RSSAll Entries in the "Minnesota Wild" Category

Well, That Was Fun. Now Back to Work!

Well, That Was Fun. Now Back to Work!

We know it’s been a while since we posted, but we wanted to bask in the rare light of an Islanders playoff appearance by taking in the games, atmosphere, and enjoyment that came with a series that ran one game longer than we predicted which included two embarrassing shutouts, yet somehow left Islander fans with the feeling that [...]

Hockey Independent Playoff Roundtable: 2013 First Round Predictions

Hockey Independent Playoff Roundtable: 2013 First Round Predictions

With the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs set to begin just a few hours from now, four members of the Hockey Independent writing staff have come together to predict each and every first round series of this year’s postseason. The contributing authors to today’s piece will be Cris Cohen (New York Rangers), Seth Levin (New Jersey Devils),  Bill Philp (Tampa Bay Lightning) [...]

“I knew that if I played a tough game – and not many guys did – that would only help in their decision of whether or not to keep me,” says Odgers, who played 12 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, and Atlanta Thrashers. “So I erred on the side of scrapping more.”

Rink Recollections: Jeff Odgers, NHL, 1991-2003

  By Brian D’Ambrosio Jeff Odgers played every NHL game as if it were his final. He never took a game for granted –scared that his career could fade away at any moment.  Odgers scrapped and gritted his way onto the roster and he made sure he never provided his coaches with a sufficient reason to [...]

Honey, I Lost the Kids (part 2 of 2)

Honey, I Lost the Kids (part 2 of 2)

In the first part of this epic, we promised three pieces of evidence to explain how Garth Snow does things with the sole intention of job preservation. We pointed out how he is relatively awful at drafting in part one. Part two will speak to other shortcomings, starting here: Two- Garth Snow uses salary cap [...]

He's a really nice guy.

Honey, I Lost the Kids – part one of two

It’s almost like a reflex when you ask hockey fans about the best way to build a winner “It’s the draft!” Drafting allow you to develop players or trade for established ones. Since the Isles have had no playoffs since 07-08, they’ve been in rebuild mode. We’re going to look at this draft rebuild with [...]

Hey Charles, sell advertising on my ass!

Hockey Myths Exposed – Defensemen Need Time to Develop

Anyone who has watched more than a handful of hockey games gets serenaded with statements that are undisputed in the hockey world, but in reality it doesnt make a lot of sense. We’ve already disproved the myth that power forwards need years to develop in our article “Ninogate,” in which we use the “talent is [...]

Rink Recollections: Chris Tamer, NHL defenseman, 1993-2004

Rink Recollections: Chris Tamer, NHL defenseman, 1993-2004

By Brian D’Ambrosio Dearborn, Michigan native Chris Tamer grew up watching Bob Probert play hockey. Tamer even had a picture of the rugged Detroit Red Wings battler on his wall when he was attending college at the University of Michigan. It was the only photo on his wall, he says. Probert will always evoke memories [...]

"Boff"

The Islanders 2008 Entry Level Draft- Highly Rated or Overrated?

Like many Islander fans, we have been hearing about “the rebuild” and “the future.” Not only did our system produce John Tavares (who never played one day in our minor league “system”), but also Andrew MacDonald, Travis Hahahamonic, Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, Franz Neilsen, and Rick DiPiawful. Garth Snow, it has been said, produces more [...]

Destination Unknown, part 2

Destination Unknown, part 2

Part Two: Does it feel drafty in here? Snow inherited a team that made the playoffs with regularity, and had a polarizing but successful head coach. Theorizing that the playoff team handed to him was underwhelming, Snow started what is lovingly referred to as a rebuild by fans, and a disaster by anybody else’s standard. [...]

Hockey Independent Roundtable: Preseason Stanley Cup Predictions

Hockey Independent Roundtable: Preseason Stanley Cup Predictions

Hello everyone and welcome again to the Hockey Independent Roundtable. In today’s piece, five HI writers will provide you all with their early picks for the playoffs ad the Stanley Cup. This piece will double as Part III of my five-part 2013 NHL season preview. Part I –> Northeast Division Preview Part II –> Eastern [...]

Jay Wells was the epitome of the ‘role player’, a proud participant who never quit or groused, a reliable, solid defensive defenseman. “In 18 years in the NHL, there were not all that many pats on the back,” says Wells. Courtesy photo

Jay Wells: Rugged Defenseman Reflects on Scrappy 18-Year NHL Career

By Brian D’Ambrosio Jay Wells selflessly battled numerous enforcers of substantial note: Bob Probert, Jay Miller, Dave Brown (a few times) and Marty McSorley, among the list. One of the game’s exemplary teammates, his career spanned from 1979 to 1997, a period in which Wells stood up to the roughest individuals to ever to patrol [...]

Zach Parise Leaves New Jersey Devils for Wilder Pastures

Zach Parise Leaves New Jersey Devils for Wilder Pastures

We are now in day two of the post Zach Parise era for the New Jersey Devils. And you know what?  While it stinks as a fan, you can’t cry over spilled milk, what’s done is done, etc. You just have to accept it and move forward. But, before I do move forward, I’d like to take [...]

Hockey’s Christmas: 10 Predictions For 2012 Free Agency

Hockey’s Christmas: 10 Predictions For 2012 Free Agency

In many ways, July 1 and the opening of unrestricted free agency is much like Christmas for hockey fans. Puck heads wake up early and rush to their living rooms early in the morning. But instead of checking underneath a Christmas tree, they’ll make a beeline straight towards the nearest computer. As the clock strikes [...]

Hockey Independent Offseason Predictions: Where Will Zach Parise Sign?

Hockey Independent Offseason Predictions: Where Will Zach Parise Sign?

Members of the Hockey Independent crew have come together again for another series of offseason articles for your reading pleasure. The contributing authors to today’s piece will be Cris Cohen (New York Rangers), Seth Levin (New Jersey Devils), Alex Muscat (Detroit Red Wings) and myself, Benjamin Woodward (Boston Bruins). Each of us have taken on [...]

2012 Hockey Independent Mock Draft: Final Wrap-Up

2012 Hockey Independent Mock Draft: Final Wrap-Up

  The Hockey Independent crew has come together again; this time to piece together a 2012 NHL Mock Draft for your reading pleasure. The contributing authors to today’s piece will be Cris Cohen (New York Rangers), Seth Levin (New Jersey Devils), Alex Muscat (Detroit Red Wings), Bill Philp (Tampa Bay Lightning) and myself, Benjamin Woodward [...]

2012 Hockey Independent Mock Draft: Selections 6-10; The Run On Defensemen Begins

2012 Hockey Independent Mock Draft: Selections 6-10; The Run On Defensemen Begins

The Hockey Independent crew has come together again; this time to piece together a 2012 NHL Mock Draft for your reading pleasure. The contributing authors to today’s piece will be Cris Cohen (New York Rangers), Seth Levin (New Jersey Devils), Alex Muscat (Detroit Red Wings), Bill Philp (Tampa Bay Lightning) and myself, Benjamin Woodward(Boston Bruins). [...]

Deadline Madness: Bruins Add Rolston, Mottau, Zanon

Deadline Madness: Bruins Add Rolston, Mottau, Zanon

Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli pulled yet another rabbit out of his hat on Monday afternoon in advance of the NHL’s 3 P.M. trading deadline. Entering the deadline the B’s were mired in a streak of twenty straight games where they hadn’t been able to string together back to back wins. With injuries to [...]

GameDay: B’s Look To Right The Ship On Hockey Day In America

GameDay: B’s Look To Right The Ship On Hockey Day In America

On Sunday afternoon, the Boston Bruins will look to right the ship as they take on the Minnesota Wild in the marquee contest of NBC’s newest annual promotion, Hockey Day In America. The game will take place in the epicenter of hockey in the United States. A place where hockey in treated with almost as [...]

Five Deals That SHOULD Be Made Before The Deadline

Five Deals That SHOULD Be Made Before The Deadline

As the late February NHL trading deadline approaches rumors have began to surface in every corner of the hockey world. From buyers to sellers and rentals, a plethora of deals always seem to be made this time of year. This year, as a few top-tier players are slated to become Unrestricted free agents at year’s [...]

CONCUSSIONS KILLING HOCKEY

CONCUSSIONS KILLING HOCKEY

Speed and offense are now the kings in the present day NHL. A focus on players with those very attributes took over drafts and team on-ice strategies. Slower skaters have slowly been fazed out, especially those pugilistic specialists who all too often didn’t quite have the same skill sets and strides of their respective teammates. [...]