Coming to you live from the Xcel pressbox, where players are on the ice in their jerseys taking their season head shots. The NHLers practiced this morning (Cal Clutterbuck entered that group today) and the minor leaguers and prospects are about to practice.

Busy day out at the X.

1. Colton Gillies news. Jacques said he’s already decided whether the 19-year-old should make the team or be returned to his junior club in Saskatoon. Problem is Jacques doesn’t make these decisions, Doug Risebrough does. And Jacques said it’s up to his “boss.”

Jacques wouldn’t reveal his decision on Gillies, but then spoke glowingly about the kid. Asked if Gillies could learn much more by another year in juniors, Lemaire said, “Not a lot.”

So, lets just say it’s a safe bet Lemaire wants Gillies in Minnesota this season.

2. Marian Gaborik (quad) skated prior to this morning’s practice.

3. Brent Burns (elbow) continues to practice but hasn’t officially been cleared to play in an exhibition game, although that’s close. Tom Lynn said that could come any time, and Lemaire said he’s expecting Burns to make his exhibition debut Sunday in Buffalo or Tuesday at home against Chicago.

4. The Wild usually doesn’t like playing players not under contract in the exhibition games, but Jacques said he asked Risebrough if he’s allowed to play 2008 first-round pick, defenseman Tyler Cuma, in an exhibition game, and Risebrough gave an affirmative.

That won’t happen in Chicago, however.

5. I bumped into owner Craig Leipold. He didn’t want to talk about Gaborik as much as the Brewers. However, Leipold did say that in his opinion, negotiations aren’t at impasse mode.

6.  Today’s cuts are on the below post.

7. Lineup in Chicago: Nolan, Belanger, Veilleux, Gillies, Pouliot, Weller, Boogaard, Sheppard, Clutterbuck, Kalus, Koivu, Miettinen, Skoula, Zidlicky, Noreau, Johnsson, Bergeron, Reitz, Harding, Schaefer. Extras: Mojzis, Irmen.

8.  Two things: Jacques praised Craig Weller this morning, and like I said from Grand Forks, he’ll be a fan favorite. Also, Jacques said, “We’ve got to get our defensive game going because I don’t know if we’re going to score that many more goals than last year. So you’ll have to play well defensively no matter what.”

By the way, if you didn’t see, Brian “Stenzie” Stensaas talked with Erik Johnson, who will miss the season with a torn ACL/MCL in St. Louis, yesterday. Here’s the story.

OK, that’s it for now. I’m heading to Chicago tonight.

The team is practicing in Minnesota in the morning. Stenzie will blog after Friday’s practice. The roster playing in tomorrow’s game won’t get to Chicago until 4 p.m., so I likely won’t be back on blogging until right before, during and after the game.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 25th, 2008 at 2:20 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.