Game #81: Minnesota Wild at Edmonton Oilers, Friday April 8, 2011 at 8:00pm CST, Rexall Place [GAME PREVIEW]

Look at the bright side.  You’re probably asking me, is there a bright side today, especially after losing to Vancouver last night 5-0?  Trust me, there is.  The bright side to this season is that it’s almost over.  That’s probably not exactly PC when it comes to sports, but considering how things have gone lately, it’s the nicest thing I can say.

However, my concept of the season being almost over is much different than the idea of it almost being over for the players.  Some players like Antti Miettinen, Chuck Kobasew, and Jose Theodore will most likely be plying their trade elsewhere next season.  Many prospects, including some that have recently been called up, will undergo contract negotiations this summer.  Then there are those who have to make some big decisions this off-season.  As many have discussed, veteran players like John Madden are not sure if they’re going to be tendered a new contract by the Wild.  For most players, they would simply hit the free agent market.  Madden has publicly stated that he will most likely retire if the Wild choose not to re-sign him.  According to Madden, he and his family are at a point where they’d rather not move again, plus they’ve grown to love Minnesota.  There’s another player to add to that list.  The Minnesota Wild will also have to make a decision about Andrew Brunette this off-season.  Where Madden sounds rather decided, the same cannot be said about Brunette.  He has said that he some thinking to do after Sunday’s last game.  While he loves it in Minnesota, he has the desire to win a Stanley Cup.  He will need to find the right team to help realize that dream.  It will have to be a team that will overlook his lack of speed because they would value his leadership qualities.  Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him retire if the Wild choose not to re-sign him and he doesn’t find the right fit for his game.

I know it’s probably wrong (according to some obscure fan rule) for me to be giddy about the end of the season.  Spring is here, and I know I have put off some cleaning and organization projects in my home.  Now with no more West Coast games starting at 9:00 or 9:30pm, I will have more time and energy to do those projects.  Heck, I may just have an answer to one interesting question.  Are things like collecting dryer lint and watching grass grow more interesting than a Wild game?  Stayed tuned during the off-season, and I just might share that information with you. 

Here’s to the end! 

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