• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Minnesota Wild

No Goalies Were Harmed in the Playing of This Game

By Alli Baker September 23rd, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

I know it’s nothing special and the preseason doesn’t mean much, but it’s still hockey and I’m excited about it. I hope most of you Minnesota Wild fans are excited about it, as well. The team may have lost tonight to the Winnipeg Jets, but the young club has some serious promise. That’s very evident after watching the game tonight.

Young Guns

No longer a rookie, Charlie Coyle can be counted on to show many of the young prospects what they need in order to make the team. Coyle, along with Keith Ballard, wore the "A" tonight for Minnesota. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

No longer a rookie, Charlie Coyle can be counted on to show many of the young prospects what they need in order to make the team. Coyle, along with Keith Ballard, wore the “A” tonight for Minnesota. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

While the Winnipeg Jets chose to play most of their “regular” guys, Minnesota went the opposite route, going with a lineup of almost all prospects, minor leaguers, and new recruits. Surprisingly, the young team put up a pretty good fight against Winnipeg’s veteran roster. The match-up might’ve seemed a little unfair, but it gave these young guys a chance to stand out and show that they can play with the big boys. Among the unfamiliar faces, three players really stood out tonight:

Stu Bickel

At 6’4″, 207 pounds, Stu Bickel knows he has some weight to throw around. He also probably knows he needs to find a role to play if he’s to make the team this fall. Tonight, Stu Bickel took on the role of enforcer. The former New York Ranger dropped the gloves twice in 23 minutes, fighting Chris Thorburn 10 minutes and 24 seconds into the first period and Anthony Peluso a couple minutes later. Neither scrap was all that spectacular – a few punches from both sides – but it proved that Bickel is willing to drop the gloves in order to stand up for his teammates.

I think it’s great that Bickel seems to be trying to find a spot where he can fit on the roster and he’s definitely getting himself noticed, I just don’t know if a couple scraps in the preseason are enough to earn a place on the team. If Bickel can add a few more elements to his game, I’d be surprised if he stays in Iowa all year. There’s a lot of competition right now, but as the season progresses, the team might realize they need an enforcer or big defenseman and Bickel will be at the top of the list.

Christian Folin

The twenty-three year old Swede played only one game for Minnesota last year, but he really stood out tonight. Folin was the leader in ice time for the Wild in the first period, playing eight shifts and picking up 11:11 minutes. He ended the game with 26:41 TOI, which was the most on the team. On top of killing time, the defenseman’s game looked solid all-around. Folin looked like he knew what he was doing and wasn’t afraid to make plays. As of now, I’m guessing he’ll start the season with Minnesota. Tonight was a good indicator that Folin can compete at an NHL level and if he ends up with the team, he’ll add some size to Minnesota’s blue line as well as skill.

Jason Zucker

After an offseason full of hard work, Jason Zucker looks to earn himself a spot on the starting roster of the Minnesota Wild. (Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)

After an offseason full of hard work, Jason Zucker looks to earn himself a spot on the starting roster of the Minnesota Wild. (Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)

After a disappointing season last year, Jason Zucker has been working hard this offseason in hopes of making the team this year. Zucker made is very clear tonight that he wants to start the season in a Minnesota Wild jersey and he’s been doing everything possible to prepare for this.

The California native looked fast, alert and ready to play. Zucker also had an assist, along with Christian Folin, on the Wild’s only goal of the game by Tyler Groavac. I’d really expect him to see him on the roster Opening Night against the Avalanche. The kid is determined and it showed tonight. If he doesn’t start the season here, I can guarantee he’ll make it up at some point this year.

No Chaos In Goal

That’s right Minnesota Wild fans; your team actually played a full sixty minutes and still has three healthy goaltenders. It is truly a miracle.

Niklas Backstrom started the game in goal and stopped all 12 shots he faced in 31 minutes. For not playing in an NHL game in months, Backstrom looked impressive. The Finn didn’t show any signs of rust and even made a few highlight-reel-worthy saves, which should take a huge weight off of Chuck Fletcher’s shoulders. If he can continue to play the way he did tonight, the team is not going to have to worry about having a goalie dilemma at all. Now fingers crossed he can just stay healthy.

Halfway through the second period, Backstrom was replaced by Ilya Brzygalov, who was welcomed into the game by chants of “IL-YA, IL-YA,” by the crowd at MTS Centre. Brygalov looked a bit rustier than Backstrom, but give the guy a break – he hasn’t played all summer and he probably had no idea he’d be back in a Wild jersey for the preseason. He still managed to stop 4 of 6 shots, though, so it’s not like it was a disastrous outing for the Russian net minder. Plus he just makes the games more interesting to watch, so he has that going for him.

One Down, Five to Go

The Minnesota Wild play their second preseason game Thursday night in Pittsburgh against the Penguins, which should provide another good challenge for the young team.

 

  • Tags
  • Christian Folin
  • Niklas Backstrom
  • Stu Bickel
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 8:00 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Thrilled To Bring Laine, Roslovic On Board

Jan 23rd 6:58 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Price Still Has Room to Improve Early in 2020-21

Jan 23rd 4:05 PM
All-Star Weekend

25 Years Later: The FoxTrax Glowing Puck Makes Its Debut

Jan 23rd 3:50 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Should Play Grzelcyk With McAvoy

Jan 23rd 3:23 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Are Being Too Patient With the Puck

Jan 23rd 2:20 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Pierre-Oliver Joseph Shines in NHL Debut

Jan 23rd 2:10 PM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Prospects: Lacombe, McLaughlin, Sundsvik & More

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Prospects News & Rumors: Clarke, Byram & Cozens

Jan 23rd 2:00 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders’ Kieffer Bellows Adapting to New Role

Jan 23rd 1:50 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames’ Monahan Vying to Be Best Center in North Division

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information