Hey Dobberites,

So, I acquired Backstrom in the summer to get a solid goaltender. Last year I started the year with Gerber and then added Theo as a cheap fill in, but I didn't want to go into another season with either of them leading the way to the future.

So, while Backstrom has played alright to start the season, the problem is Minnesota. They really SUCK this year! They are a nasty 1-5 to start the season, and at that pace it doesn't matter how well Backstrom plays, there just aren't many points to be had. I had expected a slight dip in stats as they went to their new 'offensive' system, but they can't score, and they aren't playing any defense either.

Are they going to turn it around? And what about down the road?

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24-Team Keeper League
PTS: G=1, A=1, W=2, SO=5
Starting roster: 6F, 3D, 1G, *Keep 12

F: Spezza, Kovalchuk, Krejci, Franzen, Pacioretty, Steen, Berglund, Erat, PMB
D: Keith, Weber, Visnovsky, Leddy
G: Lundqvist, Harding

16-Team Keeper League
PTS: G=1, A=1, W=2, SO=3
Starting roster: 6F, 4D, 1G, *Keep 12 + 4 on farm
F: Benn, Krejci, Kessel, Skinner, Ryan, Parise, Clowe, C. Smith, Boedker, Leblanc
D: Edler, E Johnson, Campbell, Kronwall, Petry, McDonagh, Hamonic
G: Price, Rask
Farm: Schwartz, Zibanejad, Bjugstad, Dumba

I dunno 6 games into the season it's kinda hard to predict anything in stone... The thing is heading into the season you had to have thought that Backstrom would take a hit in numbers. They were playing crazy defensive hockey which generally looks great stat wise. They were never an offensive team, so playing strong defensively masked their deficiencies. Now that they're moving away from the defense they're going to give up more chances and thus Backstrom's numbers are going to look uglier.

Heading into the season I didn't think that Backstrom would be anywhere near his numbers from the last two seasons.

I just don't see them turning it around, teams that are struggling early, like Montreal, Fla, Van, Car kinda have their own stars to help get them outta the rut, Montreal has Gomez, Cammy, Gionta, Fla has Horton, Weiss, Booth, Van has Sedins, Car has Staal. As much as you don't want to count out a team this early into the season, I just don't see Minny having the fire power to get them outta the offensive funk this season, unless they revert back to the defensive system they played in the last few years.

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Dobber Expert Pool Champion 2011-12

Now that I wouldn't complain about...

__________________
24-Team Keeper League
PTS: G=1, A=1, W=2, SO=5
Starting roster: 6F, 3D, 1G, *Keep 12

F: Spezza, Kovalchuk, Krejci, Franzen, Pacioretty, Steen, Berglund, Erat, PMB
D: Keith, Weber, Visnovsky, Leddy
G: Lundqvist, Harding

16-Team Keeper League
PTS: G=1, A=1, W=2, SO=3
Starting roster: 6F, 4D, 1G, *Keep 12 + 4 on farm
F: Benn, Krejci, Kessel, Skinner, Ryan, Parise, Clowe, C. Smith, Boedker, Leblanc
D: Edler, E Johnson, Campbell, Kronwall, Petry, McDonagh, Hamonic
G: Price, Rask
Farm: Schwartz, Zibanejad, Bjugstad, Dumba

not to hijack the thread but I dont understand this logic that they've become a pure offensive team due to the coaching change, doesn't every coach in the world preach a strong defensive game? If you were to walk into the Minny job as head coach and you're looking over your lineup where you've lost Gabby, PMB is out indefinitely and Havlat is a hangnail away from missing the rest of the season wouldn't you want your team to continue the strong defensive play they've already learned? I get the new coach, new system thing, but it seems very much like throwing the baby out with the bathwater on a team like this.

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Thats me on the street with a violin under my chin, playing with a grin, singing gibberish.





P=1 DPts=1.2 +/-=.32 PIM=.08 PPP=.4 SHP=.6 S=.015 Blk=.2 Hit=.08
W=2 OTL=.8 GA=-.64 SV=.08 SO=3

Pro (23 keep 17)
C- Filppula,Turris,Stastny,Backstrom
D-Boyle,MDZ,Karlsson,Robidas,Goligoski,Schenn,Seiden berg
G-Anderson,Hiller,Rinne
LW-Malone,Parise,Rolston,Eriksson,Ruutu
RW-Alfredsson,Callahan,Setoguchi,Brown,Ryder,Vrbata

Farm (9 keep all, max 200 GP, 100 Goalies)
Colborne,Leblanc,Loktionov,Perreault,Tangradi,Blum ,Poulin,Markstrom

Heres todays sparkling fun fact about the 'new' 'offensively' minded Wild.

Only 2 players have scored more than 1 goal.

And on a personal note - Brent Burns is killing me.

A league leading -10?? Damn.

Everytime I see a Wild update goal and goto check the boxscore, I'm thinking...

"Please be Burns from Burns and Burns."

Stupid last place Wild. They passed on Ebbett? It's going to be a long year for Wild fans...

But we knew that before the season started

Minnesota will be right with the Leafs at the bottom this year.

They simply like everybody is saying have little offense.

Harding looks like swiss cheese in there.

I have held on to this guy for 2 years hoping he would get a shot at something but I am starting to loose interest in him.