Former Player Tracking: All Stars? Anyone? Beuller?

It is little surprise that the guys on the list belwo did not make the All-Star game. There is really only two guys, Brent Burns and Martin Havlat, that likely had any chance at all. Playing for the Wild, they were big fish in a little pond. Now, they are medium fish in a big pond with some massive fish surrounding them. Hard to get noticed.

Unless, you hurt yourself jumping the boards. Maybe they should add "Board jumping" to the skills competition. I've watched six year olds jump the boards. it's really not that hard.

There remain guys that are, no doubt, missed by the team and the fans. With this project being over half a season old, it is clear not many of them were the difference makers some felt they were. Hard to argue when you look at the list.

Brent Burns

Seventeen points isn't bad, certainly. He's going to need a run to bust through that 40 point mark that makes d-men oh so valuable. Those 129 SOG look mighty nice about now, though. In his last game, Burns was hit knee on knee, but seems to be recovering nicely. Word is, he should be back after the break.

Martin Havlat

Seriously. Who hurts themselves jumping the boards?

Cam Barker

Word on the street says Barker is back on the ice and skating. Steve Tambellini was just given and extension. First order of duty? #SignBarker

Mittens stopped the bleeding on his +/-, but the points certainly haven't followed. Twenty one shots on goal in 17 games is nothing to write home about, either. Of course, knowing him, his Corsi is probably like +50. (He misses the net a lot.)

Andrew Brunette

Nineteen points is pretty good for a third liner. That -10 is a bit ugly, but when you are put in a checking role, it happens. You're still welcome back here, anytime, Bruno.

Chuck Kobasew

HEY! HE SCORED AGAINST THE WILD! That gives him such sweet, sweet revenge, right? Oh. Wait. He lost. And, he's still really boring.

Hopefully someday, Sheppard is back.

Eric Nystrom

He, too scored a goal against the Wild. Only his must have felt really good, and he had a great celly to go with it. We may call him "Gladiator" from now on.

Jose Theodore

On again, off again for Theodore. A couple injuries have limited his action, but not altogether that much. The Panthers are still in the playoff race, and still turning heads. Good on ya, guys.

John Madden

Seven games in, no points. Very Madden-esque. In other words, he's not a scorer. He's a shutdown guy. Being just a -1, it suggests he is still rather good at it.

Colton Gillies

OMG!!!!11 He got an assist! Worst. Waiver. Ever. Yeah, or not. Good to see he still has a job. Still has a ton of work to do efore anyone is overly upset he is gone.

What it All Means

Other than pure fandom, the numbers suggest the Wild aren't missing much. Burns remains the one guy on the list that the team could really use, but the return is still to resolve itself, so no sense getting too upset about it. Many of the guys are hurt, which is unsurprising, and the Wild don't exactly need more man games missed. Good to see the guys still have jobs and all, but they aren't the missing link.