Development camp and other musings
Posted on July 8th, 2008 – 2:45 PMBy Michael Russo
Wednesday update: FYI, I did not go down to the X today, so next update will be after Thursday’s scrimmage, which won’t end until 6 p.m.ish. So next blog most likely will be Thursday night. Have a good day everybody.
It’s beautiful out, but it felt like hockey season down at the X.
In fact, it was fun getting my hockey fix, too.
First things first, I ran into a suddenly-jacked up Brent Burns. It always amazes me the transformation professional athletes can take during the offseason, and Burns has clearly been lifting weights.
In fact, 2007 first-round pick Colton Gillies has been living with Burns the last three weeks. Gillies said he’s living on the same floor as Burns’ 30-plus snakes.
Burns, Gillies and Burns’ younger brother, Brad, have been working out together daily.
And how about this for a star-studded Blog endorsement from the fast-rising defenseman? “All I do is eat, sleep, work out and read ‘Russo’s Rants,’” Brent Burns said. “Only way I know how to keep up with the league.”
Yahtzee.
As for development camp, first off, you’re not going to believe this.
I didn’t get to talk to Eero Elo. I know you’re disappointed. I am pretty sure he exists , however, because somebody was wearing No. 71 in the two practices. But when I went into the locker room, I wound up chatting with James Sheppard, Gillies, Benoit Pouliot and Cal Clutterbuck first.
I look at Elo’s stall, and he was no longer sitting there. And I don’t know what Elo looks like — every one of those kids look the same to me.
So I’ll have to report to you what Elo’s like later in the week, although I hear his English is a little limited.
Gillies isn’t the only Wild prospect around this summer. Guys like Matt Kassian have been here awhile. Clutterbuck just got a summer place in St. Paul with Barry Brust. Obviously Danny Irmen’s around. And I hear Ryan Hamilton and Cody Almond will be around, too. I’m sure there are others.
The rooks will be having lots of on- and off-ice workouts ’til Monday, including two scrimmages and a softball game at the Metrodome, too.
Talked a lot with Benoit Pouliot. I’ll probably write about him later in the week. He’s coming in with the mentality of making the team, although he has no Internet at the hotel and did not know Doug Risebrough’s publicly said that — as of now — Pouliot’s got a roster spot.
Obviously a lot can happen between now and training camp, but Pouliot said that’s a “bonus” to keep pushing harder.
I’m writing about Sheppard for tomorrow and the fact that he’s looking to make big strides this season after one year under his belt. The middle of the Wild’s forward lines is pretty weak depth-wise, and big improvement by Sheppard would be a coup for the Wild.
By the way, Sheppard said he’s considering living on his own next season and getting out of Darby Hendrickson’s (wavy) hair, and he is possibly willing to give up his No. 15 to veteran Andrew Brunette. Much more on the now 20-year-old Sheppard in tomorrow’s Star Tribune (which can be seen sometime tonight on www.startribune.com/wild).
Just an fyi, don’t expect a blog everyday from development camp. I’ll throw a couple up, like after Thursday’s late afternoon scrimmage, but I can’t make each day.
In other news,
– I’ve gotten two calls from Vancouver reporters who believe Pavol Demitra is close to signing with the Canucks. I have not made a single call to even try to confirm this because he’s not coming back here, but as you all know, I reported back in May that Demitra was in Vancouver “scouting” the community and his agent is now the Canucks’ current GM.
(I wrote that story on my Blackberry from the Detroit airport as I waited for a connection. Not easy writing a story on a Blackberry).
– I guesstimated inside the Blog comments yesterday that it might have been a first-come, first-serve thing between Owen Nolan and Brendan Morrison here (in other words, who called the Wild back first). I couched it as speculation. I have since learned that the Wild was informed Morrison decided he wanted to stay on the West coast, and that the Wild signed Nolan once it knew it was out of the Morrison sweepstakes. He’s since signed with Anaheim.
As I wrote many, many times leading up to free agency, the center position was horrific in this class. In fact, I think Bobby Holik was the only center to sign on July 1 despite a feeding frenzy for players. Once the Wild didn’t get Morrison, it didn’t feel it was worth spending lots of term and bucks on lesser centers.
– I have also learned from those close to Kristian Huselius that it did indeed come down to Minnesota and Columbus and the presence of good friend, Fredrik Modin, and the fact Ken Hitchcock promised him a chance to show off his skills were two big reasons why Huselius chose the Buckeye State over the land of lots of lakes and stuff.
That’s it for now.
– Forgot to mention, the goalie, Anton Khudobin is from Kazakhstan, and yes, he sounds exactly like Borat. It’s scary.
499 Responses to "Development camp and other musings"
Was anyone else even interested in Pav?
In other words, same old Wild. SIGH!!
well if all burns does is read this blog, then i’ll just go out and say I’m excited to watch him this season again.
sooo…Burnsie is now a young Jedi of his own, mentoring the new class of would-be Jedi?
“From Yoda, to Kenobi we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high.”
So Wild pay Yawnson $4.85 mil and he cannot even be of help in landing a fellow swede. 
lord knows we need Sheppard and Pouliot to be contributors this season.
I heard DR is up for an Academy Award for best GM Acting in the Category “How To Sucker Your Fans year in and year out.”
If Burnsie is mentoring to many players there might have to be new sign at the players enterance, “Please check all your pets at the door, Thank you”.
although he has no Internet at the hotel
this is the big leagues benny, time to move out of the northenaire.
this is the big leagues benny, time to move out of the northenaire.
ha!
Hey, did Rocky have internet when he was training in Russia for Rockey IV? I don’t THINK so!
Hey Mike - if you are such a big winner why don’t you go and do something more productive!
wow…takes a special kind of dolt to spell the same word (Rocky) two different ways in the same post.
Russo:
Is this a new change for the Wild to invite prospects or Aeros players to train at the X for the whole summer? Instead of just coming for development camp, they can come for at least two months and use the facilities, work with the trainers, and work with the coaches if any are around?
Hey BDS, bite me.
although he has no Internet at the hotel
this is the big leagues benny, time to move out of the northenaire.
Red Roof Inn even has it now… Must not be tight enough to stay at Chez Burns
Hey, did Rocky have internet when he was training in Russia for Rockey IV? I don’t THINK so!
were there internets when rocky IV was around? i didn’t log on until about 92-93.
were there internets when rocky IV was around? i didn’t log on until about 92-93.
I thought Gore invented them back in college with Tommy Lee Jones?
Maybe Benny was being a bit frugal trying to stay in a pay by the hour hotel?
I thought Gore invented them back in college
if gore only spent his time on global warming back then instead of figuring out a way to watch porn on his computer…
“well if all burns does is read this blog, then i’ll just go out and say I’m excited to watch him this season again.”
*cough*suck-up!*cough*
j/k, I can’t wait to see Inglewood Jack go at it again either.
if gore only spent his time on global warming back then instead of figuring out a way to watch porn on his computer…
LMAO!
From Russo’s latest update:
“…and big improvement by Sheppard would be a coup for the Wild.”
Umm, how about calling it an absoloute miracle if it were to happen?
But what the heck, the Mild would much rather have a 4th line hack at center in Schleppard versus a front line star in Olli Jokinen. It’s a no-brainer!!
Not easy writing a story on a Blackberry
Amen to that.
I am sure Burns reads what Russo writes, not what we peons post… 
Al Gore invented porn? Who knew!!!
+1 for Al…
BDS: I hear that Mikes are tasty when grilled and on toast, with a fava beans and a nice Chianti. Mike, I’ve got the industrial sized BBQ just waiting…
Al Gore invented porn? Who knew!!!
+1 for Al…
+1
mike (not that mike), you’re a fraud!!
DUMP THE DUMPPER!!
speaking of blackberry. I picked up an LG dare last friday. I wanted to stay with verizon and was scared by the $99/month blackberry package. my costs only go up $15 a month with the vcast package to get web.
it will do the job. surfing the web is not a good as iphone. i’ve heard it ain’t all that great on blackberry either though.
Hasn’t everybody heard of “Gorno” before? (that’s short for Gornography)
G* I recently did something similar with sprint - but went with a palm treo. Pretty handy and great battery life as a PDA if you turn the phone off. I also only had to pay an extra 15/month. Good call.
Hasn’t everybody heard of “Gorno” before? (that’s short for Gornography)
gross.
Wow Russo, you say Burns has been working out…. he just keeps getting yummier every year.
Sorry, there’s no way I would Gorn Tipper…
Sorry, there’s no way I would Gorn Tipper
double gross.
jason smith signs in Ottawa.
Sorry, there’s no way I would Gorn Tipper…
So, back to yesterday’s discussion of really bad warm beers….
Sorry, there’s no way I would Gorn Tipper
double gross.
http://www.newsgroper.com/files/post_images/AlGoreTipperKiss3.jpg
[…] Development camp and other musings […]
Thanks KiPA. Excuse me whilst I gouge my eyes out with a spork.
“the fact Ken Hitchcock promised him a chance to show off his skills” This is where the current coach/gm combo fails. we will shackle any player and make them play offense with only 2 guys in the zone. How many people does it take to cover 2 people in the zone. Why hamper your potential earnings in a system that true or not, is widely thought by the players to hamper offensive players. Remember folks, although we know it isn’t the worst in the league, even our own gabby has badmouthed it.
Sporks are cool!!
Thanks KiPA. Excuse me whilst I gouge my eyes out with a spork.
Hey, I didn’t make you click on it…
the fact Ken Hitchcock promised him a chance to show off his skills
which is funny to me because i’ve always thought Kenny was a pretty conservative coach.
Demo with the sisters will not be materially more successful than Naslund with the sisters was for the past few seasons.
Thanks KiPA. Excuse me whilst I gouge my eyes out with a spork.
Didn’t Al invent that too?
And why didn’t he call it a foon?
which is funny to me because i’ve always thought Kenny was a pretty conservative coach.
had the EXACT same thought. maybe that means Hitch really doesn’t think Juice’s skills are all great?
Hey, I didn’t make you click on it…
Don’t you look at the car wreck when you drive by too?
Green*…I think Hitchie is reinventing himself and his mad skillz.
Don’t you look at the car wreck when you drive by too?
…
Fair point.
And why didn’t he call it a foon?
Cuz it would confuse the hell out of parents of 3 year olds not knowing if the kid wanted a spork or a spoon.
anyone know when the schedule is due?
NiNY - I agree on your take on Demo and the sisters just would like to see how much they will have to pay him.
G* - I don’t think it was Hitch that was THE deciding factor rather that Modin is a better BFF of his then Yawnson.
Insider on Pittsburgh Sports says the Demo deal is 3 years, believed to be $4-4.25M.
This is where the current coach/gm combo fails. we will shackle any player and make them play offense with only 2 guys in the zone. How many people does it take to cover 2 people in the zone. Why hamper your potential earnings in a system that true or not, is widely thought by the players to hamper offensive players. Remember folks, although we know it isn’t the worst in the league, even our own gabby has badmouthed it.
Ah, Brian Rolston was sure shackled by this system, wasn’t he? IIRC, in his 3 seasons with the Wild, Roli had his 3 best goal scoring years and his 2 best point scoring years - all with his shackles on.
Mike(s) = Reusse?
“anyone know when the schedule is due?”
This I would like to know as well. I am anxious to start planning our next Wild Road Trip!
Wow, that was a juicy one. Thanks Russo!
First of all, Hey Burnsie!
Second, I LOVE that Gillies is hanging with Burns. When he came to Houston, I thought, Wow, this must be what Burnsie was like as a forward. Lots of similarities in their demeanor on the ice. That they’re joining forces seems very *right* to me. Whoever made that match deserves a raise.
Third, Brusty and Clutterbuck … I’d be dead inside if that duo didn’t perk my rabbit ears up and make my hockey-luvin’ heart beat a little faster. Mama!
Finally, Pouliot needs a friend. Seriously. He’s in some dank, internetless hotel room all alone just styling his hair and trying to fulfill Daddy’s dream for him. He needs to get out and get drunk with some of the guys. Good bonding stuff there. Stop being an island, Ben. You’re on a team. And hey, team, drag him into the damn fold. You (we all) need him to not suck. If he’s playing for his teammates who he thinks give a shit about him, he’ll play his ass off. I guarantee it.
Maybe Mike(s) = Inglewood Jack just affectionately needling the Dumper.
“3 years, believed to be $4-4.25M.”
Per year I hope…
Yes Austin.
Schedule comes out a week from tomorrow.
Looks like Eero Elo new nickname should be “ghost” some believe he exists, while others will wait for themselves to witness him with thier own eyes before they can believe.
HEY BURNS!!!-send a slap shot Skoulas way and take him out before the season begins. We cant take another year of this waste of roster space.
austin:
allegedly the day after the MLB ASG.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_is_the_NHL_2008-2009_schedule_released
Looks like Eero Elo new nickname should be “ghost” some believe he exists, while others will wait for themselves to witness him with thier own eyes before they can believe.
Either that or Loch Ness.
Nessie. I love it!
We already have a “big foot” in James shepard.
Looks like Eero Elo new nickname should be “ghost” some believe he exists, while others will wait for themselves to witness him with thier own eyes before they can believe.
wait, wait, I know…his nickname should be “Roman Voloshenko”.
Finally, Pouliot needs a friend. Seriously. He’s in some dank, internetless hotel room all alone just styling his hair and trying to fulfill Daddy’s dream for him. He needs to get out and get drunk with some of the guys. Good bonding stuff there. Stop being an island, Ben. You’re on a team. And hey, team, drag him into the damn fold. You (we all) need him to not suck. If he’s playing for his teammates who he thinks give a shit about him, he’ll play his ass off. I guarantee it.
Remember last year after Voros played 10 games with the big club, meaning he couldn’t get sent back down? He went out to celebrate - with himself.
Where’s the chemistry building!?!?!
NiNY - I just checked wiki and Eero Elo is Finnish for Loch Ness
BNAG - LMAO!
We have already been Maxim shusinkskied. Roman was part Duex.
Remember last year after Voros played 10 games with the big club, meaning he couldn’t get sent back down? He went out to celebrate - with himself.
Where’s the chemistry building!?!?!
good point. They don’t need a center, they need an event coordinator.
For followers of Minnesotans in the NHL, Brandon Bochenski just signed with TB. Do they have 40 forwards on the roster?
NiNY - Nolan and Bruno?
I need a new job, I could be the player event coordinator. Then I’d have to go with and spend time with the “boys” so I can get to know them well enough to coordinate events.
works for me, Band. Maybe the Don can get you a meeting with DR?
i might be an a**, or a d*ck, or a drunk…but fraud? I do say that I’m “NOT that mike”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraud
And DR will like this, I’ll work cheep. Set it up Russo!! Those boys need to have some fun together, bond if you will.
seems like its needed enough band. Go for it. Maybe you can be the linker from houston to minnesota - when the kids come up you can hook them up with friends.
And hey - maybe we’re just not giving benny enough credit. Maybe he was also offered a place at chateau Burns, but is allergic to zebras.
Bandgeek = Julie McCoy?
but is allergic to zebras.
LOL
They don’t need a center, they need an event coordinator.
I thought that was Bomber job. That and picking up coffee for everyone.
Oh, BG, if you need an assistant…. Don’t even need to pay me. I hear Darby’s got room in the basement now. I’ll just crash there and steal food off the boys’ plates.
I’d never heard that about AV. Shame on them for not taking him out and getting some free drinks off him! Hell, he lived with Foy! Partyboy extraordinaire! Where was he?
I believe Ben lived with someone here two years ago, but lived by himself this past season because he got sent down so late (and, to him, unexpectedly) and didn’t have a place lined up (so I heard). Gah, I’m just convinced he needs a pal on the team.
I guess it’s good that he didn’t say, “Phew! That takes the pressure off!” when Russo told him he’s a lock for the big club.
Sorry Band, but you’d have to be able to function when Boogie is around and not just stare with mouth agape… 
Will the Wild have a father/mother/brother/sister/family/pets-player trip this year?
Love reading this blog. The obsession with ripping on Skoula and his improved perfomance is the joke of this blog. Once one person comments, the cows line up and follow along. Get over it! He was actually decent last year and the amount of minutes in contributed was extemely valuable. Seriously, enough, shut up, let it go. If you can’t get over it, looks more personal and emotional than performance based.
I guess it’s good that he didn’t say, “Phew! That takes the pressure off!” when Russo told him he’s a lock for the big club.
I bet that’s what he was thinking, though!
Pouliot and Sheppard could become pals except that Shep can’t go to any 21+ places.
Voros didn’t move in with Foy for a couple of weeks after he was informed that he would stay with the Wild. He lived in the hotel mostly.
I don’t want to be Julie McCoy, I get seasick. Frozen water is just fine for me, and MsC if I were to need an assistant I’d contact you first.
Y’all hurt Skoula’s feelings. Stop it.
Oh maybe Skoula can be Pouly’s friend! They can sit around and laugh at the haters together. But Skoula would just dump him for Licky when he rolls into town. No, he needs a more stable friend. I bet Jonesy would have been his friend. He seemed like the sort of guy who would be nice to people who seem lonely.
*a sleep deprived and very hungry Ms. Conduct excuses herself from fantasy land to listen to the pondcast*
Anyone who has played D knows that its all the same work as the wingers with added benifit of hardly ever scoring and being scored against (Like they didnt get through the 3 forwards first and we can’t blame the goalie thats just rude!). Ask Jeff Finger how it looked when he went to the wrong side of the net in the playoffs last year. Well you will have to wait a while to get through cause he is counting all his money right now, but feel free to leave a mesage.
hehehehe…. Boogie…..hehehehehehe……
Do you think it would be wrong to hug the players? I mean, I’m already married so don’t need to troll about like a cougar, but I always like hugs……
*MsC if I were to need an assistant I’d contact you first.*
~ fist pump ~ And don’t worry. I can pitch in when Boogie is around. You can just stare and giggle to your heart’s content. As long as Brusty’s in Houston, I should be able to keep my composure. 
From FoxSports
The Ottawa Senators signed defenseman Jason Smith to a two-year, $5.2 million contract on Tuesday. The 14-year NHL veteran was an unrestricted free agent. He was captain of the Philadelphia Flyers last season and was captain of the Edmonton Oilers the five previous seasons.
Wasn’t Cryin’ Ryan their captain before the trade?
I heard Boogie was granting kiss requests, so I think a hug is well within reason.
I’d never heard that about AV. Shame on them for not taking him out and getting some free drinks off him!
I am sure that game was a L and I think it might have been the New Years Eve game that Skoula flubbed away the tie right after Parrish tied it with 2 minutes left.
Russo… I feel none of that pain you describe of trying to write a feature on a blackberry. I still have no clue why you people use them, when any phone these days will handle email with a $20/month data package.
What I’m really here for is to offer my comments toward the conclusion of this year’s free agency for the Wild, and it’s current depth chart and roster moves.
I have to say, I was a bit miffed near the end of day 3, but since then I’m feeling a bit more comfortable with the results.
I think we’ve made big strides to plug the holes in the D-zone. Zidlicky and Bergeron have effectively reduced Skoula’s playing minutes, and with that we reduce the problems of turning the puck over in our own zone. Not to say it won’t happen, since JL’s boy wonder is still on the roster, but I think we’re making strides. When Foster returns to 100%, that should kick Skoula to the press box. In addition, MAB and Zid will be much more adept at moving the puck out of the zone - making that 1st pass up ice. I hope that means more offensive chances, and less time in our zone chasing. This should lead to more of Burnsie swooping down for the 1-timer at the back door
I disagree with Russo on C being thin. It’s young, not thin. I think Shep made some huge strides last year going from 5-7 mins a game, to 14-15 as a solid part of the rotation. If you can give a 2nd or 3rd year C 15 minutes a game, and he does as well as Shep did this last year, I’d consider that a success. Now that he’s got some time under his belt, I think he’ll be much more settled and be able to work on his positioning. He was good last year. He’ll be even better next year, he won’t look so lost.
On the wings, as much as I hate to see a playmaker like Demitra go, we’ve got enough back in to fill the void. So Gab doesn’t have his bud feeding him anymore, but he will have guys like Bruno in front taking up space and popping in rebounds, and Miettinen’s speed and Weller’s hitting should open the ice up more.
Lastly, what really gives me some more confidence is Nolan. Old, slowing, tired, injury-prone? Who cares. This guys is a leader - one the Wild don’t have. He’s a hard-nosed grinding player who plays his heart out every night. He will inspire the more youthful guys, and make the underachieving veterans like Parrish step up. I see this being the most notable signing DR’s made yet. It’s like having a guy like Yzerman in your locker room and on your bench, even if he’s 36 and can’t contribute offensively as he used to, and everyone else will see how he goes out each shift in pain or not, and gives 110%. Granted, he’s no Stevie Y, but the analogy is sound.
Now for some fun…. With the revised lineup in NHL 08, all three simulations we lost in the conference finals. That’s a little better result than I got before, eh?
Do you know how much that makes my day!!!!??????!!!!! I good hug is great, and Boogie looks like he would give good hugs…. although that is one of the Mrs best qualities as well, the ability to give good hugs is important (if your reading this Burnsey remember that ok).
That should have been Mr.’s not Mrs, brian going faster than fingers today.
MuN - that sums up my week last week too.
LOL Yeah, it sounds like offseason Burnsie hugs might be even better… We’ve seriously gotta get a photographer to go around with Russo. He’s having all the fun but probably not appreciating it the way I would.
Man, all this hockey talk makes me want to make hotdish for dinner.
MUN, I am goug to respond to your post as (the real) Mike so he doesn’t have to.
You are a lemming! Risedump is garbage and should be fired! You will eat up any bull**it he feeds you, just like the rest of these lemmings. The Mild are goig nowhere.
And again, brain not brian… I give up for a while. Later peoples, I think I need to find some food and get the blood sugar up so my typing improves.
“Finally, Pouliot needs a friend.”
He can come drink Super Chill with me.
brian going faster than fingers today
Could be true though, Huggy is pretty quick
ATX lol! You’ve got it down pat! It’s funny…that guy comments out of his ass all day long as if we even listen to what DR says. All I see here is people making up their own mind about his decisions.
As for the Mild going nowhere.. true. Their contract keeps them at the X until 2020 I think.
I am sure that game was a L and I think it might have been the New Years Eve game that Skoula flubbed away the tie right after Parrish tied it with 2 minutes left.
IIRC it was WRT that ran into him at the pub post-game dining alone. He could verify…
troll about like a cougar
she said cougar
“:As for the Mild going nowhere.. true. Their contract keeps them at the X until 2020 I think.”
Hahah, nice. And I agree, people here seem to think pretty logically for the most part, regardless of which side of the DR fence they are on.
Yeah, I was at that NYE game - AV had played his 10 games before that for sure.
That was a harsh game. Just two days before that they had an awesome comeback victory, and then….
disappointment.
only that we didn’t win of course. going to games is always fun.
Poor AV. That makes me sad. I’m guessing he didn’t dine alone too many more times.
Ok, folks…the NHL schedule is due to be released at 2 PM EDT (1 PM Central) on July 15, the day after the baseball All-Star game in NY. That is also the day I can plan my life for the next 9 months…
Mike (yeah, THAT one): You sure made one believer out of Reusse. Too bad he’s about as interested in hockey as Osama binLaden is right about now…as I said, change the tune a bit and you might actually have a following…
IntheNet: The reason we rip on Skoula is his errors are so glaring we can all see it. If it was just technical things, he (Skoula) could, hopefully, correct them. They’re not.
If you had screwed up as much and as bad as Skoula has over the past 2 1/2 seasons, you wouldn’t HAVE a job. Your company would be out of business (or looking for a bailout). You don’t think that one of the 725 supposedly best hockey players in the world should actually PLAY like it?
Don’t rip on us for getting on Skoula. He deserves everthing he’s getting. When you get paid $1.8M/year to play defense, you should be able to do better than just be an oaf on the blueline.
Ms. C: Sorry, darlin’, but I’m only speakin’ the truth here about ‘poor ol’ Marty’, the human pylon…
The Wild had a NYE party for team after the game at a local establishment as reported by Harding and Backstrom. So if he was drinking my himself and away from the party, that is reallly saaad.
AV’s post-game ‘celebration’ was reported on by Michael Russo himself, not me, BNAG. I think I posted it here, though, but after he reported it. But, it’s still sad that the lack of team camraderie was so apparent in AV’s instance. What will it be like for, say, Colton Gillies after 10 games in the NHL if AV’s was like that?
Thanks WRT. I just don’t recall it being the NYE game. I thought it was earlier in December than that.
I wouldn’t worry about Gillies. He has an in with Burnsie already. When you hang with Burnsie, you are hanging with the cool kids. If he makes it with the Wild, don’t you think he will likely live with Burnsie throughout the year.
Pouliot is who we should worry about. He did room with PMB and they are both French-Canadian. However, he probably doesn’t play ping pong. PMB has to become Pouliot’s BFF.
It might have been after the Canucks game on 12/2.
hey sunshine - speaking of ping pong - i dropped this question for the Don the other day.
If veuillex or pmb go - what will the team do with the ping pong table?
WRT… Skoula is so not anywhere on my list of guys that feel compelled to defend. Just because I feel a little sorry for him, as a human, that he’s “that guy” on the team that people love to pile on doesn’t make me a Skoula apologist.
AV’s 10th game was a 3-2 win over St. Louis on 11/30. At least I had part of it right.
See, Pouly and PMB are going to become BFFs and then DUMPSTER DOUG (DUMP HIM DUMP HIM!) will trade PMB. We have our work cut out for us, BG…
Here is a chance for the new Wild ownership to come out and say, “we raised season ticket prices in hopes of landing a big-time free agent. Since that did not happen, we are going to give the season ticket increase back to our fan base and reserve the right to increase season tickets next year if we choose to pursue additional free agents.”
*Forgot to mention, the goalie, Anton Khudobin is from Kazakhstan, and yes, he sounds exactly like Borat. It’s scary.*
LOL Anton… Those dimples. It’s a shame he’s gotta wear a mask.
Oh this is good! So the Canucks signed Backes to an offer sheet which the Blues matched.
Now the Blues have signed Bernier to an offer sheet. Right back at ya Canucks!
Ticket prices and FA spending are not linked directly
The cap is the cap is the cap.
AV’s 10th game was a 3-2 win over St. Louis on 11/30. At least I had part of it right.
I was way off twice
Sunshine: Thanks for the TB goal info.
Big K: Sit on it!
I don’t think it’ll be that hard to find him a friend. I mean, he will have us, and I find myself entertaining at times. Maybe Pool Boy could teach us French and then when I finally get to go to a game in Montreal I’ll understand what’s going on.
Oui! Bon idea! Though I’ve been to a game in Montreal and you don’t need any French as I recall. But I do enjoy listening to Benny talk. Perfect little hint of an accent. Yum.
This fresh influx of news about my boys has me in overdrive. Gonna snap back to reality with a trip to the grocery store for hotdish supplies. You betcha.
Ticket prices and FA spending are not linked directly
The cap is the cap is the cap.
And not spending it all is wasting it…
Seriously, it doesn’t take an economics whiz like Phil Falcone to know that ticket revenue will always be greater than the cap.
Actually ms. conduct it is “ya betcha”
Here is something to think about.
Listening to Soucheray for a little while this afternoon while they were speaking about the Red Sox / Twins game tonight and Fenway Park.
Anyway, they were speaking about the ticket cost. Apparently, Fenway has been sold out for the last five years.
The cheapest “Standing Room” tickets are $70! They did some surfing while during the discussion and found four tickets tonight for over $700 each!
Take your family to a game at Fenway for about $3000?
And, they found some (maybe outfield) seats for $240 each.
Point being, I am not suggesting you tickeholders renew or do not renew. But, I would suggest you think long-term before you give them up. The desireablility can go up quickly.
Didn’t Boston go a hundred years until they won a WS two years ago?
$700 to see a baseball game. Just doesn’t seem right regardless of how good the seats are.
here’s what gets me.. When people equate ticket prices with whether we sign a high profile free agent. Like WTF?? Someone try and justify that logic - i dare you. If you think you can, go back to economics and pay attention this time.
You mean we didn’t get Hossa because I missed going to an exhibition game last year?
Oh dear. Thank you AiH. I’m fluent in Canadian but am still learning Minnesotan.
toivo: $700 to see a Red Sox game in Fenway Park. It’s a bit different than spending that same $700 to see the A’s at the Mausoleum…they are getting similar prices for tickets for Yankee Stadium this season also, as it’s the last season for that ballpark also (it’s also the last season for Shea, but hey: it’s only the Mets, who cares?)
For all you naysayers about stadium spending: TWO new ballparks opening in 2009 within 12 miles of each other…
this is the big leagues benny, time to move out of the northenaire.
“The team puts you up for a week, then you gotta find a place of your own.”
For all you naysayers about stadium spending: TWO new ballparks opening in 2009 within 12 miles of each other…
Throw in The Rock that isn’t that far away either, but that’s in Jersey
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242835&lid=sublink01&lpos=headlines_nhl
In an interview with Vancouver radio station CKNW, free agent forward Pavol Demitra confirmed that the Canucks are his preferred destination and expects to sign with the team.
“I think there is a good chance,” Demitra said.
“[Current Canucks GM Mike Gillis] used to be my agent for a long time. We are very good friends. I am very interested in playing for [the Canucks].”
Iceman: The Red Sox are a New England obcession. Boston baseball fans are amongst the fiercest in any sport anywhere on Earth. Fenway Park is still standing BECAUSE of the fans support, not in spite of it. Long-time Red Sox fans have said time and again if they tear the place down it might kill them. The phrase ‘Red Sox Nation’ is not just a catch-phrase; next to the Yankees, they have the largest road followings of any MLB team (kind of like the Red Wings or Habs do in the NHL)…
BNAG: I was talking about baseball parks, not hockey arenas. There are 3 NHL arenas within 30 miles of each other in the NYC metro area (Nassau Coliseum, MSG, the Rock).
Hey, by the way.. For those who didn’t see the all star game where Nolan called his shot on Hasek, you missed the leadup to that. Nolan was stoned twice by Hasek before that, as Nolan just stared in disbelief. The culmination was that last breakaway where he called the shot. It was really awesome stuff to see live!
So thinking about the upcoming season what do you guys think about having Boogaard sit in the press box when we play less physical teams like the Wings or Av’s. It seems to me it wouldn’t hurt to save him for teams like the Flames or the Ducks. Anyone with me here?
To be clear I love Boogey and am not trying to say he must get off our roster. Just suggesting that maybe he doesn’t need to play in a game where nobody will fight him and all they are going to do is skate circles around him.
Red Sawx fans are obsessed, alright: with the Yankees.
Sawx fans are some of the lamest fans in sports, IMO.
They, and this is a generalization, care more about the Yankees losing, A-Rod getting run over by a bus, Jeter contracting genital warts, Yankee fans suffering and the like than they do their own team winning.
Yes, breaking the curse (another sorry manifestation of their Yankees inferiority complex, BTW) was sweet. But beating the Yankees (in an amazing series, no doubt) to do so was sweeter to most Red Sox “fans.”
But, if they’re willing to shell out $700 per to see the 2nd best team in the AL central, then more power to ‘em I guess.
I know WRT, I was just alluding to 3 publicly funded and not cheap venues opening within 24 months within 30 miles of one another.
A-Rod getting run over by a bus, Jeter contracting genital warts, Yankee fans suffering and the like than they do their own team winning.
Might be A-Rod getting the warts if he’s banging Madonna….
ha! Good point BNAG!
$700 to see a Red Sox game in Fenway Park. It’s a bit different than spending that same $700 to see the A’s at the Mausoleum
True. Very true. But I could afford to go to Fenway back when I was much much poorer. It was a pretty good game, actually. In ‘87. Don Baylor hit a grand slam to win the game. For the Red Sox! It was before the Twins got him that season in a trade. I wonder if that game had anything to do with it. Roy Smalley hit two dingers that both just squeaked past the short foul pole in right.
I agree though, great park.
here’s what gets me.. When people equate ticket prices with whether we sign a high profile free agent. Like WTF?? Someone try and justify that logic - i dare you. If you think you can, go back to economics and pay attention this time.
Well…
I did a correlation of avg ticket price per club in 2006-07 to their salary cap hit for 2007-08 and got 0.44, which to me suggests that there is something to that line of thinking. Granted, it’s not so simple, and larger salary cap hit doesn’t necessarily equal big free agent signings, but I don’t think you can discount it entirely either.
I see the words, “I dare you” and I have to try.
“The team puts you up for a week, then you gotta find a place of your own.”
Excellent pull.
And not spending it all is wasting it…
So they should always spend to the limit, no matter what?
So Antti Miettinen should’ve gotten a $5M contract? Is that the type of thing you want to happen?
I think the smiley face was particularly relevant there, KiPA. This fight has already been had.
Oh, it has? I’m forgetful.
toivo….
people don’t just come up with correlational analysis in their spare evenings… do they?
nice pull man.
I have recently got wind of a big deal…Wildside catering is hiring a new executive chef and he has a solid background and excellent training. However, he can’t play center. At least we can enjoy solid grub while watching the Wild struggle this year.
I think I saw a glimpse of Elo on Wild TV. They were showing clips of Cuma at camp and Elo skated by wearing #71.
KiPA…it was my way of saying that cap dollars do not carry forward from year to year.
I also believe that every unspent cap dollar is equal to one more dollar into an owner’s pocket.
As much as we fans would love to believe otherwise…it’s still business.
kj: sure, but spending just to spend is silly. That’s what drives up contracts for mediocre players. Spending doesn’t equal winning.
KiPA…I know, I know…my mantra has been to spend wisely. Otherwise you have Jeff Finger at 3.5 mil for 4 years.
But (as someone asked) you cannot carry cap dollars forward.
They were speaking of the price of scalped tickets. But, the $70 was SRO, still high for a baseball game in the middle of the summer.
Speaking of which, Twins were winning comfortably until the 8th. Now they are not.
Otherwise you have Jeff Finger at 3.5 mil for 4 years.
Still shaking my head over that one. That wasn’t a sign of the market. That was just stupid.
I also believe that every unspent cap dollar is equal to one more dollar into an owner’s pocket
could go into other operating costs. How much do you think the travel budget is going up next season?
also, for a guy who theoretically spent 250mil on a hockey team, and supposedly worth far north of that, 5 mil isn’t all that much money. It would be like paying a lighting cat 250 and then being giddy because he gave you back 5 bucks.
Speaking of little spenders, did somebody post since the SC that the Red Wings had one of, if not the, smallest payroll?
Risebrough, on Sid and Dave last Sunday, said the Wild would be in the top ten in spending.
You’re right, Sunshine! There he was doing a drill. Wow. Hi Eero!
Am I just dumb for being so impressed with Cuma’s poise? He just seems grounded (if a bit unrealistic about making the team, given the comments by mgmt) and hard working and all that stuff you want in a hockey player. Nice.
Green*…I didn’t say it would stay in his pocket. But, it certainly isn’t going to player salaries.
I wonder if any NHL team is near the minimum for the cap? You know…like the post-lockout Wild?
According to nhlnumbers, the LA Kings are 28.9 mil under the cap. Atlanta has 25.7.
The Wings were 4.2 mil under last year.
Michael up North…try taking an Econ 101 course and if you don’t have time, here’s a teaser… The Wild brings in a certain amount of money in ‘07-’08 and we assume they make money. Then revenue goes up (ticket prices hiked) and costs go down (i.e. payroll is less) for the following season. That equates to MORE profit. I am not saying they need to spend to the cap just to spend the money, but let’s face it, they are making a hell of a lot more money next year than last year. I know it’s hard to follow, but believe me, it works out on a calculator…
Ohhhh….a ripped Burnsie……I need a picture, sans shirt of course.
for4rest: YOU maybe can enjoy the grub from Wildside catering at the ‘X’. Those of us on the 200-level cannot. The hoi-polloi get the good stuff and the executive chef; the peons who pay the real freight get the Centerplate swill served up by some poor soccer mom whose trying to earn extra cash for her kid’s small-college soccer team.
Well put Wild Road Tripper…we are in the 200 level as well. When we want the good food we head down and hang with the republicans. Otherwise it’s popcorn and davanni’s with the democrats on our level.
Ms. Conduct: I know. I got giddy listening to Cuma’s determination. Also, I felt bad that he will likely be disappointed that he won’t make the team.
DR’s only self-impose cap is saving $2 million for trade deadline flexibility. Other teams have a self-impose cap of $45-$48 million. He’s spending the money and if we are going to be in the top 10 of spending, people shouldn’t complain about it.
What many people forget is that, yes in the past years the cap has gone up a bit. But what happens if revenues are bad league wide, and the caps go down? If you leave a bit of room at the top then you don’t have to scramble as much to dump salaries if the cap goes down. Think about that for a moment.
but let’s face it, they are making a hell of a lot more money next year than last year.
hmm, my increase is less than inflation so one could argue they are getting less money from me this year than last.
wild payroll last year 49.126
this year it is 47.357 with PMB, SRV, benny and one other player not included. i’d say player payroll will go up as well. any guess as to how much it cost to fly the boys to vancouver compared to last year? i bet it almost is double. how about cost to heat and or cool the X?
Complain about how they are spending it, but we have debated this issue to death also.
Greenstar - my tix are up 14%. And as for Dr’s continuous comment of “being in the top 10″ league-wide for spending, that’s great. They are in the TOP 2 in terms of revenue. Only TOR makes more. I’m not saying they have to spend all of the money, but it wouldn’t hurt to freeze ticket prices for a year. Just because they CAN raise ticket prices doesn’t mean they HAVE TO.
Sheppard talking about being wanted by another team in a trade.
“It definitely gives you that warm feeling that you’re part of the team and they believe in you,” Sheppard said. “It’s good that people want you, but it’s good that you’re staying here. I’m glad that people like my style of play and want me, but I’m happy in Minnesota and this is where I want to stay. Hopefully, Doug still keeps that in his mind the next several years.”
I so love Sheppard, especially that last line.
The “leaked” revenues article that came out a month or two ago had MN at 8th. Toronto and Habs were 1 and 2. In the US, MN is second after the Rangers.
ALL of the Canadian teams had higher revenues than the wild?
Pucker - your tix are up 14%? Where are they?
Upper level - sides - from $27 to $31 (at least that’s what the guy I split tic with collected from me last week).
Sounds like Demo would play C in VAN - http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=640928 - I thought ATL was also interested, seems like that would be a better fit. However, Demo believes the Nuks are a Stanley Cup contender
Sunshine, let’s be careful here…the Wild collect every dollar from catering, concessions, building naming rights, etc. That article only counted “hockey-related” revenues I believe (jerseys, merchandise, ticket sales, suites). Believe me, the Wild are only behind the Leafs in revenue as we would define it.
HD: Yeah, I think because of the Canadian dollar, all the Canadian teams had higher revenue than the Wild.
Here is the 5/30/08 article and the revenue info:
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/433906
http://www3.thestar.com/static/PDF/080530_nhl_tickets_revenue.pdf
I thought you were talking about ticket revenues only since you brought up your increase in ticket cost.
Now, I would be interested in where you are seeing that the Wild are the 2nd team to earn the most profit from all sources (ticket, merchandising, concessions, catering, and all).
That would be interesting to see.
Re: NHL Revenue
Total revenue would also include TV and radio, right? So the LA Kings and NYI might generate more broadcast $s than the Wild simply based on the size of the media markets.
I work in the pro sports industry locally and behind-the-scenes Wild employees have mentioned it repeatedly. Also, as a great gesture by the Naegeles when the team sold every employee got a bonus check.
Upper level sides were $35 last year, being increased to $38 this season. Percentage-wise, the biggest increase was on upper ends, going from $16 to $18 (12.5%).
Upper level - sides - from $27 to $31 (at least that’s what the guy I split tic with collected from me last week).
for shats and giggles i looked at the other teams in the divison and checked out their tickets prices for upper level sides
colorado = 51
calgary = 52.84 not including tax
vancouver = 84 or 72.25 depending on if in lower or upper rows
edmonton = assuming 44 games either 43 or 65.50
all are season ticket holder prices except for vancouver so for a STH the actual cost might be lower.
minnesota wild lists upper level sides as 44 bucks. So even if the rest of the division listed single game prices, the wild are still the cheapest in the division.
Also, as a great gesture by the Naegeles when the team sold every employee got a bonus check
which was reported in the news. sorry, not insider information.
Here’s where I got the 08-09 price information: http://kstp.com/article/stories/s439490.shtml?cat=1
Green* - is the $44 number for individual game tix or season tix?
from wedsite. single game price.
columbus is 32 but there is a 200 {SL per year.
check that columbus is 36 with 250 annual PSL
$44 for upper sides was last year’s individual game price: http://wild.nhl.com/tickets/singlegame.htm
See this link for last year’s season tix prices: http://wild.nhl.com/tickets/arenadiagram.htm
Actually, I’m rather surprised at the discount for season ticket per game prices. I sit in lower corner - last year was $10 less ($71 vs $81).
phoenix is cheaper 20 for the middle two sections in upper level.
Pucker @ 9:09, that is assuming player salaries are the only expense the Wild has.
With the amount of travel required any sports team, don’t you suppose they will get hit for high energy costs on travel?
Or, do you think they are immune?
Naegele gave bonus checks to another company that he sold also. He could just be a good guy.
Yeah… until I see more numbers, I am not going to buy that the Wild is #2 in profits in the whole league. I can see us in the top 10 but not in the top 2. Even Forbes, though the information is outdated and is mostly guessing, doesn’t it even have the Wild in the top 2.
http://www.forbes.com/2007/11/08/nhl-team-values-biz-07nhl_cx_mo_kb_1108nhlintro.html
Don’t know how reliable the source is, but this shows that our average ticket prices rank up there (info only complete through 06-07):
http://www.andrewsstarspage.com/NHL-Business/ticket-prices.htm
Amazing how little the average price is in places like Phoenix.
Sunshine - are we discussing revenue or profit?
Amazing how little the average price is in places like Phoenix.
go to the website and look at their seating chart. they are giving tickets away and still can’t get people to go.
our average is high because we have a majority of seats in the lower bowl and have a decent sized club level. helps keep the upper level relatively cheap.
HD:
Either one.
I’d like to see profit information but the Wild has been pretty closed about their books.
Revenues, we seem to have a little more info on.
our average is high because we have a majority of seats in the lower bowl and have a decent sized club level. helps keep the upper level relatively cheap.
And the info you were throwing up about upper side prices would absolutely support this statement.
Yeah, though that link you posted had operating income (EBIDTA), I would venture to say that’s a difficult number for Forbes (or anyone else not privy to each team’s books) to come up with, whereas revenue may not be.
Even so, from reading the article, it was clear that there are a good number of teams - many in much larger markets - that control much (if not all) of the revenue from their buildings and those revenue were being included in Forbes analysis. So, hockey revenue alone, or total revenue, it’s hard to believe the Wild are second to only the Leafs.
Also, consider that eastern team have very small travel costs compared to the Wild and other western teams.
Ironic isn’t it, that people are concerned about the raise in ticket price but think a team should pay the maximum for a Hossa?
What I am saying is that apply the same standard to each!
So, if you want the teams to be lavish with salaries, then be willing to pay the big ticket price too … even in lean years.
our average is high because we have a majority of seats in the lower bowl and have a decent sized club level. helps keep the upper level relatively cheap.
It’s as if Obama himself designed our ticket pricing policies.
Yeah, Forbes was guesstimating. Though its still interesting information.
Just to be clear, Eero Elo is not a hotel, it is a clothes store in Helsinki.
http://wcities.net/en/record/223,179515/96/record.html
Russo should learn to use the internets better. I think it’s pretty clear that it is some kind of hedge fund scheme, but perhaps Don will report a live sighting at some point.
There is a live sighting of Elo on Wild.com wearing #71 on the Tyler Cuma video clip.
Now Russo did report that there were two people wearing #71, so it might be him. He was wearing the green color sweater designated for forwards.
Iceman…your complaining about the complainers is ironic.
Where the Wild sits in revenue is irrelevant. How do they beat the Wings on the ice???
Cuma sounds like a pretty bright kid.
Perhaps KJ … it is not complaining that bothers me so much except the basis for the complaints is not always accurate information.
Wow Reusse and the Star and Tribune Writers really took a shot at us fans for being loyal to the Wild. Calling us a cult. They are wrong
Heres Why
Not every free agent wants to play here becasue of JL hockey… FACT. That being said what would you do Star and Tribune writing staff ? lose JL or sign sexy free agents ??… My vote is keep JL
I am sure it is true that DR double talks: Why double talk if you dont care what the fans think ? The Pohlads/Twolves wont double talk becasue they really dont care what the fans think.. right Minneapolis Star and Tribune writers ??
What person could say it is reasonable to spend 5 million on Rolston when you can get Brunnette for 2.5 million ?? look at the last years perforamance TRIB ?
The article by Reusse was stupid and so was the one by Souhan… Taking shots at the GM of the Wild for his efforts…. DR could do more but the fans would choose JL I believe. These signings will make JL happy. You give JL the ingredients and he will win…. PROVEN FACT !
One more proven fact: The Wolves stink and so do the Twins. Winning championships is the goal. Reusse likely is jealous of the Wild becasue the Twins dont have a chance in the world of a championship and the Wolves management is worse then the old North Stars.
The Wild have it together and a championship for this team is in reach. That seems to be striking a few nerves in the Minneapolis paper
Oilers Islanders in ‘81 on NHL Network. Not bad!
Beav?
Beaver? Are you there Beaver?
I think the Strib hacks–er, columnists–are pissed because the Xcel is in St. Paul.
Per Charley Walters in St Paul: “”The six NHL players the Wild have acquired — Marek Zidlicky, Andrew Brunette, Craig Weller, Antti Miettinen, Owen Nolan and Marc-Andre Bergeron — through free agency and trades this summer last season had a cumulative 198 points last season.
That’s one more point than the Wild’s 10 unrestricted free agents — Pavol Demitra, Brian Rolston, Keith Carney, Sean Hill, Petteri Nummelin, Chris Simon, Todd Fedoruk, Branko Radivojevic, Matt Foy and Aaron Voros — totaled last season.”"
Except for Russo, the Pioneer Press people are much more Wild friendly.
I can’t believe we are 200+ comments in without anyone giving Russo mad props for his use of “Yahtzee”! Awesome, simply awesome Russo!
I know over the past few weeks (and longer for others) we have bantered back and forth about who does what and who doesn’t do what. That said, is there a reason no one is holding Belanger to the fire more for being a dud? I see Parrish rips, Skoula rips, Johnsson rips… but no one is taking any shots at Belanger?? Why is that? Are the expectations simply that low for him?
For a team thin at Center, he is one guy that hasn’t panned out for us when we needed him the most to step up.
He got just FOUR points from Feb. 1st on and wasn’t by any stretch a stud in the faceoff circle.
Is it time to get him to step up or make him the permanent checking line center?
Does Pouliot start over him as the #3 center?
Is he the center we should have sent replaced this off season?
Thoughts?
Is it time to get him to step up or make him the permanent checking line center?
part of his poor performance the 2nd half was due to his relagation to checking line. that and he did have a broken foot somewhere along there.
with that being said, I didn’t expect the 2nd half swoon. he turned into checking line center because he wasn’t adding value by scoring so he had to add value by checking.
i think he is fine as a checker but, we really could use some offense from him. he has the capability.
1) Shep moving out of Darby’s basement - perhaps to make room for Darby to tutor someone else in the ways of being an NHL player???
2) Ticket prices - buying season tickets (or single game tickets for that matter) is a luxury. Buying them is an option not a necessity. If you don’t like the price, don’t buy them. The team is there to make the owners money - you have no fundamental right to cheap tickets or even to view the game. Stop bitching about ticket prices already.
3) Nolan - Many have questioned his value. Leadership (as has been said) is very valueable. An example of how it can affect a team. Voros ‘partying’ by himself after his 10th game. A leader in the room would have said “Hey, great 10th game kid, let’s head out for a steak and a drink. Who’s coming with us?” A leader is a leader on and off the ice. A leader makes sure his teamates all feel like they belong to the team. Pouliot needs a friend - a leader either becomes that friend or finds him one. A leader also demands his team shows up to play. How many times last year did the Wild seem ‘flat’ in a game? I think a real leader will get rid of that.
Belanger - I would guess part of his performance drop my have been due to JL’s line shuffling - especially once Walz was no longer available as a center.
Question - Do our centers practice faceoffs? I’m wondering if that’s a part of the game that gets overlooked during practices (I know it does at lower levels). They figure either a guy’s good at it or he isn’t and not much effort goes into improving it. I’d think that it would be very beneficial to have centers line up and spend an hour a couple times a week taking draws against each other.
Simply an observation… but based on two responses so far the reason we aren’t beating him up is cause he lack of playing (or playing on scoring lines) and his injury to an extent. So then why isn’t it we can’t cut that same slack for Parrish? He was injured more than Belanger and had his play time cut, yet there are lots of “trade him/dump him” comments.
I’m not being a homer, just trying to understand how Parrish gets a different rub then Belanger when they had similar years last year with Health & Playing Time.
I do agree with you though Green*… we know Belanger can add scoring value. He averaged 8 points a month from Oct-Jan, so we know he can do it.
Not sure if anyone posted this…. but we got no love from Yahoo sports. Wild listed as one of the 10 Deadbeat Cities for Free Agents.
So then why isn’t it we can’t cut that same slack for Parrish?
parrish wasn’t relagated to checking line and given new duty. parrish was and still is, expected to crash the net and score.
not saying it is right or wrong…
ugh, he referenced reusse. weakens his argument.
Possibly he might be getting a little more rope because he’s a center. We had an overabundance of wings last year (this year too apparently) so Parrish was expected to do the job better than some others. Since Belanger is a center and there isn’t anyone to replace him, maybe it’s a “well, he’s what we’ve got to work with so there’s no point in complaining about it”
Just a guess.
I am an equal opportunity basher.
Throw Parrish and Belanger under the bus and hope they come out better in 08-09.
So Russo…any progress on the Gaborik extension/trade?
Not much substance from that yahoo chap. Here’s a summary: The Wild missed out on Hossa, Naslund and Huselius. They didn’t go there for some reason.
That’s about it. Oooo, lots of insight there.
I love the headline too. It’s a bit off the mark. He says the cities are undesireable for free agents yet the clubs are the ones he’s giving heat to. Little bit of difference there. FL, Nashville and Atlanta might be undesireable hockey cities because there are few fans. Who wants to play in front of an empty arena? Others like Buffalo, NY and St Paul are excellent hockey cities, just maybe not excellent clubs in those places.
I think one of the reasons Parry has so far escaped the wrath of collective Russoville is that he’s more or less persona non grata on the roster right now. I honestly forget he’s on the team a lot of the time.
Other than the little vignette (not to be confused with Vigneault) on his wretched angling skillz that seemed to be played every single game (on Center Ice, anyway), I barely remember seeing him on the ice last season.
Out of sight, out of mind, and all that.
Report: Pavol Demitra to sign three-year, $12 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Developing…
Federov…1 year…4 mil with the Caps.
Another head scratcher.
All good points Green*, Goody and KJ.
okay…. so I’ll concede then -
4 mil for 1 year would have been too much for F-dogg… Bummer though. Would have loved to see him here.
Oh, and Schmidty,
Correct me if I’m wrong (and I probably am), but Belanger’s points came from the BBR line, right? Didn’t that line get broken up about the time Walz went AWOL, and then Mikko disappeared, then he broke his foot, and by that time - BAM - checking line.
Maybe we just start him off in the right place again this year? JL was expecting an 80 pt season from him last year…
Free Agents reject these cities as mentioned by Schmidty above.
6. Minnesota Wild: This is an interesting one, because there seems to be some agreement between the blogosphere and the MSM. Over on 18,568 Reasons Why, Elise notes that the Wild lost out on Marian Hossa, Markus Naslund, and Kristian Huselius. On Wild View from Section 216, the free-agent rejections are creating an inferiority complex. Then there’s Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse, who absolutely destroyed GM Doug Risebrough’s inability to get a big move done this off-season. Money? City? System? Something is keeping players away.
Belanger v. Parrish: Parrish’s cap hit is $1 million higher, his contract is a year longer and, as noted above, he is a goal scorer not a checking center with some potential to score. I think Parrish has been mentioned as a trade possibility primarily because the Wild needs another C, has some depth at wing now and because he was in the JL doghouse last year. The team’s new D-men should help Parrish’s game next season but I would still rather trade him and extend PMB if forced to choose.
Maybe noone agrees, but it seems to me with the lack of shooting from the perimeter Parish lost goals last year and so his skills were not benefitting the team.
As I posted last week, maybe the addition of two new offensive D will get him some deflections.
Poison Pen Ruesse has an intense dislike for the Wild, and he seems to have for hockey in general. But, his extreme dislike seems to be when any group appears successful.
It would have been lots better if DR had snagged SK or Hossa. But, we did not.
It is fair to question the Wild roster, and it is fair to note that the Wild have shied away from the big expensive player over 35 year old, when they would be a big Cap hit. I would argue that those long-term expensive contracts seldom pay dividends to the team and risky because they are an injury away from Cap disaster with the age issue.
For Ruesse to intimate that DR’s offer to Hossa was a sham is without merit. If this was reported by Russo, I would believe it. But, it wasn’t. Russo in fact corroborated these offers from other sources as well.
But, Ruesse goes straight ahead with his brain full of pig muck.
Belanger v. Parrish: Parrish’s cap hit is $1 million higher, his contract is a year longer and, as noted above, he is a goal scorer not a checking center with some potential to score.
This would allude to perceived differences in expectations, which I agree would slant the amount of flack that Parry receives, rightly or wrongly.
Iceman,
I agree with your assessment of Parrish’s lack of scoring because of a low number of shots. However, I think it was not just a low number of shots headed toward the net but a low number of shots actually getting to the net. I seem to recall last season the team (can’t remember if it was players or coaches/front office or both) complaining about how plugged up the front of the net was. A lot of blocked shots.
Hopefully a more mobile defenseman or two can get some of those bodies moving as they change the angles and get a few more shots through to the net.
Hey Can someone explain to me why Todd White was so bad? I think the hate on him came before I started reading the blog, but have picked up on it occassionally. It seems he would be a welcome addition to our current roster…
On the Hossa deal, if Reusse thought it was a sham, why involve Gaborik, your #1 player and someone you want to extend for a looong time, in the deal?
Now his stupid column is being referenced by more stupid people.
As others have stated, he could have written a much better column blasting DR.
Iceman, I agree with ya. MP’s job is to screen the goalie and deflect pucks and get the dirty goal in front of the net. When the shots do not get to the net (weter they are the high and wide kinda, or the blocked kind), all we really have is MP standing in front of the net. There was WAY to many time when we were trying to get pretty around the perimiter and then just lost it, or a defection, or anything really. I think getting some shooters from the point, and getting PMB to shoot instead of pass will get MP some better numbers. I mean, a 5 year old could defend PMB. He jumps down the wing with the puck, crosses the blue line, curls around, and passes it over the other other wing. Seen him do it 1 bazillion times last season.
I thought White played well in ottawa before he landed here…not sure of the stats , but he did seem to be less productive eh
Russ, I’ve seen the same thing with PMB. but the best part is, is that other teams must not watch tape, because he still gets away with it - every time.
It’s wonderful.
Jim, I agree. Although PMB’s route may be easy to predict, his soft hands and supreme puck handling ability usually will overcome any preconceived notion’s defensemen may have
jimlove, perhaps the only tape they’ve seen is him going 1 on 4 and putting it in the net!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQO3h8VXFG4&feature=related
He’s gotta do more of that.
Seriously though, someone with his hands you’d have to just play the body but he’d probably get a pass off before the hit.
However, I think it was not just a low number of shots headed toward the net but a low number of shots actually getting to the net. I seem to recall last season the team (can’t remember if it was players or coaches/front office or both) complaining about how plugged up the front of the net was. A lot of blocked shots.
As most here would agree, emphasis on shot blocking has increased noticeably in the NHL, but all lower levels as well.
At the USNTDP, there is extensive training and drills on shot blocking, for example, and as players’ protective equipment as improved, so has the ability to block shots (think: larger shin pads).
Plus, how many times have you heard commentators talking about “getting shots through,” while watching a big game?
Here’s hoping our new ‘D’ will prove able to get “pucks to the net.”
todd white stats
year-games-buts-helpers-pts
05-06 61-19-21-40
06-07 77-13-31-44
07-08 74-14-23-37
Nice pull goody. What a sick move.
See G*, that’s what I’m talking about, and his +/- was -1 in 05-06 and +8 in 06-07. I guess I’d welcome that type of center with open arms. I never really understood why we didn’t resign him. Maybe just cuz Belanger is cheaper?
Goody - Thanks for that PMB clip. That is exactly how I want him to play more often.
My big complaint is echoed by many of you above with the curl move as soon as he gets into the zone. Take the puck towards the net more often, challenge the d and create some havoc in front of the net. His patented curl move just give the opposition time to set up in their own zone.
it’s too bad he doesn’t qualify for incentive bonuses anymore. There’s a player that’s screaming for a bonus set to number of goals scored.
Atlanta wanted him more and was willing to give him more money. Didn’t Atlanta want to trade for him at the trade deadline in 2/2007 but DR refused because we were in playoff contention?
I am getting anxious about the contracts of SRV and PMB. The Pio reported that dates for the hearings have been set.
SRV shouldn’t get more than $1.5M.
PMB was at $2.6M last season, so I’m a little worried that he could make out okay at the hearing. I have to think DR is more incented to settle with PMB (than SRV) before it gets that far.
but the curl move, followed usually by a guaranteed successful pass, also gave Rolston, PD,etc.. time to get to the point and rip one and knock one in
I know something will get done with SRV and PMB but the longer the delay, the longer the Gaborik contracts are pushed back.
I am getting anxious about the contracts of SRV and PMB
With all due respect — and I do mean all due respect — are you equally anxious about Gabby’s contract?
oops, sorry sunshine. we typed over each other. :)
I know something will get done with SRV and PMB but the longer the delay, the longer the Gaborik contracts are pushed back.
Who would have thought the offseason was so suspenseful!
zigtron - true, and at times they did score that way more so in the begining of the season then later. I’m not saying he should never curl back and hit the trailer with a pass just please challenge the d more then once a season.
On the other hand, BDS:
Let’s not forget the reason he’s having to curl at the half-board (a lot of times, anyway.)
He’s buying time and space for the trailer, i.e. “late to the party” player.
Others need to be in a support position, so that he has the confidence to go to the net while risking a turnover.
Tough to support your teammate in the offensive zone if your draggin’ through the neutral…
BFW, good point. So, are you suggesting PMB needs better (energetic, faster, smarter) linemates to support him inthose situations…or perhaps better coaching???
He’s buying time and space for the trailer, i.e. “late to the party” player.
OR…he’s afraid of getting hit by one of those big, tough, NHL defensemen.
OR…he’s afraid to shoot.
I’m not asking him to be Iginla - he’s not, nor will he ever be.
But predictability is not exactly a plus.
G*–Thanks for the info earlier on the emulator and all that. That’s crazy, man. Gotta check into that…
PMB needs a change of scenery.
*ducking*
But predictability is not exactly a plus.
it isn’t.
but look at it this way, PMB carries the puck in and is consistently facing a 1 on 2 or 1 on 3 situation. the high pct play is to pull up and find a cutter i’d think. so i don’t necessarily fault him for that. it would be a good idea to change it up and make a move sometimes.
to me it is similar to punting in football. some coaches play the field position game. i think the wild play a similar thing on the ice. if you face a situation where you are out numbered, pull up or dump it deep, retreat and then try again.
but look at it this way, PMB carries the puck in and is consistently facing a 1 on 2 or 1 on 3 situation. the high pct play is to pull up and find a cutter i’d think. so i don’t necessarily fault him for that. it would be a good idea to change it up and make a move sometimes.
to me it is similar to punting in football. some coaches play the field position game. i think the wild play a similar thing on the ice. if you face a situation where you are out numbered, pull up or dump it deep, retreat and then try again.
I think that’s fair, G*.
But, in being fair, does that mean PMB’s particular skillset is wasted in this system?
But predictability is not exactly a plus.
Agreed. But Gabby’s predictable “down-the-off-wing-cut-and-shoot-through-the-D’s-legs” worked out for quite a few goals. Just sayin.
—-
BFW, good point. So, are you suggesting PMB needs better (energetic, faster, smarter) linemates to support him inthose situations…or perhaps better coaching???
Faster is always a plus.
Coaching is certainly not the issue.
When teamed with a “sniper,” PMB over commits to the pass, imho. He can shoot, and the coaches know it and implore him to do so.
Attack the net. Get off a shot (or at least get the puck to the net). Follow your shot for a rebound (or draw a penalty). Allow “trailers” to score off a rebound for once instead of a picture-perfect pass.
/rant
side note: I have to think Jose Theodore’s stock would be one to short, going to the SE division. He was okay last season, great against us, and then mortal again against Detroit. In a contract year.
Did he earn that new contract? Sure.
But now that he got paid especially, I bet his numbers will go the wrong way.
Meanwhile, Colorado looks awful in goal. Budaj (lost the starter job to Theodore) and Raycroft (lost all semblance of a game since his one good season) are not exactly Roy and Aebischer.
NiNY - i wouldn’t say its wasted in this system (we need some sort of offensive manuevering) but would he be more effective in a different “system” yeah, probably. But so would Gabby, right?
But Gabby’s predictable “down-the-off-wing-cut-and-shoot-through-the-D’s-legs” worked out for quite a few goals.
also a fair point.
to me it is similar to punting in football.
Perfect, agreed.
And to piggyback: Consider the differences between running an option (support) and a bootleg (1-on-everyone else).
Support must be better. PMB must know he can take it to the net once in awhile.
PMB must know he can take it to the net once in awhile.
must he? I’m really not sure he does.
Maybe we can do a Face/Off thing with Gaby and Butch so goalies/defense will see “Butch” coming down the wing and start playing him to curl and pass only to have “Gaby” blow past them and take it to the hole, so to speak.
Then, “Gaby” comes down the wing and they give him all kinds of space, but then “Butch” does the Gretzky-curl and finds the open trailer, now with plenty of time and a wide open lane to shoot.
you forgot to add “and score”
All of what you are saying about Gaborik and PMB just seems to suggest… let them play on the same line.
I know… I know… I know… there are a million reasons why they shouldn’t be on the same line but…I say give it a chance at least one or twice a game.
im with you sunshine. the run and gun teams? those two together seem like they’d be able to keep up.
They actually seem like a match made in heaven. Gabby needs a set up guy? Hm. where can we find one of those?
Anyone want to plug this line into NHL 08 and see how it does?
sunshine: actually, with PMB at center and Bruno on the other wing, that might not be that bad. PMB likes to stay high already, so he will be in position to beat feet out of the zone on a turnover. He and Gaby would seem to be able to keep the play alive until Bruno catches up, then Bruno goes to work down low while the others jockey out front.
I could see that helping Butch pick up some goals as Gaby draws coverage coming out of the corner and Butch finds himself all alone in the slot on occasion.
And Gaby didn’t get the C because he got WORSE at getting back on defense last season. So the idea that there would be no defense is a little tarnished.
I like it.
do a Face/Off thing
-1
i wouldn’t say wasted. I don’t think his true skill is goal scoring as much as setting up goals. I don’t think he could ever produce more than 20 or so goals in a year but, should be a consistent 70 to 80 point player.
for purposes of him not breaking the bank in arbitration, we should probably keep this “PMB for #1 center” talk to a minimum for a while, though.
Hm. Nick. You’re really jacking with the lines, and possibly making sense of DR’s mess.
Bruno-PMB-Gabby
Parrish-Koivu-Miettinen
SRV-Shep-Nolan
Waller-Belanger-[insert random winger here]
eh?
sorry - forgot pouliot. maybe he would then in fact be a winger/c? Mr. versatile?
or maybe we just hope this PMB/bruno/gabby for power plays.
must he? I’m really not sure he does.
No, no, no. “Must know,” as a directive. Not “Must know,” as musing.
PMB, Nolan, and Pouliot can all play on the wing and center.
I thought last camp JL had Poulliot centering Gabby and Pavol? Maybe we’ll be seeing Bruno-Poulliot-Gabby. B-B-b-enny’s got some of the same play-making skills as PMB that are being discussed right now.
Pouliot also centered PMB and Rolston and he earned two goals playing with PMB.
not a bad idea mike. then we don’t put all our eggs in one basket.
too bad Bruno is so slow - Benny and the Jet doesn’t have the same ring to it.
although PMB-Pool-Gabby could be Benny and the Jets…hmmm, Gabby with 2 playmakers setting him up…
jimlove - I have PMB centering a Gaborik/Nolan NHL ‘08 line right now (remember Brunette is out until December with the broken wrist) and PMB has 24 points in 14 games.
Not quite leading the league in scoring, but not too shabby.
thanks for the update AiH. I look forward for future updates for our virtual Wild team. Let me know how it goes once December hits.
NHL ‘04 was the best EA nhl game of all time, although ‘08 is pretty fun
I’ve been trying to use Burns, Zidlicky and Bergeron for long outlet passes and up ice rushes to see how that works. Burns and Zidlicky have been fairly effective jumping into the rush, Bergeron not as much.
Hopefully one thing that transfers over from NHL ‘08 to the real world is the special teams. The powerplay is clicking at just over 60% right now. Mikko Koivu has been a special teams beast.
Hey Russo, hows about a little update on how Pierre-Marc (Little Fists of Fury) Bouchard and Alexandre (I Wanna be Matt Cooke) Burrows are getting along while skating together this summer?
I forgot part of Burrows’ nickname. It should have read:
…Alexadre (I Wanna be Matt Cooke - who sucks!) Burrows…
You say po-tate-o,
I say po-tot-o,
I say Alexandre,
I say Alexadre…
Anyone ever play NHL on PC? Just curious.
Emery to Russian Continental Hockey League.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242925&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl
I played NHL on PC. it was so-so. It was also during the lockout year, so it was my only choice for hockey.
sidenote- the wild went 82-0 that year and won the stanley cup. it was a good year.
wallshot: I’ve been addicted to Eastside Hockey Manager for a while now on PC. (sigames.com, I think)
I will destroy all challengers in NHL08 for 360
Aw, too bad I don’t have a 360, punker.
I’ve only played the PC version of NHL08, but I’m sure I could take you down.
Cool, Nick. I’ll have to check that out. Thanks.
I am super hyped for NHL 09′. I think they are allowing for 12 player multipalyer online… so you can have two compeltely human controlled teams go at it. I can’t wait for that.
wallshot: it’s like a GM simulation game. Pretty thorough, and not easy to “win” at.
Eastside Hockey Manager
I played something like that maybe 5 to 10 years ago. might be the same game. you play GM correct?
there was a football game out there where you played GM and coach. the games were simmed. you controlled the ticket costs, managed salary cap, play calling pct and depth charts. trades. Front office football. fun game. was supposed to be bought by EA and incorperated into madden but i think they dropped it because no one that owned the game wanted to deal with realism.
Oh! And they finally put in stick checks! http://www.easports.com/nhl09/features.jsp
G*: The guys that make the hockey game I’ve been playing also make a football and a soccer version (maybe other sports too)…and it is like what you’re describing. It’s pretty fun, actually, in a fake, loner, geeked out sort of way. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
NHL ‘94 controls.
Now, even a ‘lamer’ like me would have a chance…
09 looks pretty sick austin. If only I could convince myself (more importantly, my fiance) to get with the times and splurge…
jimlove, the price is about to be cut again (so say teh rumors) so you could probably hook it up sooner than you think.
I think i might have to try that Hockey Manager thing… but first I need a PC that can run it. My PC is currently busted.
If only I could convince myself (more importantly, my fiance) to get with the times and splurge…
Good luck wit dat!
ATW–NHL09 looks wicked…thx for the link.
NiNY: Is that game substantially different from “Dynasty Mode” for the EA Sports line?
Minnesota Wild has the 5th Highest Fan Cost Index in the league and one of the highest average ticket prices in the league. http://teammarketing.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/Fan%20Cost%20Index/NHL/nhl%20fci%2007-08.pdf
Lower bowl season tickets went up $4 a seat this year and have increased $21 since the first season. The only year there was no price hike was the lockout year.
Falness beat Russo to Eero Elo…
http://downloads.wild.nhl.com/podcasts/PONDCAST_877_CAMP2.MP3
Russo, did the Wild pursue Shanahan? That’s what I’m hearing.
Anyone know whats going on with O’Sullivan? Kinda anxious to know what his status is…
No problem BFW! I look forward to putting together a team to play online in September
bfw*: I don’t know. Haven’t played the vid in a few years.
anyone know the status of the twinkies?
zig: I see them losing 6-3, B5.
Hey Can someone explain to me why Todd White was so bad?
He wasn’t the worst player on th Wild, but he was my least favorite player. I’ll say this about him. Between the blue lines, he was pretty good. But whenever the play got a bit tighter, he wasn’t.
I don’t miss him, and I’m glad the Wild didn’t give him the money that Atlanta did, but Belanger was pretty disappointing after Xmas, too. I’m still trying to figure that guy out. I’m wondering if this is typical of him, and that he just doesn’t have the body that can maintain the way he plays early on, and that by February he’s just broken down.
Shanahan reportedly headed to New Jersey. Fedorov resigning with DC and Peca resigning with Columbus. Wild never had a chance with any of them, though supposedly Wild never wanted Fedorov.
Hm, I didn’t think NJ was interested in Shanahan. That could’ve changed certainly. He’s having difficulty finding suitors (he was interested in the Pens but they weren’t).
Different topic, since Gaborik probably won’t resign with us now that his buddy Hossa rejected our offer, if a new deal isn’t in place by training camp, should we just pull the plug and trade him now? We could get some serious value if trade him, Pouliot, Shawn Belle and Skoula for maybe Jason Spezza, Andrej Meszaros and Antoine Vermette. It would bring us 2 great forwards, one being a center with some grit and another puck moving defenseman. Things in Ottawa are in a bit of disarray, but they are still a slight contender so Gaborik would be happy. Plus, their forwards don’t need to play defense so he could just fly the whole game. I think this is a route the Wild should seriously consider.
We could get some serious value if trade him, Pouliot, Shawn Belle and Skoula for maybe Jason Spezza, Andrej Meszaros and Antoine Vermette.
interesting…verrrrrry interesting. I’d want more on the back end than Belle and Skoula if I were Murray, though. All three of the guys Ottawa would be sending are solid to great. Only 1+ of the guys we’d be sending are in the same category.
Simon…that is some pretty serious thought you’ve put into that idea…it’s almost as if you’re DR logging on as an alias in order to feel out what the response would be to trading Gabby…
Well if that’s you DR…count me as one vote for TRADING GABBY NOW while he has value…and sign PMB (the next Denis Savard) NOW!!!
if a new deal isn’t in place by training camp, should we just pull the plug and trade him now?
Yes, an untimely groin injury could squash his trade value which would be the end of DR as we know him. On second thought ….
now 6-5 Sawx as the Twins continue to bat T6.
Jason Spezza, Andrej Meszaros and Antoine Vermette. It would bring us 2 great forwards, one being a center
I think both of them are centers, actually.
OTT watchers: would Spezza be a good C for JL? He is a $7 million cap hit through 12/13.
him, Pouliot, Shawn Belle and Skoula for maybe Jason Spezza, Andrej Meszaros and Antoine Vermette
Yeah, if I’m Minnesota I probably make that deal. If I’m Ottawa, not so sure.
Of course, Meszaros and Vermette are still RFAs without contracts.
nice, hopefully the twinks can get a win
I don’t know about Ottawa forwards not playing defense anymore. They might be converting a little bit - not to the extent of Detroit or the Wild. I just remember an interview during the playoffs where Spezza was saying that he had to play better defense for them to win. I am sure they have forgotten about it already.
If its minimal defense, Gaborik’s got that down pat. However, I don’t see Gaborik leaving because Hossa or Demitra didn’t sign with the Wild.
As I have stated earlier, Gaborik played mainly with Walz for most of his time with the Wild. He doesn’t need another Slovak player just another great scorer/player. Would Hossa help him stay here? Heck yeah because that would make the Wild 100% better so would having Malkin, Iginla, Zetterberg or Ovechkin.
I don’t know about Ottawa forwards not playing defense anymore.
They didn’t during the playoffs, if that helps.
7 mill cap hit is less than gabby
now 7-5 Bahsten going to the 7th.
7 mill cap hit is less than gabby
Is this new math? I thought 6.33 is less than 7. :-/
Think Hossa deal if they ship Gabby to Ottawa. Deal would likely include Parrish, PMB and/or Veilleux, Boogaard, Belle, Kalus, Skoula, Zidlicky, etc, and would definitely include some kind of combination of assets like Spezza, Meszaros, Voloshenkov, Kelly or Vermette and depth prospects and picks, especially a number one or at the very least a number two. Remember the Sens drafted Jim O’Brien and Ben Blood in 2007, so they could be tossed into deal if you’re looking for your provincial fix. Florida, LA, Dallas, Atlanta and Islanders are other possible clubs who may be willing to deal.
7 mill cap hit is less than gabby
Would you trade Gaborik straight up for Spezza?
Even tho I am a Gaborik detractor, I wouldn’t make that deal.
Is Ben Blood attending UND next year?
I wouldn’t either, kj. I’m not a huge Spezza fan.
However, if he’s not going to sign a contract, then sure.
Yep, gotta trade Gaborik if he isn’t going to sign a contract.
Wallshot…because Spezza has a deal in place or???
I would think Gaborik would bring a little more than that prior to the start of the season or if healthy at trade deadline time.
Forget the multi player garbage, just make a good one for one or one for two swap.
For example Gaborik to Ottawa for Spezza and their 1st round pick. Get quality, not quantity.
I’m not saying I would do this, but there is no need to get marginal AHLers involved or other top tier guys like PMB.
Claire- thanks for the link to the FCI index above. Some intersting read but I’m curious how you find the Wild in the 5th spot? Unless I’m reading it wrong they are in the 8th spot.
Actually, I would prefer Spezza not be part of the deal because of the term of his contract. I would rather have Vermette, Meszaros prospects and a first round pick for Gabby & whomever else gets tossed into the deal on the Wild end.
Kevin in PA - NJ paper was reporting that Lou wanted Fedorov brothers but since DC signed Sergei thats out. NY Post said Shanny was interested in going back home to NJ (he’s a native) so if he takes crap money for one year he could play there to help out but Devils still need a blueliner but my guess is they’ll wait for Bolts or someone else to put someone on waivers.
6.33… 8.5… whatever. its all the same right?
5th average ticket price, 8th average fan cost index.
According to 6GS above Spezza is signed thru 12/13.
If they cannot get a deal done this summer with Gabby they will have to look at all trade options. I wouldn’t trade him straight up for Spezza but throw in a 1st and I would listen.
you know what pisses me off? One of my friends little sister got Marian Gaborik to ask her date to a snowdays dance.
marian gaborik, asking out boys…can’t say i’m surprised
Forget Spezza, gimme Heatley!
/dream
Now that’s just uncalled for punker. Take that jingoistic crap elsewhere.
jimlove, Gaborik doesn’t have an 8.5 cap hit. Yes, he may very well on the next contract. But that hasn’t been determined.
While the Groin Factor is valid, consider this a high risk/high reward scenario, poke some holes:
Gabby playing in a UFA contract year will blow up, trying to max out his contract value. The better he plays, the more valuable he’s perceived to be by other teams.
At Deadline, teams looking to make that last push to the Cup would line-up for his services. Wild could play one team against the other to maximize ultimate trade package.
And as far as the “distraction” angle: I’d gladly give up one season of “distraction” in order to adequately re-stock a depleted pool of young prospects and picks. Avoiding a one-time “distraction” at the expense of sub-par trade for proven NHL superstar would be folly, imho.
bfw*: that’s all well and good (and I could see it playing out like that), but keep in mind his Shiatsu Sensei has moved to C-Bus.
The possibility that his groin blows up (killing his value) is a legit motivation to move him now.
NY Post said Shanny was interested in going back home to NJ (he’s a native)
I heard the same thing, but I heard that NJ wasn’t interested like Shanahan was. One website I saw said he was “close” to signing with the Wild but they went with Nolan instead. Shanny reportedly wants to play for a contender (shocking) but Detroit and the Pens (among others) aren’t too interested.
Boof is on life support.
8-5 Sox, B7
BUT they have guys on 1st and 3rd with no one out (and 1 run already in).
Boof out, Breslow in.
I’m not totally against him playing this year out without a new deal. I see you point in needing to restock the player cabinet and how this is the quickest way of doing that.
I’m not completely sold that he is a proven NHL superstar yet so why not see what we can get in return before the season. Gabby in need of putting up huge individual numbers would not be the best thing in the locker room, either IMHO.
Claire - not to split hairs, but your link to me looked like the Wild had the 7th highest avg ticket price.
We discussed similar topics last night and Green*, after pointing out how many teams had much higher upper level seat prices than the Wild, astutely noted that our average price seems to be driven up by the lower level and premium seats, which are a bit higher than the league. Our upper level prices were a good deal compared to the rest of the league.
The possibility that his groin blows up (killing his value) is a legit motivation to move him now.
Indeed.
No risk, no reward.
ATW-lol.
What does that stand for?
It means “owned”. It’s a gamer thing.
Gabby in need of putting up huge individual numbers would not be the best thing in the locker room, either IMHO.
Wouldn’t be the first time (?)
bfw* - another spin on your high risk proposal above would be for DR to have the guts to trade him at the deadline and then try to resign him in the off-season after Gabby realize that the grass might not be any greener on the other side.
How’s that, restock our prospects and still keep him?
bfw, it means “owned”. But the “P” and the “O” are often times mixed up, so PWNED stuck with the nerd community. Here is the Wikipage on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pwn
Just google image search PWNED and you will get tons of hilarious pictures.
from the “Things could be worse for the NHL” file:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/soccer/07/09/bc.eu.spt.soc.drunkrefe.ap/index.html?cnn=yes
why not see what we can get in return before the season
Right. Why not gauge value early, use that as a starting point at the Deadline.
How’s that, restock our prospects and still keep him?
Can you imagine? Wow.
NiNY- Euro Soccer at it’s best!
But if you get seriously PWNED bad, one could you you’ve been QWNED. And then you QQ
things, however, could not be much worse for the Twinkies who now have fallen into a 13-5 hole as the Red Sox CONTINUE to bat B7.
14-5
ouch. I thought M&M were supposed to help out today…
The Twins are getting PWNED.
NiNY - It’s my fault 
reading your game progression I decided to find the game on the TV and look what happened.
Also pwned.
nice wallshot.
Great link wallshot!
ATW–Thanks!! How do you say “pwned?”
It is pronounced “PONED”. Just like owned with a P, or like Phone without the H.
“Jingoism” is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as “extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy”.
now what in god’s name were YOU trying to say?
Thanks, here’s another in case you’re hungry.
okay. if you’re checking out funny cat pictures… an endless supply can be found here:
icanhascheezburger.com
such a wonderful time killer. I’ve busted into tears numerous times on this site.
Wall, I got “pwnded” by our tech dept. Can’t view it. Can you leave the link? I’ll try a workaround.
hey - btw - whats the html for a link again? Is that how you guys make the words a hyperlink?
nice…I’ll email Gardy and tell him to blame you, BDS.
at least Papelbon doesn’t figure to get into the game. That kid is the second coming of John Rocker.
jimlove got pwned.
15 - 5 I’m not taking the blame for that one….
jim love it’s done like this: What ever you want to say goes here!
Just take out the *’s and you will be good to go.
I love the invisible sandwich, but I am kinda partial to more serious matters.
Crap jim, I messed up.. just go here: http://www.w3schools.com/HTML/html_links.asp and it will tell you.
18 - 5 , think they will get to 20?
It’s the BDS jinx!!
So ATW, are you using “anchor tag?”
oh yeah - the = sign. I got decent at basic html like… 10 years ago. have since forgotten most of it. So check out cat pictures here.
OMG!!
bfw* - LOL
BDS, how do you think Pouliot will do in Edmonton now? I think he’s a good fit…
That’s the one BFW. Nicely done! lol.
Well, being released from JL’s system should definately impove his production. Now do you think they will use him at C or on the wing?
*bows*
[in an very poor Elvis voice]: Thankya. Thankyavery much.
—-
That is cool ATW, thx. I’m gonna start usin’ that….
It’s good to use… it makes stuff easier to read. And plus it’s easy to just copy and paste it into a posting. You could always memorize it too I guess…
i memorized it… self-proclaimed nerd.
Oops, thats MARC Pouliot….J/K!
lol.
—-
LOL.
L8r!!
bfw* - way to ruin our little fun. I was just waiting for Mike to comment.
I think at the very least we need a relatively young superstar center and probably a first rounder for Gaborik. If Gaborik was a center who could win face offs and be responsible defensively, he would be worth a huge contract. The key would be trading for a player who will commit to a long term contract at around 8 mil a year (maybe more depending on who it is). I picked Spezza because he is a big center with some grit, can score himself and set up others, and can be trained to play better defensively. He is also close to Gaborik’s age. He does make 8 mil a year right now but I am sure Gaborik is going to be looking for more than 8.
I think 8 would be more than enough for Gabby. But you are probably right, he will want more.
sure. 8/year for like 7 or 8 years. if the cap keeps going up, the percentage of the cap he takes up goes down. That’s probably why DR was so keen on throwing money at Hossa.
Spezza’s cap hit is actually “only” $7 Mil /year. According to Cap Central.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=OTT
Doesn’t Alfredsson’s $ 4.33 Mil until 11/12 look like a huge bargin now?
Behold, my substandard MSPAINT skills!
Nicely done wallshot. Fail
I thin your fail link took you literally, ATX…
Last link was a failure for real.. so I will try again
Perhaps the link should have been called “irony.”
touche wallshot.
Sorry to break up the funny photo links but I was thinking about the checking line.
At the end of the season Veilleux and Radio were anchoring a really solid shut down line. Radio is gone but I’m actually intrigued by the possibility of a Veilleux-Belanger-Miettenen checking line.
That is a lot of millions tied up on a checking line but that has the look of a shut down line that could pitch in its fair share of goals.
I know it is pointless to discuss line combos with JL in town but my work is just as pointless.
the second coming of John Rocker.
Now there’s a backhanded compliment if I’ve ever heard one.
How are they doing in 08 AiH?
Really though - what else would our checking line consist of? shep/miet/srv?
i doubt miettenen will find his way on to the top two lines unless he’s needed with pmb. maybe jl will juggle him and parrish between 2 & 3rd lines.
and you’re so right - our 3rd line was bomb.com at the end of the season.
In limited playing time Miettenen has been pretty good. But I haven’t put that exact line together. The role of a checking line gets lost in the video game world.
Maybe I could set the fatigue level really high and roll all four lines with more even ice time.
Wallshot, not sure if anyone here is familiar with Woot.com or Shirt.Woot.com, but my roomie got a shirt off of there that states:
“Irony: The Opposite of Wrinkly”
Priceless!
shirt.woot is awesome. I need to get me some of them shirts.
not really appropriate, but
hilarious.
jimlove,
Serious quesion: If Miettinen isn’t on one of the top two lines (JL line mixing disclaimer inserted here), who is? Let’s just pretend there are set lines based on two scoring lines, one checking line and one energy line.
Gabby
Koivu
PMB
Bruno
Need a center in there, so… Pouliot? Sheppard, Belanger?
Then who is the last wing? Parrish, Nolan and Miettinen are the guys I come up with and while I’m not sure how Parrish or Nolan are checkers, I’m not really seeing how they’re scoring line material so much, either.
I guess I’m not really expecting to see a regular checking line this season from where things stand right now.
I guess I’m not really expecting to see a regular checking line this season from where things stand right now.
I predict you’ll see four of them. :-C
Toivo I’m with you. I think who fills in on the “scoring” lines is a serious question and I’m guessing that Miettinen and Parrish provide the most potential for that, and that they’ll probably get mixed up between “checking” and “scoring” lines.
Maybe its good we don’t have specific roles and it’ll make more sense for JL to just scramble it all together.
jimlove
Well its going to be like last season, alot of rotating.
Hell, even with the Slovak duo, Fedoruk played with them alot.
So it’s pretty much who’s busting their ass off and JL will reward them with time with Gaborik
Has anyone ben down to the X yet for select a seat? I just got back. A totally first class operation. In addition to the seat selection, they had Pouliot, Shep, Clutterbuck, Madsen and another at an autograph signing table, but nobody was around them. My daughter (3 yrs old) sat around and we chatted with them for 30 minutes. All very classy guys.
cguertin - was there a lot of good seat available? None in our group could go due to family commitments so we have to be content with our current seats.
They come right out and tell you that there are none available in upper level ends- that’s on the form they send you at the beginning. There were a lot of singles in the upper level sides and at least two pair on the side I saw. The most were on the lower level ends and corners, but I would say they have about a 95% renewal rate.
Thanks, kind of what I though. We are already in the lower level ends but was looking to move down a bit. Oh well there is always next year.
Sounded great to have the kids meet the young guys. Must have been an exerience for them. How did Madsen look? He must be one of our only Center options in Houston this season.
I think there would be plenty of options to move down. There were seats in just about every section, but I don’t think you want to be lower than about row 10 because then it gets hard to see into the corners and over/through the glass. It was great to have one of my kids there. I just plopped her down on the table where the guys were sitting and we actually talked about all the ball hockey/floor hockey those guys played and still play.
cguertin - my brother and I were down there earlier today, too - had a 5:40 appt. Even at that time, there were only singles on the upper sides and the most availability was lower ends/corners (we’re already in 106, a corner). I expected there to be more seats to choose from - the only other time I have went to that was prior to season 2 and there seemed many more options then. Today, there didn’t look to be more than a couple hundred seats available.
We were thinking of moving more into the corner (we currently sit directly facing the side boards, above the crease and at the bottom of the circle) to get a better up ice view, but couldn’t get comfortable looking so much through the netting. So, we stayed.
Anyone use Ticket exchange to move\pickup tix? Useful? Better than craigslist?
Ticket Exchange is definitely safer than Craigslist, guaranteed real tickets and always anonymous, and you definitely can get better deals than Craigslist the closer to gametime but there is a shorter cutoff with Ticket Exchange. Craigslist has no fee for sellers though, Ticket Exchange takes 10%.
peca to columbus? they could make a legit run this year
it ticket exchange the thing on the wild website? if so that place has been usless for me the last year. before you couldn’t put them up for sale for over face value. last year i would frequently find upper level seats listed at double face. sad.
I thought i’d be bothered by the netting when it went up but I honestly don’t even notice it anymore. didn’t take long to get used to.
peca to columbus? they could make a legit run this year
that’s too funny
just read that hitchcock article….it does seem they are stacking up some quality talent
it ticket exchange the thing on the wild website?
Well, not sure, but that’s the one I’m referring to. It’s some ticketmaster partnership, iirc.
Anyway, I’ve seen my partners kinda churn a li’l since Day 1, and I’m was wondering where the best place would be to add more…
Eventually, I’d like to add 2 more seats to get free parking!
“peca to columbus? they could make a legit run this year”
last year i would frequently find upper level seats listed at double face. sad.
Wow. That IS sad. I wonder how quick you could move a pair of front row aisle seats at face, tho?
G*–You’re lower sides, right? Do you have to look through glass/penalty box? Ever thought of moving to lower corners?
I’m jumpin on the columbus bandwagon! whose with me?!
Blast from the past:
Max Sushinsky
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242960&lid=headline&lpos=secStory_nhl
i am in 114 last section before the price jump for the side sections. close to straight up from the dot. i’m on bench side and lose a little vision of the bench side corner on the zamboni end.
most of near end, including goal is behind net. rest of ice is open. i’m about half way up and wouldn’t want to get much closer to the ice.
i was able to move 2 seats closer to aisle after year 1 but the aisle have only changed hands once and i missed out on them. contrary to a poster from last season, the seats in the two rows in front of me and behind me, to my right and left, have been in same hands for at least 5 years if not longer. I was told there are only singles available in my section this year.
Nice.
There’s a small group of seats in the corner, where you don’t get obstruction from the glass, and you can see all four corners clearly.
I’m thinking someday I’d like to add a pair of those, although it sounds like that may be pretty tough, considering the lack of turnover in that corner section.
How many seats in your aisle, roughly? I’ve noticed some lower rows are pretty long…
My ti
Sorry…my tickets are upper level ends. Started at $8 per game day 1 and now $18 I believe. I’m not complaining - definitely the best value in the building. I also really like to corners above Row 16.
You pretty much have your choice of seats in Houston. The season is 40 home games and you can sit in the lower deck on the sides for under a $1000 for the year.
The Mrs. and I have had season tickets for two years since moving down here. It has always been under $2000 for the two seats and parking.
The cheapest lowers are under $400 for the season.
Best entertainment value in Houston by a mile. It almost makes living in Texas worth it. Actually I can’t lie to you guys, nothing makes living in Houston worth it.
By the way, we’re definitely spoiled in this town with ticket prices. Sundays for the Twins are buy 1 adult ticket ($7) get two kids tickets free and the Wolves had a $4 season ticket special last month. Obviously hockey (Wild + Gophers) are more expensive and harder to come by
cguertin, the scalped tickets being sold for the Boston-Twins game at Fenway that I posted a couple days ago, absolutely blew me away.
Who buys four seats for a non-traditional opponent in the middle of a week for essentially 3 Grand?
Did not watch yesterdays game, but highlights showed there were definitely empty seats in the OF.
Actually I can’t lie to you guys, nothing makes living in Houston worth it.
lol.
C’mon, you don’t love that Houston traffic?? lol.
Did not watch yesterdays game, but highlights showed there were definitely empty seats in the OF.
that’s because they let the fans come down and hit for the players once the Red Sox get 10 runs up in a game.
Iceman, it has to be corporate money. Have you ever been to a Leafs game in Toronto? Horrific atmosphere. All seats (esp lower level) are corpporate and just guys in pinstriped suits. Try to scalp a ticket there…about $500 for a game if you can get one.
Try to scalp a ticket there…about $500 for a game if you can get one.
and you have to watch the Leafs!
NiNY you been going to any of those AHL/IHL games in upstate NY?
I’ll be chekcin out the Phantoms and Titans a few times this year. Minor league hockey is the best live sports value out there!
smuggla: I had tickets to the Aeros game last season, but couldn’t go - though I don’t remember why.
I will do better this season I promise.
Iceman, it has to be corporate money. Have you ever been to a Leafs game in Toronto? Horrific atmosphere. All seats (esp lower level) are corpporate and just guys in pinstriped suits.
Gopher hockey has also sold away home ice advantage and since ticket holders will never give their tickets up it is never going to change
the gophers should consider themselves lucky the Sioux aren’t playin down here this year…:-)
boooooo.
Can you still get “rush” tix?
The heat and humidity trump the traffic every day of the week in my book. But the winters are mild and lovely. And yes, the hockey is crazy cheap. I wish my DH agreed with that, but he’s still hung up on the early years of the Aeros when the Compaq Center would be jam packed for Aeros games. Seems like most people who were around for those days are lousy with bitterness toward the way the Wild has handled Houston, both from the quality of play to perks for STH’s. I will say, it was much better before they started dragging in all the little God Bless America kiddie choirs. Ugh.
We’re doing the 15 game package, though I’d happily go to all 40. I’d push the issue, but since he’s agreed to go to Minnesota for vacation this winter so I can go to a bunch of Wild games, plus I’m set on going to Dallas for those Wild games, I figure I’ll take the bird in the hand. Poor guy is enough of a hockey widower as it is.
I took my daughter to a gopher hockey game last year. First time in 10 years I could even get in the building. Her favorite part was the band and I had to agree. Sad.
Best hockey jersey of all time: UND Fighting Sioux Black with grn/wht stripes… you know, the one they’ve beat the gophers with the past couple years
Her favorite part was the band and I had to agree. Sad.
Easy, there.
The band rocks! Plus, bandgeek will get all over you if you “go there,” I’m guessing. lol.
like most people who were around for those days are lousy with bitterness toward the way the Wild has handled Houston, both from the quality of play to perks for STH’s.
can you elaborate on that?
I was actually trying to compliment the band. We ended up leaving our seats, following them back to their seats and they let my daughter sit with them. I think the Gophers lost 5-2 to DU. I don’t remember.
” I’m set on going to Dallas for those Wild games”
I am definitely going to Dallas when the Wild play there too.
You don’t want to fire up bandgeek, nothing good will come of it.
ms conduct - what is this winter in Houston you speak of? I can’t say that I’ve seen winter here considering my A/C switch has never seen the off position.
zigtron - great pictures of your favorite jerseys -
http://bp1.blogger.com/_d6VCZrEFwVg/RgH5bitgSvI/AAAAAAAAABM/176b4QK5gs0/s1600-h/undkarma.jpg
cheeky, 6Gs.
Two schedule questions - I heard that the schedule will be out 7/16. Has anyone else heard that? Also, is this the year we get away from playing our divisonal foes 9x each or is that still a year or two away?
Worthelss “stat” of the day:
With all of TB’s recent signings, guess how many forwards they have listed on their site? (no peeking. and for reference, MN has 28.)
I think (and hope) CG that we’re only playing them 6x this year.
And - can someone help me out on this - if we’re supposedly playing every team once this year, and the flyers were at our place last year…. I can expect to have the wild out in Philly, right?
cg: the shed-yule is due out the day after the MLB ASG, and yes.
cg: sorry, yes, this is the season we go down to 6x per division foe, as jimlove pointed out.
“we get away from playing our divisonal foes 9x each or is that still a year or two away”
I think it’s this year… not 100% on that though.
BFW, I will guess 38.
Dude, close!
wow, i got beat to the punch.
“Dude, close!”
Dang! I figured it would be a very high number.
BFW*, I will guess 38.
One more try. Double or nothing!
40
colder….
Snack time!
snack time? more like nap time
Nick, the big issue, IMO is the move from the Compaq Center to the Toyota Center. It was twice the value it is now. The upper level seats were still REALLY good (not up next to god like they are in the TC) so you could sit center ice for $11 (single ticket prices). Parking was free. Food was a decent value (for stadium food).
Now, the upper deck is usually closed unless it’s a big game, but you wouldn’t want to sit there anyway because the luxury boxes force the upper deck WAAAAY up. So, to sit at center ice, it’s around $25 a game (season ticket price… $30 for single tickets) and that’s anywhere at center ice besides on the glass (which is $60). Though I will say, all the center ice views are good except for the seats we had by the Aeros bench two seasons ago where the line of spare sticks blocked our view down the ice. And now parking is $3-7 depending on if you’re a STH or not.
And while I know we’re there for hockey, the intermission entertainment was better. Now we’ve got these miserable kiddie choirs who sing patriotic songs or, worse yet, Jesus songs. *sigh* I’ll take Sumo Hockey over that 24/7/365. But it’s all in the name of selling tickets because the kids come, and then their parents buy tickets, etc. Doesn’t matter that it’s painful and boring for everyone else. It’s maddening. But really, that’s my only gripe with the Aeros. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter. At least if it’s really bad, we can laugh at them. And we do.
I think the quality of play is on the rise, but with the more intense focus on development, we have LOTS of young players, ECHL guys, etc. Hopefully our level of maturity will rise a bit over the next couple of years. The Rob Daum years were lost years, which is a real shame for both the franchise and the players who got lost in the shuffle.
The singing kids instantly sour me up at every Aeros game, they are brutal. But it isn’t as bad as the technical difficulties they have setting up the microphones. In two seasons I don’t think I’ve seen the Toyota Center crew get it right on the first try.
Oh, my happiest intermission moments come when those damn mics don’t work. I think it’s the hockey gods’ way of saying, STFU!!!!
