Which injury hurts us the most right now?

LemaireisGOD · November 25th, 2006, 10:06 PM

This might seem like a stupid question, but I think its a legit one to ask. Which injury hurts the Wild the most right now?

MNSOTA · November 25th, 2006, 10:52 PM

Where's the "All of the above" option?

LemaireisGOD · November 26th, 2006, 10:10 AM

I don't believe in an "easy" way out option of "All of the Above." That might have been the norm for you when you went to school at St. Olaf, but nah...I demand more accountability. Pick one and defend it the best you can.

Socodawgs · November 27th, 2006, 09:16 PM

I picked Boogey Man, because I think he keeps the other players from going after our talent.

LemaireisGOD · November 28th, 2006, 06:35 AM

If I had to vote; I'd say Marian Gaborik. Without him this team doesn't really have 2 solid scoring lines. It barely has 1 1/2 and that isn't enough to keep teams from focusing their best defenders on our 2nd line of Rolston, PMB and White. You shut down that line now...and you've basically shut the Wild offense down. With Gaborik (and hopefully his buddy Demitra is with him) the Wild have two lines a team must worry about and to commit a team to stopping one is going to allow the other to beat you. If you spread your defenders between either; they're going to wear down or they're not going to be able to fully stop them. Either way...having Gaborik out of our lineup makes it far easier for teams to match up against us. Boogaard's loss hurts in terms of accountability for the other team's punks...but goals are what this team needs. We're 6 out of 14 in games without Gaborik. That really tells me all I need to hear.

Socodawgs · November 30th, 2006, 11:32 PM

I watched the game in person last night and the lack of energy with our team right now is surprising. I don't know if it is Gabby or Demitra or if it is a combination, but something has definately changed. We look asleep for the first two periods and then come out and kill a 5 on 3 with very spirited play.

It is obvious though that with all the new guys being called up, the chemistry is certainly not there right now.

I agree LISG that the loss of Gabby takes away our one true threat, I would only add that without Boogey, they ran over us and were nto afraid of any reprisal. Right now, we are not playing like a first place team...

LemaireisGOD · December 1st, 2006, 06:43 AM

We're not a 1st place team though; we're in 2nd place...and a very tenuous 2nd place at that. I agree Boogaard's loss is basically irreplaceable in a way because we don't have any other real TOUGH guys on this team; and other teams have taken some freedoms by knocking around Nummelin and Demitra particularily. If Boogaard was there; he would've at the very least evened the score by either challenging the punk(s) responsible and or running the other team's smaller players for retribution.

Although I still think our team misses the offense Gaborik (especially when working with Demitra) provided this team in terms of scoring depth the most.

Socodawgs · December 4th, 2006, 05:05 PM

I agree. Now I wonder if we will stay in Second...

LemaireisGOD · December 5th, 2006, 03:23 PM

I think the other big loss of Gaborik...and to a lesser extent Demitra and Walz is speed. Weinhandl, Foy are not nearly as fast as Gaborik so our ability to stretch the defense is also compromised. Just a thought...GO WILD!!!

View Poll Results: Which injury hurts the Wild the most at this point in the season?
Marian Gaborik	3	75.00%
Pavol Demitra	0	0%
Wes Walz	0	0%
Derek Boogaard	1	25.00%
Voters: 4. This poll is closed

November 25th, 2006, 10:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	Which injury hurts us the most right now? This might seem like a stupid question, but I think its a legit one to ask. Which injury hurts the Wild the most right now? __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

November 26th, 2006, 10:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	I don't believe in an "easy" way out option of "All of the Above." That might have been the norm for you when you went to school at St. Olaf, but nah...I demand more accountability. Pick one and defend it the best you can. __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

November 28th, 2006, 06:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	If I had to vote; I'd say Marian Gaborik. Without him this team doesn't really have 2 solid scoring lines. It barely has 1 1/2 and that isn't enough to keep teams from focusing their best defenders on our 2nd line of Rolston, PMB and White. You shut down that line now...and you've basically shut the Wild offense down. With Gaborik (and hopefully his buddy Demitra is with him) the Wild have two lines a team must worry about and to commit a team to stopping one is going to allow the other to beat you. If you spread your defenders between either; they're going to wear down or they're not going to be able to fully stop them. Either way...having Gaborik out of our lineup makes it far easier for teams to match up against us. Boogaard's loss hurts in terms of accountability for the other team's punks...but goals are what this team needs. We're 6 out of 14 in games without Gaborik. That really tells me all I need to hear. __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

November 30th, 2006, 11:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
Socodawgs Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 73	Missing link.. I watched the game in person last night and the lack of energy with our team right now is surprising. I don't know if it is Gabby or Demitra or if it is a combination, but something has definately changed. We look asleep for the first two periods and then come out and kill a 5 on 3 with very spirited play. It is obvious though that with all the new guys being called up, the chemistry is certainly not there right now. I agree LISG that the loss of Gabby takes away our one true threat, I would only add that without Boogey, they ran over us and were nto afraid of any reprisal. Right now, we are not playing like a first place team...

November 25th, 2006, 10:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
MNSOTA Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 101	Where's the "All of the above" option?

November 27th, 2006, 09:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
Socodawgs Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 73	I picked Boogey Man, because I think he keeps the other players from going after our talent.

December 1st, 2006, 06:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	We're not a 1st place team though; we're in 2nd place...and a very tenuous 2nd place at that. I agree Boogaard's loss is basically irreplaceable in a way because we don't have any other real TOUGH guys on this team; and other teams have taken some freedoms by knocking around Nummelin and Demitra particularily. If Boogaard was there; he would've at the very least evened the score by either challenging the punk(s) responsible and or running the other team's smaller players for retribution. Although I still think our team misses the offense Gaborik (especially when working with Demitra) provided this team in terms of scoring depth the most. __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

December 4th, 2006, 05:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
Socodawgs Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 73	I agree. Now I wonder if we will stay in Second...

December 5th, 2006, 03:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	I think the other big loss of Gaborik...and to a lesser extent Demitra and Walz is speed. Weinhandl, Foy are not nearly as fast as Gaborik so our ability to stretch the defense is also compromised. Just a thought...GO WILD!!! __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)