Minnesota Wild General Discussion XIX

[57special]

Maybe on the stat sheet but not in reality. Makes things happen all the tim

He is the king of the quick, innocuous pass that ends up being really dangerous. He can do the one touch, but also hold onto the puck for longer than you expect, then make a great pass. he's like a giant Granlund with a shot.

Granlund is having one hell of a season, BTW. I don't think they miss Fiala at all.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

He's been pretty quiet the past 5 games.

But pretty loud the last 6.

 

[thestonedkoala]

But pretty loud the last 6.

It's like he's a rookie or something, right?

 

[Southern Minny]

Last 6 games this team has looked like they've lost their personality and swagger, something just seems "not right". Every team goes thru slumps at times, and I hope that's just what it is and not some locker room thing.

 

[fredrikstad]

Last 6 games this team has looked like they've lost their personality and swagger, something just seems "not right". Every team goes thru slumps at times, and I hope that's just what it is and not some locker room thing.

Hope they just need some rest. To much games in Ferbruary.

 

[63firebird]

Hope they just need some rest. To much games in Ferbruary.

The heavy schedule with back to backs and only one day rest is just starting.

 

[ODoyle]

Hope they just need some rest. To much games in Ferbruary.

Well there’s no rest coming, so they better suck it up and figure it out.

 

[57special]

I was wondering if they were going to be able to rotate players in and out of the lineup against weaker teams in order to heal some bruises and keep the legs fresh, but the way things are going that looks unlikely.

 

[Joseph Nathan]

Is anyone getting annoyed with dean over his obsession to play benn?

 

[AKL]

Is anyone getting annoyed with dean over his obsession to play benn?

Yes, everyone

 

[Wasted Talent]

Yes, everyone

Not quite everyone, opposing teams seem to be having a good time with it.

 

[MuckOG]

With all the announcements being made today about banning Russian athletes from participating in international competition, I'm starting to wonder if Kaprizov will be around next season?

 

[AKL]

With all the announcements being made today about banning Russian athletes from participating in international competition, I'm starting to wonder if Kaprizov will be around next season?

Seems to me the NHLPA legal team would have a field day if the NHL just decided to ban Russian players because "reasons"

 

[MuckOG]

Seems to me the NHLPA legal team would have a field day if the NHL just decided to ban Russian players because "reasons"

Sure, if it was the NHL that was banning the players from playing..

 

[AKL]

Sure, if it was the NHL that was banning the players from playing..

What would keep Kaprizov from being here next season then?

 

[MuckOG]

What would jeep Kaprizov from being here next season then?

Maybe Putin? Or maybe they don't get their work visas approved?

Additionally, its going to be a lot more complex for the players to travel back and forth to home and back here...and unless things change dramatically, it will only get more difficult.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Not going to lie, I do wonder what would happen if he told all of the NHL Russians to come back and stop participating in this American/North American league, with a nod towards their family's "well being".

 

[GuerinUp]

i wonder more if hes going to arrest the athletes (once they return) that have come out in protest of his actions in the media lately.

 

[MuckOG]

i wonder more if hes going to arrest the athletes (once they return) that have come out in protest of his actions in the media lately.

Hard to say....but history tells us that people who criticize Putin tend to not fare well.

 

[fredrikstad]

Well there’s no rest coming, so they better suck it up and figure it out.

Yes. Read about it, a couple of hours after my post. Some rare results are starting to tick in. 10-3 Toronto-Detroit i.x.

 

[fredrikstad]

Hard to say....but history tells us that people who criticize Putin tend to not fare well.

That is why it is a little unfair IMO, to ask Russian athletes to speak up against him.

 

[ThatGuy22]

It'll be interesting to see how many Russian's don't go home. Most pro athlete's are on a P-1 Visa, which have a duration of 5 years or end of their contract(which ever comes first and is why Kaprizov's expired last year). And you can extend for an additional 5 years without leaving the country to go home and and having to get a new Visa.

Family part is tricky, but with Russia's economy likely to spiral more the longer this drags on, I doubt many Russian's want to put their paychecks into that economy(if they even can at this point).

Obviously the family pull will be there for many.

 

[thestonedkoala]

What happens if Canada enacts certainly measures like not recognizing or accepting Russian passports or banning travel to their country? I think it gets tricky as two nations are involved. If Minnesota ends up playing Calgary or Edmonton in the playoffs or hell Winnipeg, are they going to tell Kaprizov to sit home?

 

[MuckOG]

What happens if Canada enacts certainly measures like not recognizing or accepting Russian passports or banning travel to their country? I think it gets tricky as two nations are involved. If Minnesota ends up playing Calgary or Edmonton in the playoffs or hell Winnipeg, are they going to tell Kaprizov to sit home?

I don't think Canada (or US) would do a blanket ban on all Russians, including NHLers....but I'm sure they would consider banning specific Russians such as the oligarchs.

 

[ThatGuy22]

What happens if Canada enacts certainly measures like not recognizing or accepting Russian passports or banning travel to their country? I think it gets tricky as two nations are involved. If Minnesota ends up playing Calgary or Edmonton in the playoffs or hell Winnipeg, are they going to tell Kaprizov to sit home?

Pretty unlikely Canada or the US would take measures against Russian citizens across the board. Specific individual ones can and have been hit by sanctions like that.

But to play what if game, If Canada did that I would suspect the NHL would force the Canadian teams to play in America if they can't get an exemption. Toronto could sell out Buffalo in a heart beat. It's lower capacity, but maybe the Ralph in Grand Forks if Winnipeg gets in (not sure if it's better to play in a very nice 11k venue close to your fans, or a full size one further away).

Calgary and Edmonton don't really have a good cross border arena to play in, but the NHL would have to make due with the revenue loss of them having them play in a non playoff market over putting a knife through the integrity of the playoffs.