SB Nation Minnesota - NHL Power Rankings: Can the Wild Gain Ground?https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2010-11-24T16:13:07-06:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/15988952010-11-24T16:13:07-06:002010-11-24T16:13:07-06:00SBNation Finishes the Rankings Bonanza
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<p>While things are done a bit <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2010/11/23/1832000/nhl-power-rankings-week-7-capitals-red-wings">differently here at SBNation</a>, the Wild still do not do very well. Here, the rankings are split between East and West, with two teams of writers ranking each conference.</p>
<p>The Western writers have the Wild outside the playoffs at 10th, a position that offers no rewards for anyone.</p>
<p>While SBNation does not offer the thinking behind the votes, they do offer the votes themselves. With six ballots cast, the Wild received the following rankings: 8, 9, 10, 11, 11, & 13. None of these are particularly reassuring.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2010/11/24/1834991/sbnation-finishes-the-rankings-bonanzaBryan Reynolds2010-11-24T15:58:21-06:002010-11-24T15:58:21-06:00Can CBS Sports Bring Us Some Logic?
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<p>The good folks at <span class="caps">CBS</span> Sports have a pretty good site when it comes to hockey. Depth charts, knowledgeable people giving some valuable commentary. So, can they bring some logic into this mess of rankings based on success and individual players?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/powerrankings">Wes Goldstein</a> rankings the Wild in the 20th position, down three spots from last week. Twentieth out of thirty teams is not a good place to be. How, Mr. Goldstein do you justify such a ranking?</p>
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<p>Soft in the middle. Wild are getting outplayed badly in second periods, and it is proving costly.</p>
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<p>Wait. The second period is the problem? I think Mr. Goldstein may actually be paying some attention to waht is going on around him.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2010/11/24/1834974/can-cbs-sports-bring-us-some-logicBryan Reynolds2010-11-24T15:51:27-06:002010-11-24T15:51:27-06:00SportsNet Keeps Wild Level, Still not Impressed
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<p>Mike Brophy from <a href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2010/11/22/brophy_power_rankings_nov22/">Sportsnet.ca</a> puts the Wild at 16, holding strong in the middle of the pack. Just like last week. His commentary?</p>
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<p><span>Martin Havlat</span> has picked up his scoring pace and is riding a five-game point streak with two goals and eight points.</p>
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<p>Interesting. Martin Havlat having success is reason to be at 16. Got it. Wait a minute… this sounds awfully familiar. Didn’t Brophy comment on Havlat last week?</p>
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<p>Martin Havlat’s three assists in a 4-1 win over the Lightning gives him 22 points in 18 games against Tampa Bay.</p>
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<p>Indeed. So Havlat’s success in week 7 equals a six point drop, but Havlat’s success in week 8 in simply reason to stay flat. This makes all kinds of sense.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2010/11/24/1834964/sportsnet-keeps-wild-level-still-not-impressedBryan Reynolds2010-11-24T15:44:09-06:002010-11-24T15:44:09-06:00What Says the World Wide Leader in Knowing Nothing About Hockey?
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<p>When <span class="caps">E</span><a href="http://espn.go.com/nhl/powerrankings"><span class="caps">ESPN</span> speaks about hockey</a>, no one listens. Still, they have a power ranking, and this they are included in our little adventure. So, where does Scott Burnside put the Wild?</p>
<p>He has them down three spots from last week, at 17. His reasoning:</p>
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<p>The Wild have won three of four, including a big overtime win in Detroit. Still riding a hot special teams unit, they’ll need to get better 5-on-5 production to stay in the hunt.</p>
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<p>Winning three of four is reason to drop three spots? Better five on five production? That’s your solution? Have you ever watched a Wild game? Can I ask another rhetorical question?</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2010/11/24/1834952/what-says-the-world-wide-leader-in-knowing-nothing-about-hockeyBryan Reynolds2010-11-24T15:40:58-06:002010-11-24T15:40:58-06:00Wild Stay Even in FOX Sports Rankings
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<p>Robert Picarello from <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/powerRankings"><span class="caps">FOX</span> Sports</a> puts the Wild exactly where they were last week, and exactly where <span class="caps">TSN</span> has them, at 13. Why does he put them there?</p>
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<p>In order for the Wild to skate away with two wins last week, their goalies had to stop 68 of the 72 shots the opposition fired their way, including six in overtime.</p>
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<p>Finally. A real reason.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2010/11/24/1834948/wild-stay-even-in-fox-sports-rankingsBryan Reynolds2010-11-24T15:28:41-06:002010-11-24T15:28:41-06:00TSN Puts the Wild at 13
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<p>The venerable <span class="caps">TSN</span> has the Wild at 13 this week, down one spot from last. Their reasoning this week:</p>
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<p>Heavy hitter RW <span>Cal Clutterbuck</span> is throwing his hat into the Cy Young race with seven goals and no assists. While it would be nice to see more assists, the Wild would have to be thrilled with 20 goals out of a player who scored 24 total in his first two seasons.<br>
Key Injuries: LW <span>Pierre-Marc Bouchard</span> (concussion), LW <span>Guillaume Latendresse</span> (groin), RW <span>Chuck Kobasew</span> (groin).</p>
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<p>Got it. Cal Clutterbuck doing well = drop in ranking. Not the loss to the Rangers or the lack of effort for long stretches of time. Nope. They drop a spot, and Cal Clutterbuck’s success at scoring is to blame.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2010/11/24/1834926/tsn-puts-the-wild-at-13Bryan Reynolds2010-11-24T15:23:10-06:002010-11-24T15:23:10-06:00NHL Power Rankings: Can the Wild Gain Ground?
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<p>It is once again time for us to take a gander around the interwebz, and see just how the experts feel about the Minnesota Wild. By checking the NHL power rankings from sites around the league, we can get an overall view point of where the Wild actually fit in the grand scheme of things.</p>
<p>Join us for the adventure, won't you? First Power Rankings coming up momentarily.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/11/24/2325045/nhl-power-rankings-can-the-wild-gain-groundBryan Reynolds