Wilderness Walk: 5-31-2013

Settling goalie situation is Wild's top priority | StarTribune.com- Don't know much about Antti Raanta, but I'd rather see them make that kind of move than spend big money on a goaltender like Backstrom, or a trade for a guy like Miller. I think solidifying the D and adding size should be the top priorities. They can't solve either while spending 6 million for a goalie. As for Cullen, his faceoffs would be missed, but it's entirely possible that Granlund can do most everything he can do next year. Is not spending 3.5 million worth risking to see whether Granlund is ready? Given FBJ's success at every level of hockey short of the NHL, I'd say yes.

Tom Powers: If NHL fighting remains a sideshow, maybe we should ditch it - TwinCities.com- Tom hates fighting.

Tom Powers: Great NHL coaches available. Know anybody that needs one? - TwinCities.com- This was written over a week ago, hasn't been clipped on here yet. We sure love us some Tom Powers! But seriously, he has a good point here. If GMCF thinks that Ruff, Vigneault, Tippett, or now Tortorella represents an upgrade from Mike Yeo, it's hard to imagine a scenario where it makes sense to not pull the trigger on that. Fletcher's shown a propensity for being bold, so he may well find Yeo to be his best option, but it's hard for an outsider to argue that, and this is from someone who likes Yeo. But for every good point Powers makes, he makes a facepalm occur, and he says in the article that he wants Dave Tippett's coaching acumen, but not his style of play. Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

First Round Bust: ...And A Goal Light On Every Rooftop Building- Nathan dreams about the greater community getting into the Wild like the cities of Pittsburgh and Toronto do with their squads.

Huberdeau looks like Calder Trophy material in HF's final 2013 Calder Poll - Hockey's Future- Compelling evidence that Hockey's Future staff doesn't watch NHL games.

Off The Trail

Referee Stephen Walkom makes cut for conference finals after Game 7 controversy | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- Didn't see the call.

Why referees "put the whistle away" late in games | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com- Bourne on that call that I was working while occurring, and similar calls.

Robyn Regehr inks 2-year deal with LA Kings, taking pay cut for champs | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- At this point, why the hell wouldn't you re-sgin with LA?

Eulogy: Remembering the 2012-13 San Jose Sharks | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- Remember the ex-Wild version of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

The Ryan Miller Sweepstakes: Who's Out?- Speaking of Goaltending...

John Tortorella not manager enough to be NHL coach - The Hockey News- In case you didn't get your fill of Torts yesterday.

Flames, Blue Jackets have chance to strike gold in deep NHL draft - The Hockey News- Which is why I decided to pick the beej for the Hockey Wilderness Mock Draft Game. Good seats still available!