SB Nation User Blog: mbennett

Hats off to Jimmy Dowd

mbennett — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:50:33 -0000

On the very bottom of Russo's Rants, he mentioned that Jim Dowd retired today.

One can only tell, from television, but Jim Dowd always appeared to be a very good man, and an excellent example of how a professional hockey player carries himself. He played all of, or part of, 16 seasons at the NHL level.

Congrats on a fine journey in pro hockey Jim, and good luck in your next stage of life.

A new medium to play with

mbennett — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:28:24 -0000

I have to say thanks to Buddafisch, because when I read yours, I had to try my own. This was way too fun, and a great way to kill an hour at the end of the work day.

Oh, also...it expresses my frustration as well. I encourage all to play with this...but make sure you give props to Budda for being your "muse."

A nice distraction from the frozen water

mbennett — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 03:42:05 -0000

Minnesota Wild got ya down? Puzzled by decisions the management team has, or hasn't, made? Pissed off about the horrible stretch run before you?

Then have no fear ladies and gents...I encourage you to forget about the frozen water, and think about the open water, and how fun it is to fish that water! Don't believe me?? Just ask Owen Nolan!

That is right, the same Owen Nolan who gives his grit and heart every time he on the ice, wants to teach you how to catch some delicious bass. Head on over to Fish TV and watch some of Owen's better casts, landings and cheesy smiles.

Again, that is http://www.fishtv.tv/

Thank you again Owen. You have been the bright spot in my day again, even on a day that has no hockey game.

The fine line between being "new" and being "yesterday’s news"

mbennett — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:27:17 -0000

I have been reading, and reading, and watching, and reading about this team. Life has done its usual maneuver of getting in the way of regularly contributing to this site that nate, budda, marthaler, joe and handler have made very good. Luckily, I have a minute, and here I have a chance to throw something out there.

Nate and I have discussed this many times in person, or over IM, but I am curious to see what the community here at Hockey Wilderness has to say...

The Wild are skating closer and closer to losing the fan-base they love. For these first years of existence, the Wild have been given the free pass because they are a new team. Well, Doug, Craig and Jacques, in case you haven't noticed...you are no longer a new team. In two seasons, (or is it one?) the Wild will be a ten-year old franchise. A ten-year old franchise who has not displayed a consistent progression towards being a force in the league. Lets dispel a few rumors shall we? Rumors about why this progression may not be occurring.

1) Mpls/St. Paul is a small market - Truth be told, for most sports it is. But not hockey. The wild have enough revenue to be able to spend to the upper limits of the cap, if they so chose, so this excuse is out.

2) The players don't care about winning - This is bogus. I have complained that the effort hasn't been there on nights, but all-in-all, these guys want to win. The problem is, the other team also wants to win. Players want to lift that hunk of metal above their heads; lift it with pride, its the cup...the hardest trophy to obtain. Eighty-Two games is a long time, then a potential for twenty-eight more games in the playoffs makes me not buy that the players are content to give the fans a few extra games. They want to go deep, but the better question is can this team as it stands?

3) Players don't like Minnesota - Nobody wants to play here. This has been said, and there may be a sliver of truth. But it has nothing to do with the city, its people nor the facility. Name me a player who wouldn't want to play in front of a sell-out crowd, in a facility which is a beautiful as the X? It isn’t the fans, the city or the venue...perhaps, it could be something else.

So, if these situations aren't the issue, what is? My take is this...the management team was a good start-up crew, but they don't know how to take a team to the next level. I am not confident that this group of people know what it takes to take a promising young, and new team, and turn it into a consistent threat for the cup. Don't get me wrong, I don't buy that the ownership/management doesn't want to go deep into the playoffs either. The ultimate goal is to earn more revenue, and more games sells more ads, more beer, more foam fingers, etc. But again, similarly to the point at the end of point "#2," can they take this team deep?

My hypothesis is no, they cannot. The team has drafted very poorly, the team makes very strange fiscal decisions when it comes to personnel and the team policies regarding contract negotiations during the season have created more issues then they have quelled.

These policies, and this style of management works very well when establishing a new franchise in a community. But what I don't think anyone is asking is...what happens when the newness wears off? What does the turnout look like, when mediocre seasons pile-up over and over, in a state that known for its knowledge and passion for the sport of hockey? In all honestly folks, there wasn't a huge uproar when the North Stars went south. Why? Cause there was still hockey to be seen. Quality solid hockey, played with passion was(and still is) being enjoyed everywhere. This mindset may be suppressed in the minds of hockey fans, but eventually, the desire to spend $75+ dollars on a wild ticket will be replaced with cheering on the kids from your community at the Friday night High School Games, or driving to your closest D-1 WCHA game.

So what happens to a pro hockey team, in the state of hockey, when the newness is gone, and the team fails to compete for dominance in the league? The wild management need look no further than their colleagues in the Target Center. For years, the T-Wolves were building, and then they were doing well enough to make the playoffs now and again. Hell, they even made it to the conference finals...they were new, we forgive all. And then...nothing. No winning, not reason to believe...and fan support plummeted. Players starting leaving town, and potential free agents, ignored offers from the Wolves.

In a similar fashion, could this be why players aren't anxious to sign with the Wild? Maybe it isn't the venue, the fans or the city. Maybe, the free agents of the NHL see the Wild as a destination to be watched, and loved by fans, in a large hockey market, all the while, on a team, which isn't prepared to take its organizational game to the next level. Thus leaving players who want to win, overlooking a contract from St. Paul. (Do these tie in with the rumors from earlier? hmm.)

A new team can afford to play on the cheap, but an established market team can't. At year eight, a team needs to realize it is quickly approaching established-hood. I don't know how this message can be conveyed any other way than this...progression and winning keeps fans happy and keeps dollars coming in..."doing it how we have always done it" yields complacency and a lack of interest.

If this management team can't take the Wild to the next level...then doesn't ownership want to change the management staff? Again, why sell 41 games worth of beer, when you can sell 50+ games worth? Why settle for an occasional free agent, when you can create a culture where players are willing to take less to be part of "that?" Why do something half-assed, when you have the means to go all out?

Something needs to change, and preferably soon. A state like MN deserves a better product on the ice than we have seen the past two-four years. I hate to think about the Wild in the basement of the league, but sometimes I wonder, if that is where they need to go, before the message is received by the "powers that be."

If the Wild management/ownership doesn't start thinking of new ways to succeed, their former "new" team will become yesterday's news.

Three Things - Wild @ Blues

mbennett — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:06:10 -0000

I watched this game, and all I heard myself yelling "SELL! SELL!!!" This is not a good team folks, and regardless of how badly we want them to be...they are not good. Reload, rebuild, whatever jargon you want to use...this is what you have to do. Don't expect the playoffs. Don't expect anything worth your money. Things aren't going to change. And this stretch against the Sharks, the flames, the hawks, the wings, etc. is gonna' be brutal. As a note of my frustration and acceptance in the weak weak team, called the wild, please note the lack of three reasons why the wild could have won.

Why the Wild Lost:

1) 1-7-1: When you create a culture of losing, you lose. That record over the last nine games is well, shitty. I am fairly certain that somewhere, there are people screaming at the tv. I wasn't one of them tonight, but I am getting closer.

2) Passing: I think that there were 4 solid passes all night. I have seen USHL teams pass better. Horrible. Just Horrible. And, oddly enough, two errant passes led to St. Louis goals.

3) Goal timing: This was the 8th game in a row that the wild have yielded the first goal of the game. This has to stop, or not, because the players kinda seem like they have given up on the year. The other timing issue is the immediate coughing up a goal within two minutes of scoring one. PMB scores, game tied...30 seconds later, no longer tied. Nice work everyone.

I think that it is becoming apparent that either the players, or the system have to change. Cause frankly, I am starting to feel like I am wasting evenings watching a game I truly respect and love.

On the off chance you haven't noticed...

mbennett — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:32:52 -0000

...the smoke and mirrors are no longer working.

This is not a good hockey team. At least not right now. But more than likely, now that every team is in mid-season form, the Wild's "truthiness" has been exposed.

3 goals in the last 12 periods. need we say more?

The end.

Wild Facebook posts

mbennett — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:47:29 -0000

Who knew? After the game, I was digging around, and look what I found? All the Wild players just uploaded their Facebook statuses...seems they aren't that different from us afterall. Lets take a looksy shall we?

Niklas Backstrom is sorry he can’t win every game by himself.

Eric Belanger wants to thank the trainers for the amazing rub down.

Marc-Andre Bergeron is willing to shoot only if the crowd yells at him enough.

Derek Boogaard is punching you in the face!

Pierre-Marc Bouchard is busy curling and making bad passes.

Andrew Brunette wants that 200th goal badly.

Brent Burns thinks you should see his snakes!

Cal Clutterbuck will return shortly, after he is done checking your mom!!

Kurtis Foster is ready to bring the pain!

Marian Gaborik doesn’t care what you think…it hurts, deal with it.

Colton Gillies misses how easy it was in Juniors.

Josh Harding doesn’t write with the wrong hand…you do!

Kim Johnsson wonders why the “C” is on his sweater.

Mikko Koivu is busy carrying a team on his back.

Antti Miettinen wishes he would have traded himself off his fantasy team weeks ago.

Owen Nolan still hurts from the thermometer incident…curse you Dr. House!!

Benoit Pouliot would rather be at the disco.

Erik Reitz is proud to be an American.

Nick Schultz just wants a re-do on a few games.

James Sheppard is never going to let his family leave Minnesota.

Martin Skoula loves the bad guy in those Harry Potter books. What was his name?

Stephane Veilleux will glady help you sign a contract.

Craig Weller says “you should see the other guy.”

Marek Zidlicky is asking for a mulligan on tonight’s contest.

Three Things - Avs @ Wild

mbennett — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:36:09 -0000

There is no way around this…it was an ugly game. I haven’t seen the wild play this poorly in a long time. Anyway, here is what we have…

Why the Wild lost:

1) Fear of contact…and passive defense - Why no hits? Zidlicky gets no cookie. Horrible day for him. Frankly, a horrible day all around on the defensive side. At least four goals were direct results of defensive F*Ups. This has been a horrible game to watch if you are looking for usual Wild Hockey.

2) Clear a puck? Anyone? Beuller? – Wholly cow. First things first, Marek Zidlicky needs to skate laps. When you can clear, clear moron. Then, there was another goal that the Wild Defense allowed, 4 players were within five feet of the puck, and instead, Stastny backhands a goal. The wild were especially outplayed in this regard in period two. Ugly, Ugly.

3) Shots – In the 2^nd period, the wild were being outshot 20-6. It is unfair to think that Backstrom will save 35-50 every game. Bouchard again chooses to get cute, curl, and look for the pass. You can score dummy…shoot and maybe you can get an ugly goal.

Why the Wild Could Have Won:

1) This Koivu kid – They take his “C” away, and he has another multi-point game. He may be a keeper. Keep it up Koivu…the “C” will be back soon.

2) PP unit – 5 goals on PP last game, 3 goals this game. Yes please, I will have that every game. Now the key is to remind the squad that the same kind of passing and shooting can happen 5 on 5.

3) The Old Man – 4 games, 4 goals. Is Owen channeling some mid 90’s Nolan? God we can only hope. Hats off to you old man. I like it.

I have to go get this horrible taste out of my mouth. Bye.

Three Things - Wild @ Preds

mbennett — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:28:05 -0000

Not too bad of a game. Mikko Koivu would be easy to talk about tonight, but that is easy. It would also be easy to talk about the bazillion penalties that Nashville took, so we will just touch on that in a different way. So, we are going to talk about other things…here we go folks…

Why The Wild Won:

1) Taking advantage of the (5 on 3) – A day after I get all over the Wild for the lack of production with an early 5-on-3, they receive another early 2 man advantage, and this time they kicked its ass. Two goals, and happiness abounds. I think I will take credit for this result…I think the management read the post yesterday and said “we need to convert that two man advantage.” You are welcome Wild fans. (Side Note - 5 PPG makes Mike happy)

2) Miettinen bounce back - Three helpers after his penalty box ridden day…once again, I will take credit for this. Management also was angry after I pointed out that Antti was in the box twice in the same period, he comes back with a play-maker. Keep those points going Antti, we like points.

3) Spreading the Wealth – Six goals, Five different goal scorers. We like it, we love it, we want some more of it. A special salute to Owen Nolan, three goals in three games. Keep it up old man, we like what we see.

Why The Wild Could Have Lost:

1) Lack of checking in the defensive zone - The wild continue to poke and stick their way out of issues. We need the D-men to feel confident taking the body to separate the puck from the opposition. Can we channel some of what Clutterbuck is eating into the Defense?

2) The Pouliot Box - Two penalties for Benny…in the third period, within 4 minutes of each other. Bad time, bad decisions. Again, this will not help Benoit gain love with the coaching staff. This is not what I want from a first round draft pick.

3) Lack of aggressiveness in third – Once again, the wild went into a defensive shell, and the momentum swung to the Nashville side. The third period they played against Tampa, was stellar. This third period was lazy, and passive in nature. Shocking that Nashville owned the majority of the third? I say nay. Heck, it was over ten minutes into the third before the Wild got a shot on goal. (Side Note: Of course, after I write this segment, the wild decide to dominate. Thanks PP unit, you make the game fun, but the story less truthful. Oh well, life goes on)

Three Things - Bolts @ Wild

mbennett — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:25:41 -0000

Well, well, well. Look what happens when you don’t go into a defensive shell, but instead, press and shoot…you win! I would humbly request the the wild play all periods in the manner which they played the third today. Well, lets get to it…

Why the Wild Won:

1) The(5 on 3) Kill – Wow. Wow. Wow. Eric Belanger needs a cookie, as does He Who Must Not Be Named, Kimmy, and the rest. Kudos to that effort. A full 2 minutes of 5-on-3 at the end of the third, and the Wild say, “no thanks. We don’t want your puck in our net.” I was pretty sure that the puck was gonna find the twine…but it didn’t. I am ever so pleased to be wrong.

2) Shepp starting to heat up – 1 Goal, and 1 Assist. Not to mention solid shifts, and great back-checking…I liked what I see. I believe it is in the interest of MN Wild staff, and fans for Shepp to have family in town at all times. Get on that DR, Jacquez…and you too Bomber…if this isn’t a community relations moment, I don’t know what is.

3) Bergeron’s nice low slappers – A heavy shot leads to two assists, and the puck doesn’t go higher five inches off the ice. All I can say is…Shoot more! Shoot often. Bergeron seems to have a pretty accurate shot, so, I say let it fly buddy boy!

Why the Wild Could Have Lost:

1) The (5 on 3) flop – You get two minutes of a two man advantage right at the beginning of the game. Even worse was they maybe let 6 shots fly. Kind of funny that there were (2) full 5-on-3’s in this game, and not one goal. Next 5-on-3 for the Wild, I am expecting at least a goal. But today, it looked like they have never practiced this scenario before.

2) That crappy call with Malone – What the hell? Apparently backs stick counts not…he does not get to have a whistle for a delayed call. Also, if your name is Vinny LeCavalier, you can also slide into a keeper, moving him out of the crease, letting your buddy Ryan Malone to get an easy goal. I can’t believe that it wasn’t reviewed, discussed, or anything. The wild did very well to overcome the issue, and play a very solid game thereafter.

3) Miettinen’s love of the box – Two penalties, by the same guy, in the same period. I don’t think that this is going to help his likability with the coach. With your crew having issues scoring, lets not give the other team two PP’s in one period. No supper for you Antti.

Well, I hope we have a similar discussion tomorrow…that being, another win to break down. Hope your thanksgiving’s were good.