More Quick Hits: I beg to differ; New fantasy toy; Sunshine Club!

Russo had a chat with Danny Irmen, who is up with the Wild right now (though is surely heading back to Houston tomorrow since the Wild are done until after the all star break). This stuck out to me:

The ex-Gophers player said he uses Cal Clutterbuck as inspiration. Clutterbuck cemented a full-time NHL job upon being promoted in October.

"We have so many other guys that play that style or a similar one," Irmen said. "It gives you hope and tells you to keep playing that way, because teams need players like that."

I don't disagree that teams need players like Cal, but I completely disagree that there are "so many other guys" similar to him. How many guys can be 3rd in the league in hits yet still put his defensive play and positioning a high enough priority to keep Lemaire happy, AND get some points on the board? Sorry, but I don't know many in the AHL and certainly not on the Aeros who could come close.

I guess I take issue with the implication that he's just an average grinder who worked hard and got some luck. I don't believe that's the case at all. I could go into the 20 reasons why but seriously, do I need to?

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Lucky for me, someone in my pal Buddha's ESPN hockey fantasy league couldn't take the heat in the kitchen, so he offered the team to me. They are at the bottom of the league. Way way way in the basement where the trolls live. But I've spent the evening dumping crap players, adding better ones, and generally being obnoxious. What fun!

Unfortunately, the former owner was one of the poor schmucks who got stuck with Gaborik. Ugh. So the team really has no superstars on it. Lots of second tier players, so there's really not much hope for big moves up, but it's fun to try.

And this is a roto keeper league, which I don't have going in any other league. I'll have to figure out what that means in terms of strategy. Only one keeper so I'll worry about that much later.

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Andrew, who wrote about whether the Aeros could make the playoffs the other day, apparently got some heat from some fans who don't appreciate his pessimistic and/or realistic take on the team's prospects. He calls hopeful Aeros fans... The Sunshine Club. (Oh, how vile!)

Anyway, he dug a little deeper and shared those findings. I'm not sure they really change much, but in any case, if you enjoy prediction talk, there you have the addendum to the original post.

I think it's pretty clear where my head is on making predictions, either game by game or for the season. I don't like to do it, I don't do it well, and really, I don't see the point. The game will be what the game will be. Same for the season. Drop the puck and surprise me, boys. That's why I love hockey. You never know what you're going to get.

Like, maybe, a chocolate llama.

So, here's my plan for the second half of the season. I'll even put it in a numbered list so it's easy to follow:

1. Go to Aeros games
2. Watch Aeros games (while hoping for the best)
   
3. Write about Aeros games
4. Repeat
5. See what happens

That's how us Type B bitches roll. It works for me.

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Mitch spreads the love; Irmen (yeah, Irmen) gets the call

I felt like I was living in some kind of druggy haze when I heard that the Wild called up Danny Irmen in case Brunette couldn't play tonight or tomorrow. I just so wouldn't have made that choice, but he DID (I'm now recalling) get a decent amount of attention during pre-season. Once for a really really bad game, after which he got a second chance and played fine. So, I guess they see something in him or they're pandering to the fools who think it's a travesty that the Wild has no Minnesota players.

Best of lucky, Danny. (See you Friday back in Houston, I'm guessing.)

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Mitch has put out his 6th blog post.

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Suckfest and Happyfest

Suckfest
Good God, I motherf**king hate the Houston Texans and wish I didn't ever have to waste another Sunday on their sorry asses again. But I will because we have season tickets and I'm a good wife. But I'm going for the other team. Next week, I'm a Miami fan.

Happyfest
Okay, not really happy for the guys, but happy for the fans because Cal, Irmen, Kolanos, and Falk were assigned to Houston today. Frankly, the guys should be pretty satisfied knowing they were darn close to making the team and if it weren't for Gillies' age issues, one of them probably would have. And I think all of them have impressed Lemaire in their own ways, so I figure they'll have their chance.

Also, Scotty remains in Minny due to his "badly sprained ankle" and Brusty remains due to Harding's scratched eyeball. Might switch him for Schaefer if Hards isn't better by Saturday. Wouldn't mind it being BrustyTime right out of the gate. :)

There's more to say but I need my pre-game nap.

ETA: Post-nap, I'm feeling less full of bile. Lucky for the team from Sugar Land.

BTW, I swear I saw Matt Kassian on the concourse at the game. Boys had the day off, other than goalies and "select shooters" and practice wasn't until 5 p.m., so I would imagine a few of them took in the suckfest. I hope it didn't rub off on them. In fact, we should mandate that the Aeros players stay as far away from Texans players as possible. That shit might be contagious.

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