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.

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