Just received a text message from Brian Rolston, “I will be going to free agency.” Tampa made it hard, but he says this is “once in a lifetime” opportunity.

Here is Doug Risebrough’s blog posted this morning on wild.com.  It gives you an indication of how much analysis of players goes into free agency. Does this lower expectations? Certainly, but it’s accurate, too. This is not a deep free-agent pool. If you miss out on the top, top guys, you can get yourself in big trouble in the next few years if you overspend just trying to show you’re working.

Late Monday night update: Rolston sleeping on decision and will decide on Tampa Bay in the morning.

Everybody from the Lightning organization called Rolston today to try to woo him - Lecavalier, Walz, Melrose, etc. Ill try to update in the morning when I find out his decision, but I’m going to be unavailable for a couple hours, so I might not be able to.

Tuesday 5:30 a.m. hello: Two things. If you read the story in the actual paper this morning (I pray people still do), please note, fifth graph, that $16 million figure includes anticipated raises to Bouchard and Veilleux. It’s correct online now; I messed up in the paper.

Now, if Bouchard was traded, that figure increases significantly.

Also, these “featured comments” that go up automatically next to our articles? Normally I could care less, but this one is driving me nuts. 

A reader wrote, “rolstons agent got a job in Tampa and Demitras agent got a job in Vancouver. The wild never had a chance to sign these two guys.” Amazingly enough, nine out of 10 people LIKED this erroneous comment as of 5:30 a.m.

The comment is so ridiculously inaccurate, I felt compelled to correct it publicly considering it’s somehow appeared featured next to my article.

First, Rolston’s agent is not the GM of the Lightning. Brian Lawton was not Rolston’s agent, Steve Bartlett is. And while Mike Gillis might be the GM of Vancouver, the Wild was not interested in bringing Demitra back — and vice versa, I believe.

OK, you’ll likely hear from me again shortly after free agency begins. I won’t be around this morning.

A hockey writers’ dream.

I know it’s sad, but I enjoy sitting at my laptop making call after call on July 1 trying to find out the goods. I’ll have my left foot elevated, of course. XM Radio’s Ron Rimer broke the news this late afternoon. I’m likely having surgery next week. (Off the record, I was Rimer’s source; Yes, I scooped my own Blog)

I’ll be sidelined two to three months believe it or not, meaning there’s a good chance I accidentally run over Gaborik’s foot in my motorized George Costanza cart in training camp. But at least I’ll be able to push that Falness character out of the media scrum.

OK, on to the free-agent primer.

First, here’s that depth chart we published after the Draft so you have at your disposal. Obviously, you can ignore that last category.

As of now, Brian Rolston has not signed in Tampa Bay despite the Lightning offering him a Brink’s truck, I am told. I am also being told it’s looking more and more doubtful Rolston signs, although that could change. Brian Lawton and Len Barrie are using every ounce of persuasion they have. I haven’t heard back from Rolston this afternoon, but this is further proof he wants to go to free agency. In other words, if Tampa can’t get it done, the Wild wasn’t going to get it done.

Deep down, I really think he’s praying the Red Wings come calling. That would be a dream come true for the Michigan native and childhood Wings fan. Two other big options? I think Pittsburgh and the Rangers. I think he’d sign either place in a heartbeat.

I know Florida wants to sign him and make him the Panthers’ captain, but if he’s not interested in signing in Tampa Bay, why Florida? Deep down, Rolston still wants to be in a hockey city, especially since his son, Ryder, looks like he’s on his way to being as good as or better than pops. So Rolston wants quality youth hockey.

That’s why maybe, and just maybe, Rolston does come back to the Wild if the stars don’t align. I’d still consider that beyond doubtful.

Another option could be Colorado, which has great youth hockey in Denver. Yes, Rolston’s played there before, but he’d be in a different role this time. And the Avs have a bunch of cap room.

Onto free agency:

– I talked to Risebrough this afternoon.

First, I don’t think he’ll be saying again he’s not afraid to let unrestricted free agents play out their contracts. He admitted he probably should have locked Rolston up months ago instead of allowing him to be enticed by getting “his rights back.”

You get this close to being completely free, you can’t help but wonder which teams want you and how much they’re willing to give you. And like we’ve stated all along on here, this could be Rolston’s last chance at not only a big payday, but picking his team.

– Risebrough said the Wild has tons of flexibility to make big moves — specifically, about $16 million of cap space — and plans to be active. But like we’ve said all along, the cream of the free-agent crop is limited, so if the Wild swings and misses, it’s not going to throw dollars at lesser quality guys.

If they strike out, I can see them really going the trade route.

– I believe the team is going to at least inquire about Marian Hossa. I still can’t believe it’ll get him. I’ve been told he’s not interested, although I know Risebrough and Marian Gaborik did have a conversation yesterday and you have to wonder if Hossa’s name came up.

And, Gaborik did fly home to Slovakia, so maybe Gaborik does a little, I don’t know, begging!

– Risebrough talked mostly about his desire to add an offensive-minded defenseman this summer, in addition to the Marc-Andre Bergeron addition. The Wild feels if it could add a quality top-four defenseman, it would have as strong a top-four as there is in the West with Brent Burns, Nick Schultz, Kim Johnsson and Player X.

I think Michal Rozsival or Brad Stuart would be a huge get for this team.

But maybe they go the trade route because Risebrough mentioned he’s not completely enamored with the defenseman free-agent market after the top, top guys. Let me throw this out at you, and this is just speculation.

Dan Boyle’s on the block. Yes, he makes over $6 million and he had a pretty severe wrist laceration last season, but he’s a pure offensive defenseman. And Risebrough makes this type of acquisition sound more important than getting a forward (as you’ll read in Tuesday’s paper). We know the Wild’s had a lot of talks with Tampa Bay the last few days. One has to at least figure that Boyle’s name came up.

I covered Boyle in Florida back in the day before he developed into the star he is today. Panthers dumped him for a fifth-round pick that became Martin Tuma (Yikes). Boyle is one dynamic player. Of course, he does have a no-trade clause, and it would take some assets to get him — maybe a Pierre-Marc Bouchard.

Another possibility via trade? Anaheim’s Mathieu Schneider, perhaps. Brian Burke and Doug Risebrough are very chummy, despite the comical stuff at the end of last year’s playoff series.

– The desire for a top offensive blue-liner surprised me because I think they lack grit on the back end and should maybe go after a Brooks Orpik or Mike Commodore. I hear the Wild is concerned with Jason Smith’s shoulders, so I don’t see that.

– As for forwards, I do think Andrew Brunette will be back in a Wild sweater. After that, I think the Wild needs another impact forward and a center. I don’t know if it gets both.

Like I said, I think Hossa is not coming. Kristian Huselius will get lots of points. I covered him for a long time in Florida, and he’s as skilled a player as I’ve ever covered. And we know the Wild likes him because it nearly dealt Pascal Dupuis for him a few years back. But Huselius isn’t exactly going to muck it up in the corners in the playoffs.

Michael Ryder’s another interesting name. Before a lousy year last year, he had 85 goals for Montreal in his first three seasons. He’s skilled, great shot, can skate. He’s not very gritty and defensively, he was a minus-25 two seasons ago. Not very Jacques Lemaire-like, if you know what I mean.

Niklas Hagman is an interesting name. I also covered him and I just wonder if he was a one-hit wonder last season. Other guys include Darcy Tucker (scoring and nastiness, which the Wild wants), Radim Vrbata (lots of talent), Markus Naslund (past him prime?) and Todd Bertuzzi (bad back and broke the neck of the brother of an ex-Wild, but still offers a brash style, plus it would be a heckuva story considering how much Wild fans adore him).

At center, Sean Avery offers so much (skill, mean, speed), but to give a guy a long-term deal who’s act wears out after two years? I don’t see the Wild doing it. Bobby Holik (big, faceoffs, played for Lemaire, smart, great team guy) might be a good pickup. Brendan Morrison is coming off reconstructive knee surgery, although his reps have informed each team he’ll be ready by camp. Jason Williams has game.

Anyway, it’ll be fun. Hey, even if nothing happens, at the very least, the Wild should announce the signing of Tomas Mojzis!!!!

I’m going to ice my foot.

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