher in their respective teams, but once they get to a certain point, is it going to be another trip to the chopping block?

[Via:FOX Sports and CBC News]

Game of the Week (Season 2) - Minnesota Wild vs New York Islanders

For the first official game this series using EA Sports' NHL 16, I feature the New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild. I chose them because the Islanders had recently traded Michael Grabner to the Maple Leafs. It was an interesting 5-for-1 deal bringing 5 prospects away from Toronto.
But this being October, I've updated my look with some pink. I'll be in my pink practice jersey for all the games played in October this season. And while we're on the subject, why not go over to the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer website and pick some pink merch in the shop or just donate to a truly worthy cause.

Is there a team or league that you'd like me to feature during this "Game of the Week" Series? Leave a comment where appropriate.

Heatley For Havlat Trade

"Shocking" doesn't quite describe the emotional response to the news late tonight that the Sharks have unloaded Heatley to a team that could desperately use him. To give up on his services this early means that the Sharks weren't as patient as they first thought they would be. But the real focus should be on the new direction of a Minnesota Wild team which lacked scoring and new coach.

Heatley has been criticized by the media and the NHL fans for not giving a full effort on the ice especially during playoff time. Fans and pundits should be amazed that there is one more team out there willing to take a chance on him. You can count me in that group. Heatley would have to prove something to me and a lot of Wild fans if he actually has something left in the tank.

Martin Havlat is the other side of the coin, to overuse another cliche. He's been misused in Minnesota and now looks to be on better terms with San Jose. Just make sure that Havlat's agent,  Allan Walsh, doesn't make use (or misuse)  of the twitter account again.

Havlat's scored 209 goals in his NHL career with 3 teams. But Heatley's proven more scoring power with 325 career NHL goals with his 3 previous teams.

It's also a minor subscript to this trade is that it was made as a "1 for 1" deal. No side deals or draft picks. Two disgruntled players were traded for each other in hopes that they could find change and a way up through changes in scenery - and uniforms.

[Via: NBC Sports ]

Mike Modano Salutes Minnesota

As one of the last true hockey players of an already bygone era, Mike Modano was ceremoniously given the first star of the night and saluted the loyal Minnesota fans by wearing a North Stars throwback jersey circa 1989-90 after the last game of the season. It was quite fitting that the Minnesota-born Modano chose this moment as a possible last hurrah to finish out a career where it began.

However, the last laugh might be at the expense of the throwback jersey makers who created a "jersey foul" as explained by a blogger with the screen name "spyboy1" at the blog Third String Goalie: A Hockey Jersey of the Day Blog. Apparently, the number wasn't appropriately raised with the yellow shadowing.

I never liked that incarnation of the North Stars jersey despite the clever use of the "N" with a star. It seemed such a mess of clashing colors of green and black that hurt my eyes. There are jerseys prior to that season, before they implemented the "basic black" fashion trend, but the real legacy of a Minnesota Stars jersey should be the black with the gold "Stars" font just before they flew south to Dallas.

Wild Fire in Canada's Capital

I am glad that this story is not marked with the inclusion of a major tragedy, but the surprise that something like this happened to a major league team. The Minnesota Wild's truck hauling their game equipment to the Scotiabank Place in Kanata, ON for the weekend game against the Senators. Now the Wild team is scrambling around to find replacement in time.

The cause of the fire is unknown and currently under investigation according to the TSN article. I am going to guess that there is going to be "firings" in the equipment managements department as they are the ones designated with the responsibility to transport everything.

[Via: TSN]

Leipold Buys and Sells Franchises

In a bold move that raised the attention of fans and media in one of hockey's best American markets, the Minnesota Wild have been sold to a former owner who is already a key figure to the sale of the Nashville Predators.

Craig Leipold prepared to take over as chairman of the Minnesota Wild, the former Nashville Predators owner promised not to "mess with" one of the NHL's model franchises.
The Wild announced Thursday that Bob Naegele's majority stake in the team will be bought by Leipold, the Wisconsin entrepreneur who finalized his sale of the Predators last month.
Sources tell TSN that the purchase price is $260 million.

Leiopold first got involved in scandal when his previously owned Nashville Predators were offered to be bought by Canadian businessman Jim "carpetbagger" Balsillie. Many fans and media suspected that there was something funny going on in the NHL management. This story does not help quell those thoughts.

The sports business analysts at Forbes released their annual team values in November, estimating the Wild's worth at US$180 million. That number ranked them 15th out of 30 NHL teams. When asked how much he will pay for the franchise and the parent company, Leipold laughed as he said, "way too much."

But what would a hockey franchise be worth to a guy who lives in Wisconsin and can operate a franchise closer to home.

"This is a genuinely incredible moment for me," Leipold said.

The TSN/NHL Network also chronicled the outgoing shareholder Naegele and what it took to return hockey to a state that suffered the loss of their beloved North Stars.

Naegele and his group of investors formed Minnesota Sports and Entertainment in 1997 when they were awarded the rights to an expansion franchise that entered the league in 2000. The Wild have announced a sellout for every game they've played at their downtown St. Paul arena.

Naegele, who built his wealth on a ubiquitous Twin Cities billboard company founded by his father, said he felt the time was right to move on. A goalie at Minnetonka High School in the 1950s, Naegele currently lives with his wife in Naples, Fla.

"There are seasons in a man's life, so this is the season. How do you know? It's just maybe a business sense. An intuition," said Naegele, who compared his decision to sell the team to giving away his two daughters in marriage.

Naegele will remain a minority investor. The limited partnership owns the Wild as well as the minor league Houston Aeros, the Minnesota Swarm of the National Lacrosse League, and a catering business.

This deal is pending approval from the board of Governors, but I feel it is likely to pass because of previous dealings with Leipold has already earned himself an NHL insider gaining trust with the other franchise owners.

[Via: NHL Network]

Gaborik Nets Five

Congratulations to Marian Gaborik by taking one step closer to hockey stardom and getting me much needed fantasy league points! He became the 42nd player in NHL history to score 5 goals in one game - an accomplishment once recorded by Mario Lemieux.

"Every time he had the puck around the net, it was in," Lemaire said.

Also as impressive Gaborik did it against the Rangers.

Minnesota Beauty Queen is an NHL Fan

In an effort to make the game more appealing to American fans, the NHL has asked a certain Ms. Nicole Swanson (No relation to another hot blonde - Kristy Swanson) to show other hockey fans of what it might be like to watch the Wild playoff game at her home.As you can see by the video, you aren't going to get any in-depth analysis... and she does little to introduce the guy with her on the couch. I would guess that would be the fan-coach that has to teach her about the game. I bet he told her what to say during this edited little v-log.

Yes... she has no idea what hockey is.