I’ll be on XM Radio & the NHL Network at 11:45 a.m. CT today, and repeated on NHL Network at 4:45 p.m. CT. 

Roster down to 48: Cody Almond and Carson McMillan were returned to their junior teams and Justin Hodgman, Frederic St. Denis and Tyler Schmidt were released.

This was a fun one as Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Brent Burns and Columbus Blue Jackets No. 1 center (at least to start the season) Derick Brassard sat in our Star Tribune seats in the press box. Lots of laughs, and I proved to them, the sport is slow from the press box.

You can’t appreciate how little time and space the players have on the ice all the way up here. A few of the quips are on the bottom post, and no, Burns opted not to write my story.

By the way, I made it the second note of my second edition notebook, but read Niklas Backstrom’s comments on shootouts. As you all know, it hasn’t been his strength. He said he worked on it a lot this summer, so we’ll see if it helps this season.

Obviously, there’s not too much to take from this game because it was the Wild’s exhibition opener, it was a penalty-plagued game  and the Wild was playing a Columbus team that left most its studs at home — Rick Nash, Kristian Huselius, Fredrik Modin, Rusty Klesla, play-by-play guy Jeff Rimer, etc.

1. Benoit Pouliot was outstanding. The 2005 first-rounder — fourth overall — was just a late bloomer. That’s my prediction. Some players just don’t do much in the minors yet have the ability to make an impact in the NHL. I think you’ll see that with him. He scored the winner, but he was strong on the puck all night, used his speed and skill and long reach. You just can’t have that much talent and not make it. I know there have been oodles of enigmas in NHL history that possess the total package and don’t make it, but I just can’t see that with this kid.

2. Danny Irmen, I think, was the victim of a bad call on that five-minute major boarding. Unfortunately, that doesn’t matter. He was kicked out in a game the coaches wanted to evaluate the former Gopher.

Irmen said he was frustrated he hurt the team, and second, frustrated he probably hurt his chances.

3. I wrote a little about it in first edition, but removed in second. The Wild got to kill seven power plays tonight, including the major. It gave Jacques Lemaire the chance to look at some PK forward options. Remember, Brian Rolston, Pavol Demitra and Branko Radivojevic are gone from a team that was second-ranked in the NHL on the PK the last two years. The Wild still has Marian Gaborik, Mikko Koivu, Stephane Veilleux and Eric Belanger there, but Lemaire gave looks to James Sheppard, Pouliot, Antti Miettinen (who will be a mainstay there), Owen Nolan, and as Lemaire quipped, “even Bruno. (Andrew Brunette).

Lemaire said the Wild will work a lot on the PK and power play Thursday. The Wild was 0 for 9 and tag-team offensive defensemen Marek Zidlicky and Marc-Andre Bergeron were content just to play catch, which did not make Lemaire too pleased.

4. According to the NHL lineups, Roman Voloshenko was scratched tonight for the Wild and Alexander Svitov played for Columbus!!! I think there are a few bugs in the system

5. Nolan had five shots and was all over the place in front of the net. I like Brunette’s game, too. Remember, I came to Minnesota in 2005-06, so I never covered him. Craig Weller had five hits. I thought Krys Kolanos was pretty good out there. He created a lot of chances, and if he doesn’t make the team, he’ll provide solid depth as the fifth center. And you already know, I like Tomas Mojzis’ game. He’s going to push for a spot.

6. Backstrom had his shutout ruined with a dubious delay of game penalty called on him. He caught the puck and kept it frozen because a Columbus player was at the doorstep, yet he was whistled for delay of game. Jiri Novotny scored on the power play.

7. The Wild cut five junior kids tonight during the game. It’ll be announced in the morning.

8. In the first edition notebook, if the copy editors didn’t catch it, I mistakenly wrote injury-plagued game. I meant penalty-plagued. I regret the error. It’s preseason for me, too. You know it’s not easy having the entire summer off and then working again. I know you can relate.

Ok, that was downright mean.

Do I have a 9? Hmmm. Hmmm. Hmmm. Bueller? Bueller?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 at 10:50 pm and is filed under Training camp. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.