After missing the playoffs for a third straight season, the Minnesota Wild fired coach Todd Richards this past season. While some teams may be satisfied with sell-out crowds and a team good enough to just miss the playoffs and continuously land a early-to-mid first round pick, the Wild should not be. This is the State of Hockey... the standards are higher here. Simply put, the Wild need to put a team on the ice that will not only put fans in the seats, but will contend for the Stanley Cup year in and year out like neighboring hockey mecca Detroit. So the question becomes, how do they get there? Despite a new front office, the Wild have shown an inability to improve themselves via the draft, and they continue to run a farm team in Houston that, while contenting for the Calder Cup, boasts few strong NHL prospects. The question is, how can they turn a roster currently full of over-paid, underachieving role players into a perennial powerhouse. The answer: blow the team up. Thats right, the Minnesota Wild need to shake the franchise from the foundation and start anew. It won't be easy, but here's where I think they need to start.
Update: Hennepin county medical examiner determines Derek Boogaard's cause of death was an accidental overdose on a combination of alcohol and Oxycodone
Update: Autopsy for Derek Boogaard to be completed Saturday in Minneapolis.
Update: Late night vigil, outside Minnesota's Exel Energy Center, a repatriated success. Many family members, including Derek's brother Ryan Boogaard, teammates and friends were in attendance. Former Wild teammates Niklas Backstrom, Brent Burns, Andrew Brunette, Stephane Veilleux and Nick Shultz were all there for the event.
Minneapolis, MN - Rangers W Derek Boogaard was found dead at the age of 28 in his Minneapolis apartment.
Boogaard, a long time fan favorite of the Minnesota Wild faithful, played 5 full seasons with the Wild before signing a more lucrative contract with the New York Rangers just prior to last season to help defend another former Wild star, Marion Gaborik. Although Boogaard, or the Boogeyman as many of his fans called him, was hardly a prolific scorer (he actually scored his first goal since 2005-06 this season) he had immense value both as a fan favorite and as one of the leagues most feared enforcers. Simply put, when Boogaard was on a team, opponents didn't mess with his teammates. If they did, they paid for it. He is widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the NHL in recent history, and at 6'7'', 265, he has a size, reach and strength advantage over just about every player. A good coach knew that using Boogy at the right time could electrify the team and the fans. For evidence, look no further than than the first video I will post below. (For context, there was a scuffle and some cheap shots. Boogaard is on the bench and the Wild fans begin to chant for Boogaard. In the end, Coach Lemaire sends him out to skate around quick, and the stadium erupts, as Boogaard shoots a glare to the Ducks bench).
But beyond his on ice value, Derek Boogaard was a good man. I only had the honor of meeting him twice, but both times were memorable occasions. Each time I ran into him, regardless of where, Derek would make sure to take some time to talk to my friends and I. He was surprisingly easy to talk to, and even joked about the upcoming game from time to time. In no way was he your stereotypical, arrogant, hockey guy, but rather a caring, down to earth, 'kind of guy you want to just go get a beer with'.
Derek was an unbelievable person, who will remain forever in the hearts and memories for Wild fans, Ranger Fans and Hockey fans around the world. Rest In Peace, Derek.
And as a tribute to the Boogeyman, here's a montage of Boogaard fights I found online. Enjoy.
The New Jersey Devils have brought back head coach Jacques Lemaire after firing rookie coach John MacLean Thursday morning.
The Devils are one of the NHL's most disappointing teams this season, tied for the fewest points in the league (20) with the New York Islanders, who they play Thursday night. Although it is tough to see a first time head coach fired after such a short time, it was obvious a move needed to be made, as the team is facing the possibility of not making the playoffs for the first time since 1997. The fact that they have only scored a league low 59 goals (a mere 1.7 per game!) this season hurts even more given the 15-year, $100 million contract given to Ilya Kovalchuk this offseason.
Lemaire, now in his 3rd stint with the team, has coached the Devils to 3 division titles and 1 Stanley Cup in 6 seasons. While his success is hard to argue against, Lemaire is somewhat of an interesting choice as he is largely known for his slow, defensive minded 'trap' style hockey - not his high powered offenses. Still, with Brodeur in net, if anybody can help win low scoring games, its Jacques... and thats exactly what they're hoping for.
Minneapolis, MN - Wild defenseman Brent Burns begins serving his two game suspension from his late game "punch" on Panthers winger Steve Bernier. After Burns took exception to a hip check in the final minutes of last weeks 2-1 Wild loss, the two rumbled when Bernier was on the wrong end of an accidental stick to the face. While it looks like Bernier will have to miss significant time as he needs surgery to repair a broken cheek bone, the suspension seems a bit much for a player like Burns. He has no prior history of cheap hits, and as the video shows, the stick to the face was obviously unintentional. In fact, reports are that Burns was physically ill on the bus after the game. Wild fans can only hope that Burns comes back with a little fire in his belly to try to turn around the Wilds mini losing streak.
Here's Video of the incident courtesy of sports.yahoo.com
