Wild interested in Yelle?
Posted on August 29th, 2008 – 3:19 PMBy Michael Russo
Good afternoon. Just checking in before the holiday weekend.
1. The Wild has had a number of talks with the agent of longtime checking center Stephane Yelle, but right now, Yelle’s agent Larry Kelly says the Wild has informed him they are “holding off.”
Yelle, 34, a gritty character guy and terrific faceoff centerman, is a two-time Cup winner with Colorado and spent the past five seasons with Calgary. Obviously, the Wild is thin, thin, thin up the middle, and whether it’s Yelle or someone else, you’ve got to figure at some point before or during the season that the Wild will address this issue.
2. On the Wild’s first-ever Fan Forum conference call, Andrew Brunette and James Sheppard chatted with season-ticket holders Thursday. My moles tell me Sheppard announced he’s giving his No. 15 back to Brunette, who’s worn the number throughout his career and back in the day with the Wild. Sheppard will switch to No. 51.
Brian Campbell’s the only No. 51 I can think of off the top of my head in the NHL, and I’m sure he’ll bring that to Chicago. Just thought of another: Detroit’s Valtteri Filppula.
3. Josh Harding’s doing something cool. On Sept. 9, he’ll be in Vancouver with Dion Phaneuf, Jeremy Roenick, Chris Pronger, Corey Perry and L.A.’s Drew Doughty to showcase some of his best moves in EA Sports’ first on-ice capture event for the upcoming NHL09 EA game. I guess every goalie in that game will be a southpaw 
Enjoy the holiday weekend, Russoville.
270 Responses to "Wild interested in Yelle?"
If Yelle is what the Mark Parrish money is spent on I am OK with that. The C spot is just too thin as is right now. Plus, with Gabby negotiations ongoing, adding Yelle to play the C in the JL system will add further assurance that Mikko will be available for top line scoring duty with #10. Thanks for the update Russo.
back in black
Especially if we can get Yelle for $1.5 million or less for 1 year. I was one of many who suggested, after losing on Olli, that the Wild go after a checking center instead of another #1 center. We have Mikko that can play with Gaborik right now.
Russo:
Shep wearing #51 appeared on the updated Wild roster a couple of weeks ago. That was the first clue.
I forgot to add as long as Lemaire leaves Yelle on the checking line if no other center is injured.
Oh Lord. Please don’t let Pouliot end up back in Houston.
No, I think it would mean that an Aeros player won’t be starting with the team. Pouliot and Gillies will be on the team.
It sounds like they might wait until after training camp.
The year’s haven’t been good to Yelle. I that for sure he was older than that.
You must be mistaken on the NHL 09 thing. Any motion capture being done now would not be able to be included in this years game. I am pretty sure September 9th is the NHL 09 release date! It’s either a strictly promotional gimmick or it’ll be used for next years game.
Yelle would be a very good checking line center. The Wild need someone to anchor that line this coming season, indeed. At the right price, he would be very much a serviceable quantity.
Too bad the Wild will do something to blow the opportunity, especially hard because no one will be able to get to the offices due to the RNC at the ‘X’.
No one there to answer the phones…unless you are the US Secret Service! (Or a Wild mascot candidate.)
Anyone out there catch the xm show power play’s 5 burning Q’s when they reviewed the wild?
WRT: You know that they don’t work out of the X. Their main offices are next door, between the library and the X
However, you maybe right that nobody is going to be there starting on Monday or even this weekend.
No thanks.
Sunshine: The Wild offices are within the RNC’s inner security perimeter, which means every time you step outside for any reason whatsoever you will be stopped, identified and security-cleared. The staff are being bused in and out, they cannot go and come as they please. I know right where the offices are. I pity the staff this next week…
maxpower? I caught that episode of XM’s ‘Power Play’ earlier in the week…the five questions were:
1. Gaborik.
2. Effects of losing Roston and Demitra.
3. Effects of losing Gaborik.
4. Possible effects of both goalies leaving after this season (Backstrom-UFA, Harding-RFA)
5. Effects of potential three-ring circus while losing Gaborik.
All in all, they didn’t grade the Wild too badly, but then there’s that Gaborik thing again…
Of course, the spell-checker was asleep…that of course is ‘Rolston’, not Roston…
I’m guessing the Wild have a continuity plan during the convention. Plenty of work to be done raising prices and hiring mascots.
cool thanks Road tripper…what did they feel the effects of #2 would be? Bruno and Nolan fill it just fine?
Yeah, that is why I said that there is likely not going to be a lot of folks at their offices. However, its not like they can’t telecommute.
Ms. C: I’m sure they do. Thank goodness they have a catering division so no one starves in there. You’re right, though, in that they DO have to plan for the upcoming mascot fall out…Did I say that I HATE mascots?
maxpower? They said that the roster would be ‘different’ (their words) this coming season, with Demitra and Rolston gone, and Brunette and Nolan here.
I’m guessing the Wild have a continuity plan during the convention. Plenty of work to be done raising prices and hiring mascots.
I’m tellin ya ms.C…do it all in one move…Cash Cow.
They’re waiting on Sundin…
WRT should disguise himself as a protester (i.e. don’t shower) and break into the Wild offices and destroy the mascot outfit as the vangaurds of free speech provide cover outside
Meszaros traded to Tampa Bay. Our ‘ol boy Kuba involved in the trade. Where the hell is Tampa getting the cap space to pay all these players? What’s Risebrough doing with our cap space?
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=247902&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl
*What’s Risebrough doing with our cap space?*
That’s his annual bonus. 
Well it sounded like that TB had tons of cap space because the previous owners had a self-imposed budget drastically below the cap amount — i.e. something similar to Wild pre-2006. TB in 07-08 season has $7.5 million remaining. The Wild had less than $1 million.
So when the new owners came in, they jettisoned Boyle and Richards, which even opened up more room.
To Risebrough’s credit I will say signing Brent Burns at $3.5M a yr is just WOW. Rumor is Meszaros is supposed to get $5M, Mike Green will get $5M and Phanuef is going to get $7M(just a few D men for comparison). Now I’m not trying to be a homer but I think BB is twice the defensemen Mesazaos and Green are. BB puts up points AND actually plays defense(looking at you Green). Not saying he’s at Phanuef’s level but maybe someday.
TB’s moves are similar to what the Wild did in the summer of 2006 when they signed Carney, Parrish, Johnsson, Nummy and traded for Demitra. We had lots of cap space then too. Although, they did more than the Wild did in that summer.
It might sound homerish but I think we had a better crop of young players with NHL experience under 25 in 2006 than the TB does now. That’s slightly changing now. Of course, we don’t have a Stamkos-like player but we have do have solid young guns in Sheppard, PMB, and Burns on the team with Pouliot and Gillies being ? marks.
It looks like TSN is reporting that it will be $4 million per for 6 years.
I wish DR gave Burns a longer contract ie Schultz’s instead.
BB puts up points AND actually plays defense(looking at you Green).
Heh heh. Funny.
(In case this is ambiguous, I agree with the sentiment. It’s fun insulting Capitals.)
After the season ended Risebrough told Russo he wished he had signed Burns for 8 years. Remember it was still a gamble when we handed Burns that contract. He had a break out season 06 - 07 and we signed him to the new contract begining 07 - 08 and he seemed to struggle after that like he was trying too hard. What if Risebrough signed him 8 years and he imploded on himself?
Do you think if DR waited 2 months until January 1st to do a deal with Burns, would it have increased to $4 million per but longer term?
This interest in Yelle suggests that things may not be going well in the Gaborick talks since all we can do is speculate. You lose Gaborick and you will need that checking center for survival. It may also suggest that the Wild could part ways with Bellanger
I would agree GOW.
You know GOW I think the Wild can lose Gabby and still be fine becasue you have a group of players playing JL type hockey and you have strong goaltending
All the hockey fans can do in the midst of the gabby discussions is watch the movement in the media with DR. All the media and DRs Posse is keeping it all mum
Beaver agrees in 5…4…3…2…1
I guess not.
So, riddle me this. I’m looking at my blog stats and this past week, people from all over the world have been searching for Adrian Foster, including Australia and Japan. I should have called him Adrian “International Man of Mystery” Foster, eh?
Getting rid of Belanger at $1.8 million for the next three years is dumber than the typical MKIA post (if that is possible).
[…] Originally published by Russo’s Rants […]
kj thinks it is sheer fanasy to speculate on how any talks with Gaborick are progressing. kj also thinks that his inter-3rd-personal skills need work.
Wee! Went to Borders this morning and they had both THN and TSN’s hockey yearbook and THN’s Fantasy pool guide. If it had hockey on the cover, it came home with me. 
I can’t believe DH thinks I should work in the yard today…
To suggest Yelle is plan B if they cannot sign Gabby is laughable. Beyond laughable. Sounds like a T-wolves fan trying to follow hockey.
Any sports fan should know that Plan B if Gaborik or a great player doesn’t sign an extension is to trade him.
Why would we need Yelle if Gaborik is gone? Yelle is only needed to free up Koivu to play with Gaborik if the other three can’t hold the checking line together.
Mister Know It All disagrees Sunshine- To have success without Gaborick the Wild would require Yelle to clone himself into two of himself becasue the wild would be playing to win games by scoring 3 goals or maybe 2 Misses Sunshine
Mister Know It All call me I slipped my number in your front pocket at the rink on Thursday. I am so so impressed by your hockey knowledge, maybe we can go to the mall and go on the flume ?
Ok “SallySue” anyone that meets up with Mister Know It All will end up in the bottom of a well in his basement listening to him say “It rubs the loation on it’s skin or else it gets the hose again”
Obviously, the Wild is thin, thin, thin up the middle, and whether it’s Yelle or someone else, you’ve got to figure at some point before or during the season that the Wild will address this issue.
Hey Russo–I think I heard this before… two years ago, then before last year, during last season, at the end of last season, at the draft, at the beginning of free agency, etc.
ms. conduct and AiH: Stay safe.
Looking at what Ottawa got for Meszaros is probably a good starting point of what the Wild can expect for Gabby, but translate the defensemen for centers and a winger with that first round pick. The Wild will probably package someone with Gabby though. Belanger is definitely headed for waivers, but why is everyone so sold on Yelle? We’re desperate for scoring and this guy had 3 goals and 9 assists last year!! WTF?? Plus he had groin and foot issues. Sure he’s a good shot blocker and penalty killer, but isn’t Shep supposed to be that, or Clutterbuck, or Nolan or Bruno? I’d rather get someone who can put the puck in the net and win faceoffs thank you very much. Go find some minor league guy or European star or undrafted college or junior kid who can light it up who costs less. Heck, go after Smolinski over Yelle if you’re going after a veteran free agent center.
Well, it doesn’t have to be Yelle but a good checking center. Yelle is being mention because Russo reported that the Wild has talked to his agent. The Wild could be talking to Somlinski’s agent or other center’s agent.
Thanks Sunshine. Hopefully we’ll just get a good rain.
Wait a second, I dont think its obvious that the wild are thin up the middle.
Let See here..
Belanger
Koivou
Sheppard
Pouliot
I count 4 - thin might suggest 3
Now you can make the argument that Pouliot is not mature enough to play yet. Mister Know It All thinks he will play about 60 games or get traded before he gets to 25
Velliuex would have a better finish to his career if he could be a good checking center. When Jl tried him there last year it did not look like it was too far of a reach
Serge Payer is a veteran in Houston that is a checking center (I doubt they signed him last year to sample wine)
But Mister Know it all believes that Corey Locke could be converted to a checking center like Wes Walz, and I predict he is one of the last to go to Houston, if he goes
If the options above look lousy in training camp you would need to sign Mister Yelle or similar
Signed: Mister Know It All
Now I am off to the Mall of America to ride the flume with SallySue
So I get to work on the “Working-mans” Holiday. Oh well, time and a half from the p.t.j. (one of them anyway). All our Texas peeps don’t go gettin’ blown away. Although the news earlier said it looked right now like most of it was going to hit Louisiana or Mississippi. 42 days, 42 very long days till regular season starts.
Payer is gone to Germany. Not sure who itty bitty Corey Locke is going to check. First center up is probably Kolanos as he has the most NHL experience. Maybe he and Bruno can bond over making Patty Roy cry.
Poor Dr Itty bitty Corey is the same size as Wes Walz Misses Conduct. Hmmm Payer is Russos hero, of how sad he must be to see him go
They’re closer than I realized, but Cory is (”officially”) an inch shorter and 15-20 lbs lighter. Moreover, people continuously point to his size as the reason he never cracked the Habs line-up, so obviously he’s not the sort of player who’s small but “plays big.”
Maybe an influx of Tex-Mex will put some meat on his bones.
Why would the team try to address the centerman issue. It’s almost the 1-yr anniversary of Walz quitting that sent the team into the centerman funk. They have to at least wait for the 1-yr anniversary so they can issue a commemorative puck.
Misses Conduct, one inch should not make a difference. Size can matter in some cases but an inch should not affect his performance as long as he is thick. As long he is thicker he should be able to handle the pace of NHL hockey. If he can perform, they will never miss that inch.
Size in general is not a problem for the Wild right now so if you had one or two half pints it should be no problem
Mister Know it all is watching a movie right now but he can still blog and watch a movie at the same time. No Minnesota pro hockey team has ever been as big as this Wilds roster of centerman Kovou- sheppard- pouliot are all 6-3 6-4, Belanger is 6 foot. A checking center that is small, fast and smart can make it with the Wild
I’m not saying he can’t play in the NHL. I’m just saying I don’t know how effective he’ll be on a checking line being the thin variety of half-pint. But the poof will be in the pudding, I guess.
I can tell you, he won’t be a checking line center in Houston. We’ll need him on the top two lines for his scoring prowess.
Oh! Scoring! I get excited every time I think about it! We didn’t get much of that last year…
one inch should not make a difference.
One can never have enough inches.
Right ladies?
I think Ms. C was more concerned with his lack of weight than height, Mr. Know nothing.
Well, there’s a world of euphemism to play with here… But let’s just say that while inches do matter, Iggy is right that girth is the greater concern.
Actually Lundbohm is a good checking center who can put up some okay numbers (20-30 pts), but given the Wild’s history he won’t be given a whiff of the NHL unless an ebola epidemic breaks out on the team or something.
KiPA, I see you broke down and joined the league. Awesome.
Broke down indeed. Check the message I posted.
I just responded to it
Actually it says my wife did… I forgot to log myself on. oops.
I forgot to log myself on
Dope.
Let me know what changes you want to see KiPA. You can just email them to me if you don’t want it posted on the league page.
Working on the post now. It’s long.
Super.
I changed a few things and responded to your post Kevin. I didn’t take all your suggestions, but most of them worked well I think.
Mister Know it all was out getting some decking material this evening. I did some hard labor, of the blue collar variety. Iggy I am reading that you still sound angry with me ? You might be even more angry when I tell you that the Flames stink and so do the players that play for them.
Misses Conduct- Your lack of confidence with with hockey players with the height of 5-9 and on the lighter side of the LBS suggests you believe that the NHL has changed so much that players this size and weight cant play anymore ?
There has to be some instance of MKia/Gow/the Beav stating that PMB doesn’t have the size to effectively play for the Wild.
Feeding the troll ATX.
Taking Claire’s advice…
With sincerest apologies to the poor folks east of me on the Gulf Coast who are getting pounded, I have to say, the weather is gorgeous today! Cool breeze blowing… ahhh…
Sitting outside stealing the neighbor’s internet while AT&T is *AGAIN* trying to fix my phone and internet. Argh.
Sally Sue (left hand) meet MKia (right hand)… 
ms.C…don’tcha just love unsecured networks???
Yeah, if I ever meet ‘barbara’ I’m gonna drop a $20 on her for the favor. I’m grateful that I don’t have to go sit at Starbucks just to get my internet fix.
Ms. C - Its not stealing if she didn’t secure the connection.
God bless those poor SeaWolves - First Katrina wipes them out for two years, now Gustav and tornadoes. Not much coverage of Bliloxi or Gulfport but it looks bad. Anyone else tired of this being all about NOLA? It is about more than one freaking city CNN. I’m sorry, they are the ones who chose to live in a swamp below sea level.
And to think they tore up the X for this RNC which is giving St. Paul no return on its investment now. Just sucks all around.
Anyone else tired of this being all about NOLA?
not really since i have an aunt and uncle that live there.
the weather channel, which looks great in HD, kept cutting to a guy in gulfport this morning. said it wasn’t nearly as bad as katrina. There wasn’t as much rain and the wind, while strong, wasn’t severe. He added that during katrina, the storm surge pushed the gulf up over the highway and when he was doing his remote, it wasn’t even close.
I have borrowed my neighbors when I had problems connecting to my internet. I have a couple of neighbors who have unsecured internet access.
Actually, I think the shortened first day of the RNC allows for more folks to spend their money. They are not cooped up in the X, which means less concession stand money for the Wild but more money for MN businesses. Folks can go shopping at the mall or go sightseeing.
said it wasn’t nearly as bad as katrina
My weatherman friend told me yesterday it’s got the potential to be worse than Katrina. Said its strength may still go up and it’ll hit NO on the strong side, while Katrina hit on the weak side.
But you know how weathermen are.
Hey Kevin, I only need one more person to join the fantasy football league for a total of 10. If we can get one more to join today or tomorrow we can move the draft to Wednesday night. So if you know someone, go ahead and tell them to sign up. Here is the info again:
League ID#: 591192
League Name: Austin Football 08
Password: 12345
If anyone else here, that has not seen me post this 3 times already, wants to join, go ahead and do so!
Sorry for feeding the troll Claire, I’m just bored.
Oh! I’d love it if the draft were moved up to this week. Got this whole “completeness” aspect to my OCD…
Looks like we need one more for 12, but cool all the same.
I think I might love you ms.conduct. You and your OCD.
And Kevin yes, we are now only 1 short for 12. 2 signed up since the post. (I think. Or he can’t count. Either way.)
Oh and Kevin, in my head your weatherman friend is a really hot girl. Just for the record.
I appreciate the notion, but you actually couldn’t be further from the truth.
Or he can’t count.
My money’s on this one.
“Or he can’t count.
My money’s on this one.”
Huh… maybe that’s why I have yet to find a job…
Nah, Austin, it’s because…
Eh. Actually I’m going through a self-pity phase right now so I’m not going to pile on.
Well, I am looking into subtitute teaching sometime next week to see if teaching might be something I would be interested in… I am not too sure about it though. Other than that I have no real ‘plan’.
Aww, WATX, I’m in self-pity mode like KiPA right now so the love is much appreciated.
We’ve had AT&T here ALL DAY and I still don’t have phone or internet that work right. Shed a tear for me, will you?
I will shed more than one tear for your loss of internet access. That’s one thing that I have a hard time living without. Unless I’m attending the MN State Fair of course. Then the one thing I can’t live without is cheese curds.
Damnit, that was supposed to be from me.
btw ms.conduct, will you be joining in Dallas for the first Wild game?
The tornadoes are already hitting Miss and Fla. Turns out this isn’t nearly as bad a storm as everyone thought though. Heck, didn’t Iowa and have much worse this summer with their floods or Wisconsin with their snow last winter, where was the GOP with all their support then?
Money lost is in free advertising with news coverage and publicity for cities with all the live news shots and tv shows, etc, that’s millions for tourism dollars you can’t buy. It is one big week-long ad with features and pictures.
Nice ad for Glueck’s on ABC in their Lobbyist sting though!
I’m trying to work it out, WATX. Pinning Mr. Conduct down on it has been a challenge. Any idea when their single game tickets go on sale?
The drama continues. The phone is working but he said I might be sharing a line with someone else (!!!!!) and the DSL was working when connected directly to the modem, but after I tried to change it to a bridged configuration so that it would talk to my wireless router (which didn’t work), it now won’t even let me go to the modem config address any more.
I’m about ready to just put the house on the market.
Iggy I am reading that you still sound angry with me ? You might be even more angry when I tell you that the Flames stink and so do the players that play for them.
Ha ha, no. I’m not angry with you at all.
I just think you’re a tool.
As for your Flames opinion(s) - since when is your opinion worth anything to anyone but yourself?
Ms.conduct, I don’t know about when the Dallas tickets go on sale but I’m pretty sure they won’t sell out day 1, so we’re probably ok. We should all get tickets at the same time so we can sit together. I think you know ATX’s email from the fantasy football, so we can work it out from there.
And Claire — yes, it is all one big commercial. Take a deep breath. Btw, I completely agree that St. Paul is getting screwed on this one and it makes me want to poke someone’s eyes out. But still, breathing helps.
You know, that’s true WATX… I’m overeager. Trying to see if we can get some of our Dallas peeps to join up for the game, though I’m not sure if any of them like hockey. If we go, it will be my first Wild game in person! My #1 and #2 teams battling it out! Ack! I can hardly contain myself!!! *squee!!!*
Mop your tears, ladies and gents! I researched my little heart out and figured out how to get the internet back to my modem. Phew!
Glad your back up and running MsC. I hope you don’t get too much rain from Gustav. Wouldn’t want all that hard work washed away. But it looks like your just getting missed according to the weather guy on the news.
40 days till regular season games. I just hope the freaks being shown on the news tonight wrecking things leave my hockey arena alone. I would be a very very angry Bandgeek if my hockey arena got damaged by militant hippies (and yes I know ‘militant hippies’ is an oxymoron). I think I’ll go watch some old Looney Tunes on You Tube, that should cheer me up.
KiPA, Sunshine, Klauss, Lemmiwinks and Ms. Conduct ( I think that is all of you). The football league is now full, so I am going to move the draft to THIS WEDNESDAY at 8pm. I will post a bulliten on the league page as well so everyone is informed. Thanks for joining guys and gals!
Thanks BG. Not only do I have it to my modem but now I’m sitting wireless in my living room typing this. Huzzah! Barbara has her internet back, free and clear now.
23 days until pre-season. Which means camp is even closer. And prospect tourney closer than that even.
*grumbles about 12-team leagues*
I mean, yay, full league. Wooo.
Oh yippie skippy!!! I’m there, baby. Thanks for setting this up, ATX!
Thinking I may change my team’s name to “FailBoat” as that’s most likely how I’ll be getting on in this little venture.
You never know, Ms. C.
Okeydokey. This Wednesday at 8pm.
One good thing is that the print press keeps mentioning the Minnesota Wild so the team is getting some attention.
As long as they don’t add to the end “may be forced to trade franchise winger Marian Gaborik before the start of the season.” That’s all we’ve heard since the start of the Summer…
You’re right, KiPA… I’ll probably do really well at this and miserably in fantasy hockey, which is what I actually care about doing well at.
ATX how much would you feel when they cut off your public transport, freeways inconvenience the hell out of you, spend your tax and public safety dollars (yes we got some additional funds but it is still a ton of our budget dollars too) on this thing and you don’t get anything out of it now? Poor old Mpls Mayor had a great Triathalon event showcasing lakes and parks this morning and was supposed to be on talk shows and preempted by a storm that turned out to be way less than Fay. Didn’t see the DNC doing any fundraising for Floridians or Denver curbing anything there because of that. And all the TIVO guides still all say the darn thing is in Minneapolis! I’m breathing but I’m bitter.
BTW - McCabe to Panthers is supposed to be official tomorrow, should be food from Russo for sure don’t you think? He can’t resist any excuse to talk to his Florida buddies. Besides, he supposedly was supposedly in St Paul at according to LaVelle on the radio today so should have something to report.
What is fantasy hockey like? I usually avoid fantasy hockey, baseball, and basketball because there are just so many games. Fantasy football, when I was crazy about it and money was on the line, I would analyze defenses, offenses - passing and throwing percentages, injuries and how it helped for hindered a player. So I had a week to review it all.
But hockey and the other sports, I just couldn’t do as much analysis.
I am now taking the approach — less and a lot less preparation is okay.
I think we share a compulsive gene, sunshine. For hockey, I’m just trying to figure out a draft strategy and will sort out the rest from there. For football, I have no draft strategy and will mostly just be aiming to not play any injured players each week. Maybe my draft strategy will be to get all former UT players. Ha! Ricky!
Hmm, sunshine. Well, I’ve actually done fantasy hockey just last season in two leagues. It didn’t seem too different to me compared to football. In my leagues, I got two lines basically: two C, two RW, two LW and four D. Then one flex player in one league and two in the other, where I could play a forward or a defenseman, and we started two goalies.
Some players could be used in multiple positions, which was nice because it gave you more flexibility. But day to day management wasn’t too tough. Except for usually Saturdays and maybe Fridays, you’d be able to play everyone each night since not all 30 teams would be in action. When everyone is, then you just have to decide who you like better (do you like Petr Sykora against NJ or Vinny Prospal against Florida for instance) to play or sit.
It’s a case of getting those stud players to carry your team then finding those lesser known players who say, just get bumped up to the top line, or are taking the place of an injured player on the top PP unit, cutting guys who are cold if you don’t think they’ll snap out…
all former UT players. Ha! Ricky!
If you mean Ricky Williams, that’s not actually a bad play (as long as you don’t take him in the first few rounds anyway). He’s one player who, through four drafts so far, I sorta regret having not taken. I’m not overly upset I didn’t draft him, but I think he might have a good year.
Setting up a fantasy hockey team is a snap on Yahoo! And it is usually much easier to maintain. Heck, if someone wanted to set up a custom Russoville league you could easily do that too.
Yeah, I wasn’t entirely un-serious about Ricky… but can he put down the weed for a whole season? I dunno. We’ll see.
Ronnie Brown’s got some issues, so Ricky may be going into the season as the starter. The new coach is high on him I think.
*The new coach is high on him I think.*
LOL Nice.
My strategy depends on where I pick. If I pick #1, I go for Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but I hear Manning is injured so I guess it will be Brady. And Brady is much cuter than Manning.
LOL. I am just kidding, FF-mates about the looks. I pick base on skill not looks….except towards the later rounds.
If I pick before you, sunshine, I’m gonna have to take Brady. He hasn’t gone No. 1 in any of my leagues, though a friend of mine said he’d take Brady No. 1 in another league of his. Brady was hurt a little too and didn’t play in the preseason much if at all but I think he expects to be ready for the opener. Not playing probably doesn’t mean anything to him either. He’ll still be fine.
6:10 am in downtown St.Paul just on the other side of Rice Park from the X, been at work for almost an hour, had no buckets of urine thrown on me on my way in. Life is good. We’ll see how it goes when I leave at around 2.
Oh lord, I should at least figure out which QBs are acceptable. Peyton is adorable but, yeah, his health is sketchy. In fact, it seems like every player I’ve heard of either plays for the Texans (suck), is retired, injured, or cut (poor John Lynch… just retire and let’s get your noggin in the HoF).
Good luck EG. Hope you make it out at the end of your day.
Yippy!! The feral children go back to school today!!! And 39 days till the start of the regular season. And Boogie is on my calendar for the month of September. So all is not crappy.
For you fantasy footballers out there in Russoville, the draft could not be set at 8pm on Wednesday for some odd reason. It is now tentatively set for 4pm Wednesday. If this does not work for any of you who were planning on doing the live drat (you can always let the computer auto-pick for you) let me know. the only other options are Friday or Saturday night. Let me know what works best for you guys and gals.
That’s fine for me. Friday night is also good. Saturday night, not so much. But I’m also not going to flip out if I have to auto-draft, so whatever works for everybody else.
Thanks Band, any news on you interview?
Glad the feral beasts will no longer be an annoyance.
Went up to the grandparent’s cabin for the weekend. Figured I would come back and see the Gabby resigned for 10 years at 1.5 million per… no? Well, at least they would have done something, announced something, anything… no?
Hmmm… At least they are looking at Yelle. I guess i kind of predicted that awhile back, but that’s really no prize.
I do however see MIKA is back at it… Good to know that somethings never change.
resign:
1. to give up an office or position, often formally
2. to submit; yield: to resign before the inevitable.
re-sign:
1. to sign again.
2. to renew or extend a contract.
Maybe there was a misunderstanding…
The Wild, to go along with the new mascot, were interested in a yell (a cheer). Someone misunderstood and called Mr. Yelle’s agent… wouldn’t that be funny!
GP-
Been writing for years, resign is to give up a position, yes. re-sign is to sign again. However, the rules of grammar allow for the hyphen to be removed in the case that the writing is being done to an audience that would understand the writen phrase without it.
In this case, we are writing about hockey, to hockey fans. Thus, resign and re-sign would bith be perfectly acceptable to any editor and / or English teacher.
And yes, I have the grammar rule book right out here in front of me. Really, I do.
*written, not writen
*both, not bith…
wow. Bad day. Trying to argue my point about grammar, and I can’t even spell.
Draft now set for 6:30 PM on FRIDAY the 5th. This is what I am set on for now. I am trying to accomidate everyone, but understand if I can’t.
Rock on ATX. I’m there.
This is why I don’t argue about grammar any more. I will invariably misspell or write something ungrammatical in the process. That plus I know I’m right, and everybody else can suck it.
Okay, I think I need coffee.
Not that it’s any of my concern ATX, but isn’t there an NFL game before Friday, the 5th?
I don’t think we will hear anything about Gabby out of the Wild offices until after the RNC is over and the staff can actually get back to work.
Unfortunately EG no I haven’t heard anything about the interview. I think it went well, but who knows what will happen, I just know I’m starting to get stress headaches, and I’ve heard nothing from the other jobs I sent resumes in for…. I need chocolate.
Always good to be right, eh Ms. C?
Going for another skate today?
You’re fine BG. Long weekend, people not getting quite back into the swing of things, you may not get a call back until later this week.
Hockeydad-draft all the players that score on Thursday night.
It happens to me so rarely, Buddha, that I must savor it. Grammar/writing is one of the few things I do better than the average joe, so I have to wallow in it occasionally.
Nope, I’m not putting those on again until my pads come! But thank you very much for the tip. The one thing about inlines is that I think I’ll be less thrown off when I skate over a lump in the ice from the condensation dripping from the ceiling of the rink (does that even happen in Minnesota rinks or is that a Texas heat and humidity phenomenon?)
What I really need is to get on the ice some time this week. Must consult the calendars…
Yeah Hockeydad, there is… but the system should retro score that particular game. It’s not ideal, but I got the league up late so it’s my own fault.
Point taken, though in this instance, how much more work is it to hit the - key?
I find the errors in the post quite funny given the topic of the post.
I’m normally not a GP. Re-sign is just one of my pet peeves. BTW, no english teacher of mine would have accepted resign in place of re-sign. Or, BTW for ‘by the way’ for that matter.
Ms. C, the condensation bumps do happen here. In some arenas worse than others though. St. Louis Park’s East rink used to be pretty bad. Richfield’s west rink is bad. St. Paul Academy’s rink is bad… Mostly the older rinks I think with less than ideal humidity control.
Don’t forget when on inlines it is much more difficult to do a ‘hockey stop’!
I prefer to listen to journalism teachers when it comes to the rules of writing. They tend to come at it from a more practical, real-world POV. Mine in high school told me “When you know the rules, you can break them.” That advice has served me well in a career in writing.
Which reminds me, there’s someone on the Stars message board with a Turco sig that says (in huge letters), “I BELEIVE!” LOL I guess Photoshop doesn’t spellcheck. And you can all just keep your Texas education system jokes to yourself, ya hear?
Yeah, Goody, it’s the topic of my blog at the moment. Buddha gave me some coaching and I’m ready to roll (so to speak). Though I can’t even do a hockey stop on the ice yet, so no risk of that on the inlines.
I must admit that I haven’t been reading your blog but will have to give it a go.
Learning to hockey stop can be quite difficult. Ways I’ve seen people learn: Stand still and push with one skate feeling what it takes to get it to slide. Start trying to ’snowplow’ with only one skate and glide on the other. If the one isn’t sliding right, pick it up and try again. It helps to wear the full gear while learning (not as painfull to fall), gloves at an absolute minimum. Another way is to practice close to the boards and turn your stop toward the boards. That way, if your skates don’t slide, you can grab the boards to keep from falling. But that can be hard on the toes after banging them into the boards a few times.
There are different rules for journalism (if you can call it that) now with online taking over. And there are different style guides different publications use. Don’t the majority still use AP syle guide though, I remember Russo referencing it before.
It is a different world now, grammar and writing doesn’t exist. Hell, I went to find air mail writing paper the other day, stores don’t even sell stationary you don’t use for computers anymore.
And that should read grammar and writing don’t exist.
my apologies if this was brought up already but, from the PP article on shootouts in WCHA women’s hockey games:
“I’ve gone to a few NHL games myself,” Frost said. “You’re almost hoping no one scores in regulation so you can watch that shootout.”
Note to maturi, this clown obviously is not qualified to coach hockey at any level, let alone women’s college. you have a sport that is struggling to attract fans and you have a coach that wants to turn it into a side show.
good luck.
I liked the 5 pm tomorrow, but Friday will work as long as it’s not too late.
That’s okay Goody, it’s probably an acquired taste. And I can stop, with just the one skate plowing in front of me. I have yet to incorporate the back skate into the mix and make it a hockey stop. Our power skating coach said that as our leg strength improves, we’ll get better at stopping. One hopes…
Does falling in a snow bank at the edge of the rink count as stopping?
Green*, remember when JL watched the 3rd place game of the Final Five a few years back (Badgers shut out the Gophers, I think) and said that the college game was ‘boring’? For a guy who brought ‘boring’ to new heights in the NHL, do you think he is qualified to call the college game boring based on one game?
G* it is called spin, he’s selling the company line. He’s one of the better coaches out there, look at his record last year with a team that wasn’t supposed to do anything. How many people actually watch women’s hockey now? They’ve proven that a shootout provides an excitement level to fans, if it adds something to the women’s game then why not try it to settle ties? He may have had a poor choice of words but that doesn’t make him a bad coach.
“I don’t think we will hear anything about Gabby out of the Wild offices until after the RNC is over and the staff can actually get back to work.”
I don’t believe the suits(Lynn, Thompson, Risebrough, etc.) work out of the X. They shouldn’t be affected by the mess that is the RNC. It would be nice to hear some kind of an update. Even if it’s bad news and they tell us Gaborik has made no counter offers or attemps to contact the Wild. Just tell us if they’re close or miles apart or flat out not talking. Give us something! It’s already November Douggie.
Ha! I am a little a head of myself I see. It should say September obviously. No need to rush here Lucky…
Wild Brass office out of 317 Washington, which is basically a half pitching-wedge from the “X”. The building is completely in the middle of the mess that is St. Paul this week.
Ms. C, it shouldn’t be long then till the second skate falls in line. BTW, there are two schools of thought as to what role that second skate should play.
One has the second skate stopping on the outside edge. I believe the thought is that two edges can provide a faster stop.
The other has the second skate dragging on the inside edge. I believe the thought is that it is then poised to push you the direction you had been traveling should it be necessary. You are set to move either way. Pushed skate to reverse direction, pulled skate to start the same direction as previous.
Which is ‘right’? I don’t know, probably depends on the coach. I stop to my left one way and to my right the other way!
Perhaps the Wild people being out of the office prevents them from making an announcement. They don’t want to announce and then have X number of people calling the office looking for details, quotes, etc. when no one is there. Maybe they’d rather postpone an announcement until someone is around to field all those calls.
I was under the impression the offices were just across from one of the gates (suites and club level)?
Yeah, I figure once I’m to that point, it will happen how it happens. And will probably involve me being face down on the ice. But I hadn’t considered that you could use that inside edge. Seems like that would actually be a bit more stable.
The offices in the X are ‘the game day schmoozing offices’ the real offices are at 317. At least that was the impression I got from the tour I took one time.
Actually, I think it’s more the toe than the whole edge. The whole edge might tend to want to ’sweep’ an arc and that’s usually bad when not intentional.
While we’re waiting for the Wild to announce anything…
Barry Melrose was interviewed about toughness in today’s game and said “I never want to get to the point in my life when cowards can play hockey.”
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hockey/lightning/article791093.ece
I think he hasn’t been watching today’s game enough.
Green*, remember when JL watched the 3rd place game of the Final Five a few years back
I don’t
For a guy who brought ‘boring’ to new heights in the NHL, do you think he is qualified to call the college game boring based on one game?
I guess not but I don’t get the point.
G* it is called spin, he’s selling the company line
Spin? what company line is he selling? I don’t give a rodents arse if they have shootouts in women hockey but don’t tell me you need it because in the NHL you hope no one scores so you get to see one. Better to say nothing at all that to say something that assinine.
Kaz, I’m guessing his views might change when he plays Pittsburgh and Matt Sucks… er… Matt Cooke - sorry KiPA.
No worries, Goody. A) This blog’s feelings on Cooke are well known, and B) I um.. don’t really have a counter.
ms.C…is your skating coach giving you ‘boring’ edge drills? if not, they should. It will hasten your ability to stop. Getting the ‘feel’ of the inside and outside edge of each skate is paramount to good skating. Especially for hockey stops and crossovers.
Alright. Worst experience ever. Took my 2 month old for her first shots. Brutal… gave me that look like, “What the hell was that dad?”
Ouch.
Anyways… We’re discussing Matt Cooke? Really? That’s too bad. I was kind of hoping if he wasn’t brought up he would just go away.
Anyone out there look at the list of FAs for next year for the Wild? Gabby, Backstrom, Harding, Foster, Vielleux, Pouliot, Skoula (THANK GOD), MAB, Reitz.
Wasn’t the talk in the offseason that the Wild’s woes were mostly from DR lining up too mnay players in contract years? Hmmm… could get interesting…
Anyone out there look at the list of FAs for next year for the Wild? Gabby, Backstrom, Harding, Foster, Vielleux, Pouliot, Skoula (THANK GOD), MAB, Reitz.
Ah, that’s ok…he’ll just sign LOTS of top tier UFAs to replace them…
Harding and Pouliot are RFA so they will be re-signed unless traded.
I really only want Gabby, Harding, Backstrom, Pouliot, and SRV at under a million dollars re-signed. MAB and Reitz let’s see how they do this year. Skoula and Foster — meh. If we can’t get anyone at their prices $1.8 million or less, then sign then for the 6-8th spots.
Buddha, I went through that with my son a week or so ago. Screamed bloody murder for a few minutes. Sucked. Congrats BTW.
I’m worried about the upcoming FA class. I don’t think we need to worry about Gaborik, he’s going to be signed or gone (hopefully for someone with a multi-year). Pouliot is RFA so I’d expect we can keep him pretty cheap unless he proves he’s worth something. I think if he does that we’ll pay him reasonable with a short term contract. SRV seems to want to play here so I’d expect he won’t be going unless someone wants him really bad and honestly I don’t see that happening. Foster, MAB and Reitz are also all dependent on their performance.
I think the biggest question is in goal. Backstrom or Harding? Can we keep both? If not, do we go with Backstrom and his possible salary demands and questionable shootout record? Or, do we put our faith in Harding who has done well but is not quite ‘proven’ yet?
Hey sunshine, thanks for the thought the other day but obviously nothing hurricane related ripped through this city. Although the news stations clearly wished it did. They were clinging to anything even slightly related to Texas and the hurricane to report on.
I shall continue my mythical hurricane talk at work.
Goody - this season will go a long way in answering the goalie question. I would expect to see a lot more of Harding this year because that is the only way the Wild can find out what he really has to offer.
But you’re right, the goalie position is going to become a critical decision at some point this season and if not then in the off season this year.
I’m hoping Josh Harding can be the guy. It would be great to lock up a solid youngster in net for a few years. What a luxury that must be? Maybe KiPA can explain what that warm and cozy feeling is like?
Glad you, ms.conduct, and Houston are doing a-okay and were spared the brunt of it all.
As a whole, the Gulf states were spared. There are severe damages to structures but the loss of lives were much fewer than from Katrina.
Maybe KiPA can explain what that warm and cozy feeling is like?
Definitely warm. And cozy.
More importantly, we don’t have a bunch of crazy Louisianans taking over the city. Don’t taunt the hurricane gods, AiH…
KJ, we’ve only had the real power skating coach twice and it’s both novice teams skating under her instruction, so it’s not too detailed or personalized. I’m terrified of my outer right edge, but that’s just one of many things that I just need to get more practice on. That and skating backwards. Augh.
You really think SRV would want to stay, Goody, after the whole waiving thing? I dunno, that would leave a pretty bad taste in my mouth.
Where would he go? Europe.
Bad taste or not he resigned pretty quick after that fall through the waiver wire.
Perhaps he has accepted who he is, a very capable forward on the checking line.
Maybe so. I guess he’s got a season to lick his wounds before this all comes around again.
I thought that was a dirty move the Wild brass pulled on Steph this Summer. Noboby picked him up off waivers because they would have had to prepare his arbitration hearing that weekend! Of course he’s gonna clear waivers. I promise you if Aaron “bush league” Voros can get a contract in free agency then Steph will find a new home as well.
I’m excited to see how our goalies perform this coming season too. I think people are a little too hard on Harding but maybe it’s just me. I mean the guy just had his first full season with the big club and showed flashes of greatness but struggled when he was left on the bench for weeks. People are screaming bust after 1 season in the NHL and being played as the backup goalie? That’s complete bullchit. Backstrom is a decent goalie but I don’t know how far a decent goalie can take you in to the post season. So far it’s been 1 and done. Does it not say something about the level of talent when Harding can stop a player on the breakaway or actually make a save in the shootout? I know the shootout is a sideshow but come on it’s just painful to watch Backstrom attempt it and how many times has he stopped a player on the breakaway? Just seems like Backstrom lives and dies by his positioning and the players in front of him sticking to the system.
All I know is I’m not drafting Backstrom in any fantasy league this season. Or Harding. I’ve learned my lesson with six-goalie systems.
And I agree that the move to waive Veilleux was a little shady. Those types of guys will find jobs.
Yippie!!! I feel cold!!!! …… The Mr just laughed at me because to warm up I went and put a warmer shirt on, I’m now wearing my Fighting Saints jersey. I’m so happy!!!
Cold… cold…
Oh, that stuff that comes out of the refrigerator!
I had two dreams last night:
1. Someone posted in Russoville that we needed to go back and edit our posts because “they’re cleaning the place up”. Like we’d get booted if we’d ever gotten a little foul mouthed. Of curse, that sent me into a f***ing tizzy.
2. There was naturally occurring cold in the air. Not A/C, not the freezer sitting open, but the outside air was actually cold. I honestly can’t remember what that feels like other than wonderful.
On the goalie thing, Backs and Hards aren’t gonna matter. My Brusty is gonna take over the world this season.
MsC it’s maybe 65 right now with a decent breeze. The Mr isn’t one to change clothes willy nilly and he even decided jeans and a long sleeve shirt sounded good.
At the risk of being overly bold, Ms. C, sometimes I wish you were single and living in PA.
LOL KiPA. Thank you but you know what they say, behind every great woman is a man who’s sick of her shit. Just ask Mr. Conduct.
Hey wait. Only sometimes?
You know, since we’re discussing men being sick of women, etc… I remember my older brother 10 years or so ago making the comment that he couldn’t believe Jenny McCarthy was single. What idiot breaks up with her he asked…
My response, even at a ripe young age, was “because he probably got sick of listening to her b*tch.” It’s funny, because it works both ways… who is the latest make heart throb (ladies?)… if he’s single, it’s probably why?
male heart throb… not make heart throb… I need a full sized key board…
SRV will find a job and they will pay him more more money than the Wild (most likely). However, after all the overspending this summer, I don’t know if teams will have more money to spend on 3rd or 4th liners.
Well if Mr. C gets too sick of it, swing on by for a Penguins game. Can’t remember if Dallas comes to town but the Wild do (does?).
Err, I mean. *ahem*
As for the only sometimes part…um, I’ve gotta go back to work now, I’ll get back to you on that.
God, I’m officially old. I have NO CLUE who the latest male heartthrob is. I’m still stuck on John Cusack.
Smart man, KiPA.
Sure wish the grocery fairy would bring me some dog food and organic 1% milk. Now that I’ve heard about the nice cool weather in Minny, I can’t bring myself to want to go outside here. *sigh*
Sorry MsC. If it helps, when I got up this morning to let the dogs out at 7 it was 80 and really humid. We had a nice size cold front move though during the day.
Its annoying when the print writers can’t spell the Xcel Energy Center correctly. Most write “Excel” instead of Xcel. Why don’t they just call it the X? Scratch that. They might just write EX instead.
That does help, actually. Some day we’ll get a cold front. Some day… *staring in the direction of Canada with great longing*
Okay. I’m getting up and going now. Heat be damned.
Now, its a rude reminder that fall is coming and winter is right around the bend. Oh well… The Wild has a clock on their site countind down to the day regular season tickets go on sale, which is also the first day of training camp.
so, I was in Maine for the long weekend (wedding), with the kids, and I had to drive (~9 hours each way - though we broke it up with overnight layovers at the family ski place in VT).
While that might sound fairly full of suckitude, it was tempered to some extent by the 5 (five) lobsters I ate over the 4 (four) days I was there.
Without getting too graphic (not sure if ms.c’s thing about cleaning up the place was fiction or not), I’m pretty much peeing butter right now.
But, oh, was it worth it.
Fresh lobsters, too?! I am jealous.
right off the barnacle-encrusted boats, sun.
Pure epicurean bliss. With a bib on.
That’s living the life.
It was fiction. Blast away.
Sounds deeeelish!!! Well, the lobster part of it, anyway.
Okay, now I’m really going.
Glad you had a good time on your long weekend Nick. I worked all three of my p.t.j.’s over the long weekend so your ’suckitude’ sounds good to me. Oh well, I made time and a half on Monday so that was nice.
You know what I am also looking forward to — new episodes of my favorite tv shows: Life, Chuck, The Office, Eli Stone, just to name a few.
And of course, how could I forget, The Amazing Race, the best reality tv show on earth.
sun: like you have no idea.
I’m going to go out on a limb and make a rule: if you have to drive 18 hours to go to a wedding with your two very young kids, beg, borrow and steal to make sure it’s somewhere you can get fresh lawbstuh right off the damn boat!
band: sorry about the rough work sked. When do you find out about that other thing??
ms.c: good to know. I’m not sure what I’d do if I couldn’t let it all hang out in Russoville no mo.
That’s just plain mean talking about the cold front in front of us poor suckers stuck in Texas. It was 100 degrees outside today. Ugh.
Russo:
Can you update us tomorrow on who is out skating at SLP Rec, specifically the Wild players?
Its just nice to know who has made it back into town.
Mister Know it all update. My hockey squad of 8 year olds including Mister Know it alls son won tonight 5-3 ! Down 2-0 my son scores twice to tie the game, then the rest of the know it alls finished business
Heckuva game, MKIA. Congrats!
It seems like your quite the coach MKIA, maybe you might have some time to give me some tips. The Beaver also has a 7 year old son
Thank you Ms Conduct!
The Beaver also has a 7 year old son
That’s because you and MrKIA are the same person
I bet Good Old Wally has a seven year old son too…
Okay, Jon Stewart and Steve Colbert just made me wet my pants. Seriously, if you missed it, TIVO it. The Daily SHow bit about being stranded in the Xcel Energy Center was hysterical. I’ll have to wear Depends for tomorrow’s show.
Thanks Claire. I was debating if I wanted to stay up and color my hair. If I do, it will take me up to midnight and I can catch the repeat.
Brian Williams is really funny - too bad he’s a serious news guy. He was Jon’s first guest.
Colbert trashed St. Paul. But he’s still funny.
That bit of the X being the Superdome was pure comedic genius. The questioning and editing all came together perfectly.
They were funny at the DNC event too. However, I think the X bit topped anything last week maybe except when Anderson Cooper went to meet the the Daily Show’s “Thugs-Hard-News” correspondents. That was hilarious.
Stewart loves to goad B. Williams because he knows that Williams’ fair journalistic instincts and wanting to stay at his job disallows him from sharing his own opinions about candidates and their foibles and about Matthews and Olberman.
Its all in good fun but you know that Stewart just wants Williams say something a little outrageous. However, Stewart knows that Williams won’t so he just continues to shock him.
Its still funny if getting a little old.
The X as Superdome will go down in infamy as one of the best pieces of sketch comedy ever. And the line opening the show, saying how much better St. Paul was than Mpls, the Danny DeVito to Arnold Schwartzenegger’s Twin comparison, just genius. Can’t wait till tomorrow. Wish I could get tickets, even if they did get locked in there for a while after the show tonight because of the protests.
Dog is very concerned about me laughing this hard…
It was 100 degrees outside today
it’s a nice 51 this morning in minneapolis.
Its annoying when the print writers can’t spell the Xcel Energy Center correctly. Most write “Excel” instead of Xcel. Why don’t they just call it the X? Scratch that. They might just write EX instead.
Does anyone else see irony in this? Misspelling a word which is misspelled?
Could be they actually write ‘Xcel’ and their spell checker changes it to ‘Excel’.
BTW, I always write the check for my power bill to Xcel NRG.
Ms. C,
More skating tips from me. On crossovers and trusting your outside edges… Some find it quite helpfull to ‘practice’ crossovers while wearing shoes and walking around the house. It gets you legs and ankles and such used to the unfamiliar motion.
anyone else read the mini bit on SI.com about the Rangers maybe being the place Gabby winds up in a trade scenario….cool? I would think Dubinsky and Stall would be the minimum we should at least ask for right?
p.s. if it comes down to this of course….
Goody: you have blades on your shoes? My wife would never allow such things in the house.
Green*, you don’t remember JL’s comment because it was probably a non-issue for you. The fact that he based his opinion that the college game was boring from watching a game in which WI was playing it’s 3rd game in 3 days against the Gophers who were beaten the previous evening by SCSU in one of the most exciting and entertaining college games ever (which JL obviously did not watch) just tells me that sometimes people make assinine comments. Frost could have structured his comment better maybe saying he’d seen some NHL games that needed the excitement of a shootout, rather than saying he wished there was no scoring, that does come off as dumb. As far as turing women’s college hockey into a side show to attract fans, they are trying to use an exciting new part of the game to attract the casual fan and to somehow connect it to how the professionals play. Looks like you were really to only one who had an issue with the comment, but I didn’t look to see if any other women’s college coaches said anything similar.
You don’t piddle around the house in your skates and soakers, Nick?
Yeah, Goody, whenever I start something new, we practice it off ice, but I haven’t made a habit of continuing it after I do it on the ice. Not a bad idea since my crossovers to the right are timid, to say the least.
Hockeydude, I dunno that they’d be willing to let such youth go for the Groinerator.
Green*, you don’t remember JL’s comment because it was probably a non-issue for you.
no, because when you put it on the blog was the first i’ve heard of it. no shat. If this happened during a final 5, i for sure wouldn’t have heard it because i am in vegas every year.
Perhaps my comments were a little strong. and looking at it, maybe he was misquoted and meant to say that people hope no one scored in OT so there is a shootout. that would make more sense. as written, it makes no sense and leads me to believe that people go to a hockey game just to see a shootout which is a stretch.
Green*, yep, since you were in Vegas for NCAA buckets you probably never heard or saw it. I think the Wild had a game the following day and they had a practice that morning so he and some of the team stayed around to watch (Irmen was playing so I think they just wanted to see him live).
Logically, if the Rangers want Gaborik, they have to move some serious money to fit him and possibly Sundin under the cap. Even if they don’t pick up Sundin, they still need to move Gomez, Redden, Rosival or Drury to make room for Gaborik.
Staal and Dubinsky is not going to be enough to fit in Gaborik.
Then the question will be — do we want Gomez at a cap hit of $7.3 million for 6 years including this season?
I should add as long as the Wild is one of the 15 teams that Gomez is willing to be traded to as part of his limited NTC. Drury has a full NTC — that is my understanding.
No re: Gomer. If more of his 60 points were goals, maybe, but 7.3 for 16 goals? Oh hell no.
We don’t want Redden. Rozsival is nice but not at $5 million for 4 years — if we are upset about Johnsson’s contract, then the feelings will continue with this contract.
keep in mind, that 16 goals would be more like 12 during the first season under Lemaire. (I don’t believe Gomez was in Jersey when JL was last there)
That “Lemaire System Offense Discount” smarts.
The difference between Rozsival and Johnsson is Rozsival can actually still score. Though at this point I’d prefer to have Burns. And Rosy’s an injury waiting to happen.
And no, you don’t want Redden.
A lot of people like to pick on Gomez for not scoring any goals. But he’s not a goal scorer. He is a plus-50% faceoff guy though.
Of course, if you trade Gaborik you will sorta want someone back to score goals. So Gomez wouldn’t be a good fit, though your No. 1 center spot would be filled for a while.
Filled but no one to play on the wings. We have a reverse problem. Gabby with no #1 center or #1 center with no #1 wingers.
Exactly.
Unless you trade Koivu for a winger.
*runs and hides*
DON’T PRINT THAT
It’s premature, but some people think that if the Wild are unable to sign star Marian Gaborik soon, he could be traded to the New York Rangers
Heh, my THN Fantasy Pool guide has Voros as a center for the Rags…
Hmm. The only ones I’m lusting for on the Rangers are Henrick and Del Zotto (but mostly because he’s just smoking hot).
KiPA, hands off my Mikko!
No worries, Ms. C, I don’t plan on touching Koivu.
Cody Wild. Come on, DR…this is one trade you can’t pass up. Although, in this kid’s case, the name on the back of the jersey really would be as important as the name on the front if he played for us, eh?
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid%5B%5D=93842
In regards to the Yahoo Fantasy Football;
I won’t be able to draft on this Friday night so I deleted my team, opening up a spot for someone to fill.
Good luck!
You know there’s an autodraft feature?
Aww, come on Klauss! Auto-draft! You can’t do worse than me!
I almost picked up a football fantasy guide at the store last night but decided I just don’t have the spare brain cells to spend on figuring that out. It’s luck of the draw for me, baby.
NiNY, that would be awesome. Schaefer went to Providence… art major. Go figure.
if we traded for Wild, and he made it to the show, I’d almost be tempted to break one of my personal rules and put his name/number on the back of a Wild sweater. After apologizing to Clutterbuck first, obviously.
Yeah, that would be a popular one, I’m sure. Still, nothing is better than Clutterbuck since his name matches his game.
Ah crap, won’t hockey season just start already? Augh! My mind is rattled by the heat and lack of hockey… can’t focus…
Why would either Gomez or Drury want to come here? If they traded with Rangers they’d want some younger players too. Wild will get to check them out in Traverse City at prospects tourney. Nikolai Zherdev would be who I’d pick with perhaps Fritsche (checking center)as far as rostered players. Don’t know how that works for Rangers but it works for Wild. The Rangers still need to get rid of salary to make room for Gaborik but how they do that I don’t know.
Claire - “Don’t Print That” means you can’t ask questions because I said not to print it. Now off to talk to the birdes.
Isn’t Zherdev a headcase? If so, do you want another one?
I don’t want Zherdev at all. He’s already flaked out of one situation. Now he’s moving to the Big Apple to try to focus on hockey to keep his NHL career alive? Or maybe he’ll end up playing cards all night with Teddy KGB…he’s got to be too close to running over to the KHL for my tastes.
No over paid players from the Rangers roster and no RUSSIANS! If we are trading Gaborik it better be for a well known roster player, top prospect and a first rounder. I still hope we sign the guy but we should be getting a decent return on a franchise player with 1 year left on his contract.
I think that it is reasonable to think that something is not right in the discussions. Mister Know it all will tell everyone the way it is. If the Wild give up Gabby they will want proven goods in return, no doubt ? I would say two forwards with good speed, skill, and character would be DRs recipe… Deres no doubt
Mister Know it all. My hat goes off to you. You are truly remarkable. I would only disagree a tiny bit and hopefully you don’t get mad at me. Might the Wild throw Skoula in the miz and try to add even more mobility to the mix ?
Good Old Wally- you might want to do a spell check if you are going to ask Mister Know it all a question… OK, GOW, I get your point, but I think currently the Wild have the fastest defense in the NHL. Deres no doubt that that was the Wilds game plan at seasons break last year was to get stable Dmen that can play with speed and skill. Put more money with speed and skill on the blue line while playing with more grit upfront… Thats the game plan GOW..
So I think that you may be on to something here. This model the Wild are using is similar but not the same as the Ducks use. The Wild don’t go to the extent where the Ducks where they don’t have any small skill forwards, but no doubt the Wild are gearing this team with more grit upfront and looking at the skill guys with speed on D, so I will agree that if the Wild could add another stud on the blue line for Gabby they would, but they still need a good forward in on the deal GOW, someone like Mittanen they just picked up
I hope that answers your question GOW
DSM-IV
Gaborik to Derangers? No rationale behind that as they still want to sign Shanahan and maybe Sundin. Besides the only interesting prospects there are Del Zotto and Soryal.
Also, Stamkos will NOT be in Traverse City although many other first rounders will.
Speaking of Russia and the KHL, Chris Simon acted like Chris Simon there last night.
I apologize to all if this seems a little tearse, but with camp days away and the preseason opener just a couple of weeks away, I would expect some kind of update on the team, Gabby, etc, more than once every five+ days.
I feel like a crack addict after a week in the clink. I need a gabby fix now!
Embrace delayed gratification!
Don’t see anyone posted it yet… if I missed it sorry…
Yelle signed with the Bruins.
Looks like Yelle signed a one-year deal w/ Boston for $750K.
I hear ya DB, I can’t believe there isn’t one thing to report. Didn’t Russo say he was sitting on a couple stories, where are those?
Things might not be going well with the Gaborik negotiations. But they started poorly the last time as well and worked out fine in the end.
FOOD of a sort…..
They are having enough trouble selling papers, don’t want Wild stories drowned in purple crap. All about RNC this week, Purple next week, Gophers football & Twins after that, then it will be Wild’s turn. They only devote ink when it is time for season to start or when there is real news to tell. Chips will fall when Sundin figures it out, Selanne is re-signed, Schneider is traded, and Khabibulin is traded. That should fix most team’s cap troubles and make trading partners more apparent for Wild.
Russo probably won’t start releasing those stories until it gets closer to training camp or if the Wild does a kickoff event at the MOA like last year.
I don’t expect to hear anything from the Wild about Gaborik until next week while the RNC is in the building. Any good news will be drowned out by the event. On the flip side, any bad news will be drowned out too.
CARRIE - Russoville Style
Mister Know it all says:
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I think that it is reasonable to think that something is not right in the discussions. Mister Know it all will tell everyone the way it is. If the Wild give up Gabby they will want proven goods in return, no doubt ? I would say two forwards with good speed, skill, and character would be DRs recipe… Deres no doubt
Good Old Wally says:
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Mister Know it all. My hat goes off to you. You are truly remarkable. I would only disagree a tiny bit and hopefully you don’t get mad at me. Might the Wild throw Skoula in the miz and try to add even more mobility to the mix ?
[…] that the Minnestoa Wild were interested in signing defensive forward and face off specialist Stephane Yelle but it appears that the Wild have lost out in another bid for a free agent. Boston, MA – Boston […]
I’m by no means a Wild fan. Their another expansion team in an already water-down league. I bleed Ranger Blue, always have, always will. If Minnesota was smart, they would make a play for FA Brendan Shannahan. NYR’s GM Glen Sather isnt signing him, and he would be a terrific fourth-liner. He’s a proven winner and has the heart of a champ, one thing the Wild lack; especially come April. Minnesota doesnt do well in April b/c they lack gamers who have that “Winner’s Mentality”. Demitra was a waste, Sundin will never come here, so go after a champion in Brenden Shannahan. Then again, no team in Minnesota has a “Winner’s Mentality”, so maybe Shanny would be a bad fit.
