Wild conditioning camp
Posted on July 3rd, 2008 – 11:50 AMBy Michael Russo
I’ve gotten a lot of questions on this. The Wild just released the roster and information. It’s is not open to the public. I wouldn’t suspect you’ll see a lot of this reported in the actual paper, but I’ll go out there for the first couple days prior to my foot getting hacked apart 
and blog about it.
The Wild announced today that the organization will hold a development camp for team prospects July 8-14 at Xcel Energy Center.
The seven-day camp will focus on the development of the organization’s top young prospects in both on-ice and off-ice settings. Minnesota Wild coaches Mario Tremblay, Mike Ramsey, Bob Mason and Matt Shaw along with Houston Aeros coaches Kevin Constantine, Luke Strand and Troy Ward will lead the on-ice sessions. The players will also participate in daily strength and conditioning education sessions and receive nutritional instruction.
A total of 27 players are scheduled to attend the Wild’s 2008 Development Camp including 17 selected by Minnesota in the NHL Entry Draft. Players scheduled to attend include the team’s last four first round draft picks: Tyler Cuma (2008), Colton Gillies (2007), James Sheppard (2006) and Benoit Pouliot (2005).
Here’s the roster. Hopefully this will be somewhat simple for you to read. And by the way, I still don’t buy the fact there’s really an Eero Elo. I’m telling you, google him. He’s a hotel.
2008 MINNESOTA WILD DEVELOPMENT CAMP ROSTER
# FORWARDS HT WT SHOOTS BORN BIRTHPLACE 2007-08 TEAM LGE GP G A PTS PIM ACQ
75 Cody Almond 6-2 194 Left 7/24/89 Calgary, Alberta Kelowna WHL 69 22 34 56 114 EN/07
78 Cal Clutterbuck 5-10 203 Right 11/18/87 Welland, Ontario Houston AHL 73 11 13 24 97 EN/06
71 Eero Elo 6-3 189 Right 4/26/90 Rauma, Finland Lukko Rauma FIN Jr. 42 12 15 27 34 EN/08
68 Colton Gillies 6-4 182 Left 2/12/89 Surrey, British Columbia Saskatoon WHL 58 24 23 47 97 EN/07
65 Ryan Hamilton 6-2 230 Left 4/15/85 Oshawa, Ontario Houston AHL 72 20 19 39 38 FA/06
45 Chris Hickey 6-3 185 Right 9/2/88 St. Paul, Minnesota Tri-City USHL 53 15 16 31 32 EN/06
54 Justin Hodgman 6-2 183 Left 6/27/88 Brampton, Ontario Erie OHL 64 37 43 80 75 INVITEE
23 Petr Kalus 6-1 201 Left 6/29/87 Ostrava, Czechoslovakia Houston AHL 58 8 10 18 57 TRD/07
57 Matt Kassian 6-4 247 Left 10/28/86 Edmonton, Alberta Texas ECHL 47 6 4 10 90 EN/05
46 Brian Kaufman 6-4 205 Left 2/25/84 Shoreview, Minnesota Miami University CCHA 42 12 25 37 32 INVITEE
63 Morten Madsen 6-2 191 Left 1/16/87 Rodovre, Denmark Houston AHL 50 3 17 20 18 EN/05
39 Carson McMillan 6-2 200 Right 9/10/88 Brandon, Manitoba Calgary WHL 72 16 26 42 85 EN/07
73 John Mitchell 6-5 216 Left 7/10/86 Neenah, Wisconsin Univ. of Wisconsin WCHA 40 8 5 13 49 INVITEE
67 Benoit Pouliot 6-3 183 Left 9/29/86 Alfred, Ontario Houston AHL 46 10 14 24 67 EN/05
15 James Sheppard 6-2 210 Left 4/25/88 Halifax, Nova Scotia Minnesota NHL 78 4 15 19 29 EN/06
# DEFENSEMEN HT WT SHOOTS BORN BIRTHPLACE 2007-08 TEAM LGE GP G A PTS PIM ACQ
79 Paul Albers 6-1 189 Left 10/15/85 Melville, Saskatchewan Houston AHL 69 5 16 21 26 FA/06
64 Tyler Cuma 6-2 193 Left 1/19/90 Toronto, Ontario Ottawa OHL 59 4 28 32 69 EN/08
72 Justin Falk 6-5 211 Left 10/11/88 Snowflake, Manitoba Spokane WHL 72 4 22 26 98 EN/07
76 Harri Ilvonen 6-2 187 Left 11/3/88 Helsinki, Finland HPK Hameenlinna Finland 11 2 2 4 2 EN/07
31 Sean Lorenz 6-1 198 Right 3/10/90 Littleton, Colorado USA U-18 USDP 57 4 5 9 24 EN/08
59 Kyle Medvec 6-5 202 Left 6/16/88 Westminster, Colorado Vermont HE 30 1 4 5 18 EN/06
74 Maxim Noreau 5-11 192 Right 5/14/87 Montreal, Quebec Houston AHL 50 8 8 16 48 FA/08
61 Marco Scandella 6-2 205 Left 2/23/90 Montreal, Quebec Val d’Or QMJHL 65 4 10 14 35 EN/08
62 Michael Sdao 6-4 210 Right 7/3/89 Niwot, Colorado Lincoln USHL 53 3 6 9 178 INVITEE
# GOALTENDERS HT WT CATCHES BORN BIRTHPLACE 2007-08 TEAM LGE GPI GA W-L-T SO GAA ACQ
70 Anton Khudobin 5-11 176 Left 5/7/86 Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan Houston AHL 12 16 2-2-1 1 1.99 EN/04
60 Cody St. Jacques 5-11 170 Right 5/14/90 Iroquois Falls, Ontario Guelph OHL 22 55 9-8-3 2 2.88 INVITEE
43 Steven Stanford 6-0 170 Left 9/10/90 Calgary, Alberta Prince Albert WHL 28 102 9-16-2 0 3.72 INVITEE
384 Responses to "Wild conditioning camp"
1st
We’re going to need some scouting reports on the guys no1 knows:
Eero Elo
Harri Ilvonen
Sean Lorenz
Kyle Medvec
Marco Scandella
Eero Elo!!!
Russo:
You got to do a story on Elo.
Let’s hope B-B-B-Benny puts his best skate forward. He’s got to produce this year.
no nolan shaefer?
I posted this at the end of the last thread, but I didn’t want it to get lost, so I post again (and thanks for the response jimlove - though I’d be more interesting in seeing a comparison over a longer period):
“I have asked this question below, but has anyone seen an analysis comparing the drafting success of all NHL teams in recent years? There’s lots of complaining about DR’s drafting, 2004 being the most obvious class. But, when forecasting the future abilities of 18-year old zit-faced kids, no team is going to bat 1.000 - these things are all relative.
By the way, I’m not even suggesting I know what the results of any such analysis would be. It’s just that I honestly don’t know how to evaluate DR in this respect unless I know how his performance compares to his peers.”
Have they always invited the Euros to come to rookie camp?
No Olvecky, either? Does this mean he’s gone?
Sunshine… Not sure b/c Niko Hovinen isnt invited
When you can’t bring in outside talent, you better fast track your internal talent.
If help is on the way, its not going to be the cavalry - and its not going to be battle tested. The question is will they be more like last year’s Timberwolves or this years Twins pitchers.
We’ll definitely need more coaches.
sunshine, maybe they are in condition and don’t need it? 
Hey HD
a couple other things i vaguely remember… the canadians have done the best drafting as of recent years, where the wild have something like 50% of picks that have made it to the nhl?
oh jeez. I shouldn’t have even responsed. Take this post with the smallest grain of salt you can find.
responsed? what the ef? responded.
From last thread, Greenstar at 10:08 has it exactly right, last paragraph.
More last thread … Saladin, DR has never shown any preference for Minnesota kids.
Puck shooting defensemen will certainly improve Parish goal scoring.
The Wild have been very good in their draft, only the Thelen draft did not bring a player.
Speaking of writing, Russo is in a class by himself. Shipley is not that far behind. But, for the other writers who do write hockey comments I must say I like the Pioneer Press people lots better than the STrib scribes.
Well I’m guessing since Olveck, Stoner and Belle haven’t resigned yet, they won’t be on the roster.
Pouls might be a different case so I’m expecting the Wild and Pouls have an agreement coming up soon.
HD:
Shipley did an article right before the draft and he said that on average most teams drafting success was at 16%. The Wild prior to the 2004 draft was at 23% but overall was either at or below 16%.
who wrote that article, sunshine? look again…and thanks iceman…
and by the way, i appreciate all the kind words by you guys on that blog post to wrap up Day One.
Russo:
Ask Sheppard about losing the #15 to Bruno.
Now Jagar and Sundin are going to wait to sign - http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242379
EDM, PIT and NYR all willing to give Jagar at least $7 on a one year deal - wow.
Hockey Dad, a while ago, someone posted the same thing about 2004 draft being poor for the rest of the NHL too.
For me, the team is not required to have a Koivu, Gabby, PMB, Burns, or Schultz every year. They can still be competent and draft a stinker.
HD:
Heres the link
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/20586719.html?location_refer=urlTrackSectionName
Russo:
Sorry, I profusely apologize for that mistake. Thanks for correcting me.
HD - it was RUSSO’s article.
I will…Usually players do buy numbers off others or hand over a rolex or something like that, but I’m sure Shep will be kind…Maybe his feet grew to 16 inches and he’ll just take 16.
where the wild have something like 50% of picks that have made it to the nhl?
oh jeez. I shouldn’t have even responsed. Take this post with the smallest grain of salt you can find.
jimlove, I’ve got you dead-center in my sites on this one.
Instead, I’ll let you squirm in fearful anticipation from the scorn of others…
In terms of the draft, while it is common knowledge that the ‘04 draft was the worst by any professional sports teams, what bothers me is the absolute total lack of talent we have drafted lately outside of rounds 1 and 2. I would need someone to check, but I believe Matt Foy is the only draftee later than round 2 since 2002 that has seen any kind of ice for the Wild. That seems to be a bit disturbing.
And sunshine joins the list of feeling the wrath of the Don…
Haha…
How can you forget Sekeras?
DB
We had Clutterbuck 
thanks bfw….
in my post on the last thread i pre-apologized for the lack of accuracy in whatever I said and was ready to be blasted :).
Give Leipold some credit for spending the money to get this internal de elopment effort started.
With the salary cap it isn’t payroll that deep pockets affect … its infrastructure.
Coaching and scouting.
Anyone know how our budgets and qualifications compare to that of other organizations.
Was this post designed to deflect the criticism off the FA thread?
If the players have been in the Wild system (including Houston) for a certain amount of time, they are not invited to developmental camp.
The purpose of developmental camp, IMO, is:
1. So the Wild can get a better look at what they’ve got to work with;
2. So the player knows what is expected of him in order to stick around (so why are Shep and Pouliot there?)
3. So that the Houston staff and the developmental staff know where to push to get the player better in off-season training.
Someone asked about Nolan Schaefer. I believe he would not be invited because of his pro experience.
so then why is shep there?
Russo,
Love your work, and think you are at the top of the class when it comes to hockey writers, BUT…
Not a hotel. Eero Elo is:
This shop on the corner of Bulevardi and Yrjönkatu has all sorts of good-quality clothes for men and women. Leather trousers, skirts, dresses, jackets, coats, blazers, jeans, smoking jackets and many other clothes can be found in this shop.
So if he shows up to camp wearing leather trousers and a smoking jacket, it will all make perfect sense.
I wonder if Shep is there as a poster boy? Look at Shep, he had a good chance to make it in the NHL at 19. Also, the other prospects can talk to him about what it’s like to play in the NHL and what they need to do to follow in his steps. Probably ask how they can get JL to notice them.
Probably ask how they can get JL to notice them.
I bet it’s by wearing a smoking jacket from Eero Elo.
Sunshine: I wrote since 2002. Lube was 2000.
The Wild has done a superb job with their #1 pick every year (B-B-Benny still pending), but this scouting department can absolutely be called to the mat for the drafting of players in rounds 3 and beyond. It is frightening the lack of talent that we have drafted over the past 5 years.
Eero Elo….sounds awesome….sorta like the Finnish Calvin Klein
Eero Elo….sounds awesome….sorta like the Finnish Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein had a better slapshot.
Mike,
Do you recall the name of the Wild scouting department member that was recently (w/i last year?) released? I believe he was fairly high-ranking…Was is Paul something-or-other? I don’t even remember if he was their amatuer or pro scout…
Eero Elo….sounds awesome….sorta like the Finnish Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein had a better slapshot.
*throws BACK tomatoes and rotting eggs*
Thanks for the link, guys - I’ll check it out.
Man, don’t ever be lulled into thinking the Don isn’t paying attention to what’s said here. Lesson learned, huh sunshine?
Oh come on, bfw, that was way better than yours.
yeah, Hockeydad: The Don sees all.
Man, don’t ever be lulled into thinking the Don isn’t paying attention to what’s said here. Lesson learned, huh sunshine?
Stick down. Head up. ;0
—-
Oh come on, bfw, that was way better than yours.
Meh.
bfw:
According to Wild.com there is a Paul Charles who is an amateur scout.
Meh? Meh?! I at least made a hockey joke. You made an awful math pun.
Thanks, sunshine.
I’m thinking of a guy that they let go, and my follow-up would be: Has their scouting been better or worse since then.
But of course, I don’t even know what the dudes name so….
SPEAKING of The Dude, where is ATW?
build from within: thomas steen, one of the best winnipeg jets ever and dad of mr. alex steen… but he was a pro scout, not amateur scout.
Boy oh boy, this was useful.
Pens sign Fleury, expect a decision on Naslund soon. Naslund’s remaining suitors are: NYR, Minny, Van, Pit. A Pittsburgh source said Naslund was focusing on Minny and Vancouver, but the Pens have stepped up their offer.
Same source says Bertuzzi thinks he’s worth $3M and that’s why talks with him broke down.
And there’s this, same source again: “Daily News reporting the Rangers may be parting ways with Jagr. My sources still indicate he’s a longshot. Mario is behind the scenes trying to push this but right now I just don’t see it happening.”
So, I read the article - I guess I am to conclude that the Wild’s drafting success in its entire existence is no worse than average (and given the success of the first 4 drafts, probably above-average)?
It’s also clear to me that the Wings have outstanding European scouts. They don’t seem to be lucking out with any N. American players like they do with the Euros noted in that article.
Who was the last rookie to dominate for the wild? Gabby? the only one?
Meh? Meh?! I at least made a hockey joke. You made an awful math pun.
HERE’S a hockey joke:
Guy #1: Did you hear the one about the guy that was traded, then ALMOST won the Cup?
Guy #2: No.
Guy #1: He packed up and left for Detroit….
Uh….wait. That’s not a joke.
That really happened!
*runs to the hills (a la ‘Maiden).
Yeah no doubt we should be in
europe, look at the talent Detriot has… and look how much of it is home grown (farm system/drafting) and how many of those are from Europe… That old notion that Europeans cant play is crap. At this juncture i would be tempted to emphaisis more scouting in Europe than in Canada and certainly in America
build from within*: thomas steen, one of the best winnipeg jets ever and dad of mr. alex steen… but he was a pro scout, not amateur scout.
You are truly the best! Thanks, Mike. That was killlling me.
I remember not much was made of that, and since he was a pro scout, I guess I can crinkle up my Draft Thesis.
Satan to Pitt? One step closer to Naslund? And would that mean Demo would like to come back to play with him?
KiPA is on a roll today. Two LOLs in the past five mins. Does this mean you’re in a better mood now that Malkin and Orpik are locked up? I’d still be ridiculously bitter about the Hossa thing, but that’s me…I hold a grudge. Rolston, you’re dead to me.
Saw that rumor, KiPA. I am thinking Naslund re-signs with the Nucks.
WTF? the wild have the best fans the best rink and a hockey crazed community… why doesnt anyone want to come here
RUSSO RUSSO RUSSO RUSSO!!!! RANTTTTTTT!!!
ANSWER THSI PLEASE!!!! or at least someone else give insightful thoughts, my liver is hurting but i am a gamer dammit, ITS THE PLAYOFFS FOR ME. Sota haha Anyone else get freaked out by KG? I mean seriously WTF? i thought he was gonna do the nasty with Michelle the sick freak…. anywho sota or penn or NYC (NYC?) answer my quest
So, does Satan to the Pens mean they have no more interest in Snazzy Nazzy?
Bar’s open for big k! Cheers!
Nazzy is going to stay where he is “comfortable”, i.e. Vancouver.
BTW Elo is Finnish for “life”… Eero must be a slang term for “smoking jacket”
I’m afraid I agree, DB
like i said my liver cant handle this… seriously i had some serious comments there dab nabit
HERE’S a hockey joke:
Guy #1: Did you hear the one about the guy that was traded, then ALMOST won the Cup?
Guy #2: No.
Guy #1: He packed up and left for Detroit….
Uh….wait. That’s not a joke.
That really happened!
*runs to the hills (a la ‘Maiden).
Wanna hear another joke? 8-0! (Assuming you were around for the North Stars…)
With Satan and Fedotenko, that must mean Naslund told them no. So I’d say he’s closer to Vancouver or Minny.
i don’t have the answer but how many teams have been very successful past round 2? detroit is obvious for mining zetterberg and dat-sucks but how has colorado, calgary, vancouver and edmonton done for starters?
Is Peca still an option, and would that be a better or worse one than Naslund?
Peca’a center, no?
Oops, assumed he was a center… nevermind
Wanna hear another joke? 8-0! (Assuming you were around for the North Stars…)
LMAO! Atta boy! Nothing takes the sting off a SCF loss like going scoreboard. LOL. I knew you had it in ya1.
No defense for that one. That’s a TKO.
*wipes away tears of laughter*
so Satan just signed? Does he try to sign peoples lives away? Any chance St Peter could sign for us? waffers and all you can drink wine as a signing bonus, and the obvious every sunday off except durinth playoffs one
PECA is a center
Wanna hear another joke? 8-0! (Assuming you were around for the North Stars…)
oh hellz no you dih’nt just go there.
For the love of Jon Casey! Have you no decency?!
i don’t have the answer but how many teams have been very successful past round 2? detroit is obvious for mining zetterberg and dat-sucks but how has colorado, calgary, vancouver and edmonton done for starters?
I’ve found this info before, but since I was at work, it was blocked.
If anyone can get online and do some digging (w/o being blocked) that’d be cool.
Peca is a center has a good face off % last season.
KiPA — you sure make a lot of appearances over there at FOC. The guy wouldn’t have a blog if it weren’t for you.
Perhaps - this is just a thought - training camp is for players under a certain age? Maybe those missing from the roster are older? Shep is still only 20 so…
I say that we are out of the Naslund sweepstakes if its between us and Vancouver.
Sunshine thanks for adding the face off tidbit, glad we are on the same page
KiPA: say what you will about Shero, but he delivered you to the Cup’s doorstep, and he’s being very appropriate with his salary cap space this season, IMO.
Comparisons to Tampa Bay can stop right now.
Knock knock!
Who’s there?
Not Marion!
Not Marion-who?
(silence.)
(*cricket chirp. chirp. chirp.)
The only caveat to that sunshine would be that the Wild are offering way more $. But, I tend to agree - I think he prefers to stay there. Hope I’m wrong.
G*: I don’t know what other teams have done and frankly I don’t care. I care about what the Wild have done/is doing. The fact that we haven’t had one player play decent minutes for us that was drafted past round 2 in the last 6 years is borderline shameful.
Hey i knew Jon Casey, you better stop tarnishing The MAN.
Anyone else remember when he played for the Bruins and Randy Mckay took a winder from the top of the circles and THE MAN saved it with the back side of his stick…. COME ON ANYONE?!?!?!
RUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOO
I also remember when stevie Y had a twisted wrister that knocked Gretzky and the blues out of the playoffs…. sad sad memories… this beer does not taqste good anymore
BTW that twisted wrister was from the blueline….
this beer does not taqste good anymore
yeah, but after that many, who cares about taste?
Hockeydad,
It’s kind of a tough analysis to do properly, IMO for a variety of factors. For example, you can’t really compare first-round success very well when one is a #1 pick and another is a #30, you know? The deeper it gets, the less of a difference there is I suppose between, say a #201 and #230.
The other thing, is that you really can’t get a full handle on the thing until about 4-5 years after the fact, so in the Wild’s case, I think you can really only go with what they did in their first 5 drafts to date. We know 2003 was good with Burns and O’Sullivan (two NHL players of their caliber in one draft is pretty good, IMO). 2004 still has Stoner, Jones and Khudobin in play, so it’s *possible* that it’s not quite the disaster it appears to be now. 2005 is, of course, Pouliot, but also has Madsen. Neither has looked great in the AHL, but maybe this year is better? 2005 wasn’t really a great draft for a lot of teams, KiPA’s club being one exception of course.
Anyway, you see where I’m going with this. I do think it’s fair to say that 2004 and 2005 are looking a bit shaky at the moment, and right about now is when you’d be hoping those players would be making their impact. So there’s kind of a gap. We should all say our prayers, asking God that Pouliot has some kind of epiphany this summer.
p.s. I am older than you.
Marke Svatos was 7th round. Yikes.
hmmmmmmmmmmm…………….
REPORT: LIGHTNING ASK DAN BOYLE TO WAIVE HIS NO-TRADE CLAUSE. NO DESTINATION GIVEN. DEVELOPING…
Nick in New York
You know what im talking about right??? Bruins game??? HuH???
Anyone else wish they were Scott Stevens???
I do…
ISN’T BOYLE A DEFENSEMAN?
Bieksa was 5th round and sucky Rhuutuu was 3rd round.
what up with the one year deal for satan? that mean the world gonna end? seriously one year?
what up with the one year deal for satan? that mean the world gonna end?
POTD.
Knock knock!
Who’s there?
Not Marion!
Not Marion-who?
(silence.)
(*cricket chirp. chirp. chirp.)
Preparing for the trade deadline are you?
I’m going to go drown this crappy week in fermented hops.
Everyone have a fun and safe 4th of July, and try not to spend the kid’s college money on gas.
The fact that we haven’t had one player play decent minutes for us that was drafted past round 2 in the last 6 years is borderline shameful.
true but if 28 of 30 teams are in the same boat then I’m not sure if this we can’t draft past round 2 is a point worth arguing.
For doing just a rough analysis of late-round drafting success, you can start here, and work your way through the years.
It shows the players’ NHL stats. Start at round 3, and look for large numbers of games played.
WTf Russo, blog like the vikes man does during crunch time!!! or at elast get an intern to hack away to keep us somewhat entertained….
“are you not entertained!”
Gladiator (love the movie)
toivo, you’re older and you still didn’t know what a parrothead was? You need to check out a JB show for the party, if not for the music.
I agree it’s hard to compare with precision for the reason you note. Still it gives one a sense. Btw, I didn’t think we had anyone left from the 04 class?
LEts analize this… we are going to suck and suck big
Preparing for the trade deadline are you?
Touche.
I just listed a few players inside the division that were past round 2 and those players were legit contributords on their teams. The Wild has Matt Foy to hang its hat on past round 2 in the last 6 years. That, my friends, is a for sh!t track record.
oh hellz no you dih’nt just go there.
For the love of Jon Casey! Have you no decency?!
If I’m going to get razzed about Hossa, then no. Satan’s a little reclamation project but Sid can do it. I sorta like those moves. Doom and gloom from yesterday is gone.
Hockeydad: Yeah, seriously. Getting a lot of time over there.
according to hockeyDB.com
edmonton has
0 in 2007
3rd theo peckem with 1 game from 06
3rd danny syvret with 26 from 05
4th liam reddox with 1 game
5th bryan young with 17 games from 04
Preparing for the trade deadline are you?
Touche.
*bow* And thanks for the props from the earlier one.
Wanna keep playing?
Speaking of Parrotheads, anyone going to the July 19 show in Packerville?
FACE IT OUR DRAFT SUCKS, MEDIOCRE DONT WIN SH*T, SHOULD WE ASK THE RED WINGS TAHT?
Noooooooooooooooooo!
Lightning sign free agent centre Wyatt Smith
colorado
none from 07 and 06
3rd TJ hensick with 31 games 11 points
7th kyle cumiskey with 47 games from 05
zero from 04
vancouver
0 from 07 and 06 and 05
3rd alex edler with 97 games
5th mike brown with 19 games
9th jannik hansen with 5 games from 04
calgary
0 from 07 and 06
5th matt keetley with 1 game in 05
3rd brandon prust with 10 games
3rd dustin boyd with 61 games in 04
wild
none in 07
3rd clutterbuck with 2 games from 06
none in 05 and 04
definately have the least but it isn’t as if the other teams in the division are ripping it up either.
Very few teams will have any late rounders from 06 or 07.
Just from browsing through, the teams that seemed to come up most often were the Rangers, Sharks, Blackhawks and Lightning.
There were others of course. And I don’t think any team can compare to what the Red Wings have done in the later rounds. They don’t just find players, they find great players.
Michael-
AWESOME job keeping the villagers honest. Could you come to my office and do the same thing? Thanks for the updates.
Marke Svatos was 7th round
that was 2001. doesn’t count by your rules
Bolts signed Wyatt Smith and now want to trade Boyle?
Are they mainly going to suit up forwards and pretend they are defensemen?
Pens signed SATAN! SATAN! SATAN!?
Guess he liked my song as much as Huselius liked kj’s. 
So given the market, Naslund’s price has to be a healthy shot north of $5M per, no?
Don - any news on PMB or SRV? I’m assuming by now that they received their offer sheets?
I would rather eat paste than go to a JB show, HD. Different strokes, as they say.
Didn’t someone on the blog say that Vancouver offered Naslund a 1 year $1.9 million deal?
sunshine - that was for Morrison
If you want to compare late rounders, forget looking at anything after 2005, and even that year is unlikely to have turned up much of anything by now. 4-5 years needed at least.
okay, thanks.
Well, enoy your paste, then toivo.
WildNighter - I thought the Wild made their qualifying offers to PMB and SRV a few weeks ago. The guess is that they will opt for arbitration and then we’ll see if a long-term deal isn’t struck prior thereto.
Don - any news on PMB or SRV? I’m assuming by now that they received their offer sheets?
That was done in June (Q.O.)
Russo, you seemed to have an ear in on the Wild’s talks with Huselius yesterday, does the silence today mean they aren’t too involved with Naslund, Demo, or anyone right now? Are they still playing the waiting game?
Agreed, HD. Arbitration it is.
I am just SICK we didn’t get Satan..we are doomed to be stuck with Bertuzzi.
G*: Well, as long as the other teams haven’t done well, why should the Wild aspire to do well? You think Detroilet gives a flying Bertuzzi as to what Nashville is doing? Uh, no. They go about their business, win a Cup and then sign the biggest FA fish in the pond to ensure a legit run at back2back.
Can someone give Good Old Wally an explanation on why nobody is reporting about the Demo man ??
toivo, i agree. i was just playing by deep breath’s rules
There were others of course. And I don’t think any team can compare to what the Red Wings have done in the later rounds. They don’t just find players, they find great players.
I would also make the case that you increase the liklihood of landing an NHL’er (all things being equal) if you increase the number of picks that you have.
I’m concerned that we seem to have depleted our number of picks recently…
Damn…Wyatt Smith slipped through our fingers!
Nothing else brewing in FA land for the Wild is there Russo???
Okay, I’ve changed my mind. One individual from this blog suggested that I give away the tickets since so many can’t afford them. I think that is a great idea. So, for each home game I will give away two tickets to a different blogger here. Just have to figure out how to be fair about it. Any suggestions?
GOW: Because 30 teams don’t want to over-pay for Demo. 29 didn’t last season…
“Offer sheet” probably not the right term…. anyway, it sounded like based on Don’s article from this morning “Bouchard, Veilleux still waiting for offers from Wild” that nothing has been done..
Can someone give Good Old Wally an explanation on why nobody is reporting about the Demo man
Ask Beaver.
Mmmm… paste…
Yeah, I’d say the market is saying somewhere about $5MM for Naslund. He’s not too keen on playing in the NW though, unless for Vancouver, from what I’ve read. Not completely against it, but I think he said it would be “weird”. So we’ll see.
Regarding Naslund, Pitt Post Gazette said the P’s signed Satan and Fedetenko because Naslund told them no. That could indicate he wants a lot, BUT…he reportedly wanted 4.5/yr. That leaves only MN, Van, and NYR in the hunt for him.
On the Fedorov issue, the offer was 1yr/2M that he was offended at. He wants double that.
Toivo: take a look at whom the Wild has drafted in rounds 3+ going back to thwe start? Only SVR, Boogie and Lube have done anything for the team on the ice. That’s a relatively weak draft history, considering Lube could be qualified with the fact that he made an expansion team roster.
Any suggestions?
Settle it in the octogon?
Well, as long as the other teams haven’t done well, why should the Wild aspire to do well?
sorry i wasn’t clear DB. let me try again. By looking at other teams it strikes me that there aren’t that many that have drafted plays after round 2 that can play in NHL now. now this doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be a goal of the local franchise but I question if it is worth PAMing about since it is something that doesn’t happen all that often.
is that better? i know it doesn’t fit your thesis but hopefully it is a little more clear.
“Offer sheet” probably not the right term
Right. The Qualifying Offer (QO) allows the team to retain the players’ rights. It is a one year deal, and the player may, if he chooses, take the team to Arbitration.
The team, then, can submit another Offer to the player in advance of the Arbitration date. So, don’t expect much: I believe the team will allow them to go to Arbitration.
Mike, how about some trivia questions? Hockey related or not, could be fun…
Brendan Morrison a must if you dont bri jnm hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh g i
GoW…you and big k hangin out???
Signing Bertuzzi is a terrible thought. Not only is he cheap like Simon but he is hated by the fans. I would honestly still boo the guy even if he is on the Wild.
GOW: There’s some speculation he’s waiting to see where some others are going, but given the fact there’s little talk about him going anywhere but Vancouver, I’d have to say he’s sitting tight to see what Gillis does to fill out the lineup there before committing to a crappy team.
“SPEAKING of The Dude, where is ATW?”
I am here! I went to lunch… hey KiPA, I see you have Satan now.
As far as Nazzy wanting 4.5 mill a season, if that number is accurate, would it really hamstring the Wild for centries on end to offer $5 for 3 years? Just don’t know at this point if they have many options left, unless Dougie Ballgame is weaving some magic to pull off a blockbuster.
I wonder why the Russian teams are not going after Federov or am I missing it?
Butch, that’s one that might work…
Well, if the Nuks are offering $3.5M and the Wild $5M, he might get over the weirdness. Of course, I have no reason to think those numbers represent the decision he’s pondering. It’s just that money sometimes has a way of making one feel a little more comfortable.
All that said, I still think he prefers to simply stay in VAN.
DB: Yes, it would, but he’s reportedly not interested in a multi-year deal. He’s already said he wants to play one more season.
If they did sign him, they would be handicapped to sign any other bigger name as they’d be at or over the cap, so you can just about forget about signing him and Demo, unless they both wanna take a pay cut.
HD…I concur…
MuN…what other ‘bigger name’ is there left???
The Habs signed Alex Henry. Honestly, please tell me that’s not the guy that played here.
Oh, I get what you’re saying DB. Totally. You’ve got a point, but then you need to compare to what other teams have done. The Wild have not been great at it, but very few teams have (add Mtl to my short list from above). That’s not to excuse them, but to put it into perspective. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s a *weak* draft history. It could be better, it could be worse.
Isn’t the Wild still several, several million under the Cap. Can hardly believe that giving Nazzy 5 million this year is going push us to 57 million.
Hockeydad - same thought I had when I saw that about Henry…..what was that about 4 / 5 yrs ago he played here?
Who said it would, DB?
The Rangers who where said to have had 10 Million remaining after signing Redden and Rozival have now freed up enough money to sign both Jagr and Sundin.
Agreed DB, I think we would have room for Nazz and Demo…Would Demo play center between TWO of his BFFs??
“Brendan Morrison a must if you dont bri jnm hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh g i”
Looks like someone fell asleep on their keyboard.
And the ‘Yotes just picked up Alex Henry. Didn’t know he was still playing.
Whoops I was late and wrong. Was looking at the David Hale signing at the same time.
Brendan Morrison a must if you dont bri jnm hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh g i
GoW…you and big k hangin out???
POTD.
Nonetheless, your reaction to Henry’s signing the same as mine, woodcock - I didn’t know the guy was still in the league.
KJ: As far as “needs” go, we need a center and a winger. The list of the bigger guys would include:
Naslund, Demitra, Sundin, Jagr, and Straka. That’s about all. The rest are really 2nd line guys.
IN the years 2003-2005 the Wild drafted 28 players and 3, count em, one…two…three…have seen NHL ice (Burns, B-B-Benny and O’Sullivan) and my 4-yr-old-daughter has as much NHL experience as the entire 12-man 2004 class. Like I’ve written before, the top end has been fantastic for the Wild but as a whole, this organization gets poor marks for drafting simply because that is how you stock pile young talent that some team may want down the line at the trade deadline when you’re trying to acquire an impact centerman.
Hmmm… I know it hasn’t been considered or mentioned in any seriousness yet, but since the Wild have kind of been shut out, and they do have dollars available, any chance they’d at least make a pitch to Mats? Why not, eh? MN and Sweden are practically cousins after all.
hey KiPA, I see you have Satan now.
Yup.
Insider Pittsburgh Sports says Fedotenko was Plan B for Bertuzzi. Whew. I didn’t want that dope anywhere around my team.
Butch4 prez: If the Wild and Demo somehow mend fences and come to terms on a deal, let’s just all pray to Gretzky that they let him play wing. This team needs for sure 1, maybe 2, centers on the roster.
” The Senators are bracing for a raid on restricted free agents Antoine Vermette and Andrej Meszaros. League sources told Sun Media yesterday the Canucks, Thrashers and Blue Jackets are so desperate to make a splash on the free-agent market, they’re all looking at making offers for the highly touted winger and defenceman. The Senators would have the right to match any offer sheet to keep Vermette and Meszaros.”
BfP: Probably not enough to sign both. Naslund at 4.5, Demo at 4 or 4.5 is 9M. That’s pushing the limits, and we don’t haven’t factored in raises for PMB and SRV yet, or an extension for Gaborik if either of those deals are for more than a year.
Plus, it handicaps us at trade deadline too.
Alex Henry spent his last 2 years with Milwaukee in the AHL.
DB: Agreed.
And since you agree that you “stock pile young talent” through the draft: Are you equally concerned that we are tossing around draft picks like prophylactics at Prince party???
Marty Havlat might be available? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
For PMB, in a freaking heartbeat.
Marty Havlat might be available? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
For PMB, in a freaking heartbeat.
You think Gaborik has health problems? Wait til you get a load of Havlat.
(Great player when healthy, but…)
KiPA, lol yeah I know. But what that guy could bring for 40 games.. I’d take him. He’s a point-per-game player, even injured.
By the way, cross off Straka, confirmed he’s going back to Czech next year.
I wouldn’t say 2003 was a bad draft.
2004 and 2005 are looking shaky, though. I don’t think anyone would disagree with you there, DB. But then a lot of teams whiffed in those years.
And count me as one who is a bit concerned with the way they’ve been tossing around their picks lately.
And count me as one who is a bit concerned with the way they’ve been tossing around their picks lately.
K.
*tosses prophylactic*
Vancouver has had discussions about signing both Markus Naslund and Pavel Demitra but their infatuation with Mats Sundin might lead to them only signing one of them. Naslund is considering offers from Min, NYR, Van. Demitra is being pursued by Vancouver Canucks, NYR, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals.
From Pittsburgh Insider.
toivo, I’m not so worried. If you’re in Leafs Nation, you ought to be worried - not here. We actually still have many left.
Havlat may have a bit more NHL experience but he is extremely injury prone and his numbers really aren’t that great. PMB keeps improving every year and I think he will be a consistent 60+ point guy for us. Need something better than Havlat to let him go.
hey someone was talking about peca having a decent fo percentage last year.
he’s also a 2x selke winner.
thats a plus in jl’s system.
bfw: If the Wild had shown any accumen whatsoever in being able to draft players, I would be concerned about giving picks away. But, since none of them have been of first round variety (save the Sully deal), I’m not going to lose sleep over it. If this scouting department had shown the ability to pluck a Svatos out of the 7th round, or a Zetterberg out of the 83rd round or anything of that nature, I would be hesitant to just cough them up. The Wild is proving quickly that it will only be able to substantially improve the team via free agency.
KiPA, Naslund wants to play his last year with Sundin if he can. He’d also like to play with Demitra. Vancouver could sign two, but not all three, but my bet is Nazzy’s waiting on Sundin to decide if he’s gonna play, and where - or retire.
We actually still have many left.
Uhhh…how many next year?
Also, MupNorth: Handicap the team at the trade deadline for what? There will be plenty of Chris Simon’s out there to sign for $400K.
BFW: 3 I believe, including the 4th rounder we get from TB.
DB, lol yeah I hear ya. That’s what you get when you don’t have 7M to spend at the deadline.
The key to recruiting well: Find kids attending UND, Fighting Sioux hockey is superior to others in many aspects…Look at the past four years…(hakstol)
Uh oh, a pest from the west…How are the next few years looking in ND?
In the NHL you don’t recruit. You draft. Recruiting is for college and juniors.
exactly. we like our deadline players cheap. there must be a financial incentive from the league to get in warm bodies at the trade deadline.
Uhhh…how many next year?
No 2nd or 3rd next year, four picks this year and five last year… it starts to add up. Or subtract down I guess I should say.
Granted, there’s more than one way to build a roster, and they seem to be moving away a bit from the BFW mantra now that they have this core of players. They seem to be tripping up with using their assets to Build From Without.
WCHA is home to the best college hockey talent out there but I think the Wild need to check out Europe a little better.
toivo, that would leave 4 for next year: Our 1st, 4th, and 5th, plus TB’s 4th.
Recruiting is for college and juniors.
Canadian juniors have a draft.
They still have the 6th and 7th.
always high expectations…we’ll see how little toews does
WCHA is home to the best college hockey talent out there but I think the Wild need to check out Europe a little better.
The strategy ought to be to just follow the Detroit guys across the continent.
I would LOVE Naslund to play for us. He is SUCH a quality player and calm intellegent influence. I think that he would be great for this team..and help out the younger players. He is the Captain I wish we had….
BTW who IS signing Bertuzzi? I have mixed feelings about him, yet think he may be someone we need since we lost Simon AND Fedoruk AND Voros. Boogaard only plays about 5 minutes per game, and that will hardly protect Gabby.
Laraque to the Habs.
Habs signed Laraque.
HD…but those pesky Detroit scouts NEVER tell our scouts who they are looking at… 
Following Detroit scouts is a great idea. Clearly they are doing something right: stanley cup and just the fact that they convince Europeans to live in Detroit.
woody quicker on the draw
Missy, Weller will help there. Besides, all Voros could do was take a punch.
BTW who IS signing Bertuzzi? I have mixed feelings about him, yet think he may be someone we need since we lost Simon AND Fedoruk AND Voros. Boogaard only plays about 5 minutes per game, and that will hardly protect Gabby.
That strategy is so last year.
Missy, check out Weller’s video on you tube…I think he can hold his own!
ziggy says:
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
1st
LOL - What a loser.
If this scouting department had shown the ability to pluck a Svatos out of the 7th round, or a Zetterberg out of the 83rd round or anything of that nature,
so doing it once makes give you that ability? if the colorado staff has this ability to mine NHL talent in the 7th round, why haven’t they done this other than svatos? you’re rolling the dice with 7th rounders.
Re: Detroit
It’s Hakan Andersson you want to follow. Good article on him here.
HD, Slow day at work.
Deep Breath says: “….The Wild is proving quickly that it will only be able to substantially improve the team via free agency.”
It’s worse than that DB, players (and their agents) don’t even want to come here now, regardless of the contract. The word is out amongst the players - if you want to win, don’t go to Minny.
missy if bert gets signed here, that will really throw this blog in a shtstorm. Remember the day simon got signed? Whoa.
i’m curious as to who’s interseted in fedorov and why we’re not.
kj, that’s where we need to be more clever. Perhaps we “engage” some local females to “befriend” our Red Winged counterparts at the local pub. They could use their “skills” to pull such information out of them. Counterintelligence.
You forget, Voros also takes a lot of stupid penalties.
kj: correct you are. Dougie Ballgame likes to change team identities on the fly. First we have to let the kids develop then we have to get grittier then we need to get more mobile on the blueline. Not sure what the mantra will be midway through the season.
Right now all Risedump can attract are flies.
Missy: We don’t need Bertuzzi for anything especially to protect Gabby. He isn’t an enforcer like Boogy (although he will blindside someone from behind) and I don’t see him dropping the gloves too often. The problem we have is that 5 minutes or not, hardly anyone will drop the gloves against Boogy especially the the agitators that beat up on Gabby.
Vote NO on Bertuzzi.
HD, Slow day at work.
Tell me about it
Gotta be on top of my game right wallshot?
HD: where can we get these “Natashas” to infiltrate the Red Wings European Scouts?
On top of your LAME.
G*,
Colorado also drafted Vrbata in the 7th in ‘99, Liles in the 5th in ‘00, Cody McCormick in the 5th in ‘01, Tom Gilbert in the 4th in ‘02, Richardson in the 5th in ‘03…
Id’s say Colorado has a pretty good track record there.
Real Mike: I don’t think it is as simple as that. If you believe what you read, Hossa spurned a lot of great offers, some better than the Wild’s and Huggy would have signed here 7 months ago if Dougie Ballgame wouldn’t have been so arrogant to think players would just faint at the thought of not playing in the league’s best arena. Over the past couple of seasons, while the Wild has been bounced twice, I would hardly consider playing for Minnesota the end of one’s career.
oh snap
DB, would you rather DR worked like the Hawks the past 7 years?
their “skills” to pull such information out of them
their skills pull information out, too? who knew?
Not sure what the mantra will be midway through the season.
Hmmm…draft Tavares???
Hockeydad: Didn’t you previously mention something about lawschool? And a slow day? I don’t believe the Constitution ever sleeps.
On top of your LAME.
Wallshot +1
hd i thought your comment read ” we could get our women to punch the information out of them”
pull. punch. whatever means necessary.
Naslund is the Pens’ Plan B option…
toivo, didn’t realize we still had the 6th and 7th, good call.
DB, would you rather DR worked like the Hawks the past 7 years?
Um…yeah.
The ‘Hawks will be much improved next year.
Mike: Naslund said NO to the Pens already.
That’s before they raised their offer….
Also, while we are busy beating the Wild up on their draft picks (some of which is clearly deserved), let’s also remember that the experts were shcoked when we drafted Burns and Koivu where we did. Turned out pretty well though. Doesn’t take much skill to pick Crosby and Malkin or for that matter Gabby. Burns and Koivu were excellent, and surprise, picks. Thelen was not. Who knows yet on Shep or Gillies. We will find out more this year.
I would trade them both for Svatos.
KJ, seriously… you’d endure 7 years in the basement, not spending money at all in the Wirtz era, and still not making the playoffs once, even with Havlat, Khabi, Sharp, and the butt-buddies?
Not sure what the mantra will be midway through the season.
Hmmm…draft Tavares???
I’ve got one for you, kj…
“Let’s go Gophers!” :-O
Dougie Ballgame wouldn’t have been so arrogant to think players would just faint at the thought of not playing in the league’s best arena.
Have you ever thought of stand up comedy? i mean this is funny stuff. seriously.
Over the past couple of seasons, while the Wild has been bounced twice, I would hardly consider playing for Minnesota the end of one’s career.
or nashville, or toronto, or montreal, or chicago, or columbus, or the islanders, or the rangers, or florida, or LA, or phoenix or colorado or st louis. or boston.
-REPORT: LIGHTNING ASK DAN BOYLE TO WAIVE HIS NO-TRADE CLAUSE. NO DESTINATION GIVEN. DEVELOPING…
KiPA, can you chime in here? Are the Pens done now since they took Satan and Fed? Rumor was Nazzy snubbed them this am, so those two were plan B.
Eklund: Antti Miettinen to Wild (e5)
for4rest, the Constitution may never sleep but our clients must all be up at the “lake”.
Mike, old news. He’s already said no to the 1st team they asked him to waive it for.
I will say this about Chicago. They are going to regret that Campbell contract like we regret Johnsson’s.
kj is on record not minding years of dogshat hockey if that 1 year means a cup.
i got no beef with that. i just don’t subscribe to that line of thinking.
DB, what you’re seeing now is the fuition of Risedump’s arrogant ways of always thinking he’s the smartest person in the room combined with being cheap. Why would a high profile player want to come here, in all seriousness? Playing for the Mild is not even a consideration among the FAs out there. The club has become a joke.
BTW, can somebody please explain to me why the Dumpper would not trade Schleppard for Jokinen, cuz I just don’t get that one at all. What has Schleppard shown?
Eklund: Antti Miettinen to Wild (e5)
Heh, Mike is back in business!
DB, what you’re seeing now is the fruition of Risedump’s arrogant ways of always thinking he’s the smartest person in the room combined with being cheap. Why would a high profile player want to come here, in all seriousness? Playing for the Mild is not even a consideration among the FAs out there. The club has become a joke.
BTW, can somebody please explain to me why the Dumpper would not trade Schleppard for Jokinen, cuz I just don’t get that one at all. What has Schleppard shown?
What has Schleppard shown?
what has jokinen shown? i mean it is all about cups here.
KiPA, can you chime in here? Are the Pens done now since they took Satan and Fed? Rumor was Nazzy snubbed them this am, so those two were plan B.
Probably. The only major thing they’d do is trade Sydor and sign Jagr (highly unlikely IMO). There’ll be a couple minor signings I think to flesh out the roster, but the heavy stuff should be done. Yes, they signed Satan and Fedotenko after they were told Naslund wasn’t interested.
FYI on Chicago and the Campbell deal..
They have 12.375M on the books for next year in GOALTENDERS alone.
19.475M if you include Campbell.
29.475M if you include Lang and Havlat.
That’s almost 30 Million for 5 players, and they are at the cap.
Except they offered Cooke a 2-yr, $1.6/per deal and are waiting to hear from him (got to replace Ruutu).
mike, this is my assumption on the OJ/shep.
I can’t read dr’s mind, but this makes sense to me.
shep has a future and potential. He will eventually move up into a #1 or 2 center with the team. Jokinen was attractive because he was a solid center for 2 years (left on his contract) to hold a place until shep developed further.
If we’re having a problem filling the center position, how do we fix that by ending up with the same amount of centers that we started with?
next year is not the year to win a cup, dr knows this, thus its not worth tossing away potential (dr does that enough with draft picks) for a 2 year deal that won’t fully pay off.
Thats the best i can do.
Mup North: I don’t get into the “well, at least we’re not the Blackhawks,” or “at least we’re not Columbus”. I don’t care about the other franchises. I care what the Wild is doing and frankly, what the team has and has not done over the past couple of seasons in terms of player personnel causes a little concern. You have a GM who is on record as saying that he regrets letting FA Bruno go; then he’s on record as saying he regrets having too many UFAs on the roster in the 07-08 season. What kind of excuse are we going to here when Gabby is allowed to play out the 08-09 season in his final year?
Woodcock: You must be on the civil side because there are always plenty of criminals in the metro area. Maybe they are up there (at the lake that is) entering into oral contracts in violation of the Statute of Frauds.
I don’t believe the Constitution ever sleeps.
It snoozes all day when you’re a corproate/deal lawyer. This week is always a slow one for me. I’d be home by now, but was dumb enough to keep a haircut appt this afternoon.
…that’s another problem with Risedump thinking of himself as a genius: sticking with “The Plan” of building for the future that NEVER comes…perpetually building for the future and along the way screwing up draft pick after draft pick. The future will always be a disappointment with the Dumpper at the controls. They’ve got to get rid of that ass-clown.
Mike, RE: Sheppard.
Not many can play, and play relatively well, in the NHL at 19, and to do so is a very strong indicator of future success. Certainly Jokinen would be better right now, but giving up Sheppard would be a huge price to pay, IMO. Maybe if the Wild had a decent stockpile of prospects, or were a Jokinen away from having a really great team, I could see it, but I don’t think either was the case, so I think keeping Sheppard was the right move there.
DB, you have valid points, but I think no GM is perfect in their choices all the time. Granted DR’s made some mistakes, maybe some guys like Lou Lamarillo or Kenny Holland wouldn’t make, but at least he’s learning. He’s doing a hell of a lot better here than he did with Calgary.
Although, I would give him the benefit of the doubt about Gaborik until the deadline. If there’s no contact extension by then, and he’s not dealt, I’ll be in the same boat with you, calling for his head
Eklund just broke Antti Miettinen to Wild at hockeybuzz.com
What kind of excuse are we going to here when Gabby is allowed to play out the 08-09 season in his final year?
you really think this will happen? he will be extended or traded by camp.
not having perspective is like yelling at your kid for not finishing a marathon in one hour. i mean sure the world record is 2 hours and change but I don’t give a shat what others run it in, you should be running it in an hour.
LOL Chicago’s D implodes:
The Blackhawks announced Thursday that defenseman James Wisniewski has torn the ACL in his right knee and will undergo surgery this week.
Antti Miettinen…another dumpster-diver move for the Dumpper.
I gave it my best mike.
ask and you shall receive. thanks for the help toivo.
We need a center not Antii Miettinen.
if DR overestimated anything it is that fans here are great hockey minds. If i’m DR I go the childress way and never say anything that means anything. it is obvious the being honest route aint working.
for4rest, yes, a corporate/deal lawyer like HD–so not much to do today.
3:34 PM - The Wild are close to signing Antti Miettinen, rumour.
It just showed up on faceoffcircle.net.
If it’s true, I think it means we’re out of the running with Demo and Naslund.
MuN…
I would like the ‘upside’ of the ‘Hawks without all the negatives. I know it isn’t reality, but it’s my way of looking at it…
Yes Green*…5 years of mediocrity for one lap with the Cup. I would still do it in a heartbeat. So would EVERY player in the NHL that does not have their name on it yet.
nothing on tsn about miettinen.
gotta love this about the guy:
10-Dec-07 Missed 3 games (groin).
03-Dec-07 Groin, day-to-day.
01-Dec-07 Missed 4 games (groin).
25-Nov-07 Groin, day-to-day.
18-Feb-07 Missed 3 games (lower body injury).
10-Feb-07 Lower body injury, day-to-day.
12-Dec-06 Missed 5 games (lower body injury).
02-Dec-06 Lower body injury, day-to-day.
02-Mar-06 Missed 2 games (chest injury).
10-Feb-06 Chest injury, day-to-day.
21-Dec-05 Missed 1 game (flu).
19-Dec-05 Flu, day-to-day.
if DR overestimated anything it is that fans here are great hockey minds. If i’m DR I go the childress way and never say anything that means anything. it is obvious the being honest route aint working.
Come on.
If Eklund says it’s about to happen, then I have my doubts.
However, if it happens… Miettinen is a good replacement for Radio. He’s an upgrade for that role, but we’re still short two top 6 forwards.
Miettinen signed on FOC…
i understand kj and i got no issue. like i said i don’t subscribe because i can’t buy my tickets on 5 year cycles. and while we all think we can do it, a cup winning team can’t be built in july. i agree that detroit looks like a good bet to repeat but, they still have to go do it and that doesn’t always happen.
And a #2 or #3 Center.
Yeah, looks like we signed him.
He would be more than Radio but less than Demo. He can score more than Radio.
PfP: I was pausing for a moment, hoping I was having a bad dream.
3:38 PM - The Wild sign Antti Miettinen, details to come …
WHO?
Green*…we can only hope (for Hossa’s sake) that Detroit is upset in the 1st round next year…
G*: I would never have thought that Rolston would have been allowed to leave without getting anything in return. You would have thought the GM would have had discussions with him during the season to take his temperature on returning. It was obvious the team was not enamored with Demo so you figured he would be let go. But a conversation with Huggy should have happened and didn’t. I appreciate the fact the Dougie has the stones to come out and admit mistakes, but how long do we as a fan base, and now CL put up with him admitting mistakes? I once heard the best way to avoid mistakes is to not make them. Obviously you would expect Gabby to be signed long term or dealt by early September, but Dougie’s track record, especially going back to his Calgary days, doesn”t really lend itself to a whole lot of confidence.
If this is going down DR better be getting a bargain price for this guy although I know he won’t. Just an average player.
kj, I meant the two missing top-6 forwards to include a center.
Come on.
ok so it is a little hyperbolie but, if you didn’t think your fan base was knowledgeable enough to “get it” why would you ever discuss with them how you want to build your team a la the dreaded plan? in the end we all are just fans and don’t care about much else but are we going to win and when the next win is. and we don’t want to wait 5 years or 7 years for it to happen we want it now.
Replacement for Radio? He’s 6′0″ - 190, and puts up 25-30 points. Another smallish winger who can’t handle digging in the corners.
Antti Miettinen - #20
Right Wing - Dallas Stars
Goals Assists +/- PIM
15 19 4 34
Miettinen’s not bad. 15 G last season. I believe that would tie him for third if he was on the Wild last season.
Laraque came cheap: 3yr $1.5 mill. That’s roughly 500,000/yr. Cheaper than that one guy we picked up near the end of day one.
Miettinen is a good pickup - out of what is left.
It is a step and an improvement.
i know i come off as a DR apologist but i don’t mean to. i just don’t think he is the matt cooke of GM’s.
But Weller is much younger, no?
A Finn….reminds me of the days of Antii Laaksonen
3 years 7 mil
same as bruno
good pickup
@kj: I agree it’s an improvement.
for4rest, I think we will like Weller for the role he plays. That was a perfectly decent signing. And, I like the Zidlicky trade. Miettinen–ok but only if we are getting others, too.
As it stands with the current roster Antti would be 8th on the team in points, which is the ultimate measure of a player’s offensive potential IMO. The problem is that we have two defensemen rounding out our top 5 scorers. Burns is the man but we need offense, not average play from an average player no one has heard of.
“I appreciate the fact the Dougie has the stones to come out and admit mistakes, but how long do we as a fan base, and now CL put up with him admitting mistakes?”
I can’t see giving the Dumpper ANY cred for fessing up to obvious bone-headed moves.
Miettinen got 3@7M???????
WTFBBQ?
G*: But what is “the plan”? First it was let the kids develop. We’re about to start year 8. How long to franchises normally need to let kids develop? Then we needed to get grittier then we needed to get more mobile on the blue line. Figure out what you want the identity of the team to be and go with it. Changes his mind on a whim. Now, with this apparent signing of Miettinen, we still have not addressed the fact that we have a 1 1/2 centers going into the season.
Even if Antii is an improvement you have to look at the dollar value we are paying for his services and I’m guessing we are going to pay too much, if we get him at all.
Dallas isn’t exactly a goal scoring machine, if Antti were any good at all they would have kept him. Just more digging through other team’s unwanted garbage by the Dumpper.
oh, please no. not that much.
tsn is saying laraque’s got a 3 yr 4.5 mill contract. thats more than 500k a year right?
nothing yet on miettinen. I’ll wait till the don fills us in on that.
DeepBreath @ 12:58, you indicated Wild drafting was shameful and did not care what other teams record was.
But, it is hard to criticize them if they are essentially performing equal to other teams in those same rounds … so it is necessary to compare them against others.
Lets face it, if there are no gold nuggets available in those rounds then it is a crap shoot.
And, lots of luck involved. So, it would be hard to criticize the scouting for a lack of luck.
on tsn they’re saying laraque’s got a 3 yr 4.5 mill contract. thats more than 500k a year right?
nothing yet on miettinen. I’ll wait till the don fills us in on that.
Samsonite? I was way off. Sorry, misread TSN.ca
Wyatt Smith gets two-way from Tampa Bay. DR pacing the command center as a just in case signing to appease STH, a Minnesotan, got away!
DB: At this point, The Plan appears to be ‘make it up as you go along’.
Our blockbuster signings have me flustered.
Alex, where did you get that figure????
If they gave Miettinen that, DR gets my Cliff “Finger” Fletcher award.
I thought Laraque’s was 1.5 per year.
Well Dallas gave up on Hagman who had 27 goals, right Mike.
Ice: I’m not looking for a Zetterberg in the rough. I’m looking for decent, serviceable young players that could possibly be offered up as trade bait at the deadline when the team is trying to acquire a much-needed center. You do realize the team drafted 12, count ‘em, twelve players in 2004 and combined they have as many games in the League as James Hetfield!
It is 1.5 per, my bad.
Bringing back Bruno, bringing back an Antti! Whose next, Sylvain Blouin?
kipa that makes sense (3yr @ 4.5 total)
MATT COOKE SUX!!!
almost forgot what the purpose of this Board was for
3 Years - $7 million
av’s got daniel tjarnquvist
I think we overpaid on Mietnninen. If he is Branko +, we should be paying $1.5 million a year.
Isn’t Miettenen kind of a defensive, checker type? Good wing pairing with SRV perhaps?
If we’re gonna go out and get stop-gap players, you would think they would find a stop-gap center, wouldn’t you?
Apparently DR hates centers…we have a stockpile of wingers now
if i were jl, and dr didn’t find a center, i’d make him play center.
Why don’t we give that much to SRV and less for AM? Are we thinking we can’t sign SRV? WTH.
Insider Pittsburgh says Naslund’s off to NYR for $4.5 per.
Holy sh!t the damn boat is sinking now!
We are paying a 25-30 point guy the same money as we’re paying a 60-point guy???
Today is Antii’s birthday. Happy 28 new guy.
DB, I’ve said more than once the last 3 days the wild lost their identity a couple years ago and need to find it and stick to it. does that mean DR has to go? maybe but if it’s up to me i don’t pull that trigger yet.
if DR never published the plan then we wouldn’t be b!tching about the plan but likely something else.
This blows!
Must be counting on the development camp to produce a center for next year. Hopefully we get a guy that can win a faceoff.
Now I know what CBJ and Thrashers fans feel like before each season starts.
KiPA, that would be the likely story given dumbass just grossly overpaid for a freaking Yugo.
that would suck. he made 800k last year. I want a raise like that. please.
KiPA, if that’s the case I guess he didn’t do a Hossa and go to a winner.
I think we overpaid on Mietnninen. If he is Branko +, we should be paying $1.5 million a year.
Miettinen made 885k last year.
Does Branko have 15 career goals???
I think they did what they had to do to get a body here.
They need to get a C now.
I agree with you Bullmoose. They are making it up as they go along. Right now I’m thinking they’re in full panic mode over in St.Paul. It’s dawned upon them that “Oh crap, nobody who’s skilled wants to come here. We gotta get SOMEBODY!” so there on page 8 of their available free agent handbook and threw a dart and came up with Miettinen.
The Mild’s front office is a train wreck.
Ok, well that should tell you guys they’re done now. This retarded signing shows they can’t sign Demo or Nazzy, and no one else wants to come here so we’re left begging to bottom feeders to fill in the roster.
So much for the hope. This is over, I’m off now.
By signing an average guy for that much $ DR just set himself up to get screwed during the RFA negotiations.
WOW!!!
I am b^tching to no end wanting TOP talent and to spend cap $$$.
Now, they acquire one of the better players left and everyone is up in arms and I am happy. He will compliment Koivu very well. I think he is a shootout monster too.
Irony is a wonderful thing.
Well Wild fans, you’ve been suckered for another year…
Risedump is like the ugly chick who can’t get a date to the prom.
Where are those contract numbers coming from?
KJ:
I don’t want a body for $2.5 million. We could have gotten Peca for that amount.
TSN still isn’t reporting AM - where did we confirm this?
curios - is hockey buzz a reliable source for this miettinen signing?
still nothing on tsn or from the don.
i’m waiting to hear more before I pass judgment.
FOC has it.
HD - Toivo.
Love the critical thought.
Oh yeah, remember…DR said (and RUSSO LECTURED ABOUT THIS) that they aren’t going to ‘overpay’ for mid-level talent.
We should pay SRV and AM for $2.5 million total a year for 3 years.
WOW!!!
Sure is a different look being on this side isn’t it.
nhlnumbers already has AM on the Wild’s cap roster and off the Star’s
KJ: it shows he should have made better moves than to have to sign a body for lineup purposes at this point. Naslund, Morrison, Demo, Sundin, etc. are still out there. Spend the money, fine. But not that kind of money on average talent.
Ah, before I go.. Naslund to NYR. 5 minutes.
This is why we got AM
for4rest…
Thanks for making my point of the past week FOR me.
“Speculation has it NYR could be announcing something at a rumoured conference call at 4:30 PM. Re-signing Jagr? I doubt it.”
Holy crap nhlnumbers.com is quick. They already have Miettinen on the Wild with his cap number, and salary.
Miettinen = Upside (IMO). This could be a nice looking contract in a couple years.
KJ: so how can you be happy now? That doesn’t make sense
for4rest…honestly?
Same thing Kirk Wise posted. He has upside. Peca is done.
I am happy because DR did something to IMPROVE the team with a contract that will not hamstring the club in the future.
Food on AM signing…
“Miettinen is a good pickup - out of what is left.
It is a step and an improvement.”
What have you done with the real kj!? I think kj has been kidnapped by some crazy optimist.
I see but I disagree. For the sake or argument I will assume this guy is an improvement. However, it is not hard to make an improvement if we are talking about replacing Radio. And I don’t think this is the improvement we should have made. A monkey can sign an average player to a contract that won’t “hamstring the team” as you say. I think this guy is average and we wayyyy overpaid. “Could be good in a couple years” isn’t good enough when we need offense and, more specifically, a center.
Gotta love those big Wild splashes made this signing period. Or should I say drip,drip,drip………
its hard to make a splash and sign somebody when there was only one “splashy” free agent out there
I beg to differ, there were several. The point being I can’t see where the signings have made any significant upgrades to the roster whatsoever. In fact the product will be the same or less.
maybe it’s just addition by subtraction.
Naslund to NY….or did I miss that already
The only splashy forwards were Hossa and the rest are all overpaid….either old guys getting huge money, or mid aged players getting paid like superstars
We got Brunette and AM for a decent price.
