All Things Minnesota Wild 2022-2023 In-Season Thread

[short ornery norwegian]

nothing says "Minnesota" more than a team backing into the playoffs.

If the Wild gets things together, I still think they can win a playoff series. the injuries don't help, because that means juggling lines. and the lines will get juggled again when Kaprizov comes back.

their best chance is for Gus and the Flower to get really hot in the 1st round.

 

[Gophers1992]

nothing says "Minnesota" more than a team backing into the playoffs.

If the Wild gets things together, I still think they can win a playoff series. the injuries don't help, because that means juggling lines. and the lines will get juggled again when Kaprizov comes back.

their best chance is for Gus and the Flower to get really hot in the 1st round.

Odd to use the phrase "backing into the playoffs" considering the run they went on to get into this position.

 

[7Gopher7]

Odd to use the phrase "backing into the playoffs" considering the run they went on to get into this position.

Correct….odd indeed

 

[MUgopher32]

nothing says "Minnesota" more than a team backing into the playoffs.

If the Wild gets things together, I still think they can win a playoff series. the injuries don't help, because that means juggling lines. and the lines will get juggled again when Kaprizov comes back.

their best chance is for Gus and the Flower to get really hot in the 1st round.

How are the Wild "backing" into the playoffs??

They have lost two games in regulation in their last like 25 games.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

How are the Wild "backing" into the playoffs??

They have lost two games in regulation in their last like 25 games.

Does the term backing in not refer to making the playoffs because another team loss as opposed to you winning. Technically they might have “backed” into the playoffs. Yes they have been very good the last 5 weeks.

I always though you could only back into the playoffs on the last game of the season not with 5 or 6 games to go. Then it should be they just made the playoffs.

It’s gonna stink they won’t win the central as it was right there for them to take it.

 

[MUgopher32]

Does the term backing in not refer to making the playoffs because another team loss as opposed to you winning. Technically they might have “backed” into the playoffs. Yes they have been very good the last 5 weeks.

I always though you could only back into the playoffs on the last game of the season not with 5 or 6 games to go. Then it should be they just made the playoffs.

It’s gonna stink they won’t win the central as it was right there for them to take it.

Yeah considering theres 5 games left we didnt back into anything.

We've been a logistical lock for the playoffs for two weeks now. Can still win the central division outright.

He made a dumb comment.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

What I meant was they lost a game - which could impact their playoff position - but they come back with "the Wild qualified for the playoffs" - as opposed to "the Wild missed a chance to improve their playoff position.". Very BSN-like - lose a key game and try to find a positive out of the loss.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

Vegas lost tonight, but Colorado is gonna be the issue.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

Not great Bob. Losing games and losing people to injuries now too. This is the wrong time to be sliding.

 

[Iceland12]

Kaprizov is back.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

 

[From the Parkinglot]

New guy looking good.

 

[Iceland12]

"The Minnesota Wild’s best player, Kirill Kaprizov, last summer experienced a harrowing journey getting back from homeland Russia in time for this season. The Wild hope to be able to keep the team’s leading scorer in America this offseason.

“I can assure you that we will have a very friendly conversation with Kirill, and if he wants to go to the Grand Canyon or the Painted Desert or Mount Rushmore, we’ll pay for what it takes,” Wild owner Craig Leipold said.

>> Meanwhile, even Leipold has been surprised by his team’s success as the playoffs approach.

“In complete honesty, I cannot say that this is where I saw our team headed at the beginning of the season, but as the season went on and on and different players were stepping up and lines started jelling together … am I surprised that we’re here? Yeah, maybe a little bit,” he said. “But we’re certainly enjoying the moment.”

That moment meant the Wild late in the regular season were in contention for first place in the Central Division and Western Conference.

>> It was mentioned to Leipold that he knew what he was doing when in January he signed Matt Boldy to a $49 million, seven-year contract.."

Charley Walters: Wild hope to keep Kaprizov in U.S. this summer

“If he wants to go to the Grand Canyon or the Painted Desert or Mount Rushmore, we’ll pay for what it takes,” Wild owner Craig Leipold said.

www.twincities.com

 

[From the Parkinglot]

"The Minnesota Wild’s best player, Kirill Kaprizov, last summer experienced a harrowing journey getting back from homeland Russia in time for this season. The Wild hope to be able to keep the team’s leading scorer in America this offseason.

“I can assure you that we will have a very friendly conversation with Kirill, and if he wants to go to the Grand Canyon or the Painted Desert or Mount Rushmore, we’ll pay for what it takes,” Wild owner Craig Leipold said.

>> Meanwhile, even Leipold has been surprised by his team’s success as the playoffs approach.

“In complete honesty, I cannot say that this is where I saw our team headed at the beginning of the season, but as the season went on and on and different players were stepping up and lines started jelling together … am I surprised that we’re here? Yeah, maybe a little bit,” he said. “But we’re certainly enjoying the moment.”

That moment meant the Wild late in the regular season were in contention for first place in the Central Division and Western Conference.

>> It was mentioned to Leipold that he knew what he was doing when in January he signed Matt Boldy to a $49 million, seven-year contract.."

Charley Walters: Wild hope to keep Kaprizov in U.S. this summer

“If he wants to go to the Grand Canyon or the Painted Desert or Mount Rushmore, we’ll pay for what it takes,” Wild owner Craig Leipold said.

www.twincities.com

Yes never let him leave the country again. Get him a nice place on Gull Lake and an open tab at Zorbaba’s all summer. Just tell him most to drink and boat.

 

[Iceland12]

Yes never let him leave the country again. Get him a nice place on Gull Lake and an open tab at Zorbaba’s all summer. Just tell him most to drink and boat.

Sounds like a good idea. Though from what I remember he has family over there and the Russian government won't let them leave. Know his Dad came over to travel him. Don't remember when.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

Sounds like a good idea. Though from what I remember he has family over there and the Russian government won't let them leave. Know his Dad came over to travel him. Don't remember when.

Correct. The wild should work with the US government to smuggle them out of the country.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

 

[GopherJake]

Sign Johansson to a 3 year deal now. He has scored over 20 goals only twice in his career. He won’t command a huge salary, would appreciate the stability and do for Boldy what Zucc does for Kaprizov - command attention and set him up! He CLEARLY has awesome chemistry with our other budding superstar. Keep him on this team.

Great comeback win. Gustavsson was incredible again. Shorty by Johansson to tie it, then a beautiful give and go with Boldy for the go-ahead by Johansson.

Faber terrific in his NHL debut. Led the team in ice time with 24 shifts and 21:49. Was +1 with a team leading 6 blocked shots.

 

[Iceland12]

They barely avoided getting upset by the Blackhawks, rallying to win 4-2 Monday in front of 15,268 at United Center to move two points back of Dallas and Colorado in the race for first place..

They left four of their best players in Minnesota, with Kirill Kaprizov, his linemate Mats Zuccarello as well as captain Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin resting. Without those tone-setters, the Wild were dominated by the Blackhawks at the end of the first period and all the second..

Wild rally past Blackhawks 4-2 as Marcus Foligno looks for fight, Marcus Johansson finds two late goals

The Wild trailed Chicago, which is tied for fewest points in the NHL, late in the third period when Marcus Foligno responded to an opponent with fists and Marcus Johansson scored two quick goals.

www.startribune.com

 

[From the Parkinglot]

VICTORY.

 

[GophersInIowa]

VICTORY.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

John Klinberg stinks. He can not be trusted in the playoffs where defense is way more important than offense.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

What a stupid ending to the game. Not so sure the coaches were not going to fight too.

 

[Iceland12]

Wild left 7 players at home and lost to Nashville in o.t.

NASHVILLE — The Wild's last game of the regular season had no bearing on the standings, but that's not how Frederick Gaudreau played.

A long-time minor-leaguer, including in Nashville's pipeline, Gaudreau finished with a flourish, scoring twice in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Predators on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena and in between his goals the Wild announced a five-year, $10.5 million contract extension for Gaudreau..

Frederick Gaudreau gets five-year extension as Wild end regular season

Gaudreau's deal, worth $10.5 million, was just the start of a big night for the center. He scored two goals in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Predators in Nashville.

www.startribune.com

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Ok, so here's where things sit at 11:20pm CDT -

Central Division: Dallas 108 pts; Colorado 107 pts - with a game left to play vs Nashville; Wild 103 pts; Winnipeg 95 pts.

Wild locked into #3 seed, so they open up at the #2 seed, which could still be Colorado or Dallas depending on Colorado's final game. Jets will open at #1 seed.

Pacific Division: Vegas 109 pts - at this time, leading Kraken 2-1 aft 2 periods. Edmonton 109 pts; LA Kings 102 pts; Kraken 100 pts.

if Vegas gets at least 1 point tonight (win or OT loss) they get #1 seed and host the Kraken. Kings will open at #2 seed. not sure about tie-breakers if Vegas and Oilers finish in a tie.

 

[GopherVotary]

Ok, so here's where things sit at 11:20pm CDT -

Central Division: Dallas 108 pts; Colorado 107 pts - with a game left to play vs Nashville; Wild 103 pts; Winnipeg 95 pts.

Wild locked into #3 seed, so they open up at the #2 seed, which could still be Colorado or Dallas depending on Colorado's final game. Jets will open at #1 seed.

Pacific Division: Vegas 109 pts - at this time, leading Kraken 2-1 aft 2 periods. Edmonton 109 pts; LA Kings 102 pts; Kraken 100 pts.

if Vegas gets at least 1 point tonight (win or OT loss) they get #1 seed and host the Kraken. Kings will open at #2 seed. not sure about tie-breakers if Vegas and Oilers finish in a tie.

Vegas gets Winnipeg.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

Vegas gets Winnipeg.

VGK secures the Pacific Division title and the Western Conference #1 seed by stifling the Kraken last night!

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Vegas gets Winnipeg.

Oops. Wrong again. I thought the first round was all in-division. didn't realize there was a cross-over.
So Vegas (#1 Pacific) plays Winnipeg (#4 Central) and the #1 seed in the Central plays Seattle (#4 Pacific).

I don't get it. If you're going to cross over, why not just seed the top 8 teams in the Conference?

life is just too darn complicated.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

Oops. Wrong again. I thought the first round was all in-division. didn't realize there was a cross-over.
So Vegas (#1 Pacific) plays Winnipeg (#4 Central) and the #1 seed in the Central plays Seattle (#4 Pacific).

I don't get it. If you're going to cross over, why not just seed the top 8 teams in the Conference?

life is just too darn complicated.

2 vs 3 is in division

The division champions play the 2 wild card teams. There have been times where the 2 wild card teams were in the same division.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

2 vs 3 is in division

The division champions play the 2 wild card teams. There have been times where the 2 wild card teams were in the same division.

I said it on here a few weeks ago; the 2 vs 3 matchups in the West are going to be brutal. Edmonton against the Kings will either be dominated by the Oilers, or possibly a bloodbath 6-7 game series. I don't see any chance the Kings roll through Edmonton.

The Wild will have a tough draw either way with Dallas or the Avs, but either of those would probably be better than drawing Edmonton. Ouch.