Wild ink Labbe to 3 year entry level deal.
- MnGump

I added that in update to this one near bottom

I added that in update to this one near bottom
- Tony Dean

Right on

I prefer the Wild get the Blues in the first round. It is arguably their toughest matchup and I think that will put them in the proper mindset to try to make a run. I don't think any of their other potential opponents is an easy out but if there is any sort of perception that it is then I prefer they get the toughest matchup. Underestimating any team at this point is a big mistake.

Although, if they don't get the Blues, a Blues/Jets series would be a great playoff matchup for any hockey fan to watch.
- Chinaski

It's definitely tough to make a case for any of the possible situations. We all know Nashville would most likely be the "easiest" opponent this off-season, but if they play well and Rinne plays his typical game, it could end up being one of the most difficult. They've been sliding lately, but when they are on their game, they are the team to beat. But, I think the Wild would be better able to neutralize and take advantage of teams like Nashville, Chicago, Calgary - teams who play more of a speed and transition game - than they would St. Louis or Anaheim, who play a physical, skilled game.

So is it better to have an easier first-round or a more difficult one? We can all see it going a hundred different ways. I'd hate to beat Nashville and then have to play St. Louis and get pummeled whilst trying to adjust to the difference in speed and physicality. I'd also hate to have the first few shifts against a physical team set the tone for the series and potentially cause hesitation by the smaller Wild players resulting in a first-round exit.

I feel like this year is going to result in more 6 and 7-game series than many in the past. The quality of play of these top teams seems to have more parity than years past. People used to be able to predict a 4-0 sweep, or 5-1, but I just can't see that happening this year (at least in the West). This is definitely going to be an exciting post-season.

It always surprises me to see Wild folks so anti-St. Louis. I think this is a one-sided rivalry; I don't know any Blues fans that have any sort of grudge against the Wild. As a Blues fan, I actually like the Wild, and the Preds too.

The Becoming Wild series is fantastic. I wish we'd get something similar in St. Louis.
- Rhuno

Honestly, I think a large part of your perception is due to the fact that we seem to jump-ship on our "rivals", because we're such a young franchise with only a few playoff appearances. A lot of fans remember the North Stars-Blues rivalry, or the North Stars-Blackhawks rivalry and still stick to it. A lot of fans recognize that many of the games in the past few years against St. Louis have had a lot of chippiness and extracurricular activities and use that to fuel the fire.

I'd say it's pretty common for most fans that a team that consistently beats your team isn't always considered a rival; it's the teams that end up in a lot of after-play pushing and shoving, fights, hacking-and-slashing that fuel the fire. The Blues and the Wild have definitely had that the past few years, and they've more-or-less been pretty good, intense games. The fans latch onto that. The Hawks knocking the Wild out two years in a row fuels some fire, but the series themselves were actually pretty tame, for the most part, and fans don't get as emotionally invested in that type of atmosphere.

For a long time, the Canucks were our perceived rival. A lot of dirty play by both teams, usually close games, fighting and apparent head-hunting - compounded by a very intense playoff series had fans very emotionally invested. Now that we're in separate divisions and have had many opposite seasons (either they're noticeably stronger or we are) has taken that investment out of most fans.

But as someone else already mentioned, the state of the game is so different now than it used to be in terms of rivalries. It used to be that the players equally hated a specific team as much as the fans - and it was mutual with the opposite team - but now it's much more of a 'professional' atmosphere in which the players are showing up to their full-time job and hey, if something happens, they may get into it. Plus, the frequent movement of players probably plays a large role in the situation - after only a few years, the majority of a team is typically different than it was. The rivalry may very well be more against specific players than franchises, at this point.

So is it better to have an easier first-round or a more difficult one?
- deslni01

It's just my opinion, but if the Wild get St. Louis first and are able to make it through that team, I think it is going to give them the confidence it will take to make a very deep run. If they overcome what is likely their toughest matchup, I think it will give them the confidence and the mindset to win out. That's not to say if they beat St. Louis they win the Cup, but I think it gives them their best chance. So I want to see them play the Blues and see what happens.

It's just my opinion, but if the Wild get St. Louis first and are able to make it through that team, I think it is going to give them the confidence it will take to make a very deep run. If they overcome what is likely their toughest matchup, I think it will give them the confidence and the mindset to win out. That's not to say if they beat St. Louis they win the Cup, but I think it gives them their best chance. So I want to see them play the Blues and see what happens.
- Chinaski

definitely what I was angling at writing this.

It always surprises me to see Wild folks so anti-St. Louis. I think this is a one-sided rivalry; I don't know any Blues fans that have any sort of grudge against the Wild. As a Blues fan, I actually like the Wild, and the Preds too.

The Becoming Wild series is fantastic. I wish we'd get something similar in St. Louis.
- Rhuno

I think its not so much the fans, its the organizations that hate each other. I personally like the Blues, grew up a big fan. Still have my mini Blue goalie helmet I got on my birthday as a kid. Glad you guys took the Central, Prebs and Hawks fans can get bent! Kidding... kinda

I think its not so much the fans, its the organizations that hate each other. I personally like the Blues, grew up a big fan. Still have my mini Blue goalie helmet I got on my birthday as a kid. Glad you guys took the Central, Prebs and Hawks fans can get bent! Kidding... kinda
- Tweaterben

And are the Blue's blue jerseys not the sexiest in the league?

It's just my opinion, but if the Wild get St. Louis first and are able to make it through that team, I think it is going to give them the confidence it will take to make a very deep run. If they overcome what is likely their toughest matchup, I think it will give them the confidence and the mindset to win out. That's not to say if they beat St. Louis they win the Cup, but I think it gives them their best chance. So I want to see them play the Blues and see what happens.
- Chinaski

I get 100% what you're saying and a part of me agrees with that. If a team can beat St. Louis or Anaheim, I think that team has the best odds to win the Cup.

But at the same time, I think those two teams would be the toughest to transition into a playoff series against. I believe those two teams have the wherewithal to set a very physical and demanding tone in the first 10 minutes of the first game of the series. If the Wild were to transition from fairly high-intensity hockey into an extremely high-intensity series against a team able to physically punish them, I wonder if they'll be able to recover. Whereas if they play an extremely high-intensity series against a very skilled opponent and win, they may be able to transition into that next step a little better.

Who knows?

It may be late and I may be drunk but im sick of being Minnesota nice. Mikko its time to take your Finnish hockey royalty to the promise land. Youve been here throught the hard times and the (few) good. Youve delt with duches (gabby), and stayed the course. Lead this group of cast aways to the Finnish line and surpass your brother as the best Koivu. I dont care who we face in the playoffs. Its been long enough for us here in minny. We have earned this, its in our blood. No more passive agressive, this is our year. Suter and Parise make your fathers proud. Destiny!

Feels like today is going to be the first game of an 8 game series.

Feels like today is going to be the first game of an 8 game series.
- Gerk

Yup. so let's get the pleasantries out of the way because after today... This means WAR!

Feels like today is going to be the first game of an 8 game series.
- Gerk

Seems like it. So long as we don't have to face Anaheim... getting 3-4 hours of sleep for every away game just might get me fired

It may be late and I may be drunk but im sick of being Minnesota nice. Mikko its time to take your Finnish hockey royalty to the promise land. Youve been here throught the hard times and the (few) good. Youve delt with duches (gabby), and stayed the course. Lead this group of cast aways to the Finnish line and surpass your brother as the best Koivu. I dont care who we face in the playoffs. Its been long enough for us here in minny. We have earned this, its in our blood. No more passive agressive, this is our year. Suter and Parise make your fathers proud. Destiny!
- Rollin4Lines

Yes, what the drunk guy said!!

I get 100% what you're saying and a part of me agrees with that. If a team can beat St. Louis or Anaheim, I think that team has the best odds to win the Cup.

But at the same time, I think those two teams would be the toughest to transition into a playoff series against. I believe those two teams have the wherewithal to set a very physical and demanding tone in the first 10 minutes of the first game of the series. If the Wild were to transition from fairly high-intensity hockey into an extremely high-intensity series against a team able to physically punish them, I wonder if they'll be able to recover. Whereas if they play an extremely high-intensity series against a very skilled opponent and win, they may be able to transition into that next step a little better.

Who knows?
- deslni01

You make a good point and if it goes that way, I'm OK with it as well. Part of why I want to see the Blues though is that I think it's also a really good evaluator of where this team is at for the future and what off-season moves they may need to make.

Seems like it. So long as we don't have to face Anaheim... getting 3-4 hours of sleep for every away game just might get me fired
- SotaPopinski

The other thing about the playoffs is the midwest teams tend to get later home starts so the national broadcasts can have it as the second game. So maybe a few 8 PM CDT starts for home games to boot.

Stewart directly responsible for goals one and three. Quit back checking on both. No feeling of urgency by the Wild defensively...

What an absolutely pathetic effort. Completely lazy play across the whole line up. Yeo clearly conceding when he decided to put Kuemper in for the third.

Puzzling why Parise even played today considering the lethargic output by this squad. They didn't look like they were playing for anything until the last couple of minutes! They didn't look like this game even mattered to them. Almost looked like they were playing an exhibition.

The record aside, seems like Yeo would have taken this game more seriously. Especially being they will most likely come right back to St. Louis next week.

I don't know but there is nothing at all to like about ending the regular season in this fashion.

I have work this Wednesday BUT my team at Jeff Dubay #WildWednesdayShow will be LIVE at Bennett's Chop and Rail House 5pm Wednesday giving away jerseys and talking hockey! I would love for #WildHBcommunity member to win a jersey! Think about coming out!

It's official, Wild Vs Blues

It's official, Wild Vs Blues
- MnGump

Time to see what this team is really made of.

Time to see what this team is really made of.
- Chinaski

Any thoughts Chi on yesterdays astonishingly inept showing in St. Louis?

It seemed pretty lax throughout and it looked like they pretty much mailed it in once StL went up 2 goals.

I guess in hind sight I'm not all that concerned about it, but was sorely disappointed that they decided to play it half ass.

Any thoughts Chi on yesterdays astonishingly inept showing in St. Louis?

It seemed pretty lax throughout and it looked like they pretty much mailed it in once StL went up 2 goals.

I guess in hind sight I'm not all that concerned about it, but was sorely disappointed that they decided to play it half ass.
- MnGump

Nothing other than that was the softest game those two teams have ever played against each other and it was essentially meaningless.

I'm not saying either team threw the game because I don't believe that but I think the Blues would have preferred to get the Wild in the first round over the Jets and the Wild would have preferred to get Anaheim over St. Louis. I think if the Blues lost, they had a better chance of getting the Wild and if the Wild lost they had a better chance of getting Anaheim. So I think both teams rested some key guys and just tried getting through the game healthy, each giving the other a pretty good chance to win. Either team would have taken a win but wasn't going to be too upset with a loss either.

I wouldn't take anything from that game as alarming from either side because it wasn't representative of what I expect to see in the playoffs from an effort and intensity perspective.

The Hockey News' playoff preview on the Blues-Wild series. Some interesting takes in there but something tells me these guys don't really watch Wild games.

And I guess I'd be surprised if Hitch matches up the Backes line against Parise. Not that it would be a bad thing, I guess I just see Backes' line as a better matchup for the Koivu line and I really think the Blues second line has a big advantage over the Wild's.

The Hockey News' playoff preview on the Blues-Wild series. Some interesting takes in there but something tells me these guys don't really watch Wild games.

And I guess I'd be surprised if Hitch matches up the Backes line against Parise. Not that it would be a bad thing, I guess I just see Backes' line as a better matchup for the Koivu line and I really think the Blues second line has a big advantage over the Wild's.
- Chinaski

Tarasenko is Effin scary good and Yeo needs to strategize big time for him when he's on the ice.