Derek Boogaard extra/Sunday practice
Posted on September 23rd, 2007 – 9:29 AMBy Michael Russo
Here is the Boogaard slideshow put together by photog Carlos Gonzalez to go with today’s Boogaard story from our trip to Regina, Sask., in July.
Derek and his family gave us some incredible access in Regina, which we appreciated and I think made for two quality stories (today and the Fight Camp article in mid-July).
Besides the fight camp and lunch, Carlos and I hung out at his gym, Level 10 Fitness, which is a haven for Regina-based hockey players and CFL players.
Derek and his girlfriend, Erin, also gave us a tour of their new home there. Beautiful place.
This had to be trimmed out because of space, but I loved these quotes. Sister Krysten wasn’t spared from her brothers as a kid.
“They roughhoused me a lot,” Krysten said. “Now, it’s better. They’re older and wiser and smart enough to know they can’t treat me like that. It also helps being bigger than Ryan and Aaron now.”
Said Derek, “We treated her like a brother. It seemed smart at that time, but you look back, and it’s like, ‘Why’d you do that?’”
As for yesterday, I thought Kent blogged, but Aaron Voros, Serge Payer and Adrian Foster were dispatched. I was surprised about Voros. He had a terrific game Friday in Chicago. Seven hits, two or three scoring chances. We haven’t seen the last of him.
I think this just proves Matt Foy is destined to make this team. I think the Wild is convinced he’d be taken off waivers if it tried to send him to the minors.
That means there’s one more spot. Petr Kalus so far is the frontrunner, but it’s not like he’s got a strangehold on it. Benoit Pouliot can really make a run for the job starting with a good game Monday in Grand Forks. But after a strong first few scrimmages, he was pretty much invisible in Chicago on a line Jacques hated with Payer and Bouchard.
Sunday practice update: First of all, the blog will likely be quiet tomorrow, I’m sorry to tell you. Kent is covering the game in Grand Forks, so I won’t be able to blog during it.
Most Wild regulars are playing in tomorrow’s game, except Gaborik, Koivu, Radivojevic (although he’s supposed to go) and Burns.
Lots of kids in tomorrow, and Jacques wants somebody to step up and say, “Ah, I want to be on the team. I deserve to be on the team.”
Playing tomorrow are Pouliot, Kalus (only player on the team to play in all four), Sheppard and Foy. On defense, Reitz and “Big John” (as Lemaire calls him) Scott are in. Belle is going, but Jacques said he wasn’t playing.
Really cool, but 18-year-old Colton Gillies, the Wild’s first-round pick in June, is playing tomorrow. When I asked him about it, he fist-pumped with a big smile. The Wild wants him around to give him as much experience as possible before going back to his junior team, WHL Saskatoon, who after a horrible year last season, is off to an 0-2 start.
Today’s practice was interesting. Jacques was fired up early that the Wild wasn’t changing fast enough. Finally, he made the players he felt weren’t changing fast do 10 pushups each time. After Walz, Boogaard and Veilleux were forced to do 10, the Wild got the message and changed hard and fast.
Martin Skoula took a Kalus slapper off the leg today. The defenseman was in much, much, much pain but skated it off. Gaborik also took a high stick. He lost his stick on the play in the D-zone, picked it up, angrily skated up ice, took the puck coming over the blue line, wheeled around the defenseman, went to his backhand and then quickly switched to his forehand before roofing a phenomenal goal over Backstrom.
He then skated to the bench, hopped the boards and bent down holding his jaw. It was pretty neat. He’s fine, by the way.
One other note: FSN North is airing its season preview Monday night at 10.
48 Responses to "Derek Boogaard extra/Sunday practice"
Great article and slide show. I’m glad were going to have the boogey man around for the next few years. What a beast:)
Yeah, great features, although I think my favorite quote is DR’s about the power skating clinic.
What do you think will happen with Moore this year? Is he finding any kind of a spot or is he destined for the press box again?
Great slideshow - I think I saw Boogey’s Boogies.
Hey Russo, I know you said you weren’t coming to Grand Forks, but I have a question you might be able to answer… I have heard that the Sabres are opening their practice to the public on monday at the ralph, do you know if the Wild will be doing the same???
Brian, Wild is practicing here tomorrow and has a 2:30 flight, so no. Vanek is playing tomorrow, by the way.
That’s good that Vanek is playing so we can have somebody to boo…ha ha
I know Boogey is an “enforcer”. I know that’s what he’s paid to do. I know he gets the fans revved up and I know he often changes the pace of the game. I know all this. But as a former hockey mom and current Wild fan who likes a good fight now and then and old enough to know better, I turned to my husband over coffee and the paper this morning and said “Remember you heard it from your wife…..as I am sitting here, Derek is going to get hurt and seriously. All this publicity about what a tough guy he is is just going to get him targeted. Some cheap shot artist (and there are some out there) might not be able to best him with fists but will surely get him with a stick and it won’t be pretty.” So, Derek, watch your back.
Good call BlueLineBelle. I hope you are wrong though but you could very well be right. We need Boogie for so many reasons. Don’t need him hurt or the career that he has worked so hard for ended.
BlueLineBelle: Hence the reason for the need for Kassian and Scott. Even the enforcer needs back-up. And, if he can skate a bit and occasionally contribute offensively, all the better.
There will always be the young (e.g., Calgary’s Eric Godard) and the stupid (Todd Fedoruk, now with Dallas) for Boogaard to deal with. If he was injured in the past, we had precious little to call on to make sure the skaters on our team could actually skate.
I hope Jacques Lemaire doesn’t make cuts until after Wednesday night’s game at the ‘X’ vs. St. Louis. I want to see ‘Big John’ Scott for myself. (Cue the Jimmy Dean record…)
PS: Petr Kalus has another gold star in MY book (at least) for attempting to help out our team immensely by taking out Skouba with a slapshot!! (If he had only succeeded…)
Tsk, tsk…
What’s everybody’s take on the status of the defense? I assume Johnsson, Shultz, Burns,
Carney and Foster are locks. That leaves Skoula and Nummelin. Or does the organization actually think Skoula is a keeper? Anyway, that’s 7. Do Reitz or Bell have a chance of bumping someone? And then who goes when Hill comes back?
Very good read BluelineBelle on Boogies situation, I agree that the publicity will entice a few people to take shots at him.
Much to the chagrin of WRT, Skouba Dooba Doo is a LOCK. JL loves how he eats up minutes. Apparently JL is a quantity guy and not a quality guy.
It sounds like the only battle is for the last forward spot - unless there is a major Foy-paux (ugh…that hurt even me).
I’m hoping it’s Kalus. He obviously needs to finish but I honestly think his energy will help.
Russo…again…what do you see from Moore so far and does JL think he can contribute?
Excellent comment BlueLineBelle and WRT thanks for making the point. I couldn’t agree more. Boogie needs some back up. I would hate to have him get seriously hurt or sustain a career ending injury. Because your right BLB some cheapshot is going to go after him.
Changing the subject, what’s the consensus on Reitz? I liked what I saw of the kid at the X against Detroit. Steady, not too flashy but got the job done. I like the “stay-at-home” kind of defenseman. You know the prototypical, big bruiser with the “don’t get to close to my goalie or I’ll take your head off” mentality.
I have like what little I have seen and heard about Reitz. I would much rather see him in the big club than Belle.
slapshot6: I liked what little I saw of Reitz, but that’s part of the problem. I haven’t seen enough of him to come to a ‘like-or-no-like’ decision. Hopefully JL will wait until after Wednesday night’s game vs. St Louis, so we can see these kids one last time before ‘the turk’ comes a-callin’…
Couple of comments. First, I wouldn’t consider Foster to be a lock, but he’s probably got an inside track. His play over the last couple of seasons has been so up and down though, but it’s really difficult to give up on a blue-liner with a shot like his. He’s got decent size too, but boy he can sure play small.
Second, I think it would be a huge risk to take a cheap shot at Boogaard. I know there are players who will take one, but who in their right mind wants to get Derek really mad at them? It would really take something to hurt him bad, and if you didn’t… better be ready to get hurt yourself.
Third, I really wish Dallas hadn’t signed Fedoruk. I know he wants to keep playing and all, and he’s got a right to do so, but I really don’t think he should.
Anyone else think Lemaire was talking about Skoula when he referred to guys already with the club who looked fine in practice but didn’t show it in the game? I’m just scratching my head for any glimmer of hope he must have given to justify his presence on our blueline.
I’m not worried about Boogey at all. He’ll be fine, especially if the Wild get somebody to back him up that has some fighting experience. You need to have at least 2 guys that will drop the gloves (Burns isn’t one of those 2, and Veillieux is no good).
I agree with toivo: if you’re going to try to take a cheap shot at Boogey, you better kill him or else you’re just poking a sleeping bear.
You hear Boogey refer to self-adherence to “The Code” a lot. To the extent that the other heavy weights in the league either hold themselves to the same standard, or at least respect Boogey for doing so I don’t think we’ll see any of them doing something egregious.
But the little one-off guys, trying to make a mark, or stay on a team…those are the guys I would say would be more prone to something over the top. But I don’t think PCP is that big of an issue with NHL players, and there’s no other justification for doing something that stupid in a NHL game.
toivo: Here’s a fact to back up your third point about Fedoruk: Last season he was sent to the hospital TWICE, after two separate fights, while he was playing for two DIFFERENT teams (Anaheim, when Boogaard got him, and Philadelphia when Colton Orr of the Rangers sent him crashing to the ice.)
Yes, it’s indeed nice that Fedoruk is earning an NHL paycheck, but at what cost for the rest of his post-hockey life? Getting your brains beat out again and again with team after team shows how imbecilic he really is.
perhaps it’s all fedoruk knows and maybe it’s his passion. lindros still plays and his head has been mush for years.
i understand the sentiment but to guess at his motivations is simply a guess.
unless belle bought a game in the off season, i will be extremely disappointed if he is kept on the big club. worst excuse for a hockey player i have seen watching 6 years of wild hockey. ladislov benasek could play circles around belle.
anyone here score springsteen tickets?
toivo - I also couldn’t agree with you more about trying to cheap shot Boogey. I was starting to write the same post after reading BlueLineBelle’s until I saw yours and NiNY’s. I just don’t see another NHL heavyweight using his stick on DB. Like any enforcer, I think DB’s biggest risk of serious injury is from a fight itself (like Feroruk), and that’s really not an insignificant risk. As for another player swinging at DB, you’d better swing hard, ’cause you’re screwed if he gets back up.
Can anyone think of a prior NHL heavyweight who was the subject of a really egregious cheap shot with a stick? There’s the McSorley-Brashear incident, of course, but I can’t ever see DB doing what Brashear did (i.e., just simply accepting McSorley’s challenge).
But unless JL let’s Boogie of the leash he would have to skate away or risk infection for the slivers in his behind.
WRT - I agree we don’t get to see enough of the kids during the pre-season. I don’t understand why hockey gets the shaft so bad by networks, sponsers, etc. I just can’t get my head around “it’s because of the fighting/violence” thing. Are ya kiddin’ me?
My daughter is a chef up at Headwaters, the resturant at the X on the Club level. I have been asked to share with you that the menu has been revamped this season and they have added scallops, lamb, more fish selections and all you can eat prime rib. I believe the cost is $35.00/head but it is all you can eat. The salad bar alone is worth that. It is very good and have recommended to people even before I had a kid on the payroll. We try to go up at least once during the season. Just wanted to share………
Little insider dish…..
They feed the players as well. Lots of fish, salmon. Boogie has a food allergy but if I told ya, he’d have to kill ya 
I don’t know who’s advantage this is, but how strange is it that some NHL teams (e.g., Anaheim) are finished with their preseason games, while others (our Ws) aren’t even half way through the schedule?
i think most teams still have a few games to play, but anaheim is headed to london this weekend so they probably had to wrap up the pre-season a bit earlier.
BTW: Russoville 2 is now full!
Nice ego boost for our beloved leader, to have this many people willing to play fantasy hockey under the aegis of his name.
If there are 10 more people that wanted to play I will be more than happy to set up a new league. But since nhl.com mandates that a league is full, I’m going to ask people to let me know here first if they would play and if we get 10 people I will set up the new league and those ten can go register.
I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up and then not have enough teams.
So, post a message here if you want to sign up for Russoville 3 (note, if you’re in Russoville 1 or 2 you can have another team.)
Wasn’t that slash to Brashear the one that ended McSorleys career or was he still around awhile after that? I know he got suspended for a bunch of games but didn’t he play for another season?
HockeyDad….
I’d be thankful we don’t have Anahiem’s preseason schedule. They are in London, England to open the season against the Kings (who are currently in Austria for their preseason camp.) I know other teams have held camp overseas with varying degrees of success. I think Anaheim and LA will have terrible starts to the season because of the wacky travel and schedule. I’m glad the Wild haven’t done this yet. I couldn’t see JL agreeing to any of it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for globalization of the NHL, but logistically speaking it’s a got to be a nightmare for the players and the front office.
I think it’s strange that they’re having a regular season game overseas like that. A pre-season game makes sense, but the NHL regular season opener?
And coming back to Boogaard and Fedoruk, yeah I think Boogard is more likely to get hurt straight up in a fight rather than by cheapshot. The only thing I could think of is something like a Bertuzzi attack from behind, but until a man the size of Andre the Giant laces up a pair of skates and pulls on a Rbk Edge Uniform System, I don’t see that working out too well.
While I don’t think it’s likely, what happened to Fedoruk could happen to him. Those are some really big boys throwing some big strong bare-knuckled fists out there and all it takes is a split second to lose your balance or whatever and a good solid punch lands… Ouch. Even a guy like Boogaard who is probably the best in the business could have a bad night.
Ahh - the trip to London explains it. Thanks everyone.
And, toivo, we already know Boogey’s not invincible. He seems to be a fairly smart/careful fighter in the sense that he doesn’t put himself in too many vulnerable positions. However, Goddard and Laraque both got him pretty good last year. That’s the thing with NHL fighting - one mistake or one slip of the skate or one hard fall to the ice and even a giant like Boogey can be seriously hurt.
I wonder who has the home game in London? I’m sure if the Wild opened overseas and were the home team, it would be a manditory part of our season ticket package…:P
kj: One game each (of the two played in London at the O2 Arena) is considered a ‘home’ game by each team. So there are only 80 other games played in Southern California this hockey season…
The next game for Anaheim after the ‘home-and-home’ is at Pittsburgh Oct. 6…
Kalus is done. Sounds like he missed another gift. I don’t think JL will stand for it anymore.
Moore makes another bid for the first line. I wonder what Russo is hiding that he won’t give us the Moore update…
Did any of you out there in Russoville get to hear or see the game? If so how did it go. I know we won but other than that, nothing.
I heard the game on the radio. Overall it was pretty solid, although the young guys didn’t distinguish themselves, other than maybe Kalus.
Kalus was good, although it sounds like he choked (again) in front of net. Rolston popped in a couple, so he must have been on. Moore was often mentioned winning faceoffs and setting up chances. Demitra had a couple exciting opportunities, so he continues to be hot.
Just my perceptions…anyone else?
OK- I am going to chime in. Lets ask a deep question here gang… Is the players that JL is evaluating going to make the team better ?? Kalus-Pouliott - Shepphard- Foy - The hope is that these guy will be able to get points/score.. but maybe this deserves some thought. Move Brent Burns to forward, it sure looks like that position would work for him now, and would give the Wild a power forward who I think can score . That move will depend on how the defense numbers look like, but right now they have the numbers on defense it appears. Keep Matt Foy for grit and speed with the ability to score- Bring Aaron Varos back.
Send Pouliott, and Sheppard down to Houston and let them figure it out
Looks like Burns could move back to forward ?? The only question is whether or not the Wild will lose needed touphness on the blue line from the move
Defense for 1st day- one of these guys would need to go when Hill comes back
Nick Schultz
Keith Carney
Kim Johnsson
Peteri Nummilien
Martin Skoula
Sean Hill
Kurtis Foster
Sean Belle (When is his time ??)
7 defenseman to start the season
Forwards at beginning of season
Bellanger
Koivou
Demitra
Walz
Radivogevic
Parrish
Rolston
Bouchard
Burns
Foy
Boogaard
Dominic Moore- Look at Moore while you keep an eye on Sheppard and Pouliot
Kalus- The team needs another scorer and he looks the most ready right now
Bring Varos back - The Wild need another physical player and why not keep him until Sheppard and Pouiot are ready to contribute… I thought the Wild wanted to get more physical ??
14 forwards to start the season
hmmm…I hit random buttons and my message seems to have disappeared, that will teach me.
Anyway, from the way Burns played in his brief stints at forward, I have to really hope they leave him where he is. Sure, he could bring physical play up front, but the ceiling is so much higher for him on the blueline. Finally with a year in one spot, Burns showed flashes of top line D ability.
As as the youngsters; I recall Foy being a better banger than Hall ever seemed, and if he can ever flash the scoring he put up in Houston even better. Kalus has to put one of these near misses in eventually, a reputation like his isn’t an accident. As for Pouliot, he just doesn’t seem to stand out so far. Not much for physical play from the sounds, and aside from his assist today, not much in points either. Maybe a journey back to the AHL and Constantine will scare some points into him.
Was the Foy experiment tried the last 2 years or just last year? I think this will be his last chance. Lots of energy but at times, looked like he had no purpose.
Burns was rudderless when he didn’t know if he was going to play defence or forward. Now that he has been give a clear defination of his role, he has flourished. I’d rather we find a new forward and keep burnsie on the blue line. Hopefully they are encouraging him to step up more often though.
Burns showed in the second half of last season and the playoffs that he has the potential to become a top pair defenseman. I would be incredibly surprised if they moved him back to forward.
WRT: There’s more than 80 other games to be played in So. Cal. this year. You’re forgetting about San Jose… ;-D
Well… I guess SJ is more central. Close enough.
Remember the playoffs when they played the Ducks last year guys, Burns looked ready to move to forward then but the Wild did not have any defense.He is one of the only guys bringing physical play Burns was drafted as a forward. It may be that Burns may have a passion for scoring more goals and playing forward ?? I have read in Russos article that JL was not very happy with Burns taking risks moving the puck up the ice, that could be an indication that Burns may want to play forward more then Defense ?? You have to enjoy what your doing to be good at it right ??
If you don’t move Burns up you have to get rid of someone on defense, who is it ??
An argument could be made maybe that with Burns upfront you don’t need a Varos type guy, rather keep Pouliot and develop him if he is ready
Burns will stay at Defense.
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