Burns returning to the Twin Cities; Sakic out tonight
Posted on November 6th, 2008 – 1:25 PMBy Michael Russo
The Wild has decided to fly Brent Burns (upper body) back to the Twin Cities later today. He was unlikely to play Saturday in Vancouver, so he’s being sent back for rest and treatment to get him ready for next week.
Burns played 82 games last year. He’ll miss at least four now with this “upper body” injury. I’m not positive what the injury is. It could be his back, but I know for a fact he’s got some sort of leg injury, too, by the way he’s walking and what part of his body he’s got wrapped.
Speaking of Burns, I talked to him this morning. He’s frustrated, clearly, but excited to be on the All-Star ballot for the first time. Where’d he find out? “Russo’s Rants.” Another plug from the Wild’s best defenseman, and he’s not even on the payroll.
Colorado captain Joe Sakic, a bona fide Wild killer, skated a little this morning, but he is not playing tonight with a back injury.
Not much else going on. Looks like Craig Weller’s in for Colton Gillies, and Erik Reitz will get another game for Burns. Tomas Mojzis is out.
Jacques Lemaire is very concerned about Pierre-Marc Bouchard’s psyche right now. That’s what I’m planning on leading the notebook with tomorrow. He said Bouchard the last few games has done everything he normally does, but right now the puck lands on other’s sticks and they can’t do anything with it. Last game it was Gillies, Lemaire said.
Lemaire said the Wild’s injuries are hurting Bouchard more than any player because he can’t find linemates to play him with. Remember, the past three seasons, Bouchard was cemented with Brian Rolston, who not only was productive, but he was a shoo-in to be in the lineup everyday because he was always healthy (he has been out for New Jersey with a high ankle sprain but was rarely if ever hurt in Minnesota).
Talk to you from the Pepsi Center press box later.
101 Responses to "Burns returning to the Twin Cities; Sakic out tonight"
Michael- thanks for the update. Awesome article on Bruno’s return to CO.
A little love for Franchise and the Wild from a Calgary writer on ESPN - check it out:
Is Colton Gillies going to play in his 10th game tonight?
From prior thread…
Gaby has a plan for not re-injuring himself that has been given to him
How do you know? What’s the plan?
Not playing.
Thank you, thank you very much. I’ll be here all week. Have you seen today’s specials?
- Well played BNAG
- Between Gillies and Weller I would bet Gillies plays tonight. Regardless, there is zero chance Gillies is going back to junior - sorry dude.
- From the ESPN article:
An elite goaltender, an underrated supporting cast, a group that collectively chug-a-lugs the Kool-Aid and a burgeoning star for them all to orbit around.
Is the group he is referring to Russoville? 
Well played, BNAG.
There’s also a little interview with Backstrom on espn:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=amber_david&id=3684892
It’s about time we get some national props instead of just the Don. 
No mighty Joe and optional goaltending in Colorado? Please, please Wild don’t blow this 
Likewise, Brent Burns is not skating and will almost certainly miss his third game in a row tonight with what’s believed to be a back injury.
If it isn’t upper or lower, can we acknowledge the injury? How about a rear body injury? Gaby out with a frontal body injury?
Once this team is healthy, the Wild need to determine whether or Colton gillies has earned a spot over other players whom are showing they haev more value. I dont think the Wild are re-building are they? so they should not behave like they are
Who plays in a game first between Gaby or Foster?
My money is on Foster.
“Marian Gaborik” - Will be out of tonight’s game with the following ailments:
a lack of intestinal fortitude injury, also suffering from no heart, and missing gonads. That added to his overactive greed gland, and his bad case of mefirstitis seem to insure that Gaby will not be playing for Wild in the near future.
MKiA…is that the first salvo in the
Where’s Irmen
campaign?
Well played Damp - I would just edit to read testicular fortitude.
Yes, MKIA, junior kids can finish off the season in the AHL if their season ends early. I think they have to be 18 or something but it’s allowed.
Irms is still just Irms down here. He’s been pretty invisible, honestly, down on a checking line.
is that the first salvo in the
Where’s Irmen
campaign
There is plenty of airtime available for campaign spots now…
Weird. My post went waaaay up at the wrong time. I wonder if this one will, too.
Anyway, PMB needs therapy or something to deal with his aversion to shooting. It’s getting worse and costing more.
Mister Know it all says:
November 6th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Once this team is healthy, the Wild need to determine whether or Colton gillies has earned a spot over other players whom are showing they haev more value. I dont think the Wild are re-building are they? so they should not behave like they are
Well if they are going to send Gillies back, it will be before he plays in his 10th game which is tonight. Once he plays his next game, he stays forsure.
Well KJ- I do think that I have no doubts that when Irmen is here playing he is always in and around the net and he gets scoring chances. I dont knwo what he does in Houston and if that even matters if he plays good when he is with the Wild
I think that is is reasonable to say that the Wild should consider if he is ready or not at the moment when you consider the other players playing well like Clutterbuck
No doubt that Gillies has more of a long term upside then Irmen or Clutterbuck players, but do you need him playing on the team developing and showing no results ? I dont think the team is re-building ? I never saw a bunch from him to begin with in the pre-season
Do I think Irmen can produce better results then Gillies at the moment ? Yes
kj - I definitely think you have acurately foreseen where MKIA is going.
- MKIA - just like with Cuma, you don’t know anything about the AHL age requirements for junior players
Actually Six goalie your right. Then send Gillies back to Houston until he can play and show some results
If the Wild are re-building then sure keep him here
Cuma was terrific at training camp. I dont know what he is getting out of juniors accept getting mugged
Hasn’t our TX contingent said that the play of Irmen has recently been horrible? Something about the puck, an open net and a whiff?
Gillies can’t go to the AHL as he is only 19 yrs old. He would have to go to junior but to the best of my knowledge, the Wild haven’t said if he will be returned or will be staying up as he has reached the 9 game mark and a definate decision will have to be reached before tonight.
For the last freaking time “Mister Know it all” Cuma and Gillies cannot play in the AHL this year. As junior players they are not old enough.
Blades Fan - Russo reports above that it looks like Weller will play for Gillies tonight but I think most of us agree that the Wild planned from the beginning to keep Gillies all year. My guess is that tonight, JL wants to be a little tougher for the Avs.
After the junior team’s season ended.
It’s going to be a tight game tonight. All this talk about how bad the goaltending is in Colorado leads me to believe we will be stymied by Budaj tonight. That’s just how things work out. Kind of like how last week was the perfect time to face the Stars in big D because they were struggling at the time.
This whole time thing is weird, some people are posting from the future already
kj is 7 minutes will say…
DR would not have kept Gillies unless it was for the whole season.
“Also, the plan is to bring him along slowly - in game situations - as the Wild have done with almost all of their prized prospects.
Gillies gets a LOT out of practicing with JL at the helm. His development will far surpass what it would be in juniors because he is performing with NHLers on a daily basis.
He’s being thrust into more playing time because Olden and UM cannot seem to find their way back onto the ice.”
DR would not have kept Gillies unless it was for the whole season.
Also, the plan is to bring him along slowly - in game situations - as the Wild have done with almost all of their prized prospects.
Gillies gets a LOT out of practicing with JL at the helm. His development will far surpass what it would be in juniors because he is performing with NHLers on a daily basis.
He’s being thrust into more playing time because Olden and UM cannot seem to find their way back onto the ice.
Goody says:
On Burns:
“Not good that we’ll miss him for the next two, though I agree that we need him 100% before he plays again. Don’t want him to keep re-injuring himself and end up in then out then in then out…”
Too bad Gabby keeps re-injuring himself
Wait a second six goalie- Gilles was with Houston last year at the end ??
So, at 3:23 will be able to post in the present again? Curious.
I think Gillies is sitting as per the “bring him along slowly” agenda. They seemed pretty final about keeping him up before the season started.
Because his junior season was done.
MKiA, I think you are thikning of Ryan Jones being with the Aeros at the end of the year last year.
Yes, at 3:23 all should be back to normal. Looks like the strib was about 4 days late on the daylight savings
That’s because an underage player can play there when his Major Junior season is over. His team got eliminated and then he could play–but not before.
No, BNAG, Gillies played there when his junior season finished.
Something new on the buffet above.
On PMB:
So he’s doing what he always has done and put the puck on the stick of another but the other can’t put it in the net. So, maybe PMB should try shooting the puck himself?
On Burns:
Not good that we’ll miss him for the next two, though I agree that we need him 100% before he plays again. Don’t want him to keep re-injuring himself and end up in then out then in then out…
Russso: Has Weller played as the coaches have wanted him to play overall? Are they expecting him to play like Fedoruk or something else?
I’ve been wondering the same, Nick. So far… I’m underwhelmed. He looks like an AHLer out there.
Teeeest. Disregard this post.
Is it now yet?
Goody: soon.
LOL Goody. I feel like I should have done something productive with those lost minutes. Like take a nap.
No, I think I missed it.
Ms.C, I think I did, but I can’t remember.
If it will be soon pretty quick, how will we know if now is when it was supposed to?
So is game time still 8:00?
Want to talk about fantasy dilemmas? Here’s mine.
Start two C’s: Savard, M. Koivu or Pavelski (against St. Louis, and some guy named Ben Bishop). In another league: Lecavalier, Pavelski and Jeff Carter (who has goals in six of his last seven and a seven-game point streak).
I’d kill for a Utility spot in either league right now.
And everyone’s missed my Spaceballs reference just now. *sigh*
I do think Weller has disappointed so far–altho still very early. I remember Russo saying we would really like this guy but haven’t seen much out of him yet.
I have a feeling Weller may be this year’s Foy.
Does anyone own a Delorean?
I felt a bump in the space-time continuum.
Or, it was a glitch in Russoville. Was that a black cat?
And everyone’s missed my Spaceballs reference just now. *sigh*
It’s never a good sign when you’re forced to point something out…
Some guy, Kipa?? Some guy??? Big Ben! That said, he’s good but he’s a rookie with very little NHL time under his belt and the Sharks are the Sharks. I’d play Pavelski for sure.
Not sure about the other two. I’m personally banking on Mikko tonight.
Goody, Foy was better.
Better in what way?
Seems to me he was more involved, got more shots, was faster. Just more “there” than I’ve seen Weller be. I liked the energy he brought, even if it was pretty manic. I liked to watch him. (And this isn’t a Houston hold-over… I didn’t like him in Houston.)
It is safe to assume that Weller is looking much like Adam Hall. I will hold out my final opinion of him once they play Vancouver or Anaheim type teams
Colton Gillie= The Wild are not in re-building mode. If other players can produce more results why do you give this kid a position when after 9 gaems he is producing no results ? yes the future looks bright, but why no send him to Houston to develope as they started last year ?
When everybody answers you must answer it plain and simple. Are the Wild re-building ?
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Yeah, they should definitely send Gillies to Houston. Why aren’t they doing that? WHY? I just don’t know.
ok, MKIA, yet again–they can’t send him to Houston and they don’t want to send him back to juniors where at this point he won’t learn a thing. They are hoping he develops with the big club and no, they are not in a re-building mode.
Know this MKIA:
- Assuming Gillies plays one more game with the Wild, he is not eligible to play in the AHL this year at all.
- Cuma can only play in the AHL once his season in juniors is done.
Your ignorance on these players would surpass the ridiculousness of your Wild needs MN players take if that was possible.
MKiA…I can answer.
To re-build implies that something has already been built. If you’re saying they reached the built something by winning the NW division, then you can indeed refer to them as re-building.
I prefer to think of them as a work in progress since my unit of measure is parades. And I don’t mean Macy’s.
I prefer to think of them as a work in progress since my unit of measure is parades.And I don’t mean Macy’s.
Right. You must mean the 4th of July in Eveleth parade then.
Tom - thanks for the espn.com hot link to the nhl article. Terrific.
Right. You must mean the 4th of July in Eveleth parade then.
Nah…Richfield on the 4th.
Besides, the finals won’t finish until mid July this year…
Mid-July… We could do the Cloquet Luberjack Days or Hoyt Lakes Water Carnival then!
Russo is everywhere!
Driving home from the cities he’s on KFAN, and now listening to CBC Hockey Night in Canada radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio he’s on there too being interviewed.
Busy guy.
Satan with a SICK goal to put the Pens up 1-0
Kevin, a one word quote is tough to catch sometimes… although, it is an awesome one.
Well, what happened to then?
We passed it.
When?
Just now. We’re in NOW now.
Well, go back to then!
When?
Now!
I cant.
Why?
Because we missed it.
When?
Just now.
When will then be now!?
Soon.
Ahhh.. classic!
Atta boy, Austin. And you’re right, it was a little tough, but I felt the emphasis I put on it with the italics might’ve made it stand out. Ah well.
And yes Nick, a sick goal. He and Sid seem to be building that chemistry. Looking good.
Speaking of Sid, great play to start the second goal.
I think I may have found the weakness in my ESPN league team… most of my forwards play in the West, and my Dmen are from the East…
Maybe we don’t need to make a trade for a winger.
I don’t think so, Buddha. I have a D from Atlanta, Toronto and Florida and you see how well I’m doing.
Just found it funny… the conference that supposedly holds back scoring, and all of my forwards are there, and the conference that supposedly boosts and promotes scoring, and I have all of my dmen there.
My real weakness was goaltending, hopefully I have solved that now. Oh, and if AO and Toews would wake up…
KiPA- You see how much fun I am having changing the one teams name on him?
Hee hee…
the Penguins are absolutely owning the Oilers tonight. Like, “Yeah, B…you work for ME now…” owning them.
5-0 late in the 2nd.
Wow Kevin, I almost feel bad for the Oil. They are getting destroyed.
Holy crap.
holy moly…Isles at Thrashers. I’ll be both fans at that game are LOVING it.
sorry: “BE” should be “bet”
bonus 30 minute pregame show (the Avs’) on CI right now…
yeah…nice wannabe canadian accent from JM Liles there…dude: you’re from Indiana. Deal with it.
I forgot about Darcy Tucker…maybe a little dance for a guy like a Weller?
Hannan is out too? These are two broke ass teams!
I saw one change at least, Buddha.
Boo, Oilers scored.
That was either pity or charity, KiPA. Maybe both.
Or lax defense.
nah…
this wahine for the Avs is absolutely VACUOUS, at least about hockey.
What Nick?
“I’ll be both fans at that game are LOVING it.”
So by “both” fans, do you mean the two people in the stands?
the Avs have some lady doing the interviews for their pregame. Not the brightest bulb on the tree.
NiNY, but she is cute. And that is what REALLY matters.
I’d say cute… in sort of a Cindy McCain with no makeup on kind of thang. but, hey, I guess some guys are into that look. ‘)
Hmmm.. maybe that was a different chick I saw on a different channel… I was just watching Mythbusters…. Mmmmmmm… Kari…
Wow, how quickly things change in PGH! Oil looking for the comeback?
Food
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