Burns skates, Burns dekes, Burns scores
Posted on September 16th, 2008 – 2:38 PMBy Michael Russo
Like he promised, Brent Burns is a quick healer.
OK, so the stud defenseman hasn’t been given the official green light to return to action yet, but he did skate this morning, and even scrimmaged, until trainer Don Fuller gave him the heave-ho.
Burns still hasn’t been cleared to return for the start of training camp Saturday in Grand Forks, but it looks very doubtful he’ll miss the full four weeks he was expected to miss after elbow surgery Sept. 4.
In the scrimmage, Burns looked tremendous. So much so, Stephane Veilleux and P-M Bouchard were waiting for him in the locker room, saying, “That was sick. That was one sick goal.”
And it was. On one rush, Burns cut through the slot, deked two defenders and in one ridiculous motion, slid the puck to his backhand and roofed a beauty over top Josh Harding.
I remember my first season covering the Wild, Burns used to always make fun of himself, saying he couldn’t stick-handle. Things have changed pretty dramatically.
Burns is anxious to return, but he’ll probably be told to slow it down a tad.
– Couple other things: Both Benoit Pouliot and Peter Olvecky look very good, and after I sat down with Jacques Lemaire yesterday, it’s clear he’s looking at both of them vying for the fourth center position in camp. Corey Locke and Krys Kolanos have shots, but it’ll be Pouliot and Olvecky seeing lots of chances in camp. Both will get lots of shifts with Marian Gaborik, Lemaire said, just so they get as good an opportunity as possible.
– Seventh D position might not necessarily just be given to Erik Reitz. After getting my first look at Tomas Mojzis today, the guy can play. Good size, and he can skate very well. If Mojzis impresses, the Wild has shown before it’s willing to stick one-way contracts in the minors.
– All the new guys skated today (Nolan, Miettinen, Zidlicky, Bergeron, Weller, Brunette).
– On Marian Gaborik, Tom Lynn said yesterday, “No progress to report.” See how I buried that?
– Had lunch with Nik Backstrom today for an upcoming training camp story. This isn’t headline-making news, but Backstrom said there’s no doubt Teemu Selanne’s coming back to the Ducks.
Backstrom skates with all the Helsinki NHLers during the summer. He said last year, Selanne never showed up. This year, Selanne didn’t miss a single skate and spent much of August ordering new equipment and sticks.
Right now, the Ducks are just trying to free up the cap space to re-sign Selanne. Looks like Mathieu Schneider could be the guy on the move. In fact, an NHL source says Schneider’s on waivers.
Here’s your HD TV schedule for FSN North:
Oct. 11 Saturday Boston 7:30 PM HD
Oct. 25 Saturday Columbus 7:00 PM HD
Nov. 13 Thursday Phoenix 7:00 PM HD
Nov. 28 Friday Tampa Bay 1:00 PMHD
Nov. 29 Saturday at Nashville 7:00 PMHD
Dec. 3 Wednesday St. Louis 7:00 PM HD
Dec. 6 Saturday at Nashville 7:00 PMHD
Dec. 11 Thursday at Phoenix 8:00 PM HD
Dec. 20 Saturday at St. Louis 7:30 PMHD
Dec. 28 Sunday Chicago 5:00 PM HD
Jan. 4 Sunday at Colorado 7:00 PM HD
Jan. 15 Thursday Edmonton 7:00 PM HD
Feb. 6 Friday Nashville 7:00 PM HD
Feb. 12 Thursday at Detroit 6:30 PM HD
Feb. 21 Saturday Detroit 7:00 PM HD
Mar. 12 Thursday at Colorado 8:00 PM HD
Mar. 15 Sunday at St. Louis 5:00 PM HD
Mar. 17 Tuesday Colorado 7:00 PM HD
Mar. 22 Sunday Edmonton 2:00 PM HD
Apr. 5 Sunday at Detroit 4:00 PM HD
118 Responses to "Burns skates, Burns dekes, Burns scores"
Any chance we pick up Schneider and not bring up a D? What’s his salary? Do the Wild have the cap space?
Oh, and I think Burns is going to garner a lot of attention this year.
Schneider makes around $7.5 mil this year…That’s quite a bit for a team that doesn’t want to spend much more
My bad, it’s only around $5.5 mil, which is still a lot for the Wild
Yeah, after a review of nhlnumbers.com reveals it is probably do-able, but wouldn’t leave much wiggle room for later.
5.5 million for a 39-year-old. We could just have written a big check to Carney or Hill. Yes, I know Schneider still has talent, but still…
They sign him off waivers, they only pay half… no?
I think that’s only re-entry waivers. I believe on the way down, the team picking him up pays all.
I could be wrong.
More from the For whatever its worth file.
TSN has posted their 2008-09 MN Wild Fantasy Puck Preview.
yeah, I looked, its full contract value
So who wants to let TSN know we aren’t “The Great Lake State”?
Another gem from TSN “Minnesota Star Tribune”
Do you guys think its possible to have both Olvecky and Pouliot stay up with the big club? It would mean no Clutterbuck if Gillies is the other guy. We would have 5 natural centermen with Pouliot/Olvecky pivoting on the wing.
What about Koivu with Gaborik? Is the test, if a center can play with Gaborik, they can play anybody else on the team? Is he the litmus test?
Only Johnsson and Koivu are missing from the group.
“Is the test, if a center can play with Gaborik, they can play anybody else on the team? Is he the litmus test?”
If the quote came from Jacques, maybe he is still planning to use Koivu a lot with two-way/defensive players and he is looking for a regular center to play with Gaborik, or at least rotate with Koivu to give Jacques more juggling ability.
I for one am rather excited to see Burns’ further progression into a great hockey player.
I’m expecting great things from this kid. I’m having flashbacks to the clip from the NYR game (Gabby’s 5 goal game) where he leveled two Rangers back to back.
Well, with the no “new news” on the Gaby front, we might have a extra 7.5mil in cap space here shortly. Not to mention a extra open roster spot.
JMO: No team is going to want to tie up $5.5M in cap space for Schneider (except, perhaps, Toronto?) so it’s my opinion that everyone will let Mathieu clear waivers the first time. Delta Burke will re-sign Selanne, then try to bring back Schneider, in which case he’d better know either the Ohio State fight song, or ‘I Love L.A.’…
…or have a real hankerin’ for country music…
If he clears waivers the Ducks can’t re-sign him. I think we went over that when they released Parrish.
Giving Burns what the Wild did in his extension may have looked like a lot at the time, but by the end of the deal, he is gonna look like a steal. That’s why CL should give Ballgame the go-ahead to give Gabby $9.5 per for 6 years. May seem like a lot today, but in 2013 it could look like a bargain. Oh, and don’t think Ballgame publicly stating that negotiations were not gonna run into the season wasn’t a bonehead move. Teams knowing that negotiations won’t extend into the season know that a trade for him just got cheaper, because if Gabby isn’t taking the Wild’s $8.5 million per season now, he certainly isn’t going to take it prior to the end of Feb., meaning teams know Ballgame has to ship him or risk losing him for nothing at the end of the season.
Glad to hear that Burns that is already back in action. Just don’t want him to push himself too hard and re-injure it and then have recovery be longer. IT IS ALMOST HOCKEY SEASON!!! We recorded the prospect game on the dvr so we may have to watch that when the Mr. gets home tonight.
Buddha: But, if Schneider clears waivers, he could be assigned to the Iowa Chops, the Ducks’ new AHL affiliate in Des Moines…unless he is outright released after clearing waivers. Just because he is waived doesn’t mean he’s not still Ducks’ property, he’s just a hugely expensive Chop…I think.
20 freaking games in HD. That is still pretty pathetic!
See, elbows heal quickly.
Agreed…20 HD games isn’t enough. However, I AM glad that almost half of them are away games. Was getting tired of all the HD games being home games that the season ticket holders don’t get to take advantage of. Hopefully they’ll add more to this list before the year is done.
I’m not trying to start the debate again, but I think the surprise this year is gonna be Benoit. He was hittin’ a small stride last year and shipped off (much to JL’s dismay!). I like his chances with full year. I’m just calling my shot now is all…
Thanks Russo…lookin’ forward to making “the Rants” a frequent read again!
NiNY…you are right about DRs performance last year. He tied up the ‘core’ of the team - at least the guys that want to be here.
Who knows, Burns could easily make up for Demitra’s scoring. Maybe even Rolston’s too… 
I gotta get that #8 jersey with ‘Jack’ on the back… 
I just don’t get why FSN hasn’t switched to all HD. FSN Detroit did all last year. You would think they have the ability and funding to do so. Didn’t Marney say at a Gophers luncheon last year that Gophers hockey AND Wild games were going more towards HD starting this year?
You gotta love Brent Burns. The dude has passion that is for sure.
Yippie!! Burnsie’s owie healing! Don’t over do it Mr Burns. I’m kind-a loopy right now. My internet has been hit or miss and that means severe lack of things to do tonight. Although listening to Korn really loud seems to have scared away the neighbors getto-tastic baby daddy who shows up, listens to rap really loud in his car while the kid comes out and sits in there for about half an hour and calls that being a father…. sorry, my neighbors and their feral children annoy me greatly. Just yesterday I caught them using a hockey stick like a baseball bat, BLASPHEMY, just wrong I tell ya. Gonna go babble at the Mr for a while now…
Ok so Mister Know it all would like to throw out a challenge to anybody who wants to pick the surprise player to make the Wild this year right out of training camp. We must first put together the list of possibilities
2 Erik Reitz 6-1 215 Right 7/29/82 - is expected to make it but if Tyler Kuma looks like he belongs Erik Reitz will be cut to go with another team
61 Colton Gillies 6-4 193 is expected to make the team so he would be no surprise
The surprise players to make the team are listed below
38 Ryan Hamilton 6-2 230 Left 4/15/85 6
23 Petr Kalus 6-1 201 Left 6/29/87
17 Corey Locke 5-9 171 Left 5/8/84
28 Peter Olvecky 6-2 214 Left 10/11/85
14 Danny Irmen 6-0 190 Right 9/6/84
16 Jesse Schultz 5-11 191 Right 9/28/82
36 John Scott 6-8 247 Left 9/26/82
78 Cal Clutterbuck 5-10 203
57 Matt Kassian 6-4 247
71 Tyler Cuma 6-2 182
What a fun game Mister Know it all !
1 Danny Irmen Public relations and out of that group no one sticks out: This wont be Lemaires desision rather DRs
2 Tyler Cuma
I would love to play that game Mister Know it all
Hmmm- The question here is how long before they give Peter Kalus a shot
Peter Olevecky has a snow balls chance in hell of making it
I would say
I agree with the Beaver…. Danny Irmen
“I’m not trying to start the debate again, but I think the surprise this year is gonna be Benoit.”
I’m on that bandwagon. I’ve predicted Pouliot and Harding to surprise this year. We’ll see how things shake out.
38 Ryan Hamilton 6-2 230 Left 4/15/85 6
23 Petr Kalus 6-1 201 Left 6/29/87
17 Corey Locke 5-9 171 Left 5/8/84
28 Peter Olvecky 6-2 214 Left 10/11/85
14 Danny Irmen 6-0 190 Right 9/6/84
16 Jesse Schultz 5-11 191 Right 9/28/82
36 John Scott 6-8 247 Left 9/26/82
78 Cal Clutterbuck 5-10 203
57 Matt Kassian 6-4 247
71 Tyler Cuma 6-2 182
I will take Wes Walz’s replacement Corey Locke
But Lucky, DR already said he has a center spot, not a surprise
Hey if you guys haven’t checked out the new Wild commercial on wild.com it’s pretty funny. On the home page. Getting Bruno back in the iron range red. Just having trouble getting him a number.
Oh I meant put up decent numbers to silence the critics. Pouly and Hards are my picks for 08 - 09. I’m saying Hards takes the job this year.
Pouliot- Gillies-Reitz are expected to make the team
When the Wild picked up Owen Nolan that made it so Clutterbuck will be in Houston unless Nolan gets injured
I look at the following factors
The wild dont have any Minnesotans on the squad. That is not good Public Relations. Danny Irmen is not from Minnesota but played for the Gophers. The Wild might give him a chance, and that would be a surprise
I cant think of a time in history that a Minnesota NHL team had no Minnesotans
Backstrom will be the goalie- Keep in mind that the last time Backstrom played his free agent year he was basically unbeatable
I think that Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny will have a good shot of making to the team just to appease the people that believe in fantasy creatures. Seriously, there is no way in HELL that anyone from the Wild Organ-Eye-Zation lets geographical location have any sway on a kids chances of making the team. I still think Benny gets a spot.
Wow Austin that is some insight you have there. I am also in the camp that thinks the Wild having MN ties to players is not important. Kudos to you!
Hey Austin, I don’t know you but you really know what you are talking about!
It just so happens that I TOO agree with the other people from TX! How about that! What are the chances? But of course, none of us have ever met.
ATX… WTF…. are you feeling ok?
Hey Lucky, that commercial is awesome! The wife and I jsut watched it. Pretty funny stuff.
Thanks for agreeing with me guys!
I am fine Bandgeek. Just pertending to be like GOW.
ATX:
That was hilarious. I am rolling in laughter right now.
I’ve seen the commercial at least 5 times now. Its pretty funny. What’s the significance of 17615? Or is it just a funny number thrown in?
Good, no scaring me ok Austin.
The commercial is funny. I liked it, and so did the Mr. I’m getting giddy for the season to start. I’m very glad Bruno’s back, I missed him.
They are laying down the ice tomorrow from the interview on WCCO Radio.
That is absolutely naive to think that having players with Minnesota ties is not important. What do you think the teams name is the California Golden Seals G
Obviously Benny is making team Austin Texas people, heck the GM alredy said just show up for petes sake and you have the job !
I have a surprise Corey Locke- Nice stats, but boy he lacks the inches
38 Ryan Hamilton 6-2 230 Left 4/15/85 6
23 Petr Kalus 6-1 201 Left 6/29/87
17 Corey Locke 5-9 171 Left 5/8/84
28 Peter Olvecky 6-2 214 Left 10/11/85
14 Danny Irmen 6-0 190 Right 9/6/84
16 Jesse Schultz 5-11 191 Right 9/28/82
36 John Scott 6-8 247 Left 9/26/82
78 Cal Clutterbuck 5-10 203
57 Matt Kassian 6-4 247
71 Tyler Cuma 6-2 182
I dont mean to pick on
yoSomeguyfromTXthatisnotATX, did Hurricane Ike hit your home and knock a shovel off of wall that hit you on the head ?
You know how many people I had on my team when I was GM of the Northstars ? I always had a few.
This is not the Atlanta Flames
As for surprises.
I think it will depend on the injuries Mister Know it all.
If a D-man gets injured, maybe Tyler Cuma gets a longer look
If a center gets hurt then you give Locke or Olevecky a try
I agree that not having players with Minnesota ties is ridiculous, so Danny Irmen is my pick
How many players are from Michigan that play for Detroit? How about Bostonians on the Bruins? How about New Yorkers on the Rangers/Isles/Sabers? There are plenty of hockey hotbeds that don’t have players from their home state on the team. Winning is what matters, not where you are from. get your effin heads out of your asses. MN is not god country for hockey players. Austin is right, GOW and all his stupid alias’ are wrong. Kindly puck off with that nonsense. Thank you and Good Night!
Well done ATX.
I agree. Well played, ATX.
Yep. Agreed.
Hey Nick-
What’s a guy gotta do to get invited to that podcast next time?
Late to the party but I have to say that learning that Pouliot and Olvecky are going to be tested in camp at C with Gabby gives me little confidence DR is going to get an extension for #10. After 7 seasons we know JL is going to do it his way and we also know that when he thinks he needs it, he is going to use Mikko defensivly. Gabby wants to score goals more than anything - Pouliot and Olvecky as C options will doom the Wild’s chance of extending him.
I’m beginning to wonder if there is some conflict between Koivu and Gaborik…
If you want to see MN players, go to a friggin Gophers game! If you want the team to be successful, get the best players you can find/afford regardless of their place of birth.
IF (big if) Irmen were to make the squad, how many of you saying we need a MN player are going to b**** and call for DR’s head if we miss the playoffs or have another first round loss?
Buddha: I thought you had been! But I’ve been so crazy lately that if I was mistaken then I apologize.
kj says no.
I don’t think 9.5 is enough which is why negotiations aren’t going anywhere.
kj - great post
Thanks, I think.
Only 20(out of 82) games in HD!?!
A quarter of the season is all they could do?
That’s F#@!ing sad.
I hope your name is actually Mitch Hedberg, otherwise that’s just in poor taste.
Nick-
I didn’t get the invite. Crushed my whole world, I tell ya. OK, not really. Maybe next time, eh?
I’m still trying to get the thing to load so I can listen to it. Stupid computers.
Only 20(out of 82) games in HD!?!
Here is what bugs me:
- Based on last year, fans in ATL, FLA, etc. seem to get way more HD than us.
- Many/most Wild games will be in HD in the other market - the NHL should mandate that FSN North or 45 pay part of the cost and use that feed.
meh, don’t worry about the HD guys…I can tell you conclusively that Skoula tripping over the goal line looks just as ugly in regular definition.
Howdy! Got power back last night but still no internet. Having to hang out at Chick-fil-a for my interwebz fix. Thank you, Nick, for the playbyplay of the prospects game. Are they gonna make it into the top 4? Might still be a shot of seeing them if so. Broke my heart to miss that game, but all interesting stuff coming out of that and out of Russo above. Olvecky… who knew?
Gotta run. Y’all behave. And let go of Danny Irmen. Never. Gonna. Happen.
Buddha: I will go to the box and feel shame now. My bad man.
ms.c lives! Great, now I’m jonesing for a Chik-Fil-A.
Ms. C- Glad to hear things are improving, if slowly.
Nick. Minor penalty, two minutes, unsportsmanlike conduct.
Oh, and the comment about Skoula tripping over the goal line. I choked on my morning Coke. Thanks. The inside of my nose burns now.
ms. c, good to hear from you.
The Wild did make it to the top 4 and will play in the 3rd-4th place game when the Blues beat CBJ. I think it will air tomorrow night 7pm CST.
The game will be played at 1:30 CST and you can follow the boxscore at this sight:
http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/scoreboard.html?leagueid=505&seasonid=3327
I think this blog confirms that Russo has a man-crush on Burns. Reach for the stars, tiger!
I want the twins to come up with a hockey style jersey I can buy…
Like these:
Best to you Mrs Conduct. Hard to imagine just how the lives of you people have been turned upside down.
Blessing to all in TX. I have friends in Beaumont. Not sure of what happened there tho…
Ok, so …
1) Glad MsC is alive and kickin’
2) What did I miss that Nick is in the penalty box?
3) I thought being a Warming House member would make it easier to get tickets? I was able to get tickets for the day after my birthday, but for the other two games I really wanted all that was left were drink rail, standing room only. So I got those. But the 2 other games I would have liked to go to just so I don’t spend my entire winter on my butt in front of the TV… nothing, absolutely nothing. My frustration level is really high right now.
4) What should I have for lunch?
Bandgeek: What games are you looking for.
I just noticed that today was the day for the annual Troy Burne Golf Tournament for Corporate and Suite owners.
Wonder if Falness will do a radio interview with some of the guys.
BG-
When I was a WH member, we had access to a site that had season ticket holder’s seats up for sale, face value. Do they still offer that?
Also, you should have prior access to the single game seats that go on sale Sat.
At least… they did when I was in it.
And Nick is in the penalty box because he commited unsportsmanlike conduct by not inviting me to the Wild bloggers podcast.
And he shall never live it down! (Insert maniacal laugh here…)
Buddha-if you are willing to make ridiculous predictions they’ll probably throw me off and recruit you in my place.
Ryan Hamilton is my surprise pick for this year.
That video of Sharp shooting the first pitch remind anyone else of the old “if golf were more like hockey” commercials? I got a kick out of it!
“After 7 seasons we know JL is going to do it his way and we also know that when he thinks he needs it, he is going to use Mikko defensivly.”
I said that as soon as Risebrough promised Koivu would be Gaboirk’s center. I was quickly roasted.
Band,
I’ve always wondered how those guys standing outside the X with a handfull of tickets get them while the people who actually want to go to the games can’t seem to find tickets…
I hate that NHL video portal thing. it takes up 3/4 of the monitor and has busy, bright colors all over it. Just how am I supposed to hide that from people who are passing by the office?!
Buddha, my presale day was today and I still found nothing, I don’t know whats going to be left for the people that camp out this weekend. And I do have access to the ticket exchange but now that scalping is legal the prices on there have skyrocketed. People were asking double and triple face value for tickets last season.
DB I was looking for two tickets for Feb 14 (we’ve tried to go to the Valentines day game every year they’ve played at home on that day and never have luck), and Jan 27 (thought it would be fun to see the boys play the Leafs). So then I tried to find tickets for other games those months and all I could find was Club level, and I won’t sit there (lot’s of reasons why).
Nick, naughty naughty, your lucky it was just a two minute minor. I would have given you a 5 minute major, but then again, I’m kind cranky today.
Don’t know if this is true or not but someone on the Wild board said that the Wild saves a certain amount of tickets for the upper levels for the general public. Assuming this, the team saves a certain number for STH and WH members for their early bird ticket sales.
Lucky:
I would happy if Gaborik played with Koivu 80% of time in a game. That is really all I could hope for.
Bandgeek: Not to turn this into a ticket exchange, but I have the Jan 13 (Phoenix) and Feb 24 (Los Angeles) games available. Sec 220, seats 1 & 2. Give me a contact # or email and I can be in touch if you are interested.
On a side, non-hockey note. Death Magnetic is worth picking up. Not at the level of “Kill”, “Ride” or “Puppets”, but very good to say the least.
BTW, I see ATX CRUSHED the poor hurricane victim on Sunday. Gah.
Jesus, I hate having to leave home to get internet.
I would happy if Gaborik played with Koivu 80% of time in a game.
Can you put that in an NHL contract?
Bandgeek, what should you have for lunch? I had a a sandwich made from yesterdays roast pork. I slathered on some homemade spaghetti sauce, some avocado sauce, and one dill pickle plank.
I know it is not for everybody.
whoa…are you pregnant, Iceman?! 
hey, maybe we can sign Tarvaris to play center! He stinks on offense anyway so he’d fit right in to JL’s system!
…the Wild is bad at faceoffs and Tarvaris’ best play is the draw…
I can see the pork, spaghetti sauce and pickle, but adding the avocado is what makes me go yiiiccckkk!
Also, maybe the pork, avocado and pickle without the spaghetti sauce…
Mmmm, I’m hungry now. There’s a place in Burnsville that has a cheeseburger wrap. Ground beef, cheese, pickles, onion, ketchup and mustard wrapped up in a tortilla… add a cold, tall beer… dinner anyone?
why wait until dinner, Goody?!
Work - in Plymouth. Work keeps getting in the way of my dream of becoming fat and lazy.
don’t let the man get ya down, dude.
Rolston prefers the wing over center position. I see flashes of Demitra unhappiness here.
Nobody picked up Schneider as he cleared waivers per tsn.
BG-
Try Ticket King? I got some good prices from them last year.
Nothing even for the WH folks huh? Ouch. Sorry.
I thought the ticket exchange didn’t allow over face, but I guess, everything changes. Irritating.
Sorry, BG. Wish I had a better answer.
GUess that’s why the Wild feel they can price gouge with the premium pricing, eh?
The Wild prospects beat the Red Wings in a shootout 3-2.
Ms. C’s Dimples stopped all 4 shootout attempts while Cody Almond and Justin Hodgman scored to give the Wild the win.
Here is the boxscore of the game:
http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=812566
Would have a mighty difficult time with that one NiNY.
food
Burns is already one of the best scoring D-men in the NHL. IMO this year will be even better.
Goody-you are making me miss Minnesota. Specifically food with meat in it.
The Wild hold back groups of tickets for onsale to the general public. Not everything is available for the season ticket holders and warming house. In fact I would guess that very little is available at “presale”. They also hold back tickets for “group sales” . There are some held back for onsite for those camping out and then there is the release to computer sales. Its all a big game you’ll never win. Only way to guarantee tickets is with season tickets. My guess is they’ll have to institute half packs very soon. No way they’re going to keep up with season ticket renewal rate with the lower bowl and club and group sales are going to plummet as well as corporate sponsorships in this economy, especially if they don’t win and with new Twins & Gopher stadiums opening.
Trade Gaby right freakin now! the guys best tool is his spead and he’s not getting any younger/faster, certainly not worth 8+ million/year. he was fun while he lasted, yesterday, time to move on, strike while the irn is hot.
