Brad Ratgen: Wild Defend Home Ice. Time to Make This a Series on Tuesday Night. A look back at yesterday's big OT win for the Minnesota Wild over the Chicago Blackhawks. Also, I declare this season to be a success for the Minnesota Wild.

I agree that the season should be considered a success, but you're reaching a bit on the part where the injury bug hit the Wild. Aside from Heatley, the only 2 injuries of note are Pominville and Backstrom. Backstrom didn't miss any regular season games because of his injury, and let's face it, Backstrom being out might actually be a good thing considering the way he played down the final stretch of the regular season.

Other than Heatley, the line up that got them to the playoffs is pretty much intact. Although Rupp and Konopka did contribute to the early successs of the 4th line, they are pieces that are expendable to the line up and not that difficult to replace when you've got guys like Dowell and Veilleux less than a 3 hr flight away. Pominville played 10 games and though he did help the Wild offensively, he was really not a factor in them making the playoffs, probably would have been a factor in reaching a higher seed had he not been injured. One could argue that the Heatley injury really was a turning point for the team this season, because after the loss in the game against San Jose when he was injured, the Wild only won 5 of their last 12 coming off thier successful March run of wins. Call me crazy, but I don't consider a line up missing Backstrom, Rupp and Konopka a "severely depleted line up".

So while I agree that the season should in fact be considered a success, I don't buy into the injury bug conspiracy theory being a part of anything consequential or relevant as far as where the Wild ended up.

It would really be nice to see the Wild play 60 minutes of "nothing to lose" hockey.

It would really be nice to see the Wild play 60 minutes of "nothing to lose" hockey.
- bmgarvert

I guess I thought they did that yesterday for the most part. They did have a couple of lapses in the beginning of the first and the last 5 minutes of the third, but that was one of the most complete games the Wild have played all season IMO.

A surge by Chicago shouldn't automatically be considered a lack of hard play or intensity on the part of the Wild. Considering they are arguably the best team in hockey, no team is going to hold them down for a full 60 minutes.

I guess I thought they did that yesterday for the most part. They did have a couple of lapses in the beginning of the first and the last 5 minutes of the third, but that was one of the most complete games the Wild have played all season IMO.

A surge by Chicago shouldn't automatically be considered a lack of hard play or intensity on the part of the Wild. Considering they are arguably the best team in hockey, no team is going to hold them down for a full 60 minutes.
- MnGump

I suppose for the most part I agree, but I felt they resigned to playing D as soon as they took the 2-1 lead.....keep the gas pedal to the floor. A team like Chicago will take advantage of a team attempting to just maintain the lead most nights I would say.

I suppose for the most part I agree, but I felt they resigned to playing D as soon as they took the 2-1 lead.....keep the gas pedal to the floor. A team like Chicago will take advantage of a team attempting to just maintain the lead most nights I would say.
- bmgarvert

I don't disagree with that. That has been there MO all season. Point taken.

Great game by the Wild! Series could easily be 2-1 wild. This is the Hawk team that tries to make the "play of the week" instead of putting the work boots on.

I agree that the season should be considered a success, but you're reaching a bit on the part where the injury bug hit the Wild. Aside from Heatley, the only 2 injuries of note are Pominville and Backstrom. Backstrom didn't miss any regular season games because of his injury, and let's face it, Backstrom being out might actually be a good thing considering the way he played down the final stretch of the regular season.

Other than Heatley, the line up that got them to the playoffs is pretty much intact. Although Rupp and Konopka did contribute to the early successs of the 4th line, they are pieces that are expendable to the line up and not that difficult to replace when you've got guys like Dowell and Veilleux less than a 3 hr flight away. Pominville played 10 games and though he did help the Wild offensively, he was really not a factor in them making the playoffs, probably would have been a factor in reaching a higher seed had he not been injured. One could argue that the Heatley injury really was a turning point for the team this season, because after the loss in the game against San Jose when he was injured, the Wild only won 5 of their last 12 coming off thier successful March run of wins. Call me crazy, but I don't consider a line up missing Backstrom, Rupp and Konopka a "severely depleted line up".

So while I agree that the season should in fact be considered a success, I don't buy into the injury bug conspiracy theory being a part of anything consequential or relevant as far as where the Wild ended up.
- MnGump

My point was that injuries are affecting their playoff performance, not their getting there.

Wild were down 3-0 in 2007 before winning game 4 against Anaheim.

Injuries have been a major factor during the season (Heatley) and now in the postseason (Pominville/Backstrom).

It's not an excuse, it's the truth.

From 12th in the west last year to a playoff spot this season, I think it's safe to say the season is already a success. People's expectations were probably set unrealistically high after the big splash in the off-season.

That said, this is one of the highest paid teams in the league. The expectations should be pretty damn high.

Wild were down 3-0 in 2007 before winning game 4 against Anaheim.

Injuries have been a major factor during the season (Heatley) and now in the postseason (Pominville/Backstrom).

It's not an excuse, it's the truth.
- Clutter

Neat. And your point is???

Not sure what season you think it is, but injuries were a "major" factor last season, not this season. The Wild have endured maybe the least number of injuries this season as they have since the Lemaire days.

Backstrom was playing mediocre at best down the stretch, he isn't being missed right now. Pominville has been here for about a cup of coffee, certainly not long enough to be missed. Heatley really the only player that has been a factor in the topic.

My point was that injuries are affecting their playoff performance, not their getting there.
- Brad Ratgen

Still a terrible argument. The notion that the Wild are playing with a "severely depleted" line up is completely erroneous.
I have no idea how you deduce that the Wild are struggling in the post season due to injuries. They are playing with ALL of their top players that got them to where they are minus Heatley and Backstrom. The only key player they're really missing right now is Heatley. Pominville would be a nice addition, but he hasn't been here long enough to be missed, and the Wild didn't give up any full time players to get him. Out of the entire line up top to bottom, Rupp and Konopka have done little to nothing at all so far this season, and in all honesty, if you had to choose two players to be out due to injury, those guys would be first and second choice every time, so I'm really not sure how Veilleux and Dowell are not actually considered upgrades on the 4th line. Chicago is missing Bolland and Emery, easily the Equivalent of Heatley and Backstrom if not more valuable in the grand scheme of things.

So say what you want there Brad, but IMO, the injury situation is a non-factor for the most part.

Still a terrible argument. The notion that the Wild are playing with a "severely depleted" line up is completely erroneous.
I have no idea how you deduce that the Wild are struggling in the post season due to injuries. They are playing with ALL of their top players that got them to where they are minus Heatley and Backstrom. The only key player they're really missing right now is Heatley. Pominville would be a nice addition, but he hasn't been here long enough to be missed, and the Wild didn't give up any full time players to get him. Out of the entire line up top to bottom, Rupp and Konopka have done little to nothing at all so far this season, and in all honesty, if you had to choose two players to be out due to injury, those guys would be first and second choice every time, so I'm really not sure how Veilleux and Dowell are not actually considered upgrades on the 4th line. Chicago is missing Bolland and Emery, easily the Equivalent of Heatley and Backstrom if not more valuable in the grand scheme of things.

So say what you want there Brad, but IMO, the injury situation is a non-factor for the most part.
- MnGump

Terrible argument? What do the rest of you think? Would we be doing better if Backstrom, Heatley, Pominville, Rupp and Konopka were all healthy and playing? Are these injuries non-factors or do they matter?

In my humble opinion, depth is great until you have to go too deep in long series and the starters are the starters for a reason, because they are better over the long haul.

Thoughts?

Still a terrible argument. The notion that the Wild are playing with a "severely depleted" line up is completely erroneous.
I have no idea how you deduce that the Wild are struggling in the post season due to injuries. They are playing with ALL of their top players that got them to where they are minus Heatley and Backstrom. The only key player they're really missing right now is Heatley. Pominville would be a nice addition, but he hasn't been here long enough to be missed, and the Wild didn't give up any full time players to get him. Out of the entire line up top to bottom, Rupp and Konopka have done little to nothing at all so far this season, and in all honesty, if you had to choose two players to be out due to injury, those guys would be first and second choice every time, so I'm really not sure how Veilleux and Dowell are not actually considered upgrades on the 4th line. Chicago is missing Bolland and Emery, easily the Equivalent of Heatley and Backstrom if not more valuable in the grand scheme of things.

So say what you want there Brad, but IMO, the injury situation is a non-factor for the most part.
- MnGump

Hey MnGump: You should change your screen name to "MnGrump"

But seriously, I love what you bring to the discussions. Priceless!

Is the season considered a success? If it’s to just to make the playoffs well then yes. If you asked the same question to us back in March, I don’t think we’d have settled for just getting into playoffs. This team over went a major overall during last season and it certainly does take a team some time to have all its new components gel together. I wasn’t expecting to be planning a Stanley Cup parade in downtown St. Paul this summer; but at some point we have to start setting higher expectations than just making the playoffs. Sure we’ve had some success in the past (the 2003 run was great) but at some point I’d like to build some new playoff memories. It’s been 10 years since our last series victory for pete’s sake. So if this year’s goal was just make the playoffs is next year’s goal to just win the first series and be content? Should we then hope for the year after that to maybe win a Conference Semi-Final Series? At some point we have to strive for more than “just being there”. For once I’d like to be the team to beat. With the core of talent we are acquiring and developing we need to expect more and be a lot less content with mediocrity.

This season is a success. I said this before but Championship teams are built in stages. Next year new, loftier goals should be set for this organization. We have to wait and see how the off season unfolds and the realignment will play a factor.

Regardless how this series turns out the team is gaining valuable playoff experience. The future is bright for the Wild!

Given the investment, I think a seri win in the playoffs is required for the season to be a success. Is it just me, or do you think the Pom Pom deal was done because the wild knew they needed to replace Heater?

Terrible argument? What do the rest of you think? Would we be doing better if Backstrom, Heatley, Pominville, Rupp and Konopka were all healthy and playing? Are these injuries non-factors or do they matter?

In my humble opinion, depth is great until you have to go too deep in long series and the starters are the starters for a reason, because they are better over the long haul.

Thoughts?
- Brad Ratgen

I think the injuries are a factor, but not enough to be a deciding factor for the series. You both have valid points. Pominville, in my opinion, would be a significant upgrade. The rest, the Wild should be able to deal with. But Harding is surprising me. Very difficult circumstances for him to come in and perform the way he has.

Given the investment, I think a seri win in the playoffs is required for the season to be a success. Is it just me, or do you think the Pom Pom deal was done because the wild knew they needed to replace Heater?
- battphone

The one thing that bothers me about the Pominville deal is that it was widely reported that the Wild were in on Clowe and when he chose NY, they went after Pominville. I'm not sure if that is how it happened but if it did, it's a bit concerning because Pominville doesn't bring the same game as Clowe and that means they still see a deficiency in their forward group that has not been addressed. If they didn't get the guy they wanted and still paid that price, it's a deal that they could regret, especially if Pominville is not re-signed.

That being said, I have no issues with Pominville as a player. If he is healthy, I expect good things from him. I hope the Wild can hold onto him.

What's up with Koivu? In the defensive zone he looks like he is in a daze

way to choke to the end mild! koivu get the (frank) out of here. worst captain ever i hate so many things right now. drinking this lousy team away

What's up with Koivu? In the defensive zone he looks like he is in a daze
- twistagain

not used to playoff hockey or no heart.

not used to playoff hockey or no heart.
- wingz4life

finland

finland
- SotaPopinski

Finland

Terrible argument? What do the rest of you think? Would we be doing better if Backstrom, Heatley, Pominville, Rupp and Konopka were all healthy and playing? Are these injuries non-factors or do they matter?

In my humble opinion, depth is great until you have to go too deep in long series and the starters are the starters for a reason, because they are better over the long haul.

Thoughts?
- Brad Ratgen

I thought I heard an echo in here. You mean all 4 of the Wild fans that post here? Kind of sad really. Self proclaimed state of hockey and we have the least number of followers on the site. Thought for sure more would show up this season. Oh well.