These girls had an AMAZING season, I personally feel like that is an understatement. They where undefeated at home. They had a pretty good winning record on the road (10-3-1). Also during our home series against the Minnesota Gophers this season we swept them unlike the last past few years where they swept us. When we went to play at Minnesota we stopped them from having a sweep as well. Both the Badgers and Gophers won a game that series. For men who said girls cannot play hockey, well these girls, I mean women proved you wrong. If you can shoot, can pass, and score: you can play.
Who knew prepping for a game could be so much fun!
I went to one home game in the spring and was just taken away about how good the team was playing and working together. They knew where each other where on the ice. They had this unspoken language between them, even the coaches. It was all unbelievable to watch and how put together they all where. Another thing I really loved witnessing was something that made it onto ESPN Sports Centers Top Ten list. Sarah Nurse did this most incredible deke that also came a goal. It happened so fast, I was to amazed with how the deke went to even see the goal. If you want to watch it, this link leads you to the teams tweet.
Another awesome thing that happened this season was that John Harrington became head coach of University of Minnesota - Minnesota State (Mavericks) for the women's team. So Mark Johnson got to get a chance to coach against one of his Miracle on Ice teammates. It was a new change for Harrington because he always coached men's hockey. But women's hockey warmed up to him. It is nice to see that more guys from the Miracle on Ice team are getting into to coaching women's hockey. More ways to popularize the sport. I personally don't want the guys from the 1980 Olympic team to steal all the girls thunder. I think that the UW-Madison and the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are doing a great job with promoting women's hockey. Here in the Midwest, it is also a hockey hotbed, just like the East Coast is. The majority of the women who have played on the USA Olympic hockey team are from around the Midwest. With how well the Badgers and USA women's hockey are preforming, we pretty good to go on the girls being the spokes people. But with it being Harrington's first season, he did pretty well. He got his team to the playoffs.
Video that was made about the upcoming rivalry in
WCHA hockey between both Miracle on Ice players and
now coaches.
The playoffs went well for the Lady Badgers who did pretty well up until the Final Four game against the Minnesota Gophers. It was the same story as last year with us playing against them and losing. But this time there was a difference to these two stories. This year we fought all we could, tieing the game and going into overtime. I was not there and I was sadly not able to watch the game in person. But from tweets I have seen on Twitter. It looked like a stressful game to watch on our side, and also hopefully on the Gophers side as well. We got to give them something to freakout about after what they did to us in the 2014-15 season final four playoff. The girls where training their asses off all summer for this. But in overtime the Gophers ended up winning the game and advancing to the NCAA Final. From someone who told me who was there at the game it was heartbreaking. I can only imagine. My heart broke for the girls when I read the tweet.
With the way that both the 2014-15 and the 2015-16 season has ended, it was heartbreaking and also motivational. If the Lady Badgers put in hard work and work their asses off again during off season and during the season. They can do great things. This is what we saw this season. 2015-16 was good to them, but I believe that 2016-17 will be AMAZING to them. Girls win that NCAA Championship! I am there with you, I know how much you want it because I want it for you guys as much as you want it. Go out their girls and WIN!
The season was not their best. There seemed to be something going on, not sure if it was how the team was working together with the coaches, or just a lot of bad luck sadly coming towards their way. Things where not coming together, one could see that with their 8-19-8-0 record overall in the 2015-16 season. This lead to the seats in the Kohl Center getting emptier and emptier. The men still drew a crowd to cheer them on, this is where they found out who their true fans are.
There where enjoyable players out there who I enjoyed watching during the season. There where a great group of incoming freshmen who wowed us all. Luke Kunin lead the team and the freshmen in scoring. Took off with a amazing start, and also has a amazing Badger career that is a head of him. Grant Besse was also a joy to watch, he is always is. Besse has a great future ahead of him in the NHL. I also enjoyed watching Corbin McGuire bouncing back and fourth between defense and offense. It is always good to have a player who is established in both of these departments, and who can be a well rounded player and can play where you need him too.
The season ended horribly, and embarrassingly looking back at it for the team. The Badgers found themselves in the B1G tournament and ended up getting booted out of the tournament in the first round. It was a disappointing loss to Penn. State. The score was 5-2. Things needed to change for the program.
During one of the Broader Battle games against the
Minnesota Gophers
This lead to head coach Mike Eaves getting fired. There was already speculations going on through out the season about him getting fired. People in the stands where yelling at him that he should get fired. Very disrespectful at that time in my opinion. I do not go up to you and yell you should get fired while you are doing your job. Do not yell at him about something that may or may not be on his radar. It does not help him out with his confidence in being a leader for his team. Also it is disrespectful to the team as well, to have them hear that their leader is not doing his job up to you, the audience standards. Does not help that bridge of respect for players of their coaches.
There where also some questionable in reasons why Barry Alvarez fried Eaves to make the men's hockey program a better program. That made some red flags fly up to some of us, one of them being me. With the Wisconsin Journal quoting Alvarez on why he wanted the program to do well: "People interpret that I give all my attention to football and that is simply not true... However, football does demand a lot of attention. It’s the (financial) engine that drives the entire (athletic) program. But I care about hockey. I very much believe that we are a better athletic department when our men’s hockey program is thriving." I agree with him about the thriving part and having crowds come in and pay money for tickets to see their team win games instead of getting crushed, and people feeling they wasted their money to see a team loss over and over again. But one thing that really ruffled my feathers was that Alvarez saying that he cares about hockey, that's debatable in my opinion. I feel like Alvarez's loyalties still lay mostly still in the football program.
From left to right: Don Granato (assistant coach), Tony Granato
(head coach), and Mark Osiecki (assistant coach)
Within two weeks later the athletic department found new replacements head coach and two assistant coaches. The Wisconsin Badgers hired Tony Granato as head coach with his brother Don Granato as an assistant coach with Mark Osiecki as the second head coach. It was a package deal: "My initial reaction was, absolutely, but only on the condition that I could bring these two guys with me as my associate coaches... These two guys are the final piece on why I’m here," states T. Granato when talking to the Wisconsin Journal. Within this off season during the summer, the program has done some major recruiting that gives the program a positive outlook on the future. Also one thing we learned early in the off season was that Tony Granato still needs to finish his degree and graduate college. Most of the people who are athletes in school, have opportunities to have professional careers. They go do that, and then UW-Madison athletic department has an open door policy for them to go back and get their degree. T. Granato is doing that, he needs the degree to coach at the college. Now is the time to take that advantage and maybe end up in a class with some of his players? Probably unlikely, but it would be an interesting experience to have though for both parties if that does happen.
With this new change in coaches, and new incoming players, and old players looking to kick off their season and do well and show what actually the Wisconsin Men's Hockey team can do. They have been held back way to long and looking forward to becoming a dominant Mid-West team again. Also to put more excitement in the Badger/Gopher rivalry which has been lacking on the Badger side. Oh, child things are getting brighter, and I have a feeling your 2016-17 season will be a brighter one.
This year was not as crazy as last year was. Most of the big stuff happened before the July 1st trade deadline, it all happened during the draft. Way to show these new kids who are just getting drafted into the NHL that you can be easily traded without question. These trades that where made in the draft where trading current players for spots in the 2016 draft and also future drafts: 2017 and 2018 drafts.
NHL Draft
From left to right: Austin Matthews, Patrik Laine, Jesse Puliujärvi, and
Luke Kunin
Austin Matthews: First overall pick in the draft, is from San Ramon, California. Was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was playing in the Swiss National League in 2015 because he was too young to be drafted in the 2015 NHL Draft, by two days (aww, poor kid). Matthews will be playing with the Maple Leafs next year, like in the years pasts, I cannot wait to see what this number one pick can do next season! Patrik Laine: Second overall pick, Patrik Laine is from Tampere, Finland. Was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets. Before the draft he was playing in the Liiga league in Finland for the Tappara. He was also on the IIHF Junior 2016 Champion team for Finland who won at Worlds this year. Jesse Puljujärvi: Fourth overall pick, he is from Älvkarleby, Sweden; but he plays for the National Finnish team during the IIHF Juniors. He also was apart of the IIHF Junior 2016 Champion team for Finland in January 2016. Puljujärvi got drafted to the Edmonton Oilers. Before coming to the NHL draft he had played on the Liiga's Oulun Kärpät team and was also apart of the 2014-15 season Liiga championship team. Luke Kunin: Fifteenth overall pick, Luke Kunin is from Chesterfield, Missouri. He was drafted to the Minnesota Wild. He has not signed his contract yet, and hopefully will be joining the team after his playing career is up for the Wisconsin Badgers, this will probably be the 2019-20 season will be his rookie season with the Wild and also in the NHL. Kunin was also apart of the IIHF Junior 2015 Champion team for the United States of America.
Trades
SheaWeber in a Canadians jersey (left) and PK Subban in a
Predators jersey (right).
PK Subban // Shea Weber
PK Subban got traded to the Nashville Predators for Shea Weber who is now a Montreal Canadian. This was a shocking and controversial trade. According to Sports Net (Canada's version of ESPN) it was the worst trade in the history of the NHL. I happen to agree with them. Why would you trade a defenseman who is just getting started in their career, and who possibly reaching their peak in their career for an older defenseman? If I would have traded him for someone, I would have gone for Erik Karlsson, who is one of the top defensemen in the league right now. If I did not want a defesemen, I could go for a forward, and Steven Stamkos was one of the top free agents during the off season until he signed his renewal contract in July. Not the brightest move by the Canadians. Not only because it was all about "egos", "stealing the limelight", or "he did not fit into your team" reasons. It has to do with more ability, who can play well with talent, and it is about winning the Stanley Cup.
Says it all, basically.
Taylor Hall // Adam Larsson
Unlike the Subban/Weber trade, this one cannot be understood. It's a mystery to all of us. Why would you trade someone good for that little? Asked Hockey News in one of their writers blog post. I could not agree more about this one. Why would you want to get a forward (obviously the Devils needed help offensively) and trade one of your defensemen? You just left a giant gap in your defense. How are you going to figure out how to fill that gap now? I don't think a team works very well with five defensemen instead of six. Pucks are going to get through, and you are going to be losing games. You might have one extra forward play both offense and defense. I got no answers for you New Jersey Devils you got to figure out that one on your own. Even if I did, I still would not offer them to you. You dug yourself your own hole, now you need to dig yourself out of it.
Contract Renewals
Sometimes contract renewals are like trades. Players get offered better money, and sometimes their career is on it's last season and they want to play at home or where they started. Also other different reasons too, a lot of it can be personal and/or professional reasons.
Darcy Kuemper and Matt Dumba on top for the Wild both renewed
contracts with the Wild. On the bottom is Steven Stamoks who resigned
with the Tampa Bay Lightening.
Steven Stamkos: Resigns with the Tampa Bay Lightening with an eight year contract. Thomas Vanek: Signs with the Detroit Red Wings for a year contract, due to free agency. Michael Latta & Tom Gilbert: Both sign to the LA Kings. Latta signs a one year contract due to the fact the Capitols had no interest in him anymore. Gilbert also has a one year contract with the Kings too. Last year with the Montreal Canadians, he had a knee injury that kept him out of the end of the season. Matt Dumba & Darcy Kumper: Both have renewed contracts with the Minnesota Wild. Kumper signed a one year contract with the Wild. While Dumba signs a two year contract extension with the Wild.
Eric Staal & Chris Stewart: Both have signed with the Minnesota Wild as their new team. Staal has signed a three year contract with the Minnesota Wild. I would like to say welcome back to Stewart and the Stewart Sprints! Stewart signed a two year contract with the Wild.
WATCH OUT ZACH PARISE! It looks like you will be dodging
these for another two years! Welcome back, Stewart Sprints!
Even though this year wasn't constant renewals or trades, it was very mysterious and controversial ones. Lot of head scratchers and what where they thinking moves this year during the off season. Like always during the off season, the NHL always finds a way to turn itself upside down and move around players and put them on different rosters. The 2017 off season post will be also more exciting because in June, the NHL announced that they are adding a 31st team. The team is located in Las Vegas. Next year, one player from each current of the 30 teams will be given to the unnamed Las Vegas team. So much more interesting drama of trades, contracts signing drama to come with that. I will be around to cover that, until next year.
“We had the best [first half] in franchise history and things never felt right," Mike Yeo, ex head coach of the Minnesota Wild states when talking to the Star Tribune in two different articles where he was interviewed after his firing (1, 2).
Mike Yeo getting fired, might have seem liked an escape goat. In a way yes, because the team was on an eight game loosing streak when Yeo got fired on Valentine's Day eve. As Yeo said in his interview with Michael Russo, there was more too it than just him being fired. In this article shows what it looked liked during that time. I personally feel like it's not my place to point fingers, but I feel like this could have been found in the locker room. As in what Yeo was talking about in the interview with Russo: where there was a divide between the older and younger players. If these guys can get over their egos, or whatever is causing this, hopefully the trade rumors. Those are thankfully over, for now. So hopefully everyone can go back to being one team that they should be. Like I said before, I was not in the locker room, so I do not know, and cannot go around pointing fingers at anyone. I believe, that they are at the point again, once the next season begins in next September, they can become one and start winning games and having a successful season that they deserve.
Minnesota Wild hosted their first outdoor game at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cites at TCF Stadium in Minneapolis. The NHL does an outdoor game every year during new years, and then have two or three during the winter. The Wild played against the Chicago Blackhawks and dominated. With a whooping score of 6-1! Once the Minnesota Wild started scoring, they couldn't stop. Something lit up inside of them, and they started playing like everyone knew they could. Possibly taking the game where it should be, outdoors, had something to do with it. Hopefully, there are more of these to come in the Minnesota Wild future (home or away) and hopefully more outdoor NHL games that are in the State of Hockey, where they should be.
Thomas Vanek (26) high fives Jason Pomniville (29) while Mikael Granlund
(64) skates up to celebrate with his teammates during the outdoor game.
This was Devan Dubnyk's first time ever attending to an NHL All Star Weekend. This year's was located in Nashville, Tennessee. It was a new format this year for the All Star game. Instead of the normal five on five it was a three on three play. It was also to help show how three on three overtime can improve the game in the NHL. I however personally, is not a big fan of it. The goal is to cut down and the number of shootouts during the regular season. Since Dubnyk did so well coming on to the Wild team last year, and saving the season while doing very well since then, he rightfully deserved a spot in attending the All Star Weekend.
Devan Dubnyk with son (right) who is high fiving Dierks Bentley's son (left)
during the All Star Weekend. Bentley (a country singer) was one of the
celebrity coaches during the weekend.
Minnesota Wild had an undefeated season against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Wild has been the second team to sweep the Blackhawks in a season, the last time that happened was during the 1938-39 season and it was the Boston Bruins who beat the Blackhawks. Also the Wild are the third team in NHL to win a streak like this against an Stanley Cup raining champion. The Wild has been kicked out of the playoffs by the Blackhawks in the past three years. It was sweet to see the Wild take action, and sweep the Blackhawks in the regular season. That still does not make up for these past three years. But one year in the playoffs it will be pretty sweet to see the Wild sweep the Blackhawks like they did to the Wild in the 2015 playoffs. Matt Dumba, could not have said it better: "Just preparing for each night, just one shift at a time, one period at a time..." in one of Michael Russo's blog posts regarding the season sweep against the Blackhawks.
Zach Parise really injuring himself. Parise being questionable to play in the playoffs and for the rest of the season. He did not have back surgery. So just led him to rehab and getting better to play again in September in the World Cup and also in the beginning of the NHL season that is starting in October.
A month or so before the playoffs goalie Niklas Bäckström got traded to the Calgary Flames from the Minnesota Wild. Bäckström has been with the Wild for ten years, he started his NHL career in the 2006-07 season with them. This then left Darcy Kuemper and Devan Dubnyk to play goalie throughout the rest of the season. It was good for Bäckström to get out of Minnesota because he was not playing during the season. This may have been his last season in the NHL, rumors have been going around about him thinking of retiring. So, he left because he wanted to play, instead of playing the role of Janny (Steve Janaszak, nickname is Janny, who was a goalie that had not played at all during the 1980 Olympics tournament during with the Miracle on Ice team. He supported them through out the tournament.). Bäckström stood by the team during the whole season, cheered them on and was a good sport about it. But he wanted to play during his possible last season in the NHL. He was tired of standing around and doing nothing he wanted to play.
Niklas Bäckström meeting up with his ex-teammates during a
practice after he got traded to the Calgary Flames.
Dubnyk and Kuemper where left to play goalie for the remaining part of the season. From what I can remember Dubnyk was playing the majority of the games and I don't remember seeing if Kuemper was ever in net. He did play in goal around March 18th though, where he ended up getting an upper-body injury which made the Wild ending up getting a goalie from their AHL team. By the end of the season Dubnyk was playing alright, but not up the standards that where set for him, by fans and journalists. Not sure, what the coaching staff thought, but from the way it looked from my stand point, he could have played better. Through the end of the season, and the off season there has rumors been going around about reasons why Kuemper should be traded. I personally did not agree with these, I personally think a NHL team needs three goalies. For many reasons, one is they are human, they get sick, they get injured and sometimes other personal issues keep people from doing their jobs. So you need three in case something comes up. This July Kuemper signed a one year contract with the Wild and the Wild required Alex Stalock for one year. This personally baffles me if they keep on treating the goaltenders how they played their best goaltender all the time and let the other two sit on their butts and be two Jannys. That how things should not work. If you can play and stop pucks and help win games, you can play. If your not able to do your job during games, work it out during practice to earn your playing time. I personally do not know what they do in the Minnesota Wild goaltending system, but whatever they are doing, they should improve it.
Only round one in the playoffs. Also questionable if the Wild where even to get into the play offs as well. They where playing horribly at the end of the season.
But once they got into the playoffs they where playing the Dallas Stars. Who used to be the Minnesota North Stars, so that was a hard one to watch for any Minnesotain hockey fan. Just the whole North Stars being sold to Dallas, some of us are still not over that. So this one was just hard to watch, and also a hard one to lose. Why? There was a questionable goal in game in game six. The game was about to be tied, if it was called a goal. The Stanley Cup playoffs would have been a whole different story than it was this year, if the referees called that one a goal. Who knows what would have had happened. Maybe the Wild would have won the series, and would have gone on and won their first Stanley Cup. Who knows.
Recap of game six of the Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars
series. The "goal", the controversial goal is at the end.
I personally, think it was a goal. I don't understand, how the
puck went over the line and still not a goal. What do you think?
Bruce Boudreau was named the new Minnesota Wild head coach. Boudreau was coaching for the Anaheim Ducks (2011-12 - 2016) and the Washington Capitols (2007 - 2011-12). I am not sure how I feel about Boudreau being hired. Really, I feel like it is not the best fit for the Wild.
The Minnesota Wild picked first overall the number 15th pick, Luke Kunin of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Badgers. This one stuck with me because, I am proud of Kunin. I have seen him play on the U-18 USA hockey team when they played against the Badgers in the 2014-15 season. Then I saw him in his freshmen year this season. He is a amazing player. I am glad finally another Wisconsin Badger is joining Ryan Suter on the Wild. Kunin is sticking around in the Minnesota-Wisconsin area. I would not have it any other way. I cannot wait for Kunin to sign with the Wild and to eventually play with them during his NHL career. Luke, the future has great things coming for you, I cannot wait to see you develop as a player and a person.
Luke Kunin with a Minnesota Wild jersey on during a photoshoot.
The Eric Staal trade, was a bit different than one would think. Zach Parise helped recruit Staal. With the lack of centers that the Wild find themselves in now. With Mikael Granlund switching to play wing on the Mikko Kuvio line. The Wild is in need for a center, and this is where Parise reached out to Staal about. Staal signed the contract on July first.
Newly signed Eric Staal during a press conference.
Even though this season did not end as great as it had started. The 2016-17 season will be one that will be started with a new coach, and a new leaf. Hopefully, this divide in the team will go away, and everyone can work together as one. Hopefully, we can get over this, and win the first Stanley Cup in the teams history.
Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins for winning the 2015-16 season's championship. It was a rough season for them in the beginning. You'd think they would not be having of these problems with Phil Kessel, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the same team. They turned their season around during Christmas. Thankfully they have been pretty lucky when it comes to luck leading them along. The Penguins thankfully found themselves in the playoffs and winning the cup.
This is the majority of the teams first Stanley Cup they have ever won. Thankfully the veterans step aside and let the newbies bask in the celebration. Phil Kessel was one of the guys who won the cup for the first time in his career. He had issues before he got traded to Pittsburgh last summer, in Boston he had a chance in the during his run with the Bruins, but they only got to the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2009. When Kessel was in Toronto, it was just horrible, the media did not treat him with respect. Also the Toronto Maple Leafs never made it to the NHL playoffs when Kessel was on the team.
On a more positive and happier note, another good thing came out of the playoffs. Evgeni Malkin and his fiancée, Anna Kasterova, became parents to Nikita Malkin before (May 31, 2016) game two in the Stanley Cup final. During the celebration after the win in game six, a reporter asked if Nikita will be in the cup. Evgeni replied: "When he is bigger I put in Cup". So it looks like we will be seeing little baby Malkin in the cup later this summer when Evgeni gets his day with the cup.
Congratulations to the 2016 Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins!
This years Stanley Cup playoffs was an interesting one since there where no Canadian NHL teams who did not make the playoffs. With this being said, lets go down memory lane and explore what happened in the playoffs this year...
Overview Round One (April 14th - 27th, 2016) Florida Panthers vs New York Islanders
This is the first meeting in history between these two teams in the playoffs, it was a six game series (Islanders 4 - Panthers 2).
Tampa Bay Lightening vs Detroit Red Wings
This is the second time these two teams have met, last time was in last year's playoffs in the first round. This year was a five game series (Lightening 4 - Wings 1).
Washington Capitols vs Philadelphia Flyers
This was the Flyers and Capitols fifth meeting in the NHL playoffs and the last meeting was in 2008 in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. This was a six game series, where the Capitols took the series (Capitols 4 - Flyers 2).
I have nothing good to say about this series, mainly about the Flyers' fans. They where disrespectful in game three. They had an tribute to the late Ed Snider, they each got an glow and the dark wristband that lit up during the ceremony. Then when the game got going and, things where going badly down hill for the Flyers, the fans got fed up. Really fed up, enough to throw their freebies onto the ice during a fight that broke out on the ice. This lead to the game to stop to clean up the wristbands on the ice. It took both teams to tell them to stop throwing the bands on the ice, even one of the Capitols players got hit on the nose with one. Even with the announcer telling people to stop throwing them on the ice during play but people did. It was ugly, the ugliest moment I saw from a bunch of fans in my life. I feel embarrassed for everyone who lives in Philadelphia, you can be better sportsmen than that. The fans ended up getting the Flyers a two minute penalty for delay of game.
The game wasn't stopped, it was as ugly as they made it
sound. This is a very disrespectful thing to do.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers
This has been the seventh meeting for both teams in NHL history in the playoffs, the last time they met up was last year in the first round. The Penguins won this time, in a five game series (Penguins 4 - Rangers 1).
Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild
This was the first meeting ever between these two teams in the NHL playoffs. Dallas Stars originally used to be the Minnesota North Stars before Don Green signed them to Dallas in 1996. Tempers are still a little fired up because of that trade. I do agree it was probably the most shadiest move to do, ever. There are two teams that come to mind when I think green and gold (yellow): Minnesota North Stars (and black) and the Green Bay Packers. It does not seem right to have the other one missing.
This was a six game series (Stars 4 - Wild 2). It was not the best playoff run for the Wild. They did not play their best, due to the fact that Zach Parise was injured, and things seem to be not clicking at all for the Wild, even including at the end of their season. But, the Stars did shine. The Stars where having an amazing 2015-16 season coming into the play offs. First in the Central Conference. This series was known for a lot of close calls with bonces from the puck and the goal posts.
But there was a very controversial one, that is still being augured today, and probably through out history. It was in game six (Stars 5 - Wild 4), where the Wild where behind with one point and where trying to tie up the game with 45 to 30 seconds to go on the game clock. They did not want to end the season with they way things where looking, they wanted the go on to try to win the playoffs, badly. So with that in mind Mikko Koivu sent a pass to Nino Niederreiter which made the puck go into the goal, but Kari Lehtonen the Stars goalie stopped it with his foot. It looked in. But not according to the referees. In my opinion it was in (I am not saying this because I am a Wild fan, but it was clearly in). It was called in, the Wild would have scored themselves overtime, and possibly a game seven, and maybe the Stanley Cup. Take a look for yourself. Do you think it was in?
What do you think?
St. Louis Blues vs Chicago Blackhawks
This is the playoff rivalry that goes way back, this is the twelfth meeting between both teams. The most recent meeting of these teams where two years ago, in this exact same position. Well, this time it went into a different outcome. The Blues knocked out the Blackhawks off the playoffs. This shows you how hard it is to win back to back Stanley Cups. The series was a seven game series (Blues 4 - Blackhawks 3).
Anaheim Ducks vs Nashville Predators
This is the second time these two teams have met, the last time was in the 2011 Western Conference quarterfinals. They had a seven game series (Predators 4 - Ducks 3).
Los Angeles Kings vs San Jose Sharks
This is the fourth meeting between these teams, the last time they met was in the first round of the playoffs in 2014. They had a five game series (Sharks 4 - Kings 1).
Round Two (April 27th - May 12th, 2016) New York Islanders vs Tampa Bay Lightening
This is the second meeting between these two teams, they last met in the 2004 Eastern Conference quarterfinals. It was a five game series (Lightening 4 - Islanders 1).
Washington Capitols vs Pittsburgh Penguins
One of my favorite kind of series to witness, Sidney Crosby verses Alex Ovechkin. We always see one game being played with both of them playing against each other in their respective countries (Canada and Russia) during the Olympics or the IIHF Worlds in Europe. But we know got something rare, in my opinion, these two in a seven game series against each other. I always in awe when I see these two go toe to toe, head to head.
This was the ninth meeting between both teams, the last was in 2009 during the 2009 Eastern Conference semifinals. The series was a six game series, I would have personally liked it to be seven. But the Penguins lead the series with winning four games, while the Capitols only won two of those games.
Dallas Stars vs St. Louis Blues
This is surprisingly the thirteenth meeting between these teams. Are they counting the Minnesota North Stars too? Because that seems a bit high for a team that has been around since 1996, in my personal opinion. The last time they meet in the playoffs was in 2001 Western Conference semifinals. This was a seven game series (Blues 4 - Stars 3).
Nashville Predators vs San Jose Sharks
This is the third meeting between these two teams. The last time both team met in the playoffs where in the 2007 Western Conference quarterfinals, where the Sharks won the series. They also won this series in seven games. It was a very tight series between both teams (Sharks 4 games - Predators 3 games).
But there was something different about winning this series since the last one in 2007. Not only did Nashville now had their eye on moving forward in the playoffs, they did not see bad luck running it's way. Literally. It was in form of a small black cat that found it's way into the rink and into the San Jose bench. It ran out of the bench when some people where prepping the bench for the game. They opened up the gate, which lead the cat to escape from the bench and run across the Nashville bench to find an exit from the ice. It finally found an exit, via the referee door or another service door of some kind and hid under the bleachers until it was found. This incident was not so lucky for Nashville, but the kitty, Joe Paw-velski (named after Joe Pavelski, the Sharks captain) did find a home after all.
What was known for bad luck, seemed to be a
good luck charm for the Sharks.
Round Three (May 13th - 26th, 2016) Tampa Bay Lightening vs Pittsburgh Penguins
This is the second time these two teams have met, the last time was in 2011 in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. This was a seven game series (Penguins 4 - Lightening 3). St. Louis Blues vs San Jose Sharks
This is the fifth time both of these team have met, the last time was in 2012 in the Western Conference quarterfinals. This was a six game series (Sharks 4 - Blues 2).
Round Four (May 30th - June 12th, 2016) Pittsburgh Penguins vs San Jose Sharks
The final round led to the Penguins winning their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Sharks found themselves trying for their first ever Stanley Cup. This was the first time these two teams have met in the playoffs, which made it for an interesting playoff run. Out of six games the Penguins won four out of the six with leaving just the Sharks winning twice in the series.
The Sharks wanted to win so badly, one of them decided to blame Sidney Crosby of cheating on faceoffs. Shark's forward Logan Couture got a little salty after the Pen's win in game two. Couture told reporters in a press conference after the game that he believes that Crosby cheats during faceoffs by timing them. The Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan countered: "He’s not as good as he is by accident... He works extremely hard at it. He prides himself in the details of his game, like faceoffs." It may be just the Sharks where feeling salty about how the game went, but this is the wrong way about doing so, complaining about the other guys ability, and not accepting that it was something that was going on with your own team. Man up.
Crosby won the the Conn Symth Trophy (Playoff's Most Valuable Player) before receiving the Stanley Cup. He is the one of the only player to do this with Joe Sakic (NHL career started in 1988 - 2009) to win IIHF's World Juniors Gold (2005), IIHF's Worlds Gold (2015), Olympic Gold Medals (2010, 2014), the NHL's Conn Symth (2016), Hart Memorial Torphies (Most Valuable Player of the season) (2007, 2014), and the Stanley Cup, twice (2009, 2016). Crosby is probably working his way into history if Canada win's this year's World Cup of Hockey, it is making a comeback since it's last appearance in 2004. I am not really that clear on the whole World Cup of Hockey history, if you have any information on it please share it.
Sidney Crosby (left) and Evegni Malkin (Right) with
the Stanley Cup
Congratulations on this season, and good luck to the Pittsburgh Penguins on their 2016-17 season!
I have been saying: "I need to start running again.", "I want to start to paint.", "I want to play hockey, relearn how to skate first.", and "I want to..." It's all I need and I want lately been coming out my mouth and zero action.
Small issue here, the costs. I got the running shoes, I just need more workout cloths, skates, pucks, hockey sticks, and the list goes on. I am slowly earning to buy these things on the list. Also time is a factor, being in school and the semester is coming to a close and finals are coming up... ENOUGH WITH THE EXCUSES! That is what has been holding me up. I should not let them hold me up anymore.
I need to start running again. This is for me, this is me wanting to feel healthy and happy about myself. I used to run cross country in high school. I loved it. An outlet just to get all the aggression I had in me and let it out. After the run, the best feeling in the world. I felt a lot happier, I felt good about myself, and I felt like I could take on whatever was going on the next day. Running long distance also taught me to stick with something even though you are sore or tired and you just want to quit, don't. One of the things that made me tougher and who I am. I want to get in touch with that again, I briefly did. That was a wonderful feeling, I stopped doing it sadly. I just need to rekindle the flame, I said I would start again when I had a place of my own, a job, and in school, well I got all of those. So it is time to get off my ass and get movin'!
It feels good to be with your oneself when your are with nature
If any of you have not been able to tell, I love hockey! So it feels wired being the only hockey fan who does not own any hockey skates, hockey sticks, or pucks. None of the above. If I ever am involved in a game I am borrowing someone's equipment. I am not using my own. I have played floor and street hockey and I liked that, but I am ready to now take it on the ice! I need to save up some more of my pennies and one day, I will have all the equipment and call it my own. So hopefully I get to run into some of you out on the pond next winter. I am not only looking just to playing just hockey. I am looking forward to play other sports again as well like: basketball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and softball. Maybe being on a tennis court and hitting around the ball back and forth. Just generally being more active and healthy than I have been lately.
Imagine these as CCM or Beuar skates and a stick
I want to start painting or doing some artwork of some kind. I have been inspired by a Finnish model, Emmi Kainulainen. I found her by finding out she is dating Mikael Granlund of the Minnesota Wild. So I googled her to see who she was. It surprised me to find out she has been painting abstract art, doing interior design, designing her own clothing line, running her own business, and working for a fashion magazine back in Finland as an editor. To top it all off, she is a student at the University Minnesota - Twin Cities. She also went into school in Finland too, she is working on her graduate or masters. I have been inspired by her because she is doing all that and she posts inspirational sayings on her Instagram account. She is one talented woman, who just turned 25 this year. Inspiring and amazing all on it's own.
Her artwork on top, which also can be found on her Instagram.
Emmi herself, is on the bottom with a peak at her
beautiful Instagram.
Just going through Emmi's Instagram just makes me want to get in touch with my artful, creative side. I want to do the abstract painting that she does. I am debating maybe dipping my toes into the world of interior design. But I would also love to do something with photography. I need to buy a camera first. I always enjoy going on walks and taking pictures of flowers or something with my phone. I enjoy embracing my artistic eye for things.
Enough of sitting on the couch and saying what I am wanting to do. More of getting off the couch and actually doing it.
Leaving you with advice and inspiring words from Emmi
It's a team effort to keep the puck out of the net.
Mikael Granlund (64), Jared Spurgen (46), and Ryan Suter (20)
are helping goalie Devan Dubynk (40) out.
The Wild have high hopes coming into this season. Hungry for a chance to grab their first Stanley Cup. The playoffs last year showed that the Wild have some drive, to make it happen. Nothing like those last four minutes of their 2014-15 season to show that they wanted to stay alive in their playoff run against the Chicago Blackhawks. The pre-season showed that still have that competitive drive in them, they won the majority of their pre-season games (4-2-0).
The Wild have been pretty hot during this first part of the season mainly the 2015 bit. During the first part the Wild are 20-10-6. In the first month during the NHL season in October the Minnesota Wild found themselves undefeated at home (5-0-0).
Mikko Koivu (November 21, 2015) and Zach Parise (October 27, 2015) reached their 700th game milestone. The 700 games that Parise played are both combined with his days as a New Jersey Devil and also with the Minnesota Wild. Koivu played all of his 700 games with the Minnesota Wild since his first season in 2005-06, this is also his tenth year on the Wild. Both of Koivu's and Parise's games where home games and both ended as victories.
Daven Dubynk and Darcy Kuemper recorded the first goalie tagged team shutout in the NHL during the December 5th game. Not sure if this is true out not, I heard some commentators talking about it. Please correct me if I am wrong. I googled the heck out of it. This is also led to Kuemper's first win since January 2015.
Dubynk also found himself in a middle of a baby watch during this past December, his wife was expecting Baby Dubynk: "Earlier Saturday, Dubynk
voiced concern he could miss the upcoming road game at Colorado because
of the most publicized childbirth in Wild history. His wife, Jennifer,
is due with the couple’s second child any moment now. 'My wife has been mentioned on the highlights more than I have lately,' Dubnyk joked,"is what Michael Russo wrote about #babywatch in an article in the Star Tribune. During this baby watch, Dubynk stayed at home which lead them to take Kuemper (as a starter in goal) and taking Niklas Backstrom as backup goaltender, this was his first time dressing for a game since pre-season in September.
It has been an interesting start to the season. I would love to see the Wild keep up their momentum and charging ahead to their way to their first Stanley Cup. I believe they can win one. They have showed in the 2015 part of the season they have drive to go where they want to go and be on top of the league. It is amazing to see that there has been no really horrible goalie injuries or issues that have came across the team in this first half of the season. Devan Dubynk has been pretty strong in the net for the Wild all season long, which is great. Because it is what they need a strong goaltender in their net, and also a strong defensive and offensive in front of him, which they have. So from this point on, I have a feeling their good to go, even though they find them selves in a little losing rut right now, I believe they can get out of it. They are a strong team, they know where they want to go and know they have to work hard to get there.
Just kind of want to get this out before the school year starts again. A look back at this last school year's sport season. It's been an amazing season for the Men's Basketball and Women's Hockey teams this past year. Men's Hockey team it has not. So here is a walk down memory lane...
Badgers Men's Basketball. It was quite the season this year for these guys! The first number one
seed spot in the rankings in the UW-Madison school's history, making the
final four again for a second year in a row, beating Kentucky
then moving on to the NCAA's March Madness Finals in a long time since
1941 one in the school's history! Just writing this out makes me feel
like I am writing out a fictional movie plot to send off to Hollywood to
see if I can make a movie out of it. It's surreal to write this all. I
am proud of this team, and coach Bo Ryan for all they have done this
year. It's honestly one of the most real examples when you think of hard
work and dreaming, can we make this into a Disney movie now? But the
main point this is what hard work and drive look like. It inspired me,
and for sure future generations of Badgers to come. Even though we did not win the NCAA Final against Duke, we won second place. If this was the Olympics we would have gotten the silver medal, so not bad. ;)
We BEAT Kentucky!
Badgers Men's Hockey. I am right now to start this off with a bright note, the Badgers honored the late Bob Suter on their jerseys with a patch on them dedicated to him. Also I was also glad to catch the majority of the men's home games in person too. But here is the thing, this season was a real dud. As much as I LOVE Badger hockey, this had to be said. This season did not go well for them at all. They finished last in the B1G conference. (I personally do not feel like this whole creating a B1G conference for hockey was a such a good idea, bring WCHA back for the men... -- oh okay, saving this for another day). But, I personally think that maybe an factor. The whole this is a young team excuse does not cut it for me. Alright, I digress. With this season not going well for the men's hockey I feel like they have lost the majority of their fan base, until Boston University and the Minnesota Gophers showed up to town. But again that is old rivals and that is self explanatory. But fans who made it to those games found out, that this season did not go well for these guys. Lost after lost. I have remained by their side as a true fan and haven't left them yet. Not sure how everyone else is feeling about them. But there have been reports about fans leaving their side and also big names from the team have left, but no one have been reporting it in the state of Wisconsin or down here in Madison. Men's hockey, in all honesty why aren't you getting your shit together yet?
A Gopher fan on Twitter complaining about the
lack of interest down here in Madison.
Badgers Women's Hockey. It was an amazing season for these ladies! I am glad I got to witness the majority of the home games in person for it. These girls played at one hundred and twenty percent! They had fire in their eyes and they had their hearts set on the prize. Main goal was to win an other NCAA Women's Hockey championship, but that did not happen they ended up falling to the Minnesota Gophers in the final four game which lead them to getting third place. Again, if this where the Olympics we would have gotten a bronze medal, so again it's an amazing finish to the season! I am so proud of these girls for what they have accomplished this season, and cannot wait to see what they do in the future. Speaking of the future -- Blayre Turnbull has signed a contract with the CWHL (Canada's Women Hockey League) to be apart of the Calgary Inferno. Good luck to Turnbull and the other girls who have graduated this year with their futures.
Members of the University of Wisconsin - Madison's
Women's Hockey team kissing the Natty.
Speaking of the graduating seniors on the Badgers Women's Hockey team I also going to say good luck to those who have graduated on the Men's Basketball and Hockey teams in your futures. Also those who have signed into the NBA and also the NHL good luck on your careers there too. I cannot wait to watch you guys excel in these professional sports leagues.
I cannot wait to see what the 2015-16 season have to offer to the Badgers as a whole. I hope the football team have a better ending than it did, maybe another Rosebowl title to add to the books? Badger Basketball, I hope you will get your first NCAA national title in the school's history! I hope this won't be Bo Ryan's last season! We need this man around in our lives. When it comes to Badger Men's Hockey, I hope they can get these kinks out of their system and work their way through them. I hope they can power through this hump and power through and become amazing as they where during the Badger Bob Johnson days, during the 1989-90 season, that powerhouse of a season in 2006-07 and they had fire and passion under their butts in the season of 2013-14. I know that they have that in them, and lets show the world how Wisconsin Hockey is still a powerhouse! For Badger Women's Hockey, I hope they bring home another NCAA championship! Mark Johnson and the Badger ladies have done this four times already. These have been won since Mark Johnson started coaching. So already, they are a powerhouse with one hell of a coach coaching them, you should see his stats as a hockey player as well! Also he is the son of Badger Bob Johnson, so coaching is in his blood!
So to all the Badgers who are competing during the 2015-16 season good luck and I hope you all do well! Bring home the gold! I mean, the Natty!
I do not even know where to begin with this topic. July first was just a whirlwind of trades and renewals contracts being signed. I do not think the NHL is going to look the same anymore after the trades that have been made this past July and that are continuing on happening through out the summer until the 2015-16 season starts in October.
But let's start with the 2015 NHL Draft. Let's meet the NHL Class of 2015:
Five members of the NHL Class of 2015
Connor McDavid (Canada) First drafted in the 2015 NHL draft to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. McDavid is from Ontario. He considered playing for Boston University and becoming a Terrier but opted out to play in the OHL. McDavid played in the OHL for the Erie Otters before being drafted. He was a decorative OHL player with numerous awards. Jack Eichel (United States of America) Second drafted and the first American to be drafted during the 2015 draft in the first round. Eichel grew up in Massachusetts, and played for Boston University Terriers before the draft. He also won the Hobey Baker award as a freshmen, was the second to do so. Eichel got drafted to the Buffalo Sabres. Mikko Rantanen (Finland)
Rantanen is the tenth pick in the first round of the draft and also is the first to be picked from the country to Finland. He got drafted to the Colorado Avalanche. Rantanen is from a little town in southern Finland named Nousiainen. Before he got drafted he was playing for TPS which is in the Liiga league that is located in Finland.
Joel Eriksson Ek (Sweden) Twentieth to be drafted to the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the NHL draft. Elk is from Karlstad, Sweden. Before he got drafted he played for Färjestad BK which is in the SHL league. Andong Song (China)
First Chinese born player to be drafted in the NHL. Song was drafted in the sixth round of the 2105 NHL Draft and was the 172 pick. He got drafted to the New York Islanders. Song is from Beijing, China. He ended up playing in the Beijing International Ice Hockey League (BIIHL) as a kid before moving to Ontario, Canada to peruse his hockey career further. Before Song considers signing a contract with the Islanders, he plans to attend Phillips Academy in Massachusetts and probably play more competitive hockey before jumping into the NHL.
Contact renewals seemed to happen all at once on Canada Day (July, 1st), also along with trade mania, we will get to that a bit later. I would just like to list a few notable contract renewals: Mikael Granlund (Minnesota Wild), Patrick Eaves (Dallas Stars), Vladimir Tarasenko (St. Louis Blues), Brody Sutter (Carolina Hurricanes), Alex Galchenyuk (Montreal Canadians), and the full list here of trades, resignings and signings during the 2015 off season.
The trades, here is the mind bottling part of it all. We got players from teams who have won the Stanley Cup this year that got traded, we got an American player who played in Canada now playing in the United States. While we got the USA Olympic Hockey Hero from 2014 playing in the nation's capitol. Hold on to your hats everyone, things are going to start to be a little insane. I believe insane, is an understatement, as in the news I am going to tell you. Let's see how the NHL team rosters, majority of them got turned upside down:
Phil Kessel:Toronto Maple Leafs to Pittsburgh Penguins
Kessel is finally out of Toronto! In the past he been having issues with the media and rumors of him not getting along with the coaching staff, these rumors where also probably started with the Toronto media anyways. Now he finds himself back in the States playing for the Penguins. Just sitting here typing this up and more that I think about it, it is possible for an Crosby, Kessel and Malkin line. This line is probably the scariest future line in the NHL so far, for someone who is thinking about this for the next playoffs and Stanley Cup finals to come.
Patrick Sharp:Chicago Blackhawks to Dallas Stars
Even though Sharp has won the Stanley Cup at the end of last season this year with the Blackhawks. This trade shows that no one is safe from being traded. No matter who you are, you will be traded when you hit free agency status. Also it's up to the club on who they see fit for next season and in the future of their club. Even though it is wired to see Patrick Sharp in a different jersey that is not a Blackhawks one, it shows that life happens and trades happens in the NHL.
TJ Oshie: St. Louis Blues to Washington Capitals
Trades can rock one's world. Oshie was just building his dream home with his wife in St. Louis, they got the green light status to move in a short while before his trade happened to the Capitals. Looks like someone may have two homes? Who knows, but that is not the main point. The St. Louis Blues where not doing so hot last season, and things needed to be changed. Out with the old faces and in with the new. So the majority of the headliners of this team got traded. But what pretty cool about this is the fact that Oshie was in the long lasting shoot out in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi where the America beat Russia, on their own soil. Just to remind you of it, why? Watch it, the whole thing because it's pretty epic! So to have him wear a Washington Capitals jersey is pretty amazing too, also he got a new number too, so no longer 74 anymore, he is 77.
With these new drafties, contract renewals and trades that have been made, it looks like the 2015-16 NHL season will be an interesting one. People are ready to watch Connor McDavid play, they are comparing him to Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby. I am also looking forward to all the NHL rookies that are heading into this season too, to see what each of them bring to the NHL table. Also I am glad to see some of my old favorites come back to their old teams. I am also looking forward to some of my old favorites who got traded will have to bring to their new teams, and the reactions these players are going to get when playing in their old barn. So heres to an interesting up coming season that will all blow us away!
Unlike the first part of the season where it was mainly a lot of downs, the second half seemed to be a nice change of pace for the Wild. Giving them a glimpse of happy times a head, even though it may be the upcoming season in October, the start of the 2015-16.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUBS! The man who saved the Minnesota Wild's butt goaltending wise! Daven Dubynk, our man. No longer the Wild will find themselves in hot water when it comes to goaltending. With injuries, sickness and whatever else could keep goaltenders out of the crease, we finally have three to juggle! A little bit of the weight have been lifted from Darcy Kuemper's and Niklas Bäckström's shoulders.
Daven Dubynk in between the pipes for the Minnesota Wild
Ryan Suter's adventure to the NHL's All Star Weekend in Cleavland, Ohio. He was the only Minnesota Wild player to be voted into the 2015 All Star Weekend roster.
Suter also found himself picking up a part-time broadcasting
job, while in Cleavland for the All Star Weekend. He was filming some
VISA advertisements. Here is the challenge one he did too.
The players on the Minnesota Wild team, and also every NHL player has it hard when they are traveling all the time and sometimes if these players are easily trade-able do to contracts and other reasons. This gives them rarely time to spend with their families, loved ones and friends during the seasons. Heck, they could be in different cities or different countries from their families. Sometimes the families cannot be able to get up and move right away, due to the fact some of the kids of these hockey stars are school age kids, who can't be exactly get up rooted and move right away, due to school schedules. Jordyn Leopold wrote a letter to the Minnesota Wild coaching staff asking them to see if they can get her father, Jordan Leopold to get traded back on to the Wild, because Lordyn and other members of her family missed him very much and they wanted him to get returned to Minnesota to be with them again. The Wild coaching staff and the general manager read the letter, and got Jordan Leopold back on the Wild team again. This is not just a player only thing, this can also happen to coaches, general managers and other staff that it takes to help a hockey team run successfully.
Jordyn Leopold's letter to the Minnesota Wild's
coaching staff.
Stanley Cup Playoffs
First round, against the St. Louis Blues
This was a fun series to watch, due to the fact that the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild are becoming rivals. It's nice that I got to witness the history of this young rivalry come about. There was an interview during the first round of this series with Mikael
Granlund talking about how one of the games in the series did not have
any penalties at all. I cannot remember what exactly happened, but if
you are more carious about this, here is the overview of the series. Even though it's not heated quite yet, it's getting there. So I am interesting in seeing what this comes out to become in the future.
Second round, against the Chicago Blackhawks
With this series being a four game sweep, unlike other past two years it
was a fight (in 2013 and 2014). The Minnesota Wild had to do some soul
searching this time to pull out motivation from themselves to hopefully
hold on and turn this series into a seven game one, instead of
the four game series it turned out to be. I felt like people where
looking at head coach Mike Yeo to be the one pulling out the motivation
from under the Wild's bench. Yeo, isn't the one who can pull the
motivation from under the team's feet or set the fire under their butts,
it's them, the individual players themselves to pull the motivation out
from under themselves or set that fire under their own butts.
I feel like there that was something not connecting with the Minnesota Wild during this series. I really can't detected it, and I do not want to point fingers anyways. I feel like they where not with it. Sorta playing the victim instead of the underdog that can take over and push the king off the top of his hill. I would not go around again pointing fingers and saying, "Oh, we should fire head coach Mike Yeo..." Really? Again, it's not his fault. It was a rough season for players, coaches and everyone involved with the Minnesota Wild. Yeo got dealt a hand of cards, and dealt with it, the only way he could. He used what he had, and stayed claim while doing so. So, I personally hope Coach Yeo doesn't go anywhere for the time being. Yeo has grown on me, and I hope he does to his doubters too. Yeo is one good guy, who knows what he is doing. This post-season has been a good one, so far: Daven Dubynk won the Masterton Trophy at the NHL Awards. Once we got around to the the NHL Draft, we got Joel Eriksson Ek and Jordan Greenway as new rookies for next year. Another new rookie that will join these two next year is Mike Riley, of the Minnesota Gophers. Another Minnesota Gopher to join the Wild. Keeping the strong Minnesota hockey tradition alive. The Minnesota Wild officially have three goalies, since they have signed Deven Duybnk! Also the Wild have resigned Mikael Granlund, Nate Prosser, Ryan Carter,Christian Folin and Erik Haula, for the up coming season or seasons to come. Also there is no word on if Jordan Leopold is going to be officially signed with the Minnesota Wild for his last few years as a professional NHL hockey player. Maybe we will be hearing this news by the end of the summer and before the next season starts in October?
Duybnk with the Masterton Trophy at the NHL Awards
The 2014-15 season was one hell of a season. Even though it ended early than everyone would have liked. It would have been cool to see Zach Parise and Ryan Suter hold up Lord Stanley over their heads after the loses of their fathers. Also everyone else who on the team after their rough season as a whole team. But I think this season taught the whole team to grow as a team, and learn how to deal with hell when it's all around you. I have a feeling that the Minnesota Wild can pull themselves through this dark tunnel into the light they hopefully see at the end of the tunnel. I have a feeling the 2015-16 season will be a better one and a special one. Who knows maybe Zach Parise and Ryan Suter will be holding up Lord Stanley over their heads at the end of the season. I believe that Minnesota Wild can be that good and will be that good. Now, they have to prove that to themselves and us. Let's see what happens when the puck drops on the Minnesota Wild's fifteenth season in the NHL...
