Wild assistant GM Tom Lynn wrote a very informative “blog” on signing other team’s restricted free agents to offer sheets. Here’s the link.

My favorite line: “Desperate times require desperate measures.” A common belief is that desperate teams warrant the same. However, a logical approach would assume that if one is in a sinking ship, blowing another hole in the side is not the best approach toward saving one’s self.

Lynn mentioned the time Doug Risebrough tried to sign Teemu Selanne to an offer sheet. A few weeks ago at the media luncheon, Risebrough was telling us that story. AP’s Dave Campbell asked if Winnipeg’s GM (either Mike Smith or John Paddock, can’t remember) ever talked to Risebrough again. Risebrough humorously said, “Yes he did, yes he did. I think it was the way I tentatively handed him the offer sheet. ‘Oh by the way, … ‘”

Here is the compensation chart for offer sheets that was on the last hockey ops’ blog:

* $863,156 or below: No Compensation

* $863,156 to $1.3 million: 3rd Round Pick

* $1.3 million to $2.6 million: 2nd Round Pick

* $2.6 million to $3.9 million: 1st and 3rd Round Picks

* $3.9 million to $5.2 million: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Round Picks

* $5.2 million to $6.5 million: 2 1st Round Picks, 2nd Round Pick, 3rd Round Pick

* $6.5 million and above: 4 1st Round Picks

On another note: Nothing’s changed on the Brian Rolston front.

As I wrote a few weeks ago, the risk of the Wild waiting this long was the enticement July 1 would have in Rolston’s mind. You wait this long, you start to wonder, “Hmm, who’s going to come after me, what will they pay me?” It’s hard to blame Rolston for that at all.

(And trust me, don’t think these agents don’t talk to teams and figure out who’s coming after their clients and what they’ll pay — even though that’s not permitted until July 1. Tampering is rampant. This is why teams take a big risk by leaving the UFA’s they want back for the offseason).

I hear Tampa’s going to go hard after Rolston/Ryan Malone with the hopes of snagging one. (UPDATED) Tampa’s just acquired Ryan Malone’s rights, so this will be interesting. He did say he planned to go to free agency. We’ll see if that changes, especially since new Lightning Director of Hockey Ops Brian Lawton is former partners with Malone’s agent, Mike Liut.

If Tampa eventually goes after Rolston, it’ll be tempting because 1) Team with tons of star power that is four years removed from a Stanley Cup; 2) Team that finally feels like it has a No. 1 goalie in Smith; 3) Walzie; 4) You live in Tampa; 5) No state income tax, so $4.5-5 million is a helluva lot more than $4.5-5 million somewhere else.

And trust me, Tampa won’ t be the only team that goes after Rolston.

As for the Tomas Mojzis inqueries, the Wild is expected to sign the European defenseman to an NHL two-way contract, but it can’t be announced until July 1.

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 28th, 2008 at 9:51 am and is filed under Main. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.