Johnsson to wear C in December; Belanger in; Clutterbuck, Gillies out?
Posted on December 1st, 2008 – 10:18 AMBy Michael Russo
Proving the rotating captaincy is still a rotating captaincy, defenseman Kim Johnsson has been named December captain. No Wild player has ever worn the ‘C,’ for three consecutive months, so I guess letting Mikko Koivu keep the ‘C’ would have set, dare we say, a precedent.
Johnsson’s had a very strong season so far, and Jacques Lemaire wanted to reward him. Lemaire said changing things up was no slight to Koivu, whom he praised endlessly.
Johnsson has never worn the ‘C’ before. He was handed the sweater in a locker room meeting before the skate, and he did the traditional lap around the locker room high-fiving his teammates. He said the best two captains he ever played for were Brian Leetch and Mark Messier his first two seasons in New York.
As for the lineup, the only change is Eric Belanger in for Colton Gillies. Oh, and of course, Niklas Backstrom in for Josh Harding. Craig Weller earned a second straight game and Cal Clutterbuck will have to sit for a second straight game.
(Caveat: I’m writing Clutterbuck’s out because he got bagged after the skate. But after listening to Jacques, he’s talking like Clutterbuck’s playing. So we will see. Clutterbuck didn’t think he was playing though).
Lemaire said Clutterbuck slowed down after he praised Clutterbuck and said he deserved everything he’s gotten after the Washington game. Lemaire said it’s the last time he says a guy’s got a spot on the team. Lemaire said it wasn’t a wake-up call, but if you watched Clutterbuck skate in this morning’s skate, he got the message. He was absolutely flying.
But Lemaire said he’s not taking Weller out after the Nashville game. Weller, by the way, looks like he’s played every game the last two months. His face is swollen and it’s myriad colors.
Belanger was out on the ice early testing his injured leg. He was clearly in discomfort, but he said he’s playing. Belanger, unlike some players, has a high pain threshold. Remember, last year he broke his foot and was supposed to miss 4-6 weeks. He was back in like two.
“I can play through a lot of pain,” Belanger said.
Derek Boogaard had some funny things to say about his three-second shift. I’ll try to squeeze that into the paper tomorrow. He said the stat guys in Nashville were actually generous.
He said it’s the first time he played just one shift. I reminded him of Atlanta ealier this year, and he said, “Yeah, but that was a full shift — 30 seconds.” Actually, 29. 
Since the Wild doesn’t feel it necessary to comment and inform their paying customers about its highest-paid player ($7.5 million) who will miss his 21st consecutive game tonight, I got to the rink early to see if Marian Gaborik was again skating on his own. He still isn’t.
He was there getting treatment, I was told.
Peter Budaj is starting for Colorado, I believe.
OK, talk to you prior to the game.
193 Responses to "Johnsson to wear C in December; Belanger in; Clutterbuck, Gillies out?"
Booooooooooooo!
MIKKO IS THE CAPTAIN!!!
Hope Cal is on the ice tonight to throw some hits. Also hoping Belanger is OK and can play this evening as well.
Any word on that #10 guy who graces the month of December on the team calendar? He is “still with us” right?
I’m actually pretty happy with this choice. I think he’s really stepped up so far this year.
Sure Johnsson has been incredibly solid on the back end for the Wild but can he captain a team with three starters from Finland?
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Koivu is the captain of this team. Why doesn’t Jacque put names in a hat and choose a different captain for each game? It all sounds great to have each player being a leader on the team, but in the real world, not everyone is a leader. Leadership is earned, and to me, Koivu has done everything asked of him and more. Taking a look at a team that has actually won the cup a few times like the Red Wings, Steve Y. was the captain for several years and now Nick L. has also done it for several years, and both of those guys embody the word leader.
Note to Jacque, this team has not come close to winning the cup, so why don’t you be more conventional with the captain choice and less conventional with your offense. At least give this a try for one season. This franchise has only won 2 series in it’s history. Maybe you should change what you’re doing. Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein
What was it that Max Goldman said to John Gustafson in Grumpy Old Men? “Watch your mouth you dumb friggin Swede.”
does anyone actually think koivu will go pout in the corner and play like bertuzzi for the next month because he doesn’t have that precious little C on his sweater?
Leaders are leaders whether they have a C or not.
“This captaincy is rotating and whether you like it or not!” - Sincerely, JL
I’m disappointed, but Kimmy’s not a bad choice if it isn’t going to be Mikko. But it should be Mikko. Forever and ever.
And no G*, I don’t think he’ll pout at all. HIS reaction to it isn’t really a factor to me. I was just proud to have a guy like that wearing the C for my team.
Cal better not be scratched tonight or somebunny’s gonna have a grumpy Ms. C on their hands.
GreenStar is right about that. Jacque the Great actually chose Gaborik as the captain at one time, and the only thing he leads the team in is downtime.
agreed Green*, agreed. This is the Wilds tradition like it or not. Just because the C is not on your sweater does not take away from anyones abilities to go out and continue to do what they do best, which in Franchise’s case, is lead this team. I used to be annoyed with Johnsson, his salary, and lack of offensive production which we got him for. However he has stepped up and is playing a great defensive game for us this year in my opinion. Congrats to Kim. 17 goals in the last 4 games, I hope they keep this momentum going!
I think we can all agree that Koivu should be the permanent C. Nothing against Johnsson, who has played very well this season, but isn’t it clear to all who watch the Wild?
So the guy that couldn’t get away from Tootoo fast enough the other day, and had to have the goalie jump in and save him is now the team captain? I know it was just the one thing, but it’s stuck with me. I’d hate to see a captain of a team I was on do that.
I have no idea why they don’t just make Koivu the captain and leave it alone.
I was just proud to have a guy like that wearing the C for my team.
So you like went to other people and bragged that we have Koivu as OUR captain?
I know i’m in the minority on this issue. i just don’t think this captain thing has any relevancy in the modern game. not like it used to when players were with their teams for more than a cup of coffee on average.
I’m done. rant away.
Yoke, take a look at the picture at the top of Star Trib’s Wild page. Picture tells a thousand words, huh?
Man, youtube never has the clip I need…
Anyone got video of Johnsson running from Tootoo? Because from what I remember seeing Tootoo ran Harding, Johnsson gave Tootoo a couple shots, and as Tootoo backed away, Johnsson tripped on the net.
That’s what I remember, but I only got to see the replay once. I could be wrong.
And yes, Harding popped him a couple. And good on him for doing so.
Like, no, G*. I meant, as a fan, in my little fan heart, it made me proud.
Frankly, I hear Kimmy’s the captain and I feel… nothing really.
And yeah, Mikko is still on my team and still a leader but I liked the C on him. It felt right.
Buddha, I don’t recall it as Kimmy pussing out, either. The playback in my head is Tootoo sort of mugging Kimmy, Kimmy kinda losing his balance, and while he was regaining it, Hards mugging Tootoo.
I’m with you G*. While I would have liked to see Mikko be the captain for good, with the rotating C I think we all knew Mikko would lose it at some point.
I don’t mind Johnsson, his play, his style, basically anything about him. I’ll leave out the one problem I have with him because I don’t want to spark that debate back up.
I feel a lot more comfotable when he is on the ice than most of the other d-men. Though the selection of him as the captain does make me curious about what the selection criteria may be.
Who knows… maybe Mikko said to give it to him?
Agreed, Green*. Seems the only people upset with the rotating C are fans. It has laways seemed as though the players enjoy it and treat it as a genuine honor. Don’t get why people get so fired up about the issue.
I think if you are going to give it to a defensemen, you have to give it to Burns, he seems like the leader on the D even though he has been playing forward lately.
On the other hand when Koivu stole the puck and scored in the third against Nashville, just for that play he should be captain for AT LEAST another month! Man what a pretty play….
I think I recall Kimmy turning away from Tootoo, and that’s when he would have stepped on the net.
Even if he tripped first, there’s no excuse for not coming back to help Harding out.
Tootoo dropped his gloves, Kimmy didn’t.
However, I knew Koivu wouldn’t be back as Captain after the unsportsmanlike conduct penalties the other night.
The team picked him up, but as Captain (and the team’s best player) he can’t lose it to the ref and get himself thrown out of a game.
Koivu still has an A on his chest…
Zeke - I plan on replacing gabby’s picture on the December calendar with Koivu…and crossing out the #10.
I was fine with the rotating C in the past, but now that we have someone who has really stepped up and had great future potential for this club, it’s time to make Mr. Koivu the perma-C for this team. Koivu should atleast be an alternate C.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t Johnsson the C for the pre-season? Why all the uproar now? I don’t recall any uproar then. Was it because it was the pre-season?
Also correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it more than just JL who decides on the C? I seem to remember it’s all the coaches and maybe DR who make the decision.
Wasn’t Kimmy given the A while Mikko (a permanent A) had the C?
Which leads me to this question…With a rotating C is it more of an honor to
A.) Be awarded a permanent A
B.) go from not having a letter on your sweater to wearing the C for a month
C.) Being a permanent A and being awarded the C for a month
D.) Being awarded an A while the permanent A has the C
??
I would contend on this team being awarded a permanent A is more prestigious/indicative of leadership than the rotating C. Basically Jacques is saying “this is your team, but we’re going to rotate a gold star around.”
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this. It can be a great motivational tool, I’m just curious as to what others think.
Off topic for a moment-
Why is it that there is more hockey coverage in the NY Times than there is here, in the “State of Hockey?”
They have an article about the Gophers and Badgers, the links always have the current KHL standings on the side…
College hockey coverage beyond the box score, KHL standings… Things we could only dream of here.
Alright fine. Kimmy’s a puss. Mikko’s not the captain and I shouldn’t care. What else am I completely out of sync with the Wilderness about?
*totally in oversensitive girl mode today*
Additional: My impression of JL is that he likes playing the mind game. He also likes to make his point through actions, not always words. Koivu blows up at the ref and recieves 2 and 10 when the team has a slim lead and JL sends a message. “No C for you!”
This could be a good thing. If Koivu really wants that C back there is one sure way to get it. Step up the play, step up the leadership, show that he deserves it. I think we’d all like to watch that happen.
Buddha, I too don’t get it. Perhaps it is that for the most part the fans of hockey in the ‘State of Hockey’ are percieved to be pretty much either Wild fans or Gophers fans. Believing that could lead one to believe that reporting on those two teams is enough.
Additional: the Star Tribune and the PP are read here. Where else? I’d guess that the NYT has a little broader reach in readership than just NY.
Additional additional: I’d guess that NY also has a higher % of people interested in hockey not originally from NY than MN has who are not originally from MN. This I guess follows the lines of my original point…
I can’t get to worked up about the rotating C. If it’s obvious to the fans that Koivu is the leader of the team, then it’s even more obvious to the players in the room/on the bench/on the ice that Koivu is the leader.
The rotating C worked when this team was full of over achieving ham n eggers (Park, Wanvig, Wallin, Chouinard) and the Slovakian Tender Loins, but now that the team has a clear leader, I’d bet he get’s the permanent C at some point this season.
Ahh…so much to comment on and so little time.
First of all congrats to Richard b who picked Yawnson for the C in the prior thread. I would have joined you but didn’t have time to comment. 
Secondly, I’m with G* in that I never really have understood the facination with whoever is the captain among fans. Quite frankly, I never really paid that much attention when I played either and as a youth I did wear the C several times. Leaders and not leaders because of the C, they are leaders due to their actions on and of the ice with or without a C on the sweater.
Third, Puter - welcome to the blog. I have to take you to task on the critisism of Yawnson in the handeling of Tootoo. In principal I agree with you, you always back up your teammate and especially your goalie. However, in Yawnsons defense he really have to pick his battles. First he is not a fighter at all, remember the May incident against the Ducks. Secondly, he has had, what 3 or 4 concussions and another could probably end or at the very least endager his career. Third, for what, they already had the penelty, a fight against a tool like Tootoo will prove what?
Mikko’s not the captain and I shouldn’t care
you can care. i don’t understand why anyone would care this much is all.
as mentioned, if koivu should get C for stealing puck in nashville, he should lose it for the unsportsmanlike. that would trump it.
IMHO, I know we all think koivu is right behind gretzky, super mario and any player from minnesota, but I had thought he was going thru a stretch of some seriously ordinary games there. right up to the tampa game.
Gotcha, G*
Puter, Gabby with the C on the front page? Gotta keep the princess happy, is what that tells me.
BDS, what it proves to me (the running away, swatting and perhaps crying) is that when stuff goes down, who are you going to count on? Does he have to fight him? It’s not even the part that bothers me. Can you take the guy down, or at least hold your ground a bit? Then he does something else to the goalie and you still stay away? Come on now.
Do you think Burns would do that at D? Schultz, Reitz, Zidlicky or Bergeron?
Puter, just realized you probably meant Johnsson looking for shelter with Tootoo reaching for him.
That’s basically just him asking to get ruined by some power forward later in the year when he starts getting pushy in front of the net.
Ms. C - aren’t all girls in that mood everyday?
NiNY- previous post, I will plead ignorance (on that question). I have read Dater on Vs webpage.
Perhaps the Don would know.
IMHO, I know we all think koivu is right behind gretzky, super mario and any player from minnesota,
Yeah, ah, I don’t see Gaborik on that list, G*…??
Yeah, ah, I don’t see Gaborik on that list, G*…??
cat’s gotta play to make the list
Ms.C - I agree “forever and ever.”
You know what… I secong that as well, Kimmy is a puss. And i for one do not like the idea of a captain not being able to hold his own when some douche is messin’ with our goalie. World ending decision? No. Right decision? Pas de tout, pas de tout.
TFO, not me, usually. Though Mr. C might not agree. Nah, I’m just having one of those days where every bit of my parade is being rained on. I guess I should be grateful I was having a parade in the first place.
hahaha nice shot at gabby russo.
More from the Don above…
Buttertruck parked next to the popcorn machine
Weller in to continue his goal scoring streak
Boogie will play more than 3 seconds tonight with LaDarierre out there
Avs trolls arriving shortly
Wow…a genuine, correct usage of “myriad”?!? Bestill my beating heart! Next thing you know Russo will be using “nauseous” correctly and it will be Pulitzer city!
Thanks for asking about Clutter, Russo. Alas, it’s more fodder for my inner hysteria today. Boo hiss, JL. But whatever.
Can I use it correctly on his behalf Nick?
Watching Skoula so far this year has not made me nauseous….
- As a strong Johnnson defender on this blog but also a proponent of Mikko as permanent C, I am surprised at today’s news. However, my guess is that wehn Mikko becomes permanent C it will be at the start of the season and not mid stream. I also fell confident that Johnnson getting the C for the month makes perfect sense to the team and since we all probably think #10 will not be back by New Years Eve, give all the kudos to the d-core possible - they will be relied on
yet agan this month.
- Belanger, unlike some players, has a high pain threshold - now that is a DB quality cold blooded shot
Ms.C, how can you not want Weller to continue his one game goal scoring streak?
“Lemaire said it’s the last time he says a guy’s got a spot on the team.”
Scuttlebut gets some tough love JOCK STYLE.
Yoke - So Kimmy is a puss in your world, big deal. He is not a very good fighter, correct. He is not even a very good hugger since he fell down on his way to hug Tootoo. That is not his role on this team.
I’m not sure I follow you when you reference “when stuff goes down”? Do you think games are decided by the fights and not goals?
I like a good fight just like anyone but to say that Kimmy cannot be trusted as a player because he avoids fights when he does many other things well is crazy in my book.
Point for BNaG!
I was saddened to learn that the heretofore colloquial definition (”like, ohmigod! Did you even see what they’re serving for school lunch today?! I’m totally nauseous!”) has been accepted in some literary circles.
excuse me, BDS, but it’s Captain Puss to you now.
Avs trolls arriving shortly
The Av Marks of the world are hard to find when their team is below .500. Even Nuk fans have been missing recently.
hmm, actually, we’ve gotten a call from the war room in Toronto about BNaG’s usage of “nauseous.” It seems there’s some debate about it. We were looking for something more along the lines of “Skoula’s play this season has not been nauseous.”
Sakic’s still out for tonight with the back injury, yes? He seems like he’s always good for a goal or two whenever he plays the Wild.
Foote’s out too. Probably didn’t even want to play knowing Gaborik’s out.
NiNY - LOL, priceless!
Belanger should show “groin” a thing or two about being a quick healer and just suck it up.
Ok I love Boogaard but why dress him to play the Avs? They don’t have anybody on their roster that will go with him so what’s the point of having him in the lineup?
Why are Avs trolls worse than orca trolls?
Rayray: I’m not sure they are. They certainly don’t carry the effete arrogance of Nux trolls in my experience.
BDS,
I said I don’t like him as the captain, especially over Koivu. Johnsson is just fine as a player, but there are holes in his game that I would like him to improve upon, like playing tougher. Heck, even for his own safety. I don’t want to see him strain a hammy trying to get away
Johnsson will do fine with the C, but there are other people I would rather see have it.
The Canadian World Junior Selection Camp team will be named this week and my feeling is that Colton Gillies will be let go by Minnesota to play there. The fact that Colton has played 2-3 games in about a month will make the decision easier for all parties involved. Afterwards, I would suspect Colton to be returned to the Saskatoon Blades and help the 3rd best team in the WHL make a long playoff run this season.
This really isn’t wishful thinking as much as logical thinking and giving the kid some good ice time will be very benificial to this young player moving forward.
Yoke - gotcha. He certainly can improve on the toughness that could be the understatement of the year.
whoa kimmy j is hardly captain material, yeah he has *almost* earned his money this year, but when was the last time you saw him hit someone or outwork someone against the boards? i see koivu do that every night. this rotating “c” gimmick has officially gotten old…c’mon jacques, koivu is the man on this team!
Man, you’re all up in the SAT words today, Nick.
*makes note to self never to write about nausea around Nick… standards higher than self’s*
Yeah, BNAG, Weller. I want to like him but… he’s not mine. I wanted him to be Fedoruk 2.0 - The Discount Version but I’m not feeling it. And now he’s sticking my boy in Orville Redenbacherville? Hmph. Bad taste in my mouth and it ain’t butter flavor.
Blades Fan, I believe rules prohibit Gillies from being returned to Saskatoon at this point. He’s played 12 games and I believe the cutoff is 10.
Johnson has been ridiculously awful this year. I don’t know what game anyone is watching and how anyone could possibly think Johnsson deserves the C but he deserves to be scratched a hell of a lot more then Clutterbuck.
What a terrible move by an over the hill, out of touch coach. This past month was one of the worst months of hockey I have ever seen out of this team in hits history and they still went 8-5. It’s due to Mikko and his great leadership, and of course the best goalie in hockey. Johnsson tried, and succeeded a few times, to give away games. He’s undoubtedly not even come close to earning the paycheck he gets and is one of the worst 3 defenders this team has.
Bottom line, Jacques needs to be fired so this team can move forward.
Those that were expecting the continued Koivu C… I don’t think you understand The Way of Lemaire. Like pretty much everything else he does, he uses that C as a tool to try and manipulate his players. Johnsson HAS indeed been playing great thus far this season, and so he gets a little recognition for it. He sends the message then to KJ that he has noticed, and to other veterans as well that they will be noticed should they deserve to be. Same thing as what he’s doing with Cal. Don’t think JL didn’t notice! He sees all!
As for the meaning of it in regards to the actual function of the captain, Lemaire doesn’t put that much weight into the overall equation. I think he accepts that leaders in the locker room will be leaders regardless of what’s on their jersey.
Goody, I thought it was just that after 10 games he loses a year of entry level contract eligibility or something like that. So, it sucks for the team, but they can do it if they see fit.
Congrats Johnsson! He is rock solid defender and a cornerstone of our NHL best Defense. It is not easy to get the accolades as defenseman. Koivu is a team leader and always will be. I’ll bet if you ask him he is excited to see his teammate get recognized for being consistant. Being tough isn’t Johnsson’s game, he is puck mover with great ability to break up plays. You want toughness, someone should inform Skoula he is one of the bigger guys on the ice.
toivo: +1
Blades Fan, Goody is correct. Gillies can’t be sent back to Saskatoon, and I would be very surprised if he was allowed to go play for the WJC team either. He’s on the Wild now, and even though he’s not playing that much, that is pretty typical of how the Wild bring along their teenagers on the roster. Play a little bit, watch a little bit.
You’re right, toivo. Well put. But sometimes logic and what you know to be the case vs. what you want to be the case don’t always jive. The heart of a hockey fan clashing with the wisdom of Lemaire… we bitch, we deal, we get over it, Mikko learns not to mouth off at refs.
Goody says:
December 1st, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Blades Fan, I believe rules prohibit Gillies from being returned to Saskatoon at this point. He’s played 12 games and I believe the cutoff is 10.
apparently the Flyers may send Sbisa back to junior once their team gets it’s 2 injured d-men back and he’s played in every game. somehow it’s possible to send him back to junior.
Colton should’ve never made the team in the first place, and has no business being on it now. The responsible thing would be to send him back to junior. There is no way Colton’s going to get better by sitting in the press box every night. He clearly wasn’t ready to be here, everyone but Jacques inflated ego knew that, and Colton needs to go back to junior and work on his game. Either that, or if the rules allow it, send Colton to the ECHL team to get some much needed playing time.
More like play a little bit, watch a lot. But I stand corrected. I vote we change his birth certificate to make him 20 and send him to Houston. 
Who’s wit me?
Ms C, As with many things, I am not 100% clear on the rules. You could very well be correct.
I don’t see it happening. If they were to do it, they’d have another open roster spot and no one to fill it. Only reason I could see it is if they’re trading Gaborik and getting a pair of NHL’ers in return (not likely IMO).
NiNY, arigato gozaimasu!
And Buddha, I think it’s because the NYT is a better paper with more resources than the Strib. That’s not to say that Russo and Stencils are not excellent. They are, but they are team beat writers. The Strib is a local paper. The Times is a global paper.
Dan: why did you turn down the Leafs job?
ms.conduct says:
December 1st, 2008 at 1:56 pm
You’re right, toivo. Well put. But sometimes logic and what you know to be the case vs. what you want to be the case don’t always jive. The heart of a hockey fan clashing with the wisdom of Lemaire… we bitch, we deal, we get over it, Mikko learns not to mouth off at refs.
1. Jacques is no longer competent to run this team.
2. If the refs would do their jobs, Mikko wouldn’t have to say anything.
3. People continuously buying into Jacques so called “wisdom” are fooling themselves. Jacques in 2008, is a washed up has been that needs to be replaced for the benefit of the team. He’s a lousy motivator, he’s a bad teacher, and he’s done a completely awful job this year and every year since the lockout.
ms.c: see the Don’s addendum above.
Dan, while I don’t disagree that Gillies doesn’t necessarily belong on an NHL roster, who else in our system would be in his spot?
Remember, while he isn’t playing in many NHL games, he’s still practicing with NHL players and being coached by an NHL coach. In juniors, he’d be practicing and playing with juniors players and coached by a juniors coach.
Nick in New York says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Dan: why did you turn down the Leafs job?
not a big enough paycheck. the Toronto market is flushed with money and I wanted 4.5M a year, they wouldn’t give it up, so I passed. If I’m going to deal with that type of media scrutiny about everything I do, I want to be compensated for it.
^ like a well-trained Poodle.
Correction, that 10 GP rule is that if a player plays 10 games then the season counts towards the player’s entry level contract, which is a pretty strong motivator for a team to keep a prospect with the team once he crosses that threshold.
Gotcha, Dan.
Ah, so I was right, sort of. Right ballpark anyway. But yeah, strong motivator.
Goody says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Dan, while I don’t disagree that Gillies doesn’t necessarily belong on an NHL roster, who else in our system would be in his spot?
Remember, while he isn’t playing in many NHL games, he’s still practicing with NHL players and being coached by an NHL coach. In juniors, he’d be practicing and playing with juniors players and coached by a juniors coach
Krys Kolanos, Corey Locke, and Petr Kalus, before he bolted, would’ve all been better options.
What’s Gillies’ role suppose to be? Power forard? Some sort of scorer? He isn’t going to learn either role here. The Wild don’t have a good power forward and nobody can score even strength. Gillies can’t learn anything here.
The best way for him to learn would be in junior where he’d actually get to play in games. It’s not like he was dominating in the WJC or junior. He’s never come close to being a point a game guy and he hasn’t been a + player since 04-05. He clearly had a lot to learn even at the junior level and should’ve been left there this year.
toivo says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Correction, that 10 GP rule is that if a player plays 10 games then the season counts towards the player’s entry level contract, which is a pretty strong motivator for a team to keep a prospect with the team once he crosses that threshold.
having a kid sit and watch every game, or sending him to a team where he can actually play….it’s a no brainer. send him to junior to get the game experience he very much needs. it’s a waste of his time more then anything to never dress him. all he learns from the press box every game is that johnsson, skoula, and zidlicky are terrible, and that boogaard doesn’t belong in the nhl. he could’ve watched the Wild game on the net from his junior team to figure that out.
didn’t we allow burns to play in WJC?
G*: I thought we did, was that the lockout year??
Dan says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Krys Kolanos, Corey Locke, and Petr Kalus, before he bolted, would’ve all been better options.
So, you’d rather have one of those guys sitting in the press box watching NHL games instead of playing where their skill level puts them?
The best way for him to learn would be in junior where he’d actually get to play in games.
Just about any coach will tell you that players don’t learn by playing games. They learn in practice and apply what they’ve learned during games.
Who needs Avs or Orca trolls when we have our very own, Dan?
G*: yes, he played for Canada in the WJC in ‘04 in Helsinki.
G*, is correct. He played in the 2004 WJC, his rookie season with the Wild. So maybe Gillies could be loaned out.
I still don’t see him being sent back to juniors. He has played in over half of the Wild’s games so far and while he hasn’t set the hockey world on fire, but I don’t think that was the expectation either.
Nick, F or D?
D, I think, Goody.
“Belanger, unlike some players, has a high pain threshold.”
Classic, Russo. Absolutely classic. Thank you for that.
Gilles can technically be sent back to juniors. However, he won’t be. The agreement is private, and not available for viewing, but if a player is returned to the juniors, the team loses a year of the entry level contract. The Wild are not going to send him back.
Sorry to see C-Buck in the doghouse. Having a good season, finding his game. Needs to be in the line up.
And just to repeat myself. What they’re doing with Gillies is pretty much what they did with Schultz, Bouchard, Burns, Koivu, and had planned to do with Sheppard last season.
team canada lost to USA, yes? TC had crosby as a 16 year old, MA Fleury, jack johnson.
I remember getting the games on CI.
Oh, and I’m worried that now that Belanger has gotten his first ding of the season, his Reggie nickname will kick in and by January we will all be wondering where he went.
Hmmm… which would I rather do with a prospect… send him down to play against teams that are so far beneath his abilty that it would likely make him worse, or would I rather put him in a situation where he can practice and learn from players like Koivu, Brunette, Belanger, Burns…
Hmmmm… let me think about this for awhile…
here is your all tournament team
G al montoya
D - sami lopisto (FIN), celine dion
F - Parise, Jeff Carter, Filppula
not bad
Shirley could take a page out of Belangers book re: playing w/pain. Belanger can come back after a few days but Shirley has missed 21 in a row because of a junior-high hallway game played by 14 yr. olds. What a wuss.
Goody says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Dan says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Krys Kolanos, Corey Locke, and Petr Kalus, before he bolted, would’ve all been better options.
So, you’d rather have one of those guys sitting in the press box watching NHL games instead of playing where their skill level puts them?
The best way for him to learn would be in junior where he’d actually get to play in games.
Just about any coach will tell you that players don’t learn by playing games. They learn in practice and apply what they’ve learned during games.
1. no, I’d rather see unneeded hacks like Boogaard and Weller not play and guys that can put pucks in the net like Kylanos, Kalus, and Locke have the opportunity to do so.
2. every coach that says that has an ego problem and simply is wrong. your no skilled guys like Weller and Boogaard may learn something from practice, but your skilled players like Burns and Koivu learn almost nothing from practice. They have a natural ability and that’s what got them to the NHL and will keep them there.
They have a natural ability and that’s what got them to the NHL and will keep them there.
single dumbest statement ever posted in Russoville.
Buddha says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:36 pm
“Belanger, unlike some players, has a high pain threshold.”
Classic, Russo. Absolutely classic. Thank you for that.
Too bad Super Groin doesn’t have the ability to deal with pain. Hell, in high school, I had a fractured leg I was suppose to stay off 2-3 months and I was back playing in 3 weeks. Some guys are tough, and some guys are Gaborik.
<i.Nick in New York says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
They have a natural ability and that’s what got them to the NHL and will keep them there.
single dumbest statement ever posted in Russoville
that’s your very wrong opinion.
Buddha says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Hmmm… which would I rather do with a prospect… send him down to play against teams that are so far beneath his abilty that it would likely make him worse, or would I rather put him in a situation where he can practice and learn from players like Koivu, Brunette, Belanger, Burns…
Hmmmm… let me think about this for awhile…
nothing can be learned by Gillies from the middle 2. They don’t play anything like Gillies. He can be taught by them on how to handle day-to-day life, but the game of hockey, those 2 can’t teach Gillies much.
Dumb question, but what does it mean when Russo says a guy, like Clutterbuck, is “getting bagged” after practice?
NiNY - I second that last statement about the dumbest post ever.
Some how, call me crazy, I think that poster will however trump that post soon.
toivo says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:36 pm
And just to repeat myself. What they’re doing with Gillies is pretty much what they did with Schultz, Bouchard, Burns, Koivu, and had planned to do with Sheppard last season.
Gillies won’t be as good as any of them.
Oh sorry, I think it already happend….
Only an idiot would say an opinion is wrong.
BDS says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:51 pm
NiNY - I second that last statement about the dumbest post ever.
Some how, call me crazy, I think that poster will however trump that post soon.
both of you, your hockey knowledge is below par. you 2 either never played the game or simply just don’t know much about it. you’re both incredibly wrong.
“Dumb question, but what does it mean when Russo says a guy, like Clutterbuck, is “getting bagged” after practice?”
As part of team initiation, every time a rookie is a healthy scratch they get tea bagged by Boogie after practice.
Dan says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:45 pm
2. every coach that says that has an ego problem and simply is wrong. your no skilled guys like Weller and Boogaard may learn something from practice, but your skilled players like Burns and Koivu learn almost nothing from practice. They have a natural ability and that’s what got them to the NHL and will keep them there.
So you’d be perfectly happy if Burns and Koivu never showed up for practice? Apparently they don’t need it so why should they do it?
Dan says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:48 pm
that’s your very wrong opinion.
That I’ll agree with, there have been dumber.
Gilles can’t learn anything from Brunette or Belanger? Two guys with a combined 22 years in the NHL? Nothing at all? Huh. Somehow I thought NHL teams valued vets for this exact reason.
And Nick’s “Very wrong opinion” is shared by nearly everyone who has ever posted here.
Do you ever look around, realize everyone in the world disagrees with you and come to the conclusion that you might just be the one who is wrong?
Coming up on 5 minutes without a comment from Dan. tick tock, tick tock. slacker.
getting bagged refers to additional, intense skating that players who are to be healthy scratches that night undertake at the end of practice, to make up for the skating they won’t do in the game.
“both of you, your hockey knowledge is below par. you 2 either never played the game or simply just don’t know much about it. you’re both incredibly wrong.”
Only took him what? Ten minutes to accuse people of not playing the game or being stupid?
Well played. Dumbest post and fastest rush to judgment in the same thread. Well done.
Thanks NiNY — do you know why it’s called getting bagged? I was thinking it meant ice bagged, though I don’t know why they’d do that to the guys who’d be scratches.
Stupid Question, To be bagged is to be worked out hard typically by skating to the point of exhaustion. Often done to players who are to be ‘healthy scratches’ as a substitute for the workout they would otherwise get in a game. A means to keep a player in ‘game shape’ without them actually playing. Typically players who are to play in a game aren’t ‘bagged’ as doing so would leave them with little energy for the game.
I thought ‘bagging’ involved cougars…
Rob STP - LMAO, now that is one sick idea. 0)
Buddha says:
December 1st, 2008 at 3:01 pm
“both of you, your hockey knowledge is below par. you 2 either never played the game or simply just don’t know much about it. you’re both incredibly wrong.”
Only took him what? Ten minutes to accuse people of not playing the game or being stupid?
Well played. Dumbest post and fastest rush to judgment in the same thread. Well done.
simply put, I’m right and you’re full of “opinions.”
Buddha says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Gilles can’t learn anything from Brunette or Belanger? Two guys with a combined 22 years in the NHL? Nothing at all? Huh. Somehow I thought NHL teams valued vets for this exact reason.
And Nick’s “Very wrong opinion” is shared by nearly everyone who has ever posted here.
Do you ever look around, realize everyone in the world disagrees with you and come to the conclusion that you might just be the one who is wrong?
when it comes to hockey, I’m never wrong.
Typical, Nick got there 2 minutes before me…
Stupid Question: first, these aren’t stupid questions. You should cut yourself some slack!
Second, I believe it refers to arriving to practice to find that the pucks are still in their bag, meaning you’re just going to skate your face off. Can someone confirm or correct that?
Dan says:
December 1st, 2008 at 3:06 pm
when it comes to hockey, I’m never wrong.
Wow, I’m impressed. It only took you a week or so to get that other .3% (or whatever it was). I’d have expected years of hard work would have been needed. I guess when you’ve got talent and natural skill, hard work isn’t necessary.
11 minutes! 11 minutes! Well done, Dan. Keep trying to improve.
Goody says:
December 1st, 2008 at 2:57 pm
So you’d be perfectly happy if Burns and Koivu never showed up for practice? Apparently they don’t need it so why should they do it?
absolutely. I’d much rather they stay out of practice and lift or get treatment to keep their bodies feeling good for the 60 games that are left.
Mikko has had a great couple months but Johnsson has earned the “C” with his play too. And, maybe Belanger too!
Mikko will get it back again sometime, but it does reward guys for team building and so I do not see any problem with moving the “C” around.
Yeah Dan, you may not always be right, but you are never wrong. Classic blowhard.
This is annoying, it’s become obvious that Koivu is the leader of the team Lemaire should have ended his rotating captain experiment he found the teams true leader why not just stick with him.
Goody says:
December 1st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Dan says:
December 1st, 2008 at 3:06 pm
when it comes to hockey, I’m never wrong.
Wow, I’m impressed. It only took you a week or so to get that other .3% (or whatever it was). I’d have expected years of hard work would have been needed. I guess when you’ve got talent and natural skill, hard work isn’t necessary.
actually it was .23% as the number I gave was 99.77%
Sounds plausible Nick,
A quick dictionary search of ‘bagged’ yeilds the following which could apply to a player which has undergone an exhaustive workout.
2: to hang loosely
5: to give up, forgo, or abandon especially for something more desirable or attainable
kj says:
December 1st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Yeah Dan, you may not always be right, but you are never wrong. Classic blowhard.
modern day hockey guru is more appropriate.
Dan - You don’t coach anywhere do you?
IceMan says:
December 1st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Mikko has had a great couple months but Johnsson has earned the “C” with his play too. And, maybe Belanger too!
Mikko will get it back again sometime, but it does reward guys for team building and so I do not see any problem with moving the “C” around.
team building? there are 3 players and 19 replaceable parts on this team. Koivu, Backstrom, and Burns. Those are the only 3 that have any right to be captain. They are the leaders of the team.
BDS says:
December 1st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Dan - You don’t coach anywhere do you?
I don’t like people.
Thank you, the gr8 one.
Now is that, you don’t like people, or people don’t like you?
I’m just wondering….
No Dan, I think modern day jacka$$ would be most appropriate.
The bar i was at saturday was using every curse word at lemaire for only playing boogaard one non shift. What the hell is this moron coach doing. scratch shep and put clutterbuck in.
Looking up through the recent opinions, I have a question … maybe more for Dan than anyone:
How do you build a team if half the guys miss practice?
Burns and Koivu have natural ability to be sure, but that natural ability needs to be continually refined and grown.
Those guys all need to be at practice on a regular basis as does anyone else on the team! Otherwise it is not a team.
Uh, Kylanos, Kalus and Locke are no where near the “natural ability” of a Ingelwood Jack or Franchise and it is ridiculous to use them as a comparison. And, if you would have read some of IJ’s comments from last year, he stated time and time again that he learned a great deal just by being around Carney in the lockerroom and in practice. Things like what it means to be a true professional, how to handle yourself on the ice, etc, etc. IJ himself talked about it several times a year ago.
Dan says:
December 1st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I don’t like people.
And, it shows…
Whatcha using today, Dan? Black and silver Rappala? Getting plenty of bites!
I don’t like people either. And while we’re on the subject, y’all get off my lawn before I bust out my pellet gun. People WILL lose eyes!
kj: how was the gig??
So Stutterputz has to skate his a$# off and then get T’d up by Booger. That sounds excessive.
Dan I totally disagree with your 2:01 post lambasting JL.
that ticking sound you hear is my toivo sarcasmometer going berserk…
“Hey Mr. Wilson, I’m putting a foot on your lawn!”
People who talk with voice of Jacques…I mean god are annoying but people who manage to post with the voice of god are outrageous trolls.
For shame Dan, for shame.
yeah, nothing says “welcome to the show” like a warm, sweaty Boogrundle on one’s forehead.
Someone’s gotta step in with some unseriousness once in a while and I’m just the guy.
And I hope you’re wearing goggles, Beadwench, because I’ve got a high-powered scope on this sucker!
here’s triangulation:
“St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri) (Mar. 2) “Fact Check: “Bag Skate”; Hockey 101 For The Fan” p. C8: A legendary sign of trouble when players arrive for practice is that there are no pucks out. That means it’s a “bag skate,” a vigorous, sprint-heavy, all-skating workout that is often punishment. “
http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/dictionary/bag_skate/
I just got home and read most of this thread. Yes, I would like to see Mikko get a permanent “C”. But Kimmy is OK. The boys still look to MK anyway. Also, who started feeding the trolls, again?
I prefer KJs version of “bagged”.
NiNY, good “opinions” on the term for bagged when it comes to hockey.
The popcorn machine was a classic Lemaire mind eff. Should yield good results.
Let’s take the room down a bit:
RIAC for everyone!!!:D
Late to the ripping Dan party but here goes:
He’s undoubtedly not even come close to earning the paycheck he gets and is one of the worst 3 defenders this team has.
Factoring out #8 and #55, 3 of these players must also be better defenders than #5 - MAB, Reitz, Zids, Skoula or Foster. This is why people here dislike you more than you dislike people. You suck even when I agree with you because your hate is so over the top it would be scarier that your arrogance if that was possible. /rant
toivo… I felt like a wade around the ignorant pool today. Not much else going on. Usually the Dan posts go unread. Just felt like poking the troll today.
However, it is good to see you posting a bit more frequently… how’s the new gig writing about out west?
SGS- Never too late to join the party. It’s funny how he only shows up every so often though… must be when he checks his blog hit counter and realizes he can prod some people into clicking on his name…
Let me sum up his blog for you:
The Wild suck. Have always sucked. Will always suck. They do nothing right, the players are terrible, and JL is an idiot.
So yeah… pretty much exactly what you can get here.
Agreed, it is nice to see Toivo around.
Meanwhile, is there a full moon tonight?
Wait. This Dan dude has a Wild blog?
What’n the hell fer? (classic Anokanism)
Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare.
Great Rappala line Toivo. Some day maybe I will plaigurize you.
- Buddha - you did sum up Dan’s thoughts on the Wild nicely.
- If Cal is playing, Burns back to D and Reitz (or Johnsson for Dan) is out?
“thippppth”
“Go on, I dare you. I double dog dare you”
Neyah, neyah, neyah!
All this talk about natural ability, i cant help but think of Alexander Daigle.
how long did his natural abibity kept him around?
Not very nice to bag skate a guy and then make him play a game, Jock. But I guess when I’m an NHL coach, I’ll get a say about such things.
Maybe someone has asked before, but isn’t it strange that Gabby is never at any of the games? When you watch other teams’, they often interview or show their injured players… yet we never see Gabby at all.
All I want for Xmas… A new Finlander in MN wearing the #10!
Alexander Daigle - well played JEFFS468 yet Dan will still rip you
Dan says:
December 1st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I don’t like people.
The feeling is mutual.
NiNY…the gig was lots o fun. Packed house and most of our former band mates showed up to sit in for a few tunes.
Full Circle will continue on!!! The remaining 4 of us will re-tool and be back next year…
Ok, back to ripping no-nothing, pompous a$$munch Dan…
I’ve got a follow up for it, IceMan, if you ever get the chance to use it on me.
Beadwench. Funny stuff!
kj, I missed the back story… did your drummer spontaneously combust?
yes toivo, he did. a glowing green globule.
everyone thought it was a fabulous light show.
I think the band should be re-named The New Originals…
GMom- that is because Shirley is holding out to get traded. He has checked out on the team and from all the “no comment” responses by Risedork re: Shirley, the feeling is mutual. Oh, those that don’t know- when I say Shirley I am referring to groin boy.
I’m channeling my inner 5 year old today. Figured I’d inflict it on someone else for a while as work is being major unfun at the moment.
Anyone know where “Mr. Wilson, I’m putting a foot in your yard” is from?
Virtual candybar if you can guess…
Here is how I’m looking at the Colton Gillies situation…The Saskatoon Blades(Colton’s former Junior team), once had a 1st or 2nd round draft pick, I can’t remember which round but he was a top selection and was being used primarily as a 13th or 14th forward for the team as a 16 yr old rookie. He was up for about half the season and played in maybe 10 games…After Christmas he was returned to his Midget hockey team and it took him about 10-15 games to even start playing to his potential due to not seeing and game action. This was playing vs. 15-17 year olds which he should’ve dominated and didn’t at the start. He did end up playing very well for his midget team near the end of the season but really only got in a handful of productive games. The next season as a 17 yr old, he was up fulltime and played well but not as well as he should’ve. My feeling is that 18 or 19 year olds need to be playing hockey and play in games and not be practising. A person has to remember that hockey players love playing the game of hockey and not just practising or watching. It must be killing Colton to be sitting in the stands every night. Makes no sence, he is young and has lots of time to play in Minnesota when he’s 20 or 21. As a matter of fact, he should probably play in Houston next year for a full season and get a good solid pro season under his belt. Think about it Jacques!
Rumor: TMZ is speculating that pro hockey player “Cal Clutterbuck” is really actor Colin Ferrall doing research for his role in the upcoming film “Slapshot 4: Shut Yer Five Hole!” Dan Cloutier is co-starring, supposedly.
“yes toivo, he did. a glowing green globule.”
That’s a lovely song, what’s it called?
This ballad is call Lick My Love Pump.
Blades Fan - I think Colton will go to the WJC given the possible emergence of Wheller.
Beadwench- Dennis the Menace?
Just running some numbers here on the 21st day of work missed.
Gaboriks 08 Salary ~6.5 Million
Assuming Gaborik eats and sleeps hockey 24/7 he earnes $742/hour or $17,808/day 365 days a year. Now I do not want to comment on Gaboriks commitment to his chosen sport or his health, so let’s just focus on the Hockey season.
6.5 million/88games=$73,863/game
Averages 20 min TOI/game =3693/minute of shift time.
But that’s not fair because he is there the whole time sitting on those hard benches so…
$73,863/60 minute game = $1231/minute.
Either way, $73,863 / 18,568 fans = $3.97 per fan per game for the gabman. I have attended 5 home games this year @ $3.97 = $19.85 from your truly.
Gabby, I want my $20 back. Hell I don’t even know what’s wrong with you. If I did know, I might have some sympathy, or even empathy who knows. Either way, I will be sending my address to the Wild front office first thing in the morning with an address for remittance. Thank you. Ash
I don’t like people.
which is why boys live in their mother’s basements.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Well good luck tonight boys and good luck to Kim in the month of December. I hope we can keep playing well. I just have to say I’m really impressed that we have the record we do without our star player. In years past we’d be lucky to be at exactly .500! Our real test will be the last stretch of 20 games. Make it through that with a winning record and we will be in the playoffs.
Kim is deserving. Anyone care to calculate how much Boooogard is getting paid per hour on ice? He’s funny and tough.
BDS from the last thread wins the candybar.
Anything in particular? I got some strange stuff in my desk…
food above anyway…
