After a powerful four-game win streak at home, the Wild went on the road only to lose three straight against St. Louis, Phoenix and Dallas. I'm not really sure what happened, but I'm also not here to talk about their road woes.
Petr Sykora is a veteran in the NHL. He won a Stanley Cup last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had a great gig going for him in Russia, but came to Minnesota after talking with formerly-Pittsburgh-associated Chuck Fletcher and Todd Richards, the Wild's general manager and head coach.
Like a few of his new teammates this year, Sykora suffered a concussion (after an earlier groin injury) and was sidelined for 24 games. But he's healthy now, and the result has been a seat in the press box as a scratch for a handful of games before he got the nod Monday in Dallas.
Just a note with healthy scratches, they might belong to a player who isn't producing, or a guy who's just the odd man out that night in favor of players who are playing well.
Who's in, and who's out
Wild players who have played while Sykora was studying his peers high above the ice? James Sheppard (2 goals, 3 assists), defenseman John Scott (who has proven he's an enforcer with some mental lapses) and rookie call-up Robbie Earl (3 goals). Not exactly your biggest class of offensive weapons.
Richards is the one pulling the strings on this one. Now, I'm not here to rip into Richards, who is in his first year as a head coach. It's been a transition for the team from the players to coaches to the front office. But in sports, we analyze, question and critique, and this is no different.
Sheppard isn't getting it done
Let's face it, Sheppard was a project of the fired-GM Doug Risebrough who preached that this kid (now age 21) was going to be a big star. He was up with the big boys for most of last season, a point that has been debated by many who thought he should have spent more time in the minors to develop.
I gave Shep the benefit of the doubt last year. But this year has been a different story.
I don't see the potential in him that apparently some do, including Richards. I've already expressed my displeasure with Shep getting the starts while Benoit Pouliot (now with Montreal) was the one scratched. His unproductive numbers speak for themselves, and I just don't see an on-ice spark from him.
Richards did scratch Sheppard lately, but he also played when Sykora was still sitting. He played against the Blues and Richards said afterward that he thought it was a good game for him because he stood up physically to David Backes. That's all fine and good, but that doesn't help put goals in the net.
In my opinion, Sheppard is one of those players that's turning into a coach favorite. And so is Earl. Why is a rookie playing in consecutive games over a veteran with more than 300 goals? Richards has said he liked Earl's speed and skating ability.
Tweeting frustrations
Sykora's agent Allan Walsh got this issue going with some of his comments on Twitter, upset that Sykora wasn't getting playing time. The main defense from the head coach on this issue was he didn't want to break up the top lines, and putting Sykora on the fourth line didn't seem to be productive either.
After the first two losses on the road trip, Sykora finally got the start in Dallas. The lines were scrambled after a not-so-great game in Phoenix. But Sykora took a hooking penalty early on, which resulted in an opposing goal.
This may have also been why he played just 11:28 in the game. Only Andrew Ebbett, Derek Boogaard and Scott had less ice time, and the last two are the team enforcers.
Trade bait
If Sykora continues to get scratched, whatever the reason, you've got to think he will become trade bait at some point. As much as I think it's a huge asset to have a Stanley Cup winner on your team, if the team doesn't allow him to play, trading him might be the best benefit for both parties.
The Wild can try to get someone in return for a guy they apparently don't have room for, and Sykora can go elsewhere and play where he's appreciated. But just in case I haven't been clear, I'd rather see Sykora in a Wild uniform.
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