Wild – Page 64 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Stakes High for Wild in Playoffs

Posted on April 13, 2016April 13, 2016 by David Shama

The Wild opens its Stanley Cup first round playoff series with the Stars tomorrow night in Dallas—and it looks like more than the usual postseason pressure is on Minnesota.

Critical evaluations and judgments about the Wild appear probable whenever this spring’s playoffs end. The franchise that initially began with the 2000-2001 season has never won its way into the Stanley Cup Finals and only once made the conference finals. Although the Wild has qualified for the playoffs each of the last four years, Minnesota didn’t advance beyond the second round.

General manager Chuck Fletcher and new coach John Torchetti may need an impressive stretch of playoff hockey by their team to further secure their positions. Fletcher has been the franchise’s general manager since 2009 and the Wild hasn’t been able to make a deep playoff run during that time. Twice the club didn’t make the playoffs.

Fletcher has hired three coaches during his era—Todd Richards, Mike Yeo and Torchetti. Yeo was dismissed in February when doubts prevailed about the team making the playoffs. Under Torchetti the club played well enough to just qualify for the postseason, but the inconsistency of play during 2015-2016 continued.

Torchetti’s job security could be tied to Fletcher. If Wild owner Craig Leipold decides to replace Fletcher, it’s certainly plausible the new GM will want another coach.

When the Wild is given a final report card after the playoffs, the players won’t avoid judgment either. There is speculation disgruntled players pushed Yeo out. If so, Leipold can ask how did his personnel respond to Torchetti?

Torchetti hasn’t hesitated to be direct with his players, letting them know what he thinks and sometimes telling them they need to just watch and learn. Whether this team has the skills and chemistry to beat the Stars will be interesting. Dallas won the Central Division with 109 points. Minnesota, with 87, had the fewest points of any Western Conference club qualifying for the playoffs and finished fifth in the seven team Central.

The Wild don’t have superstars but when Leiopold signed forward Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter to $98 million deals in 2012 it raised expectations these two might do more for the franchise’s Stanley Cup ambitions than what’s happened so far. A playoff run where Parise and Suter have their best springs for the Wild will make fans feel the club has received more value from the expensive contracts. But Parise’s contribution toward that looks in doubt because of a back injury that will at least keep him from playing in the first two playoff games, according to numerous news reports.

There might not be a more worn out cliché in sports than a hot goalie can take a team deep in the playoffs. Goalie Devan Dubnyk reportedly signed a $26 million, six-year deal last summer to stay with Minnesota. Much will be expected of the 30-year-old Dubnyk whose regular season goals against average of 2.33 didn’t earn a spot among the NHL leaders but was certainly better than the league average of 2.51.

The franchise is increasing ticket prices for next season. Part of the fans’ perspective and attitude about those prices will be impacted by how the team performs. Customers will obviously feel better about the extra expense with a big playoff run.

Worth Noting

The Wild will have home playoff games against the Stars next Monday and Wednesday. Both are certain to be sellouts. The club has sold out 106 straight regular season games and all 26 playoff games in franchise history—with each postseason game surpassing 19,000 in attendance. The official seating capacity for games at Xcel Energy Center is 17,954. Standing-room-only tickets allow for additional capacity.

The franchise set a regular season home attendance record during 2015-2016 by averaging 19,062 fans per game. Thirty-five of the club’s 41 regular season home games drew over 19,000 fans.

The Twins announced this morning they have placed left-handed pitcher and All-Star closer Glen Perkins on the 15-day disabled list with a left posterior shoulder strain, retroactive to April 11. To replace Perkins on the 25-man roster, the Twins have recalled left-handed pitcher Taylor Rogers from Triple-A Rochester. Rogers will make his major league debut with his first appearance—possibly tonight when the Twins play the White Sox at Target Field. He has a career minor league record of 37-28 with a 3.27 ERA.

The Twins, Rod Carew and the American Heart Association will promote the Heart of 29 Campaign at Target Field with a pregame ceremony tonight featuring heart disease survivors including Carew. Twins players will wear Heart of 29 patches on their red jerseys.

WCCO Radio Sports Huddle host Dave Mona and his wife Linda drove around Ramp A for 37 minutes searching for a parking space prior to Monday’s Twins opener at Target Field. Frustrated, they ultimately skipped the game and went home to watch on TV.

Bob Lurtsema presented a gold football to his old high school earlier this week. In recognition of the Super Bowl’s 50th anniversary, the NFL is providing players who participated in the games with gold footballs to give their high schools. Lurtsema, who played for Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was a defensive lineman on Vikings Super Bowl teams in the 1970s.

While in Michigan, Lurtsema also stopped at his college alma mater, Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. His Broncos jersey is on display in the team’s weight room.

Lurtsema is a believer in Teddy Bridgewater, the Vikings’ 23-year-old quarterback who starts his third NFL season next September. “The media is way too rough on him,” Lurtsema said.

Look for media reports about Gophers men’s basketball tonight and tomorrow after head coach Richard Pitino meets with journalists this afternoon to talk about the program’s offseason. Media will also watch player workouts.

The Lynx have two second round draft choices (No. 14 and 22 overall) and one third round (No. 35 overall) in tomorrow night’s WNBA Draft. ESPN2 will televise the first round starting at 6 p.m. Minneapolis time. ESPNU will televise the second and third rounds.

Former Gopher Rachel Banham, the 2016 Big Ten Player of the Year and the conference’s all-time leading scorer for women’s basketball, will be the No. 4 selection in the first round after being chosen by Connecticut, according to Bleacherreport.com’s mock draft. Draftsite.com predicts Banham will be the No. 5 selection by Dallas.

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U Quarterbacks Redshirt Candidates

Posted on April 8, 2016April 8, 2016 by David Shama

At the Gophers’ Spring Football Game tomorrow fans will be curious to watch highly hyped quarterbacks Demry Croft and Seth Green.

Croft, a sophomore next fall, and Green, a freshman, have received a lot of attention from coaches this spring with starting quarterback Mitch Leidner not participating in drills or scrimmages after left foot surgery late last year. Conor Rhoda, a junior next season and a quarterback who was a walk-on, has also taken plenty of snaps with new offensive coordinator Jay Johnson watching.

Johnson’s hope is Leidner, the Gophers’ starter last season, will not only have a school-record breaking season but also be healthy all season. That will allow a plan where Green or Croft could be redshirted, perhaps even both. Rhoda has already used his redshirt season.

Johnson replied “absolutely” when asked about his interest in redshirting either Green or Croft. That decision is months away, though. For now Johnson continues to evaluate his roster of quarterbacks including Green, who graduated early from high school to enroll this winter at Minnesota, and Croft who played in three games last season as a true freshman.

Johnson told Sports Headliners Croft’s experience has provided him with an edge compared to Green but he’s been impressed with the freshman and former four-star recruit who played his senior year of high school football in Texas after gaining so much attention as a junior and sophomore at East Ridge High School in Woodbury.

“He’s done a tremendous job mentally,” Johnson said about Green last week. “…I tried to throw a bunch of things at him this spring to kind of see what might stick and where we need to go, and I am really, really pleased with that.”

When former Gophers coach Jerry Kill signed Croft to a National Letter of Intent he described the three-star Illinois recruit as a “steal.” He praised Croft’s athleticism and ability to run. Observers see similar skills in Green and one of the two appears on track to succeed Leidner in 2017 as the starter.

“I think they both have a good skill set,”Johnson said. “There’s things we need to work on but I think the future is bright at that position. With Mitch’s situation, they have certainly had a lot of opportunity this spring and that’s good because we’re putting them in situations where they need to grow and learn from. …I think they’re both growing a lot. I think they have a bright future.”

Johnson believes the “ceiling is unlimited” for Leidner and that his redshirt senior quarterback can rank among the best in the Big Ten. “The other thing that he’s got is guys want to play for him,” Johnson said. “He has that passion, that leadership, and I think he can command a huddle and how it needs to be commanded. I think that carries dividends more than anything.”

Leidner has played in 35 games for the Gophers and started 29. He has rushed for 1,129 career yards and 23 career touchdowns (second most in school history for a quarterback), and passed for 5,118 yards (sixth most for the Gophers) and 28 touchdowns (eighth most). He ranks fifth all-time in completion percentage (56.4), sixth in completions (407) and is tied for sixth in attempts (722).

Leidner won’t play in tomorrow’s Spring Game at TCF Bank Stadium but he is hoping for the medical okay to have few restrictions later this spring and summer. Last year he credited participation in the well-known Manning Passing Academy with helping him improve his skills. In June he and other college quarterbacks will be back at the academy in Louisiana learning from the Mannings while also serving as instructors for younger players.

“It’s pretty tough. We’re working 8 in the morning until 9 o’clock at night,” Leidner said. “We do three practices with these kids, coaching them up. Then in between each practice you’re getting your workout in with the Mannings and other college quarterbacks there. I am looking forward to it. It’s a good time.”

To put less stress on his foot, Leidner has lost weight from last season. He has dropped more than 15 pounds and joked about less frequent visits to near campus restaurant Manning’s where he likes the burgers and fries.

Gophers redshirt senior offensive tackle Jonah Pirsig said the culture is different now than when Matt Limegrover was coaching the line. Bart Miller is the team’s new line coach. “It’s just a lot more intense,” Pirsig said. “He expects a lot more from you. He doesn’t allow for you to take a play off, ever. He’s all about finishing.

“I think we get a lot more out of practice. We’re not standing around at all. From what we’ve seen on tape, a lot more guys on the ground on defense, which is a good thing for us. So it’s all about being more physical.”

That seems like the right approach in the Big Ten’s West Division where the Gophers compete against teams like Iowa and Wisconsin, programs that annually build their offensive success on productive running games. Pirsig said Miller has shown his players film of other teams including Wisconsin and the Gophers from earlier this century when runners like Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney were among the most productive in the country. “I think we’ll (the offensive line) have a really good year, this year.”

Pirsig said each season the Gophers consider every game on the schedule “winnable” and 2016 will be no different. “Our goal is to be in Indianapolis in December and I think we can do that,” he said referring to the Big Ten Football Championship Game site.

Worth Noting

The Gophers’ Spring Game is scheduled to begin about 12:45 p.m. Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium. Admission is free and there will free mini-footballs given to kids, plus other activities.

This will be a special year for the 27th annual Bruce Smith Golf Classic at Faribault Golf Club. The fundraising event benefits three Faribault schools and honors Bruce Smith who won the 1941 Heisman Trophy playing for the Gophers 75 years ago this fall. More information about participating in the golf event and attending the dinner is available by e-mailing Bruce Krinke, contact@fctv10.org.

It seems likely the Vikings will set an all-time attendance record for a preseason game in Minneapolis August 28. The Vikings and Chargers will play the first NFL game ever in the new U.S. Bank Stadium that night. Official football capacity in the stadium is 66,200 and demand for tickets figures to be extraordinary.

Representatives from the Wild including players Charlie Coyle and Mikael Granlund were among the supporters attending a tribute event to the Hendrickson Foundation last night at the Fallon Worldwide offices in downtown Minneapolis. The foundation helps make it possible for disabled individuals to play hockey and is supporting nearly 100 teams. Among those being assisted are children and military veterans.

Mike Max’s “Life to the Max” show on WCCO TV will offer a feature on the Hendrickson Foundation Saturday night. The program begins at 11:05 p.m.

Comments Welcome

Vikes Need WR, Kill Praises Doctson

Posted on April 1, 2016April 1, 2016 by David Shama

The Vikings might count their blessings on draft night if Josh Doctson is available. “I’d take him in the first round if I wanted a guy that could make plays,” Jerry Kill told Sports Headliners this week.

The former TCU wide receiver could be available when the Vikings use the No. 23 pick in the first round of the April 28 NFL Draft. Speculation is the Vikings will use a selection in the early rounds to improve their wide receivers roster and hopefully acquire someone who becomes a big time playmaker.

When Kill coached the Gophers against TCU, his team had to contend with the 6-2, 202-pound Doctson. He was TCU’s leading receiver in two wins over Minnesota, catching 14 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

“He’s a freak of nature, a great player,” Kill said. “Great hands. He catches the deep ball as good as you can get it done. He’s special at going up in getting the ball. He’ll block you. He runs really, really well. Just a very, very good athlete that can make plays.”

Doctson impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine this winter and projects as one of the first wide receivers to be drafted. He might be chosen between No. 16 and No. 26 in the first round, depending on what various NFL teams are looking for to fill roster needs.

While draft authorities believe Doctson could be the Vikings’ first selection, the team needs help in the offensive line too. A probable candidate is former Ohio State tackle Taylor Decker who Kill also faced during his time as Gophers coach.

“Physical, strong, Ohio State lineman,” Kill said. “Well coached. He’s coming from a big time program. Both those guys (Doctson too) are coming from programs that are top 10 in the country. They’re going to have some substance to them about being successful.

“They’re coming from two coaches that—Gary Patterson (TCU) coaches people hard and so does Urban (Meyer, OSU) in a good way. They hardened them, and I think they get those kids ready to play in the NFL.”

The 6-7, 310-pound Decker projects more as a right tackle than a left, where better arm length and athleticism are needed against edge pass rushers, according to his profile on NFL.com/draft. His Web page describes him as a strong run blocker, “tough guy” and a potential team leader. That’s the kind of makeup demanding Vikings coach Mike Zimmer values.

Like any potential draft choice, Decker has weaknesses but an anonymous AFC regional scout said this on Decker’s Web page: “I hope you kill this guy because I would love for him to fall to us. He’s strong and tough. You can beat him up with this or that, but he’ll be a long-time starting right tackle in the league for years.”

Worth Noting

Kill has a busy schedule while living at his lake home in Illinois. He is a consultant for Miami of Ohio coach Chuck Martin and Southern Illinois coach Nick Hill. He is also involved with public speaking and appearances, although the University of Minnesota has yet to schedule him as an independent contractor.

Kill will see many of his friends tonight at the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Clinic at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park. Kill helped line up Arkansas coach Bret Bielema as the featured speaker for this evening.

The March 28 issue of Sports Illustrated includes the magazine’s 2016 MLB predictions. The Twins will finish last in the AL Central with a 74-88 record, per S.I. Last season the club was 83-79 and finished second in the division. What’s going on? S.I. quotes a rival scout who said the team is improving but the big problem is the Twins are in a “tough, tough division.”

The magazine has doubts about the club’s starting pitching—the depth and quality. The fifth starter, for example, looks like Ricky Nolasco who had a 6.75 ERA in eight starts last season. “If Ricky Nolasco is in their rotation, then their rotation stinks,” the scout said.

The Twins need an ace and Ervin Santana, who missed part of last season while suspended, looks like the best candidate among the starters. But the ace label may go unclaimed for awhile with hopes Jose Berrios can fulfill his promise. The 21-year-old right hander is starting the season in the minors but looks like a lock to be part of the rotation this summer or next. The Twins need power pitching and Berrios not only has a 2.98 ERA in four minor league seasons but has struck out more batters than innings pitched.

Former North Star Tom Reid believes the surging Wild are better than a year ago on this date. The Wild, with four games remaining in the regular season, have won six of their last seven games and look playoff bound.

Reid, who has been the team’s radio analyst since the franchise’s first season in 2000-2001, has a couple of reasons for believing the 2016 team is better. “Most of these guys have another year of experience with this hockey club,” he told Sports Headliners Wednesday. “The other part is I think their defense is much more mobile for this year with all three sets of defensemen they’ve been using.”

Last year the Wild advanced to the second round of the playoffs before being swept by the Blackhawks. Reid, who played 11 seasons in the NHL, won’t make predictions about the Wild’s playoff fate this year. He said playoff forecasting is unsure for various reasons including whether teams are coping with injuries and how opponents match up against them.

Asked about players—in addition to the team’s big names—who haven’t received enough credit for the Wild’s recent success, Reid mentioned Charlie Coyle, Matt Dumba, Nino Niederreiter, Erik Haula and Mike Reilly. “Those are some of the guys that have really stepped up,” Reid said.

The Wild replaced coach Mike Yeo earlier this year with John Torchetti. Reid has praise for both men.

“You won’t find a guy who works harder than Mike Yeo. He will be back (some day) in the NHL. I think he has learned a lot…what it takes (to coach in the league)…but his voice wasn’t being heard by the players, for whatever reason. Sometimes players…sulk when things aren’t going the way they want them to go. They want to control everything.

“But I think a new voice coming here with Torch (helped). I liked him because he’s kind of like a blue-collar coach. He’s in their (the players) face. He’s right to them when they come off the ice and they’ve made a good play, and also when they make a bad play. He wants them to understand right away that this is not acceptable—here’s what I want you to do.

“He’s one of those guys that will step right in and not be afraid to take charge. He’s shown that by just his benching of some of the players. …I think he’s given our guys a little bit of confidence in themselves too. He uses the word trust all the time. Trusting each other. I think that’s what the team is doing right now.”

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