Daily Links: Todd Richards' Short Leash? State of Hockey Celebration. Faceoffs are Important. James Sheppard Feels Free

Powers: Exhibition or not, Wild loss was a 'compete' disaster - TwinCities.com
In a position to have to really push tickets for the first time in their history, the Wild on Thursday night were like the door-to-door salesman with bad breath, dandruff and a severe case of B.O. The success ratio for such a peddler is very low. OK, let's get the usual disclaimers out of the way. The St. Louis Blues are a very good team and had the vast majority of their top players in the lineup. The Wild were missing several key regulars. They are learning a new system. And yes, it's only an exhibition game.

Sheppard embracing Wild changes | StarTribune.com
In a training camp filled with clean slates for players because of a new coach, one Wild player is overjoyed the actual coach is a clean slate.

2009-10 NHL Season Preview: Minnesota Wild - From The Rink
That could very well all add up to a playoff reappearance, although this remains a team light on goal scorers, and the Wild could be on the outside looking in should Havlat, Koivu or a key blueliner go down.