Thursday practice: Gillies staying; A new line emerging?
Posted on December 4th, 2008 – 2:28 PMBy Brian Stensaas
UPDATE: I talked with GM Doug Risebrough this evening and he confirmed Colton Gillies is staying with the club rather than be sent to Team Canada for the World Junior Tournament.
Gillies, who played in the tournament last year, earlier today said he would be honored had he again been in the tournament. “This is the last year I would be able to do it and it’s always nice to represent your country,” he said.
But?
“My first thing is - this [the Wild] is my team now. This is my future, my everything. They’re first in my life and whatever they want me to do I’ll do. If they need me here, I’m here.
“We do have a lot of games coming up; you never know what happens to players and stuff, so. We’ll have to see.”
Risebrough said he has been pleased with Gillies’ practices and development.
As for that “new” line in this post’s headline, don’t bet on it. However, you never know.
Eric Belanger centered Derek Boogaard and Brent Burns today in practice, which concluded with a five-team, three-on-three tournament. Goals were set up at either blue line, and the teams played in the neutral zone. The Killer B Line (yes, I named it …) won after Belanger scored goals in the semifinals and finals, defeating Skoula-Schultz-Bergeron and Weller-Bouchard-Gillies, respectively.
When Belanger scored to win the tournament (and thus end the practice), he and Burns ditched their sticks and gloves and hugged a la winning Game 7. Boogaard then joined the two sprawled on the ice for a faux pose for anyone who cared to look - and gave the “No. 1″ sign with their index fingers. Just like winning the Cup, eh boys? All that was missing was a trophy 
I did ask Jacques Lemaire afterward if there was anything to these three skating together. Jacques couldn’t have answered in the negative quick enough. “You won’t get a line like that,” he said. Players got to pick their own teams, it turns out.
Then again, that was the winning team. So ….
“We might start with that,” Lemaire said, obviously joking.
There was definitely a little extra hop in the step of players today following last night’s victory. In that little game at the end of practice, Lemaire said, the players worked hard. Playing in such a small space does enhance their skills.
“Little passes, give and go. Things like that,” he said
That wraps ‘er up for today. Russo back with you all tomorrow. I’ll be in Nashville this weekend to bring you what might be Fight Night 2. Or, at the very least, a good, competitive hockey game from Sommet Center.
154 Responses to "Thursday practice: Gillies staying; A new line emerging?"
The BelaBooBurns Line, eh? Scary…
“I was saying Boo-urns”
This Burns at forward business is getting silly…. MOVE HIM BACK TO DEFENSE!
They could put Bergeron and Bouchard on D, with Backstrom in net…
Today’s lineup brought to you by the letter B.
Isn’t that what they did against Colorado the other day, toivo? 
“He’s been undermining everything we do,” says the veteran. “He doesn’t pay attention; he’s not smart enough to play our system. He can’t do some drills properly. He says it’s because he’s ‘independent.’
Really, he’s just not smart enough.”
Okay, “he” in that quote is Sean Avery. The quoted person is a Stars player. They aren’t just throwing him under the bus, they’re burying him under the street below the damn thing! Like the guy in “Do The Right Thing” that gets his car doused (same guy that played Billy Bats in “Goodfellas” IIRC) says to the cops “I want him put UNDER the *bleep* jail!”
Was Brad Bombadir there?
I read that too NiNY. I like it. I hope he tries to go back and the Stars players take action.
Kick his royal you know what… not pass to him, insist the coach not play him… something.
I don’t know that the NHL is right in taking such (Likely) harsh action, but I think they were just waiting for an excuse to do so. His on ice behavior should have had him marched out of the league long ago.
The Stars could elect to send him down, and since Dallas does not have an AHL affiliate, they could try to assign him to…. anywhere.
One of the Stars suggested Finland or Russia would be good choices.
Ouch! As Buddha said, sounds like a suspension will not only protect him from Dion, but also his own team mates!
P.S., not the Aeros, not the Aeros, not the Aeros…
Nice link in your blog Ms. C.
I am crying I am laughing so hard…
Wow. That’s pretty much all you need to hear. I’m wondering if he’ll even play in the NHL again. Of course, the Stars HAVE NO minor league team so if they went that route, they’d have to negotiate to get him on some other club’s team. That wouldn’t be easy either.
Isn’t that awesome, Buddha?! It was like manna from heaven when Schultzie sent that to me today. God bless her… hooking me up with Google Alerts AND NHLOLZ? I owe her a Clayton Stoner bobblehead or something.
If the Stars don’t want Avery, I’d love it if he were dealt here. He’s the kind of player the Wild need. I’d love to see him and Clutterbuck centered by Koivu. It would be the most entertaining line in hockey if nothing else.
Let’s trade a 6th round pick for him
My God Dan. Every time I think you can’t possibly be more of a horse’s ass, you one up yourself.
Though, I can see exactly how Avery would be your type of player.
I wouldn’t put it past DR to give that a go. I don’t think JL would be too happy with him.
It’s a good thing we don’t have cap space for him (currently).
“He’s the kind of player the Wild need.”
WTF??
Avery’s in a whole other kinda dumpster that I’m pretty sure even Dougie won’t go diving in.
I think DR would give him a shot if he played in the AHL for a while, kept his nose clean, played hockey and cut out all the crap. DR’s all about giving guys a second chance.
Bite your tongue, Goody!
Was that the real Dan, or just an imitator?
You’re asking if it’s Fake Stupid or Real Stupid? 
There is a big difference
Buddha says:
>>I read that too NiNY. I like it. I hope he tries to go back and the Stars players take action.<<
Already done. 3 veterans speaking anonymously plus Richards sends the message to Tippett and Hicks that if you don’t get this guy out of here, the team is packin’ it in for the rest of the season. You can bet Modano was one of those guys. Hull screwed the pooch on this deal and even he can’t defend it.
3 veterans speaking anonymously plus Richards sends the message to Tippett and Hicks that if you don’t get this guy out of here, the team is packin’ it in for the rest of the season.
I think they gave that message to Turco already…
I can’t see DR even thinking twice about Avery. And don’t point to Simon as an example. Simon by all accounts was a good guy who would lose it on occasion.
Deep Breath: Get a rink liner. And if you want your kid to skate for the Fighting Sioux, better hurry. I’ve got a kid there who says things aren’t looking good in the logo/nickname battle with the NCAA. Rumors floating around have the Englestad family closing down the Ralph if the NCAA prevails. Now there is a negotiating tactic for you.
Michael up North: nice take on the Gaby situation, but DB still won’t get it.
toivu: I thought rum was illegal in Finland.
I’ve got a kid there who says things aren’t looking good in the logo/nickname battle with the NCAA. Rumors floating around have the Englestad family closing down the Ralph if the NCAA prevails. Now there is a negotiating tactic for you.
Stoned: is that right? Sorta makes you feel like the rink wasn’t really a gift to the program then (or for the program maybe), doesn’t it?
If the Stars don’t want Avery, I’d love it if he were dealt here.
Dan is the Sean Avery of Russoville minus the $ and dating starlets.
Morale has been down, 6GS…
NiNy
So far I am just chalking it up to an unsubstantiated rumor as it sounds a bit extreme. I can’t speak to what the arrangement was between UND and the Englestads although I get the impression Ralph wasn’t the kind of guy who liked being dictated to or made to toe the line of political correctness. About the only thing I could personally see acquiescing to would be to remove “Fighting”. If I were the tribal nations, I’d just get UND to pony up a few more scholarships for Native Americans and call it a win-win.
Avery’s in a whole other kinda dumpster that I’m pretty sure even Dougie won’t go diving in.
You know the idea hadn’t even occurred to me, but when I think about it… wouldn’t he? I don’t think so, but I wish I was 100% sure on this one, and I’m not.
The whole “Chris Simon is a really nice guy, but the fans wouldn’t know that, would they” spiel that he was peddling is still echoing in my head.
Okaaaay, then… putting that thought away now.
heard on HNIC radio tonight:
Can you guess which coach is the most-tenured in the SE division?
A: Gaby Boudreau
Stoned: I thought I remembered reading that the Englestad’s own the building and lease it to the team for $1 a year or something like that. That would seem to indicate that they can choose their tenant and that the UND team plays there at the family’s pleasure. I just wouldn’t understand why the family would want the team to suffer for an issue between the NCAA and the school, but I guess that’s why it’s a rumor at this point.
I have also heard that Ralph built the arena on the condition that it was to be given up should the name be changed. To ensure this, or at least to make it a complete hassle if the rumor isn’t true, he put in thousands of the indian heads in the tiles and in the building in general.
It does seem unreasonable to destroy such a sweet arena because of a name. Then again, I am of the mind that the name battle itself is a bit much.
Hullie is a good guy from a family that is hockey royalty, but I’m not sure he has the intellect nor the patience to be an effective GM. He and Jackson tried to make an impact trade at last years deadline by obtaining Richards, and IMO his impact has been negligible.
And even thought they didn’t get to the Cup final last spring, the NorthStars are playing like a team with a playoff hangover. I don’t think anybody had a tougher run to the Conf. final then they did.
You can’t underestimate either, the losses of Hagman and Mietinnen, 2 players custom made for the Dallas system, of which Avery isn’t. He wasn’t a fit from the get-go, which makes me believe that Hull, in his zeal to make an instant impact to the team, really blew this one.
Avery will get 1 to 5 games from the commish, and then the league will turn him loose back to Dallas and he can be Hull’s problem again. He is anti-everything the NorthStars are, very defense minded, very close knit, no attention seekers, (above team) and all business on the ice. the injuries to aging Stars players have not helped either. MODO is looking back on it so far though…
The NCAA gave them 3 years to work it out with the tribal nations which is a way of extricating themselves from the mess they created without having to admit it. Now they can say if you can’t work it out with the tribes in 3 years, it is a legitimate problem. Why people can’t figure out how to make this work is beyond me. By all accounts, UND goes to great effort to be a friend to the Native American community. I don’t see what they think they are going to accomplish by shoving this down UND’s collective throat. If that happens, I think things could get ugly. UND is not exactly Swarthmore when it comes to bastions of liberalism.
UND is not exactly Swarthmore when it comes to bastions of liberalism.
good line.
Totally of subject but does anyone know whats going on with Gabby. Haven’t heard anything for awhile.
Buddha says:
December 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
My God Dan. Every time I think you can’t possibly be more of a horse’s ass, you one up yourself.
Though, I can see exactly how Avery would be your type of player.
poor man’s Theo Fluery. Avery has a ton of skill that he doesn’t use due to being a clown. Get him to limit his antics and actually play hockey and the guy would be a .6-.75 point a game player. Plus, the Wild need a guy on the roster that isn’t so uptight and afraid to talk.
Avery isn’t Chris Simon, Avery is a player, and his suspension is a joke. He said nothing wrong. Plus, commenting on his ex puck bunny girlfriend has nothing to due with hockey so Bettman had no right to suspend him anyway. Nothing he said was detrimental to the game in anyway.
Goody says:
December 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I wouldn’t put it past DR to give that a go. I don’t think JL would be too happy with him.
who cares. Lemaire’s job is to coach, which he’s doing a terrible job of anyway, not put together a roster, even though Jacques as a GM might put together a much better roster then this current makeup of AHL all stars and Burns, Koivu, and Backstrom.
,i>Stoned on the Breakaway says:
December 4th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
NiNy
So far I am just chalking it up to an unsubstantiated rumor as it sounds a bit extreme. I can’t speak to what the arrangement was between UND and the Englestads although I get the impression Ralph wasn’t the kind of guy who liked being dictated to or made to toe the line of political correctness. About the only thing I could personally see acquiescing to would be to remove “Fighting”. If I were the tribal nations, I’d just get UND to pony up a few more scholarships for Native Americans and call it a win-win.
The agreement is simple, if the name ever gets changed from the Fight Sioux, UND can no longer use the arena.
whoops….Fighting Sioux
99.63% now Dan.
Keep those mistakes up and you’ll be below 99 soon… 
Dan you are the biggest MF of this blog and I want you to leave. However, I have no authority, so I will be pleased to simply let you know of your MF status.
Hey everyone. I know how much you guys love Dan around here, so I though I would give you a glimpse of what he is like irl! Take a look at Dan having a relaxing nap.Be warned, Dan likes to sleep in the nude.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Per Stensaas above:
“UPDATE: I talked with GM Doug Risebrough this evening and he confirmed Colton Gillies is staying with the club rather than be sent to Team Canada for the World Junior Tournament.”
Think Risebrough will give us a reason or did he just cross his arms and stomp his feet while yelling “NO! He’s mine mine mine!”
The poor kid has been scratched more often the Paris Hiltons crotch…
Let’s see if I get this straight. Three veteran players on the the Stars say Avery is too dumb to even run drills correctly much less play a system in the game and Dan says he is a talented hockey player. Who do I go with here?
Simon had hockey skills. Put up 30 goals one year. Avery is a member of the NHL and it is part of his job to promote its good name. Avery is a punk who will be dealt with post haste. What bothers me more is that there are so many people who think this is acceptable behavior. The general decline of professionalism and sportsmanship is troubling.
Dan. Facts do not cease to exist because you ignore them.
I think Avery should stick to his job as an intern with the fashion magazine industry. He is a clown and he has no class. Word.
Regardless of any skill Avery might have, he is clown shoes, and even his teammates don’t like him. I don’t see how he adds anything to any team.
Eww, Lucky. But I’m surprised by the Gillies decision. Though the earnestness of Gillies’ comments on staying with the Wild make me feel okay about it.
Wow. Lundy’s getting lit up by Montreal.
Just FYI… Avery didn’t last out the length of his fashion mag internship, he left that before he was supposed to. Couldn’t cut it…
I’d never heard that FW, but it doesn’t surprise me. Just because you’re really interested in something doesn’t mean you’re good at it. I learn that lesson every Sunday night.
Yes, he chose to leave it a month earlier then he was scheduled to. Seems that he didn’t like some of the menial work necessary setting up for shoots and shows…
Matt: Gaby was booed lustily Wednesday night in-between periods when his picture was shown on the scoreboard at the ‘X’…
…does THAT tell you what you want to know?
(BTW: According to Russo, he DID skate by himself for 45 minutes before the morning skate prior to the Blues’ game that night…)
Off topic a bit…
Anyone have any thoughts on Ottawa? A goalie with a GAA under 2, Heatly, Spezza, Alfy… one of the worst teams in the standings.
Michael Up North: I never stated that Ballgame would be able to get a “bonanza” in a Gaby deal prior to the season. I stated that with Salcer’s/Gaby’s obvious intention to move on, coupled with Gaby’s penchant for shredded groin, that it behooved Ballgame to make the deal before the season and not take the chance on exactly what we are seeing play itself out. If Gaby had not had the injury history that he does, well then it is an easy one: you let him play and hold him until the deadline and try and fleece a desparate owner. That, obviously, is all gone now, unless Gaby can come back after Jan. 1, be serviceable for a couple of months which should allow the team to get something for him at the deadline. I too, however, would like to see him resign at a reduced rate for fewer years (3 yrs, 15-16 million). No way you can committ long years and high dollars to him now.
Also… anyone with CI watching the Isles game? Did they take the goal away from Hunter? Update said he scored, but his totals don’t show it.
Damn. Lang is a pretty crusty looking dude.
This game is weird. Saku getting in a fight? Wow.
Nevermind on the Hunter thing… ESPN figured it out.
ms.c: total score on nhLOL. Outstanding. Wife in New York was like “what the F are you laughing so hard at?!”
Dan’s best friend, nice one.
Dan, you’re and idiot, no doubt.
FSN, needs to get rid of Terhaar and Greenlay. And to boot, the commercial that tells us to follow the Ghost and the Wild to the Stanley Cup. Can you believe that Terhaar said we actually dominated from the opening puck drop last night? First period was pretty even, I thought.
Lastly, Russo, you need to lobby the Strib to upgrade their website, the service it provides sucks a$$.
Ok, I’m done for now, at least until Dan comes back up.
I think Gho$t should have hired Mike Vogt as his own personal groinerator.
Last season, Vogt was the one giving UM treatment for his lower body injury.
No Vogt = Glass Groin
Buddha: Have CI but am watching the Canucks-Red Wings game from Dead-troit. Lots of people looking like empty seats tonight at the Joe…
Ottawa’s problem might just be Minnesota’s solution. No one on that team can play ‘D’ and they have a malcontent superstar forward…sound like a Gaby-and-Skoula for Spezza trade??
Did the Wild announce early in the season that so many games would be in HD? I didn’t know we would be treated to this many so soon. I’m lovin’ it!
Lucky: The next 3 Wild games are all in HD (tomorrow, Saturday at Nashville, next Thursday at Phoenix) bu neither game from Southern California is, Dec. 13-14…
WRT,
Do you think it will be hard for us to go back to regular tv after being spoiled like this?
Awesome, Nick. My gal, Schultzie, is my hero today for sending me that Lemaire one. I heart the blogosphere so much!
Off to fold laundry. Don’t be jealous of my glamorous life.
Lucky: We’ll have to, at least for now, I guess…
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game in true HD (I don’t own an HD TV set)…
…they say it’s awesome.
Until they upgrade the announcing to go along with the upgrade in picture quality, the Wild in SD are fine with me.
Terhaar lost his day job this week. Maybe he’ll lose the night job…
…or not.
Dan… Even though I usually find you to be a smarmy posterior-ed bastage, some of your comments have merit from time to time. Yes, I could envision Avery to be a half point per game player if he would shut up and play some hockey. But he can’t figure out if he is in the WWF or the NHL.
Unfortunately, when the Big Apple media kept making note of the Blueshirt’s record when he was in or out of the lineup, his cranium became quite swollen, and since it was already deposited in his anium (cranium-anium disorder)it has been stuck there ever since. You might identify.
Chris Simon WAS a player at one time, and in spite of Teddy Nolan’s best efforts to save big Chris from himself, they took an occasional step back at times. Once upon a time, there was nothing wrong with Simon’s game, and anyone who knows the real Chris will tell you that he IS one of the nicest guys in the game.
I wouldn’t think the Wild would give a millisecond of thought to adding an Avery to the roster. Don’t need him or his “stuff” and don’t have the cap room for his current (before the N-Stars jettison him) contract. He has SOME game, but he is not focused on hockey as much as he is focused on himself, and JL would kill him within a day and a half.
Wow, did I call D’Agostini or did I call D’Agostini? Dude is off the hook since getting called up from Hamilton to Montreal.
Moose owner Mark Chipman tells TSN, ”We wouldn’t take him under any circumstance.”
So… even the AHL teams don’t want him around.
Seems the Moose have a partial affiliation with the Stars…
WHY OH WHY are we giving this big of a sh!t about Sean Avery?!
Does he have more skills than a well-developed mandible and a gift for sophomoric trash talking? Sure.
But is he the ONLY guy in the league that can bring that kind of 4th line energy role? Pop in 10 goals, 20 assists and 80 PIMS? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
The guy disrespects the game. He’s utterly replaceable in this league.
Let him go.
Would like to thank the Dead Wings for knocking off the Nux. Would like to see the Wild repeat the feat tomorrow evening.
Friggin Moose don’t friggin need anybody. They’re so good.
I’m with you Nick.
Let’s say we let it (and him) go as of right now. Agreed?
I still can’t figure out how your whole system works in the AHL Ms. C.
And yes… it is YOUR system.
One team has an affiliation with an NHL club, but another NHL club might have a partial affiliation with the same AHL team, and there are AHL teams with partial affiliations with multiple NHL teams… arg.
That’s not to even mention the ECHL…
Buddha: Averytalk Jihad?
Buddha, it’s just a little weird right now. Next season, when Austin has the Texas Stars, every NHL team will have their own AHL team exclusively. This business with the Stars is just because they have no affiliate this year (I doubt you really want to know all the shuffling of affiliations that went on in the off-season, but there was a big domino effect from them cutting ties with Iowa).
Now, don’t even ask me about the ECHL. I think when you start pulling and placing guys at that level, it’s more of a “this coach is buddies with that coach” word of mouth, let’s make a deal kinda thing. I think the priority is to always get guys experience at the next level if a team has a need and a good relationship with the other team. At least that seems to be the precedent that I’ve seen.
It all seems pretty amicable on the surface, though maybe there’s lots of politics on the back end. I bet Russo could speak to some of that. But since I’m not Sunshine and being crabby to him, he probably won’t.
Not to change the subject here, but has anyone here ever seen Gaby and Nordy the mascot in the same place at the same time? We may have an answer as to where Gaby has been all this time.
I know I have the unpopular opinion, but the Dallas Stars are a bunch pansies. Not only are they throwing Avery under the bus for doing precisely what they signed him for, now the veterans are turning on him because he is an easy scapegoat for a terrible season. I dislike Avery as much as the next guy, but the NHL, Stars, hockey fans and media have all blown this way out of proportion. Fine him, consider time served enough penalty, and let Dallas move him so he can move on with is career. He must be doing something right for approx. 4 million per year. Everyone needs to get off their moral high horse. Avery is a pest, dive artist, and agitator. You want to remove someone from the league start looking at Darcy Tucker and Steve Downie. They are dangerous.
Just to give you some piece of mind, Sunshine, Michael was correct in reporting that Gaby skated early Wednesday.
Well, Dangles, the TEAM didn’t sign him, the COACH didn’t sign him. HULL signed him. And yet the team and coach are the ones who have to put up with his stink day in and day out.
I get your point but I don’t have any trouble believing that he’s been a cancer in the room, and while he’s not THE problem, getting rid of him is a step along the road to fixing the problem.
The sense of relief is almost palpable, both among fans and the team, from everything I’ve read.
Of course, they’ll still beat the Wild no matter what. Stupid Stars.
FRIDGE! Got himself a goal!
Man, the Leafs are crapping the bed in the third here.
Very interesting article by Russo for tomorrow’s paper on Burns at forward and the potential for the Wild to look to trade a d-man to get someone in who can score.
At first I was thinking, “Geez. What’s Houston? Chopped liver?” But it sounds like they want a proven quantity who can contribute right away and not someone they’ll need to bring along for a while. Got enough kids up front.
Ms. C
If the Stars had Morrow,Turco wasn’t playing horribly, and they were winning. We wouldn’t be having this conversation. Granted, Hull brought him there. Last I checked, throwing a teammate under the bus is bush league regardless of what league you play in. I stand by my original statement. A bunch of pouty veterans begging for a scapegoat for their putrid season. I long for the days when the NHL would have let the players handle punishment aspect of this situation. These matters should be handled on the ice and behind closed doors within the organization. All this talk about him never playing again is crazy. For the record, I’m not supporting his actions. Simply disapprove of the reaction to the situation. IMHO
By the way…does anyone know why Tellqvist was yanked from the ‘Yotes vs. Leafs game?
My 2 cents on Avery; I do not think the league should suspend him for his comments. Would they suspend a guy if he called another player a ‘male wh*re’ or some other derogatory term? Maybe, but I think not. Napolean…er…..I mean Bettman, had finally had enough of Avery’s antics and wanted to teach him a lesson (although, if history is any indicator, everyone knows Avery will not learn anything from this). Can Bettman really make the argument that Avery’s comment are detrimental to the league? Stupid? Yes. Demeaning? Of course. Childish? Certainly. But did it do ‘harm’ to the NHL’s reputation? It can’t be anywhere near the harm done by other players on ice antics (See Bertuzzi, etc…). I think the Stars owner would be more justified than the league in fining him. At least the owner could argue he’s an idiot and because of that, I’m going to fine him 10 grand. One last thing; Just because Brett Hull is willing to sign Avery for 4 mil per doesn’t make him worth that (See Kim Johnsson).
I long for the days when the NHL would have let the players handle punishment aspect of this situation.
Apart from that statement, which I wholeheartedly agree with, we’ll have to agree to disagree. My gut tells me that team and coach were at their wits end, and the fact that they didn’t start the public jabs before now is a testament to their professionalism.
And I don’t think they’re making these statements publicly to screw Avery as much as to tell management how very serious they are about how unwelcome the guy will be if he shows up in that room again. They needed a rallying point and they found it. I have a hard time feeling any sympathy for Avery on the matter.
On the other hand, I think there’s more to the story than we’re hearing for the league to have gone as hard core as it has.
A little Quiz for Y’all (I’m trying to keep the Dallas theme going). Name the Wild player who is the second one to hit the ice before warmups and the start of the game? The first, of course, is the starting goalie. Any guesses?
And as far as whether this would be happening if the team were playing well… the flip side to that is that I don’t think Avery would be acting out like this if they were playing well.
I agree with you. Fining Avery is appropriate. I also agree they shouldn’t have suspended him. At least not for more than the one game. The only people who are going to change Avery’s tune are wearing skates and holding sticks. The NHL is typically a gentleman’s game because of their ability to police themselves. It’s worked for a very long time. Bettman needs to stop changing the NHL and leave the game alone. Also, I’ve always been told something’s value is determined by what someone will pay you for it. Would I want the Wild to sign him for 4 mil? Nope. Does he bring intangibles that noone else can. Absolutely. As unsavory as they may be, they are still a very unique and “valuable” skill set.
No clue, RET, but I’m curious… does Reitz sit on the bench at the end of warm ups while everyone heads to the room? He always did that in Houston.
In this case, a players (Avery) ‘worth’ was determined by a guy (Hull) who in all likelyhood will have a very short and unsuccessful stint as an assistant G.M. It would be like you or I asking Dan to evaluate the ‘worth’ of….oh, let’s say….a U.S. dollar bill. We all know Dan would probably say it’s worth either 5 cents (which might be accurate in a few years) or 50 dollars. But that doesn’t make it so.
Yes Nick. Jihad. You and me, man. So much more I could contribute. Not going to, just for you.
The fact that it took three paragraphs to explain the AHL thing Ms C just proves it…
Thank goodness there will just be one per next year. Much easier for my simple mind.
RET… Burnsy?
Good question Ms.Conduct! I don’t think he does, although now you have me thinking. Not 100% sure on that.
His nickname is RED.
“Coach Jacques Lemaire would sooner lay down in the middle of 7th and Kellogg than let Risebrough trade Martin Skoula.”
Ugh.
So… Johnsson, Zids, or MAB… I want Zids to stay, I love that shot from the point… Johsson is growing on me…
Hmmm… MAB and UM to Ottawa for one upset star forward???
And the answer is, the pride of St. Georges de Beauce, Quebec, Stephane Veilleux!
If there is no event at the X, JL would be pretty safe laying down at that intersection. Downtown St. Paul on a non event night reminds me of North Platte, Nebraska.
Time to get my beauty sleep. Big game Friday night!
You sound like you need a hug on this whole AHL thing, Buddha. *hug*
Someone check on that Reitz thing for me tomorrow, will ya?
It’s one of those things Ms. C. I like things simple… AHL is just not simple.
Thanks for the hug though. It really did make it all better.
Man, that article on Burns really didn’t do anything to boost my confidence in Risebrough. I still think the way Lemaire talks about Skoula is more of a mind game he’s playing with the guy than true confidence he has. Or maybe he thinks, if I can make a decent player out of Skoula–and this year I just might–then my legacy will be cemented! The coach who made Skoula!
Man, the Leafs are crapping the bed in the third here.
ROFL MsC! Actually, the leafs have been doing that since 1967
Buddha says:
December 4th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Hmmm… MAB and UM to Ottawa for one upset star forward???
Add that Zids is signed for one more year yet MAB is a FA after this season… trading MAB would simplify DR’s offseason.
I’ve said it before, here it is again: IJ back to D, MAB up to wing! Would MAB bring the same things to the front end that IJ does? Probably not, but IJ is undoubtedly the better D man.
Makes me wonder if IJ at wing while all the other D play (we could always sit one and play Gillies up front) is an attempt to ’showcase’ our tradeable D. If say Reitz were sitting game after game, trading him for a good return would be more difficult. I’m guessing the other GM’s aren’t lining up for the D DR was hoping they would.
Typical drivel we have come to expect from the Slover-esque types from up North. By my math, and I was very good at math in school, the Nux are on pace to score a whopping 17 more goals this season than the Wild. Mr. Kettle, meet Mr. Pot.
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=cfba431f-a143-497e-8ac1-aea50b16330e
Deep, almost hard to believe that Bettman thinks the fans want high scoring games. When ‘everyone’ constantly whines about how JL has ‘killed’ the game with low scoring contests.
I have no problem if some putz with a laptop wants to drone on and on about how the Wild is the most boring team in organized athletics. But, when that putz happens to scribble for a team like the Vancouver Cannucks, a team which employs the left-wing lock far more frequently than the Wild, that’s when I begin to get annoyed. It’s as if he would rather see the Nux lose an “exciting” 6-5 game to the Dead Wings last night, rather than win a “boring” 3-2 game tonight at the “X”. Just wish “writers” like that would realize they are not covering the ‘83 Oilers. I’d have to recheck my math, but I’m pretty sure the Nux are not averaging 4-and-a-half goals per night.
I wonder if old Gordo even watches the Nuks.
Last time I checked, 2 points in the standings were awarded to the team that had more goals than the other. So, for instance, if the Wild score 1 goal and the Nuks score zero tonight, the Wild will get 2 points.
However, if the Wild score 11 goals and the Nuks score 10 the Wild still only get 2 points. In the process, JL will have a heart attack and the entire league will demand a recount.
So Gordo, to me, boring hockey is what the Nuks and Avs play. Clog, collapse, clog, clog. The Nuks possess the puck in the corner (usually Danielle) and lull everyone to sleep and throw the puck at the net and have Henrietta crash.
Excuse me for a second….*yawn*.
The Wild have always been a transition, skating team that is defensively responsible. Hmmm…kinda like a team that won a lot of Cups in the 60’s and 70’s. Obviously those Habs teams had much more skilled forwards. Which is the biggest reason the Wild remain Cup-less.
It’s not like the Wild bandwagon has all that much room to begin with.
And it’s also not like the majority (any?) of the people that read that kind of article are potential Wild fans either.
If that’s what they need to justify their fanship, or get pumped up to play us, so be it.
I was watching the Canadiens/Rangers game last night and saw that the Canadiens called up Matt D’Agostini. I’ve seen him play incredibly well with Hamilton in the AHL but this is the first time I’ve seen him in the NHL and he still looked good.
He is a great skater and I can say that after seeing his speed hold true in the NHL. The guy isn’t afraid of playing near the boards or defensively.
I only bring this up because Montreal is a rumored Gaborik trade partner because of the familiarity of the GMs and the fact that the Habs are going for broke this season.
I would be all for trading Gaborik straight up for this D’Agostini kid. If you can get a draft pick or a Chipchura/Latendresse type player thrown in even better.
Gaborik is gone, D’Agostini is a right winger and Burns is back on defense leaving Bergeron as potential trade deadline asset. This makes a lot of sense for the Wild. Would the Habs go for it?
Would the Habs go for it? I say that because after this season they could be headed into rebuilding mode with many big name guys headed into UFA.
Also, DR was at the Houston/Hamilton game a couple weeks ago.
Friday night fights baby! Can we just skip the work day and get on with the game?
Here’s the part that bothers me about the ‘Nucks article. It, and other articles just like it, are the reason why we have to deal with the trolls (later tonight) who say the Wild play a trap, are so boring, only play defense, have no excitement…
There isn’t a one of them that can explain what it is they are saying. They simply regurgitate the dribble that their media spews. They have no idea what a trap is (you suppose the author of that article does?), most likely don’t even realize there are systems in hockey.
Of the 6 Canadian teams, the ‘Nucks have to be the one with the worst overall hockey “experience.” Their team is a bunch of hacks, they have hired some of the worst coaches in the league (have the biggest jackass right now), their media is drunk on Orcha urine, and the fans just can’t wait to lick the drops of left over orcha juice that may fall on the floor so they can run over here and tell us all about it.
Ugh. Maybe I should just shut the computer off today. I may find myself battling trolls all day…
ATX… can I get my weekend pass a day early?
From Russo’s article today on Burns, etc:
DR on Burns:
“He knows he’s better defensively, and he knows we know he’s a better defenseman. And when he transitions back, I promise, there will be a ton of patience offered to him. We know it won’t be easy.”
Say what you will about the Wild organIzation, but they are and always have been willing to be patient with young players.
Say what you will about the Wild organIzation, but they are and always have been willing to be patient with young players.
Injured, impending UFAs too…
Warms the heart, doesn’t it?
You know what else warms the heart? Scotch. Is it too early to start drinking?
I’m already drinking Robitussin. I’m sure scotch would be okay.
Why does the trap induce such negative emotions from pure hockey fans? It is a brilliant strategy, especially in the playoffs. It wins games when executed properly.
And this isn’t 1995 anymore. Obstruction and interference penalties are called incredibly tight now. And with the two line pass legal again a good team can break down the trap with crisp passing and solid skating.
Teams that can play a solid neutral zone trap in today’s NHL should be applauded, not criticized. It isn’t easy to do anymore.
Don’t blame the trap for your neutral zone woes, be more creative and sharp on your defensive zone breakouts.
Doug was happy with the way Colton Gillies has been progressing in Practise this year. I bet by next year, he’ll be that much better in practises and the year after he’ll be one of the top practise players in the league!
Gillies dream is to play in the NHL and who can blame him for that? However, I’m not sure if he would rather play for his country and feel important or sit in the press box and eat popcorn.
I thought underage players who make the NHL were actually very very good players who were supposed to play. My feeling is that Gillies is still 2 years away from being a good NHL player.
ATX… can I get my weekend pass a day early?
I dunno Buddha…. I suppose you can poke the trolls with a stick… would that make you feel better?
I wonder when the onslaught of annoying Nucks fans will begin? Take the over under at about 5pm?
Ms.C, that nhLOL site is funny!
Of the 6 Canadian teams, the ‘Nucks have to be the one with the worst overall hockey “experience.” Their team is a bunch of hacks, they have hired some of the worst coaches in the league (have the biggest jackass right now), their media is drunk on Orcha urine, and the fans just can’t wait to lick the drops of left over orcha juice that may fall on the floor so they can run over here and tell us all about it.
yeah, that…and they’re the CANUCKS.
That team has rained misery an angst down upon its fans from basically day one.
I think their fans are the most obnoxious to us (among NW division rivals) because we’ve had the success we’ve had as quickly as we’ve had it, which further reminds them just how utterly incompetent their team has been for so many more years than ours.
That whole thing about not saying we’re a rival is just a pathetic attempt to retain “hockey superiority” against the new kids on the block - and retain what little sanity they have left in their cold, cold hockey world.
I say we offer Nux fans our pity.
Boy, what a long week. I’m glad there’s some Wild hockey to watch tonight. Get to watch my two little ones (1 and 2) watch for a while. They LOVE watching hockey.
Then, I’ll put them to bed, break out a little Scotch and relax. Yeah, it’s going to be nice.
so what are we thinking? Backs tonight against Schneider for the ‘Couv, and put Hards in tomorrow in Nashville so he can have a proper fight with Tootoo?
Avery suspended 6 games.
The problem in Dallas with his teammates is much bigger than that however.
Averytalk Jihad!!
Nick, I am with you on this… I won’t even say his name… I don’t want to talk about HIM anymore.
Oops, was there some kind of agreement to not talk about you-know-who anymore?
(no worries richard b: it’s sort of a loose thing, just trying to deny him the one thing that he craves above all else: attention)
So kind of like Canucks fans?
So kind of like Canucks fans? Insert rim shot *here*
Avery Avery Avery
Sorry. Jihads bring out the petulance in me…
Puck Daddy has a good post on him this morning. Wysh sure is in touch with the female hockey fan. I love him for that.
If spewing the phrase “sloppy seconds” is enough to get a player banned for 6 games and basically ostricized from his current sqaud, jacka$$es like Tucker and his ilk who take liberties with other players’ livelihood (going after knees, etc) need to start going away for 30 games plus every time they do their schtick. Avery embarassed himself, no doubt, and brought a bit of bad press down on the League, but he did nothing to threaten the on-ice livelihood of another player. Remember what Ohlund got for shelving Franchise with a brutal 2-hander a year ago (4 games). Bettman and the other League Brass can spare me of their phony outrage over the Avery incident until they start to take a serious stance to what is taking place on the ice and actually having an affect on the careers of the players.
the problem is the uninformed believe that more goals = more excitement. hogwash. monday’s game was a prime example of how more goals can be less excitement.
look what they did with baseball? they built tiny parks, juiced the ball, juiced the hitters, all to get more runs to make the games more “exciting”.
scoring chances are what makes a game a thrill a minute. not allowing off puck defenders hook a guy in the gut and ride him into the offensive zone and call that back check is doing more for the game than what any trap does to hurt the game. Watch some of the classic series on NHL network from the mid 90s. players never skated into the offensive zone without towing an opponent by his stick. crazy.
I’m with Deep on this one too. Mr. Attention gets 6 games for spewing crap out of his pie-hole. Darc the Farce gets nothing for telling a player that he was going to go after his knees (coroborate by others that heard it) and then actually going out and doing it. Which is worse? It’s the old sticks and stones thing. Calling somoeone “SS” causes no physical damage but going after a players knees could end his career.
not allowing off puck defenders hook a guy in the gut and ride him into the offensive zone and call that back check is doing more for the game than what any trap does to hurt the game.
the defense rests. (pun intended)
but Schultz wasn’t injured.
That’s the NHL’s bag - and it’s a stupid one. But that’s their bag nonetheless. The Ohlund injury is proof positive that they suspend/discipline based on result, not intent. If the Wild docs were any more competent to diagnose injury severity than meteorologists are to predict weather more than 2 hours out Ohlund might have gotten a punishment that came closer to matching the severity of the act.
sorry…it’s the Koivu injury, the Ohlund suspension.
that’s also why this current story is an interesting departure for the league. By suspending that poor child when they did, they removed any opportunity for intent (say, of Phaneuf to rearrange his face) to turn into result.
Bottom line: the league disciplinary process is totally off the cuff and makes the league like a Mickey Mouse Banana Republic in times like this.
Who’s the leader of the game that’s meant for you and me.
G-G-G a-r-y
B-U-T-T-munch
I’ve seen an occasional 1-0 game that I thought was great. But I’m usually more entertained by something with each team in the 3 to 5 goal range.
That is all.
Heard on the radio this morning that NHL Network has a crew following Schultzie today for a “Day in the Life Of…” episode.
Should be interesting…
Get up, change son’s diaper
Eat, go to morning skate
Come home, change son’s diaper
Take a nap, change son’s diaper
Go to the arena and piss-pound the ‘Nuks
Nothin says excitement like a day in the life of the Hammer.
Wow, apparently they were looking to waive Avery prior to these remarks.
ATX- Poke them with a stick, eh? OK. I’ll take that. If they attack in retribution though, I may be forced to defend myself…
AiH- I don;t know that the trap induces negative feelings in pure hockey fans. I think it is the non-pure hockey fans that are offended by it. You know, the Gary Bettman, let’s put hockey in the everglades and Death Valley type fan. *cough* basketball *cough* fans.
Most people I would consider pure fans have no issue with the trap (in it’s current form) and believe that those who whine about it are stuck in the past, have no idea what a trap even is, or just really like games that look like the allstar game.
NiNY- Nice take on the ‘Nucks fans thing. Didn’t even think about the fact they are just jealous.
I think their fans are the most obnoxious to us (among NW division rivals) because we’ve had the success we’ve had as quickly as we’ve had it, which further reminds them just how utterly incompetent their team has been for so many more years than ours.
That is exactly the opinion I have formed from the Nuk trolls and even their writers.
+1 on the ‘nuck’s fans being jealous!
The thing about the big A-hole in big D and his suspension…
The league is doing exactly what they’ve done in the past. Inconsistent discipline with punishment not reflective of the action.
While I’m not sure the comments deserve 6 games, if they were trying to turn over a new leaf starting with this, I wouldn’t complain. Inappropriate comments gets you 6 games, a hit to the head gets you 20, a premeditated attempt to take out someone’s knees gets you 40…
But, if this isn’t a ‘new start’ on discipline and the next suspension is 4 games for using a stick as a weapon and breaking a guy’s leg… then I’ll be upset, but not suprised.
