No-practice update from Beantown; Wild: Gaborik surgery went well
Posted on January 5th, 2009 – 2:36 PMBy Michael Russo
Marian Gaborik update:
From the Wild: Marian Gaborik’s hip surgery went well and as expected. He’ll begin rehab immediately. The best line? Next update in six weeks.
Oh Boston. You gotta love it. Everybody here sounds like my sports editor, which actually freaks me out just a tad.
I was trying to muster up the energy to write something on here, and well, I got nuttin! Believe it or not, just this once, for the first time since Russo’s Rants was invented by the powers-that-be, I’ve got squat to offer you.
I can write a 20-inch blog about how great of an airline Jet Blue is and how cool Jet Blue’s new terminal 5 is at JFK — like no other terminal I’ve ever seen – but I don’t even have the stamina right now to offer you the usual nonsense you don’t care about anyway.
I don’t even feel like an unprovoked attack toward Kevin Falness, so now you know I’m sluggish.
Today’s wee-hour of the morning flights sucked the life right out of me. Good thing I had an Owen Nolan story in the can ready to write, too. The Wild just arrived in Boston and coach Jacques Lemaire scrapped practice — as I did expect.
The boys instead are gym-bound for a bit of a workout before it heads out for some clam chowder, I suppose.
I’ll talk to you after tomorrow’s morning skates.
I expect that everybody out there will be watching Canada-Sweden in the world junior championships championship tonight like me.
If I think of anything else to write, I’ll hop back on. Back to work.
166 Responses to "No-practice update from Beantown; Wild: Gaborik surgery went well"
If I get a Marian Gaborik surgery update — I’m not expecting lots of details — I’ll provide it.
I think I might be able to help there.
“We operated on Marian’s lower body, and were satisfied with the results. He will now be recovering for a period of time, after which there will be another period of time in which he rehabilitates his lower body to the point that he is able to participate in ice hockey again. While we can’t say for sure, we are hopeful that this surgery will minimize the chances of further injury to his lower body, of the same variation of this current lower body injury. Lower body injury. Sorry, I just like saying ‘lower body injury.’ Lower body injury.”
Russo, you could just post pictures of the guys looking all sleepy from the trip, or all GQ in their suits. That would make some of us happy. Any pictures of the guys in their under armor? Throw us ladies a bone Russo.
Well said Nick.
Hmmm, maybe all our talk of cute hockey players got BG a little worked up, eh?
I like cute hockey players.
Sigh… I’m completely with you BG…
Too worked up to nap, BG? 
Dog stole couch, chair not comfy enough, having hard time putting down computer. Bed way upstairs. Also other doggy sleeping in lap, he’s to cute to make move so I can get more comfy. I’ll wait till dog on lap gets overly warm and moves then I’ll go upstairs and nap.
Don’t you just love those 121 degree lap warmers? What kind of dogs do you have? I have a Cocker-Terrier named Lager (I’ve said it before - I know two things, alcohol and hockey). 
The lap warmer is a big for his breed cairn terrier (think a grey Toto on steroids) named Ollie. The couch stealer is a 55 pound golden retriever/irish setter mix. It’s the big dogs birthday today. He’s 3. The Mr wouldn’t let me call him Boogie so we kept the name he came from the shelter with, Wookie.
I know 3 things in no particular order:
alcohol
hockey
cowbell
Happy Birthday to Wookie/Boogie! Lager’s birthday is 1/11 - he’ll be 11. We call him Osama bin Lager (the terriorist).
Woohoo! First time my name’s been stolen.
Sorry heather…that was me.
My browser stole your identity again.
Usually I catch that before I post.
Damn wordpress.
That’s okay - you know the same things as me, so it’s all good.
I know just a little more… 
True dat. My browser just tried to steal your identity.
Ollie will be 11 in March, and we call him our little terrorist. I think thats common with terrier owners. Ollie looks really funny right now. We trimmed up the hair on his head but haven’t gotten to his body yet so he looks like he’s wearing a big bulky, hairy sweater. He also just kicked me in the kidney, chasing the neighbors cat in his sleep again.
I don’t know alcohol, but I know hockey and cowbell. I also know history, does that count for something?
Why doesn’t DR try a deal for Nik Antropov or Ales Kotalik.
I did the same with Lager - I call it his white trash haircut. But at least I can see his face.
History is good. Those who don’t know are doomed to repeat, or something.
yeah, but how do you look without your shirt on, kj? That seems to be the main currency around here today….
Wow, amazing how aimless the comments are when Russo is aimless up top. Not that I’m complaining. Aimless suits me rather well if you hadn’t noticed.
We can switch to dogs just for the guys Happy Birthday Wookie! We have two dogs at our house, Titus, a purebred jack russell terrier who will be 5 in April & Dylan, a terror mix who is just a stupid, happy dog who will be 4 in August.
Well, this would be a good time to see some posts from the Minnesota faithful about getting some Gophers on the team. Wheeler/Kessel anyone?
I feel kind of sad as a reader…..
Wild go 2-0-1 in 3 games….
No sight of “Hockey guru Dan”…..
Russo could do a Manny article since after having his knee fix Manny is playing really well for the Bruins. I don’t care whether we have Minnesota boys on the roster. Just want players that play with heart & get the job done game in and game out (Clutterbuck, Koivu, Nolan).
Oh, and since it’s a ’slow news day’…
Go click on the Denver Post link and read the Avs blog after last night’s game.
If you just change a few names, it could read EXACTLY like this blog read about 10-12 days ago!!
(not that I didn’t agree with posters back then…..I just notice how I pick up interest after the team looks like it’s playing hard for a change….)
Russo,
How bout updates on Foster. Is he practicing with the team yet? How far out is he or will he even play this season? If we keep preessing news on Foster he may get game ready soon. We could use him back on defense with MAB out.
kgopher, agreed, just trying to spark something. Manny is playing pretty well right now.
I was at the Boston game when they were here at the beginning of the season, though, and he really played poorly. There was a Boston fan sitting right next to me gnashing his teeth all game about it.
Shhhh, ljm, he may have a 6th sense and return when his name is said…
Dogs. I have a 100 lb golden/shepherd mix with bad hips and a $1700 knee, named Major (after Major Applewhite of The University of Texas Longhorns). He’s our fur child and the apple of our eyes. Smart and funny. I love him to bits. Obsessed with licking Mr. C’s toes and maintaining the security of the homestead. He’s saving his money for a 25 cent pizza from Papa John’s.
Bad blogging is better than good working. Aimless drivel included.
kgopher - I love stupid, happy dogs!
Ms.C - does Major then try to kiss your face with his foot breath?
Lager’s favorites are morning kisses. I swear he’s so thrilled I’m alive that he tries to suffocate me.
Michael Russo: For every column inch you could give us about how great jetBlue is, I could give you two column inches about how (bleep)ed up an airline they really are. They are on the ‘no-fly’ list after two seasons ago, a simple flight from Boston to Buffalo which got cancelled, rescheduled and/or annulled five separate times.
jetBlue is a bad airline, IMO.
“Wheeler/Kessel anyone?”
Didn’t Kessel have a reputation as a self centered selfish turd when he was a Gopher? We are about to rid ourselves of one of those so I don’t wan’t to add another.
Wheeler is definitely outperforming my expectations.
I saw Wheeler last year live, and I swear I said out loud, “That boy can’t skate - he can’t get out of his own way”. Now look at him. Egg on my face, I guess.
By that standard, Hoeffel will probably be great, too.
Kessel is from Wisconsin, what else would you expect from him?
About the Gaborik surgery update: If the phrase, ‘full frontal lobotomy’ is not included, will anyone really care?
He needs to rehabilitate at the GTRCMBOSHP…
Groin Triage & Rehabilitation Center Make Benefit Overpaid Slovakian Hockey Player…
Heh. I love when y’all get into regional smack talk. Since I don’t have a dog in the fight, it’s just funny.
He’s learned to only give kisses when I ask for them, Heather, so I usually avoid asking for them after foot lickings or toilet bowl drinkings.
His only flaw, aside from a really really awful puppyhood, is that he’s a humper at the dog park. It’s SO embarrassing.
LOL! Lager only humps couch pillows. Rapes and murders them, to be more precise. He chews off the corner while he’s humping, then strews the “guts” all over the room.
richard b hehe….
Stories like that remind me why I never ever want a terrier of any kind. But it does make a damn good story when you tell it like that.
We just don’t keep couch pillows now. He’s a registered pillowphile and must now be kept away from them for fear of a relapse.
Ollie’s a humper as well, still trying to convince him puppy porn is bad but very hard to be convincing when it’s the great danes and stuff he’s humping at the dog park, looks so funny I can’t help but laugh my arse off.
Wookie isn’t allowed soft toys. He doesn’t hump them but does draw and quarter them and then spread the guts around.
I don’t care where a player comes from as long as they work hard.
Agreed about the player, BG.
Back on Gaby, does he remind anyone else of the Leon Budweiser commercial? “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” “Well, there ain’t no ‘we’ either.”
“He chews off the corner while he’s humping, then strews the “guts” all over the room.”
Sounds like a Friday night at my house.
Ah, I dunno. I think Gaby’s not as evil as everyone wants to think he is. I think the Wild org has done a good job of deflecting a lot of the negativity on him. And that’s tough to say because I’m not particularly a fan of his. He’s not even hot to make up for his dull personality.
kgopher:
I had a theory on Manny and Gaborik’s season ending surgeries. The Wild pressured Manny and Gaborik not to go forth with it and to stick to rehab. Manny agreed, Gaborik did up to a point. If Manny had his surgery prior to the end of the season, the Wild wouldn’t have been able to trade him to the Bruins and we might have had to carry both his and Backs’ contract.
I think someone in Gaborik’s camp leaked that season-ending surgery was recommended after visiting the Colorado specialist to leverage getting his surgery now instead of at the end of the season. Having one of two hip specialists to professional athletes in the country strongly suggest surgery now provides a little cover for Gaborik. The Wild is getting a raw deal from a business standpoint.
If the Wild doesn’t allow him his surgery then they look bad because they are pressuring an athlete to play at the risk of doing more damage to himself. DR got a little flack for his churlish comments about “Its Marian’s decision and I have no comment.”
Overall its a bad situation for everyone but I do wonder if Gaborik’s camp used the media to force the Wild’s hands.
Dog humping and man meat. This is what happens when Russo no feed the animals.
Should be a fun night tomorrow!!!
Standing up for Gaborik, ms. c?
Why not deflect it upon the player who fans don’t like on a personal level anyways, right? They can focus the fans’ main hatred or bulk of the blame on Gaborik while hoping management can get by with little harm.
I know this is my beloved hockey site. But I just heard Carl Pohlad passed. Question: Does this count as an offseason move for the team?
I can see Nick hit the bar early, but what’s everyone else’s excuse?
Random Driveby,
Not funny.
I don’t think he’s intentionally evil, I just think he’s incredibly self-absorbed. To be fair, I think “self-absorbed” is the natural state of most humans.
Well, I know it’s not a popular stance, Sunshine. It’s more fun and easier to say he’s a selfish, wussy, prima donna, but I’ve spent two years watching Pouliot so I think I know better what a selfish, wussy, prima donna looks like and it ain’t Gaborik.
I think his injury is legitimate and the risk of harm from continuing to play with it serious considering he has many years ahead of him. I think he’s got enough riding on his play this season personally, discounting how much the team needs him, to not be sitting out if he didn’t feel it was necessary.
Sure, I wish he’d have just signed for whatever Dougie threw at him, but we don’t know the details so that whole issue is mostly irrelevant in judging Gaborik as a person. His teammates seem to go out of their way to say they miss him and they like him and he’s a good teammate. I believe them. They don’t have to say these things.
I’m not saying you can’t hate the guy, I’m just saying it doesn’t seem warranted from my perspective.
/lecture
Didn’t Russo say somewhere that Gaby won’t play unless he’s 100%? Doesn’t that imply self-absorption? Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but a hockey player that won’t play unless he’s 100% isn’t going to be playing much.
Fozzy’s not travelling with the team yet. He’s still a ways out from playing. My guess is another month, but that’s just a semi educated guess.
I am not allowed to take pictures of the guys and post them, but I am pretty good at drawing caricatures. I suppose that’s not quite the same though. On a different note, I still think Gaby re-injured himself running around the concourse in the Nordy costume. Have any of you seen Gaby and Nordy together? Me either. I rest my case. And lastly, because it is a slow day in Russoville, I will share with all of you the names of some of my pets and list their endearing traits. I have 28 goldfish. The biggest one is named Leipold. Kinda bossy. The smallest is Pierre-Marc. He’s missing most of the scales on top of his head, but he’s still adorable. My fave is the spotted one. He answers to the name Eero Elo. I used to have 29 goldfish, but one went missing. Not sure what happened to the one I called Shep.
LOL RET.
Heather, I just don’t put a lot of merit on that 100% stuff. I took that to mean that he doesn’t want to play if, when he ventures out for practice or whatever, it feels like he’s going to explode his wiener again. And he DID play at 70% or whatever he was for those recent couple of games and that landed him at a specialist in Vail. I think he’s a prime enough athlete that he knows his body and knows the difference between the pain of bone-on-bone hip pain and sand in his vajayjay.
Oh come on, moderation! Lighten the hell up.
What was trying to say was:
LOL RET.
Heather, I just don’t put a lot of merit on that 100% stuff. I took that to mean that he doesn’t want to play if, when he ventures out for practice or whatever, it feels like he’s going to explode his wiener again. And he DID play at 70% or whatever he was for those recent couple of games and that landed him at a specialist in Vail. I think he’s a prime enough athlete that he knows his body and knows the difference between the pain of considerable hip damage and sand in his youknowwhat.
Just from a contract perspective, the worst thing Gaby could do is play at 75 percent of his capabilities for the next 16 weeks and then have surgery in May. By July 1 he would not be healed. What kind of offers is he going to get when he’s only 6-8 weeks out of surgery? If he has the surgery now, in his mind, he will prevent further damage and also be at 100% come playoffs, or at the very least by the time L.A. wants to invite him to a workout in late June.
*sigh* For the love of Santa Claus… Okay third attempt at getting my post through moderation:
Heather, I just don’t put a lot of weight on that 100% stuff. I took that to mean that he doesn’t want to play if, when he ventures out for practice or whatever, it feels like he’s going to explode his groin again. And he DID play at 70% or whatever he was for those recent couple of games and that landed him at a specialist in Vail. I think he’s a prime enough athlete that he knows the difference between the pain of considerable hip damage and sand in his you know what.
And seriously, if this doesn’t go through, I’d love to know why. Could you guys post a list of words you can’t say?
I give up. Heather, I would answer you but I can’t get my completely harmless post past the moderation. I’m not sure what else to modify to make it work.
Let’s just say, yes, I do think you (and most everyone) reads too much into Gaby’s quotes. The facts of the situation don’t support the hate.
Russo, I am sure you are not going to wait six weeks for a Gaborik update.
Heather: I think that is a stance of the Wild on Gaborik. Since his first major injury after the lockout, they have been extra cautious. He says it but its because the Wild has said so in the past. Just look at his quad injury. DR himself said that they will give Gaborik more time than the usual player because of his past injuries and because he is their top scorer. They don’t want any setbacks.
Gaborik had a torn labrum. That is a serious injury. Remember when Brad Radke was pitching with a torn labrum in his final year? He ended up breaking his shoulder and was out a month for it to heal and eventually retired because of the torn labrum/shoulder problems.
I was upset that Gaborik was not playing earlier in the year, even downright mad when I found out he hurt himself playing soccer/hackey sack. Gaborik has an unfortunate injury, end of story. The only thing you should blame on Gaborik/Risebrough is them not getting the surgery sooner as this would have been better for both parties involved.
heather…we have to stop stealing like this…
So Gho$t’s hip surgery went well. Nice.
Should be worth an extra mil per year next season in LA, eh?
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
I’m typically a benefit-of-the-doubter, so I’ll give Gaby the benefit of the doubt.
Let’s just call it “swapping”, kj.
I think people get frustrated with the Gaby/Risebrough situation because the potential is so high, and neither party seems to be performing to potential. From an outside perspective, of course.
I would agree with that completely, Heather. It’s just a frustrating situation and everybody needs a scapegoat. For some, it’s Riser, some it’s Gaby, some it’s both. I blame Brad May.
I hate Brad May.
I was wondering if anybody knew if the World Juniors Championship is televised I have the comcast full channel lineup excluding the NHL/NFL specialty packages…
nhl network
i like pierre mcguire. i think he is generally one of the best in the business. he is completely going overboard with the homerism in this gold medal game.
MissConduct, the problem with taking sides is that it leaves the team we root for in tough shape.
I do not fault Gabby for opting for surgery, nor do I fault DR for wanting him to play at 70%.
It is a business. DR needs wins and is more interested in the short range since Gabby has pretty much slipped out the door in the dark of night.
No winners, no losers. Just a heap of bad luck. If Gabby had signed, then the Wild would probably have a different attitude because he would be a long-term asset.
Pewterschmidt … re: Your Marney remark from the other thread. I think she is just fine, and her personality seems genuinely nice. But, she doth not make me drool.
Can I blame Greenlay? I think he’s just begging for it.
Your Marney remark from the other thread
hold on. did some say anything disparaging about marney. do not make me have to threaten violence…
I like Pierre too, G*. Some people think he’s a little too excitable (sp?) but I don’t mind.
do not make me have to threaten violence…
and they say chivalry is dead!
I’m stuck watching Texas vs. OSU. We’re so spoiled at Texas that if we’re not playing for the championship, it’s like, “Meh.” If we win this game, we damn well should have. If we lose, we lost to that bunch of hosers. I’d rather just go to bed.
I described Marny’s looks as school marmish. The kind of woman you want your son to bring home.
Hey, I found something interesting to read. At least I thought it was.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/blogs/2009/01/05/laraque_last_word/
The whole Marnie thing kind of confuses me. In my head, she reminds me of my buddy Gooch who was not handsome to begin with and then seemed to enjoy stopping pucks and punches with his nose. In other ways, she does stir feelings of…….well, I’m not exactly sure what. I don’t think I want to delve into it any deeper than that.
BTW, my prediction made after the Blackhawks loss that the Wild would end January with no more than 44 points is in jeopardy. Good for them. I would not have bet anything on the last 5 points picked up. Color me stupid, but at least a shade less than Dan whose absence lately has not gone unappreciated.
School marmish? Like you’d want a ruler in her hands, hair pulled back in a tight bun, librarian glasses, and a good rap across the knuckles and a promise to keep you after class?
Just figured since it was all man meat earlier in the day, we could go here, too. But G* can have Marney. Not my type, really.
I don’t think I want to delve into it any deeper than that.
i do
Like you’d want a ruler in her hands, hair pulled back in a tight bun, librarian glasses, and a good rap across the knuckles and a promise to keep you after class?
yes please
You are one sick and twisted unit G*. And I mean that in a good way.
She just seems warmly-dressed and practical to me.
And toivo, we didn’t get into explicit fantasies as you just did there. We COULD but we didn’t.
toivu,
Thanks for the link on Laraque. I particularly liked his comment. “Not some know-it-all couch potato guy, frustrated about life who just likes criticizing everything and especially tough guys.”
I suppose now Dan will be running off at the mouth boasting about how Georges reads his blog.
She just seems warmly-dressed and practical to me.
I think that’s in my profile under “Turn-ons”
MsC is right, we at least kept it generic, except for my weird fascination with under armor ads, believe me there are plenty of hockey dreams I don’t share.
Night all, ’see’ you tomorrow for the game.
At this point we need Dan or Mike so we can get away from Marney or who has the hottest hockey body topics. Let’s get back to hockey.
Night, BG! Talk to everyone tomorrow.
And as for the Juniors: Oh! Canada, our home and native land….
She just seems warmly-dressed and practical to me.
I think that’s in my profile under “Turn-ons”
Is it stereotyping of me to say that only a Minnesota man would say that?
heather…hmmmm…
Marney would make a great Penguin in Blues Brothers On Ice…
“She just seems warmly-dressed and practical to me.”
Yes, I bet Marny keeps a kleenex up her shirt sleeve.
we can get away from Marney
why would you ever want to get away from marney?
We discuss so many things on here - I just saw the dog humping bits from earlier today - but I’m mystified that we even bother to bring Marney up. If we’re going to talk babes, then talk babes, but let’s not use bandwith on Mrs. Face-For-Radio who has nothing to say. I mean, come on…Darby’s better looking than she is, and his misshapen melon should be in the Smithsonian.
Marney? She’s alright. I much prefer the blond who does the Gophers telecasts. She can dress warm or not warm, practically or impractical… I don’t care. Can’t remember her name.
ms c says: Is it stereotyping of me to say that only a Minnesota man would say that?
Turn ons: A woman who is warmly-dressed,practical and owns her own ATV and/or boat.
You see that in the Personals ads alot around these parts.
“and his misshapen melon should be in the Smithsonian”
And I thought it was because he cut his own hair. turns out he’s got a lumpy cranium? I’ll have to take a closer look.
Stoned, I am not sure it is possible to underappreciate Dan the Hockey Expert.
Heh, I left MN, but if I was still there for sure I’d be looking for a woman who can yank the cord and fire up the auger for me if you know what I’m saying! Wink wink nudge nudge SAY NO MORE!
(that bit never gets old for me)
So I’m standin’ der wit my Leinie’s in my hand and she says, “Don’t be tinkin’ I’m gonna be yankin yer cord and firin up yer auger less’n ders at least 6 inches to work wit and 8 would be better. I dint realize she was talkin boot da ice on da lake. And dats how I got dis black eye Doc.
LMAO
Y’all are funny.
And no, Darby is NOT better looking than Marney. And coming from me, seeing as how he’s a hockey man, that’s saying something. That comb-over is worse than Harding’s RF mask.
Anyway, loved the Olden Molden article today, Russo. Great stuff. I kinda love that Jock is afraid to say no to him (or at least he’ll joke that he is). And the whole quiet spots thing… Love it!
Darby’s better looking than she is
those are fightin words right there.
*crickets*
yeah…it’s deader’n'disco in here.
Just don’t start talking about Jiminy’s body MsC!
Damn heather…you tried swapping again???
Wordpress, you suck!
I enjoyed the Nolan article too. This is why I’ve always thought that picking up Nolan was a good thing. The Wild need grit with a bit of skill. I still love that old-school sort of player.
Follow up to the Nolan article:
kj, I just signed on - it’s not me, I swear!
Usually it gives me the last person to post a comment. I wonder why you keep getting me?
*best Paris Hilton impression*
Jiminy’s hhhot.
Seriously though. Isn’t there a hockey game tonight? Do we have our heads in the sand over playing one of the best teams in the east or what?
I enjoyed the Nolan article too. This is why I’ve always thought that picking up Nolan was a good thing. The Wild need grit with a bit of skill. I still love that old-school sort of player.
Based only on intuition, I think DR wanted to complete for Malone before TB got him off the market with a huge deal DR would not have done anyway (rightfully). Nolan as a response on a 2 year deal was a great backup plan but as an older player the Wild also needed to develop another player to do the front on the net duties JL loves. Clearly Weller fits the mold but during much of Nolan’s absence Weller was in the dog house. I thought JL should have coached him up and given him a chance in games but oh well - good to see both Nolan and Weller playing!
I’m psyched for the game. I want Nolan to score right in front of Chara.
I’m wondering if we’re not fat and happy, our team having garnered a surprising amount of points already this year. Like we (not the team) are sort of playing with the house’s money right now.
Boston, Smoshton. The Wild run through the East like fat kids through Krispy Kremes. Same goes for Philly in two nights. Wild win both games, one in a shootout.
How good is that quote from Burns in the Nolan article?
Added Brent Burns, “He’s one of those older guys who you don’t really know what they’re going to do to you. It’s kind of a scary thing.”
Also, leave it to the Twins to take away coverage from Russo’s much talked about, much anticipated Owen Nolan piece.
Looks like Deep got some positivity for Christmakwanzukkah!
Do we play Boogey tonight? We probably play him against Philly, right? Aren’t they kind of chippy?
so, Manny’s been hot of late, and Timmy’s been not as hot. I’m assuming Manny gets the start, with the added incentive of redeeming himself from earlier this season back at the X.
Lucic has been down on the 3rd line of late, I heard. But the Bs have been hurting people pretty much regardless of who’s on the ice for them.
Manny was putrid in the opener. He’ll be in net tonight. Wouldn’t expect Boogie to see the ice until Thursday. Wonder if Poo-Bah has grown weary yet of getting bagged?
Koivu, Bruno, and Clutterbuck will score tonight.
Brave gutsy prediction DeepBreath.
Philly has always been on the mean side. How could they be anything else?
ditto what DB said. we do destroy the east.
Added Brent Burns, “He’s one of those older guys who you don’t really know what they’re going to do to you. It’s kind of a scary thing.”
says something about today’s player, especially if you read laRock’s one and only blog entry that toivo linked.
Not sure why we would want to sit Boogey and play Giles against Chura and company?
I think they would want to go big and tough tonight and against Philly.
They could use Tim against us to rebuild his confident, thinking that we’re a team that doesn’t score much.
confidence, sorry
So we play Scott, then?
The Wild will avenge the Vikings choke job in the playoffs on Thursday
I know this is the Wild blog, but this is too good:
Why is the Viking’s color purple?
You’d be purple too, if you’d been choking for 30 years.
That is good
Boston is middle of the pack in fights, along with the Wild. I would expect to see Weller in tonight to handle any potential rough stuff, but look for Boogie on the ice Thursday. Philly is like 1 or 2 in the League in fights.
Maybe Nolan will go with Chara tonight. Does everyone remember opening night when they had a little shoving match?
Is Nolan still at “80 or 90 percent”? If so, I’d hope he doesn’t go with Chara. We don’t need to lose him right after he sparked us up.
If Nolan and Chara “go” tonight, the only things Chara skates away with are a sore face and a bruised ego. Nolan is tougher than a 5-dollar steak.
Fernandez to my surprise, is 13-2-1 this year with one of those coming to the Wild.
Good for the Bruins, especially with the MN/WI connections they have. It can’t be bad for the NHL to have both the Bruins and the Habs doing well, front and center. Such a great rivalry.
Nice work on the Nolan poster NiNY. He is the perfect example of the guy you love to dislike when he’s playing for the other guys and love when he’s on your side. I remember him spanking Voros pretty good last year when the young upstart got carried away. Truth is, I bet Jock-U really is intimidated a bit by him. You can see it on the ice. The guy has just taken charge and everybody is following. Makes you wonder what goes on in practice and in the locker room. “I’ve been playing this game since I was 9 and I didn’t come here to be on the worst effin’ team in the NHL. Anybody got a problem with that, come and see me.”
full disclosure: I did not create the IGoW poster, I just linked to it.
>>like fat kids through Krispy Kremes
tougher than a 5-dollar steak<<
Somebody got a metaphor book for Xmas.
DD, i believe the gopher blonde is allie(sp) lucia. good looking, yes. better than marney, probably. depends on what you like. different strokes for different folks!!
You’re too honest NiNY. Hard to find these days.
OT Anybody read the blog from Dilbert creator Scott Adams where he suggests capitalism will become obsolete because of internet speed? Barron’s wrote it up for any of you finance types oot der.
A blonde Italian??!! Lucia was dark haired last I saw her. Isn’t it Ann Carroll or something like that.
it could be…but allie lucia used to be on the gopher telecasts. maybe ann carroll is on there now. i haven’t watched them lately. ann carroll looks like she’s been in a few fights though. dont’ get me wrong, she’s good looking, just a bit ‘used.’
Stoned: I agree with the Nolan assessment, but I don’t even think you can dislike the way Olden plays, even if he’s not on your team. Kind of like Iginla. Just plays tough, agressive hockey and isn’t afraid to back up that aggressiveness. Different from those like Tucker, Cooke, Rhuutuu, etc, who are out there to get away with as much cheap sh!t as possible and then got scurrying away when somebody calls them out on the ice. Just wish Olden was 32 instead of 37.
I don’t think people hate him because he’s chippy - they hate him because he’s good. Like Iginla. You hate him because he wins - against you.
Much different kind of “hate”. We all hate Matt Cooke because he’s a little pr!ck. We all “hate” JI because he usually throws in 2 or 3 goals, dishes out an assist or two and then beats up one of our players every time the Wild plays the Flickers.
Deep Breath - my point exactly.
Vote Clutterbuck on NHL.com for the biggest hitman! Go Wild!! Hope they can keep riding this wave…
nolan was suspended for 11 games back in 2001. i thought it was for a viscious slew foot against dallas?
nolan was drafted by quebec but never played for colorado. who did colorado trade him to and who for?
wow…only barely hockey-related, but what a loser this guy is!
correction, he played 9 games for colorado
If Olden was 32, we would be reading about how DR made him a nice offer last summer…but he didn’t bite on the “MN discount”. We would instead be angry about trading b-b-benny to the Craps for Nylander, and how he has been floating through games.
regarding tonight…correct me if i’m wrong, but aren’t the Wild undefeated in TDBankGarden Place???
I thought the article Russo wrote about him wanting to play against San Jose mentioned that he was traded there shortly after the Nordiques moved to Colorado. So he was mad he didn’t get the cup that year.
Nolan was traded to the Sharks for Sandi Ozolinsh early in the ‘95 season.
Sandi = Sandis
Yeah - what Deep Breath said.
ok traded to san jose.
now for who?
DB is correct. i guess it worked out for colorado since they won the cup but nolan would have been very useful in those games vs the dead wings.
Thanks for the heads up, BW. He’s not doing so well in the tally so far… Go give him some love, Russoville. Near the lower right corner of the main NHL.com page.
Wonder if someone could help settle a bet: Talking to a friend about NHL Rookies like Wheeler & Okposo. My friend claims that Okposo is no longer a rookie since he played last season. But he only played 9 games, so I say he’s still a rookie. For the sake of argument, let’s say Okposo is having a “rookie of the year” type season. Is he theoretically eligible for the Calder trophy?
Food
Greenstar, Sunday’s Tribune had the story, I think it even said who he was traded for. But, I tossed the paper.
Good point a while back Heather. Bruins do have some small skill players, not just Chura. Maybe the Wild does not need both Scott and Boogey.
Blades:
He is eligible. Cannot play in 25 games in any previous season, NOR, more than 6 games in any two previous professional seasons.
Thanks DB.
No Prob Ms. C!… Yea, he needs some love from all of us here! I just like how hard he plays night in & night out! Cal’s been one of the few bright spots we’ve had all year!
