Monday update; Kolanos reassigned
Posted on December 8th, 2008 – 1:21 PMBy Brian Stensaas
2:40 p.m. update: Just received word Krys Kolanos has been reassigned to Houston .
Not long ago, Jacques Lemaire put his team through a series of lap skates at the end of a practice. He said he was not sending a message, just that it had been awhile since the team had a good, hard skate. Jacques also said it would not be the last time.
Jacques is a man of his word.
After taking yesterday off, the Wild today had a tough practice. It ended with a lengthy team chat on the ice, but not before everyone took turns skating lines - or for you 1980 Team USA fans: Herbies.
Actually, not everyone participated. Gaborik was not on the ice with teammates yet again. Also absent today: Nolan, Brunette and Zidlicky.
Just a rest for the latter two. I didn’t even see them in the building. As for Nolan, I walked out at the same time he did and he is still moving quite slowly with that “lower body” injury of his.
A couple of things to note from practice:
1) Derek Boogaard skated with the defensemen for most of today’s session. About 10 minutes in, he traded his green practice jersey for a red one - which matched the shiner (thanks to Predators’ newcomer Wade Belak) below his left eye.
2) Maybe the most entertaining thing I’ve seen at a practice so far. Prior to a drill, Lemaire said he wanted the defensemen to do something - anything - other than just glide aimlessly with thier sticks on the ice. “Don’t just do this,” he said, gliding slowly. So once the whistle blew and the puck was put in play, Nick Schultz, left alone at the point, dropped to the ice and started doing push-ups.
OK - that didn’t read nearly as well as it looked live. You’ll have to trust me.
I’m away from this team for the next week. Russo back with you through the road trip West.
166 Responses to "Monday update; Kolanos reassigned"
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Stencils: was Gaborik on the ice at all today?
why does it seem like this whole gaborik things is starting to get a bit more complicated as of the latest with this tobias character? i have always thought of gaby as being a classy player but i dont know any more. I guess it would be nice to know what the hell is actually going on between gaby and the wild. it doesnt seem as simple as just an injury. As a fan it sucks being left in the dark. But in the end I hope he gets better because I want to see him traded.
Gotta love Shultzie.
Wright is a complication to the Wild’s case against Mitchell not Gaborik. If you read the last sentence in Russo’s blog, Wright is good friends with several Wild players, just not Gaborik.
Wright not testifying against Mitchell could mean that the Wild might have to shell out $1.7+ million to Mitchell.
In this business climate, that’s a lot of dough.
No doubt, Sunshine, but whose fault was it that the $1.75 million (plus interest) was going to be paid to Mitchell in the first place?
Yes, it’s a lot of do-re-mi, but if the Wild had been a little bit proactive, they could have negotiated that down considerably.
Don’t sell yourself short, Brian, the Schultz push-ups story made me laugh to beat the band. Especially imagining Lemaire creeping along the ice saying “Don’t just do this” in that great accent.
Indeed, I laughed, too, Ex. But geez. Figure out something easier to do than push-ups. I’d have jumped on my stick and ridden it down the ice twirling an imaginary lasso, but that’s just me.
Nice link Ms. C.
Wild Road Tripper:
If you felt that you had a valid claim at $1.75 million wouldn’t you fight for it? Conversly, if you felt that you didn’t owe someon $1.75 million wouldn’t you fight it?
I guess I took your comment to blame the Wild for the Mitchell situation. I think that is wrong for many reasons, the least of which being the lockout itself. Without the lockout you don’t have this issue. Anyway, nothing says the Wild were obligated to pay him in the first place. It’s his claim that he is entitled to the cash but it’s not a sure thing. Thus, the necessity for an arbitrator arose. I think you have to look at both sides if you are laying blame here. Both sides needed to weigh the pros and cons of going to arbitration and they need to accurately value their case. So, without knowing the strength of either sides case, I would say both parties are to blame for going to arbitration, if there is anyone to blame at all. I don’t think there is.
And, please, ignore the typos and misspelled words in the above post.
I’m guessing he wanted to show Coach how hard he works in practice. 
44rest: What you said is correct. However, if the Wild knew that Wright wasn’t going to testify, this should have factored into their decision-making to settle or go to arbitration. The implication of the Wright ban is that the Wild believes their case is weakened without his testimony. Does it mean that Mitchell will win? Of course not but there is that implication.
If Wright has been poaching for awhile and the Wild was aware of it, they should have done something about it sooner instead of letting it go, especially if players have expressed concerns about it.
So sunshine…were you there??? 
Ouch. Right across the bow from kj. Can tell it’s not a game day.
Thanks for the Schultz nugget #2. Amongst all this ugliness of Wright/Salcer etc. it is nice to know it is still a fun game being played on the ice.
Am I a reporter?
I can’t do push-up’s without skates on, I have no idea how Schultzie did them WITH skates on. Especially since hockey skates don’t have toe picks he could have dug in to steady himself.
It’s snowing again. Guess when I asked for a white Christmas I should have specified how much and when I wanted that snow.
MsC, I now have a picture in my head of Burnsie skating up and down the rink acting like his stick is a horse. Why Burns you ask? Because he’s the one I see being goofy enough to do just that.
Some great visuals! Made my day.
I think push-ups are a pretty common punishment for hockey kids, aren’t they? I know our power skating coach said she makes her kid-students do push-ups if they screw around. She thankfully knew better than to pull that crap on a bunch of adult novice-leaguers. I’d have to do them girl-style cuz I’m a wiener like that.
Totally a Burnzie move, BG. Totally.
Russo has said that Burnsie reads the blog. If he gets wind of this I wouldn’t put it past him to do something like that….
If you read this and do this Burnsie give credit to MsC, it’s only fair to give credit where credit is earned.
I’m curious as to why they sent Kolanos back down. Nolan is definately banged up, and there’s nobody they need to make room for on the roster. The way he limped to the bench, and with him still walking gingerly, he has to be doubtful for at least the start of the road trip.
Do they want Kolanos to get more ice time this week, with the possibility of bringing him back before Thursday?
Are they making room on the roster for some sort of deal to happen?
Or are they just sending him a message?
Danny the Kolanos thing has me a bit baffled as well. You call the guy up to make popcorn for one game and then send him back to Houston? wtf for?
I’m surprised, too, Danny. The Aeros have a game Wednesday and Thursday, so it’s not like he’d play tonight or tomorrow and then go back. I feel for the guy. He’s a veteran and can handle the bouncing around (and probably knew he was in for a while of that to get back in the NHL) but of course, I want my goal scorers HAPPY with a capital HAPPY. 
:D
We do, however, play his last year’s team on Thursday and I was hoping he’d be back for it. Love a good backstory in a division rivalry game.
Maybe Houston needs help, Danny, and Kolanos is the best player they can send down there. While he’s up with the big club, he gets big-league salalry, per diem, etc., so it behooves the club to move him back down if they are not immediately in need of him.
Bandgeek: You could do a push-up if you had to. I know you could…
maybe they figure Gillies can get some ice time in against the Coyotes? IDK
Houston always needs the help (though frankly, they got it done without him on Saturday), but they’d NEVER put the needs of the Aeros over the Wild, so obviously they don’t feel like his services are going to be needed. Maybe they intend to play Gillies? It is just the mess that is Phoenix after all…
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
I don’t understand why they even wasted his time by calling him up then. Gillies could easily take Nolan’s place while he is injured. That still leaves Weller to fill in and you can move Bruns back to defense if MAB or Zids gets hurt.
I’m gonna throw up a few things here for you all to read.. Then draw your conclusions.
First up, this gem from Wes Goldstein back in 2003, about Gaborik switching agents:
Anyone who doubts the cutthroat nature of being a player agent need only look at the situation that led Marian Gaborik to end his long holdout and re-sign with the Minnesota Wild last week.
On the surface, it appeared that Gaborik had simply fired two obstinate and belligerent agents, whose actions had kept him out of action through training camp and the first month of the season. Gaborik decided to sever his relationship with Allan Walsh and David Schatia last week, turning instead to veteran agent Ron Salcer, who worked out a new deal with the team a day later.
The new deal, worth about $10 million over three years with the potential for about $2 million more in bonuses, was essentially the same one Minnesota put on the table in June. It was rejected by Walsh and Schatia, who spent the summer tying to make the case in the media that Gaborik was worth twice as much. They kept insisting he would play in Slovakia unless he got it.
Minnesota refused to budge and a few weeks ago, Gaborik’s agents came down in their demands to about $4.5 million annually over three years. The 21-year-old budding superstar was coming off his three-year entry level deal which paid him about $1 million a year in base salary and about $8 million more in earned bonuses, and his agents insisted he shouldn’t have to take a “pay cut.”
That led to a stalemate that seemed as though it could continue throughout this season.
Enter Tobin Wright, Minnesota’s former hockey operations manager, and a close friend of Gaborik.
Wright, who lived with Gaborik when the player was a rookie, helped him learn English and even introduced him to his fiancée, is now working to get his certification as an NHL player agent. He said he put Gaborik in touch with Salcer only after the player asked him for advice on how to proceed.
“(Marian) said, ‘Should I call Ron? I want to get this done,’” Wright told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “I said, ‘Ron has 25 years experience.’ I don’t want it to look like I pushed him that way. I’m fortunate that he chose Ron.”
Certainly, considering that Wright admitted to the newspaper that he has a “handshake agreement” to work for Salcer, who also represents Rob Blake, Ed Belfour, Darryl Sydor and Minnesota’s Matt Johnson.
“Tobin Wright has been involved in this thing for a long time,” said Gaborik’s former agent, Schatia. “He’s been manipulating this for his own purpose.”
Hmmm….Now for some dirtier dirt, from E.J. Hradek, regarding Gaborik’s agent switch in 2003:
A sidebar to the strange negotiations is the presence of former Wild hockey operations assistant and Gaborik “friend” Tobin Wright. At least two agents claim that Wright contacted them offering to “deliver” Gaborik in exchange for employment within their agencies. In both cases, the agents declined the offer, saying they might be willing to pay a finders’ fee under certain circumstances. That makes reports that Wright is working for Salcer less surprising.
I knew a few agents. They are not all sleazeballs who’ll do anything to get someone signed. Most are decent, hardworking guys who have at least some degree of ethical responsibility. See Hradek’s note above - there’s proof of that, if what he wrote was true. I’m sure he’s got sources to back that up, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
It also lends credence to what Lynn said about Wright.
So, what I don’t know is why Wright was fired by the Wild, and exactly when that did happen.
Did Wright use his “friendship” with a player to negotiate his way into the agent business? Perhaps.
Then, Wright “works” for Gaborik… and Salcer? Is he an employee of Salcer’s firm, or is he a commissioned “rep”? So Gaborik pays him? Does he give him a 1099 too?
Then, Wright refuses to testify against Mitchell because it would affect his reputation? Of course it would. But a line was drawn, and Wright chose the side to sit on. The Wild could have subpoenaed him to testify, but he could have trashed their case. So he voluntarily refused.
Can, or more rather, should the Wild take such action? Absolutely. It’s possible that Wright, a former employee, and his refusal to testify will cost the Wild a huge sum of money in the Mitchell case, depending on the arbitrator’s ruling. If I were the Wild, I’d be angry with it, and just on that fact alone, they have every right to ban Wright.
If further allegations are also true, and he’s been caught sneaking into places - using Gaborik’s pass or whatever - he’s abused the system and can be punished.
Draw your own conclusions, but I see Wright as the sleaze here. A guy who uses his associations and friendships for personal benefit, and continues to do so when the opportunity arises.
Right on For4rest … it is merely a disagreement about money, more than must of us posting will see in a long time.
None of us have been asked to arbitrate so we really do not know all of the facts.
But, if Gabby’s buddy Tobin knows something and won’t reveal it to the arbitrator, then I sure as hell would not let him around my facitlities either if I was the Wild Mgmt.
Would any of you?
MuN, for some reason I saw that really long post and thought it was from MKIA and was reading it thinking, “My god, this makes sense! WTF?” Then I double-checked the author… phew!
I’d love if someone could find out why Wright was let go by the Wild. Was it because he was not putting the best interests of the company first?
Interesting, Toivo
Oh I could do maybe 4 or 5 WRT, but I was a very clumsy child, in 4th grade I broke my wrist. It doesn’t bend properly for me to do more than that. Actually for those of you who know my battles with my weight will be happy to know I had to go buy new clothes, all the ones I had are to big.
Austin, I was thinking the same thing when Kolanos was called up. Why? We have guys making popcorn all ready, why bring up another one to sit in the press box?
Werd BG. It just seems silly to put the guy through all the travel for no reason at all.
The Wild call up Kolanos for two reasons. First, there is an outside chance you might need him. Another player(s) might get sick game day, or maybe the coaches decide that game day to throw him in the lineup for a variety of reasons. Second, as difficult as it is for us to see, being called up to the NHL team, even if it’s only for a few days, is a reward to these guys (both in money and getting to be with the guys you want to eventually play with). Take my word for it, An AHL’er would gladly take any time he can get on the NHL roster. Even if he doesn’t get in the game. The money alone is a HUGE difference. As for the Wild, they send him back because we do not play until Thursday. Kris can get some playing time (assuming Houston has a game or two, I do not know), but the Wild also save money by not keeping him on the roster. Now you might say, “How much money can it be? Can’t an NHL team afford that?”. Interestingly enough, post salary cap, teams started to do some crazy stuff to save dollars against the cap. If a team had 3 or 4 days off, they used to ’send down’ players like Kolanos and then ‘recall’ them before the next game, all in an effort to save money against the cap. In reality, the team would tell the player to not leave town because they were going to recall him in few days. I say ‘used to’ because the NHL caught wind of this, as many teams started doing it, and now the league requires that if you send a player down, you have to purchase a plane ticket in that players name and fax it to the league office in New York. The player has to get on that plane. NHL rules.
Despite what you read or hear, it is my understanding that Tobin Wright left the Wild to work for Gaby. He was not fired. Or maybe he was fired after he left. I’m not saying he’s not a sleazeball, but what I am saying is Gaby could afford to pay him three times what he was making for the Wild. That could be more than a little tempting.
Yeah, I’m not even gonna bother blogging his return until he’s still in Houston on Wednesday. Gets old with the back and forth.
And I was going to suggest that maybe it was a bit of a nod to his outstanding performance here in Houston. Kind of a bonus. I hope he sees it that way, anyway. HAPPY goal scorer! HAPPY!
Apparently, DR wanted to give Gabby every opportunity to stay with the Wild or he would not have visited him in Slovakia. We can assume he got positive vibes or he would not have wasted the time this summer to make an offer.
But, the time between the door closing on the Wild’s offer being way too far below Gabby’s needs was not long at all before Gabby had his injury.
There was not a very large window of opportunity to make any deal with anyone given the two games before Gabby got injured.
We can assume he got positive vibes or he would not have wasted the time this summer to make an offer.
I question DR’s ability to sense vibes - such as with the Simon trade and the fans or Dominic Moore and JL.
If I were DR, I would call up Salcer and Gab, try to sit down at a table with them, and offer the exact same contract he offered before.
If Gab rejects that contract again, I would have him traded by the end of the week.
It’s well known that Wright, who used to work in the Wild’s hockey ops department and was fired during the Gaborik holdout,
From the previous thread by the Don. I can’t believe he would put he rep on the line with a statement like that if it weren’t true and somewhat common knowledge to those invloved.
Another player(s) might get sick game day, or maybe the coaches decide that game day to throw him in the lineup for a variety of reasons.
So why not throw in Gillies or Weller if someone gets sick? Your logic makes no sense to me. If the player gets paid more when he is called up (even if it’s only one day), why would the Wild call to get a guy to make popcorn for a single game then send him back home? Wouldn’t it benefit the Wild (in the pocketbook dpt.) to just keep him down in Houston and not have to pay for him to fly all over and apparently pay him extra to sit and make popcorn?
I understand needing depth… but they sent him back down when NOTHING has changed. Nolan is still hurt last I heard, and that is the reason KK was called up, no?
It just seems weird to me that the Wild would call up the guy, spend the money to fly him back and forth for apparently no reason whatsoever.
If the Wild did indeed send him back to Houston because they suddenly realized, “omg we don’t play again till Thursday! Send KK back home and we will bring him back on Wednesday just in time for the PHO game.” That seems like a waste of resources, as well as poor planning.
Take my word for it, An AHL’er would gladly take any time he can get on the NHL roster. Even if he doesn’t get in the game. The money alone is a HUGE difference.
This has no relevance at all to why the organization called him up. There is no doubt that guys love to be called up to “get their chance” so to speak. But there is no reason for the Wild to call him up because an AHL’er is stoked to fly up and make some popcorn. I was not questioning weather or not KK was happy to oblige… I was questioning why the Wild made the move in the first place.
Stencils, MsC, Buddah- thanks for the chuckle regarding Schultz.
So did gabby actually go on the road trip with the team? If he did, I bet he comes back during this road trip…any takers
Not to start vicious, unfounded rumors based on a simple reassignment of a minor leaguer to Houston, but could Kolanos being reassigned have anything to do with the fact that the Lightning put Chris Gratton on waivers today? We could use another veteran center, could we not?
If Gratton was picked up, we would have to make another roster move sooner or later.
And all the forwards on this team fit in to the “can’t move” or “shouldn’t move” category.
sunshine…I don’t know, are you?
The KK callup is ‘insurance’.
If a roster spot opens up, DR delivers another player and JL decides who skates. Not having a full roster might be against league or NHLPA rules. Just speculation on my part…I am not a GM (contrary to popular belief).
I agree, kj. There’s no big conspiracy here. I think they were just giving JL some options. Same as last time Olden was out. It’s the fact that he’s back down and Olden is still hurt that is weird, IMO. Unless JL just decided he’s taking the Gillies option in PHO and KK might as well not waste his time and the team’s money staying called up.
Bandgeek says:
December 8th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I can’t do push-up’s without skates on, I have no idea how Schultzie did them WITH skates on. Especially since hockey skates don’t have toe picks he could have dug in to steady himself.
it’s much easier then it sounds.
I wonder if Wright was fired because he was somehow involved in the contract holdout from 2003 that led to Gaby missing games?
That would make sense - if he were fired because he either said something to, or provided Gaborik with information obtained by way of his employment with the Wild.
That’s tampering, but I don’t think it’s prohibited by the CBA if an employee of the club made statements or otherwise to a player currently under contract with the “club”, because he’s with the same club as the player’s under contract with.
However, I think it would be highly unethical, and I’d fire a person caught doing such a thing, then I’d probably bury it to prevent any negative attention toward the club.
Man I wish Pouliot could pick up his game like Phil Kessel has done 
It’s still a little confusing as to why people are p!ssed at Gaby about this whole contract situation. If you’re p!ssed because you think he’s soft and can’t play with pain, that’s fine. Although, I would like to see anybody play hockey at the NHL level with a shredded weiner, but that’s another story. If you’re crabby because you feel like he wants to be paid as one of the top-5 players in the League, that’s perfectly fine as well. Argue away. But this contract mess starts and stops with Ballgame. That was only reinforced when Russo printed that several League execs stated there was a market for Gaby in September. What did we hear during the week leading up to the season opener “We are not talking to other teams. Our only focus is resigning Marian.” If anybody thinks this was a “strategy” on Ballgame’s part, I’ve got 55 acres of swamp land in Naples I’d like to sell you. Ballgame had convinced himself that Gaby would fall over backward to resign here simply because it is the greatest place in the League to play hockey. The same thinking that Ballgame used in the Rolston mess. Once again, if there was no injury history, I would have said hold him until the deadline and fleece a desparate team. But, as was posted 1,000 times in August and September on this blog, with his injury history, Gaby had to be moved prior to the start of the season and now we know from Russo that there was a market for him
Who else does Salcer manage besides that one guy?
“Shredded weiner” is truly classic Russoville coinage!
Charlie Brown Christmas on tonight. Really does feel like Christmas is coming now. To bad all my neighbors are Grinches. We are the only ones on our block with any kind of decorations up, it’s slightly depressing. So how do you wrap a hockey stick? That’s what I’m thinking of getting the Mr.
Bandgeek,
When hubby isn’t paying attention, take off your clothes, put bows in all the right places, hold the hockey stick and go stand by the tree and say “Boo!”
At least that’s how I like to receive my gift hockey sticks. Or any other gifts for that matter. Now if only my wife is reading this…
Just put a bow on it or tie red and green ribbons to it.
Also, and this is important: make sure you buy a fresh roll of tape for it. Because the only thing better than a new stick for Christmas is taping said new stick up for the first time. The smell…the sound…the feel. Ahhhh, it’s like a little taste of heaven.
DB said: “I would like to see anybody play hockey at the NHL level with a shredded weiner, but that’s another story.”
I’ve gotten a severe groin pull while playing a few times. Not at the NHL level, but at the boot hockey level. Still, you stay off the ice and watch what you do for a week to 10 days, and it’s better. And that was with my conditioning - I didn’t have a routine and a trainer, and a rub-down guy… or a contract dispute and an F1 simulator in my house.
By the way, DB.. I’m going to continue to disagree with your castration of DR over not trading him before the season. You and I don’t know if any GM was willing to take him prior to seeing him play. That right there might negate your argument.
Not that it wouldn’t have been good to trade him then, but unless he had a willing buyer, and fair return, and passed up on the deal - you can’t blame him, even if you want to.
MuN…based on DR’s history, fair return in his mind, would have been a trade with Washington. Shredded Oscar for AO and 2 first rounders.
In reality, (given how DR has misplayed his pocket aces) he has nothing.
Just a wave ‘buh bye’ from Gho$t as he puts Xcel Energy Center in the rear view mirror of his F1 simulator.
I agree, DB. I just can’t come to any other conclusion than Risebrough painted himself into a corner on this one, and I just can’t figure out why. I’m still trying to figure out what his plan was. At this point it seems like it went something like this:
Step 1: Let draft day and the free agent signing period come and go without any hint of anything being amiss. It sends a confident message. Of course Marian will sign an extension! That stuff he said at the All Star game? Pffft! Players like to talk big, but we know what’s best.
Step 2: After much dust has settled, go to Slovakia to make your pitch. Give him stats that show him what an offensive juggernaut the Wild are and how much he’s thriving. Showing up in mid-August, after teams have already made most of their roster commitments for the upcoming season and thus would no longer be likely to want to make a trade reinforces the message of confidence.
Step 3: Make a “strong” offer, hand him a pen, and then shake his hand.
Step 4: ????
Russo pointed out yesterday that several NHL execs stated there was a market for Gaby in September. I take that as there were GMs interested in aquiring Gaby’s services via trade in the month of September, well into this saga when Ballgame knew that whatever he had made, whether it was fair, lowball or mindblowing, the Gaby camp was not interested in signing. At that very moment, when you know you are at your ceiling and the player/agent doesn’t want, and said player has a history of shredded weiner, you make the call to every GM in the League and three more in Russia and find out whom the buyers are. Russo states there were buyers out there and I believe him.
Last I heard it was a tear, MuN, not just a pull. Chronic soft tissue injuries are a female canine to get healed up. I’m staunchly NOT in the “he’s a sissy, just man up and play” camp.
Okay, come on DeAngelo! 3 points, baby!
I need a TD out of Steve Smith.
Doug Risebrough’s plan is pretty simple.
Phase 1. Talk to Marian Gaborik
Phase 2. ?
Phase 3. Profit
Well played, Lucky. 
Russo pointed out yesterday that several NHL execs stated there was a market for Gaby in September. I take that as there were GMs interested in aquiring Gaby’s services via trade in the month of September, well into this saga when Ballgame knew that whatever he had made, whether it was fair, lowball or mindblowing, the Gaby camp was not interested in signing.
Still, “a market” isn’t very descriptive. For example, would you still be thinking the same if “The Market” in September was:
1. A 2nd line winger, and 2 prospects?
or
2. A 3rd liner, a minor leaguer, and a player to be named later?
3. Inclusive of DR giving up our 1st rounder in ‘09 to get a top 6 forward in return?
Since we don’t know what those offers were, none of us are in any position to criticize the (non)-deal. You can be as frustrated as you want at the fact he isn’t traded yet, and his stock is down from what it might have been before - but I think you’re (and many others here) are working off of emotion, rather than logic.
Simply put, we don’t have the facts. Unless someone wants to sit down and spell out what deals were passed up, no one’s to blame… yet.
Michael up North,
I like what you have to say. I can tell you are not too far up north… Maybe Blaine
Well, that TD helped neither of us, DB.
6 goalie man: was was the “vibes” between JL and D. Moore???
MuNo: As has been pointed out in the past, several times, regardless of what the market was in September, the deal had to be made. The injury history should have prevented Ballgame to allowing Gaby to skate regular season games in the final year of his deal. Ballgame makes a deal for a prospect and maybe a 2nd back in September. Then, a day or so after the deal is made, announces this to the masses: “It was our initial goal to resign Marian to a longterm deal here in Minnesota. But, after it became apparent that neither Marian or his agent were receptive to what we were offering and that they were looking for a deal that we were not prepared to offer, it was in the best interest of the organization that we dealt Marian now, instead of risk losing him to an injury during the season. We acknowledge that the offers could have been more lucrative had we waited until the trade deadline, but we felt that it would be taking too great a risk by letting Marian play in the final year of his current deal.”
Now, some may say this is 20-20 hindsight, but this very scenario was played on at length on this very blog back in August and September. It was stated numerous times that Ballgame couldn’t risk waiting. Now that Russo has proven that there was a market well before the season started, it just shows how Ballgame has mismanaged this whole affair.
You know what? Forget all this Gaby, Ballgame, contract mess. Steve Smith just sent me into the fantasy football playoffs. In my absolute best Ric Flair impersonation: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
I apologize for dragging fantasy football into this, but I was playing my cousin this week and the winner took the division and the playoff spot while the loser got to go to sleep p!ssed.
Yeah, but DB… Last year he was relatively injury-free. Why wouldn’t you let him skate regular season games under contract, and let him pile up some numbers and increase his value? To dump him because he’s an injury risk - if that were the case, and you’d play that card, should have dumped him last year at the deadline.
Regardless of how it might have panned out in Sept, the club isn’t going to trade a player to pacify the fans - it’s going to try to get the maximum out of him, while minimizing risk. It’s a business, after all, and I can’t find a whole lot of fault in DR’s approach in a business sense. He’s tried to do what’s best for the club.
I think if he could have, and had traded Gaborik in Sept, and gotten a pick and a prospect - no apology would do because we’d be here ripping him for getting so little in return!
You can’t not play a guy because his value might go down if he were injured. If that were the case, no one of any caliber would play in the final year of their contract. If that were the case, Backstrom should be sitting - he’s been injured before and missed games, and he’s in the last year of his contract and has considerable value.
So, yes.. I do think that scenario you proposed is 20-20 hindsight, but everyone would be lampooning DR for making that move, and calling for his head.
Besides, the Don hasn’t proven any market value. He’s only said there was a market, which means someone was willing to give something for him. You like to use the term “market” to describe an amicable deal that was on the table, sans any facts to go along with it other than Russo saying there “was a market”. When I hear what that market was, in terms of players, picks and prospects, then we can assess the mismanagement.
Until then, it’s a moot point - we still have a damn good player who’s injured, the team has a fairly decent record despite some other injuries and problems, and we still could get Gaborik back on the ice and generate points and demand. It’s no secret he’s going, but at what price, and when.
After it’s all over, then we can decide if it was mismanaged or botched. Somehow I can already garner your take on it
Sorry, I don’t watch football. Corrupt, slow sport for people that can’t follow a fast, ever-changing game.
More boring than watching golf.
So I wanted to read the story on the Wolves canning their coach and noticed the Strib had a poll going regarding the most recent change. I voted “I didn’t care before, and I don’t care now” which is the leading choices with 1961 votes. Moral of the story be thankful your not a Wolves fan. They have it much worse then we do…
Basketball. There’s another one. Not as slow as football, but not as quick as hockey. It’s like watching a powerplay, just that it’s 5 on 5. 5 guys go to one end and dick around for 24 seconds trying to score, then the other team gets to try.
It’d be a better game if they removed all but one of the timeouts per half, and you could check.
Yeah, but DB… Last year he was relatively injury-free. Why wouldn’t you let him skate regular season games under contract, and let him pile up some numbers and increase his value?
Because his very own lower-body attendant (Mike Vogt) left the beautiful confines of Xcel Energy Center for the greener pastures of Columbus.
I remember half-kidding that Gho$t was in trouble when Vogt took the BJ job (tee hee).
Okay, come on DeAngelo! 3 points, baby!
Was this ever in doubt?
Ugh. My fantasy football luck is nothing. I hate it. I have never finished in the top 3.
lol KJ, I remember when you wrote that!
Not only is basketball painful to watch but what the hell is with the last 2 minutes of the game? It takes a ####ing half hour to finish! I’ve had to sit through that crap to get to the upcoming Wild game the same night.
I’m not saying Ballgame would have held him out of games, I’m saying he should never have let it get to that point. And the risk he was taking by letting Gaby play in the final year, regardless if he was healthy or not last year, the shredded wiener history is always there. The situation the team is currently in, of watching yet ANOTHER offensive asset walk out the door with zip coming back in return.
Ok, ok I promise this is my last post regarding basketball. I just thought this article was too damn funny. If this is how bad and funny T-Wolves games have become I might take someone up on the free ticket offers pretty soon.
Hindsight is clear.
A team drafts someone who gets to a star level and at contract time they want to keep him. For the team’s sake, for the fans sake, and because you want continuity.
So, maybe if you are DR you keep him too long but maybe for all the right reasons.
But, like Michael Up North says, “we do not know what is going on behind the scenes”.
I still think the window of opportunity was tiny. His injury was right after the season started.
And, until he is healed he has zero trade value.
The situation the team is currently in, of watching yet ANOTHER offensive asset walk out the door with zip coming back in return.
If we get to March 5th, and we have nothing in return, you can stand on the top of the X and scream it to everyone. I’ll even rent you a big megaphone. But I think you’re jumping the gun by saying it now.
I want him gone too. I want something for him, and I want the situation to be resolved and over. But it isn’t. When it is, I’ll surely render my opinion
ATX, I was quite sure he was going to get negative yards and then break his femur or something on the opening drive.
sunshine - are you the blonde woman who sits behind JL at all the home games in the first row??
ATX, I was quite sure he was going to get negative yards and then break his femur or something on the opening drive.
That would happen if he were on my team. I have the worst luck. How in the hell did DeSean Jackson get negative yards? And why won’t Ben Turds-lith-booger throw the ball to Ward? The guy has amazing hands and they he just never gets thrown to. AND ANOTHER THING… How in the HELL did Arizona’s defense get you 22 FREAKIN POINTS! It’s Arizona for Pete’s sake!
They were saving it up. They were in the negative the week before. Thank god I’d already clinched.
Sad thing is, all my fantasy luck is going to football. I’m wearing cement shoes in my hockey leagues.
Sheesh. My comment to you, ATX, was moderated and I can’t figure out why. Let’s try again:
They were saving it up. They were in the negative the week before. Thank god I’d already made the playoffs.
Sad thing is, all my fantasy luck is going to football. I’m wearing cement shoes in my hockey leagues.
What the hell? Okay, I’ve tried twice to reply to you now, ATX, and it keeps moderating me. I’ve taken out all the words that could possibly be problematic. Crazy.
Anyway, Arizona was negative on defense the week before, so I guess they were making up for that. Yet I’m on a sinking failboat in my hockey leagues. Go figure.
Yay, that worked.
DB says: That was only reinforced when Russo printed that several League execs stated there was a market for Gaby in September.
Please point to the place in the article where that is stated. Your reading comprehension skills appear to be worse than your negotiating and planning skills.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/35631914.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUBP7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU
I urge to read my post from Dec. 7th at 11:54 trying to explain in the simplest terms why it is completely illogical for you to encourage Smug to sign Gaby long term but when he doesn’t on your time table to then turn around and ship him off for whatever he can get because of an injury risk. If anyone thought it was that big of a concern, why would you be trying to sign him long term to begin with? There is far more to be lost trying to do that than even losing him for nothing at the end of the season. Why wouldn’t Gaby be jumping all over any decent offer that guarantees his financical future if he is concerned that they haven’t figured out the groin issues.
The highest demand period for Gaby was and continues to be after Jan 1 and before the trade deadline. Read McLeod’s comments. Yes, the injury complicates things for everybody. However, there is still plenty of time for him to come back, reestablish his value as a trade deadline asset and the Wild will still come out better than anything that was available in September. Why would anybody give up anything of value in September for a guy who is available in July especially when you can pick the guy up for the playoff run without having to pay him for the whole season.
If you keep letting your brain operate this way, you are going to be standing in your backyard flooding rinks at 2 AM until doomsday instead of becoming successful enough to hire someone to do that for you.
Oh snap.
Step 1: Go to Slovakia and show Gaby the love
Step 2: Put your offer on the table and state publically that you don’t want this to drag on into the season.
Step 3: All of this is done as a formality and as fulfillment of your job responsibilities because you are already quite certain he is gone.
Step 4: Communicate a strategy to the team to minimize distractions.
Step 5: As the season begins, slowly ramp up the process of creating a feeding frenzy. Every road trip is an opportunity for free press coverage.
Step 6: After Jan 1, as the playoff race begins to crystallize, teams to target will begin to reveal themselves and you begin the process of pitting teams against each other in competing bids. A playoff game is worth what….$3M+ in revenue? When a team is on the cusp and they can see Gaby helping him get there or move deeper in the playoffs, his value increases considerably.
Step 7: If handled correctly, you have Gaby for long enough to help you get to the playoffs and for him to set himself up for a big payday. Win-Win.
The injury is an unfortunate complication and it may reduce the ultimate trade value, but not to less than what you were going to get in Aug or Sept.
Two posts ago.
From talking to people around the league, there was a market back in September, but then things died in October when it became clear this was a lingering injury.
I still don’t see anything about what that “market” was. No names, no proposed deals, no means of measuring his value.
Not to mention the fact that SotB is 100% correct in his statement that the most potential value for a UFA-to-be is at the deadline as long as he’s healthy.
He will, and always would, bring more to the Wild on March 4th, as opposed to any day earlier than that. The reason is that no team is going to want to take a huge chance and give up a great deal of talent, or prospects/picks if they aren’t very sure they have:
1. Are in excellent position to make the playoffs
and
2. Believe they have a very good shot at a cup with said acquisition.
Look at it as a GM for any other team. You don’t go mortgage your teams future before the start of the season on a player who hasn’t even skated. You might want the player, and you might be willing to give up less to get him now, but you also don’t need him yet. You wait until you know you have the pieces in place to get to the postseason, and then you add the parts you need. In those desperate times, GM’s will give up more to get what they perceive they need for the playoffs.
An injured player will be less attractive. Players get injured, and players heal. Even those with reoccurring injuries. Let him heal, let him play, let him increase his value. Let us cash in come Feb/Mar (or earlier).
Anybody calling DR a fool at this point, simply doesn’t like him, and nothing is going to change your mind. But in the meantime, keep it to yourself until after this all plays out.
Mun…I will not keep it to myself.
I am a giver…
Hindsight is clear.
It’s not hindsight when many fans can tell this guy wants out. However, I will be the first to look back on this and say it all worked out in the end when the Wild gets a decent return on Gaby (and does not add a bad cap hit) and still makes the playoffs.
Stoned: If you have kids, you will know why I flood a backyard rink until 2 am and not have someone else do it.
And, going back to your step-by-step nonesense. Once you get to step 3, Ballgame had to deal him BEFORE the season, simply because of his injury history. He couldn’t take a chance on Gaby getting hurt, which basically ends all of the rest of your steps. Now, Ballgame has to sit around and rub the rosary that Gaby can come back sometime before the deadline AND be productive for a few weeks AND not get hurt again. For the 927th time, I agree that the best thing would have been to hold him until the deadline IF HE DIDN’T HAVE THE INJURY HISTORY. But with his history of shredded weiner, he needed to be dealt the moment Ballgame was certain he wasn’t going to resign.
SGS: I am with you. I think it’s obvious that I feel that Ballgame was mucked this up, much like he mucked up getting rid of Demo and Rolston. But, I also am praying to Gretzky that the blind squirrel finds a nut. Meaning Gaby can come back and play at a high level for 6 weeks prior to March 4 so Ballgame can get as much as humanly possible in some kind of a trade. Have to remember, this isn’t about Ballgame being in over his head in yet another go-round as a GM, this is about wanting to see the Wild skate around the “X” with the Stanley Cup someday.
Another random shot at Gaby in his soon-to-be hometown paper The Vancouver Province:
Suffering Sami Salo isn’t likely to play tonight after tweaking his groin again Sunday in Denver.
The Canucks D’s groin has been a problem — and why he’s missed a few games.
Many will use the opportunity to harp on the fact Salo can’t seem to stay healthy. But he has managed to play 24 games, which looks pretty good when you compare him to Marian Gaborik, another oft-injured player, who has only played two for the Wild.
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=f14eee9d-9c2b-43d8-a5d3-111f81a55329
so you are saying if DR dealt him for a 3rd round pick and some has been, before the season started, and #10 went on to have 28 goals at this point in the season, you wouldn’t be saying DR got bent over and should have held out for more? or gave him his $10mil per?
I find that hard to believe.
This Gaby argument gets very old fast because no one is clearly right. But I agree with MuN that basketball is incredibly boring and it does seem to take half an hour to finish the last 5 minutes. The trudging back and forth from foul line to foul line and the focus, particularly in the college game, on the coach dancing up and down the sidelines gets old fast. And the constant TV timeouts in football make it hard to really focus. As to Gaby, the notion that DR had to trade Gaby before the season started is nonsense. Remember he only missed 5 games last year and it appeared the tweaky groin was behind him. Also, DR went to Sloavakia to sign him and at the time it appeared that a deal might be done. Also, as many have commented who knows what was actually offered for him. What we do know is that it has worked out in the worst possible way. Now we are screwed. We need him to get better, score a few goals and get what we can.
G*: All I have been trying to get across is that based on Gaby’s history of shredded weiner, the risk of letting him play in the final was too great and that a deal needed to be done prior to the start of the season. If Gaby had no history of injury, specifically the groin, which is paramount to a speed player, then yes, by all means you hold onto him like grim death until March 4 and bend an Eastern Conference GM right over the couch. I just feel, which was posted many, many times long before the start of the season so it is not hindsight, that the risk was too great and that if Gaby suffered an injury the team could be put into a god awful situation. Much like we are seeing now. As it stands, the only straw Ballgame can grasp is that Gaby somehow begins skating with the team, begins to get into game shape, then comes back sometime prior to the end of January. Plays 4-6 weeks of productive hockey and he can get something for him March 4. What Gaby does with another team is irrelevant because it is not an apple-to-apples comparison. Demo is on pace to pot about 20 this year for the Canuckleheads. You would have thought it would have been nice to get something for that asset before it walked out the door. Let’s just hope more care is being taken to ensure that Backstop is taken care of prior to the bidding war frenzy that would ensue July 1.
Wood: yes, we can all agree that watching basketball is akin to removing one’s own spleen with an oyster fork.
Now that the organization has this burning issue resolved, here’s hoping Backstop will quickly follow:
I’m afraid that if Gaborik does find his uh… health, that he’ll play until the deadline at which point DR will decide to keep him for a Wild playoff run - and we’ll be bounced in the first round, Gaborik will go FA on July 1 and… just seems like something DR would do.
As for the lesser sports, I’m of the opinion that all of them could be drastically improved by changing the playing surface to ice.
My point, which has been made laboriously here, is that it was assumed that Gaby’s history of injury was behind him and so it was not obvious that he HAD to trade him before the season started. He could have continued to try to sign him as he was having a good season and if unsuccessful then dealt him to another contender. Of course now that he is hurt it is easy to say DR had to trade him before the season started but back then it wasn’t so clear. DR played poker and lost.
Okay, I need a hair-o-the-dog and a cup of coffee and an egg and cheese sandwich at the Russoville diner to start my day. But all this Gaborik talk circles around on itself more often than PMB does on a line rush.
Soo…agree or disagree:
The Boston Bruins have been the biggest surprise of the season so far.
The Bruins are a huge surprise. Especially Fanny Mernandez. Who knew he could still play without breaking a hip?
But Butch is more interesting than this endless debate. I am on a long boring conf call (7-11 AM) where I have nothing to offer so I thought I would chime in (or am I just echoing). Yeah, the Bruins are a surprise but on the other end I really didn’t see the Stars and Sens being where they are.
Wood- from your 7:45 post… What do you mean clearly nobody’s right?
Dan is right.
I finally added Manny to my fantasy team and he got a shutout. Had Bertuzzi on my team and then finally decided I couldn’t stand him and cut him.
Ah, true that wood… the biggest positive surprise would be the B’s. Ottawa doesn’t really surprise me, after the collapse last season.
The Stars though… no huge changes from last year, and they are the laughing stock of the league.
SotB… Seven steps? Seven? That’s about 6 1/2 too many.
Can you cut it down a bit and come back with a new draft?
wow, if you want fun, try reading a public message board about one of your firm’s funds - in a year where everything is getting slaughtered.
The Stars appear to be going through what the Flyers went through two seasons ago. Either way, I agree they’re the biggest negative surprise.
Yes, no one is right. In part, because we have no idea what was offered and in part because it is too easy to say that of course we should have known Gaby would be hurt again. But, it is also reasonable to say that DR should have known that Gaby wouldn’t re-sign. Now, everyone will be cautious because before it was thought that the problem was solved and now it is clear that it may be a problem forever. Also, before the season started no one would have predicted that the cap was likely to go down and everyone assumed it would go up. So, Gaby may have also blown it because his market value has declined in what is likely to be a declining market.
the bruins are and are not a surprise to me. the surprise is how hot they have gotten. the not surprise is that they are good. kinda like san jose. i knew they were good but not 3 loss good.
i’m a little surprised that tampa is so bad.
I thought that Tampa could be a train wreck but of course that is easy to say now. Even tho the Sens fell apart at the end of the year I really didn’t think they were that bad–but they are.
G*: that’s a good point. Boston took some bets (Ryder, holding onto Bergeron - though they might not have had much choice in the matter there, and going with a Thomas/Fernandez duo was a risk too - though perhaps somewhat mitigated by Rask being in Providence) and so far they’re all paying off. But you had to think they’d be a playoff team again.
San Jose is incredible…though my theoretical betting account could have used a win over Edmonton to hit on a 4-team parlay the other night…
But that team, to me, is everything that’s good about hockey. Except the teal.
Thomas finished pretty strong last year so not sure he was that much of a risk–Manny was. Of course, the B’s have 2 Gophers so that must be the reason for their success. Like G* thought they would be playoff team but more like a 7th or 8th.
Sharks are incredible so of course I didn’t start Roli when they played the Oil–and of course Roli beat them.
wood- I think the problem in Ottawa is one of two things, of which I have no supporting evidence.
Either the coach just cannot find a way to win with three superstars, and a rather solid goalie, or their defense is absolutely terrible. Like automotive industry stock price terrible.
“Except the teal.”
Hee hee…
wood: I just don’t think you look at Timmy T and say “34 years old, arguably the best goalie in the NHL right now…” is all. And obviously Manny had some question marks. I don’t think they had the same size question mark on their goalies that Colorado did coming into the season, but I for sure didn’t think the two of them would be this good.
I think Ottawa has become hockey’s Atlanta Braves. I think they need to disassemble (Stephanie!) before they can improve. Maybe not all the way, and it would be mighty painful to do because they have some sick talent, but you can’t argue with a lack of success.
I’ve been able to watch Teemu a fair little bit and despite being, what, 45 years old, he is still one of the premier snipers in the League. Arguably the best powerplay sniper in the League right now and on pace for about 40 goals. Not bad for a guy 2 years older than anybody on the Wild roster.
NiNY, No, I never thought Tim T. was outstanding–just solid so no real gaolie issues–but he and Manny have been better than that. Yeah, somehow Ottawa needs to be blown up. And, the Avs do have goalie issues. Budaj certainly looked like a sieve when we played them–but then our D was worse.
The Stars though… no huge changes from last year, and they are the laughing stock of the league.
Guess who’s Oh-and-two against that team this season?
kj: with a couple of pig-like efforts as well. First game the Wild never showed up; second game they coughed up a 3-1 lead at home to that last-place waste of space. It was brought up yesterday, but the Wild are really going to have to step it up if they want to be in the top-8 in the West, considering what the rest of their schedule looks like. These are some of the games left:
Calgary-6
Anaheim-4
Detroit-4
San Jose-3
Vancouver-3
Boston-1
NY Rangers-1
kj… why you need to go and do that? I wa having so much fun picking on the Stars…
[…] -Minnesota demoted former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Krys Kolanos to Houston of the AHL. […]
Is anyone else listening to KFAN? PA said something about Gabby returning to practice and possibly being activated for thursday. Anyone else hear anything about that?
No way could he be in game shape by Thursday.
The other paper said that might be the reason Kolanos was sent down so quick. Doubt it though.
Powers is reporting that in the PioPress also–sort of. Conf call still going–hearing why sales aren’t going to ramp up in 09 just as they didn’t in 08.
dad in MN said Shipley at least alluded to the same thing in his article today, which I have not yet had the time to read.
Thats what I was thinking, so I didn’t know where he came up with that. And I think if he WAS with the team we would have known about it. On the other hand, the team did send Kolanos back down with no real known reason, so who knows.
Is there any chance Gaby’s shredded weiner is in game-shape for the NHL level by Thursday? The way it has sounded he has skated here and there for a few minutes on his own over the past 2 months, but not participated in anything meaningful.
wood: what do you sell?
Legal services. Client board call. Corp transaction lawyer so no one buying much of what I sell these days
Here is the PP article - http://www.twincities.com/ci_11172441?source=most_emailed
I think Lynn is fking with Ships.
No way UM is ready by Thursday. The guy hasn’t practiced in months, how do you just let him into the game? No way.
And the first game they play him would be against the goon squad?
Nah.
OK, let’s throw this little scenario on the table. Gaby comes back, let’s just say Jan 3 against the Dead Wings, to make it simple. He plays in all 26 games leading up to the trade deadline. In those 26 games Gaby plays well; say, a dozen goals and 15 assists. Meanwhile, the team is winning and looks like it has a shot to not only defend the NW title, but also maybe do something substantial in late April and early May. Does Ballgame even enter the notion of offering a modest yet reasonable contract to Gaby? Does he simply ship him out and get what he can? Does he keep him for the stretch drive and see what the team can do in the post season? Does he keep him and try to add another touch of scoring via a different trade for the stretch run? Just curious.
Does he simply ship him out and get what he can?
I choose this option. He could try offering another contract, but I think we all know what Ga-boor-icks answer would be.
Let’s wait until we actually have a Gaby sighting on the ice instead of watching the Wolves.
Does he keep him for the stretch drive and see what the team can do in the post season?
I know DR’s July 1 track record but for me, Gaby is the best option for goal scoring this season and he is sweet cap space and on the Nuk’s IR next season. This is Mikko’s team now - the Wild will do better in the UFA market - I have foreseen it
wood: I would rather watch an 87-year-old man with a stuttering problem try and explan trigonometry to a group of deaf students, than watch a basketball game.
If Gaborik has 3 days of practice, he can probably play 10-12 minutes on the fourth line against Phoenix.
Don’t you think Gaborik and the Wild have already severed their long-term relationship? Right now, its getting Gaborik healthy to play a few games to get ready for a trade.
I seem to remember last year by the time the playoffs started our opponents had pretty much figured out how to shut down gaby and he was healthy. There were always 2 guys on him keeping him to the outside…so mabey we could use him as a distraction instead of relying on his goal scoring he could set up others that will be open.
Another thing that always bugged me about marian is his inability to get shootout goals its like his only talent is his speed and with the broken groin what good is the guy? Oh and being BFF with agents is so uncool! Would’ve been nice to see him courtside with a kid from the cancer ward instead of some brownnoser/agent buddy get a clue marian you just went from the most loved player on the wild to the most hated in a matter of months. All respect for you has been flushed down the crapper and your own hand is on the handle!
Yes, Gaby is gone–just a matter of when.
max:
I don’t think Gaborik ever was a “much loved player.” I wouldn’t even want to send a cancer kid to a horrible Wolves game. That’s punishment right there.
Gaby is gone–just a matter of when.
But you don’t know what the offers are or if there are any at all
Food
I don’t know how much Gaborik is involve in Gaborik’s Guests community program that you see on the scoreboard but if he is shelling out money for a suite for good local programs, I think that’s admirable.
Deep Breath says:
December 9th, 2008 at 8:52 am
I’ve been able to watch Teemu a fair little bit and despite being, what, 45 years old, he is still one of the premier snipers in the League.
Finn - is that enough explanation?
As for you Gaborik scenario - see my fears above. I say ship him for as best as you can get - should be pretty good given that there will be sellers and he’d been playing well.
Gaborik in on Thursday? HA! not likely. Though, if he is ‘healed’ but not in ‘game shape’ I could see JL using him here and there just to try to make space for the Bruno-Mittens-Koivu line. Coach 99 would have to decide who to worry about matching his lines to because even slow, Gaborik would command some attention.
UPDATED ODDS
Changed with some new news out there regarding some possible trades, and better factoring of where the money is being laid by you folks.
Enjoy!
GABORIK TO TEAM:
MON - 2:1
PHX - 3:1
TOR - 4:1
LAK - 5:1
MIN - 5:1
ATL - 5:1
ATL - 6:1
PIT - 8:1
OTT - 8:1
FLA - 8:1
NYR - 8:1
PHI - 10:1
DAL - 10:1
CGY - 10:1
SJ - 10:1
BOS - 12:1
WAS - 12:1
VAN - 15:1
BUF - 20:1
NYI - 20:1
CAR - 20:1
NJD - 25:1
TB - 25:1
CJB - 25:1
NSH - 30:1
TB - 30:1
STL - 50:1
DET - 50:1
EDM - 50:1
CHI - 50:1
COL - 75:1
ANA - 75:1
