Wild updates; Wild Road Tour
Posted on May 16th, 2008 – 9:50 AMBy Michael Russo
I decided to bring you all presents from Florida — the weather.
Couple Wild news items:
– Marian Gaborik remains in Colorado, where he’s rehabbing following surgery to repair a torn labrum. Trainer Don Fuller has travelled to Colorado to check in on Gaborik, and his rehab is going well, according to assistant GM Tom Lynn. Gaborik’s been riding the bike within a few days of surgery and seems on track to come back to Minnesota soon.
– The Wild is working to sign prospects Ondrej Fiala (second round, 2004) and Julien Sprunger (fourth round, 2004) by the June 1 deadline. I’d expect they’ll get them signed by the early part of the week of May 26.
– The Wild is currently in scouting meetings in Palm Springs.
– Funny, last year when I wrote at the Draft that the Wild was going to pursue Alexei Yashin, people didn’t believe me even though it was true. Now it’s being reported the Wild has interest in Yashin and people believe it when it’s not true.
I’ve been told as of now Yashin’s name has not come up within Wild offices and it has not had conversations with Yashin’s agent, Mark Gandler, as has been reported.
Here’s the deal: the Wild had genuine interest in Yashin last summer when it was reported he’d be willing to sign for little money. The Wild made an offer, and Yashin responded by asking for multiple millions of dollars, according to people in the know.
That left a sour taste in the Wild’s mouth, and as of now, it has no interest in revisiting him despite the strong season he had in Russia. That could change, of course, but this is what I’m being led to believe now.
–
For Immediate Release
SCHEDULE SET FOR 2008 WELLS FARGO WILD ROAD TOUR
TOUR TO VISIT 18 CITIES IN MINNESOTA BEFORE CONCLUDING IN SAINT PAUL
SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild, in partnership with Wells Fargo, has announced the dates, times and locations of the 18-city 2008 Wells Fargo Wild Road Tour, which will begin Monday, June 9 and culminate with the third annual Wells Fargo Wild Summer Bash on Thursday, June 12 at Rice Park in downtown Saint Paul.
Russo note: To see the exact schedule and sites, go to wild.com.
Wild celebrities, including two Minnesota Wild players, will be present on each of the tour’s three legs. Wild players Derek Boogaard, Todd Fedoruk, Josh Harding, James Sheppard, Stephane Veilleux and Aaron Voros are scheduled to participate in the tour. Also appearing on the tour will be Assistant Coaches Bob Mason and Mike Ramsey, former Wild player and current Director of Community Partnerships Brad Bombardir and former NHL player and current Wild radio analyst Tom Reid (June 10-12).
Each tour stop will include a fundraising opportunity for local youth hockey associations. Wild partners Coca-Cola and Schweigert will be donating product for each city’s youth hockey association to sell at the stops, with all proceeds benefiting local youth hockey.
Saint Paul’s Rice Park will serve as the final destination for each leg, where tour members will join the Wells Fargo Wild Summer Bash on June 12. From 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. fans will have a chance to play hockey-themed games against Wild players and can take part in autograph sessions and photo opportunities with Wild celebrities. The event will also feature live-music, food and beverages and an opportunity to meet Wild broadcasters Bob Kurtz, Tom Reid and Dan Terhaar.
– Lastly, I’m way behind on returning emails — probably three weeks worth. I planned to get to them today, but now I’ve got a virus on my laptop. I’m getting a new one Tuesday, but leaving town again Wednesday.
So if you’re still waiting for a returned email, you’ll hear back from me sometime before June 1 most likely.
Have a good weekend.
35 Responses to "Wild updates; Wild Road Tour"
Thanks for clearing up that Yashin mess.
Mike, get a Mac 
Thanks for the updates!
So that means Voros and Fedoruk are definitely coming back to the team. I mean, why would they do the tour if they aren’t going to be on the team next year?
They are both under contract until July 1st, and could probably use the extra cash you get for doing these sorts of things.
But, I’d imagine that the Wild wouldn’t use either of them on the tour if they didn’t intend to resign them.
good catch, sunshine…I agree that seems telling.
I hope Fedoruk is back for sure… He was definitely the most pleasant surprise pickup.
I was reading the same thing into that. I hope it’s a safe interpretation, esp. as far as Fridge is concerned. Voros has a special “up from Houston” place in my heart but I’ll be hoping he gets his act together next season.
If Sprunger and Fiala are signed, will they play in Houston for a year to get seasoning? Even if they are ready to jump into the NHL, I don’t know if the Wild is ready for a team made up of 1/3 rookies, assuming Gillies, Pouliot, and Reitz make the team too.
Voros has still been working out at the Xcel daily. A co-worker of mine saw him at the hockey lodge last week. It seems very likely that he’d return.
i’d say voros can be resigned on the cheap. not sure he has done much to create a market for himself.
fedoruk earned a contract offer.
The Mr and I had a conversation about Voros, we figure he’ll be offered a year and told if he keeps his head in the game this year and shows he can continue to produce like he was at the begining of last season, he’ll be offered more next summer.
I’m glad Yashin is ‘off the radar’ his attitude is not something we need in the Wild locker room right now. Especially for the money he will most likely want.
I’m so glad Boogie is doing the summer bash. Have I told you guys how much I like Boogie lately, is it bordering on obsession yet? H. will be sad that Mikko isn’t doing it. But she can drool on Hards and Shepp (remember he’s borderline jail bait H.) and Voros (yes yes I know you saw him take his shirt off and he looks really cute) so I guess she’ll be ok. You’ll have to excuse H., her favorite baseball player is getting married so she’s transfered some of her oogleing to hockey players instead. I wonder if I can get Fridge to sign an autograph “Fridge”?
Bandgeek, I agree that this tour has some nice oogleing opportunities. Alot of the younger ones are pretty good looking. Glad to see that Fridge is on the tour, I would agree that it probably means he will be back next year and I love what he brought. I have a work conference that day here in my town and I invited coworkers over for supper that night so no Summer Bash for me this year. Hopefully the Future Mr and I can hit the autographs we need still on the road tour.
Don’t look too much into who is on the road trip because I believe a few years ago Marc Chouinard was on it and then he was not resigned.
Sorry you can’t make it kgopher, the younger ones tend to remember to put their teeth in so they always look a bit more oogle worthy, except Burnsie but he’s not doing it this year so no big deal. H. and I were thinking of going down early getting dinner and then being there for the whole thing. Last year we missed Boogie’s autograph portion 
but luckily I got my picture taken with him. The Mr can join us if he wants but I know last year he didn’t like the standing in line so if he doesn’t want to go I’ll just go with my friend.
I would guess, without really knowing, not having seen either play, that Fiala, just coming out of the WHL, is likely ticketed for Houston. Sprunger being slightly older (2 years) might have an outside chance of making the team depending on his camp and at least he has played in international competition.
Russo, I have been curious how many of the old North Stars players still make their residence in the Twin Cities or some place close?
Do you have any idea what the number would be?
I don’t know the number of North Stars players but Minnesota has the most NHL players residing in all the states — either make it their home base or have a home on the lake.
Sunshine, I am mostly just curios to know whether any quantity stayed here permenantly after North Star playing time.
By the way, how many people have seen “clipping” as an NHL penalty? I thought that was just in the NFL.
Not me Kevin. I hope your guys will take care of business and get the job done.
What the h.e. double hockey sticks is ‘clipping’? Weird!!
Wild road trip is going through the Mr’s old stomping grounds in the great flat northwest corner of Minnesota. I once asked him what it was like up by Thief River (where he lived until he was in 9th grade) he said flat and swampy.
Yeah. Clipping. We got that called against us last night. Didn’t see the play, I was heading back into the office but I was listening to the radio and Mike Lange asked “Tripping or CLIPping?” And then I heard the PA guy say clipping.
Apparently clipping was instituted as a penalty in 2002 after Darcy Tucker (what a surprise) clipped someone (I forget who the wikipedia article said it was). It’s for throwing the body and striking an opponent below the knees. So maybe it was a penalty, I’m just positive I’ve never seen it in six years.
Well, Lou Nanne and Tom Reid live here…that’s 2. 
Can we hurry up and get this ‘Cup’ nonsense over with? I want all the other NHL team’s fans (except one of course) to feel the same pain I have for the last month.
Get the off season rolling so the Wild start to show their hand to us for next year. Well…other than price increases…
I know its not exactly a pressing issue to most of you, but I am curious… Does anyone know the status of Branko Radivojevic? Has he had his surgery or started rehab? Are the Wild waiting to see how he recovers before they sign (or don’t) him? He was a big part of the checking line and PK unit this year and showed his guts around playoff time when it counted. He was a player that has been noted that the Wild should re-sign until this injury occurred. Does anyone know what is going on with him at all?
I think he deserves to come back paulr. He more than paid his dues when they needed him.
Keep Radio!! If only to annoy the announcers from other teams.
Backstrom, 36 saves.
Finland 4 - Sweden 0 for the Bronze medal.
Mikko with a short hand empty netter. I read that he played on the same line as Saku a couple of times. Not sure if Mikko was a winger or a center.
Can we hurry up and get this ‘Cup’ nonsense over with? I want all the other NHL team’s fans (except one of course) to feel the same pain I have for the last month
I’m already thinking “Crap. Fleury, Malone, Orpik, Hossa, Malkin, Staal, Ruutu. Lot of free agents and lots wanting a lotta money. This might be it this year.”
KiPA…you’re the one I am holding out hope for…
Excellent performance by Backstrom in the bronze medal game, by no means an easy shutout.
Hearing how god Backs has been playing I wonder how much of his problems last season were a sophomore slump. I’m hope that’s all it was.
I should wake up be fore I type, that should be good not god…. well, I guess it is Sunday….
I appreciate that, kj.
Things are a bit tougher now. Timmonen’s back, Coburn’s probably back today, Geno and Sykora have been sick. Bleh.
