Acrimony building between Wild, Salcer’s camp; How will this affect Gaborik?
Posted on December 8th, 2008 – 12:41 AMBy Michael Russo
Good evening from Chateau de Russeau, where I just drank about three hot teas to soothe my sore throat.
I’m not sick, I was just on the phone a lot tonight. Tobin Wrightgate entered Day Two, or in reality, Evening Two.
Tobin Wright is the Minneapolis-based agent who works for Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based agent Ron Salcer, the agent who represents Marian Gaborik, Brent Burns and Derek Boogaard.
As I reported Sunday morning, Wright has been banned from the Xcel Energy Center event level. I couldn’t report the reason Sunday. I can now.
Salcer is accusing the Wild of banning Wright as punishment for refusing to testify against Willie Mitchell in his arbitration case against the Wild.
Mitchell claims he had a bulging disc in his neck that prevented him from playing during the lockout. If you were not medically cleared to play as of Sept. 15, 2004, players were supposed to be paid their NHL salaries until they were medically cleared. Mitchell is claiming he was unfit to play, and thus should have been paid his $1.775 million salary from the Wild.
If the Wild loses the grievance, it would owe Mitchell his salary plus interest most likely. An arbitrator is supposed to render a decision in 60-90 days, as I reported in Saturday’s paper.
Wright skated with a number of players during the lockout, and allegedly, Mitchell was one of them. The Wild wanted Wright to testify to that fact, but he refused. Wright felt testifying against an NHL player when he’s an agent would jeopardize his future and ability to sign future players.
I called assistant GM Tom Lynn for reaction to Salcer’s allegation, and Lynn emailed me a statement that said, “The team decided not to grant Tobin Wright access to the private Wild family and visitor areas for a period because of integrity issues.”
The statement went on to say, in part, “Wright has … sneaked into off-limits private areas of the arena in the past where he was not allowed to go. Wright has used his Wild visitor access to repeatedly try to recruit players away from other agents, which could cause disruption in the Wild’s relationships with those agents. Wright’s unwillingness to tell the truth in the Mitchell proceeding was only the most recent issue.”
I talked to Wright for a bit. He declined public comment but was not happy. I talked to Salcer for awhile again. In the end, he opted not to respond to Lynn’s email and get into a he-said, she-said thing.
A couple of things:
1. The Wright ban did come the day after the record closed in the Mitchell case, so as Lynn acknowledged in his statement, Wright refusal to testify was an issue.
2. As for the sneaking into off-limit private areas, I don’t know the specifics of what Lynn’s alleging. Maybe there are other instances, but I do know of one I was told about last season by a number of sources. Wright, who is close friends with Gaborik and works as his assistant, drove Gaborik’s girlfriend, Sona, to the arena in Gaborik’s car. Apparently, he drove into the players underground parking lot using Gaborik’s pass.
GM Doug Risebrough saw Wright and, from many accounts because a lot of people were around, Risebrough lit into him for parking in the players area.
3. As for the accusation by Lynn that Wright is recruiting other agent’s clients, Salcer denied that to me. It’s well known that Wright, who used to work in the Wild’s hockey ops department and was fired during the Gaborik holdout, played an integral role in Gaborik going from Allan Walsh (Pierre-Marc Bouchard’s agent) to Salcer. But since I’ve covered the team, I believe Salcer’s had the same Wild clients — Gaborik, Burns and Boogaard. The only guys they’ve recruited from here since were Boogaard’s brother, Aaron, who plays in Pittsburgh’s organization, and minor-leaguer Steve Kelly, who is Wright’s brother-in-law.
This is obviously a very sensitive issue right now. Again, the biggest thing that makes this news is while this has nothing to do with Gaborik, it certainly indirectly affects the Gaborik negotiations.
Like I mentioned on the previous blog, Wright and Gaborik are good friends. Wright works for Gaborik. Gaborik cannot be happy with what’s going on here, and as you all know, he’s in a contract squabble with the Wild right now.
This could very well create an even bigger wedge between the two sides, although I asked Salcer, and he said that one won’t affect the other.
“They’re going to do what’s in their best interest from a business point of view. They’re not going to let hurt feelings or things like that get in the way of them making rational decisions,” Salcer said. “They’re going to do what’s best for them — whatever that is. But we don’t know what that is yet.”
(i.e. trade him, sign him, let him walk as a free agent after the season).
There’s one other thing the Wild should be wary about. Wright’s friends with a lot of Wild players, so there’s a danger a lot more players than only Gaborik will be bothered by this banishment.
84 Responses to "Acrimony building between Wild, Salcer’s camp; How will this affect Gaborik?"
Jesus. What a bunch of girls.
Maybe Wright was just tutoring Veilleux In case he wants to be his own agent again! 
From what we have to go on, to me it seems like kind of a jerk move by the organization. Maybe the player parking lot is more sacrosanct than I would think, or maybe it’s influenced by the general waft of smugness I always get from the top ranks, but from what I read, petty move.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
The most important part of all that Russo wrote above?
Salcer is Burns’ agent. Just wait 3 years for that fiasco.
jimlove nailed it! That is the 1 thing DR/Lynn need to worry about in all this. Forget Gaborik, he’s gone, Burns is the guy you want to keep happy!
So, if what is written here is correct, if Wright testifies against Mitchell in the arbitration case, he gets access? Isn’t that coercion by the Wild organization? Are they that desperate for a win in this case, that they would risk losing it simply because testimony was coerced? The arbitrator could simply award Willie the money and the Wild would be screwed, due to the fact that if this thing ever went to court, a judge would summarily uphold the ruling due to the fact that testimony was indeed coerced.
And now, on top of all this, the Wild are about to lose their most talented player? And, possibly in 3 years, their best young player as well? And all this over the arbitration of Willie Mitchell?
ah, why is wright driving gaborik’s girlfriend around? hmmmmm
What a bunch of girls
no kidding.
who knew you needed to be so sensitive to be a pro athelete.
Pretty much no way for the organEYEzation to look good here.
i’m confused but how could the testimony have been coerced?
and, if a player makes it difficult for the wild to resign them because the wild banned a buddy of theirs from taking showers with them or whatever it is they do, do you really want that type of player on your team?
Pretty much no way for the organEYEzation to look good here
for sure it is a d!ck move by lynn or whoever made the move but I still don’t see why it has everyone’s undies in a bunch.
Sounds to me like this is another case like Avery’s. Lots of little things add up and eventually there’s a line crossed and one side says “no more!”
This is just one more reason why it is so great to play here. Why those UFAs from last summer were dying to play here.
This kind of treatment is what players remember.
They can get their $$$ from any team…they want to go where the organ-EYE-zation is perceived to be ‘player friendly’ and will kiss their rich a$$es.
Why worry about trying to get a goal scorer onto the roster when we can sit and chew fingernails over this drama. Christ. Flippin’ soap opera of all soap operas. Fire everyone involved and start fresh. To he11 with it.
but I still don’t see why it has everyone’s undies in a bunch.
that’s sort of my point. If the team can’t claim eminent domain in it’s own building then they can’t claim it anywhere. But, in so doing, they look like jerks.
everyone involved in this needs a reality check (first and foremost Gaborik)
Like another poster said, I am sick and tired of seeing Gaborik sit there and whine and pout and not play when the organization and the fans have invested a lot into him only for him wanting more.
The dufus (witholding expletives here) should just be thankful he can effing play a game for a living, be good at it, and get paid millions of dollars. There are so many people out there that would love to be in his shoes but nothing is ever enough for this guy. there are players out there that play hurt all the time, and this guy’s glass groin can never be healed for some reason. I demand he plays, even if he is ‘hurt’.
non-hockey, but too funny to pass up:
From Zulgad’s story on the Queens triumph yesterday:
Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who serves as the captain of that unit, said it was as simple as putting an end to a series of dumb mistakes. “We just had to stop shooting ourselves,” he said. “I told the guys, ‘We’re out of bullets. We can’t shoot ourselves anymore than we already have.’ “
Too soon?
At least he didn’t specify the leg-region…
What the heck? I just don’t get it, Wild better watch out or we are going to be the laughing stock of the league. Who is running the asylum?
So basically this guy’s job requirements are that of Turtle from Entourage?
I can just see Tom Lynn running around the event level wearing his white apron and screaming:
“NO ACCESS for you…1 year!!!”
I’m sure I’m not the only person with this question…
What the heck is the ‘event level’? What is on the ‘event level’?
Who cares…..Boo frickin’ hoo!!!
The guy should be banned from the X’s public areas too just for being named Tobin. What the *bleep* kind of name is that?
“ah, why is wright driving gaborik’s girlfriend around? hmmmmm”
I was going to go with a Sean Avery-like response, but decided against it.
NiNY, that is a good quote. Funny guy that Williams.
So basically this guy’s job requirements are that of Turtle from Entourage?
Awesome. Great show, and a great analogy.
kj: how many encores did the crowd call you back for?
I am not going to pretend I have my arms around this whole mess but I will say this: Why in the hell would DR and Co. think that Gaby would resign after the season? It just seems abundantly clear that the issues between player/posse, Coach and Team Doug Smugsborough are so vast a trade should have been done at the draft. It is DR’s job to get out ahead of this crap and he simply has not done it in this case and it keeps getting worse.
However, let me add that I do not forsee this most recent situation causing problems going forward. As many of noted in recent days, the buck stops with the player and you could sail an oil tanker through the gulf that divides #10 and #8 and most other significant players.
NiNY…believe it or not…2.
It was a packed house. During 2nd set they stopped letting people in.
A great way to end our bass player’s run.
Now, it’s on to the new musicians and more Full Circle rock n roll!
Can we all simply hope that all of the nonesense that is seemingly permiating from the Wild organization is washed away by the time Ballgame and Backstop’s poeple start talking extension? That is, if Ballgame realizes that Backstop is in the final year of his contract; in the prime of his career and one of the top netminders in the League.
kj: that’s awesome! When can we expect the live album to be released?
Right on, 6GS, on both issues.
“who knew you needed to be so sensitive to be a pro athelete.”
You don’t. You only have to be sensitive to be a money hungry primma donna.
This guy obviously did more than just try to park UM’s car. I don’t think it’s a jerk move, I think it is their building and if they don’t want the guy in there, so be it. He wants in, he can buy a ticket.
The whole situation stinks to me. The guy works for UM’s agent, but he is UM’s BFF? What ever happened to professionalism? Bah. Whatever.
Tobin Wright is simply a satan spawn in training and learning how to do it quite well. Good for him.
Can we gat an official ruling on who Gaby’s real BFF is or at least a speed dial ranking?
Mari-anne is as good as gone and in the end we will nothing to show for for him, save for a few years of highlight reel goals and a single division banner hanging in the rafters.
The whole mess is a total failure within the organization, from the player/agent to the GM.
I just want it over with.
Well done kj. Well done, indeed.
DB- To be honest, using past performance to judge future performance, I’m not sure DR and the crew even know that Backs’ contract is up this season.
NiNY…our bass player recorded the show. He wanted it to remember us by… 
The Night They Drove Old kj Down…LOL
Buddha…nah, DR is on top of the situation. He will work on Backstrom’s contract once he resolves the Gho$t deal.
After all, he cannot work on more than one contract (or potential contract) at a time.
It’s just too hard.
In a way, it’s too bad the Wild currently sit 3rd in the division and 7th in the conference. One (DR, JL, Owners) may look at that and be inclined to say “We aren’t doing too badly, no changes needed right now”. If the Wild were stinking it up, those people might be more inclined to get something done. I think the general concensus is that right now what the Wild is (are?) doing isn’t too bad, but continuing on the same path isn’t going to cut it when the in conference/division games really start and/or in the playoffs. Clearly something needs to be done but the standings may be masking that need.
Wild are a sinking ship anyway. Risebrough is going to have to give players a reason to stay here, and give free agents a reason to come here. as of now, he hasn’t done that in the Wild’s 8 years. Low balling current players, dumpster diving in the free agent market, every move Doug makes is worst then the last, and since Russo has never mentioned it, it seems that Doug has made no effort to re-sign the only reason the Wild ever win games these days and that is the goalie. This franchise is going nowhere and I find it hard to believe the building still sells out every game with such a terrible product on the ice. Sure it’s the best building in hockey, and one of the top buildings in sport, but a building alone is no reason for the fans to continue to pay one of the highest ticket prices in hockey.
Bottom line, the Wild need to wake up, specifically Risebrough and Lemaire, because if they continue down this path they are on, if the fan base ever gets a clue, it’ll be an empty building watching a bad team….you know, like over on first ave in Minneapolis.
If (and that’s a big ‘if’) Tobin Wright did anything that any other agent would have been called on (the parking incident, etc.,) then yes, he should have his access called into question. But this sounds more like sour grapes than anything else. I just hope it doesn’t come back to haunt the Wild later on.
Goody: The ‘event’ level is the locker room area level, one level below the main floor/100-level seats. I can see Wright being ‘dis-allowed’ from that area on game days, but not the rest of the time. His other clients (Boogaard, Burns) need to speak to their representation, also, and it just happens to be the same guy.
As I said earlier: all this…just because of Willie Mitchell?
Haven’t read many of the responses here yet but is anyone else kind of tired with this Gabby situation. At this point I think most people have alreayd expected the worst which is he walks free at the end of the season. Why we have not focused on on signing Backstrom is beyond me. This should have been done awhile ago IMO. I personally couldn’t care less about the Gabby situation right now, it is what it is. They can play their little childish games and do all of that, but in the end, if we don’t have Back’s on board for next year. We will have a serious problem. Harding is good, don’t get me wrong, but I wish the media would create a frenzy on why we haven’t signed Back’s yet instead of this Gabby crap. Maybe to potentially light a fire under DR’s bumm to get this done. By the way this is not a knock on the Don, I appreciate all the info he reports to us. But are we all in agreement that Back’s is our #1 issue right now as far as free agent signings go?
NiNY - I personally like this portion of Reusse’s story today on T-Jack:
“…An aside here: Shiancoe led the Vikings with five catches — and nothing that resembled a drop — so this might be another guy for the Purple Faithful to stop whining about.
The touchdown pass was Jackson’s second this season. The first was in the fourth quarter of the season opener.
‘Visanthe did a good job of selling the play,’ Jackson said. ‘It was a naked bootlegI tried to give a good fake, because everybody is looking at Adrian [Peterson] all the time. Visanthe got open, and I just gave him the ball …’ “
Ruesse has to have known of the below issue when he submitted his story
I have serious doubts that Gabby is as hurt as they claim. I think this is ridiculous posturing from DR.
Why do I think this? Because JL kicked Gabby off the ice during a practice.
WHAT is that all about?
I personally think DR is trying to devalue Gabby so much so that he will not get a great offer and that noone will take a chance on him and he will be stuck here. I have THAT little faith in the Wild Management.
These is the same organization that trashed Dupuis–and gee. Isn’t he doing just dandy with the Pens.
And Willie Mitchell? They just dumped him off in the midst of negotiations?
And do not forget how they dumped Branko so fast-with his injury..misdiagnosed Koivu’s BROKEN leg and Ohlund only had a few days of suspension and TOTALLY dropped the ball on Manny’s knee injury–WHILE publicly trashing him for not “trying.” (btw he is now doing just fine–part of the best tandem in the NHL on the hottest team in the NHL)
BTW I am so disillusioned with the Wild management that I have only gone to ONE game this season–Bruins-cheered for the Bruins and am going to see San Jose and Detroit. And will see Detroit one more time–and I used to go to 40 games a year and shelled out the money to sit in the lower level.
NO MORE. Until we dispose of this management team, the Wild are going nowhere and fast.
Question: If Vancouver is the only team with real interest in Gabby by the time the trade deadline comes, and they offer a decent trade (i.e. Kesler and a #1), do you trade him to your biggest division rival where he and Demitra have an OPPORTUNITY to hurt you 6 times a year, or do you take the lesser trade value from a different team?
I can appreciate the fact that the Wild have played reasonably well to this point and are only a point or 2 out of the division lead. My point would be this. Check the list of teams that the Flames and Canucks have played to this point and who they have left. Then compare that to what the Wild still have to go through. You have to play all 82 games, but the Wild’s schedule compared to those of the two teams they are fighting for the NW lead with, is ridiculously easy. Not saying the Wild can’t play better, but they are ging to have to with the looks of their schedule compared to the Flickers and Nux.
Less value from another team, Gun.
I still think we should trade him to a southern team so he can skate on slow ice the remainder of the year.
He does seem like a South Beach kinda guy.
The Wild can give access to whom ever they want. If they don’t like someone, they don’t have to allow them into the area. If asking someone to do nothing more than tell the truth under oath, then I have a problem with Wright as well. If Mitchell is trying to scam the Wild and Wright knows this, but is refusing to testify, then I think the Wild just let him know that as an Agent, his work relies on the willingness of the pro team to welcome you into their building and private areas as well.
I am waiting for Russo to do a Barbara Walters style interview with marian. Mike you could do a 3 part interview(you taking the place of walters)take pic’s of you both sitting in nice comfy chairs with legs crossed and you can ask the tough questions and marian could give you his one word answers. I can see this being the hockey news of the moment taking the wind out of the Avery situation and giving hockey fans all around the world the straight talk! What can I say I think its a great idea!
These is the same organization that trashed Dupuis–and gee. Isn’t he doing just dandy with the Pens.
Who let Dupis’ mom on the boards?
Wow, somebody’s got their finger on the delete button. Heh.
And this is exactly the point I was making on the WMB about why Russo handles things the way he does with the team. Access to the team is a privilege. If you don’t respect that privilege and play ball, you lose it. I’d think this holds especially true for agents who may not be in the best standing with the team.
The question is, if ALL he’d done was not testify, would he have still been given the boot? If the answer is yes, then the organization is being a bunch of female canines. If this really was the last straw in a series of disrespecting the privileges afforded him by the team, then yeah, suck it agentboy.
the event level is where the team locker rooms are, where they keep the Zambonis, where the press dining room is, where the ushers’ locker room is.
Intoblivion: I would be there’s more to it than just driving Gaborik’s car into the player’s parking area. in fact, I would hazard a guess that that incident isn’t much of an issue here, since he was driving Gaborik’s car; unless Gaborik wasn’t planning to drive his car back out of there.
honestly, though, this whole issue can suck it. I don’t care one little bit.
So the plan seems to be: Wait until Gaborik can come back and play for a week or two to increase his trade value and dump him before the deadline. My reasoning is that even if he came back and played the rest of the season it would still leave the wiener issue unresolved.
Everybody knows what he can do when healthy, and we all know what his injury issues are. I’m afraid that his value is pretty much stuck where it is, but What the F is that even? What’s a Dougie Smug to do here?
Radim Vrbata takes his puck and goes to the Czech Republic. Does he take his $3M cap hit with him?
Also, Bolts put Chris Gratton on waivers ($1.25M cap hit). That’s a guy that never really panned out after a decent start in…iiiiiieeeeee want to say Philly??
Enjoy playing with the likes of Petr Kalus, Radim!
my bad…Gratton drafted by Tampa, played in Philly, but got his start in TB. he’s been around, though, dats fer sure.
What’s a Dougie Smug to do here?
Trade him during the summ…oh wait
Trade him before cam….oh wait
Trade him before the season star…oh wait
If Higgins and a pick/prospect or McDonough and a pick/prospect were really on the table and the GM said ‘no’ then New Owner Guy needs to hold him accountable for that colossal mistake, the sooner the better….because clearly that was the move to make, given that the player had made clear he wasn’t going to sign here after the Eurotrip and multiple fair offers and given his lonnnngggg and maddening history of injury.
Can’t believe that offer was ever on the table.
Wild Road Tripper says:
December 8th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I can see Wright being ‘dis-allowed’ from that area on game days, but not the rest of the time. His other clients (Boogaard, Burns) need to speak to their representation, also, and it just happens to be the same guy.
As I said earlier: all this…just because of Willie Mitchell?
‘Cause no-body’s got cell phones? Players can’t arrange to meet him somewhere else in the arena?
I’m feeling it isn’t all because of Willie, but that was a part of the issues the Wild has had with him. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m drinking the Wild’s cool aid…
Missy says:
December 8th, 2008 at 10:53 am
These is the same organization that trashed Dupuis–and gee. Isn’t he doing just dandy with the Pens.
I’m not denying that some of your other points may be valid… Dupuis, playing with??? in the more offensive minded eastern conference??? I’ve got nothing against Dupuis, but put Boogaard on that team and he’d look a heck of a lot better than he does on the Wild.
TheGunslinger says:
December 8th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Question: If Vancouver is the only team with real interest in Gabby by the time the trade deadline comes, and they offer a decent trade (i.e. Kesler and a #1), do you trade him to your biggest division rival where he and Demitra have an OPPORTUNITY to hurt you 6 times a year, or do you take the lesser trade value from a different team?
You get as much as you can from whoever is offering unless the difference is something like a 3rd round pick instead of a 4th or something minor like that. Remember, he’s a FA July 1. If he wants to play in Vancouver, he’ll play in Vancouver no matter who you trade him to (assuming health and Vancouver is interested).
I am with you Buddha, I do not think it is a jerk move either.
No sense in lamenting what the team coulda or shoulda done. If they had traded Gabby early noone would have like that because they would have been sure the Wild got too little.
Compare Belanger’s attitude playing with injuries compared to Prima Donna’s for a minute. One guy plays, the other goes to TWolves games.
No, Greenstar, I do not want guys like that on my team.
This team is turning into a big freakin’ soap opera. They were doing a pretty good job of not letting the Gaborik situation turn into much of a distraction, too. So much for that.
Gramatically speaking, that probably should have been whomever in my last post.
Radim Vrbata takes his puck and goes to the Czech Republic. Does he take his $3M cap hit with him?
Wow - I can’t see how the cap hit doesn’t remain pending what you would think would be a buyout this summer. Isn’t Vrbata a Gaby pal?
No sense in lamenting what the team coulda or shoulda done. If they had traded Gabby early noone would have like that because they would have been sure the Wild got too little.
I could not disagree more - yes there would have been lamenting at a summertime or September deal but when Gaby went on his new team’s IR, DR would have had the last laugh instead of being the laughing stock he is now. The bottom line for me is that Gaby never intended to re-sign with the Wild - I could be wrong but I think it is becoming clear to most fans so DR should have known the same thing months ago.
Missy raises some interesting points (I’m with you on the Bruins!). However, it’s the team doctors who diagnose, not the management, and they have made some bad calls — unless management hasn’t correctly conveyed the medical message. It was JL that implied Manny wasn’t trying and it was JL with whom Dupuis had some serious issues — what they were, I don’t know.
Having worked on contract negotiations, I can say that agents will go to great lengths to get us fans riled up to put pressure on Risebrough et al. I’m sure work is going on behind the scenes to keep Backstrom here.
I also may be quite naive, but couldn’t the court simply just subpoena Wright if it needed his testimony? Why all the drama?
The biggest issues right now are generating offense and chemistry among the players, not to mention keeeping us fans engaged. Both goalies are giving the team a chance to win each night. Koivu, Burns and Bruno are doing everything they can to get the Wild on the scoreboard. We have a history of November/December slumps. We usually turn the corner after the New Year — let’s hope that happens this time. Of course, that’s when we usually get Gaborick back, too, so…
Thank God for Center Ice and nhl.com network so I can watch great hockey elsewhere in the meantime.
The Wright story — if he is trying to poach on other agents’ players and players themselves have complained, that is wrong and he should be banned.
Deep Breath - That’s what I’ve been saying about the schedule for a couple of weeks now. It’s nice that we’re hanging around first place, but it’s a bit of an illusion, created by a soft early schedule. Do people realize the Canucks have played ALL FOUR of their games with the Red Wings already? They went 2-2, and who in here believes we’re ready to get four points from our remaining four games with the Evil Empire?
For this team to have any chance to win the divison, they need to have an 8-10 point lead on Feb. 26, because the March schedule is brutal. If they’re in the same position on Feb. 26 that they are now, they will likely miss the playoffs.
Very interesting article above
6GS: IMO, I think Gaborik was open to re-signing but it was a small window of opportunity. I think that after training camp when Salcer went to Grand Forks and the two sides couldn’t reach agreement even on the guaranteed money, DR should have pulled a trigger on a trade at that point. That was before the preseason games started.
Because once the season started, Gaborik and the Wild parted ways. It doesn’t matter who left the table first because it was over at that point.
Becky:
From my understanding the Mitchell matter involved arbitration, not a court. While courts have the power to subpoena people arbitrators do not always share that power. But the real problem is that, even assuming arbitrator subpoenaed Mitchell, a subpoena doesn’t make someone talk. I have seen many cases where people conveniently “forget” what happened, give a worthless answer on purpose, or simply choose not to answer (the latter could raise some contempt issues.). The bottom line is no one could have forced this guy to testify.
sunshine - you might be right that there was a deal short of $10 million per that Gaby would have signed as he basked in the glow of The Ralph during training camp. I doubt it but obviously I have no idea what was really in his head at that point. For me, I just can’t get by the All Star game controversy - it just seems like he started riding out the clock from that point forward.
Fred, yes, that is interesting historical information once you scroll down to the second section.
lunch
The All-Star controversy was media generated. They asked him about playing in the Eastern Conference repeatedly. He tried to put off answering but finally gave an answer that said he has thought about what it felt like to play in a more open style conference.
Were you there Sunshine?
Contrary to Russo’s report, the salary cap isn’t expected to budge too far for next season. If the economy continues to wane, the hit would happen in 2010-201l (as reported by the real experts on TSN).
Ignore the numerous typos and misspelled words in my above post.
[…] why. An interesting story, considering its potential impact on the Marian Gaborik negotiations. [Star-Tribune]• And there was much joy on the Puck Daddy fantasy team, as Marc-Andre Fleury begins […]
You know the BIGGEST problem with the Wild organization is that they can pretty much be mediocre and because we do not want to lose hockey again-we will put up with it. (I have to think this is what is going on over at the Target Center with the puppies) They will keep flaunting JL’s many SC rings (from THIRTY years ago) and his one big win with the Devils (and didn’t they send him packing before they won two more) and DR. He is as worthless as Kevin McHale. Just worthless!
As for the whole Gabby thing–we are ASSUMING it was 10 mil. We do not know this. We know that it was a “top 5 percent” of salaries. Lou Nanny was on the Fan about a month ago and he said it was not top 1% or 2 %–he was pretty specific. They may have offered him 7.8 mil. Who knows?
PERSONALLY I do not think he wants to play for JL. And that is why Demo is gone and Branko is gone. And from what I read..Gabby wants out from this and perhaps Join Dupuis and his other pals in the East and become the scoring sensation he so wants to be.
I should also add…I used to work for the boys of Summer and I am NOT a fan of agents..(one particular one has ruined that sport) but I have to say..this is a matter of who is doing a better job of snowjobbing the fans. And right now..the Wild are winnig.
Personally..I don’t think Gabby is hurt. They have spent too much time on this and too many doctors etc…unless of course..they have totally misdiagnosed this one too. (ie see Koivu and Fernandez and their misdiagnosises) The sort of injury is what Forsberg was dealing with and it had more to do with feet/skates. Have they considered this? And you know..I think that maybe he is in some pain but he could easily suck it up for another coach who would let him do what he does best….
Then again…If Gabby is THAT fragile that he cannot play hackysack..then time to find another career.
I just find it ALARMING that they (JL and DR) are not more anxious to bring Gabby back. THUS I believe the whole injury is not that big a deal…
Oh..back to the Fernandez/Koivu misdiagnosis–you know..they SHOULD have the best doctors/treatments around. How they could figure out Manny’s in Boston pretty quickly and how they missed a broken bone with Koivu is pretty significant. A good MR with dye should uncover what is going on. (I know this as my own doctor made a significant diagnosis for my own broken body part and the conversation came up about these two…and they were perplexed too…)
The question is: You let Gaborik go…who’s left there to get excited about?
[…] Also, there’s a weird story out of Minnesota, with Tobin Wright, an agent, getting banned from the Xcel Energy Center, allegedly for refusing to testify against Willie Mitchell, who is still trying to get lockout money from the Wild. Michael Russo has the whole, sorted story. […]
I think that all of this drama is reflected in their play, and I would like to see Jacques leadership help players to put this aside while they continue their current commitment. Let Gabbby go, he has been a mid level contributor for the last few years getting payed a franchise players salary. Burns is not S. Weber, but the wild do need to keep him if possible. I think the trade that the Wild need to think about is Doug R.
