Minnesota Wild Reduce Roster

The Minnesota Wild hockey team has reduced the roster to 47.

The team reassigned Joel Broda (RW), Justin Fontaine (RW), Mike Kramer (RW), defeseman Sam Lofquist and defenseman Kyle Medvec to the Houston Aeros.

Others reassigned were center Tyler Graovac to the Ottawa 67s, defenseman Colton Jobke to Kelowna Rockets, defenseman Josh Caron to the Kamloops Blazers and left winger Carter Sandlak to the Belleville Bulls.

The Minnesota Wild open their season at home on 10/08 against the Blue jackets.

Mike Yeo Joins Host of New Minnesota Coaches

With the exception of the Minnesota Twins, all of the major sports teams in Minnesota will be/are experiencing the transition that coincides with a new head coach.

The Vikings are 0-2 under new head coach Leslie Frazier. The Minnesota Timberwolves just hired Rick Adelman. And the Minnesota Wild... Mike Yeo. (Even the Gophers have a new boss)

Yeo has the reputation of holding a serious work ethic and pushing his players to have the same. Yeo has said this job with the Wild has been a long time coming, a story more than 20 years in the making. He started taking notes on coaching over two decades ago and has finally landed his goal position: an NHL head coach.

Yeo is looking to bring a strong defensive system to the Wild, applying tough pressure to the puck, forcing their opponents to think quickly - forcing errors. He recognizes there may be no quick fix for a team three years out of the playoffs, but is striving to bring glory back to the ice of Minnesota.

Minnesota Wild Strengths and Weaknesses to Look Forward

I felt for my last blog post of the summer, I wanted to get you guys pumped up for a bunch of blogs that I have coming up for the rest of the year. I have spent the last week or so working on the strengths and weaknesses of each member of the Minnesota week. Some time during the season, I am going to start posting those strengths and weaknesses. I spent a lot of time on them, and I think they're going to be really great. So if you're really bored and you have a bad day at work, just know that you have those to look forward to.

Ex-Wild Pavol Demitra Dies

Pavol Demitra played for the Minnesota Wild from 2006-2008 and he was definitely one of the better players on the team. Sadly, Demitra died in a plane crash today and we only have the memories of him in NHL uniforms to cherish. He was playing for a Russian hockey team and the plane crashed this morning, killing everyone on the plane. Here's the statement that the Minnesota Wild released:

"The Minnesota Wild organization joins the rest of the hockey world in mourning the tragedy involving the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey club. Pavol Demitra was a valuable member of our team for two seasons and helped the Wild claim its first-ever Northwest Division title in 2008. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Demitra family as well as all of the families that lost loved ones today."

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.

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.

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.

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.

NHL Realignment? Yes, According to Craig Leipold

Ever 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.

Former Defenseman Brent Burns Signs 5-year Sharks Contract

After 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.