Bardown Beauties: A Minnesota Wild and hockey podcast · SKOR North

#295. The Minnesota Wild ARE Fixable

·34 min·3 clips

Two hockey minds trapped in bodies that can't skate break down the game with sharp takes and laughs.

This episode of Bardown Beauties analyzes the Minnesota Wild's early-season struggles and their potential for a turnaround. Hosts Jesse Pierce and Kirsten Kroll, known for their humorous and analytical hockey commentary, assess the team's current state. They frame the discussion around the team's recent victory over the Edmonton Oilers and its importance for team morale. The hosts reference the Wild's Halloween party, noting the victory likely made the celebrations more public. They discuss specific player performances, including Marco Rossi's scoring and the line of Rossi, Matt Boldy, and Kirill Kaprizov. The conversation covers the team's problematic defensive play and goaltending from Filip Gustavsson and Marc-André Fleury. A major topic is the struggling power play and the recent decision to fire assistant coach Bob Woods, who was in charge of that unit. Pierce and Kroll debate whether firing Woods was a justified move or a scapegoating of the coach for player execution issues. They also examine the broader roster construction and the challenges posed by the team's salary cap situation. One insight is that the hosts see the victory over Edmonton as a critical psychological boost to avoid a completely toxic environment. They find it notable that the team's top offensive line is producing despite overall struggles. A surprising claim is the suggestion that the power play's issues may be more about the players' failure to execute the system than the system itself. The hosts speculate that general manager Bill Guerin made the coaching change to send a message and create a shock to the system. They also humorously analyze the appeal of the team's Halloween content for fans seeking glimpses into players' personal lives. The episode questions whether this single coaching change can fix the deeper, systemic issues plaguing the team. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending sharp hockey criticism with casual banter and laughter. The style is opinion-driven but grounded in observations of recent games and team news. Minnesota Wild fans seeking a detailed breakdown of the team's on-ice problems and front-office decisions would love this episode. Listeners looking for pure game recaps or who dislike speculative coaching and management analysis might skip it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Bardown Beauties: A Minnesota Wild and hockey podcast