wild/nhl

I think the Wild relocating to a central division is AWESOME and much needed... however, there are a few thoughts I have on their unofficial conference members. While I think Detroit in a conference with Boston, Montreal, and Toronto is cool from a Big 6 perspective, I would like to see Detroit in the same conference as the Wild, Blackhawks, and Blues...(I know.. I'm crazy). Personally, I'd like to see Nashville in that conference instead as I'm not a huge fan of the Preds or their style of hockey. Either way, it is great to see the NHL making an effort to make the game better for the fans. Nobody here in Minnesota wants to stay up very many nights each season for those redeye games in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, etc.

The problem with realignment last year was the playoff structure. Once they get that resolved and fairly evened out, I'm sure it will happen. They might go with a sort of wild card situation to alleviate the problems with different sized conferences. In any case, I'm looking forward to rekindling rivalries with Chicago, Winnipeg, St. Louis, etc. Should be a tough conference, though. Go Wild!

So the system is dump it in, do a line change because it was in our end for one and a half minutes, never regain posession, repeat process. This is why we are dead last in scoring and why they are painful to watch.

The first period on Saturday was one of the more exciting ones all season. Up and down action, using our skill guys, and most importantly carrying the puck into the offensive zone more. Then sometime in the second we went to bed and never woke up, and spent the rest of the game in typical Wild fashion...icings, long shifts chasing the puck, and virtually no offense. Not great because we wasted a pretty good effort from Backstrom.

Any change in alignment will be much better.As far as "the system" goes I think we should know in another two weeks if it works.If lines are still being juggled and players still going back and forth from Houston that spells trouble.The upside is Suter is looking much better and the passing was improved the last two games.This team has to decide if it is a fast, skilled team or a defensive ,ploding type team .The type players you have determine that and not the coaches choice, you can not put a square peg in a round hole.

I did like the plan last year better because of keeping Detroit, but what they're talking about now is still better than the status quo. I don't really have a problem with the playoff format either keeping the first round in division. I'll tell anyone that'll listen, the difference between having a 4 in 8 chance and a 4 in 7 chance to make the playoffs is about one playoff appearance every 14 years. It's not that big of a deal. It's not ideal, but it's not a good enough reason to stop this realignment plan. All the good reasons listed far outweigh this quirk.

To clarify, I'll take the travel benefits of keeping travel distance down in the playoffs over worrying about whether it's fair that 5th place teams are left out.

The Yeo, Richards and Lemaire "systems" have all produced the same number of goals. I am still waiting to see results. We have better players but most of our goals seem to come from dump and chase and grinding it out around the net.

Standard Mike Yeo. When they lose, its all about the players not doing what he wants. When they win, its all about his system. He is not the next Scotty Bowman. There is very little evidence that he will be a successful coach. I am beginning see him as the Tubby Smith of the NHL. I think his constant blaming, switching lines and approach wears thin with professional players. The performance of our first line looks alot like the same downhill slide of the Gopher basketball team.

I prefer track meets or firewagon hockey. Fun to watch! Watch those skilled players doing their thing. Trap/leftwing lock hockey is BORING! Not going to get new NHL fans with the boring style of Hockey! they'd rather watch paint dry..