With the 10th Pick, the Minnesota Wild Select...

...Sven Baertschi. Who is that you may be asking? Baertschi plays for the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League. Sven Baertschi hails from Switzerland and plays left wing. He played in 66 games, notched 34 goals and added 51 assists for 85 points this season. He's 5'10 and weighs 185 lbs. He is just the type of player that the Minnesota Wild need, with a lot of speed, energy, and ability to score.

The Search for a Head Coach for the Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild are in search for a Head Coach. There has not really been any rumors or stories yet linking any lead candidate. There has been some steam with Ken Hitchcock, Lindy Ruff (who is coaching the Buffalo Sabres), Michel Therrien, and Andy Murray. I personally would like to see either Murray or Ruff. However, Ruff is the longest tenured coach right now in the NHL, with the Buffalo Sabres. They were defeated in 7 games last night to the Philadelphia Flyers. I assume there will be more press about the coaching options in the near future.

Minnesota Wild Sign Two College Players

The Minnesota Wild signed two collegiate players since the season has concluded. The two players are Chay Genoway and Justin Fontaine. Genoway was the captain of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux and plays defense. Although short in stature, Genoway was a force on the blueline for the Sioux and was one of the best defenseman in the WCHA the last few years. Fontaine was a winger for the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, who won their first National Championship this past season. He was a big scorer for the Bulldogs and knew how to bury the puck. Hopefully both of these guys can prove their worth for the Houston Aeros and make their way to the NHL team down the road.

NHL Playoffs

The NHL playoffs are underway. The Minnesota Wild are not involved, unfortunately. I love watching the playoffs because of the intensity and pace. Players will play under any conditions and do whatever it takes to win. Last year, Duncan Keith lost 6 teeth from taking a puck to the face, and still played. On Saturday, Johan Franzen received 21 stitches to the face and stayed in the game. I love it. Here's who I'm hoping wins the Stanley Cup or goes far:

- Washington Capitals. Love Alexander Ovechkin

- Philadelphia Flyers. Mike Richards is a great captain and always liked the Fly Guys

- Los Angeles Kings. Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty are awesome players, even if Kopitar is hurt they are just a fun team to watch.

Todd Richards Fired as Head Coach of the Minnesota Wild

Todd Richards has been officially relieved of his coaching duties of the Minnesota Wild. He coached the team for 2 seasons, and missed the playoffs both seasons. General Manager Chuck Fletcher must believe the team needs to head in a new direction. I always liked Richards - a Minnesota native who played for the Gophers. However, you can't fire the players and sometimes a change is what's best. I'm eager to see who we can bring in as head coach. Good luck to Mr. Richards in his future endeavors.

Minnesota Wild Defeat Dallas Stars, End Their Season

The Minnesota Wild defeated the Dallas Stars for the final game of the 2010-2011 NHL Season. The final score read 5-3. It was a win or go home situation for the Dallas Stars. Had they defeated the Wild, they would had advanced to the playoffs, earning a tiebreaker advantage over the Chicago Blackhawks. However, the Stars could not steal 2 points from the Wild. Although the Blackhawks lost earlier in the day to the Red Wings, they hung out to their playoff chances thanks to the Wild. I'm sure the Blackhawk players are pretty big Minnesota Wild fans today.

Pursuit of Zach Parise?

Zach Parise, the golden boy for the New Jersey Devils, will be a free agent this upcoming season. Parise has several Minnesota connections, including playing at Shattuck St.-Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota. His dad, J.P., played for the Minnesota North Stars and coached the team, as well as coached at Shattuck St.-Mary's. Parise is a star in the NHL and will be courted by numerous teams. Can the Minnesota Wild make a push for Parise?

Minnesota Wild Fall to Vancouver Canucks

The Minnesota Wild were defeated 5-0 by the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night, in Vancouver. Ryan Kesler scored a hattrick and Mason Raymond chipped in the other two goals. The loss leaves the Minnesota Wild with 82 points. They play at the Edmonton Oilers tonight, who currently have one of the worst records in the league. Both teams are eliminated from playoff contention, so this one is for pride.

Minnesota Wild Remaining Games

The Minnesota Wild have 3 games left for the 2010-2011 NHL Season. Although they are now mathematically eliminated from the postseason, the games are still exciting and entertaining. The Minnesota Wild will face the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, and Dallas Stars to wrap up the regular season. What a better way to see the Minnesota Wild square off against the Dallas Stars in the season finale.

Thu, Apr 7 @Vancouver 9:00 PM

Fri, Apr 8 @Edmonton 8:00 PM

Sun, Apr 10 vsDallas 7:00 PM

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