Boston Bruins vs. Minnesota Wild

This year, I have the unique opportunity to see one of the all-time great players for my favorite WCHA hockey team play versus my favorite NHL hockey team. Phil Kessel (formerly of the Minnesota Gophers) and the Boston Bruins come to the XCEL Energy Center to take on the Minnesota Wild on October 11th. The only thing that makes this even better is that it is the "Home Opener" for the Wild. I have already started hitting up my buddies for their Minnesota Wild Tickets to this game. I am going to have a hard time cheering against a former Gophers Hockey Player but I am going to have to do it. GO MINNESOTA WILD!!!

Minnesota Wild Schedule

The Minnesota Wild schedule is out and I see that ticket brokers like Ticket King are already trying to capitalize by putting their season tickets up for sale. It’s not a bad business plan – it’s like a pre-sale on Minnesota Wild tickets. I am already making plans to attend several games with buddies. Here is my list of the top games at the Xcel Energy Center. My must attend list by month (I tried to pick one game a month) in date order, not necessarily importance:

1. October 11th vs. Boston Bruins – Opening night
2. November 20th vs. Vancouver Canucks – Welcome to the Xcel Energy Center Mattias Ohlund – Beware.
3. December 1st vs. Colorado Avalanche – second meeting between the teams, but first time at home. A moral must win after the Avs knocked us out of the playoffs last year.
4. December 31st vs. San Jose Sharks – New Years at the X rocks my hockey world. A holiday game should get it’s own month.
5. January 3rd vs. Detroit Red Wings – a chance to bet the defending cup champs. They should be cold and tired after playing that outdoor Wrigley field game on New Years Day.
6. February 6th vs. Nashville Predators – hosting his past team on his new teams home ice is a must win for new owner Craig Leipold.
7. March 31st vs. Vancouver Canucks – OK, so I like to watch the Wild play the Canucks. There is so much tension and the competition is huge. It’s hockey at it’s best. Besides, I want to jeer Pavol Demitra – he never was that good at playing at the “X.”
8. April 3rd vs. Calgary Flames – could be playoff critical game.

Remember to check my other Minnesota Wild blog: Hockey Wilderness for Minnesota Wild updates. It’s a great platform for a Wild community. I welcome other Wild fans or critics to leave their opinions or point other Wild fans to cool pictures, links or stories on the web. Check it out!

Minnesota Wild Schedule

I read somewhere that the Minnesota Wild schedule is set to come out on July 16th. –sigh- Just sitting here in Hockey Wilderness waiting for the schedule to come out.

Minnesota Wild Roster includes Andrew Brunette

I have been writing a lot about the Minnesota Wild roster changes over on my other Wild hockey blog, http://www.hockeywilderness.com/ , but since it is so easy to see my MN Wild Freak post on June 19th that brought up the fact that the Minnesota Wild should put Andrew Brunette back in a Wild sweater, I want to say I TOLD YOU SO. I had a gut feeling that Andrew Brunette was coming back to Minnesota after I heard a brief rumor months ago. Bruno is a solid hockey player and I know he wants to play for Jacques Lemaire and the Minnesota Wild so that always helps. I am not happy that the Minnesota Wild couldn’t get things done with Brian Rolston and he will be sorely missed, but I still think we have a chance at putting a playoff bound team on the ice this year…as long as every one stays healthy.

Minnesota Wild went tough, but won’t endure

It is interesting to this MN Wild Freak that the Minnesota Wild didn’t extend a contract to either Aaron Voros or Todd Fedoruk, both Minnesota Wild tough guys. It surprises me because the Wild went so tough last year and then what? Decided to change direction? I don’t know. They drafted physical defenseman Tyler Cuma, but why not try to keep Voros or Fedoruk to insure enough muscle on the ice for the immediate next season. It seems worthless to put together a tough team and then let it fall apart so quickly.

As far as skill players go, the Minnesota Wild still haven’t sealed a deal with Brian Rolston. It appears Rolston is looking for a bigger offer and hoping to get one post July 1st. Keep checking my hockey wilderness blog for Minnesota Wild Roster updates!

Andrew Brunette back in a Wild sweater

I wrote a story about Andrew Brunette coming back over on Hockey Wilderness awhile back and I am not ready to let the issue die. If one thing is for certain, every Minnesota Wild fan wants Andrew Brunette back. Sure, he is playing for the Colorado Avalanche and liking it, but his contract is open and the Wild could use him back. If the Wild get him back, would that up the teams chances in FINALLY making it to the Stanley Cup? The answer is a definite yes. Brunette is a proven hockey player, especially in the playoffs. Add Andrew Brunette to the stellar Minnesota Wild roster of Brian Rolston, Marian Gaborik, Nick Schultz, Mikko Koivu, Brent Burns and friends and the Minnesota Wild turn into a better version of the Detroit Red Wings. No joke.

Wild make first offseason move, secure Marc-Andre Bergeron

There is no doubt that the Minnesota Wild will be busy during the off season. They have plenty of loose ends to deal with including free agents, new signings and soon to be expired contracts. I would love to be a fly on the wall at the Minnesota Wild offices right now.

The Minnesota Wild made their first off season move this week trading a third round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron. I am not sure what the exact motivation was for this particular move since Bergeron is not a proven player. He’s not physical and he had a minus-16 plus-minus rating last season. Perhaps he will fill the slot of Kurtis Foster until he gets that femur back to normal. My guess is Bergeron will bounce in and out of the Minnesota Wild lineup next year and will not be a key player.

Hockey Wilderness has a new look

My other Minnesota Wild Blog, Hockey Wilderness, has a sweet new layout. I haven’t figured out how to use all the bells and whistles yet, but I am stoked! It looks trendier than the previous version and the folks over at SB Nation promise big things from this new site. Wish me luck at figuring it out and stop over and sign-up for an account and comment me! Go Wild!

NHL playoffs

Well hockey fans, it looks like the two best teams in the NHL are on a collision course to make it to the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins both lead their conference final playoff series 3 games to none. I guess I can't say this MN Wild Freak is surprised. I love the NHL and I love professional hockey, it’s fitting the two best teams meet up. I just wish I wasn't watching it in my living room and was watching it at the Xcel Energy Center instead.

Minnesota Wild NHL Playoff Jinx

To further prove my Minnesota Wild is jinxed in the NHL Playoffs theory, look at my Wild ticket prices post on hockey wilderness. 13 playoff games, yikes!

Insult to Injury!

I thought that I was as depressed as I could get after the Minnesota Wild lost to the Colorado Avalanche in six games. That was until the Avalanche were swept by the Detroit Red Wings in four games in the Western Conference Semifinals. How does a team (Avalanche) and a goalie (Theodore) play so well against the Minnesota Wild and so Poorly the next week against the Red Wings? Give me a break, the Avalanche lost 8-2 in game four!

This is further proof that the Minnesota Wild is jinxed in the NHL Playoffs and may never again advance out of the first round. Could someone please email me and help talk me down off the ledge?

Minnesota Wild MN Wild Freak

If anyone wants to discuss any of my Minnesota Wild blog posts over the summer, please send me an email and don't forget that the next Wild season is only five months away. GO WILD!!!

Don't forget to check out my other Minnesota Wild hockey blog: Hockey Wilderness