Wednesday practice update: easy as 1, 2, 3
Posted on November 19th, 2008 – 2:00 PMBy Brian Stensaas
First, just another reminder that Russo will do his weekly Russo’s Radio spot from 6-6:30 tonight on AM-1500 KSTP. Hockey talk on the radio. Catch the fever!
Second, while Tomas Mojzis did clear waivers today the Wild has until tomorrow to make a roster decision. That’s because teams are given 48 hours to decide what to do after making an emergency goalie call-up. Josh Harding, who has a “lower body strain” did not practice today. Nolan Schaefer was still here as the team’s second goalie.
Third, practice. Everyone else was on the ice today. Well, except for you-know-who. Actually, there was a rumor floating around that #10 was going to skate with the team today. But once again, it was a solo skate for Marian Gaborik.
The rest of the team worked hard on power plays . The first 25 minutes of the 50 minute practice was spent working on breaking out with the man advantage. Mostly, it was a bunch of shooting from the point. Which is a good thing, seeing as how this team’s offense needs any spark it can get right now. More on that in tomorrow’s paper.
That’s really about it. Nothing too taxing the afternoon following a victory over the Penguins.
284 Responses to "Wednesday practice update: easy as 1, 2, 3"
Gabby doesn’t seem to excited to practice with his team, I wonder if tensions are high when he is around.
How long did Gab skate by himself? Anybody know?
Well I guess a rumor that Gaby would be skating with the team is some kind of indication that he is nearing a return.
You are reading too much in Gaby not practicing with the team. He’s probably not healthy enough to practice with them. He has to get the okay from the trainers and from DR first. Why practice with the team when you can’t do much and probably hinder the rest of the team?
Someone on the Wild board said that they saw Gaby practice at the Waffle breakfast and he was watched closely by the strengthening coach and he couldn’t even get to his usual speed. Foster himself said that Gaborik is still injured.
My take is something different Sunshine.
Who were you referring to sunshine?
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
From the last thread, that chat with Jerry Micco: I don’t know how much actual hockey he knows. He’s just the sports editor of the Post-Gazette. So take what he said about Lemaire with a grain of salt.
Here’s some more info that may fuel trade rumor fires!
Sen’s forwards Mike Fisher and Chris Neil are now out for “several weeks” for “lower body injuries”. But since they are not Wild players, the injuries are said to be a strained knee ligament and a torn the meniscus respectively.
Did the Senators just become more desperate to make a move?
Did the Senators just become more desperate to make a move?
Or less apt to trade one of their few players who can score, at least for another injured one?
I was responding to the first post about Gaby not wanting to practice with the team because there might be tensions.
With anything related to Gaby, I have taken the approach - until it happens, rumors mean nothing.
KiPA - Particularly in light of Russo’s article on how drafting has broken the right way for the Pens I just had to point to the smugness of that Pens fan on the chat transcript. If we would have won the lockout lottery and got Sid insteaed of Benny the game last night would have been a little different 
6GS: There’s plenty like that. *shrug* We’re not entitled to anything. If we don’t want to work, the offensive potential means nothing. If our supporting cast sucks, we’ll get nothing.
Just curious why so many think a strugging team like Ottawa, would send Spezza packing for an injured sniper like Gaby. Not sure you make the team better by getting rid of one of your true legit players for an oft-injured scorer. Just doesn’t seem logical.
It’s all kool-aid drinking DB. There is no way we get a superstar caliber player like Spezza unless we send a lot more than just Gaborik.
Ottawa is exactly dead butt-crack last in the East and is ahead of only St. Louis in the overall standings. It seems they are in need of more than simply swapping petulant “stars”.
Brain fart. I knew what I was writing when I wrote it, but the entire time I was thinking “less desperate”
Sorry all!
If we can get a Vermette - even though he’s not been great this year - prospect, and a 1st or 2nd rounder (depending on the high the prospect is) — take it and run away with it.
Gaborik’s better than Vermette and will give them two solid lines.
lastly, if Vermette is not scoring or earning points, he’s just as helpful as Gaborik is for the Wild on IR.
I wish they would shoot the puck more on the PP-they seem to always be looking for the highlight-reel goal and the perfect pass..sometimes the boys should just blast a low rocket and crash the net in hopes of putting in a rebound…might actually score a few that way!
Spezza to Wild only makes sense to me if:
- Gaby and OTT can get a deal done
- Harding is involved in the trade
- OTT ain’t that smart or they are very desperate
I agree with sunshine - take Vermette and prospects/picks and declare victory.
But that’t the problem sunshine, teams aren’t gonna give up quality for a speedy sniper who is shelved because of a shredded weiner. Not when they can get that same player July 1 without giving up players and/or prospects. The problem here is that Ballgame waited to pull the trigger on a deal before the season started and now has been handcuffed to the couch by Gaby’s latest injury. At this point, if Ballgame can somehow pull a 2nd rounder out of another GM for Gaby, he should do it. Although he will be summarily roasted in Russoville immediately thereafter. Ballgame stated all summer and early fall that the Gaby contract situation was going to be cleared up one way or another before the season started. He failed miserably on that front and has put the organization in the position it is with Gaby because of it.
So we’ve started calling Gaby you-know-who… should we just start calling him Lord Voldemort? Lord Moldy-shorts? he who must not be named?
Lord Groindemort
I like that TGS. How about Mary-Anne?
Lord Moldy-shorts fits with his injury! 
Why might OTT want to part with Spezza or someone else:
As someone pointed out they are almost dead last. Maybe they’ve given up on salvaging their season and now want to win the Tavares sweepstakes. Trading for an injured Gaborik would, if he doesn’t get healthy, put them on a path to do that. Then maybe Gaborik is healthy next year to play with Tavares.
If he gets healthy this year he can play with Heatley and would they be worse off than with Spezza? I bet Gaborik and Heatley would get along well - they both like fast cars!
they both like fast cars!
Too soon?
TheGun: POTD.
If you are another franchise though, wouldn’t it be easier negotiations for you to try and deal for Gaborik while he is injured? You have the balance of power. If DR tries to ask for more, you can always throw the “You’re kidding me! He’s injured!” card. Plus, when he gets back to being healthy, you are going to get an electric player.
Not only that, if you are a city Gaby wants to play in, you have the contract power for an extension. “I’m not gonna give you $9 mil a year over 10 years - you are hurt. Let’s sign you to a 1 year contract at $8. If you can stay healthy next year, we’ll talk.”
So to those experts that say no one will trade for Gaby while he is injured, I ask why not?
I’m going to venture back into dream land.
If OTT is willing to give up Spezza for UM and Harding I say deal. Sign it, ship him over.
OK. I am now leaving dreamland. It was a nice visit.
Sorry NiNY, I don’t know that acronym. I guess I’m not a true fan
Was that a compliment or insult?
Anyone just catch what Esposito just said on “power play”? rumor in the press box he was in last night is that gabby is refusing to play.
BTW, does anyone have ESPN Insider? There’s a blurb about Gaby rumors, but I am not willing to pay for them.
TheGun:
compliment.
Post Of The Day
The Mr got a NHL Shop catalog in the mail, was it wrong of me to circle the things I wanted and mark those pages? I told him to think of it as a Christmas list.
Well, thank you sir!
“shredded weiner” -sheesh.
How about this scenario:
Wild send Gaborik to Rangers.
Rangers in turn send Drury and Marc Staal to Calgary.
Calgary then sends the Wild Craig Conroy and…(wait for it)…BERTUZZI!
5MM, for even mentioning Bertuzzi, that’s a game misconduct, hit the showers. 
How about this scenario:
Wild send Gaborik to Rangers.
Rangers in turn send Drury and Marc Staal to Calgary.
Calgary then sends the Wild Craig Conroy and…(wait for it)…BERTUZZI!
Big Winner: Calgary.
Second winner: NYR.
Loser: Minnesota.
Actually on second thought, the Rangers might not be a winner depending on Gaborik’s health.
BTW, does anyone have ESPN Insider? There’s a blurb about Gaby rumors, but I am not willing to pay for them.
All they do is rehash McKenzie’s blog from TSN. You can read it from TSN directly here:
http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/bob_mckenzie/?id=256366&lid=sublink02&lpos=headlines_blogs-Bob_McKenzie
I’m still thinking (given Gho$t’ comment about being an ‘LA’ kind of guy) that the only trade that makes sense is with UM ending up in Cali.
I would bet all of NiNY’s booze on UMWW (Uncle Moneybag’s Wounded Weiner) taking up space on the Kings’ IR list next year.
Thanks Bullmoose
NiNY- If you’re out there… I love your latest post on your blog. Well done.
Love it when you throw the numbers around… Gabonomics of course being my favorite.
once again, it was a solo skate for Marian Gaborik.
I’ve gotten the image in my head of the scene from “Miracle” when Brooks brought in Tim Harrer to a practice. The kid comes in, starts to stretch, while the players are looking at one another saying things like, “Who is this guy?” and “what’s he doing here?”
How about Gab just gets healthy; we put him on a line with Pouliot as the LW (since Bruno, Nolan, Bouchard, Boogy, Veilleux, Gillies don’t work), and we see how the two hit it off.
Put Belanger as the center between the two. He’s fast, so he can skate with them, and he’s defensively responsible enough.
Maybe if Gab is successful enough with that line, and we keep winning, Gab might want to stick around.
Or not.
Why not Gaby and draft choices and/or one or the young guns we have for somebody?
If Ottawa, or some other team, is mired, and needs to make a change for youth it would not be ususual for them to move a star.
But, then there would need to be a third team who wanted Gaby because it would make no sense for them to trade stars especially for an unsigned one.
Gaby might be fragile but I think he will come out of this for someone.
DB, but a season is always now for teams that get close to making a run. Those teams that feel he is just the right ingredient will always come shopping. Also, I don’t think you can use this as example that DR blew it. If you want to keep a guy, you continue to explore options but when he gets injured and that is just bad luck.
Nice KiPA. Is it wrong that i see him out there in a tutu, twirling as fast as he can to “It’s a Hard Knocks Life…”
KiPA, that is close to how I interpret things too. Can’t help but be resentments and at a certain point the team moves forward emotionally without him.
Tongue in cheek update time:
From SGS:
but I don’t trust MuN since he is trying to trade #5.
ROFL I spit out my coffee when I read that!
…and this gem from Rocky:
So at the end of the day I was talking hockey with a few colleagues when the old light bulb came on: Why doesn’t Minnesota trade its oft-injured star, Marian Gaborik, to Ottawa for its under-fire star, Jason Spezza?
Just so you know, Rocky… You heard it here first!
…and lastly, someone mentioned Vermette and Fisher.. Murray’s made it known Fish is not available for a while, and Vermette up until recently has been off-limits also.
I’ll tell ya this, if you’re watching what’s unfolding in Ottawa right now, that team is under fire from fans, media, and itself and the pressure cooker that is Canadian hockey has to let go sometime. Either Spezza or Vermette will go before Xmas.
Why do I keep seeing the end of the UM/Gho$t/Gaby situation like I see J. R. Rider leaving the T-chihuahuas? Or Dougie Ballgame (the original one) leaving the Twins?
Addition by subtraction?
The Wild ahve shown they really don’t need Super-Groin in order to win hockey games. Yes, it’s harder. Yes, not as many goals get scored. Yes, it’s much more of a team game.
But then again; yes, at least everyone on the Wild is same page. At least that is what it seems right now, IMO.
Iceman: this is on Ballgame now because he stated ALL summer and fall that the situation was going to be resolved, one way or another. Once he knew that Salcer/Gaby wanted the moon plus three dollars, it was on him to ship him, quick, because he better have known that if Gaby goes into the season in his final year, and he gets hurt, which he has done in the past, the organization will be left holding a smoldering bag of Bertuzzi. Well, guess what sports fans: Ballgame didn’t make a move before the season started, Gaby did indeed got himself hurt and now the organziation is left holding a smoldering bag of Bertuzzi. At this point, if they can pry a 2nd round pick out of somebody for a hurt Gaby, they should do it post haste. Because what Ballgame could have gotten for Gaby in September is light years what he will get for him if the deal is made tomorrow. Sad, but true (always trying to interject a little Metallica into the fray)
WRT: I can appreciate the “team concept” for the Wild, but let’s not pretend that the team will continue to be successful scoring 39 goals in 16 games. Won’t work in the playoffs, we have proven that. We can only kneel down at the altar of Gretzky and pray that Backstop continues to be the League MVP.
WRT- I would agree with that, at least the part that they don’t need UM to win.
I have said 1,000 times. Hockey is more a team game than just about any on the planet. If one player on the team decides they don’t want to play the way the team plays, it causes a major problem.
If one player on the team decides they don’t want to play the way the team plays, it causes a major problem.
Eh, I present Exhibits A, B and C, otherwise known as Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson.
I won’t argue with your point that hockey is more of a team game; in fact I agree. What I think is, having one problem player has a worse effect in other sports. I think it’s easier in hockey to get rid of a bad egg than in football.
In-season trades in football are as rare as a wise Risebrough decision.
Wild Road Tripper says:
November 19th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Why do I keep seeing the end of the UM/Gho$t/Gaby situation like I see J. R. Rider leaving the T-chihuahuas? Or Dougie Ballgame (the original one) leaving the Twins?
Addition by subtraction?
The Wild ahve shown they really don’t need Super-Groin in order to win hockey games. Yes, it’s harder. Yes, not as many goals get scored. Yes, it’s much more of a team game.
But then again; yes, at least everyone on the Wild is same page. At least that is what it seems right now, IMO.
If Backstrom wasn’t playing MVP goalie, the Wild wouldn’t even be a .500 team. The Wild may not need “Super Groin,” but they do need 3 scorers to have any chance if they make the playoffs.
Kevin in PA says:
November 19th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
If one player on the team decides they don’t want to play the way the team plays, it causes a major problem.
Eh, I present Exhibits A, B and C, otherwise known as Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson.
I won’t argue with your point that hockey is more of a team game; in fact I agree. What I think is, having one problem player has a worse effect in other sports. I think it’s easier in hockey to get rid of a bad egg than in football.
In-season trades in football are as rare as a wise Risebrough decision.
I completely disagree. In the No Fun League you have a roster of 53 guys to play 24 positions. In the NHL you have 21 guys to play 18 positions, not including goalies. In football, if an arrogant sob like TO is causing problems, he can be benched in favor of another WR. In hockey, benching a star player is much harder to do, especially if you’re a team like the Wild and need scoring badly.
Michael up North says:
November 19th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Tongue in cheek update time:
From SGS:
but I don’t trust MuN since he is trying to trade #5.
ROFL I spit out my coffee when I read that!
…and this gem from Rocky:
So at the end of the day I was talking hockey with a few colleagues when the old light bulb came on: Why doesn’t Minnesota trade its oft-injured star, Marian Gaborik, to Ottawa for its under-fire star, Jason Spezza?
Just so you know, Rocky… You heard it here first!
…and lastly, someone mentioned Vermette and Fisher.. Murray’s made it known Fish is not available for a while, and Vermette up until recently has been off-limits also.
Fischer is out a few weeks with a strained ligament in his knee. The Wild need help now. Even if Fischer was made available, the Wild simply shouldn’t wait 3 or more weeks to address their scoring deficiencies. I’d love to see Spezza and Vermette here though. Add some scoring punch and some size.
Dan: No doubt, they need offense. And quickly, before Backstrom cools off. But no one will give DR anything close to what he thinks Gaby is worth when Gaby isn’t even playing a game for the Wild.
DB is correct, that this is at the feet of DR and no one else. He cannot blame the media, any other NHL franchise or anyone in his own organization. I really don’t think that Gaby is a s hurt as has been reported, that he may just be pulling an NFL-style ‘holdout’ in order to get what he wants…a trade.
Comments?
Man, this Buf/Bos game is gonna make up for the goals Min/Pit didn’t score last night. Already 3 goals in less than 5 minutes.
What’s the over/under on how many games Princess Groinorik misses this season anyway?
Suck it up and play, man.
Woof. How is Manny still in net? TIMMMMAAAAAAAY!
WRT, this is what I floated a couple of days ago because a buddy of mine put the notion in my brain.
I honestly am starting to believe it more and more.
I would just like to express my approval of the nickname “Lord Groindemort”.
he can be benched in favor of another WR
…who won’t be nearly as good. Then he’ll complain to the media about not getting the ball. He’ll throw his quarterback under the bus (see Garcia, Jeff, and McNabb, Donovan) and force his team to deal with those distractions each day of each week, and there’s far more media coverage for the NFL than the NHL. The NFL trade deadline passed two weeks ago I think, so his team’s stuck with him the rest of the season and hope he has to shape up.
Besides, I didn’t even talk about benching a guy. I meant getting him off the team. If there’s someone who’s not jiving with an NHL team, he can be waived and sent to the minors (in the case of a young primadonna) or traded. In the NFL, you’re stuck with him. There’s no minor league to send him and as I said, their trade deadline is already over.
Look at what’s happened to the Cowboys now. They went from a clear Super Bowl favorite to being in last place (yes, Romo’s injury was part of that). But even before, TO complained about not getting enough touches. So Romo tries to force him the ball, even though Marion Barber’s a better player. And that’s not the way to win.
Can someone tell me where to pick up a book on how to be an idiot and show it on the internet in three easy steps please?
WRT:
Your theory makes no sense. If that is the case, then why is the Wild saying he’s injured? Other GMs need to know that they are trading for a HEALTHY player if they don’t want their fanbase to flame them. On the other hand, if Gaby wants to leave, he has to show that he can play for teams to want him.
Buddha -
Go HERE and do the complete opposite.
9 steps instead of 3, but its the best I could come up with.
I like Marian Groinorhip.
WRT - i’ve heard there could be some truth there.
of course this is at DR’s feet, i don’t think anyone is saying any different. I don’t blindly agree that he effed up by not trading #10 before the season started. Seriously, if DR traded #10 for a 3rd round pick on october 10th, the heat he took for the simon deal would have felt like romp in the sack with the PMOY compared to the heat felt after the deal went down.
so, my guess is keeping #10 was a better bet than dealing him for the steaming piles of bertuzzi being offered for him. I think we would have heard different if there was actually a real offer being made.
Won’t work in the playoffs, we have proven that.
games like last night are what wins playoff games. last year we were slightly depleated at D, IIRC.
Your theory makes no sense
it doesn’t make sense if you assume #10 dearly wants to play right now. #10 will be with a new team with a new contract for the 09-10 season whether he plays this year or not. he also is getting paid $7M this year whether he plays or not. He has intimated he doesn’t like playing in the “system” and i’ve heard from various sources that have access to the room that #10 and JL don’t like each other.
i find it completely plausible that #10 is dogging his comeback. No one else can say how he feels.
I really don’t want to believe that this is true but I would not be surprised if it was.
I go back to Foster saying that Gaborik is injured and that its nice to have someone to pass pucks to but would rather have Gaborik healthy and with the team.
No DR saying it, no Russo saying it, No Gaborik saying it, No agent saying it, but a fellow injured teammate.
and from a few blogs ago, because deep says backstrom will not be signed for 4.5m, look for backstrom to sign for 4.5m.
Deep Breath predicts things about as well as kj forsees things.
I go back to Foster saying that Gaborik is injured
is he saying he is injured because #10 says so? how would foster know he is too injured to play?
Why would he be dogging his comeback? New contract is based on stats and recent stats like this year’s stats. For every game he is not playing, he is losing opportunity to pad his stats. Its all economics.
Its more plausible to believe that the Wild are not rushing him back because he could be injured again. Earlier this year and during the 06-07 season, DR has said that they delayed Gaborik’s return to make sure Gaborik is truly 100% healthy so he doesn’t have a set back.
Don’t you think Foster will know since he and Gaborik work out in the same facilities and have the same trainers and skate together? They have played together for almost 3 years so Foster will know if Gaborik is injured or not.
For every game he is not playing, he is losing opportunity to pad his stats.
then why are we not reading stories that #10 is begging to play and that JL has to chase him off the ice similar to nolan or IJ? all we hear is he skates by him self for 10 to 20 minutes and he is gone, kinda like a…ghost.
The defense was fine in last year’s playoff series against the Avs. The offense was once again held in check. Will go nowhere fast in late April, if it even gets to that point, with one line that is hot for a while and then cold.
Gaby isn’t dogging the injury. This contract talk has about the dollars “Give me what I want”. Salcer, although he may be a slime, is no dummy. He knows that the more time Gaby is off the ice this season with an injury, the fewer dollars there will be come July 1.
So Smug trades Gaby before the season starts and 20 games into the season he’s lightin’ it up somewhere with a dozen goals and 25 points.
All we’d be hearing from Deep Breath is Dougie Ballgame didn’t get enough in the trade. Dougie Ballgame should have waited until the trade deadline.
He said he would get it done before the season started, because that is the first thing that is always done in a negotiation. Set a timeline. Anybody who has ever negotiated for more than a few ears of corn at the Farmer’s Market knows that means nothing. I am not a huge Smug fan, but UFA’s hold all the cards. There isn’t an exec in the league, hell in professional sports who could find a way out of this without getting some egg on their face, especially if they don’t have the ability to divine the future. It’s pretty easy to see the future after the fact…….which of course is what all good message boards are made of.
I have Gaborik in my pool and have the opportunity to do 2 trades, should gaborik be in one of my exchage or still wait …. fan from montreal
Stoned: Ballgame should have known, however, that the longer he holds onto Gaby without an extension, the greater the chance there would be of another injury, leaving the organization in the situation it is now. If knowing that Gaby was prone to injury was seeing the future, then most people who follow hockey, except Ballgame apparently, can see the future. it’s not like Gaby has never been shelved in the past; it’s not like he hasn’t made comments in public about possibly playing elsewhere; it’s not like Ballgame didn’t know before Labor Day that Gaby/salcer wanted more than what he was offering, in either dollars or years. Add all that up and it is paramount that the GM in question makes a move to trade that player ASAFP. If not, well, we are seeing what can happen if not.
Also, Stoned, if/when Gaby is traded, it is meaningless what he does statistically with that other team. If he’s not going to sign an extension, which seemed clear two months ago, YOU HAVE TO TRADE HIM. Or, you could let him play the season out and just expect him to resign come July 1. That seemed to work well with Rolston, anyway.
Green*: Because he is injured and he knows and the Wild knows he can’t play. That’s why we aren’t hearing the stories. If he can only skate for 10 to 20 minutes, does that mean he can last for a hard skating 50 minutes? No.
The Pio had an article last week with Gaborik saying something like he just has to be patient in relation to his injury.
When he was injured in the 06-07 season, we didn’t hear a peep about him saying he’s ready and wants to come back until a two games before he actually came back. Until then, he was injured and just frustrated.
as mentioned here #10’s greatest value was going to be at the deadline.
sure there was risk of injury and it seems easy not to say it was inevitable. But if the risk of injury was so great that Ballgame had to deal him before the season started, why would any other GM want to deal for him? why would any other GM want to offer more than a later round pick for him?
It just seems funny that we were discussing on this very blog back in late August, early september that if Gaby was not going to sign an extension that Ballgame had to deal him pronto, if not quicker, so we didn’t have to worry about the possibility of injury, which makes trading him next to impossible unless you want to settle for a Danny Irmen-type player. I’m not sure what everyone on this blog does for a living, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and suggest that none of us are a GM of a professional sports team. That said, if the dirty-faced, ROIAC-poster having masses can realize it, why can’t the Wild GM?
When he was injured in the 06-07 season, we didn’t hear a peep about him saying he’s ready and wants to come back until a two games before he actually came back. Until then, he was injured and just frustrated.
was he, as you say, looking to pad his stats for a big fat contract that season?
which makes trading him next to impossible unless you want to settle for a Danny Irmen-type player
what is all that was offered was a danny irmen type player? do you make the deal or roll the dice?
and i wasn’t one that expected #10 to get injured.
keep scoring nucks. use them all up.
The risk of injury, while proven true now, wasn’t great, but it was out there that had to be taken into consideration by the team that currently holds Gaby under contract and is financially responsible…suck, 3-0 Nux. I agree that Gaby’s highest value, if healthy, would have been highest at the deadline. But, that just seems like a major gamble…suck, 4-0 Nux….to take, which we are watching unfold before eyes. Hopefully, for the Wild’s sake, Gaby can come back before Xmas, put in three strong months, show no ill-effects to the injury, score some goals and Ballgame will be able to move him at the end of February.
G*: I will admit that I am not privy to any dealings inside the Wild offices, but I would be willing to bet my signed, Wayne Gretzky rookie card that Ballgame could have gotten a decent package back in September….nice, Blueshirts finally score, 4-1., compared to what is most likely available now, which is squat. Like i wrote, best bet now is that Gaby can put in 3 healthy months and we can get something for him at the deadline.
I don’t want to get caught in between two war factions here, but to me the reason UM isn’t begging to play is because he is a sissy. This is one of those posts that I have no basis for posting, it is purely opinion.
That said, I have seen hockey players play with injuries ranging from gashes over their eyes to borken hands and feet.
UM isn’t pushing to play because he doesn’t want to. It is way easier to skate 10 minutes a day, collect his pay check and wait it out until July. I really think his agent has got him brainwashed into believing he will get his pay day no matter what. (Again… no supporting evidence, just conjecture)
could have gotten a decent package back in September
i’d like to think so as well. i aslo think if he turned down a decent package, it would have leaked by now.
Of course he needed to pad his stats in the 06-07 year. He was just starting on his new and more lucrative contract. He needed to show that he was worth every penny and he was out for 34 games. This was after being out for 17 games the year prior.
So yeah, he needed to pad his stats. Maybe the only year, where he didn’t need to pad his stats was last season. Its a contract year this year, most players know that they need to pad their numbers. We saw it from Rolston and Demitra last year.
Players often seem to slack off after signing a big contract. It’s far from 100% but, without any evidence to back up, the majority seem to rarely live up to the contract.
Stuck in Mister Know it alls Craw.
(1) nobody in Russoville will say the Wild are a good team and worthy of contending for the Stanley Cup this year. How about discussing if this team is good or not ? A little disconnect Mister Know it all senses
(2) Burns has a contract that is below his worth at this time. Burns is considered a top flight Dman worthy of big bucks. His move to forward is good for the team rigt now, but how about Burns next contract ? I think Burns can play forward, but for him to feel good from a business point of view he will need to get results
(3) Look for Weller and Boogy to both be in the line up tomorrow night, the only way I see Lemaire not doing this is if he feel that those guys will distrupt the Wild concentrating on hockey and only hockey. if Burns is at forward this could be the biggest forward roster in Wild history
Of course he needed to pad his stats in the 06-07 year
???????
so you have to pad your stats to get a big fat contract and now you have to pad your stats after you get said big fat contract.
I’ll have what she’s having….
G*: That is true, but remember that Ballgame’s line of choice for the better part of 2 months was “We’re not talking to other teams right now. Our sole focus is to get Marion signed.”
Anyway, after Couver’s 5th goal, Lundquist pulled himself from the game. How do we feel about that? Do folks think that is quitting on the team, or is it no big deal? As far as I know, no other Rangers skated to the lockeroom and simply said, “I don’t have it tonight”.
For me, I took a look at all the info and have concluded that he is injured and it makes no sense for him to not want to play because it reflects badly on him as a teammate and as a player and will in the end effect his bottom line. For these players, its about the bottom line.
Some folks have a strong dislike for Gaborik - be it from the contract talks or his lack of defensive play or because he is Slovak - and will look for angles to reflect their negative view.
Its the same with Skoula. Some folks’ intense dislike for him blind them to the fact that he has been playing well. Even when its not his fault or maybe he is not even on the ice, people blame him automatically for a goal against.
and will look for angles to reflect their negative view.
I like #10. I want him to play in the xcel center until the wild go begging for a new arena because it is outdated.
it’s not good to paint with such a broad brush..
Why wouldn’t he pad his stats after a big contract? Did you forget that people ragged on Vanek, Brieire, and others for not living up to their brand new salaries?
The $10 million man — it didn’t stop until the playoffs for Briere. For Vanek, it just stopped earlier this season.
it’s not good to paint with such a broad brush..
Did she say “all”? “Some” can be as few as two. I think there’s two people on this board who don’t like Gaborik.
Our sole focus is to get Marion signed.
I can’t fault him for that. he probably should have punted earlier though.
is anyone else actually watching the rags/nucks game? does anyone think it is more exciting than the wild/pens from last night?
I want to be in the stands at the “X” in the spring of 2012 when Gaby scores 5 goals against the Red Wings in game 6 of the Western Conference finals and the Wild advance to the Cup Finals. I want.
The Buff/Bost games is highly entertaining. 6-4 in the 2nd.
Look at Johnsson — the dissatisfaction and moaning and groaning about him not being worth $4.8 million a year was much louder in year 1. It continued to year 2 until the second half of the year. You still hear it today from some posters.
Not a broad brush at all — SOME not ALL.
Did she say “all”?
well, i’m really the only one she is arguing with on this and i don’t really believe in the opinion i am supporting. I just don’t think it can be dismissed, out-of-hand.
i’ve used the tactic myself. some means the people that don’t see it your way.
oh and the addition of the skoula bashing leads me to believe it is more than one or two.
I could be wrong, actually i hope i am wrong, but don’t feel like i am.
Green*:
I am not dismissing your view. I understand where you are coming from and I just don’t agree with your view and you don’t agree with my view.
Simple as that.
Not to do a 180, but does anyone know whom the Blondie is that does between period stuff for the Bruins station? Holy chr!st, would she be an improvement over the mess we have to watch between periods.
Will the Wild trade Harding right now ? Not a chance in the world… Buddha asks, why not Mister Know it all ?
Quite simple Buddha: The Wild wont sign Backstrom until the year is over likely. It certainly wont make sense now unless Backstrom and his agent press the issue. If Backstrom gets signed then he could get traded Buddha. Good question !
so padding your stats after signing a big fat contract is to keep the fans off you? i don’t see that being something of concern for #10.
yawnson played a full season after signing with wild. he had every opportunity to pad his stats but couldn’t. i see no relevance
Blondie is that does between period stuff for the Bruins station?
where were you last season? I wrote my own war and peace on her here. even was willing to kick marney to the curb for her.
i’ve used the tactic myself. some means the people that don’t see it your way.
Which tactic? Using “some” to describe people who don’t see it one’s way? If so, then you assume that’s what sunshine is doing? My, what a broad brush you’re using. Or whatever. 
MKIA: Backstop is more expensive for the Wild on July 1 than he will be anytime prior. The bidding war for one of the top-3 goalies in the League, still in the prime of his career, will be borderline ludicrous if he’s allowed to test UFA waters. Ballgame would be best served if he signs Backstop now, not later.
Dammit. Miller’s got my FH jinx on him now. 
Any chance Lalime will get the loss here?
Both Miller and Lundy pulled. Bad night for NY goalies.
my goodness…is it time to be concerned if you’re a Sabres fan, or Lindy Ruff?
Not just fans but the media. You can’t say that Vanek didn’t take a hit for not producing last year. Players and fans want justification that they deserved that contract. Teams are banking on future production from these players. If they are not producing and earning $7.5 million in salary or taking $6.33 million in salary cap - - fans aren’t happy.
I am not happy that Gaborik is out injured and I believe that he is injured. I don’t want to pay someone with a $10 million salary with $7.1 million cap hit for 64 points even though he did get 36 goals especially if I didn’t want to give him that much yet but force to because of an offer sheet.
Fans and teams want to feel good about the contracts given out because it will affect their future salary cap - prime example Parrish. We now have to carry his buyout for 6 years, which that money can be used for other purposes.
(but don’t let me interrupt the debate here tonight…ms.c, pass the popcorn!)
Deep: Don’t get GreenStar started again on Kathryn Tappen…the ice outside isn’t cold enough to cool him off!
G*: I’m embarrassed I missed that. Not only would Marney get kicked to the curb for her, she would get run over by the limo Katy and I would be riding in on our way out for the evening.
Lundy wasn’t pulled, he quit.
she’s no RIAC, though, Deep.
Include me in the camp that still don’t quite understand how Johnsson is worth 4.8 million a year. Sure, he plays solid hockey, but is solid worth 4.8 million? If it is, we are setting the bar really low.
I gave Skou-dog all the credit he gets yesterday. He screwed up too many times to get a pass for playing 16 games not as bad as he played the other two full seasons.
I am also a UM hater. I don’t want anything in return for him. i don;t want to see him hoist a cup with the Wild. I don’t ever want to see him in IRR again. But that’s me. I’m a diehard.
He goes on the list of people who if they score, I give a golf clap rather than the full out party.
Imagine the X, UM’s first game back, and he scores a goal. Instead of 18000 people jumping up and partying, no one moves. No one even gets out of their seats. Ah, a dream world.
Trade him for a fourth round pick. Sign Backs. Move on.
*passes popcorn* though frankly, it feels like the same debate has been going on for 6 months.
Wow, pretty save there by Lalime. Nothing like slo-mo puck fluttering into a waiting glove. Yummy.
Not you, too, Nick…
Include me in the camp that still don’t quite understand how Johnsson is worth 4.8 million a year. Sure, he plays solid hockey, but is solid worth 4.8 million? If it is, we are setting the bar really low.
So much for no one complaining about his salary this season…
did you guys see Japers’ Rink tonight?
http://japersrink.blogspot.com/2008/11/hey-that-quick-chat-looks-familiar.html
Oh, and Gun… thank you for the link. I have read up and will now be able to act like an idiot with the best of them. I can’t wait.
ha, good thing that was a dry run, ms.c!
Aside from Roseanne in crotchless spandex, I don’t think there is an equal to RIAC
Yeah, I did Nick. Pretty well messed up, eh?
I am one of those who felt that we overpaid for Nolan and for Mittens back on July 1st.
Mittens had a hot start but has cooled off some. I want him to pop in a few more goals but until he does, he’s helping in other ways — on the PK and defensively sound. Partly its because he was seeing top defensive pairing and top checking lines.
I am one also saying that PMB is not living up to his $4 million contract so far. He’s been a disappointment to date.
I take one thing back about Gaborik might not need to pad his stats last season. All players need to play to their contract level. If its not scoring, they need to do other things until they are scoring again.
Ms. C. I wasn’t going to bring it up… but since it was offered…
yeah Buddha…just brutal.
Also, what the fire truck went on with Miller tonight? Is this the same guy that we saw a couple of weeks ago standing on his head at the “X”. Cripes.
Deep: that whole team has gone in the dumper over the last four or five games. Like they’re all playing with their skates on the wrong feet and the wrong-handed sticks.
Now I’ve got nuttin to say about Kimmy. I normally only notice d-men when they mess up or score goals. I have a feeling playing goal will cure me of that pretty quickly.
NiNY: tonight is especially horriffic; 7 goals on 22 shots!?! Cripes.
I think for Johnsson - he needs to average at least 35+ points of which 15 are goals and continue his sound defense for some folks to feel like he is deserving of his $4.8 million.
make that 3-5-1 coming INTO tonight’s game. Losses to the Senators (5-2), Bolts (5-2), Bruins (3-1), BJs (6-1) and Penguins (5-2).
7 goals for the Bruins and none goes to Patrice Bergeron?
I chose him over Burrows.
For those with the means, and time, I highly suggest listening to Joe Beninati call the Caps/Ducks game tonight on CenterIce. Puck drop is at 9. It is my belief that Beninati is one of the top 2 or 3 game callers the NHL has working right now. Very, very good.
so the Nux finish this one in, say, half an hour, off the ice around 10pm ET. Get showered and dressed, get out of the Garden by, say, 11pm ET. Out to LGA by, say, midnight ET. Takeoff by 1am ET. 3.5 hour flight to MSP, land by, say, 4:30am ET, but now it’s 3:30am CST. To the St. Paul hotel by, what, 4:40am CST?
I’d like to think that tomorrow night we can avenge that previous loss to the Nux.
I hope the Nux’ travel schedule between now and the opening face off will help.
NiNY- I gave you some props earlier for the post before the one about her Lady the Liar.
When throw numbers in your posts, they are the best. Gabonomics being the best of all.
Thought I would repost so you would get it, in case, you know, you missed it…
buddha: hey, thanks man. I figure I should be able to get some fun out of all the time I spend groping around in excel at work!
sunshine, I’d say more 40+ points, but we’re in the same ballpark… or ice rink as it may be.
Would also satnd to reason that as the highest paid dman on the team, that he be the best dman on the team, and he isn’t. But that’s my logic, not the NHL’s.
To me, Johnsson is the best d-men just not offensively.
Geez, just watching the debate and sipping white wine. Why in the hell am I drinking white wine? This debate is going nowhere. And, at the moment Johnsson is worth his contract.
wood: or, if you must drink it, why are you wasting time just sipping it?!
oe Beninati call the Caps/Ducks game tonight on CenterIce. Puck drop is at 9. It is my belief that Beninati is one of the top 2 or 3 game callers the NHL has working right now. Very, very good.
OMG are you serious?! You’re not, are you? YOu just know I hate the Caps and you said that to get a rise out of me, right? Right? Beninati? Good? Crazy. No way. By which I mean, I respectfully disagree and you’re welcome to listen to him.
Unless you’re a Caps fan then I guess he’s great, but he’s such a homer I can’t stand listening to him and I won’t if he ever does a Versus game.
all the time I spend groping around in excel at work!
Excel’s a strange name for a secretary.
NiNY, we had salmon so Mrs. Woodcock thought we should drink white wine since we have some bottles of it downstairs we rarely touch. But it doesn’t really do much for me. After all, as someone in the wine biz once told me the first duty of any wine is to be red. Maybe a single malt for desert. I’m a bit tired as I came in on the 6:15 AM from LaGuardia so I have been up since 3 AM CST. A single malt should put me to sleep nicely. Can’t wait to scream at Burrows tomorrow.
that’s 2 minutes for lewd and lascivious, KiPA.
damn, I gotta go clean the guest room and grab some shut eye.
Dad in MN is making me miss the end of the Wild/Nux game…..I mean, coming into town to visit his granddaughters….tomorrow night.
and grab some shut eye.
That’s a strange name for a… ahem.
Er, go Wild?
don’t make me add an unsportsmanlike to that minor, KiPA!
Hey, I’m allowed one more mouth-off (if you know what I mean) and I used it. I’m done (for now).
KiPA- Not a good night for your goalie…
Neither one, Buddha.
Could be a long night for the Ducks, keep giving up the PP goals…
C’mon AO… get involved!
2 PPA, guess he is involved.
*sighs and wishes he’d benched Jonas Hiller*
On the other hand, Marc Savard? *applause*
Ouch… I see that now KiPA… a collective GAA of 10.78. That’s gotta hurt.
Yeah… Savard. He used to be on my team. Oh, and Setaguchi.
I’m like a freakin farm team.
Eh, I still have the top GAA.
I’m now first in +/- somehow. Don’t know how that happened.
By the way, you said Hoskins is your nephew, right?
AO. Another assist. I hate Backstrom (wash). I hate him, and I want him to break his knee.
OK. Not really, but c’mon. I have to be one of the worst FH GMs ever. Gave up him too…
Yeah, he is.
Eh, I cut Pominville, then suddenly Ruff put him with actual good players. Now he’s taken off. I cut Backstrom too, though I got Little for him. (Heh heh. Funny joke.)
Did he at least see my trade offer?
I still can’t get a hold of him. He batter call me soon, I have his tix for the game tomorrow.
What was the trade?
I want to be in the stands at the “X” in the spring of 2012 when Gaby scores 5 goals against the Red Wings in game 6 of the Western Conference finals and the Wild advance to the Cup Finals. I want.
So, how does it feel to “want”?
Leclaire (before the seven GA) and Visnovsky for Markov. He’s got D but some shaky and/or injured goalies.
Actually looks like an OK deal. If you repropose it, I’ll tell him.
Don’t bring up Leclaire, please! He’s thrown out the curve for my goalies this week.
KiPA: Was this Backstrom, the center? I decided to keep him on for one more week and I was rewarded. So, I will keep him on. I have too many centers and I like them all. Wish there were more Util slots.
I did propose it. And sorry sunshine. I feel your pain. Each of my goalies tonight gave up three.
Ok, so my earlier post disappeared into the ether. Just got home from seeing Zack and Miri, great movie. And KiPA, Miri sleeps in a Pens jersey. Kevin Smith is a comic god. But if you don’t want to see Jason Mewes naked I wouldn’t suggest it for you.
At least three, I meant.
Good to know, Bandgeek, thanks.
KiPA: beninati may be a lot of things, but a homer he is not. You may recall his call of the Malkin goal a couple of years ago, you have seen it in commercials for the NHL, his call finishes with, “Malkin….Sensational!!!”. That call alone got him roasted in Washington for a couple of months by fans on the blogs and other types who complained he wasn’t homer enough. Ish, as if the world doesn’t have enough Mezzacco’s in it. He is simply one of the best and that’s why he is getting games to do nationally on the NHL network.
No problem KiPA. The main character Zack plays hockey in the movie. The goalie on the team has an old school mask (think Jason Vorhees slasher movie mask), the mask has a puck wedged in to the forehead, really kinda cool. Lots of hockey related stuff in the background really. Smith is like that though.
No, I don’t recall his goal call, and we must have seen different games. Maybe the ones I’ve seen were the few where he has been overly homer but I’m not the only one who thinks that about him (disclaimer: one other is a Pens fan too). I’ve watched him call Caps games on the Comcast feed and I didn’t last long before I changed the channel because I couldn’t take it anymore.
I’ll offer this though DB: My extreme dislike for the Capitals may blind my vision (or deafen my hearing as it were), and I won’t dispute that Beninati knows what he’s doing, but I don’t like listening to him when he does the Caps or Penguins.
KiPA: You’re right, your dislike for the Caps and the League’s best player (Ovie) is blinding you to being able to enjoy one of the top play-by-play men the sport has to offer. I feel sorry for your loss
KiPA: At least you are honest about it. That’s half the battle.
KiPA: If nothing else at least we can agree on the fact that Don Cherry is a douchebag.
Band - Happy Birthday!!! Enjoy the game tomorrow.
Strange day on the blog IMO. Everyone is discussing trades in circles. Sort of gives me an headace but of course I feel I the need to add my (very invalid) opinion.
I do think there might be a time when we can get premium value for Gaby but only if DR can play the other teams out east, NYR, MTL, OTT etc. against each other. I do think there is some fear involved and the different GM’s don’t want Gaby on any rival team.
I would like to see Speeza in IRR but I”m not very confidne that it will happen. DR just prove me wrong.
Don’t waste your sympathy on me, DB. I appreciate the notion but I don’t feel bad about “missing out” on him. I actually care very little for broadcasters. There’s too many bad ones out there and I’ve learned to just tune most of them out. I don’t watch games for an announcer.
And I don’t hate Ovechkin. He’s a hell of a player. I just wish when we play him that he actually feels like playing hockey instead of turning into Chris Simon. Please try not to assume that while I hate the entity of the “Washington Capitals” that I hate each individual associated with them.
at least we can agree on the fact that Don Cherry is a douchebag.
+10
DB - I second that Don Cherry comment but you know you just woke up the bear that was sleeping with that comment.
KiPA:
Maybe with all this extra attention to the AO-Malkin feud, AO will turn it down next matchup, hmmm?
Not because of you, but I think its being generated from AO’s end and less on Malkin’s.
Here’s proof I can appreciate anything coming out of the nation’s capital (and isn’t THAT loaded with possibilities):
Ted’s Take - that’s written by the Caps owner, right? - has a brief but really glorious blog post on the All-Star game voting.
Well, you’re right, sunshine. Malkin’s not taking runs at AO. That one game they had last year, when both had two goals and a couple big hits, he took a run at him. When they played this year, Malkin took a run only after about the fifth charge by Ovechkin.
I don’t know if that feud will get toned down. Even if it does, we have the Semin-Sid one brewing. (By the way, Semin’s comments? If he was referring to just this season, he was right.)
Well, I’ve just seen another top goalie give up a sh!t load of goals tonight. First Lundy, then Miller and now JS. Enough is enough. Can’t wait for Backstop to set the hockey world back on its collective axis again tomorrow night with a 28 shot, 27 save performance in a 3-1 Minnesota win. Night folks, we’ll pick up the “Vancouver sux” talk tomorrow. Be well…
Its hard to believe that the Wild is on Versus for 3 weeks in a row. This week against the Pens, next week against the Caps, and then the following week against the Avs.
That’s a lot of exposure. Almost makes me feel like the Pens and the Red Wings on NBC.
The Wild wont sign Backstrom until the year is over likely. It certainly wont make sense now unless Backstrom and his agent press the issue.
Thanks MKIA - we call that the Brain Rolston strategy.
Lots of fun comments to read tonight.
This just in from Charley Walters:
The Wild and Gaborik, who can become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, are stalemated on a contract extension.
You know that shooter hasn’t been right on most Wild-related information that is directly related to hockey.
Okay, Shooter is right on that part but that’s just stating the obvious. I thought you posted the part about him coming back on the ice soon, sorry.
Uh oh. No Fleury Thursday and maybe not Saturday. Sigh. Well, next season…
I thought you posted the part about him coming back on the ice soon, sorry.
That part was equally non-newsworthy
Gaborik + 2nd rounder for Kessel + Wheeler
Oh good lord.
What’s the problem, Ms. C?
The Minnesota player campaign… then again, if we could get those two for Gimpy and a 2nd, I guess we’d be ahead of the game.
Well, as an impartial observer, and one who knows nothing about Wheeler, take away the Minnesota connection, and why wouldn’t you want those two players? 15 goals, 23 points combined, one’s 21, one’s 22. Kessel’s looking like he’s starting to get it.
Boston gets (if healthy) a potential game-breaker, something they don’t really have (Kessel might be close). Hell, I think the cap hit even works out too.
Yeah, I know. But you have to figure the real angle there is getting MN players on the team. You know how some of these folks roll.
I just don’t know why any team would give up anybody of value for Gaby right now. It’s not like many teams have an excess of scoring. Oh… well… maybe Boston.
I used to really hate Johnsson for his salary, but he is a solid D-Man, and while he doesn’t score goals, he seems to have a knack for assists (breakout passes?)
So I think we should pay reasonable money to keep him around. I wouldn’t be heartbroken to see him go, but it would definitely leave a huge hole in the roster- one that is not quite ready to be filled by our current roster plus Cuma.
Wow, 2 goals for Bobby Ryan tonight. What’d I say about him belonging in the NHL?
While you’re right, that the main goal was probably to get Minnesota players, I can’t really fault the selections. I actually sort of like that proposal.
As for Boston’s excess of scoring…well, tonight was a bit of an aberration. I don’t know if they’re really all that offensively-gifted. Although…well maybe they are. 62 goals is tied for best in the East and second in the league, but aside from Savard, how many other forwards can you name? Lucic’s good, but I think those Cam Neely comparisons are a little premature. Who instills fear in the opposition?
I don’t know, what did you say? I know I drafted him in one fantasy league, expecting an awesome rookie season, and was furious when the Ducks had to send him to the AHL because Teemu “I think I’ll go/stay” Selanne came back and signed a contract, so they had no salary space for Ryan.
That’s the thing about Boston though… if the threat is spread around, there’s nobody (a la Gaby, Crosby, Malkin) to shut down. I’d rather have a team like that. An ensemble.
re: Ryan, I said, when the Chops came to Houston, that he looked like a man among boys on that team. You made a good call, in principle, drafting him. He’s a talented kid. I wonder if we kidnapped him, left Gillies in his place, if they’d notice and come looking for him.
There’s a validity to spreading it around, but I also like having that one clutch guy who I know will step up when the game’s on the line. I don’t know who does that for Boston.
I think they’d notice missing Ryan.
Speaking of, here’s something that should give you a good laugh. I saw a Penguins fan wondering if the just-acquired Boucher would be enough to trade to Anaheim for Ryan.
Smug did a nice job in contracts with Schultz, Burnsie and Koivu. I think he was able to underpay those 3 which heightens other player’s sensitivity come contract time. If I am The Backuum and I keep playing like this, there is no way I don’t test the FA waters. Unless of course, he finds the Wild environment and MN quality of life worth a couple $M per year. Sure.
Gaby isn’t faking it. The hockey world is too small for that not to get around and it would dog him and his agent all the way back to some low rent Euro league team. I haven’t checked it out, but I bet that most NHL GM’s are canucks who wouldn’t let that pass coming from a Euro. I don’t care how good he is/was, he would pay for that somehow.
I forgot to add that the longer the Gaby thing goes, the more the sinking economy could play into revenues and salary cap numbers. Some of these teams are border line as it is. If they start to feel the pinch even more, the demand for Gaby’s services declines.
Man, some people up late last night (or early this morning)!
That is funny, Kevin.
I think I’m up too early for how late I was up.
And I have a sore throat. Super.
GreenStar says:
November 19th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
i’d like to think so as well. i aslo think if he turned down a decent package, it would have leaked by now.
If Gaborik had a decent package, he wouldn’t be on IR right now! bah-dum-ching!
Wow…did I ever pick the wrong night to be working. Entertaining stuff on here!
Green*…he HAS become a Gho$t. And he will be on the LA Kings IR next season, I have forseen it.
Deep…thanks for another indelible image burned forever into my mind…Roseanne in crotchless spandex.
WRT…thanks and more mail…
Here’s to another Wild victory. In regulation. With Henrietta and Danielle pointless. Burrows V Clutterbuck. Luongo pulled after 4 goals in 6 shots.
I don’t want much, do I?
Gonna have to deny you on the BvC wish. I wouldn’t expect another Cal fight until January.
Though I would love to see him get the goal monkey off his back.
May have to send a bouquet of dandelions to the schedule makers for the “favor” they have done the Wild this month. If I recall, Phoenix played on the East coast the night of the 12th, then played at the “X” the following night (Wild won). Then, the BJs were on the East coast on the 14th and played at the “X” the following night (Wild won). Now, the Sux played on the East coast last night and play at the “X” tonight (Wild will win). I’m sure it will all turn around and go against the Wild later on in the season, but for a team that has been historically horriffic in the month of November, the schedulers are doing their best to help us break that trend. The last 6 games of the month (Van, StL, Wash, Dal, TB and Nash) makes me hope the team can put a decent month together.
RICS and RIAC 4-ever
Deep: The Blues play tomorrow night, too.
Make that a double-batch of dandelions, then to the scheduling wonks!
We need food from the Don so we can attract the ‘Nuckleheads. I can’t wait…
Wow - you guys were busy last night!
With all the talk about having more offense in the papers today, I’d love to say I think this game is going to have a lot of scoring (mainly from the home club), but the fact of the matter is two of the top goalies in the league, along with two of the most defensive, and currently offensively challenged, teams are playing against eachother.
2-1 Wild in another shoot-out.
not that it matters much, but I heard Bill Clement last night, and Denis Potvin this morning both singing Backstrom’s praises.
Buddha: I really don’t mean to be spreading dissent on SBN, you know that, right?
So, Demo tonight: cheer, boo, indifferent?
Alright! I think I found a style of debate where MKiA and Dan can hold their own:
NiNY-
He’s getting booed. The guy whined incesently, and has bad mouthed the team since he left.
He’s gettin’ his tonight.
Everyone knows the Wild have historically had a Nov. skid. Here’s the numbers:
2002 - 14 Games - 5 wins = 35.7%
2003 - 13 Games - 4 wins = 30.7%
2005 - 11 Games - 4 wins = 36.4%
2006 - 13 Games - 4 wins = 30.7%
2007 - 13 Games - 7 wins = 53.8%
2008 - 13 Games - 5 wins so far = 38.4%
So, if the lose the remaining games in Nov, they’d finish better than all but last season. If they manage to win all remaining Nov games, they’d finish with a win in 84.6% of the games! To match last years win % they need to win 2 more games. Easily achievable IMO. They might finish Nov. with their best Nov. win % in the team’s history. Not too bad for a team struggling to score goals.
Note: Only games where the Wild recieved 2 points (W, Over Time W, Shoot Out W) were counted as wins. Ties were not counted as wins.
Sounds like we see Sanford tonight.
I got 5 hypothetical dollars that say Clutterbuck rattles Demo tonight in the corner and Demo is out again for anouther month with a shattered Slovakian glass groin.
Oh, BTW it took me some time to find those numbers. Not on Wild.com, not on NHL.com, not on TSN, not on Fox… Guess where? ESPN of all places!
Not saying they aren’t on those other sites, but not easily found.
Hanson brother on KQ right now.
Question:
IF a player were refusing to play AND the team had some evidence of such, would that be grounds for the team to terminate his contract? Would something like that allow the team to get his salary off their cap number yet allow the team to retain his rights (re-sign or trade) until the contract would have expired, or would the player be free to go elsewhere once the contract was terminated?
Anyone know if there are provisions for such in the CBA?
I expect big hits tonight! These games are always close and very intense. Have to beat a divisonal opponent at home.
Let’s let the ‘nucks know what we think of them!
- I’ll start first.. I think they are a bunch of no-talent hacks!
Goody: see Radulov, Alexander.
I with Nick on this one, Goody. If there isn’t provisions in the CBA, there is in basic contract law. You signed a deal, you violated the terms of it. Not only would I think the team could offload the hit to the cap, but likely have a case against the player for the pay they had already received…
See Ricky Williams example.
Deepbreath, I disagree that Backstop is more expensive on July 1st. Loyalty is part of his character and he likes it here. I for one cheer for him to do good every night
Stuck in Mister Know it alls Craw.
(1) nobody in Russoville will say the Wild are a good team and worthy of contending for the Stanley Cup this year. How about discussing if this team is good or not ? A little disconnect Mister Know it all senses
(2) Burns has a contract that is below his worth at this time. Burns is considered a top flight Dman worthy of big bucks. His move to forward is good for the team rigt now, but how about Burns next contract ? I think Burns can play forward, but for him to feel good from a business point of view he will need to get results
(3) Look for Weller and Boogy to both be in the line up tomorrow night, the only way I see Lemaire not doing this is if he feel that those guys will distrupt the Wild concentrating on hockey and only hockey. if Burns is at forward this could be the biggest forward roster in Wild history
MKiA…repeating it doesn’t make it so, no matter what you’ve heard…
I think Vancouver should lose interest in agigtating the Wild as a tool to help them win games. I dont see that it has any value for them with the present Wild roster
God Loves you KJ ! I am trying to wake up Russo Nation to have them think up some different topics, especially Buddha ! I know I am raising some issues that are right on KJ. Is not anyone excited about having a Stanley cup contending team in town ? Are the Wild a good team expected to win most every game now ? I dont think I am in the wrong here KJ
Interesting piece by Mirtle on the Ducks cap juggling act. Douggie… let the new guy over there know we’ll be happy to take Bobby off his hands and give him… I dunno… Morten Madsen?
Loyalty is part of his character and he likes it here.
So why wouldn’t DR sign him now instead of this summer as you suggested last night? Where is your support group?
If you truly are MKiA, then you should already know when I am being sarcastic MKiA.
Or, are you a fraud? Mister Know Some Stuff? :p
MIKA: If you think that Backstop won’t be more expensive to sign with a slew of teams bidding on him July 1, you and Dubay must have the same supplier. Recall Huggy a year ago, he did nothing but sing the praises of the state, city, team, organization, pets, arena and grocery stores of the area. Yet, in the end, went where the most years was offered. Nobody wants Ballgame to sign Backstop more than I, but you can bet your eyesight that there are GMs out there that will gladly pony up $5.5-6.0 million per year for one of the top goalies in the League in the prime of his career. Hopefully, Ballgame can sign him during the season for 5 yrs, $24-26 million. That pricetag only goes up, naturally, if more than one suitor is bidding come July 1.
Deep…
I only read one negative comment from Rolston about MN. Something about an image burned into his mind forever and the initials RIAC…
Mister Know Some Stuff
LOL
Ok, who’s stolen my identity???
DB- Support for your argument… Huet and ‘Bulin in Chi town. Both top goalies, both making a mint. GM willing to pay both of them.
Backs is going to get his, no doubt. If DR hasn’t learned from the Huggy dealings, than he never will. Wait until July 1, Backs is gone. Sign him soon, get a good deal.
DB and kj - Please stop the RIAC talk! The meere thought of that image is very hard to shake. One must reach far down in the spank bank to clear ones mind.
Sorry, KJ… that was me. Damn blog. I want my money back.
BDS: Think of old nuns or dead kittens. Or, Roseanne in crotchless spandex.
Apparently we won a bidding war with VAN for Mittens:
“I knew about Vancouver’s offer and I was tempted because they have many of the same qualities in a team, but this one has lots of real good young players,” said Miettinen, referring to the obvious attributes of Koivu, Brent Burns, James Sheppard, White Rock’s Colton Gillies and, at the time, Marian Gaborik.
“I kind of liked the way they played as well and had a good feeling about the organization because the way they play suits my game.”
This writer also reports that the Gaby trade “is expected to happen very soon.” Maybe Demo is cc him on txt messages! - http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=c767ab5e-add3-4840-875f-31ad10af75bb
DB - LOL…. nah, I was more thinking something in line with a certain tall blond waitress at DB’s going far back to the good old Cloud town days, know what I mean.
From 6GS article,
“There has to be some explanation of why Richard Park is still drawing a big time paycheque.”
paycheque?
Wow, Shipley kinda gets ripped into on Puck Daddy. Oops. I wonder if he’s regretting his little penguin stomping confession…
RICS.
A new low for imagery.
This blog’s wonkiness is reminding me of Gho$ts’s groin.
“Now, my feeling is this: if you don’t want somebody to step on something, you probably shouldn’t put it on the floor.”
Classic! Or here’s an idea: If you don’t want anyone stepping on it, put up some ropes, or a sign that says to visitors, “Please do not step on the Penguin”
Gun… there’s nekkid hockey players… nobody’s reading signs. It’s like Willy Wonka’s Beefcake Factory in there.
Can you imagine that conversation in the Wild locker room?
“Hey Reporter! Get off the… bear-ish, animal looking thing with a river for a mouth! It’s sacred!”
I am sure Shipley and other reporters along with players can’t wait until the new arena is built. This would solve alot of problems including room for reporters to maneuver without stepping on the logo.
Ten minutes ago i was DB, I hit refresh and now I am SGS!
I was Sunshine and then refreshed and now I’m me again. It was nice while it lasted.
I just realized the CANADA HOCKEY sweatshirt I put on this morning was the wrong choice for today, eh? Dummy.
This blog is really goofy today.
I have already been DB, 6 GS, and now Richard B.
Why do I see other people’s email addresses on my screen? Goody’s, sunshine and gunslinger appeared earlier.
Somebody, what is RIAC?
Can’t disagree with MKiA for trying to introduce new topics.
MKIA: only two Canucks agitate the Wild: Kesler and Burrows. Those two won’ fight Boogie and Weller. PMB- yes.
Loyalty - a two- way street. If by July 1st, Backs isn’t re-signed, the Wild would have shown no loyalty to Backstrom so no returned loyalty is required of him. He is free to go wherever he wants to go. If the Wild want him at that time, they better be willing to shell an extra $500K to $1 million more a year to get him.
Iceman, remember, you asked… have a mental enema on standby…
Rosy In A-less Chaps
Perhaps they could move Gaby to a bottom feeder for high draft choices.
Let this years team find its own way and in a few years have some studs!
Usernames/e-mails:
I’ve said it before, it the name/email thing bothers you do as I did and send some feedback via the link at the bottom of the page. If they get 1 or 2 complaints, they probably won’t look into it. If we all send a complaint, they’d be more inclined to act.
While I think all of us have so far ignored the bug and changed the info back to our own, I’d be pissed if some Canucklehead, Avs fan, or other troll got my e-mail through the bug and started sending me harrassing e-mails or if they started signing me up for spam or….
IceMan:
RIAC: Rosie O’Donnell in a$$less chaps
RIAS: Roseanne in a$$less spandex
enjoy your lunch
- I think seeing some of the email address has been fun but come on, this has been going on long enough!
- IJ - paycheque is the British spelling. Last time I checked, the Queen’s kingdom still included our neighbors to the north.
Why doesn’t PMB pump a few shots on goal? Always seems to be looking for the perfect pass. If all the goalies in the league have a pretty similar save percentage - you’d think that getting more shots on net would be the key. Maybe the first one doesn’t go - but the rebound might.
SHOOT THE PUCK! ON NET!
Did Skoula get into the Strib’s server room again? The blog has been incredibly slow for me for the past 30 minutes or so.
Played golf yesterday in Minnesota! 35 degrees and windy. I wore 5 layers, stocking cap, mittens with hand warmers. Played left handed and shot 38-41=79.
Oh and I had a “lower body injury..” Yet I was able to go. For the team. Get the hint Gabby? You either love it or you don’t. I’m guessing you couldn’t give a rats butt.
Good point Goody, my message has been sent.
Arg. I hate this blog lately. IT! IT! Help us!
Iceman. Thanks for aking that question. I had almost gotten the image out of my head.
Comment on Puck Daddy:
“The New York Rangers’ Scott Gomez played about 10 games with a stress fracture in his ankle before succumbing to the pain. Hockey players are such little girls.”
And UM can’t play because his groin hurts.
There. There is my proof I was looking for the other day. UM is a sissy.
Food ladies and gents…
after lunch snack ladies and gents…
