wild/nhl
This is Michael Russo's 18th year covering the National Hockey League. He's covered the Minnesota Wild for the Star Tribune since 2005 following 10 years of covering the Florida Panthers for the Sun-Sentinel. Michael uses “Russo’s Rants” to feed a wide-ranging hockey-centric discussion with readers, and can be heard weekly on KFAN (100.3 FM) radio and seen weekly on Fox Sports North.
Also find Russo on Facebook.
Email Michael to talk about hockey.
Posts about Wild news
NHL award winners to be announced before Game 2 of Stanley Cup final
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: May 24, 2013 - 10:37 AM
We don't know when Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final will be, but we do know the NHL's major award winners will be announced before that game.
The league said today that winners of the Calder, Hart, Norris, Lindsay and Vezina will be announced as a lead-in to Game 2 at 6 p.m. that night in an hour-long program.
The day before, at 4 p.m., winners of the Masterton, Selke, Adams, Clancy, Lady Byng and leadership awards will be named.
Wild defenseman Ryan Suter is one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy (best defenseman) and Josh Harding is one of three finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Award (perseverence and dedication to hockey).
The show before Game 2 will be co-produced by NBC and the CBC from the site of the game. The previous day's program will be televised by the NHL Network.
Following are the 2013 NHL Awards finalists, in alphabetical order:
BILL MASTERTON MEMORIAL TROPHY (Perseverance and dedication to hockey)
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Josh Harding, Minnesota Wild
Adam McQuaid, Boston Bruins
CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY (Top rookie)
Brendan Gallagher, Montreal Canadiens
Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers
Brandon Saad, Chicago Blackhawks
FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY (Top defensive forward)
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
HART MEMORIAL TROPHY (Most valuable player to his team)
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
John Tavares, New York Islanders
JACK ADAMS AWARD (Top head coach)
Bruce Boudreau, Anaheim Ducks
Paul MacLean, Ottawa Senators
Joel Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks
JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY (Top defenseman)
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens
Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild
LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY (Best sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability)
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
Matt Moulson, New York Islanders
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
MARK MESSIER NHL LEADERSHIP AWARD PRESENTED BY BRIDGESTONE
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
NHL GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Marc Bergevin, Montreal Canadiens
Bob Murray, Anaheim Ducks
Ray Shero, Pittsburgh Penguins
TED LINDSAY AWARD (Most outstanding player as voted by members of the NHLPA)
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
VEZINA TROPHY (Top goaltender)
Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
Antti Niemi, San Jose Sharks
Wild season ticket prices go up
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: May 23, 2013 - 7:32 PMThe Wild set its season ticket prices for next season, and there is an average increase of 4.5 percent per ticket.
Season ticket per-game prices range from $23 to $92.
Prices for single-game tickets won't come until at least August.
"We're continuing to provide an improved product, and along with that sometimes comes a price increase," said COO Matt Majka.
The Wild signed free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to lofty contracts last summer, and made the playoffs before a five-game exit to Chicago.
"We feel that we've stepped up as an organization in a substantial way, but we respect the choices that fans have in front of them and we will continue to work to earn their support," Majka said.
Majka said the average price of NHL ticket prices increased 12 percent over the past three years as Wild prices remained the same. He said average ticket prices for Wild games ranks between 15th and 17th in the NHL.
Here is the team's release:
The Wild today announced season ticket prices for the 2013-14 National Hockey League season will range from $23 to $92. Renewal information will be emailed and mailed to Season Ticket Holders starting today.
“We are committed to winning and to giving fans a great experience when they come to Xcel Energy Center,” said Chief Operating Officer Matt Majka. “This marks the first time we have raised season ticket prices in three years and our average season ticket price will remain in the middle of the NHL.”
As in past seasons, Season Ticket Holders who renew their tickets by the renewal deadline of Friday, June 21 at 11:59 p.m. will be eligible for special incentives through the popular Wild Rewards Program, including options to get food and beverage or merchandise gift cards ranging in value from $50 to $300 per account, access to special events and more, based on the payment plan selected.
2013-14 MINNESOTA WILD SEASON TICKET PRICES
RBC Wealth Management Club Level
Sides $90
Ends $80
Lower Level
Sides $92
Double Attack Corners $78
Single Attack Corners $73
Double Attack Ends $72
Single Attack Ends $67
Upper Level
Sides $45
Ends $23
Ryan Suter selected as Norris Trophy finalist; Live chat at 3 p.m. today
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: May 7, 2013 - 9:01 AMOne day after the Wild felt rookie Jonas Brodin was snubbed as a Calder Trophy finalist, Ryan Suter was selected as one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy (Best Defenseman).
Good morning from Minnesota, where tonight at 8:30 p.m. (FSN, KFAN) the Wild will attempt to even the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals with the Chicago Blackhawks.
I will host a live chat on startribune.com today at 3 p.m. Please join in. I will also be on Fox Sports North during Wild Live before the game and during the first intermission. I should also be on KFAN at some point this morning.
If you didn't buy today's newspaper, please go to www.startribune.com/wild for a ton of Wild-Blackhawks coverage from myself, Chip Scoggins, Rachel Blount and Shari Gross.
Remember, the Wild will host a pregame party from 6-8 p.m. between Gates 1 and 3 at the X tonight.
Because of the late starting time for the game, the pregame skates today are later than usual -- 11 a.m. and noon. I will blog again after the skates, but if you want lineup information, follow me on Twitter at @russostrib.
But the Wild will call up several players from Houston today to add to Mikael Granlund, Stephane Veilleux, Jake Dowell, Carson McMillan and Matt Dumba. Those players include Justin Fontaine, Kyle Medvec and others.
Suter was selected as one of three finalists with Montreal's PK Subban and Pittsburgh's Kris Letang.
Suter, signed by the Wild to a 13-year, $98 million last summer, led all NHL skaters in average ice time during the season with a franchise-record 27 minutes, 16 seconds a game. He finished third behind Subban and Letang in points from defensemen with 32 and ranked second behind Letang with 28 assists.
All of this season’s award winners will be announced during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, with more detail on format to be released at a later date.
The NHL Awards will return to Las Vegas in June 2014.
Following is the schedule of announcements:
Wednesday, May 8 Vezina Trophy (top goaltender)
Thursday, May 9 Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player as voted by NHLPA) **Ted Lindsay Award nominees will be announced by the NHLPA
Friday, May 10 Hart Memorial Trophy (most valuable player to his team)
Monday, May 13 General Manager of the Year Award
Tuesday, May 14 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (perseverance and dedication to hockey) *Josh Harding is the Wild's Professional Hockey Writers' Association (PHWA) nominee
Wednesday, May 15 Frank J. Selke Trophy (top defensive forward)
Thursday, May 16 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (skill/sportsmanship)
Friday, May 17 Jack Adams Award (top head coach)
Monday, May 20 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award presented by Bridgestone (player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice)
Pominville practicing for the Wild; Dumba, McMillan recalled
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: May 6, 2013 - 11:30 AMWild right wing Jason Pominville, who missed the first three games of the postseason and final two games of the regular season, has just taken the ice for today's optional practice.
Don't get your hopes up yet that he is returning for Game 4.
1) He has practiced once since being injured April 23.
2) Even though he looked great in practice, he woke up on the morning of Game 1 and didn't feel right.
In other news, the Wild has recalled forward Carson McMillan and defenseman Matt Dumba from AHL Houston and are practicing today. They join Stephane Veilleux, Mikael Granlund and Jake Dowell, who were recalled yesterday. Again, this doesn't mean they're in the lineup. It means Houston's been eliminated and the Wild can start having so-called "Black Aces" around.
The Blackhawks have eight. That's how Mike Rupp's career began 10 years ago, incidentally. Got in for Jersey and wound up scoring the Cup-clinching goal against Chuck Fletcher's Ducks.
Also, the time of Thursday's Game 5 will be set tomorrow by the NHL.
Jonas Brodin snubbed as Calder Trophy finalist
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: May 6, 2013 - 9:05 AMJonas Brodin, the youngest defenseman in the NHL at age 19, was arguably the biggest name snubbed as a Calder Trophy finalist this morning.
The finalists are Montreal's Brendan Gallagher, Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau and Chicago's Brandon Saad.
All of this season’s award winners will be announced during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, with more detail on format to be released at a later date.
You can arguably say no NHL rookie made as much of an impact as Brodin. Paired for most the season with veteran Ryan Suter, Brodin led all rookies in average ice time per game -- 23 minutes, 12 seconds, nearly two minutes over the next guy. He was fourth among Wild blue liners with 11 points in 45 games.
In the playoffs, Brodin ranks fifth among all NHLers at 28:54 a game (Suter leads at 32:42).
The NHL Awards will return to Las Vegas in June 2014.
Following is the schedule of announcements:
Tuesday, May 7 James Norris Memorial Trophy (top defenseman) *Ryan Suter should be a finalist if not the frontrunner
Wednesday, May 8 Vezina Trophy (top goaltender)
Thursday, May 9 Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player as voted by NHLPA) **Ted Lindsay Award nominees will be announced by the NHLPA
Friday, May 10 Hart Memorial Trophy (most valuable player to his team)
Monday, May 13 General Manager of the Year Award
Tuesday, May 14 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (perseverance and dedication to hockey) *Josh Harding is the Wild's Professional Hockey Writers' Association (PHWA) nominee
Wednesday, May 15 Frank J. Selke Trophy (top defensive forward)
Thursday, May 16 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (skill/sportsmanship)
Friday, May 17 Jack Adams Award (top head coach)
Monday, May 20 Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award presented by Bridgestone (player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice)
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recent posts
- Russo: Wild trades, free agency, buyouts. What would you do?
- Wild re-signs Marco Scandella
- Suter runner-up for Norris Trophy; Brodin fourth for Calder
- Josh Harding wins Masterton Trophy
- Harding favorite for Masterton; Brodin asked to Sweden Olympic camp
- Veilleux re-signed to two-year deal with Wild
- Report: Subban to win Norris Trophy, meaning Suter won't be named league's top defenseman
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- Goalie Raanta's decision is made; Cullen talks about his future
- Wild summer road tour info and conference finals schedule
- NHL award winners to be announced before Game 2 of Stanley Cup final
- Wild season ticket prices go up
- Backstrom has sports hernia surgery
- Harding named a Masterton trophy finalist
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- Postgame: Another Wild season ends; Backstrom had sports hernia
- Goalie drama before crucial Wild game against Chicago
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