Morning Skate Update: Scott called up; Zidlicky on the ice
Posted on January 3rd, 2009 – 11:56 AMBy Brian Stensaas
Good day from high atop the Xcel Energy Center ice, where I’m watching the Detroit Red Wings get set for their first indoor game of 2009 - tonight against the Wild.
Minnesota ended its skate about 45 minutes ago. Benoit Pouliot, Colton Gillies, Kurtis Foster and Niklas Backstrom were the last four on the ice this morning - so read into that however you want. Jacques Lemaire was asked by a Detroit reporter who was in net tonight, and he refused to disclose his choice. No surprise there. Even if Josh Harding was the first off the ice, doesn’t mean anything Jacques said.
The first defenseman I spotted on the ice this morning was John Scott, who got word during a nap yesterday afternoon he was being called up from AHL Houston. At 6-foot-8, 258 pounds how can you miss him? No word yet if Scott, 26, will make his NHL debut tonight against the defending Stanley Cup champs. Jacques said it would be quite the tall task (ha, ha) to go against a team like Detroit in your debut. But no decision as of yet.
Marian Gaborik, by the way, was officially put on IR to make room for Scott.
Marek Zidlicky, who has been ill the past few days, was back on the ice this morning. But, just like Scott, there is no word on his status for tonight.
Lemaire was asked if he might consider going with five defensemen tonight against the Red Wings.
“We might need eight,” Jacques said. “Maybe 10.”
Other than that, no big news. Kim Johnsson was not on the ice this morning, and I did not see Andrew Brunette, either, but I might have missed him. Jacques said today was optional, regardless.
I’ll be back on prior to the puck drop with more updates. Right now, I’m heading downstairs to catch some of the Red Wings skate up close …
… and continued to be entertained by this Q&A session going on right now up here in the press box between TV guy Mike Greenlay and a group of kids.
86 Responses to "Morning Skate Update: Scott called up; Zidlicky on the ice"
I hope they issue Scott sweater #10… since it won’t be needed anymore.
we could dress 7 D. wouldn’t be hard to cover DB’s 4 minutes.
Why would we want to burden him with that? He’ll never see the ice then!
Ms C, I do keep odd hours, partly because of my business, and partly because I hate morning.
I apparently hate mid-afternoon as that seems to be the time that I want to sleep.
“We might need eight,” Jacques said. “Maybe 10.”
I laughed out loud at that. Scotty kinda counts as two d-men. Two for the roster spot of one. What a deal. I wonder if he gets tired of being reminded how tall he is. Though at an autograph thing last season, he was wearing this geeky looking beret and we asked him what was up with that and he said it was to make him look shorter. 
I told him the only way he looks shorter is to sit down.
It is goddamn Africa hot here in Houston today. Canada needs to send us another cold front. Oh, looks like help is on the way tomorrow. Phew.
I’m glad to hear that Greenlay is asking questions of some kids. Perhaps he’ll be able to learn something and upgrade his broadcast skills.
Goalieguy gets a gold star for that one.
Falness says Harding is starting.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Thanks, Ms.C - My fear is that the kids won’t be able to “dumb it down” enough for Greenlay to understand them, but I guess it’s worth a try.
If KiPA is out there: what the *&%$ is going in with the Pens? I’m trying to watch some of today’s game but it is now 6-1 Panthers and I feel like throwing up. Is it simply a “we made to the finals last year” hangover? or is no one outside of Geno and STK performing? Just curious.
I don’t think Geno or Sid are performing well either. Just this week alone, Malkin is a -3 and has only 1 point so far.
For two guys who have $8.7 million contracts (I know Malkin’s don’t kick in until next year), they are really showing their worth. In their last 10 games including the one today, they have gone 3-7-0.
For the month December, they went 5-8-1. The Wild, for December went 4-9-1.
Geez, they only won one more game than the Wild.
I hope they issue Scott sweater #10… since it won’t be needed anymore.
+1
My comment about Houston forwards was related to the fact that Gho$t went on IR yet they recalled a D man.
I neglected to remember that Zids wasn’t feeling too well. I hope Scott didn’t pack a lot of clothes…
I think DRs reax to LTIR for Gho$t will be to not bring anyone in because ‘It is what it is’. He’ll want to have ‘flexibility’ for next season. His hands will be tied at the deadline too ‘cuz he doesn’t have a 2nd or 3rd to deal.
So, Avery won’t be coming here…tee hee.
Geez, they only won one more game than the Wild
and we have been trying to run the GM and coach and half the team out of town. Wonder what they are doing in pittsburgh. I mean the expectations had to have been much greater than those for our wild.
To be honest, I don’t really care that much about the Pens. I have Malkin on my FH team and he isn’t helping me much.
My comment about Houston forwards was related to the fact that Gho$t went on IR yet they recalled a D man.
we brought up kolanos and put MAB on IR so not sure where the ire is coming from. We started the season with 8 defensemen and are down to 6 healthy ones, 7 with scott. Carrying 7 seems ideal to me.
sunshine: Geno is #1 and STK is #3 in League scoring. The Wild should have such problems. Is the “D” not doing anything for the Pens? Is MAF a seive between the pipes? It’s not like the Pens are my favorite team or anything, I was just curious as to what the major issue is with them.
ms.conduct says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Falness says Harding is starting.
Falness an annoying imbecile and a horrible interviewer.
Being #1 and #3 points leader just put them out of the playoffs as of the moment.
The difference between the Wild and the Pens is that they are likely to bounce back. For us, it might be a little harder.
Falness might be annoying to you but he provides useful information.
I’m assuming then, that the Pens are doing a poor job of keeping the puck out of their own net, as evidenced by today’s half-dozen allowed to FLA.
I’m glad to hear that Greenlay is asking questions of some kids. Perhaps he’ll be able to learn something and upgrade his broadcast skills.
+1
Falness an annoying imbecile and a horrible interviewer.
+10
If you think the Wild and Pens have had it rough, take a look at Ottawa. There’s an example of a team that’s crapped in their pants and went down a slide. Proverbially. You get the idea.
Also, will be at Eagle St prior to and probably after today’s game, if any of Russoville wants to stop by and talk hockey with fatboy and I. I’d invite Dan too, but my g/f would probably slap him.
So they have defensive problems, we have offensive problems. The bottom line is that they almost had the same winning/losing record as the Wild in December and now they are out of the playoffs at the moment. They are in the 9th spot (1 pt out of the top 8). The Wild are in the 10th spot (2 pts out).
sunshine: I’m not trying to compare the two teams. I was just wondering what the major issue is with a team that was a couple of wins away from winning the Cup a year ago. I think we can all agree that the Wild is a little more than a couple of wins away.
Green*…no ire…just more of my usual ‘cupboard is void of scoring’ drivel…
cupboard is void of scoring
maybe we can get darby out of retirement?
“Stoned: it’s “Give him the gourmet shot…be a bad mf’er”
Thanks TD. That’s it.
Couple things. I am hopeful for Fozzie, but he has much to overcome. I would be as happy as the next guy to see him beat his injury, but its not a certainty by any stretch.
Let’s remember, Smug didn’t have to give Fozzie $1M to rehab. +1 for Smug.
It would be interesting to know what has gone on behind the scenes to sour Gaby on the Wild so much. Business or no business, the Wild have been very “parental” about raising Gaby from just a pup. They have helped him through agent problems, girlfriend issues, emotional maturity issues, injuries, and they have turned him into a pretty good hockey player. I understand the FA game, but this set of circumstances really effs over the Wild bigtime. This is a time when Salcer and Gaby ought to sit down with the Wild and see if there is a way to create a win-win solution that will help Gaby reestablish his market value while helping the Wild transition to Mikko’s team. If he doesn’t feel at least that obligated to them, then he truly is a cold blooded mercenary and it is best to cut ties with him.
I don’t have a problem with him not playing injured. I don’t have a problem with them not seeing the injury earlier as it was probably created or at least aggravated by the soccer volleyball. I don’t have a problem with them trying to wait it out and heal as it has done in the past. I don’t have a problem with Gaby taking care of himself for the long run. I do have a big problem with him doing all that and then leaving the Wild with nothing. I know that is not the strictly business approach, but I can’t help but think that if he truly effs the Wild that way, that reputation is going to dog him the rest of his career in ways I haven’t quite figured out as yet.
Does anyone know if Dave Speehar is a free agent 
Stoned: Whether it’s just public posturing or not, which I think it may be, Gaby has stated publicly (to reporters) that he wanted to resign with the Wild. Even before the injury he had stated that he wanted to stay. Whether that means it would take $10 million per season or not, I do not know, but he had stated before this surgery came up that he wanted to stay. For what’s worth.
He has to say that, although it could still be true. To say anything else tells all parties that you want out. It decreases his leverage in negotiations with both the Wild and any other team.
How did we get from the Slovakian meetings where Gaby was supposedly impressed with the plan to here?
SoTB,
So when it happens, can kj and I say “I told you so.”
Just thinking again. Gaby is miffed or feeling unappreciated because people are thinking he is a wuss for not playing through the injury. People may say that, but in the real analysis, that’s not what they are really upset about. The real issue here is that one player’s trials and tribulations are having a profound negative effect on the team and he is just going to walk away from any responsibility for it. The Wild have treated him better than to deserve that unless there are things behind the scenes we don’t know.
Thanks Gabby
Thanks for setting the Wild back at least 3 years.
I never liked the “me-first” prima donna, and the way his time in Minnesota is going to end, is just the icing on the cake.
toivu:
Are you referring to the contention that Smug should have traded him last summer or something else?
I appreciate that the fact that some people may think Gaby has left the team high and dry, but how exactly has he done that? By playing enough years to earn the right to be a UFA? By having the Wild-suggested doctor tell him he will do more long-term damage if he continunes to play this year without surgery? And, as Russo stated yesterday, a 1-yr-deal with the Wild benefits neither side and a long-term deal, at least with the Wild, now seems all but out of the question.
When Gaby leaves the Wild with nothing.
Did you support the Wild signing Gaby long term?
And for the record, I don’t have anything against Gaborik, except that maybe he should have been more up front about not wanting to re-sign with the Wild.
The only way things could have turned out worse is if China Doll Zsa Zsa would have signed a long term contract. If we spend the cap in the future we will have his savings to improve the team. If he stayed and ate up $8m or $9m on the cap year after year, while he went Groiniak on us again - then we really would be SOL. The Groiniak routine is one thing when he’s not getting a max contract, something else when he’s getting paid like a productive superstar. Best thing could be for him to go to Vancouver and screw them up.
No.
Stoned on the Breakaway,
You make some great points. This surgery may correct many of Gabby’s problems from previous years. If you are a GM in the NHL, how much are you willing to pay Gabby after 10-14 games at the end of the season? There may be to much water under the bridge for the wild to sign him, but a pre draft trade for something is better than nothing, which is what the wild are looking at right now. Maybe a GM looks at the up side of Gabby, post surgery and offers a player and or draft picks. If Gabby leaves outright, someone will take a chance on him, the question is how much. He is still a very young player and I beleive has a very good up side.
In terms of the injuries, don’t forget the doctor the team suggested also stated that the hip that has already had surgery, is better than new and that the current one will be the same (93 percent chance) once the procudure is complete. Not saying it will happen for sure, but don’t be surprised if Gaby comes back and is a 40+goal scorer again in the League.
Dman=
Even if Gaby does not play another game this season, you better belive there will be teams offering up 1-yr deals July 1 for “modest” money to see if he is the player he was a year ago.
Also, i doubt that there are GMs out there excited and/or willing to trade for an injured player, but is there anything in the CBA that prevents a team from trading a player on IR or LTIR?
toivo…leave me out of it.
besides, why would you can me? I haven’t supported Gho$t one iota… 
No one will want to trade for Gho$t, unless they want to beat the competition to sign him long term.
Otherwise, why give up any assets when on July 1 you can negotiate freely?
kj: I know, but is there anything that prevents a team from trading a player on IR?
good to see a Michigan Tech guy making to the NHL!
If you have been saying all along that Gaby has chronic injury problems and the Wild should be trading him, then you can say I told you so to whoever you want. In that case, they should have traded him at last year’s trade deadline.
My issue is with those who said we should sign him long term but when he wouldn’t, we should now trade him immediately.
Good question Deep…maybe Russo would have an answer?
although, if you were a GM, would you want to ‘rent’ Gho$t post-op, without seeing him on the ice?
Granted, his rehab will be pretty far along by 3/4, but that is an awful big chance to take…unless you are giving up a lot less than DR would want.
As exciting as Gaby is to watch, I have always been skeptical that you could win a SC with him. He is too high maintenance, emotionally and health wise. If he pulls a Hossa and puts himself on a team that is positioned for the SC, I don’t think he will hurt them, but having him as the cornerstone of a team is a weak strategy in my book.
kj: my sincerest apologies. You and I seem to be the minority who think that Gaborik didn’t have much intention of signing with the Wild regardless. Maybe if the Wild bent over for him with Ovechkin money, but I didn’t see that happening, nor would I have wanted it to happen.
And that’s the thing. I think he’s a great player, and his injuries have always been a concern, but I would certainly be willing to overlook that if I felt he was committed to the Wild. I get that hockey players are mercenaries and all that, and I can respect that. At the end of the day, it’s still a job. But then if you’re the Wild, that’s not the best for them. When Gaby said, “I hope we get a deal done.” I just didn’t believe him.
But whatever. What’s done is done. Maybe the Wild can still trade him at the deadline for someone willing to take a risk that a guy who can put the puck in the net will be ready for the playoffs.
Anybody see Crosby drop his mittens? Has to be the weirdest thing I’ve seen in a while. He basically attacks Brett MacLean off the faceoff, jerseys him, and starts (trying) to punch when he’s on the ice. Not exactly the picture of honor. Weird.
toivo…exactly.
It’s why I was ridiculed yesterday for my bargaining strategy with Gho$t.
If he doesn’t sign your best offer up front, then you know he has no intention of re-signing and you move him immediately.
It’s time to start shopping Backstrom for scoring. He’s the only tradeable asset we have that can bring decent offensive help to the franchise. Harding is good. How good? We don’t know, but it’s probably time to find out.
If DR wants to start re-building this thing, he needs to trade Backstrom for some young scoring, and start working on signing Gabby to a 1 year extension at above-market pricing. We can’t let him walk away and get nothing in return. Right now his value is low and it’s only getting lower. He isn’t going to strike it rich on the FA market, so convince him to stay and increase his value. He can build up his worth, and we can trade him next season and get the package we were hoping for this year.
kj says:
If he doesn’t sign your best offer up front, then you know he has no intention of re-signing and you move him immediately.
Bingo! That being the case, I would offer him a one-year deal at what he’s making this season right now.
for the record:
i didn’t think there was better than 20% chance #10 ever resigned here. it was a feeling i had based on some comments starting with the all star game last year which he said were out of context. i do think the GM had to make a good faith effort to resign him, which he did.
I do not agree with the kj style of negotiation where you make a one time take it or leave it offer.
Gho$t is gone. He’ll bring nothing in return.
Backstrom has a NTC until Feb. He’ll be traded at the deadline.
It’s 2001 all over again…
Green*…yeah, I know it’s an extreme tactic but - you would know whether or not he was really interested in re-signing.
I agree that signing him was unlikely. But I also agree that kj’s “strategy” is never the strategy you use if you have any hope of signing a player. It is rare that anyone will ever accept the first offer.
kj, no you wouldn’t. You would a rejection while they wait for a better offer.
That is, get a rejection.
But that is the whole point woodcock.
I (being the GM) NEVER believed he would re-sign in the first place.
So if he rejects the best offer, I am saving a lot of time and getting him on the trading block asap.
I took the “I hope we get a deal done” as a contract with exhorbitant amounts of money or a trade with someone who would pay him exhorbitant amounts of money. The fact that he was never a not-100-percent-but-wants-to-help-the-team player gave me the message that he wants to play hockey on his terms, and has no real loyalty to any club.
I do agree, though, that DR had to make a “good faith” offer. He just waited way too long to make a trade after his good faith negotiations kept being rejected.
Then why even make an offer if you know he is not going to sign? The point is that no one takes the first offer. So you wouldn’t know he is not going to sign if he rejects your so-called best offer. That is simply not the way anyone negotiates a contract in any context. But no sense in continuing this as we will never know. But kj, don’t get into too many negotiations.
If you don’t make an offer at all, you send a message to any future players that you’re not willing to negotiate.
Which is why I can’t believe he hasn’t made a “good faith” offer to Backstrom. If he doesn’t want to sign him for whatever reason, he makes his “good faith” offer WAY too low, and Backstrom rejects it.
It’s a chess game, really.
>>If he doesn’t sign your best offer up front, then you know he has no intention of re-signing and you move him immediately.<<
All you know is that he isn’t going to sign for that offer right now. He doesn’t know its your best offer. In fact, he believes it is your beginning offer, not your best. You don’t know that he has no intention of re-signing just because he won’t take your first offer.
Actually, they have schools that teach this stuff. Why am I wasting my time.
Agreed woodcock… in any other negotiations, I would behave as you (and everyone else) would.
My only contention is that Gho$t would not have signed here for anything but an unreasonable (i.e. record-setting) contract.
Something that DR (or anyone on this blog) wouldn’t offer.
I’m not trying to say my tactic is right or the way to negotiate.
I’m just saying that Gho$t was already gone.
SotB - true that - he needs to “negotiate” for a while. But what if he offered it as his “best offer”? What if he said to Salcer, “Look, I’m offering $7mil, but the highest I can go is $7.5.” Can we then assume he has no intention of signing?
Maybe he said straight up that Gaby isn’t reliable enough to get the money he’s expecting. I would have. Of course, that would GUARANTEE he wouldn’t resign.
Just my own flawed idea.
Sorry for being so stupid and having my own opinion.
kj - don’t beat yourself up too much. We don’t know what kind of insider knowledge DR had - maybe he had plenty of hints that Gaby wasn’t resigning and should have made the moves you suggested.
“What if he said to Salcer, “Look, I’m offering $7mil, but the highest I can go is $7.5.”
Then Smug would be a dunce. You make an offer and close your mouth. And wait. Actions speak. Words are just tools to manipulate the situation. In the above you are not offering $7M, you are offering $7.5M and only time will tell if it actually is your best offer.
Jordan: Sydney Crosby is a pansy. His constant whining and boo hooing coupled with his pretty boy photo shoots and his “fighting skill” say one thing: PANSY! “Sid the Skid Mark” was even beaten out by our very own Justin Morneau as Canadian Athlete of the Year. Even his own countrymen hate him!
As for Gabby… The premadonna is not worth my trouble or discussion. I, for one, am so glad Risebrough focused on not being able signing him, and Brian Rolston, or two FORMER means of offense, in order to also not sign almost anyone else from last year’s team (aside from Hill and Simon - good riddance) and get the job done so that this year we were looking at a team that was still in contention for another Division Title and possible long playoff run.
NOTE: Except for the Simon and Hill comment and Crosby’s pansiness, all of the above statement is laced with sarcasm. Risebrough is an idiot.
>>Just my own flawed idea. Sorry for being so stupid and having my own opinion.<<
We’re just trying to help you save some money on your next big ticket acquisition.
Isn’t the job of a GM (besides signing players) to keep his ear to the ground on how happy the players are? I’ve had the feeling for some time that Gaby’s not happy (as, apparently, has kj). Wouldn’t DR be a complete idiot if he saw just as much as us, and then some, and still didn’t notice Gaby seemed unhappy here?
And to be fair, haven’t we already come to the conclusion that DR is a complete idiot?
Not sure if he is an idiot. But does seem a bit smug and unfriendly.
I just mean from past deals - most recent stupidity was last year - signing Simon at the deadline, then letting so many UFA’s go (not even really trying to negotiate until it was too late).
Apparently Scott’s playing - just saw him on the pregame show.
WOO HOO!
Detroit broadcasters for the online broadcast! W00t!
Is this game in HD on Comcast? If so, what channel is teh HD feed on? Thanks.
Oh, well. Wings are good. We did start out well tho. Last 5-7 minutes they have dominated. But we did get some chances and at least we skated from the beginning.
[…] -The Wild recalled defenseman John Scott from Houston of the AHL. […]
