1. October Post-Mortem: Grading the Minnesota Wild

    The first month of the season is over and, honestly, the Minnesota Wild are probably relieved. After starting the season 1-6-0, the team finished the month by winning four of their last seven ...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 89 reads 0 comments

  2. Minnesota Wild Beat Rangers: Sykora's Strong Performance a Lose-Lose Situation

    Justin Bourne mentioned the other day in his blog that there is nothing worse than a player playing well after he has been benched. Essentially, he said, the only thing that it does is defer the credit from the player’s play to the coach...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 74 reads 0 comments

  3. Is What's Ailing the Minnesota Wild Right Under Their Nose?

    In Wednesday’s loss to the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild head coach Todd Richards sat Czech sniper Petr Sykora in favor of fan favorite enforcer Derek Boogaard. Richards has claimed that Sykora was scratched to “send him a message...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 191 reads 0 comments

  4. Gameday Preview: Wild V. Predators

    Reunions week continues on Wednesday for the Minnesota Wild, as the Nashville Predators visit the Xcel Energy Center. The reunion in this game is Greg Zanon, facing his former team for the first time...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 25 reads 0 comments

  5. Road Woes Continue for the Minnesota Wild

    The Wild’s road woes continued on Monday in Chicago, and the team is now a woeful 0-8-0 on the road this season—an unenviable feat of ineptitude matched only by the ’96-’97 ...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 27 reads 0 comments

  6. Gameday Preview: Wild at Blackhawks

    My dear readers, Monday night marks the opening of what people are dubbing “reunions week” for the Minnesota Wild...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 27 reads 0 comments

  7. Minnesota Wild Starts to Come Together

    When a team is struggling, players and fans alike need to take solace in the little things. This weekend saw the good and the bad of the Minnesota Wild, as the team dropped Friday’s game to the St...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 40 reads 0 comments

  8. Minnesota Wild Choose Mikko Koivu as First-Ever Permanent Captain

    Today the Minnesota Wild announced 26-year old Mikko Koivu as the first ever permanent captain in team history. When Koivu’s on, I love the way that he plays the game...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 229 reads 0 comments

  9. Shrewd Move Brings Kobasew to Minnesota

    The Minnesota Wild have acquired forward Chuck Kobasew from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Craig Weller, Alex Fallstrom, and a second round pick in 2011, and I am just tickled pink about this trade...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 137 reads 3 comments

  10. A Memo To Wild Fans: Don't Panic

    I’ll address my thoughts on the trade for Chuck Kobasew later today (hint: I love it), but first, I’d like to address something that’s been weighing on my mind over the last week or so...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 93 reads 2 comments

  11. Minnesota Wild Fall to Anaheim Ducks: The Slide Continues

    The way it’s looking now, the Minnesota Wild have a long way to go to even be competitive. Once again, the team spoiled a terrific performance by goaltender Niklas Backstrom, ...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 59 reads 0 comments

  12. Minnesota Wild at Anaheim Ducks: Game Preview

    Two meetings in just over a week. Not a bad way to renew a rivalry. The Wild are coming off of a three-day rest after their disappointing loss to the champs of the regular season, the San Jose Sharks...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 57 reads 0 comments

  13. Injuries Leave Minnesota Wild at a Crossroads

    The latest rash of injuries has left the Minnesota Wild with more questions than answers. First and foremost, how does the team balance short-term success and long-term growth? Upon ...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 83 reads 0 comments

  14. Minnesota Wild-San Jose Sharks: Wild Get Sharkbit

    If we play like this, we’ll win our fair share of games. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The Minnesota Wild came out last night and dominated the San Jose Sharks for one-and-a-half periods...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 77 reads 0 comments

  15. Minnesota Wild at Los Angeles Kings: Gameday Preview

    The Minnesota Wild spent their first 100 minutes of this season looking like a team that was out of sorts. That all changed in about 23 minutes on Tuesday night, when the Wild dominated ...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 43 reads 0 comments

  16. You Never Get a Second Chance at a First Impression: The Minnesota Wild

    The night is young and you’re so beautiful. A classic line from a song in the Mel Brooks movie, Robin Hood: Men in Tights; a song that could easily be used to describe the first impressions of any number of NHL teams...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 73 reads 0 comments

  17. The Ballad of Benoit Pouliot

    Great moments are born from great opportunity. A line that Kurt Russell immortalized in the 2004 movie, “Miracle,” and a line that fits perfectly with the crossroads that Benoit Pouliot’s career is at...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 551 reads 2 comments

  18. Anaheim Ducks at Minnesota Wild: Gameday Preview

    Just three seasons ago, the Minnesota Wild were unceremoniously bounced from the playoffs by the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the rough and tumble Anaheim Ducks...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 102 reads 0 comments

  19. Minnesota Wild at Columbus Blue Jackets: Gameday Preview

    It’s finally here. The Wild’s season starts today in Columbus, Ohio against a Blue Jackets team that they already have extensive experience with during the preseason...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 42 reads 0 comments

  20. The Dreaded Minnesota Wild Season Preview

    So the preseason has ended and teams’ rosters are set for the regular season. In some cases, it’s scary good. In others, it’s scary bad...

    Blake Benzel Written by Blake Benzel about over 3 years ago 28 reads 0 comments