Article: Revenge Wasn't A Good Look For the Wild

[M_Nels]

19 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

that's a reality. do they have a superstar? 

Not the caliber of Kaprizov, my comment was geared more towards your lack of skill comment and that ours is so much higher because you contradict yourself.

Remember, we're icing scrubs that are tradeable according to you like Rossi, Boldy, Faber, Spurge, Ek. 

Edited Monday at 04:54 PM by M_Nels

[IllicitFive]

1 minute ago, OldDutchChip said:

if your goal is to make the playoffs - proceed as is, kap leaves, bring in brock and you will get your wish, a consistent wild card team. but one that is "one-of-us/minnesotans" just the way i suppose you like it?

if your goal is to win a SC - evaluate your roster and ensure it aligns with Kaprizov, and do it as soon as you see a need, as we are entering the most crucial time. Kaprizov needs to get out of 1st round this year and still in one piece. There is no one on the horizon that will help. Bottom line - to get out - Billy needs to change top 6. 

Pick a route then. 

I will ask again, where you finding those guys? What you giving up? Cap space? Injury insurance? I never said anything about Brock and the "one of us" stuff, you seem to suppose a lot while avoiding actually answering questions. Whos goal is it to not win the cup? Who would you want to keep on this team besides Kap? I am looking forward to your break down of how easy it is to build team this year that gets past round one and is ready to win a cup now.

[OldDutchChip]

1 minute ago, IllicitFive said:

Talking like that is super easy to achieve. Who would you go get? What do you give up? Cap space? Injury insurance? Keep it real, I saw your Svech for Boldy trade, would you do that if you had Svech to get Boldy? If not what would need to be added? GM's aren't dumb, its not a video game where you can force trades. Think Buffalo just can't wait to unload Tuch? He will cost a decent amount because of how rare he is, not to mention out bidding other suitors. 

Also your idea of "Boldy or Ek should have made Foresberg fight" just doesn't make sense. If they don't drop the gloves now you are on a PK, and for what? Nothing, there are reasons only certain players fight, there is a code. There are plenty of books and documentaries about fighting in hockey and how it works, some interesting stuff there. Otherwise why not have the 4th liners constantly fight Kap to keep him in the box?

I would trade Boldy for Svechnikov yesterday. If they are asking for a prospect, fine - pick any not named Zeev or Yurov. I suggeted this as after-the-year proposal should canes fail to advance past 1st round and would feel a need to change course.  

As far as Tuch - Billy has worked with Buffalo before, actually it seems that it's a preferred destination for Minny GMs. So why not check in? See what can be done? 

Also your idea of "Boldy or Ek should have made Foresberg fight" just doesn't make sense. If they don't drop the gloves now you are on a PK, and for what? Nothing, there are reasons only certain players fight, there is a code.

I disagree fully. If leaders are not asked to answer for their minions then this won't change. Wild will continue be looked at as prey. When Ovi had enough of Svechnikov both got into it. I need to see it from Ek or from Boldy. And there is nothing of that sort in them. Nothing yet i suppose. Maybe it needs to come out. And i thought it would be a great time for that. PK or not -most of the time both guys are removed. Boldy walks to FF and that's where the code works - FF cannot just walk away - otherwise he is the prey now. 

[OldDutchChip]

3 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

Not the caliber of Kaprizov, my comment was geared more towards your lack of skill comment and that ours is so much higher because you contradict yourself.

Remember, we're icing scrubs that are tradeable according to you like Rossi, Boldy, Faber, Spurge, Ek. 

yes, because of injuries that mostly were brought upon by unchecked aggression. see it's a loop - to get out we need a repellent. not one of our top 6 guys do that. 

[OldDutchChip]

6 minutes ago, IllicitFive said:

I will ask again, where you finding those guys? What you giving up? Cap space? Injury insurance? I never said anything about Brock and the "one of us" stuff, you seem to suppose a lot while avoiding actually answering questions. Whos goal is it to not win the cup? Who would you want to keep on this team besides Kap? I am looking forward to your break down of how easy it is to build team this year that gets past round one and is ready to win a cup now.

i just listed the guys i'd keep in the same chat you responded too

feel free to check there

my point is that it is NOT a requirement to be a SC winner this year. but it should be a requirement to get out of 1 round. you are not getting out if you have top 6 build up of finesse players. if the same top 6 even makes it to the PO - the games will ramp up even more - so if we cannot protect each other up top - then the injuries will just be a norm. 

is getting tuch far-fatched? no - if Buffalo agrees then you can work out financials. you can even use 3rd team and send them a pick for $ retention. then you plug Tuch in for MJ and have a more balanced line up. What's the problem?

[IllicitFive]

4 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

I would trade Boldy for Svechnikov yesterday. If they are asking for a prospect, fine - pick any not named Zeev or Yurov. I suggeted this as after-the-year proposal should canes fail to advance past 1st round and would feel a need to change course.  

As far as Tuch - Billy has worked with Buffalo before, actually it seems that it's a preferred destination for Minny GMs. So why not check in? See what can be done? 

Also your idea of "Boldy or Ek should have made Foresberg fight" just doesn't make sense. If they don't drop the gloves now you are on a PK, and for what? Nothing, there are reasons only certain players fight, there is a code.

I disagree fully. If leaders are not asked to answer for their minions then this won't change. Wild will continue be looked at as prey. When Ovi had enough of Svechnikov both got into it. I need to see it from Ek or from Boldy. And there is nothing of that sort in them. Nothing yet i suppose. Maybe it needs to come out. And i thought it would be a great time for that. PK or not -most of the time both guys are removed. Boldy walks to FF and that's where the code works - FF cannot just walk away - otherwise he is the prey now. 

So 1 guy would make them a cup team huh? Less goals, assists and a minus 3 brought in for Boldy who is plus 4. Also the cap space doesn't work, so need to ship out another player they are willing to take. If you were the canes would you do that trade? If not then why would they?

"FF cannot just walk away - otherwise he is the prey now." Haha, the 100% can walk away, it happens often, that's why others step in to fight, otherwise why do teams just not force top players to fight all game every game? Make Kap fight and sit in the box the whole game, don't let him walk away, easy as that!! That's why I am saying what you are suggesting doesn't make any sense, that's not how fighting works.

[FredJohnson]

16 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

It was the wrong kind of revenge plain and simple. Montoya did not get Andre the Giant to kill the guy, he did it himself. When a captain is taken out like that, you don't let one minion fight another. You take it upon yourself (Top Players/Leaders) to go against the top dogs from Nash and battle it out (have them answer for the idiocy of the others. That is what was needed.

We, predictably, sent out our brutes vs their brutes for the battle of "no-one-gives-a-shit".  Proven by Heureux trying to take out Rossi.... I know i should be glad that the kid did the QB slide....but part of me wonders if he could have instead of laying down, turned and blasted Heureux shoulder to shoulder or if that is who this group is - QB sliding...instead of pushing through, get that first down or in our case - reach another level (PO success).

Putting Rossi self-preservation aside - we are left with Ek and Boldy. I am sticking with my previous point - i think that is who should have fought. They should have fought Forsberg or O'Reilly. Instead they were .... just there i guess.

Some will say - it's the code and job of Foligno to go get retribution.....but for me - (a) to change the way your entire team is viewed and (b) to get the message about the play to the entire team - you must take it up with the leadership. 

The response was wasted on Heureux. It was wasted on the Nashville team. And it was wasted on the league. It is still open season on Wild since no one in the top 6 has the balls to stand up.

One of the three - Boldy, Ek or Rossi i think has to go. Maybe after the season, IF Canes flop, we can orchestrate a Boldy for Svechnikov deal. Then line up Kap, Svech and Yurov. 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

The way the game started was not the problem. The sloppy defense and mediocre goaltending after the fighting penalties ended was a major reason for the lopsided loss. Wild also missed burying a number of their good looks.

Ultimately, it's just 1 game and there should be better days ahead. Hopefully the Wild get Kaprizov and Spurgeon back soon and get back to winning well over 60% of the points available.

[OldDutchChip]

12 minutes ago, IllicitFive said:

So 1 guy would make them a cup team huh? Less goals, assists and a minus 3 brought in for Boldy who is plus 4. Also the cap space doesn't work, so need to ship out another player they are willing to take. If you were the canes would you do that trade? If not then why would they?

"FF cannot just walk away - otherwise he is the prey now." Haha, the 100% can walk away, it happens often, that's why others step in to fight, otherwise why do teams just not force top players to fight all game every game? Make Kap fight and sit in the box the whole game, don't let him walk away, easy as that!! That's why I am saying what you are suggesting doesn't make any sense, that's not how fighting works.

i never said he would make them a cup team, i said we need to get out of 1st round and having a bit more muscle won't hurt, right?

i already told you the reason they consider - should they fall in the 1st round and decide a change is needed, they are keeping Aho and Necas and maybe do decide that one star for another is a gamble worth taking.

Re FF- Yes if Boldy times it right, then FF cannot just skate away. You build it up right, you talk to FF and say "i'll be there every shift making it very difficult on you until you cave in, but you have to answer for the goon, and if it takes multiple games, i'll be here making you know you are a p#ssy until you fight me" That's it. Deal is done. Foligno/Harty/Trenin do not engage - instead they defer until their leader obliges. 

How fighting works? You have the definition for that? Oh ok. 

[mnfaninnc]

Wow, lots of comments already. I am quoting myself from a different thread

Quote

Well, I wasn't happy about last night's outcome vs. Nashville. If 3 fights + getting first goal was the goal of the night, well then, we did pretty well. But this was never my goal. 

After this happened, essentially, it looked like everyone was relieved and played a pretty finesse game the rest of the way. The team was supposed to build off of these things, be hard to play against, FINISH A CHECK (forwards) and not let anybody inside on MAF.  Fleury did not have a spectacular game and the Forsberg goal at the end of a PP was a killer.

The team, itself look ridiculously slow, so I'm guessing that while they did their best, several of them are still dealing with a bug that has sapped their energy. These things happen and are a popular reason why teams go into slumps. I think this is where we are right now.

This has nothing to do with a "Good Look." This has everything to do with not transitioning into a hard to play against team. For starters, L'Hureaux kind of went after Trenin to get it over with. Foligno/Schenn and Hartman's fight came shortly later. (Hartman's fight was interestingly strange. He looked like he wanted to throw rights, switched to the left when he was tied up, and finished with rights when the Preds guy was down. To me, this indicates that Hartman's right side is still not right nor strong, much like what happened to Dumba)

Then, we turned back into the finesse team we always are and it cost us dearly. Those types of things are supposed to propel you in a way that makes you very tough to play against. It didn't. Why? I can only think that roster construction has a lot to do with this. Also, playing a 3rd pairing defense as your 2nd pairing probably answers a lot too. 

Quote

The Wild's response cost Nashville nothing, and it was never going to hit the Predators where it hurts. As much as the team and fans want a cathartic title fight in revenge for injuring a top player, that's not the kind of league this is anymore. Despite the Wild's dalliances with enforcers like Nic Deslauriers and Ryan Reaves, The Code has never protected the team and never been a deterrent. Again, that's not the case anywhere.

The Wild dipped their toes back into the Old School pool and immediately learned why it didn't work under Dean Evason. Minnesota still plays hard under Hynes, but that effort is focused, controlled, and directed toward defense, not physicality for its own sake. For the sake of sticking to what's worked, the Wild are better to let their urge for revenge out of their system now and avoid having to flip the switch from vengeance to hockey in the future. 

This is Tony's conclusion on the matter. Some of it has valid points but I just don't see the conclusion as being correct. A large part of the problem here is that we have a finessey type of team, and this kind of thing empties their tanks and doesn't propel them to a long, hard battle. In other words, this truly is a team who has grown soft. Part of it may be the injuries, but I have to question the logic of starting Shore over Gaunce. Gaunce's thickness was needed and Shore hasn't even scored any points while he's been up. 

Hynes has done a real good job of shoring things up defensively and packing the middle forcing shots from the outside. When this works is when nobody gets inside. When this doesn't work is when they do, and this was Forsberg twice and Sissons once. Why? Because our defenders (forwards too) tend to defend like pond hockey instead of knocking a guy down. Jiricek may help end this tendency. Even so, the goal he gave up and actually probably tipped up was from standing flatfooted in front of the net and not stretching out his gadget arm far enough.

I just simply don't agree with the premise of the article, and again express my disappointment that the Wild cannot play a hard, heavy game for a full 60 minutes. Do you know what that gets you? a 1st round shellacking.

I mentioned roster construction earlier. We still have several placeholders. The thing that happens with $15m in cap penalties is that you get players who fill specific roles and have less tools in their toolbox. The only way this changes is if you drafted well and those guys have more. Your Hartmans, Folignos, Trenins, Gaudreaus, etc... do 1 or 2 things well. But, what we don't have is a guy who puts up a bunch of points AND is really hard to play against. These guys cost a lot more. This is why Tuch is so appealing to me and a few others. At $4.75m, he can do all sorts of things.

Zuccarello can thread passes like few others, but he cannot play physically. Bogosian plays well in his role, but if you stick him in the top 4 for very long, he gets exposed. These types of people do what they can well and you need some of those guys on the team. However, only our drafted guys like Kaprizov, Ek, Boldy, Rossi can do several things well. 

And this is why we are waiting, because the guys coming can do multiple things well. They will displace the guys who are good at their roles but not much else. We'll still have a few of the placeholders around, but the core of the team will be from guys who do a lot of things well. This is Yurov's calling card. 

[IllicitFive]

2 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

i never said he would make them a cup team, i said we need to get out of 1st round and having a bit more muscle won't hurt, right?

i already told you the reason they consider - should they fall in the 1st round and decide a change is needed, they are keeping Aho and Necas and maybe do decide that one star for another is a gamble worth taking.

Re FF- Yes if Boldy times it right, then FF cannot just skate away. You build it up right, you talk to FF and say "i'll be there every shift making it very difficult on you until you cave in, but you have to answer for the goon, and if it takes multiple games, i'll be here making you know you are a p#ssy until you fight me" That's it. Deal is done. Foligno/Harty/Trenin do not engage - instead they defer until their leader obliges. 

How fighting works? You have the definition for that? Oh ok. 

So trading for less points and losing another NHL player would get them a for sure round 1 win? I didn't know it was that easy. So if you are the canes you would trade svech for Boldy straight up? Boldy and a mid range AHL player? If that little is he really worth having?

I do have a clear definition for you, for a fight to happen two or more people need to engage in a physical exchange. So now FF says "yeah ok bud" and skates away and now no fight happens? (I highly doubt name calling will get them to fight, they aren't 12) Maybe Boldy gets overly aggressive and takes a dumb penalty or 2. Perfect now Preds are on an extra PP and still no fight. Perhaps now with Boldy playing like a dunce Schenn and  L'Heureux take an extra step running him, rough him up a bit. If I am the Preds coach that's what I would instruct, let Boldy play dumb, make mistakes, commit penalties, if you are top 6 do not engage and we will make them pay on the scoreboard and walk out with 2 points. Thank you for the easy win there coach ODC, and you never got the fight you wanted. Please play the same way every time we play, it works out well for us.

[MNCountryLife]

I think we need to put this game against the Preds into context.  Faber looked a little rusty but got better as the game went on.  Spurge and Brodin would have helped dramatically and probably pushed Jiricek and Merrill out of the lineup which had bad games.  We need Kirill back.  He is the catalyst to our offense. The Cap space doesn't allow for us to have 2 high paid snipers.  So we only have 1 and when he goes down it hurts.  We get those 3 back and this team should settle in as a disciplined team and be fine. 

[MNCountryLife]

I am also looking forward to adding Zeev and Yurov to the lineup.  Give them and Ogren 30 games in the N and they will start producing well.  Trading them away for free agents other teams do not want will be a fast track to the bottom of the league.

[OldDutchChip]

32 minutes ago, IllicitFive said:

So trading for less points and losing another NHL player would get them a for sure round 1 win? I didn't know it was that easy. So if you are the canes you would trade svech for Boldy straight up? Boldy and a mid range AHL player? If that little is he really worth having?

I do have a clear definition for you, for a fight to happen two or more people need to engage in a physical exchange. So now FF says "yeah ok bud" and skates away and now no fight happens? (I highly doubt name calling will get them to fight, they aren't 12) Maybe Boldy gets overly aggressive and takes a dumb penalty or 2. Perfect now Preds are on an extra PP and still no fight. Perhaps now with Boldy playing like a dunce Schenn and  L'Heureux take an extra step running him, rough him up a bit. If I am the Preds coach that's what I would instruct, let Boldy play dumb, make mistakes, commit penalties, if you are top 6 do not engage and we will make them pay on the scoreboard and walk out with 2 points. Thank you for the easy win there coach ODC, and you never got the fight you wanted. Please play the same way every time we play, it works out well for us.

Why would you not check on Svechnikov if Canes go out in 1st round? What's the worst that can happen? And yes, if they loose I think they will rethink their core and Svechnikov may be available. Boldy is very comparable and wouldn't be that much of a crazy offer to work around. 

I disagree on how fight can play out. If Boldy wanted, he could have engaged someone from the top players. He did not. Neither did Ek. 

Thank you for the easy win there coach ODC, and you never got the fight you wanted. Please play the same way every time we play, it works out well for us. You are saying you are good with Kap and Spurge being out, MJ concussed, Rossi almost destroyed....oh but wait we fought Heureux!! oh wonderful. it worked! we paid him back, he understood he was wrong and we won! oh wait none of that happened. So i guess - YOU ARE WRONG.

[OldDutchChip]

31 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

I am also looking forward to adding Zeev and Yurov to the lineup.  Give them and Ogren 30 games in the N and they will start producing well.  Trading them away for free agents other teams do not want will be a fast track to the bottom of the league.

Ohgren is not ready. Yurov may also need seasoning as will Zeev. 30 games to rookies = that can be a quicker pathway to bottom of the league. 🤔

[IllicitFive]

13 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

Why would you not check on Svechnikov if Canes go out in 1st round? What's the worst that can happen? And yes, if they loose I think they will rethink their core and Svechnikov may be available. Boldy is very comparable and wouldn't be that much of a crazy offer to work around. 

I disagree on how fight can play out. If Boldy wanted, he could have engaged someone from the top players. He did not. Neither did Ek. 

Thank you for the easy win there coach ODC, and you never got the fight you wanted. Please play the same way every time we play, it works out well for us. You are saying you are good with Kap and Spurge being out, MJ concussed, Rossi almost destroyed....oh but wait we fought Heureux!! oh wonderful. it worked! we paid him back, he understood he was wrong and we won! oh wait none of that happened. So i guess - YOU ARE WRONG.

Check on trade, sure, but you aren't saying you would do the trade. I asked point blank if you would trade Svech to get Boldy, but you won't say you would trade to get Boldy in that case. If you would say that then clearly you don't value Svech as much. If you don't value him as much then why would you make that trade?

I disagree on how fight can play out. If Boldy wanted, he could have engaged someone from the top players. He did not. Neither did Ek. OK lets try it this way, you walk up to me start pushing, calling me names trying to get a fight and I walk away, then there is no fight. You take a swing or hit me, now that is assault. In hockey that is called an instigator if the two end up fighting, so you are getting an extra 2 min anyway, if they don't fight one player gets a roughing at minimum for those acts. Therefore you should clearly see that it takes two agreeing parties to fight. Hence what is referred to in hockey as "The Code".

Now with the above who are you going to fight? Only those who would fight back, guess who that is in this case, not top line skill guys like FF. Thusly your idea of deterrence is bunk. You go after one of their top guys, now they go after yours, why would it just stop because you hit them? I am not glad to see injuries, but, they happen. Its unfortunate but things happen, trying to take it to their top guys just puts more targets on your top guys too and so on and so on.

[MNCountryLife]

25 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

Ohgren is not ready. Yurov may also need seasoning as will Zeev. 30 games to rookies = that can be a quicker pathway to bottom of the league.

I didn't think Ohgren played bad.  I do think he played better than Nojo.  Faber didn't need seasoning and Zeev is elite and possibly better than what Faber was.  Not sure about Yurov.  I don't see him simmering in the A for very long if at all.    We haven't gone to the bottom with Faber, Boldy and Rossi.  In fact I would claim that they have been a big reason for our rise over last year.  

[OldDutchChip]

Just now, MNCountryLife said:

I didn't think Ohgren played bad.  I do think he played better than Nojo.  Faber didn't need seasoning and Zeev is elite and possibly better than what Faber was.  Not sure about Yurov.  I don't see him simmering in the A for very long if at all.    We haven't gone to the bottom with Faber, Boldy and Rossi.  In fact I would claim that they have been a big reason for our rise over last year.  

it's just seems a bit over relying on rookies, that typically require a bit more patience. maybe all three of them claim spots and rock them. maybe not. i think there is going to be some bumps in the road for sure. 

i think yurov may be the most ready in my opinion. he'll slide into top 6. 

zeev may have the luxury of being "hidden" in the D group and being a PP specialist, so he is also a lock

ohgren - may be the odd one out so to speak and may need to claw his way up. at this point, i think he needs to go back and finish the whole year in the A.

[Thatoneguy]

16 hours ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

I just looked it up and Rossi only has 6 points in 15 games against playoff teams in the west.  That’s not getting it done and a reason why we are struggling against those teams.  

Kap hasn't done much better against the west.... Better trade him even up for Tuch....

[OldDutchChip]

11 minutes ago, IllicitFive said:

Check on trade, sure, but you aren't saying you would do the trade. I asked point blank if you would trade Svech to get Boldy, but you won't say you would trade to get Boldy in that case. If you would say that then clearly you don't value Svech as much. If you don't value him as much then why would you make that trade?

I disagree on how fight can play out. If Boldy wanted, he could have engaged someone from the top players. He did not. Neither did Ek. OK lets try it this way, you walk up to me start pushing, calling me names trying to get a fight and I walk away, then there is no fight. You take a swing or hit me, now that is assault. In hockey that is called an instigator if the two end up fighting, so you are getting an extra 2 min anyway, if they don't fight one player gets a roughing at minimum for those acts. Therefore you should clearly see that it takes two agreeing parties to fight. Hence what is referred to in hockey as "The Code".

Now with the above who are you going to fight? Only those who would fight back, guess who that is in this case, not top line skill guys like FF. Thusly your idea of deterrence is bunk. You go after one of their top guys, now they go after yours, why would it just stop because you hit them? I am not glad to see injuries, but, they happen. Its unfortunate but things happen, trying to take it to their top guys just puts more targets on your top guys too and so on and so on.

If i am the GM, i demand Zeev or Yurov along with Boldy. But i am not. Maybe there is some other factors involved, or maybe they do decide to field offers IF there is a meltdown. Who knows, you check in and you see. What if you leave Ohgren in the A, he pads his stats and Wally gets back on track - then you have some ammunition to add. It's not a immediate game, but there can be a plan. 

As for fighting - you can have those discussions on the ice and get the message to the leaders - one of you will have to answer for Heureux. This is not going to end with just a Foligno fight. This needs to be settled by top dogs. And you say that you will not relent and make it "uncomfortable" for these top dogs (not swinging but every possession you go a little extra and get in their face saying this won't stop until it's settled - because you took out our captain - and now YOU pay the price for your good). You as in Ek or Boldy - that's our top dogs and they did nothing. If they stood up, i guarantee FF or O'Reilly or Josi would understand and oblige. 

[Tony Abbott]

Cursed to have all my articles turn into a referendum on Marco Rossi...

[Tony Abbott]

18 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

We, predictably, sent out our brutes vs their brutes for the battle of "no-one-gives-a-shit".  Proven by Heureux trying to take out Rossi.... I know i should be glad that the kid did the QB slide....but part of me wonders if he could have instead of laying down, turned and blasted Heureux shoulder to shoulder or if that is who this group is - QB sliding...instead of pushing through, get that first down or in our case - reach another level (PO success).

That sounds great until Rossi gets his shoulder banged-up and you have two top-six centers that are significantly less than 100%. Is there anything Minnesota needs less than another major injury?

And that's kind of my point -- who is L'Heureux that the Wild need to prove themselves against? He's a dumb lil' shithead, no one knows who he is. I could maybe see some value in setting a tone against someone like Tom Wilson in Game 1 of a playoff series, but some random-ass game in January? Come on.

[Dean]

IMO the Edmonton game was the game for the wild to send a message to the league. Someone should have taken a suspension to take out the Canadian golden boy mcdirty . Someone should have folded his knees . Hartman or moose should have destroyed Conner and Leon. The goal in that game should have been to hurt one or both of them. Obviously the league isn’t going to protect krill or any other wild player so the league needs to know your willing to get justice yourself on the top dogs. The ones who sell tickets. Who cares if you lose a game or someone gets suspended. It’ll make the rest of the leauge think twice if they know your willing to go after there money makers . 
     What happened in Nashville is a joke. No one got hurt no one got the message. Instead you had a few pillow fights for nothing. Moose talks a big game about the code. The code should have meant something in the Edmonton game but where was moose ? Or suter in Dallas cross checking kappy, Winnipeg cross checking kappy etc. He talks about code yet only uses it on 4 th line guys who  might not be in the nhl next week. His leadership is embarrassing.

     Mcdirty should be on long term IR because the wild sent a message to quit messing with our guys.  

[OldDutchChip]

14 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

That sounds great until Rossi gets his shoulder banged-up and you have two top-six centers that are significantly less than 100%. Is there anything Minnesota needs less than another major injury?

And that's kind of my point -- who is L'Heureux that the Wild need to prove themselves against? He's a dumb lil' shithead, no one knows who he is. I could maybe see some value in setting a tone against someone like Tom Wilson in Game 1 of a playoff series, but some random-ass game in January? Come on.

exactly!! MN does NOT need another injury and it keeps happening nonetheless. And it will keep happening.

in my post, i wasn't saying what Rossi did was wrong or dumb (he was smart and slid to avoid the hit), i just thought of what if he instead does the opposite - with a purpose. Not just looks up and gets taken out - but actually looks up, turns his shoulder (gives an evil smirk!) and levels that punk. but that's not Rossi, that's not MJ, that's not Ek, not Boldy and not Zuccy (well Zuccy is actually a hot head so who knows). 

Heureux is a nobody. But there are nobodies on other teams. And more waiting to take that place. Because of that nobody - Every team now knows what we are made off. Every team. You don't think teams know how Dallas took it to Kap? Or how Jets messed him up? Or how McDavid (as a skilled top dog) goes and just takes out one of our own top guys? Every team will go after Kaprizov, because of our spineless top 6.

We had to mess with the top leaders and we instead were satisfied to let it be as if nothing-out-of-the-norm happened. No biggie - it was just our captain. It was just our superstar. It is just hockey, we are not here to win, we are here to participate. 

[Tony Abbott]

Genuinely might be forgetting, but I don't think Kaprizov was taken out by a dirty hit? Spurgeon, of course, and Faber with the elbow, and Johansson, but that didn't happen with Kaprizov or Eriksson Ek? It's a tough game, and you pick up wear-and-tear without anything out of the ordinary.