Portfolio - Freelance work - Zone Coverage - 2016-17 Minnesota Wild

Highlights on this page include stories and columns on the Minnesota Wild and NHL beat over the course of the 2016-17 hockey season for Zone Coverage. 
This Minnesota Wild Regular Season is a Welcomed Change of Pace
​Jan. 30, 2017

I’m not sure I know where to start with this rendition of the Minnesota Wild. This situation really isn’t normal. The team leads the Central Division with 69 points at 32-11-5 at the All-Star Break. 
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Mikael Granlund Has Arrived
​Feb. 6, 2017

We’re finally seeing what Mikael Granlund can do. He’s having a career year, complete with his first career hat trick Saturday night in Vancouver. It’s great to finally see him doing well. He even cracked a smile to mark the occasion.
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It's Been One Year Since the Wild Fired Mike Yeo
​Feb. 13, 2017
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One year ago, the Minnesota Wild played a home game against Boston for a Saturday matinee. It was another frustrating game in a string of losses that made up the latest Winter Swoon for the Wild.
Capt’n Koivu Is Having A Career Season. Leave The ‘C.’
Feb. 20, 2017

Mikko Koivu might be having the best year of his NHL tenure, with 17 goals (already matching last year’s total) and 27 assists for 44 points putting him third on the team behind Mikael Granlund (53) and Eric Staal (45).
Wild Add Hanzal as Post-Bye Week Play Looms
Feb. 27, 2017 

From the department of Captain Obvious, the Minnesota Wild are having their best regular season ever. The club threw some more poker chips into the pot with news Sunday that they acquired center Martin Hanzal and forward Ryan White from the Arizona Coyotes.
Seeing the Good Side of Jason Zucker
​March 6, 2017

Jason Zucker has had his ups and downs the past couple years, but he offers a lot of value, too. Zucker is finally getting the kudos he deserves.
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Just Remain Calm
​March 13, 2017 

People are freaking out about the Minnesota Wild right now like it’s January during the Mike Yeo era. The Wild lost 4-2 on Sunday afternoon in Chicago.​
The Storm Has Not Passed for the Wild
March 27, 2017 

It’s almost a copy/paste situation. For the fifth straight year, the Minnesota Wild will play in the NHL playoffs. 
Big Picture: Wild Season Already a Success
April 3, 2017 

It’s the final week of the regular season for the Wild. This is a season that should go down as a success, based on the play so far. 
RULE: With the Wild in the Playoffs, You Never Know What You’re Going to Get
April 10, 2017

The Minnesota Wild enter the postseason for the fifth year in a row, though this is the first with head coach Bruce Boudreau behind their bench. They earned home-ice advantage in their first-round matchup against the St. Louis Blues.
Wild Get the Job Done in Game 4 With Backs Against the Wall
April 20, 2017 

So in some ways, it might not be such a huge surprise that the Wild came back to win Game 4 in St. Louis Wednesday night after digging themselves an 0-3 hole in the best-of-seven series. The Wild got some superb play from Devan Dubnyk in a 2-0 shutout of the Blues, ensuring a Game 5 would be played in St. Paul this weekend.
RULE: In Breaking Down Wild Aftermath, Remember More Than the Ending
April 24, 2017 

It’s time to revise a statement in the wake of the Minnesota Wild’s first-round postseason exit, losing their series to the St. Louis Blues 4-1.
RULE: ’06 Twins and 2016-17 Wild Provide Similar Empty Feelings
May 15, 2017 

Apples and oranges be darned. It’s time to compare the 2006 Minnesota Twins and the 2016-17 Minnesota Wild.
RULE: Subban is a Refreshing Character Who Needs to be in the NHL Forefront
​June 5, 2017
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The Nashville Predators wanted to give their home crowd a victory after losing the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final in Pittsburgh. The Preds delivered with a 5-1 final score to avoid going down three-games-to-none against the defending-champion Penguins.
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RULE: Hockey Season Ends with a Great Game, Despite Odd Game-Winning Goal
June 12, 2017 

The ending was actually pretty predictable. It was drama-filled, intense and everything playoff hockey should be, of course. In a scoreless game late in regulation, it already seems like overtime because all it will take is one goal to be the game-winner at that point.
RULE: Let the Chips Fall Where They May for Vegas Draft
​June 19, 2017

The talk all weekend about the NHL has been all about protecting and exposing players. The weird thing is this isn’t even about the mumps.
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NHL Free Agency: List of Wild Signings
​July 1, 2017

July 1 marks the opening of NHL Free Agency. With the trade of Jason Pominville and Marco Scandella to Buffalo, the Wild already made a significant move this week. Saturday has also brought a couple of new players into the mix.
RULE: Looking Back On the Parise, Suter Deals Five Years Later
​July 3, 2017

Five years ago on July 4, I had just finished marching in the annual parade in a small Minnesota town representing a local newspaper. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild had signed Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.
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