Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Minnesota Wild TV Schedule


DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME (CT) TV
SEPTEMBER – PRESEASON
Tue. 20 @ Edmonton 8:00 P.M.
Thur. 22 @ St. Louis 7:00 P.M.
FRI. 23 COLUMBUS 7:00 P.M.
Sat. 24 @ Pittsburgh 2:00 P.M.
TUE. 27 ST. LOUIS 7:00 P.M.
Thur. 29 @ Columbus 6:00 P.M.
FRI. 30 EDMONTON 7:00 P.M.

OCTOBER – REGULAR SEASON
SAT. 8 COLUMBUS 7:00 P.M. FSN
Mon. 10 @ N.Y. Islanders 12:00 P.M. FSN
Tue. 11 @ Ottawa 6:30 P.M. FSN
THUR. 13 EDMONTON 7:00 P.M. FSN
SAT. 15 DETROIT 7:00 P.M. FSN
TUE. 18 PITTSBURGH 6:30 P.M. VERSUS
Thur. 20 @ Edmonton 8:30 P.M. FSN
Sat. 22 @ Vancouver 3:00 P.M. FSN
THUR. 27 ANAHEIM 7:00 P.M. FSN
SAT. 29 DETROIT 7:00 P.M. FSN

NOVEMBER
Tue. 1 @ Detroit 6:30 P.M. FSN
THUR. 3 VANCOUVER 7:00 P.M. FSN
SAT. 5 ST. LOUIS 7:00 P.M. FSN
Tue. 8 @ Calgary 8:30 P.M. FSN
Thur. 10 @ San Jose 9:30 P.M. FSN
Sat. 12 @ Los Angeles 9:30 P.M. FSN
Sun. 13 @ Anaheim 7:00 P.M. FSN
Tue. 15 @ Columbus 6:00 P.M. FSN
THUR. 17 COLORADO 7:00 P.M. FSN
SAT. 19 ST. LOUIS 7:00 P.M. FSN
WED. 23 NASHVILLE 7:00 P.M. FSN
FRI. 25 EDMONTON 3:00 P.M. FSN
SUN. 27 CALGARY 5:00 P.M. FSN
MON. 28 TAMPA BAY 6:30 P.M. VERSUS
Wed. 30 @ Edmonton 8:30 P.M. FSN

DECEMBER
FRI. 2 NEW JERSEY 7:00 P.M. FSN
Sun. 4 @ Anaheim 7:00 P.M. FSN
Tue. 6 @ San Jose 9:30 P.M. FSN
Thur. 8 @ Los Angeles 9:30 P.M. FSN
Sat. 10 @ Phoenix 7:00 P.M. FSN
Tue. 13 @ Winnipeg 7:30 P.M. FSN
WED. 14 CHICAGO 6:30 P.M. VERSUS
SAT. 17 N.Y. ISLANDERS 7:00 P.M. FSN
Mon. 19 @ Vancouver 9:00 P.M. FSN
Tue. 20 @ Calgary 8:00 P.M. FSN
Thur. 22 @ Edmonton 8:30 P.M. FSN
MON. 26 COLORADO 5:00 P.M. FSN
Wed. 28 @ Nashville 7:00 P.M. FSN
THUR. 29 EDMONTON 7:00 P.M. FSN
SAT. 31 PHOENIX 5:00 P.M. FSN

DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME (CT) TV
JANUARY
Wed. 4 @ Vancouver 9:00 P.M. FSN
Sat. 7 @ Calgary 9:00 P.M. FSN
TUE. 10 SAN JOSE 6:30 P.M. VERSUS
Thur. 12 @ Chicago 7:30 P.M. FSN
Sat. 14 @ St. Louis 7:00 P.M. FSN
Tue. 17 @ Philadelphia 6:00 P.M. FSN
Thur. 19 @ Toronto 6:00 P.M. FSN
SAT. 21 DALLAS 8:00 P.M. FSN
Tue. 24 @ Colorado 8:00 P.M. VERSUS
Sun. 29 NHL All-Star Game (Ottawa) 3:00 P.M. VERSUS
TUE. 31 NASHVILLE 7:00 P.M. FSN

FEBRUARY
Thur. 2 @ Colorado 8:00 P.M. FSN
Sat. 4 @ Dallas 7:00 P.M. FSN
Tue. 7 @ Columbus 6:00 P.M. FSN
THUR. 9 VANCOUVER 7:00 P.M. FSN
SAT. 11 COLUMBUS 7:00 P.M. FSN
TUE. 14 ANAHEIM 6:30 P.M. VERSUS
THUR. 16 WINNIPEG 7:00 P.M. FSN
Sat. 18 @ St. Louis 1:00 P.M. FSN
SUN. 19 BOSTON 2:00 P.M. NBC
Thur. 23 @ Florida 6:30 P.M. FSN
Fri. 24 @ Dallas 7:30 P.M. FSN
SUN. 26 SAN JOSE 5:00 P.M. FSN
TUE. 28 LOS ANGELES 6:30 P.M. VERSUS

MARCH
Thur. 1 @ Montreal 6:00 P.M. FSN
Fri. 2 @ Detroit 6:30 P.M. FSN
SUN. 4 COLORADO 6:00 P.M. FSN
Tue. 6 @ Colorado 8:00 P.M. VERSUS
Thur. 8 @ Phoenix 8:00 P.M. FSN
SUN. 11 CALGARY 5:00 P.M. FSN
TUE. 13 DALLAS 7:00 P.M. FSN
SAT. 17 CAROLINA 1:00 P.M. FSN
MON. 19 VANCOUVER 7:00 P.M. FSN
THUR. 22 CALGARY 7:00 P.M. FSN
Sat. 24 @ Buffalo 6:00 P.M. FSN
Sun. 25 @ Washington 4:00 P.M. VERSUS
TUE. 27 N.Y. RANGERS 7:00 P.M. FSN
THUR. 29 FLORIDA 7:00 P.M. FSN
SAT. 31 LOS ANGELES 7:00 P.M. FSN

APRIL
Sun. 1 @ Chicago 6:00 P.M. FSN
Tue. 3 @ Nashville 7:00 P.M. FSN
THUR. 5 CHICAGO 7:00 P.M. FSN
SAT. 7 PHOENIX 7:00 P.M. FSN

BOLD INDICATES HOME GAME
DATES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Startribune Interview with Mike Yeo


I was scanning the Startribune when I found this interview with new Wild head coach Mike Yeo about the state of the Minnesota Wild. It's really interesting because we don't know very much about Yeo just yet. A link to the interview is right here. Let me know what you think.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Rick Rypien Found Dead


Rick Rypien was found dead this morning in his home. He had been granted an indefinite leave of absence by the Vancouver Canucks for personal reasons.

Rypien received a six game suspension last season after grabbing a Wild fan as he was leaving the ice for the lock room.

Rypien is the second player from the NHL to die this offseason. Derek Boogard, a former Wild player, also died this offseason.

Wild Single Season Tickets Go on Sale August 20th


Single game tickets for the Minnesota Wild will go on sale August 20th at 9 am at the Xcel Energy Center. They will go on sale at noon on wild.com and ticketmaster.com.

Tickets will also be available at the Wild fan booth at the Minnesota state fair for the first time in the team's history.

Prices are fixed until October 1st and will be priced based on demand until that date.


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Make or Break Year for Cam Barker in Edmonton


Last season, Wild defenseman Cam Barker was absolutely terrible. He scored only five points last season. The 2008-2009 50 point outburst with the Chicago Blackhawks seems like a pin in a haystack. He was really bad during the 2009-2010 season with the Blackhawks as well. Barker's contract was bought out by the Minnesota Wild and he signed a 1 year deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Barker is optimistic that he can return to his 2008 self in Edmonton.

"It's a good, young team, up-and-coming. A great fit," Barker said.

Barker only signed a 1 year deal so he is going to have to play really well if he wants another NHL contract. He will have the chance to prove himself as there is playing time available for him in Edmonton.


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Wild Trade James Sheppard to San Jose Sharks


The Minnesota Wild and the San Jose Sharks made a trade again. This time, the Wild sent 24 year old defenseman James Sheppard to the Sharks for a 2013 3rd round draft pick.

Sheppard was suspended all of last season after injuring his knee in a all-terrain accident vehicle accident.

The Sharks have already confirmed the trade, but it is not completely done yet because Sheppard sustained a second injury to his knee and is not expected to be ready for training camp.

The Wild traded Brent Burns and a 2012 second round pick to the San Jose Sharks on June 24th Devin Setoguchi, a first round pick, and Charlie Coyles.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

NHL Realignment? Yes, According to Craig Leipold

Craig Leipold division realignmentEver since the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, there has existed an imbalance between the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, bringing an NHL divisional realighment to the minds of owners.

There have been rumors in the past that the NHL is considering a massive overhaul in which the current NHL characteristics would be cleared for a landscape featuring a two conference format with 2 divisions each. Those rumors have always been pure speculation stemming from mysterious voices... until now.

Craig Leipold, during a radio interview with KFAN Minneapolis, may have let the cat out of the bag and let the public in on the NFL plans for realignment during the 2012 season.

"Our division would include the Winnipeg Jets, us [Minnesota Wild], the Blues, the Nashville Predators, the Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, and maybe the Columbus Blue Jackets... maybe not depending on if they go east or west. I am all in favor of that. I think that is a grand slam, home run, hat trick for our team.

We're all Central Division now. All of our teams, except for Columbus, all of our teams will be Central Division. We'll play less teams in Canada. We will play every team home and away at least one time."

Whoops.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Former Defenseman Brent Burns Signs 5-year Sharks Contract

Brent BurnsAfter being traded to the San Jose Sharks in late June, Brent Burns had established little hurry to sign a long-term contract with the Sharks. This past week, however, Burns agreed to a five-year extension for $28.8 million.

Last year, Burns scored 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists), had 133 hits and was a first-time All-Star. There is concern that last year's breakout year with Minnesota is something not to be repeated. The Sharks acknowledge this concern, but after signing a long-term contract, the program feels the investment in Brent Burns will be a pivotal asset.