For the last couple of days Wild fans have been complaining about the rumored hiring of Anthony LaPanta as the next TV voice of the Wild on Fox Sports North. After the release of Dan Terhaar, many WIld fans were hoping to inject some new life and a new voice to the Wild broadcast, which has not been well received since Mike Goldberg's departure.

Michael Russo is reporting that LaPanta will indeed get the play by play job for the Minnesota Wild.

An announcement was supposed to come Monday, but things got sidetracked when the Wild and FSN were taken aback by the backlash regarding the LaPanta hire on this blog, Twitter and other message boards. The team also needed to complete the process of contacting candidates who were not chosen. The Wild and FSN did hold a conference call to discuss the feedback and how to manage it. But they were always going to stick with the original decision of hiring the longtime Wild, Twins and Wolves studio host and Gophers' hockey play-by-play voice, though.

So Wild fans, what do we think? So far there are hundreds of comments, tweets and Facebook posts on the Wild and Fox Sports North pages coming out against the hiring, and I'm assuming this blog post will receive many more complaints. Needless to say, this is not a popular decision.

Have at it folks.

The Wild have locked-in Clayton Stoner for the next two years. This leaves one less space for Ryan Suter.

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has re-signed defenseman Clayton Stoner to a two-year contract extension.

Stoner, 27 (2/19/85), collected five points (1-4=5), a plus-3 rating and 54 penalty minutes (PIM) in 51 games with Minnesota this season. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound native of Port McNeill, B.C., led team defensemen and ranked third on the club in plus/minus rating and penalty minutes. Stoner was also nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by the Minnesota Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. He recorded nine points (2-7=9) in 57 contests with the Wild in 2010-11 and ranked first on the team with a plus-5 rating and third with 96 PIM. Stoner ranked tied for third among NHL rookie defensemen in PIM and sixth in plus/minus amongst rookies that played more than 50 games. He made his NHL debut at Montreal on Dec. 17, 2009.

Stoner has totaled 16 points (3-13=16), a plus-9 rating and 170 PIM in 116 career NHL games during three seasons with Minnesota. He was selected by Minnesota in the third round (79th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild has announced the dates, times and locations of the 18-city, 2012 Wells Fargo Minnesota Wild Road Tour. Three separate legs of the tour begin Monday, June 25 and will stop at two locations each day. The tour will culminate with the seventh annual Wild Summer Bash on Thursday, June 28 at the Guidant John Rose MN OVAL in Roseville from 6-9 p.m.

Wild celebrities, including two Minnesota Wild players, will be present on each of the tour's three legs.

The first leg of the tour (Charlie Coyle, Matt Kassian, Antti Laaksonen, Mike Greenlay) will make stops in Winona, Rochester, Austin, Owatonna, Mankato and New Ulm. Leg two (Nate Prosser, Jason Zucker, Bob Kurtz, Tom Reid) will start in Duluth, and continue in Eveleth, Grand Rapids, Brainerd, St. Cloud and Willmar. The final leg (Justin Falk, Chad Rau, Wes Walz, Kevin Falness) will begin in International Falls, and then make stops in Warroad, Thief River Falls, Bemidji, Fargo/Moorhead and Detroit Lakes. Matt Cullen will also make an appearance in Fargo/Moorhead.

Each tour stop will include a fundraising opportunity for local youth hockey associations, as well as autographs from Wild celebrities.

The Guidant John Rose MN OVAL in Roseville will serve as the site of the Summer Bash on Thursday, June 28. From 6-9 p.m., fans will have a chance to play hockey-themed games and can take part in autograph sessions and photo opportunities with Wild celebrities. Other activities include open skating, live music, zamboni rides, food and beverage, a live KFAN broadcast and more.

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It has been a long weekend, but tonight could see the end of the road for the Vancouver Canucks. That in and of itself is enough to bring a smile to the faces of even the most downhearted Wild fan.

Enjoy the game. Go Kings.

#1 Vancouver Canucks (51-22-9) vs #8 Los Angeles Kings (40-27-15)

Series: 1-3

General Motors Place @ 7:00 PM CDT
Television: NBCSN

For the Vancouver perspective, check out Nucks Misconduct
For the LA perspective, check out Battle of California & Jewels from the Crown

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Part of the return on the Marek Zidlicky trade, Kurtis Foster returned "home" to the Xcel Energy Center to a loving fan base and open arms. Unfortunately, this wasn't the Kurtis Foster we knew before Torrey Mitchell shattered his femur. Not surprising really, but the guy who could run a power play if needed and provide howitzers from the point for Owen Nolan and Andrew Brunette garbage goals was gone.

Foster spent most of his partial season with the Wild auditioning for other NHL executives, and I hope it works out well for him. I'd like to see him get another shot, but I just don't know if it's going to happen.

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Is today the end of the line for Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Matt Cooke, Tim Thomas, Milan Lucic, Greg Zanon and Benoit Pouliot? Only one way to find out.

We're going to split the day again. The Washington - Boston game will be on its own thread tonight.

Enjoy the games, all.

Series: 2-3

Wells Fargo Center @ 11:00 AM CDT
Television: NBC

For the Pittsburgh perspective, check out Pensburgh
For the Philadelphia prespective, check out Broad Street Hockey

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Marco Scandella is probably the highest rated defensive prospect on the club not named Jonas Brodin. As such, this was supposed to be the season where Scandella came up, improved upon his previous call-ups and became the future defenseman around whom the Wild would build a blue-line. It started out really well for Scandella, but then the wheels came off the bus, he went back to Houston to find his game, improved his play and came back after the Wild went into a tailspin. Then Scandella was injured like virtually everyone else on the roster. Not a great year for the youngster, but he's still the kind of guy around whom Mike Yeo will build a defense.

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Once a shot-blocking virtuoso who was a two time winner of the Hockey Wilderness Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo award, Greg Zanon found himself on the outside looking in this season. While his style of play was not the problem, a severe decline in his stability and level of talent was. TO put it simply, Zanon got old very quickly alongside Marek Zidlicky. At one point in their Wild careers, ZZ Top was a pairing in which the fan base could be certain. 2011-2012 saw the end of their careers, and went away with a scored earth policy. Too bad, but theme the breaks.

Remember this?

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Ok folks, it's a long afternoon/evening/night of playoff hockey. We may very well see some teams moving forward and some heading to the golf course.

Enjoy the games, all.

#2 Boston Bruins (49-29-4) vs #7 Washington Capitals (42-32-8)
Series: 2-2

TD Garden @ 2:00 PM CDT
Television: NBC

For the Boston Bruins perspective, check out Stanley Cup of Chowder
For the Washington prespective, check out Japers' Rink

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Let's be honest, we should've done this one on 4/20.

Ok, childish gags aside, let's look at Stoner's season.

A big body on the blue line, who plays smart hockey, clears the slot and is one thing the Wild need as a partner to a smaller, mobile defenseman like Jared Spurgeon. That's Stoner's role. Let the water bug move the puck and lead the transition game while cleaning up the garbage. Unfortunately Stoner still had injury issues this season, but was able to come back and provide an adequate game at the back.

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Oh how the mighty have fallen. Once a mainstay on the blue line, a real puck-moving defenseman who could quarterback the power play and provide offense from the d-corps capable of 40-50 points a season, Marek Zidlicky found himself feuding with the coach, being a problem in the locker room, airing dirty laundry with the media and not backing it up on the ice. As soon as he ended up a healthy scratch for the first time in his Wild tenure, you knew the writing was on the wall, no matter what the Wild brass said in public. Zidlicky and his agent wanted out, and he needed to be moved. The epitome of a problem child (much like Martin Havlat before him), Zidlicky was a disappointment in a season where the Wild needed him to be at his best.

He was always a source of controversy, a defensive liability who managed to stay in the good graces of much of the fan base and the Wild staff with his skill on the ice. That vanished, and so did Zidlicky.

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Brought in to be a veteran presence on the blue line for a team desperate for defensive help, Lundin came in injured, got healthy (we assume), was terrible then got hurt again then got healthy again (maybe) and couldn't crack the lineup. Frankly, it was a lost season for a guy who was supposed to be part of the new blood needed to bring about a cultural shift in St. Paul.

Needless to say, it's unlikely Mr. Lundin will be returning next season.

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This is it. There will be a torrent of season in review information coming at you over the next week. We'll try to aggregate a lot of it here, plus we'll have our own stuff too. More on that later.

In the mean time, thanks for a great season!

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This is it, the end of another season in which the Wild find themselves out of the playoffs. We are going to have a lot to say over the next few weeks, looking back on a craptastic season for a team mired in mediocrity.

It has been a long and hard season to cover. Thank you all for being part of it and making the job that much more entertaining. We truly appreciate all of you.

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First off, thank you all and thanks to the SB Nation hockey community for the fundraising efforts to help Bryan's niece in her time of need. We truly appreciate it. All of the money was raised, very very quickly. Thanks so much. It is truly appreciated.

Now onto the Hockeyness

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Minnesota Wild (34-35-11) vs Chicago Blackhawks (44-26-10)

Xcel Energy Center @ 7:00 PM CDT
Television: FSN
Listen Live at: KFAN (100.3) or Wild.com

For the Chicago perspective, check out Second City Hockey

The Wild begin the last homestand of the 2011-2012 season facing off with the Chicago Blackhawks for the second time in five days (Chicago hasn't played since losing to the Wild on Sunday). The Blackhawks need to win out and get some help to secure home ice in the first round of the playoffs. No Jonathan Toews, who is still feeling effects from a concussion, but Duncan Keith returns after missing five games after elbowing Daniel Sedin in the head.

Let's be honest, there's not much to say. There are two games left in the season and the Wild are playing well right now against teams who are heading to the post-season. It's frustrating, but that's the reality of it all.

Enjoy the game.

Five Questions:

1. Four straight games in which the Wild have earned points. Does it end tonight?
2. How does Tyler Cuma look?
3. Josh Harding in net tonight. Been a while. Will he be rusty?
4. Can Dany Heatley continue his hot streak?
5. Duncan Keith back in the lineup tonight. Will he make an impact?
   

Tyler Cuma will play tonight for the injured Clayton Stoner. This will make Cuma the 46th player and 15th rookie this season for the Wild.

Word Association time! I say Tyler Cuma, you think ... injuries! This kid has had his NHL career path severely altered as a result of numerous injuries. He's a walking infirmary.

Mike Yeo on Tyler Cuma

"I thought that coming back into training camp that he didn't have the same jump and the skating, it looked like he lost a bit of a step, which is completely normal," said Wild coach Mike Yeo, who coached Cuma last year in Houston. "It takes time to get it back, and from what I understand, he's been doing a good job of that and playing really well down there. Last year for us, he came in as a young kid and really had to change his game a little bit. He was able to get away with a lot of things in junior that he wasn't able to in pro, and he had a great attitude for us and really started to become an effective, really strong two-way defenseman."

So Mike Yeo has a history with Cuma, knows what he can do and hopefully it works well for him next season. This kid has worked his ass off to come back from injury time and again. It's nice to see him finally get his shot, short though it will be this season.

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It's Game Day! Last homestand of the season kicks off tonight. Two games left. Will the Wild be passed by Anaheim, Toronto and the Islanders, or will they end up with yet another mid-round pick? Fear not, by the end of the weekend all will be answered and I will go on hockey sabbatical.

We'd like to remind you once again that we are raising funds for Bryan's niece's daughter's funeral if you are interested and have the means. They are only $1600 away from the goal. Let's remove this burden, shall we? - http://www.gofundme.com/is5b8

More after the jump

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Yesterday I mentioned that Bryan was going to be absent due to unforeseen circumstances, here's the story

I hate to violate our own rules on the site, but I am going to ask for some help. Yesterday, my niece’s 3 month old daughter passed away unexpectedly. Our family does not have the ability to pay for the cost of the funeral / burial / other costs. I come here on bended knee, asking for your help, or the help or your networks.

If you can help, please do so. If not, I understand completely. Thanks for reading the site and for reading this post.

If you want to check things out, or make a donation, here is the site we are using: http://www.gofundme.com/is5b8

Obviously we do not want to place pressure on anyone, or anything, but this isn't a blog or a news outlet. We're a community and as such thought we'd share the news with the community and ask for the community's help if able.

Thank you.

The rest after the jump

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Minnesota Wild 1-2 (so) Nashville Predators

For the Nashville perspective, visit On the Forecheck

A charity point. Not the way to keep spoiling or keep the dive for five alive. Most important thing tonight is that Kyle Brodziak wasn't injured more when he took a Darroll Powe skate to the face.

Gabriel Bourque got the scoring going at 12:31 of the second period for the Predators, then 5:22 later, Dany Heatley tied it at one, extending his team lead in goals to 23 and his team lead in points to 51. Mikko Koivu and Nate Prosser added assists on the Heatley goal. For Koivu it was his 44th point on the season, good for third on the team and in 53 games is a good season total for the Kaptain.

Niklas Backstrom continued to improve after suffering a late season injury, giving up a goal on 24 shots. A .921 save percentage and 2.40 goals against average isn't exactly what you expect from a franchise goaltender (11th and 16th in the NHL respectively) but given the troubles with injury and a brutal defensive corps in front of him, you cannot lay blame for the season at his feet.

You can't fault the level of effort being shown by a defeated team in an apocalyptically bad 2012. They have come out and grabbed hold of the Spoiler title, giving playoff teams fits. Makes you wonder exactly what would have happened had Koivu not missed 27 games with injury.

The Bennett's Chop & Railhouse Stars of the Game:

1. Gabriel Bourque (1 G)
2. Dany Heatley (1 G)
3. Alexander Radulov (shootout winner)

Remember, when you begin and end your night at Bennett's, you're the star! Easy parking, drink and food specials and a free shuttle to and from the Xcel Energy Center. Check them out at http://bennettschopandrailhouse.com/.

Five Questions:

1. Do the spoilers keep on spoiling? Almost!
2. Can the Wild show off for Ryan Suter? Well, they only gave up 1 in regulation, so ... who knows?
3. What is it like to watch a real top-flight defensive pairing? The big 2 were on the ice for the Heatley goal, but they're really fun to watch.
4. Will Erik Christensen keep the hope alive for next season? 2 PIM, 0 shots in only 10:40 TOI (2nd lowest among forwards), missed in the shootout. Not the way to win a job.
5. More comments tonight than last night's ramblings? Fabulous showing by the commentariat tonight. Well done folks.

Minnesota Wild (34-35-10) vs Nashville Predators (45-26-8)

Bridgestone Center @ 7:00 PM CDT
Television: FSN
Listen Live at: KFAN (100.3) or Wild.com

For the Nashville perspective, check out On the Forecheck

Spoilers gotta spoil.

This is the last Wild road game of the season. Not really any commentary to add to that, just the fact that it is.

The Nashville Predators are a very good team. Their fans are energetic and a fun group with whom to converse. They play a game based upon solid goaltending, defensemen moving the puck and depth of scoring. Martin Erat leads all scorers with 58 points, but have seven guys with more than 40. The Wild, conversely, have Dany Heatley leading with 50 points, but only three guys with more than 40. These are teams who need to find wins based upon defense and secondary scoring. The difference is that Nashville has found the depth, including points from the blue line. That's why they're heading to the playoffs.

Enjoy the game.

Five Questions:

1. Do the spoilers keep on spoiling?
2. Can the Wild show off for Ryan Suter?
3. What is it like to watch a real top-flight defensive pairing?
4. Will Erik Christensen keep the hope alive for next season?
5. More comments tonight than last night's ramblings?

As a result of unforeseen circumstances I have resumed control over the Walk for the next few days. Bryan will be back later this week.

Anyway, nice discussions yesterday around tanking, Erik Christensen's value and Jared Spurgeon's place in the pantheon of Wild defensemen.

Tonight the Wild face the Predators. If they win, the #diveforfive is over. If they lose, there's still a chance. Either way, let's all have fun tonight. We like the Preds and would like to see them make a long run. Get to know the Predators tonight and support our adopted squad (minus Jordin Tootoo. Fuck that guy).

Follow me after the jump

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Minnesota Wild 5-4 (so) Chicago Blackhawks

For the Hawks perspective, visit Second City Hockey

So the #diveforfive is perilous. After a win in Chicago, the Wild find themselves in draft position #7, which set off a bit of a Twitter battle between the fans who want to see wins and those who want to see a high draft choice. Comments about recruiting free agents by showing heart and dedication versus a rebuilding process with a top pick instead of a mid-rounder as has been the norm in St. Paul. Frankly, neither side is right or wrong.

Yes, we understand that players don't want to tank. They have pride. Folks are paying good money to see teams put forth an effort worthy of their hard-earned dollars. I get that, really I do. But the status quo hasn't worked around here. True rebuilding efforts come through the draft. Chicago and Pittsburgh have gone to the bottom, only to see themselves rise like the phoenix (no, not Phoenix) while the Wild have seen A.J. Thelen, James Sheppard and Colton Gillies. Sure, it's all about getting the right guys, scouting well, etc. But the chances of getting Valterri Filppula, Pavel Datsyuk or Henrik Zetterberg in the late rounds are rare. It's the guys picked at the top of the first round who jump start a franchise. Yes, it'll be nice once Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Zack Phillips, et al come into the fold, but this team still needs top-flight help in order to move forward.

We've seen enough from the train of guys from Houston to see that they aren't enough to jump start this franchise into a Cup contender.

Oh, there was a game, right:

Wild beat Blackhawks 5-4 in shootout for third win in row - TwinCities.com: The Wild might not be postseason-bound, but they still turned in a playoff-style performance Sunday, April 1. After giving up a tying goal late in regulation, the Wild upended the playoff-bound Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in a United Center shootout.

First-rate effort from Wild's first line | StarTribune.com: Josh Harding had a horrendous view of the Wild's first line Sunday night. That's because Devin Setoguchi, Mikko Koivu and Dany Heatley barely spent any time in the defensive zone during a 5-4 shootout victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.

Wild vs. Blackhawks - 04/01/2012 - Minnesota Wild - Recap: Devin Setoguchi and Erik Christensen scored in a shootout to help the Wild beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 on Sunday night for their third straight victory.

The Bennett's Chop & Railhouse Stars of the Game:

1. Devin Setoguchi (1 G, 2 A)
2. Dany Heatley (1 G, 1 A)
3. Mikko Koivu (2 A)

Remember, when you begin and end your night at Bennett's, you're the star! Easy parking, drink and food specials and a free shuttle to and from the Xcel Energy Center. Check them out at http://bennettschopandrailhouse.com/.

Five Questions:

1. The Jason Zucker - Erik Christensen - Nick Johnson line was excellent last night. Will that continue tonight? No.
2. Will Andrew Brunette show the Wild why he still belongs in the NHL? Scratched.
   
3. How many people will long for Nick Leddy? I saw very little Leddy discussion, which is nice.
4. Where are Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi? Yeo called it the best game in a Wild sweater for Setoguchi, and Heatley was in the mix too.
5. Do the Wild fall out of the bottom five tonight? And how.

Minnesota Wild (33-35-10) vs Chicago Blackhawks (44-26-9)

United Center @ 6:00 PM CDT
Television: FSN
Listen Live at: KFAN (100.3) or Wild.com

For the Chicago perspective, check out Second City Hockey

A winning streak at a most inopportune time. Excellent play by Erik Christensen. A rookie playing well to make an impression in Jason Zucker. A Chicago team clinching a playoff berth last night. Things just may be aligning for another win for the Wild tonight in Chicago.

Chicago is playing for home ice, but without Jonathan Toews who is the lifeblood of the team. Johnny Oduya and Nick Leddy have been backsliding lately and will need to solidify their play against a Wild team looking to continue to play spoiler and ruin their chances at the lottery.

It's April Fools Day. No jokes please.

Enjoy the game.

Five Questions:

1. The Jason Zucker - Erik Christensen - Nick Johnson line was excellent last night. Will that continue tonight?
2. Will Andrew Brunette show the Wild why he still belongs in the NHL?
3. How many people will long for Nick Leddy?
4. Where are Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi?
5. Do the Wild fall out of the bottom five tonight?
   

I'm Rescue Pack! Comin to the rescue! Apparently Jason Zucker has got your back, he can turn into a parasail or a kayak.

Ok, I am mixing my metaphors and Ingrid's watching Diego before we head out to the zoo for Farm Babies so I'm pretty confused in general, which is nothing new.

Anyway, nice win last night. Served no purpose other than potentially screwing with the future of the franchise as a result of a lower draft choice, but hey, yay for meaningless wins.

Follow the trail after the jump

Oh, game at 6:00 tonight against the Blackhawks.

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Minnesota Wild (32-35-10) vs Los Angeles Kings (39-27-12)

Xcel Energy Center @ 7:00 PM CDT
Television: FSN
Listen Live at: KFAN (100.3) or Wild.com

For the Los Angeles perspective, check out Jewels From The Crown

A win tonight hurts the Dive for Five, but does give the Wild a season split with the Kings, a team that has given the Wild fits over the past few seasons.

This is a big game for the Kings, who find themselves in first place in the Pacific Division and need to keep winning to thwart off the Pesky Stars who are just one point back.

Tom Gilbert, Erik Christensen and Kyle Brodziak have been playing well of late. Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi and Cal Clutterbuck have slipped quite a bit and need to find their stride if the Wild want to go into the end of the season with any momentum, not that it matters.

The big thing to which one wants to pay attention is the play of guys playing for contracts. Erik Christensen, Kurtis Foster and Stephane Veilleux in particular. These guys need to play well and make an impression, if not for the Wild brass, for the rest of the NHL.

Enjoy the game.

Five Questions:

1. Will Niklas Backstrom look better in his second game back? Watch for his positioning and lateral movement. He was out of position and looked really slow to move last game.
   
2. Will we see Mikko Koivu in beast mode again, like he was in OT?
3. Which Erik Christensen will show up tonight?
4. Are Jason Zucker's first game jitters gone?
5. Can Tom GIlbert continue to improve?