Bouchard negotiations
Posted on July 25th, 2008 – 7:58 PMBy Michael Russo
Arbitration briefs are due to be exchanged Saturday morning, but the Wild and Pierre-Marc Bouchard might be making significant strides toward a long-term deal.
According to assistant GM Tom Lynn, the Wild made a late proposal Friday (believed to be four years) that is being mulled over by Bouchard. Lynn said GM Doug Risebrough will make verbal assurance to Bouchard that he will not be traded in at least the first two years of the contract, similar to the assurance made to Nick Schultz before his six-year deal.
Bouchard wants to stay in Minnesota. Since he’ll be forgoing money he could receive next summer as an unrestricted free agent on whatever multi-year deal that he signs, he doesn’t want the team to be able to turn around and trade him.
Stay tuned.
Where Pierre-Marc Bouchard ranks in Wild history:
354 Games (5th)
61 Goals (5th)
160 Assists (2nd)
221 Points (2nd)
+21 (5th)
25 Power-play goals (4th)
73 Power-play assists (2nd)
98 Power-play points (2nd)
11 Game-winning goals (4th)
45 Multi-point games (3rd)
50 Assists in a season (1st, 2007-08)
24 Power-play assists in a season (1st, 2005-06)
18 Responses to "Bouchard negotiations"
Wow. Good news. 
Thanks Russo.
That must mean that DR will have to be at his job in the next two years to insure that PMB and Schultz are not traded. Though, I don’t know why they can’t just put in the contract.
I hope this good news leads to something.
This news makes me a bit happier after seeing bits of our Arena being carted around like so much flotsom.
Glad to hear this. As much as he has been labeled as “soft” in the playoffs, I think he’s a valuable part of the team.
And I think that accusation is unfair because the last few years the whole team put on their Invisible Man Underoos before the playoff games.
“Though, I don’t know why they can’t just put in the contract.”
See: Toronto Maple Leafs
Fingers crossed… Thanks for the update, Russo.
its only the first two years not the whole length of the contract like alot of the Maple Leafs’ players.
I can see him not wanting to put it in writing so that he can say to the other players that he does not have a history of giving NTC. Now that he has given verbal NTCs, its almost the same as giving a NTC in writing.
Can’t blame PMB for wanting a NTC (at least in part) after what he’s been thru here the last two seasons. Also can’t blame the Wild for not wanting to delve into JFJ-esque NTC-laden contracts.
Thanks for the progress report, Michael. Hope your foot is getting better.
Russo! Great news. Thanks for the update.
Here’s to hoping I can put Bouchard 96 on my jersey!
Sign, Butchy, sign!!!
Great job Russo, I always look forward to getting the latest RR! I am such a RUBE. Get er done with PMB.
Two months til training camps! Woo!
Love reading your rants as a Twin Cities transplant living in TB Lightning land. The Wild MUST sign PMB, especially after letting the oft injured, but semi productive Demitra go. Gabby can’t do it all and someone besides Koivu will have to step up in the Playoffs. Keep up the good work
Stay tuned.
SAME BAT TIME, SAME BAT CHANNEL!
Hmm…..with this news, where the hell is my buddy ATX with his .02? Well I’m off to see TDK for a second time, after falling asleep drunk the first time….G’nite Russoville!
Glad to see that PMB wants to stay here badly.
I think that is an important aspect to building a team. Somebody who wants to play here may or may not be as talented as another guy, but if he wants to be here he can be committed and not be lackadaisical.
To me, that is worth something if the team is important to him.
I hope they get it done!
Well, hot damn, so now Bouchard is on board for four more.
Great job Wild and PNB!
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