Michael Russo: What's going on in the head of Wild's Konopka?

[Fel 96]

What's going on in the head of Wild's Konopka?

Finally!

Click to read more...

 

[Minnesota]

Badass.

 

[Minnesota]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/186709631.html?refer=y

And he admittedly loves to push the line as far as he can take it, whether it's a faceoff strategy that actually resulted in a rule change across the NHL this season, or a pregame antic during warmups.

Anyone know which rule change this is?

 

[Generic User]

What's going on in the head of Wild's Konopka?

Finally!

Yes..

This is my favorite part:

As captain of the Syracuse Crunch in 2007-08, Konopka was reading the newspaper while having coffee at a Winnipeg hotel the morning between games with the Manitoba Moose. An article about Alexandre Bolduc caught Konopka's eye.

"That night in warmups, I brought the sports section onto the ice with me and laid it down at center ice," Konopka said. "I said to [Bolduc], 'It says here in print you'll fight anyone. You have five guys to pick from. You pick who you're going to fight first and we'll pick who you're going to fight second.' ... We won that game."

 

[Generic User]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/186709631.html?refer=y



Anyone know which rule change this is?

Further into the article:

But unlike many bruisers, he can play a regular shift and is especially strong in the faceoff circle, winning 58.8 percent of his draws. One strategy he used was to grab the opposing center's stick in the defensive zone and pass the puck with his hand to a teammate. That's now a minor penalty.

"They call it the 'Z Rule,'" Konopka said. "I knew they'd eventually catch on to it. It was an advantage. I'll find another one."

 

[Fel 96]

Konopka on Hoppy: "Just like me, there's a little period in there where you have some uncertainty, but he can win you over pretty quickly."

http://twitter.com/Russostrib/status/290677693010292736

 

[Dampland]

Badass.

1000000000% better than Nordy!

 

[Minnesota]

Konopka sounds like an interesting guy.

 

[Billy Mays Here*]

I'm going to be devastated if anything ever happens to Hoppy.

 

[NHL1674]

Russo

Last year in the playoffs for Ottawa, Konopka was fined $2,500 for warning the Rangers' Brian Boyle to "strap in."

"I thought I was being a good guy to warn him," Konopka said.

 

[Fel 96]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/186709631.html?refer=y



Anyone know which rule change this is?

This one:

But unlike many bruisers, he can play a regular shift and is especially strong in the faceoff circle, winning 58.8 percent of his draws. One strategy he used was to grab the opposing center's stick in the defensive zone and pass the puck with his hand to a teammate. That's now a minor penalty.

"They call it the 'Z Rule,'" Konopka said. "I knew they'd eventually catch on to it. It was an advantage. I'll find another one."

 

[Puhis]

He sounds like a genuinely great guy to have around.

And Hoppy would be much better mascot than Nordy. The latter is a ****ing disgrace. I mean, the idea is there, and Nordy is kind of adorable, but no. It doesn't work.

 

[Puhis]

Also, the ZK28 wines are not too expensive. I wish they had an "order online"-button.

 

[Fel 96]

I can't believe I didn't think about making a thread about it at first.

 

[tyratoku]

New fan favorite.

Guaranteed.

 

[TheeNorthStar]

Badass.

Edit: Wouldnt it be so sick if someone brought a Fat Head Poster of Hoppy and held it up during a game? If i saw that on TV id probably die of laughter.

 

[Generic User]

Edit: Wouldnt it be so sick if someone brought a Fat Head Poster of Hoppy and held it up during a game? If i saw that on TV id probably die of laughter.

That someone should be you. Do it. Do it.

 

[MNWILDFAN001]

I liked him since the day he signed and said

"Koivu is a superstar that maybe doesn’t get enough respect around the league and he should," Konopka said. "Heatley is a world-class player and we have to make sure those guys are taken care of and they feel very comfortable and nice. If they want to sit down at center ice and read the paper, they should be able to do that without anyone touching them."

 

[Engebretson]

Sounds like he's exactly what this team needs...

Wild Card *****es!!!!!

 

[rafterman]

Hoppy needs a twitter account

 

[TheeNorthStar]

That someone should be you. Do it. Do it.

Lol

Might be.

 

[Avder]

Man, this guy sounds like he's going to be fun to have around!

 

[Jarick]

Loving this signing so far. Just for the entertainment.

Sounds like he's exactly what this team needs...

Wild Card *****es!!!!!

AWESOME PICTURE

Hoppy needs a twitter account

Tweeted this last night

 

[Minnesota]

Tweeted this last night

Did you tweet it @ZenonKonopka?

 

[GopherState]

Sounds like he's exactly what this team needs...

Wild Card *****es!!!!!

Post full of win.

Loving this signing so far. Just for the entertainment.



AWESOME PICTURE



Tweeted this last night

Agree with all of these.