Cheer up, Marc-Andre Bergeron. It's golf season!
(Photo: AP/Paul Sancya)
With today’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings, the Minnesota Wild has just about clinched a non-playoff season. But don’t be grim, guys… that just means you can hit the links sooner! And based on how their hockey season went, I have a couple tips for the Wild players, coaches and front-office personnel looking to have a successful offseason on the golf course.
Cal Clutterbuck: Hard hitters provide lots of entertainment for the galleries. But just because you can cream the stuffing out of a golf ball doesn’t mean you’re going to win holes in match play. Luckily for you, it seems that you can also get the ball in the hole from time to time. If anything, I’d suggest working on your temper. It’s not going to do you any good if you consistently get in fights with the ranger when he tells you to pick up your play.
Kim Johnsson and Marek Zidlicky: Learn to play defensively. You guys used to be known for your careful play, but it seems the last couple times out that you took chances you didn’t need to take, like firing at pins behind bunkers or trying to carry the length of the water to reach the green in two. Either that, or you would become distracted, and find yourselves in the trees. Focus and make smarter decisions, and you might see your game improve.
And Marek, you can’t always count on making the fluke shot from the middle of the fairway...
Jacques Lemaire: Unlike Johnsson and Zidlicky, I think you manage your game too carefully. These days, 460 cc drivers, cavity-back irons and u-groove wedges have made golf a game of “go for it.” You’re not going to win tournaments hitting a hybrid off of every tee and leaving every putt short. And even though you might be towards the top of the men's league in "sand saves", you can't count on your "Niklas wedge" to bail you out.
Derek Boogaard: Seems like you have a problem with a flying right elbow. Better work on keeping that elbow in, or else you’ll keep finding your ball in trouble.
Brent Burns: I’d invest in a new set of headcovers to protect your most important assets.
Marian Gaborik: I’d tell you to focus on your hip movement in your downswing, but I’m guessing that it was hip action that caused your problems to begin with. In fact, I’ve noticed that your game seems to go missing for holes at a time. Take the last round you played. Sure, you birdied on 17 and 18, but it seems like you weren’t even out there for the other 16 holes. Maybe you just need a change of scenery to help you regain your swing.
Doug Risebrough: Upgrade your equipment. You can’t expect to do well on the golf course when you have no confidence in your gear. So try changing things up. Buy a new putter. Trade out your old golf balls for new ones. Heck, even see if you can borrow your buddy’s driver on the 13th hole. Sure, you might have to part with the club at the end of the round, but maybe you can get your game going in the right direction.
The Wild as a team: Work on closing out matches so you don’t need extra holes. The best way to do that: improve your greens in regulation.
Oh, and make sure you get your golf bags ready.
Comments
Nice job, Kyle. A lot to look at here. Great links.
I'm forwarding this to the Wild's Ryan Stanzel. You're in trouble now buddy.
Agreed with almost everything except Kim Johnsson. Dude's the only d-man the Wild have where you don't have to cross your fingers and hold your breath whenever he's on the ice
Joe P: I think that Johnsson's game against Detroit yesterday just sticks in my head. I saw a couple times where he tried to blindly fire a shot out of the defensive zone, only to have it picked off by a Red Wing.
But you're right. My "golf tips" are more meant for Zidlicky, who's just about single-handedly cost the Wild a couple critical games down the stretch.
hahaha this is good stuff. except for clutterbuck consistantly getting into fights? so 5 to you is consistant?
Joe P: So you cross your fingers and hold your breath when Schultz is on the ice?
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