A sign?
Posted on December 16th, 2008 – 11:55 AMBy Brian Stensaas
Quick update from the X where Wild players are just taking the ice for practice.
Brent Burns, who has been playing offense since October, is wearing a red defenseman’s sweater today.
Marian Gaborik is on the ice - meaning he is still feeling fine - and paired today with James Sheppard and Stephane Veilleux.
I’ll be back later with a better update.
58 Responses to "A sign?"
Brian- thanks for the update!
Hey Sunshine,
Since Jean Beliveau mentions plumbers in his book “My Life in Hockey” it might be a Habs thing. Just a thought. Good book though
yay Burns on defense!
Thanks, Beadwench.
“plumber” is a general hockey term. I’ve heard it more often in the past as an insult used for a guy who can’t play, but lately the context has been interchangable with muckers and grinders.
but the term has been around forever.
You know…if we had another center, we could have 3 solid scoring lines.
Bruno-Koivu-Mittens
Nolan-Belanger-PMB
Pouliot-Shep-Gaborik
SRV-Center/rotate with Pouliot-Boogaard/Gillies/Weller
I love it when everyone attributes the team slide to Burns’ position.
Personally, I’d rather see Burns and Gaborik playing forward for a while. More offense.
As if JL is going to sit Johnsson. Get real.
I am officially stating that the Pouliot as a center isn’t working and we should put him at wing.
Thank God the Burns at Forward experiment is coming to an end. What a waste that was! Now if Gabby will just catch fire, we’ll be in great shape to get some value out of him.
Gabby on third line?
That should help with contract negotiations.
Who said that Lemaire is going to sit Johnsson? They must be idiots. Reitz is going to the press box.
Burns is a much, much better defensemen than a forward. Leave him at D. That’s where he is at his best.
Those three are third in scoring compared to the top 2 lines. So yeah, 3rd line for now.
Lastly, contract negotiations are over. Its trade time for Gaborik.
So, I guess Reitzy’s getting screwed in this deal. 
That breaks my heart a little. He’s playing well and providing grit on the blue line and has come such a long way since pre-season. Just doesn’t seem right to stick him in the press box where his game will deteriorate. I think he’s a guy who plays better with consistent ice time.
Again, I’ll say if we’re putting a D at forward still, I’d go with MAB. Put him up there with PMB. Let PMB curl and feed MAB the puck for a slapper - worked a lot for Rolston and PMB last year.
sunshine says:
December 16th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Anyways, not every player can be a star player.
Thank God! If they were, every game would be as boring as the All Star Game!
Well, Goody, if there’s anyone I want to see off the blue line, it’s MAB. Yeesh.
So, is that where the phrase ‘This is how we role’ came from??? 
Lemaire sounded pretty regretful that Reitz was going to be benched because Gaborik returning means Burns back on D. I know its no comfort to Reitz but at least he has gained in Lemaire’s view.
Ugh, get Veilleux away from Gaborik. Put Pouliot on wing with Sheppard and Gaborik for the “third” line. 4th line center duties would have to be split by a rotation of Belanger/Pouliot/Sheppard.
That’s my point, Ms C. Reitz has been playing well, as has (oh jeez I’m gonna say it) Skoula. If it were me, I’d leave him in the game, but to take out MAB and Zid’s puck-moving, and PP help, as well as Johnsson’s usually solid play.. leaves little space. Burns is unique as he is a 2-way asset. He can play D well, and he can play F well. It’s just with so little happening up front I’d leave him there.
Besides, and this is the really funny part - everyone is deriding Gaborik in Week 1 and 2 and 3 when the Wild are scoring 3.5 goals a game. Don’t need him, everyone says. Now that there’s a lack of production, those same people are now counting on him as the savior of the team, as if his presence on the ice is going to magically wake everyone up and the team will ride to victory upon his shoulders.
lol gimme a break!
My guess: After the 3rd game, when he has 1 assist, the same people proclaiming him the team Jesus will be calling for his ouster as soon as humanly possible to bring in some real scoring.
The week after that they’ll be on JL for not having a more offensive style, and the following week it’ll be Doug’s turn to receive the blame for not putting more offense on the club, and not getting rid of Gaborik in a timely fashion.
Remember, there is an “i” in Gaborik, but no “i” in team.
You win and lose as a team. Except when you totally $(!& up.
General question: does Clutterbuck need to pass through waivers if sent down now?
Anybody on board for Skoula as January captain?
Let’s go play some hockey!
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Skoula as a captain?
(MuN is now going to open a huge can of rancid worms)
Why not?
He’s played relatively well of late, and not just a few games. There haven’t been any major gaffe’s that cost us a game. He’s been playing the PK, and the crunch time during games.
I’m sure it’d be a huge boost to his morale to get that, and also serve as a wake up to other guys who need to just go out and do their job (yes, role players) to give the team a fighting chance.
Skoula for Jan captain? Ok, I’m in.
Maybe the Wild are dangleing a defensemen for a center, maybe that is why Burnsy is practicing at D. I thought there where rumors a few weeks back about Speeza being available possibly for Johnsson
AG, the inclusion of Johnsson was my suggestion as Ottawa needs a puck moving D.
I still think he’ll end up there, and Gaborik in Toronto.
No, Sunshine.
And yeah, I hear ya, MuN. I wouldn’t mind seeing that. If friggin Mitch Love, who isn’t even an offensive defenseman, can pitch in here in Houston and play forward, the Midget Bergeron can. Dabnaggit!
*BTW, I hereby disclaim any efforts toward reason or objectivity today. Running on pure emotion it seems. Yuck.
Gaborik doesn’t have to score goals to see his impact on the ice. With him in the game, it opens it up for Koivu’s line and that might result in more goals. If Gaborik can pop one in, even better. Him being on the ice changes the dynamics of the game.
Moreover, having SRV on his line, Gaborik will have to be play as “I” if he wants to score goals. In the 2 games where he played and was on that line, he had more chemistry with the defensemen than with Shep and SRV.
I don’t think too many people are looking for Gaborik to carry the team on his shoulders.
Many are happy he’ll finally become tradeable.
Many are happy to have the extra little bit he’ll add as far as pts, but would be just as happy if he were traded for someone who added a little as well.
Many are happy he’ll draw some attention away from other players and allow them some room to put up some pts.
Many are just happy it means IJ will be back on D - which you can’t deny has been lacklustre as of late.
I think this is Koivu’s team now. I am not sure Gabby can handle that
Sunshine, Gaborik will be tested. The Flames will press him hard early to see if he has that acceleration and jump back yet. If they can get on him, they’ll stay on him the whole game, and really negate his presence. They’ll only back off of him if he shows he has the speed to command that respect. That will open up the ice.
If I were playing against the Wild, I’d put someone 1-on-1 with Gaborik for the 1st period and see what he’s got.
—-
Goody, I’ve just seen so many posts in the last few days about “oh will Gaborik get back and the offense will return”, or “spark some life into the team”. That’s the stuff I mean.
I hope he does generate something. I hope he can open up the ice, and I hope he can put some in. But I would be lying if I said I felt good about that prospect happening.
MuN…although I get your point, Burns is an elite D man, not an elite forward.
He has shown the ability to dominate when he is out there on the blue line, not so much on the wing.
That (if for no other reason) why it is good to see him move back.
I want Gho$t playing long enough to shop his a$$ right out of MN.
Gho$t’s presence on the ice will not open things up until he proves that he is a threat to score, not to head to the training table.
If he finds an early scoring touch, then the Wild will see more favorable matchups for either Koivu’s or Gho$t’s line.
If negating his presence means putting the top checking line and top defensemen pairing against Gaborik, then he has done half of his job. This means a more room for Koivu’s line.
Gaborik-Shep-Veilleux? Looks like Lemaire still doesn’t want any goals scored, Gaby needs some one to pass him the puck not dump & chase.
Gaborik-Pouliot-Gilles that’s my line.
Nothing kike kickstarting Gaboriks Offense by putting him on a line with Shephard and Veilleux. No wonder the guy wants to leave town. On a positive note, great news if Burns is really going back to defense where he belongs. I know Jacque wanted him playing up front to help out offensively, but I think he would probably have more than five goals right now if he had stayed on defense.
I meant to say like, and small o on offense. sorry
About the little bit of Skoula mention from earlier. He’s been playing really well lately. Sure, he makes a couple mistakes, but they aren’t nearly as bad as they were the last 2 years, and not nearly as bad as some of the stuff Johnsson or Bergeron have pulled off.
I still rip Skoula, and refer to most bad defensive moves as “Skoula-like”, but that’s just because it’s like putting on that old favorite sweatshirt. Sure, it’s not in style, but it fits just right.
Ok, time to chime in.
Gabby/Shep/SRV is perfect, think about it. How often in the past do you see Gabby on a line that operates with agility like oh say a Mitt/Koivu/Bruno line? Never. Which makes sense. Gabby is not that kind of player, he is a mediocore back checker at best. His bread and butter in the NHL is floating out in the nuetral zone to wait for that breakaway pass because once he catches it, more often then not you aren’t going to catch him. Com’on people, you all know this. Why waste a talented, pretty passing line (that also gets it done when they are on I might add) when Gabby most likely won’t be able to contribute much. He is basically a one man show and I don’t nessecerily mean that in a bad way. But thats his nitch. Someone said Gabby is jelling with the D more then the F, of course, they come around our net and try and flip it out to him to break. You want a perfect example of this? Youtube Gabby’s 5 goal game. He gets some garbage goals (again, not bad, however most weren’t set up by a beautiful highlight reel pass) and then the breakaway….. Which you have to admit, like the guy or hate him, its great to watch! I think him being back definatly opens up the ice more for our Mitt/Koivu/ Bruno line, I having a hard time seeing how it won’t.
Sheppard with Gaborik? Pouliot with Gaborik that would make sense.
Reitz deserves a spot IMO. He has been far greater on defence vs. Zidlicky, who has made countless errors and is this year’s Skoula.
I don’t care who wears the January C as long as it isn’t Johnsson…what a waste.
I don’t actually think Skoula would be our captain, but you never know in this rotating system. He has been on our blue line for what, 4 years now?
Personally I think Schultz will be the next captain. I hope it gets back to Koivu, but I have a feeling it won’t until March and April when he can hopefully be leading this team into the playoffs.
Now, is that what JL is thinking when he created this…. who knows, but I’m willing to see how it works out and I don’t neccecarily disagree with it.
He has shown the ability to dominate when he is out there on the blue line, not so much on the wing.
i agree but he hasn’t shown that this season when he was on D. which i think is why he was moved up front.
as for the angst against the dump and chase. If you’ve watched any hockey in the last few years, when teams drop 4 players in the neutral zone, it is nearly impossible to pass and skate the puck thru into the attacking zone. so you do what 90% of teams do, you try to find that opening that is there 1 out of every 10 rushes and if it ain’t there you dump it deep and try to win the battle. successful teams win that battle.
i agree but he hasn’t shown that this season when he was on D. which i think is why he was moved up front.
For how long? 2 or 3 regular season games???
Shipley is reporting that Gaborik will play tomorrow.
it was a little longer than that but i see your point.
A problem with putting Gaby on a line with Sheppard or Pouliot is that neither win draws very well, and that immediately puts the team on defense.
What’s really new on the FO draws? The Wild has consistently been in the bottom third of that stat.
I should add at least in the last three years of FW - bottom third.
I’d certainly hope that with a plethora of D men and none playing horribly that one in particular doesn’t sit game after game after game. I’d like to see the D who sits change every game or two. Somebody has a not quite so good game, sit them for a game or two. Create a little competition between the D. Give them a reason (stay in the lineup) to elevate their game. If it’s the same guy sitting game after game after game, the guys on the ice won’t feel threatened unless they really screw up.
Oh, I’m not arguing against that… the team being bad at the FO. It’s just that Shep and Pouls are particularly bad at it.
Let me just say- JL YOU STUBBORN guy- SRV- Shep- Gaby- Oh Gaby really I am sure is looking forward to playing with those offensive wizzards. BE CAREFUL JL, dont take too many risks
What line he plays is not really all that big a deal. Remember he will probably only get 8 - 11 mins since he is still getting in game shape. Probably see some PP time too hopefully but I don’t really see him having an impact for 3-5 games. the biggesst issue for him will be how big a defensive weakness he’ll be.
Having Burns back at D will probably have a bigger impact.
FOOD
My thought is that IF Gabby plays with Shep & SRV, then the thought is to get him back into shape to help the team get some “W”’s, NOT to quickly showcase him for a deal.
If DR wants to deal him quickly, or if JL really wanted him out, they’d pair him right away w/Mikko to jump start his production.
My guess is that he’s here until March.
- The moaning about Gaby’s line is hilarious as many of the same posters constantly whine about JL switching lines.
I am officially stating that the Pouliot as a center isn’t working and we should put him at wing.
Welcome the the club I started this summer sunshine but you name will add significant gravitas to the argument - Here’s hoping Trader Doug will keep it in mind now 
