Offical GDT For Opening Day Wild vs Ducks 10/6

That 3rd period was amazing to watch, Marty Havlat was worth every penny, the dude was amazing his vision and hands are sick. Koivu is the captain i know Havlat is putting the points up but watching Koivu he just has the poise.

I don't know about you guys I know i've been on the Shepp band wagon lately but he is looking solid, strong with the puck, and is taking shots, i would like to see him on the 2nd line between Nolan and Sykora, Belanger was looking a bit lot at times and hesitant, tho loved his 3rd period goal .

God i love the new Wild.

TaLoN wrote:

Now, if only we can clone that 3rd period and overtime and get them to show up in the first and 2nd period like that!

Twins' hangover.

Havlat and Sykora work better than any other winger combination this team can have. Put them on the same line, whether it be Koivu, Pouliot, Sheppard, or hell Belanger if he has chemistry with him. Worry about the other lines after. I thought Sheppard and Belanger played strong games down the middle behind Koivu.
Burns jumps the play as Richards wants him, but the guy has to play better positionally back in the defensive zone. His rush up ice did not lead to the goal, it was his running around in the defensive zone after getting back into the play. You could see at times in the 3rd Zanon was trying to tell Burns what he was supposed to be doing.
Brodziak seems to get more ice-time than he actually is listed, but on the first goal, he gives Whitney way too much time with the puck, and it lead to the first goal. He did redeem himself somewhat by sneaking Wisniewski into a penalty in OT.
Powerplay scored 3 goals, but I still think they could tweak it a little. Put Havlat or Sykora at the point on the top unit with Koivu and Brunette, along with Zidlicky or Johnsson. Burns forces too many plays when he is out there with the first unit, so save him for the 2nd unit, which will lack scorers.
Props to Scott for dropping the gloves with one of the best and not only holding his own, but knocking Parros down. It was a momentum-changing fight IMO.

The replays shown on the Ducks broadcast didn't really show Pouliot's penalty, was it a legit call? 5 minutes of ice time isn't going to make him any better......

And last but not least, no Bouchard = win! It may be the winning formula for this team moving forward

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6BLLnkm1H4

The fight is here. Boogie is a history.

LW, the BP penalty was bullshit. He bumped into Giggy and Giggy sold it by falling down.

This new style felt odd to watch. It was exciting. For some reason during the 3rd period and overtime, I didn't get that feeling of urgency where in the old system it was like "shit, we're only going to get like 4 shots on goal." after seeing the 3rd period, I knew we would be able to handle it.

This is giving promise for an exciting season.

No Butch, I was surprised. Maybe this is a message to him.

I didn't see that coming. The play so far seems pretty sloppy, especially when it comes to positioning, the first 5 periods of this season. But in the 3rd they were relentless with the pressure and it was almost like watching the old Wild, except the old Wild was the Ducks playing with a lead.

All the NHL games early in the year always seem slow and sloppy, probably because of the short camp. So I suspect the team will get better, especially when for most of the guys this is a completely new system. I believe that Jacques system was why we always had hot starts under him, because we were sound and discipline and it took a while for the rest of the league to catch up. Before the 3rd I was resolved to say it was a year where we would be more concerned with how high a draft pick we would be getting next year. That 3rd filled me with the promise that this team can do something and it is only a matter of how good they play, where they are at as a team, once they get a month under their belt. I am now back to guarded optimism.

I felt the exact same way Pug. When they start clicking like they did in the 3rd, you can tell some big things are going to happen.

Once again, Backstrom looks like he will be able to hold it down just fine.

Butch not playing was due to him having headaches, which might explain why he played like crap the other day, he's out with no time table for return.

I'd like to see Benny get some ice time, tho I think he's going to have to prove it in practice.

Wild Fan #1 wrote:

Havlat is a smooth customer. Deft plays he makes.

I prefer him as a player to Gaborik. He's not as explosive nor does he have the release, but all around he's the sort of player that I prefer. It's nice watching he and Koivu play together.

forthewild wrote:

Butch not playing was due to him having headaches, which might explain why he played like crap the other day, he's out with no time table for return.

I'd like to see Benny get some ice time, tho I think he's going to have to prove it in practice.

He was playing with Sykora wasn't he? I'd call that ice time. The fact that he wasn't a factor was on him IMO.

shmiddy wrote:

forthewild wrote:

Butch not playing was due to him having headaches, which might explain why he played like crap the other day, he's out with no time table for return.

I'd like to see Benny get some ice time, tho I think he's going to have to prove it in practice.

He was playing with Sykora wasn't he? I'd call that ice time. The fact that he wasn't a factor was on him IMO.

Benny was only listed as playing like 5-6 minutes, and that seemed right. 4th line time, with Scott and Brodziak. That being said, of the top-9 forwards last night there is really only one they could consider bumping to the 4th line, and that is Miettinen. I wouldn't be surprised to see Antti and his 2.3M bought out or buried in the minors next season if he continues to be an absolute non-factor, for now its not the end of the world keeping him up with the club.

I haven't re-watched the game from the television broadcast, but Miettinen earns his 2.3 million through his defensive play. There were times last night that he saved odd man rushes with the opportune poke-check or by taking the body or cutting off the angle. He looked more solid defensively than did Koivu, imo.

Miettinen *is* an over-paid third liner, though. That's what he excels at and should be relied upon to do that job. A 4th liner, he is not, but he is also not a second or first liner. That alone makes his salary a little hard to bear...

shmiddy wrote:

Wild Fan #1 wrote:

Havlat is a smooth customer. Deft plays he makes.

I prefer him as a player to Gaborik. He's not as explosive nor does he have the release, but all around he's the sort of player that I prefer. It's nice watching he and Koivu play together.

Except, Havlat is the type of player you need to compliment a player like Gaborik. Combined you can have absolute domination when they are on the ice.

That is why Risebrough failed.

shmiddy wrote:

forthewild wrote:

Butch not playing was due to him having headaches, which might explain why he played like crap the other day, he's out with no time table for return.

I'd like to see Benny get some ice time, tho I think he's going to have to prove it in practice.

He was playing with Sykora wasn't he? I'd call that ice time. The fact that he wasn't a factor was on him IMO.

Bouchard being non-effective was purely due to Butch being pussy-assed Butch.

TaLoN wrote:

shmiddy wrote:

Wild Fan #1 wrote:

Havlat is a smooth customer. Deft plays he makes.

I prefer him as a player to Gaborik. He's not as explosive nor does he have the release, but all around he's the sort of player that I prefer. It's nice watching he and Koivu play together.

Except, Havlat is the type of player you need to compliment a player like Gaborik. Combined you can have absolute domination when they are on the ice.

That is why Risebrough failed.

The problem was you need a 3rd half-decent player on the line, because Demitra was a solid player with Gaboik, just not dynamic because Wes Walz and Todd Fedoruk saw significant time as the 3rd forward over the 2 years

The only comparisons one can make between Gabby and Havlat is the similar injury history.

lolwat wrote:

The problem was you need a 3rd half-decent player on the line, because Demitra was a solid player with Gaboik, just not dynamic because Wes Walz and Todd Fedoruk saw significant time as the 3rd forward over the 2 years

Havlat is a MUCH better player than Demitra, and all you need then is Koivu centering and you have a GREAT line!

TaLoN wrote:

lolwat wrote:

The problem was you need a 3rd half-decent player on the line, because Demitra was a solid player with Gaboik, just not dynamic because Wes Walz and Todd Fedoruk saw significant time as the 3rd forward over the 2 years

Havlat is a MUCH better player than Demitra, and all you need then is Koivu centering and you have a GREAT line!

Better? Yes. MUCH better? No. Demitra has yet to be put in a position to succeed since being traded by the Kings. If they both played 82 games and were in equal situations, the point difference would be less than 10. Then again neither can stay healthy and Demitra won't get the minutes Havlat will this year. Demo is still a 60+ point player, and Havlat has hit 70+ just once(last year).

Actually Havlat isa better player he is younger and is around the age where he should start peaking.

What makes Havlat MUCH better than Demitra is his strength on the puck and his ultra fearlessness in the corners that allows him to make plays Demitra couldn't dream of.

lolwat wrote:

TaLoN wrote:

shmiddy wrote:

Wild Fan #1 wrote:

Havlat is a smooth customer. Deft plays he makes.

I prefer him as a player to Gaborik. He's not as explosive nor does he have the release, but all around he's the sort of player that I prefer. It's nice watching he and Koivu play together.

Except, Havlat is the type of player you need to compliment a player like Gaborik. Combined you can have absolute domination when they are on the ice.

That is why Risebrough failed.

The problem was you need a 3rd half-decent player on the line, because Demitra was a solid player with Gaboik, just not dynamic because Wes Walz and Todd Fedoruk saw significant time as the 3rd forward over the 2 years

That is another area where Havlat more than a little better than Demitra, producing without star players. Demitra had Weight and Thackuk when he was at his best, didn't Havlat score 70+ last year on the second line with like sharp and ladd (I may be off here).

timotheuzi wrote:

lolwat wrote:

TaLoN wrote:

shmiddy wrote:

Wild Fan #1 wrote:

Havlat is a smooth customer. Deft plays he makes.

I prefer him as a player to Gaborik. He's not as explosive nor does he have the release, but all around he's the sort of player that I prefer. It's nice watching he and Koivu play together.

Except, Havlat is the type of player you need to compliment a player like Gaborik. Combined you can have absolute domination when they are on the ice.

That is why Risebrough failed.

The problem was you need a 3rd half-decent player on the line, because Demitra was a solid player with Gaboik, just not dynamic because Wes Walz and Todd Fedoruk saw significant time as the 3rd forward over the 2 years

That is another area where Havlat more than a little better than Demitra, producing without star players. Demitra had Weight and Thackuk when he was at his best, didn't Havlat score 70+ last year on the second line with like sharp and ladd (I may be off here).

Was Bolland and Ladd, but still, those are 2 young talented players. You look at Todd Fedoruk or Wes Walz and tell me you think they are anywhere close to a top-6 NHL forward. They were 4th line pluggers playing on the teams top line, which is why the team failed.

Demitra with Gaborik when they were at their best, take out Demitra and plug in Havlat and you double the production of the line guaranteed!

Demitra is only good in space, Havlat needs none to put up a crap load of points.

TaLoN wrote:

Demitra with Gaborik when they were at their best, take out Demitra and plug in Havlat and you double the production of the line guaranteed!

Demitra is only good in space, Havlat needs none to put up a crap load of points.

Exactly...there really shouldn't be an argument here.