Wild – Page 70 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Although not popular with the masses, Matt Capps might be of more help to the Twins next season than anticipated. He was targeted by boo-bird fans last season (4-7, 4.25 ERA), but he had a sore right forearm. Capps has sometimes achieved impressive numbers as a big league closer. He had ERA’s of 2.28 and 3.02 with Pittsburgh and 2.74 for Washington before joining the Twins.

The Twins have acquired right-handed pitcher Daniel Turpen from the Rockies as the player to be named later in the Kevin Slowey trade. Turpen, 25, had a 2-4 record and 4.83 ERA with 11 saves in 48 appearances (one start) at Double-A Tulsa last season. He will be assigned to Triple-A Rochester’s roster.

With a 7-2 record and goals against average of 2.14 and save percentage of .932, Josh Harding is probably the Wild’s MVP so far. Harding has seven of the team’s 18 victories and helped the Wild to the most wins and points in the NHL. He’s been given the most extensive playing time in his career by new coach Mike Yeo.

This team is building confidence by the week, receives scoring from various players and has shown a franchise-rare ability to come from behind in wins. The Wild have won five straight games and play the Kings in Los Angeles Thursday night.

At home the team has sold-out only two games, the opener and the day after Thanksgiving game, according to a Sports Headliners source. Past disappointments, high price tickets, and even HDTV are reasons the franchise that used to automatically post sell-out signs is no longer doing so. The Wild haven’t made the playoffs for three years.

Coach Don Lucia’s Gophers hockey team, 13-4-1, is the only team in the country with 13 wins. Minnesota has 20 WCHA points for the first time in 12 games since the 2006-07 season. The Gophers, 10-2 in the WCHA, host Michigan Tech on Friday and Saturday nights.

Ch. 23 will show Saturday afternoon’s St. Thomas-UW-Whitewater Division III football semifinals playoff game from Whitewater, Wisconsin. The telecast will be produced and shown nationally on the ESPN3.com Website. The game can also be heard on WCCO Radio.

Tommies coach Glenn Caruso is a Division III finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award. This is the first time in St. Thomas history the football team has advanced to the Division III semifinals.

Concordia, St. Paul senior offensive left tackle Tyler Hendrickson is a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award. Last year Hendrickson, from St. Paul, finished third in the voting which recognizes the top junior or senior offensive and defensive linemen in the nation. The winner will be announced on January 22.

Defending Class 4A champion Hopkins plays Cretin-Derham Hall starting at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday in one of many games that are part of the Breakdown Tip Off Classic at Minnetonka. That game is on the Main Court while at 7:45 p.m. Tartan and Apple Valley on the West Court.

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Craig MacTavish might be the next coach of the Wild, but team general manager Chuck Fletcher has been so effective in keeping the search quiet someone else could be named to replace Todd Richards. MacTavish seems like the name most speculated about but Fletcher has kept a low profile during the search and conducted part of it outside Minnesota.

MacTavish, who coached Edmonton from 2000-2009, is known as a disciplined coach, a characteristic included on Fletcher’s job description for the position. However, he’s not known as a tyrant and would be expected to build morale with the Wild.

“He has a reputation as a player’s coach,” a hockey source told Sports Headliners. “He could help attract free agents.”

The source, who asked not to be identified, expects MacTavish would use an “up tempo offense, although not high octane.” The Wild would offer more offense than under Richards and certainly more emphasis on scoring than when Jacques Lemaire coached here.

Mike Yeo, head coach of the Wild’s affiliate team in Houston, will likely receive an interview by next Sunday, or sooner. The Aeros finished their AHL Calder Cup finals series last night losing four games to two against Binghamton. Yeo is highly regarded but his lack of NHL coaching experience works against him.

Fletcher is on the spot with this hire. He’s been the general manager since May of 2009 and hired Richards. If Fletcher remains the hockey boss of the franchise for years to come this still could be the most important decision he will make here.

The expectation has been Fletcher will name the coach prior to the June 24-25 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, but if the general manager isn’t satisfied with the search the announcement could push beyond that date.

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Category: Wild

Worth Noting

Yeo Expected to Interview for Wild Job