Wild’s Masterton nominee: Kurtis Foster; Flames to play short two skaters tonight
Posted on April 3rd, 2009 – 7:37 AMBy Michael Russo
UPDATED
Just ran into “Iron Mike” Keenan, and after we talked Florida real estate, he confirmed to me that Calgary will dress 16 skaters tonight rather than the normal 18.
Robyn Regehr and Adrian Aucoin were injured last night in Dallas. The Flames had to call up two defensemen who will make their NHL debut — John Negrin and Matt Pelech. However, because the Flames are so close to the cap, they had to send down a regular forward, Dustin Boyd (entry level deal, so no waivers), and Warren Peters.
The Wild may dress seven defensemen tonight, coach Jacques Lemaire said. If they do, it’ll be interesting if Marc-Andre Bergeron plays wing again or if Kurtis Foster does. Foster practiced as a winger on Thursday. At the very least, the Wild could use Foster at the power-play point instead of center Eric Belanger or Kim Johnsson. If Foster plays, which I think he is, a forward will sit — like Craig Weller unless somebody’s hurt and they’re not saying (they had an optional this morning).
Nik Backstrom is in, and I’m pretty sure I saw Anton Khudobin leaving with his equipment. Khudobin has been officially reassigned.
————————————————————–
Terrible night for the Wild last night, but we’ll get to that in a second.
For the first time in 13 years of helping pick Masterton nominees, this is the first time somebody my chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association is picking truly has a shot at potentially winning the award.
I mean, let’s be honest, choosing Marian Gaborik last year for, uh, not getting hurt was probably a throwaway pick.
But if anybody exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, it’s Kurtis Foster. After all, his first words to the doctor after breaking his left femur last year was, “Will I ever play again?” not “Will I ever walk again?”
He then began a 10-month exhaustive rehab to get his NHL career back on track with big goals along the way. The first one was walking down his aisle at his July wedding.
Foster returned to the Wild’s lineup last month. His first home game was exactly one year after his previous home game, March 17, 2008. His injury led to a “rule change” where players must now let up on icings.
His injury has shown others you can return from a broken femur. In fact, last month he called 15-year-old Michigan high schooler Thomas Royea after he heard the sophomore broke his femur in a game. He also called up a University of North Dakota player, Derrick LaPoint, who broke his leg, to offer words of encouragement that it can be done.
Onto the Wild, terrible night for the idle Wild last night.
St. Louis scored three times in the third in Detroit to beat the Red Wings and move four points ahead of the Wild. Spring Lake Park’s David Backes was unbelievable, scoring a career-high four goals.
Anaheim also beat Vancouver 6-5 in a shootout (just a fun game to watch) to move five points ahead.
Want a good web site to pay attention to the playoff race, click nhlplayoffrace.com. As it’ll show you, the Wild’s “tragic number” is down to six points. That’s the combined points gained by the eighth-place team or lost by the Wild.
St. Louis has 85 points, Nashville (with a game in hand) has 84.
Most points the Wild can get is 91, and that’s by going 5-0. What do you think the chances of that are? I’d say I have a better chance of winning this year’s World Series of Poker.
And as we’ve stated many times, the Wild’s on the wrong side of the tiebreakers.
The teams that deserve to make the playoffs will. Anaheim’s 8-2 in its past 10; St. Louis 7-2-1 in its past 10; Nashville 5-2-3 in its past 10.
The Wild’s 4-4-2. The good news is if you take the win-one, lose-one pattern the team’s been on the past eight games, the Wild’s due to win tonight.
I’m in a notes pool with the Calgary Herald, and Scott Cruickshank is reporting that Robyn Regehr, who was bleeding nastily from the head the last time I turned on the Flames-Stars game last night, sustained a possible knee injury — per sources. He’s doubtful for tonight. Gaborik typically goes head-to-head with Regehr.
With no Cory Sarich tonight, Dion Phaneuf should play about 35 minutes. Phaneuf’s having a terrible year — except against the Wild. For some reason, he’s been a force against the Wild. Hmmm.
OK, I’ll be back on after the morning skate to update blog. Have a good day.
66 Responses to "Wild’s Masterton nominee: Kurtis Foster; Flames to play short two skaters tonight"
Good for Foster. I don’t think anyone would say he isn’t inspiring.
81+10=90???
I only know this because I’ve been waiting for the possible points to be less than 91 so some poster(s) will stop saying they’ll end with 91 pts. Not going to happen.
Regehr and Aucoin may be out tonight???
I posted this in the wrong place after feeding time:
check back monday to see if the wilds games next week mean anything
What, no parade down 7th street?
Alan…what if the ‘Nuks decide to let the Sedin Sisters walk? And replace them with Gho$t and Hossa. One year deals each, so the Three Slovaks can then sign long term in LA.
Gho$t doesn’t want endorsement deals. He wants to score and be an All-Star. To be recognized as a legit NHL Star. And to have sand, sun and surf out his back door. For 8.5 mil per.
I’d say I have a better chance of winning this year’s World Series of Poker.
chip and a chair and a chance.
Looks like the hopes are fading very quickly. Oh well. we will see what happend next year with Gaby out of the picture.
Happens*
since next year has not already passed and all…
Btw…that playoff chart is very cool.
I have a better chance replacing Lenny Pickett than the Wild do making the playoffs.
Russo…can you comment on the relationship between JL and Smug? Are JL’s comments the tip of the proverbial iceberg or is that just JL being brutally honest?
kj, which is why I see FLA or TBL in the cards for Gaborik, not LA. LA means western conference travel and defensive western conference teams. Gaborik is just the type of guy to whom those things matter. They will also likely have a lot of cap space to give him his big payday. TBL has only $38.595M and FLA has only $38.003M committed for next season. LA has $43.188M committed. Just for comparison, MIN has $43.192M committed.
wild 16 players - 43.192 est cap hit
flamers 14 - 45.532
lanche 13 - 43.775
slick 18 - 46.779
nux 11 - 31.283
IceMan: a heartfelt thank you for your encouragement and keeping tabs on me.
Greenstar @ 6:43 last thread, an alternate interpretation might be the coach (JL) is less perplexed about returning next year.
I do not see his comments as necessarily an indictment only that the team being young rightfully has lower expectations.
KJ, I thought I was the only one who posted at feeding time or after.
Rick Morrissy of the Chicago Tribune writes this:
“”When it comes to throwing yourself at the Next Big Thing, Chicago is no different than any other city. Fans couldn’t wait for Rex Grossman to get a chance. Then they couldn’t wait for Orton to get a chance. Remember all the gushing over Orton last season until he hurt his ankle? And now fans can’t wait for somebody else. Until another somebody else walks by.”"
I think this fits fan frustration of any city, any sport. Things don’t go the way we expect or hope, then DR needs to go, or JL needs to go, or Skoula needs to go.
Ice…perfect posts take time… 
I have to agree with you too about JL’s comments. After re-reading it, it sounds more like he is satisfied with the job he has done this year - As opposed to last year when he believed they should have accomplished more.
I still think Gho$t ends up in LA or Van. The other options out east do not have players he wants to play with - Kopitar, Demitra, etc.
it sounds more like he is satisfied with the job he has done this year
absolutely. I think that at the beginning of the season expectations were set far to high for the talent assembled. JL adjusted those expectations to a realistic level and found success. This is where i think he might be calling out DR a little in that DR did not give him the tools to meet the lofty expectations.
I think that at the beginning of the season expectations were set far to high for the talent assembled.
I don’t disagree…who set them, at that time, though?
Greenstar, in reading the entire quote in Sid’s’ column it sounds to me like JL is saying things he could not say when the team is in the thick of things. It sounds like he is more or less satisfied with the year and is showing a great deal of patience. I think he seems comfortable with the year and agree with Sid he is probably returning.
Sid’s quotes this morning are one of his better hockey columns ever.
It sounds like he is more or less satisfied with the year
i agree. I just think he is hinting that this is simply the best this team can do. that there just wasn’t the talent improve or even match the results of last years team. in other words, unlike last year, it wasn’t coaching that kept this team out of the playoffs.
NiNY, every season starts with hope. Even Cub fans feel hope. So, we set our own expectations, from the GM on down to each and every fan.
one more year of lemaire….wouldn’t mind it…..
hopefully we can bring in a couple top shelf wingers to solidify the team….’
farm system depth looks a lot better when they are actually in houston instead of playing in the nhl before they are ready….
(i.e. pouliot/kolanos/gillies/sheppard (probobly ready nowthough)/ Ovelkey.. can’t spell that name still)
thanks Ice.
Anyone else get the robo call message from the wild? thanking the team of 18,000 for the sold out arena and please come back next year. kinda gives me the feeling that were callin it a season.
The back-up QB is the most popular guy in 90% of NFL cities, but the reason is that he has’nt had a chance to fail yet. The difference is that we’ve seen how bad Skoula is since the day he was acquired, and DR does have a history of drafting poorly, which obviously leads to the inability to pull off the big trade when it is needed. If you dont have anything somebody else wants, you dont get what you want. All that being said. I am, and will be a fan of Coach Lemaire,IMO he is the main reason that this team has been able to stay competitive even with a lack of talent that has been brought in outside of the first round of the draft.
Yep, I just got off the phone with Craig Leipold himself. Unfortunately he didn’t respond to my questions. He kept getting interrupted by Andrew Brunette.
Oh, goody. Another robo-call to look forward to when I get home. Whoop-pee.
Are we seeing McElhinney tonight in goal for Cow-gary? This would be the perfect opportunity for him. The Flames run the Wild out of their own rink, then the backup goalie does what backup goalies do against this sorry lot…namely, beat them badly.
- Re: expectations - I must have missed where DR said the Wild “fight to the end” of the Western Conference standings. Until this team accomplishes something in the post lockout era, I don’t know why the expectation should not be: we will be better next year than we were last year. And look at DR’s actions, he tried to get OJ and other centers, hell he tried to get Hossa and he tried to get Gaby extended. Clearly he failed to make the team better although I will grant the IceMan take that perhaps he didn’t make the team worse by dealing the upcoming first round pick for example. However, the bottom line right now is that this team took a step back this year. It would be nice to hear the GM or owner admit that.
- Yep, I just got off the phone with Craig Leipold himself. Unfortunately he didn’t respond to my questions.
There is always next year 
- Sid’s quotes this morning are one of his better hockey columns ever.
Man, you expectations are low IceMan 
actually, the back up gets a shutout against the home team when it comes to the wild!
tonight is the start of fan celebration possibly being the reason for the robo call.
of course expectations are high but the should be realistic. the reality is the talent wasn’t there to improve upon last years squad, especially after #10 went down. I take JL’s quotes to say once he adjusted his expectation for the team to a realistic level, he has been pleased with how things are going. unlike last year when the team didn’t meet realistic expectations because he couldn’t find a way to get everything he could out of them.
CL tonight at the main Xcel entrance: ‘Congratulations, you’re our 8th customer today, you get a free oven mitt!’
Expectations were high because the team won the division last year, and fans thought they would move forward. I think this year JL ended up witn more of ‘his’ type of players, players that would work hard and respond to him, therefore he feels more satisfied with their performance.
Cripes, Calgary could probably put a garden gnome in net wearing a Kiprusoff jersey and still only allow 2 goals.
Argon, when I am spelling the players names sometimes I wish they were all Smith and Jones. Usually I discover the same spelling mistakes over and over.
SGS, it comes with the territory of being often disappointed. ;<}
Greenstar, it seemed like with Demitra on the team one would never hit the expectation. Pavel ought to own a butcher shop, put a white apron on him and a white paper hat and he might do ok cutting meat.
‘Congratulations, you’re our 8th customer today, you get a free oven mitt!’
Since the Wild is in 10th place, I say give the prize to the 10th fan through the door. Also, the prize should be a buy one get one on Northwest Division Championship t-shirts or Fight to the End beer glasses. /bitterness
Poor Khudobin flying in one day and out the next. Well, at least he will get some good frequent flier miles.
Hmmm…is this Excuse Grabbing™?
I havn’t given up on makin the playoffs yet, im one of those foolish fans who won’t until the math says it’s not possible. But i am thinkin about the draft, so wondering what people think about the Wild drafting this guy Zack Kassian; Peterborough (OHL)?
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Aeros are in Peoria tonight (our biggest threat in the playoff push… other than ourselves), so I’m guessing he’s going directly there. What a relief.
BadDog, I just wish he were related to Matt Kassian. But he’s not, so he’s just some fake Kassian to me…
Sullivan’s going to win the Masterson
kj,
Very interesting article…
So, does anyone agree with DR about fans having comfort in where “the plan” is going or how the team is playing?
Hmmm, I’m gonna go ahead and say maybe not so much…
So, does anyone agree with DR about fans having comfort in where “the plan” is going or how the team is playing?
I take comfort in how the team is playing but it doesn’t ease the disappointment that we are not in the playoffs.
Where did he talk about the plan?
Ms.C: did you see Timmy T in Boston re-upped with the Bs?
BadDog @ 11:25, you are right to not write the Wild off yet. It was not so many years ago, 1980 to be exact that the most improbable event in sporting events of my lifetime occurred.
Bemidji State going to the Frozen Four and UMD just missing stamping their ticket says it is worth playing the season out.
SGS, just remember, if you are not meeting goals, then lower the expectations. ;~}
If Ballgame thinks the fans are taking comfort in “the plan” for the organization, he’s even dumber than he is incompetent. Hey Dougie, don’t p!ss in my ear and tell me that it’s raining.
I’m with you Deep. The simple fact that the “plan” seems to have changed so much makes me think there isn’t much of a plan at all.
- If Ballgame thinks the fans are taking comfort in “the plan” for the organization, he’s even dumber than he is incompetent.
+ 2 but thanks for the link all the same kj - it is chapter 1 of the Excuse Grabbing™ Chronicles
Yep, I saw Nick. Good on him. Did you know his brother is a youth minister down in some podunk south Texas town? That just blows my mind a little bit with its randomness. Bet he’s the only guy in that town who subscribes to Center Ice.
One more thing: next time Smug uses “the plan” I hope the reporter(s) in question will ask him to square “the plan” and Gaby taking the first UFA ticket out of MN.
i’ll need to read the article again because i missed the part where DR envoked the plan.
wouldn’t this be #10’s 2nd UFA ticket out?
I don’t like anything about the canucks but even a canuck don’t deserve this…
Vancouver F Pyatt leaves team after fiancee dies
Did you know his brother is a youth minister down in some podunk south Texas town? That just blows my mind a little bit with its randomness. Bet he’s the only guy in that town who subscribes to Center Ice.
I was not in possession of that little tidbit of information.
It’s probably good for a laugh or two during the first confirmation group meeting of every year when he can say “My hero walks on water and saves….his name is Tim, and he’s a NHL goalie.”
yeah, super sad news about Pyatt. My heart goes out to him.
Isn’t it normal to start with some sort of blueprint but then adjust it when it seems necessary?
After the Wild went a few rounds in the playoffs it seemed like they maybe could make a deep run into the SCPO.
In that situation maybe it would be natural to swap a budding prospect (O’Sullivan) for the wining Demitra.
But, it did not work out and so both Demitra and O’Sullivan are departed and the system is not as well stocked as it would have been.
Isn’t it normal to start with some sort of blueprint but then adjust it when it seems necessary?
After the Wild went a few rounds in the playoffs it seemed like they maybe could make a deep run into the SCPO.
Maybe it’s normal, but not for the Wild to-date.
The problem is that DR never came out and said that he was diverging from his initial plan, IIRC. When the went and traded for Demo it was to help the club take the next logical step in the progression, not to play to the new direction the team was taking (read: playoff-ready). We were told he wouldn’t make significant forays into FA, or that the kids would be given chances to win jobs (see: Pouliot, Benoit) every year, and at least the very direct inference was that it was all in keeping with the original plan.
DR has not promised playoff success in any of the seasons the team has been alive to my recollection.
There’s a fine line between giving DR the benefit of the doubt and blindly cheerleading. I’m not saying either is wrong, but they CAN be mutually exclusive.
Spring Lake Park’s David Backes
Who from henceforth shall be known as “David Bleeping Backes.” Seriously Nick, couldn’t you have waited to pick him up a day later?
LMAO…I can honestly claim I wasn’t expecting THAT from him last night.
voros was the wilds nominee for battling cancer. not gaborik
Looking at schedules, The blues have the easiest and i think they take the final playoff spot. Nashville has a really tough schedule. As for the wild, even if they win out, Nashville and St.Louis own the wins and series tiebreakers so if each of those teams wins 3 games out the next 4 or 5 that they have left, the wild are done. :[
Oh and after last nights game, ill add another reason to the many other reasons why i HATE the Red Wings…
Unless my memory fails me, Russo reported in his article following the Backstrom signing that DR and Backs discussed the plan for winning the Stanley Cup over dinner amidst the extension talks. All the more reason CL and DR need to deliver some sort of expectations guidence going forward so fans can adjust as events warrant (such as major injuries, players coming or not coming to Where Players Want to Play(TM), etc.)
and what was that plan? Have no depth. Make our young guys try to play against real nhl talent. DR is a joke.
“But i am thinkin about the draft, so wondering what people think about the Wild drafting this guy Zack Kassian; Peterborough (OHL)?”
I’m still torn on this guy, he’s one of those high risk/high reward type draft picks. If he reaches full potential he can be a Lucic type player who kicks some azz and scores goals. I wouldn’t be mad if we took a chance on Kassian. Zack is a much better skater then Matt is, just FYI. Watched him play in the junior games(team Cherry vs team Orr) he looked good. Physical guy with a nose for the net.
I wouldn’t mind Schroeder if he was still available though. Anyone in the top 10 looks good.
Tonight: outshot 3 to 1 including 17-4 in the 1st period. Steamrolled to the glass and pulverized (throughout the game). Lose 3-1. We can’t beat physical teams because our players are scared of the like of Calgary, Nucks, etc. IMO that is why Wild has done well against the East-not many crunching, physical teams. Against the West, especially Flamers, Ducks, Nucks, etc. our guys (95 % of them) are scared. Pathetic but true-sugarcoat it any way ya want but those are the facts. Anyone can see it.
>>>I think they’ll find comfort in where the plan’s going.<<<
If I knew what the plan was, maybe I could find comfort. In the meantime Smug, your thinking is way off. This is classic exec mgmt. Always have a plan that is poorly communicated, broad and ill defined so that you can never be held accountable for anything in particular.
That’s where I think people will find comfort in the stretch drive, how the team is playing. I think they’ll find comfort in where the plan’s going.
Comfort? That’s an odd choice of word, isn’t it?
IceMan: thanks for the heads up on Sid’s column. I usually avoid it.
I wonder which MN Wild team will show up tonight.
Kudos to Russo & his counterpart for the Masterton nominee Kurtis Foster. Well done. Fozzie is a class act.
Thanks Detroilet!!!!
How the He)) can the Zebra’s call such a one sided penalty Geno?
