Wednesday update: Crickets …
Posted on April 8th, 2009 – 12:39 PMBy Brian Stensaas
Had the Xcel Energy Center all to myself late this morning. Fun as that sounds, it’s not too interesting at all. Now, if I had put my skates in the trunk of my car this morning, it would have been faaaaantastic. Alas, I was equipped only with a notebook and a tape recorder. And when you’re told “practice canceled” two minutes after the scheduled start time, that doesn’t do you a whole lotta good.
The team just worked out today. I only saw Foster, Sheppard, Zidlicky, Nolan and Belanger milling around. Everyone else was either gone or in the back, where media no can go.
The team said there is no updates on any injuries, and they’ll get back at it with a full practice tomorrow morning.
By the way, you all will be able to see Friday’s game on TV. The game originally was not on the air, but KSTC Channel 45 has picked up the telecast. A live pre-game show will start at 6:30, followed by the game. This means 80 regular season games will be on TV this season, the most ever.
And while we’re talking broadcasts, Russo Radio will be on at 6 p.m. THURSDAY this week because of tonight’s Twins game.
134 Responses to "Wednesday update: Crickets …"
stencils, go home, grab your skates/stick and meet me at bloomington ice garden. we’ll get a game of shinny going.
Anybody remember Vinnie “the microwave” Johnson. That guy was instant offense.
Gaborik has been the hockey version of instant offense in his shortened season. 15 games, 11 goals, 7 assts.
Safe to say there will be suitors for his services in the off-season. Any chance of him signing a one-year deal with the Wild are slim to none, and slim just left town.
Gaborik’s quote in the Pio all said that he wasn’t re-signing here again. “It was a lot of fun.”
Yeah, he’s definitely gone.
What kind of publicity tour is Greenlay doing for this new mall cop movie in which he’s starring? I do a double-take every time I see the preview. Poor guy; he takes enough heat on this blog and then his identical twin has to make an inane movie (insert punch line here)…
Gaborik’s quote in the Pio all said that he wasn’t re-signing here again. “It was a lot of fun.”
i think you can blame Smug for this one.
minwild, i hate to defend greenlay, aka dumber, but he’s not that fat. kevin james has twice the girth as greenlay.
@NETminder1 - He’s talking about Seth Rogen.
So… 2/3rds.
Greener just needs to get some smart looking glasses and a British accent. Maybe that will make up for the vacant eyes.
Is the Gaborik quote in todays Pio?
Austin: the biggest difference between the Ducks and the Blues (as far as the Wild is concerned) is the number of wins. The Ducks have 41 and the blues have 39. The most the Wild can finish with is 40.
Here is the whole Gaby bit from the PP:
Asked about his possible future in Minnesota, Gaborik took a deep breath.
“I was here since Day One, so I’ve gone through a lot,” he said. “It was a lot of fun, you know? But now I’m focused on what’s going on right now, focusing on every game right now.
“That stuff, we can think about after the season. We have a couple of games left, and that’s what I’m focusing on: every game, every shift, every period. I’ll try to keep doing what I’m doing off the ice as well and just keep getting ready for games.”
Asked if the hip surgery in January solved the problems that caused recurring groin injuries, he said, “It’s going in the right direction, and I’m very confident and very happy I had it done. I think it really helped me, and next year I’m really confident I’m going to be stronger than ever.”
http://www.twincities.com/wild/ci_12095588
Please don’t let him sign anywhere in the west. For heavens sake.
thanks 6GS. I don’t know what else you could expect Gaby to say. He hit all the right cliches. I am in the camp that believes he’s gone, but not because of those quotes.
So what does our UFA/RFA in/out box look like?
UFA’s
Gaby - Out
SRV - Out (effectively replaced by Clutz)
Kolanos - In (need someone in the minors)
Skoula - ugg… In
Bergeron - Out
Foster - dunno
Scott - In (still cheap)
Mojis - In
RFA
Pouliot - In (re-signed cheap?)
Fritsche - In (I think they like him)
Olvecky - In
Hards - Out (he’s got to be sick of waiting)
I have been waiving the red flag on Gaby since the All Star Game quotes and related newspaper stories last season so I may be too far down the road to interpret these comments outside of my own preconceived notions. That said, had Gaby said “it has been a lot of fun” I would not have read anything more into this but since he went with the ultra past tense it “was a lot of fun” I think the moving vans have already arrived in his mind. Greater NHL capologist may think this is no longer possible or practical, but I think Smug’s only shot is to dust off the September contract and tell Gaby that JL has decided to retire as soon as the season is over. That, and tie himself to the hood of wahtever sports car #10 is currently driving.
I’m no linguist, but what else could he have said? “It has been a lot of fun”?? I’m not sure I can split that hair, considering the language barrier.
I do wonder what DR’s plan is. Starting with the (rather large) assumption that he wants to try to sign him at this point, but does he go for more years at reasonable money but lower total guaranteed (where the carrot is the long-term) or does he go for just better than a 1-year deal he might get on the open market from someone looking to give him a big incentive-laden 1-year deal to “re-establish his market value”?
I think DR lets Gaby walk and “finds” a ton of cap space with which to try to convince UFAs on the market that Minny is the end-all and be-all of hockey.
That’s the easiest thing to do, and we’ve seen conclusively that DR is all about the path of least resistance.
“It’s been real and it’s been fun but it hasn’t been real fun. See you btches on the flip side!”
-Marian Gaborik
I’m not sure I can split that hair, considering the language barrier.
nick, that’s the best line ever….next to ‘wear the fox hat.’
- Yep, the language barrier could easily be a factor with the Gaby quote and as most here know, there are more significant parts of the Gaby story to formulate an opinion on.
- to re-establish his market value
I missed the game last night but just on the game comments here and the newspaper stories, I think Gaby has already re-established his market value pending medical opinions of the long-term impact of the surgeries. However, I am interested to hear what others think.
the biggest difference between the Ducks and the Blues (as far as the Wild is concerned) is the number of wins. The Ducks have 41 and the blues have 39. The most the Wild can finish with is 40.
Nick, I figured that out… but they are still a part of the Wild’s hopes. They need to lose the lasst two… which may not be likely given their oppopnents, but hey… they are still a part of it.
Austin: no doubt. The Ducks need to lose out and the Wild needs to win out.
NiNY: You’re wondering what DR’s plan is? He11, DR himself is wondering what his plan is.
Skoula - ugg… In
Disagree with the “ugg” in this statement… Skoula was… dare I say it!?… GOOD… yes GOOD this year. If he can keep his play up to this level he is welcome in IRR anytime.
i think you can blame Smug for this one.
I have several concerns with DR and the current state of this team, but I still think it’s unfair to put all the blame for Gaby’s pending departure at his feet. DR had control over wether or not to trade him, and therefore should take blame for Gaby walking without any compensation, but he couldn’t force Gaby to sign a new deal. Gaby should bear a good chunk (if not all) of that, too.
I agree with Austin: Skoula has earned his way out of my personal dog house this season. I wouldn’t be crushed if he walked this summer, but if we can sign him for reasonable money and avoid having to play him too high up on the depth chart, then I’m okay with that.
Skoula’s play over 80 games this season is a lot more convincing to me than Gaborik’s play over 15.
Hockeydad, it was also not DR’s fault that Gaby sat out 95% of this season. Granted, given the past problems with Gaby’s tender loins, he should have been a little more cautious. But really, that’s not his fault.
Deep: my fear with DR is that he is NOT wondering what his plan is. My fear is that he thinks he knows exactly what it is, and, worse, that he’s carrying it out.
Agree with both ATX and HD. DR is to blame for not moving Gaby but he offered him a great contract which Gaby didn’t sign. Why? He doesn’t want to be here. Gaby will get a good contract from someone but not as good as what he turned down. Why? Cap issues (not apparent last summer) and concerns about his health. And, Skoula has been solid all year and should be re-signed if we can get a decent deal done.
Re: Skoula
I wouldn’t be crushed if he walked this summer
Me either. He wasn’t THAT GOOD 
if we can sign him for reasonable money
Agreed. If he wanted a big pay increase I would wave goodbye too.
Sure that quote by itself doesn’t say he’s gone but it just continues to add to the strong evidence that he will be gone.
Also, it doesn’t matter how he said it — be it “It was a lot of fun or it has been a lot of fun”. Its a line used by most people who are planning to leave.
Skoula is what he is–a solid 2nd pairing D. So, whatever that is worth is what we should sign him for.
wood, et al: Therefore, if Gaby just didn’t want to be here, then I blame DR for A) not having adequate depth on offense, B) not trading him (you can argue he figured he’d replace his offense in the trade if he couldn’t sign him, and he might have been able to, but then he didn’t get it done and C) having the naked short position when Gaby blew out his other hip.
Then, he told us that, in lieu of trying to make a splash via trades throughout the season, that our savior was returning in the form of gaborik.
DR’s got more rationalizations for failure than a politician.
My question is other than go to Slovakia, what has DR done to keep Gaby? IMO, DR has slowly been driving him away, starting with the lack of centers in recent years.
Wow… Skoula love… on this blog!?!
Let’s call a spade a spade here guys. Lets say everything panned the Wild’s way, and by winning Saturday we were in the playoffs. If Skoula jumped on a fake pass like he did last night, and we lose the game because of it it would be non-stop “Skouba” bashing. If Schultz makes that same way, we are mad because it ends our season, but we’d forgive him by next season.
My point being - Skoula is the guy people love to have as a scape goat.
Also, it doesn’t matter how he said it — be it “It was a lot of fun or it has been a lot of fun”. Its a line used by most people who are planning to leave.
okay, maybe I AM a linguist….
Could it not also be a line used by (most) people who are reminiscing about a stated period of time?
As I am not Gaby’s translator or Jiminy Cricket, I will not vouch one way or another for his intended meaning.
If you want to…more power to you.
TheGun: I guess that’s fair. I’d like to think he’s built up more credit in his account with the bank of NiNY this season, but, until proven otherwise, I guess you’re right.
C) having the naked short position when Gaby blew out his other hip.
Yep and I am not for a Smug bailout package 
Skoula is the guy people love to have as a scape goat.
That is soooooo last season…
I missed the game last night but just on the game comments here and the newspaper stories, I think Gaby has already re-established his market value pending medical opinions of the long-term impact of the surgeries. However, I am interested to hear what others think.
I have been impressed - really impressed - with Gaby’s production in his very limited action. He’s always been able to score, but I feel like so many of his goals this year have come from being in the right position. In other words, he looks smarter out there and isn’t just having to rely on speed and a shot. It’s only been 15 games, but he seems to have developed another facet that I haven’t noticed in him before. That said, I still think his injury questions will prevent him from getting a market deal from most teams (Wild not included).
Since John Scott has been in the lineup, Skoula has made some attempts to use his size to get people out from the front of the net. Maybe he just needed to see someone in a Wild uniform push opposing players out from the front of the net to know that it was OK to do? As wood said, Skoula has been a solid 2nd pairing D this year, much better than MAB. Keep Skoula, if the price is right, and see what could be gained from dumping MAB and Zids.
I have to be honest, and there is another side to the DR position on Gaby (re: not “doing more” to try to keep him.)
If the idea is that the Wild, under Lemaire, or playing “Lemaire-istic” hockey (eg under KC and the Sunshine Band next year) is not a system that Gaby will enjoy (who knows, maybe that came out over cognac after dinner in Trencin last summer?) then isn’t it better for the GM to move one guy rather than either change the entire face of the team (include telling an eleven-time SC winning head coach to split)?
How much power are you giving that one guy if you say “you know what, young man? You’re right. Starting today, I’m going to get rid of the coach and all these two-way pluggers and the defensemen like Schultz and Skoula with zero offensive upside so we can better promote YOUR brand of hockey.”
So, you (as DR) make a good offer, but maybe one you know the player will turn down and then it’s “aw shucks, we did what we could do, can’t make him sign his name to the contract…”
…and you (as DR) would be right.
If he doesn’t want to be here, then do you really want to try to FORCE him to be here?
Gaby holds all the PR cards in this deal. So Riser’s going to look bad no matter what if he can’t sign him.
I still think Riser didn’t plan ahead enough, and that’s my issue as much as anything.
Someone needs to convince Skoula to use his man mountain frame and knock some guys around. If he were AT ALL physical he could double his value on the free agent market. But alas, we have the biggest poke checker in the league. He brings no offense and no physical intimidation factor (no I’m not describing Schultz). I do like the big lug though.
I don’t believe it would be hard to replace him this off-season if he does leave.
Maybe we can get a couple more Zidlicky’s…..no wait.
Now onto Belanger. Is he a free agent. Please.
Skoula went into most peoples dog house the minute he came here because of who went away, Mitchell (who we now all realize is a giant douche). He played poorly and that just pushed him farther into peoples dog houses. I think that this year he has played better, and with Zids and MAB furnishing new scape goats, he’s been able to prove himself to some people. And as ATX alluded to, ripping on Skoula is soooo last season.
I won’t discuss Gaby, don’t like his attitude, never have. If he leaves… meh.
I still think Riser didn’t plan ahead enough, and that’s my issue as much as anything.
In complete agreement - even if I was not a huge JL fan, I would not let players have say on the coaching, much less an established coach. However, in Gaby’s contract year, I would have done whatever it took to make sure my line switching coach had 2 viable options at center for the wing I wanted to extend.
I seem to recall it was very early in the season when we were saying “MAB is the new Skoula”…
I was ridiculed to no end for my ’solution’ to the Gho$t negotiation (recap: offer him a higher sum than he deserves just to see if he’s interested in staying…I threw out 10 mil…and if he didn’t sign on the spot, trade him).
However, negotiating from a supposed ‘weak’ position would have prevented the worst-case scenario that Smug created. And I would have enjoyed trading him…
I was ridiculed to no end for my ’solution’ to the Gho$t negotiation
just proof that genius sometimes falls victim to what’s fashionable, kj!
;P
BTW…I offered up that solution prior to the season…he11, it might have been before the draft. I’m too lazy to look it up.
Gaborik’s attitude may be in question, but he is hands down our best player. If I had to choose between Koivu or Gaborik at the same salary per year, no question I would take Gaborik. He makes our team better. Now Koivu at 4M per year and Gaborik at 8+, I’m taking Koivu hands down.
See, even though Gaby may hold this belief, I’ve never really bought the whole idea that JL and or his system has held Gaby back. Remember Russo posting stats last year about Gaby’s goals per game ratio and how it’s top 5 in the league the last few years? That stat spoke volumes to me about the myth of Gaby’s so-called limitations in this system. If only he could play 80 games a year.
I’m ok with Lord Helmet (MAB). Whenever he has the puck I have to close one eye because he makes Defenseman 101 mistakes (ie - cross ice passes in front of his own net), but with a little discipline he could become a very good ‘puck moving’ defenseman.
It’s Zitpicky I have a problem with. WTF did Leipold give up so much for him (Ryan Jones OR a 2nd round pick by itself should have been enough) after watching him play every game for 2-3 years? Hopefully this is not an indictment of Leipold ability to identify talent.
Leipold didn’t make that trade Pewter, he doesn’t identify talent, he’ll just hope the scouts and DR and TooL will make the right choices.
It’s safe to assume that Leipold had a say in the deal. He either initiated it or was a participant in the deal, as the prior owner of the team Zid came from.
It’s hard to rip on MAB and Zids and Skoula too much when they’re part of a defensive corps that dang near led the league in goals against…
This team/organization needs forwards that score consistently and are not over 35 years old
Craig Leipold had nothing to do with bringing in Zidlicky. Leipold’s job is to provide the cash to run this team and make sure his investment is running up to par. The fact that Zidlicky played for the team Leipold used to own is just coincidence. Nashville needed to dump salary and Risebrough needed a power play specialist on the blue line.
Now I’m not trying to bash Lemaire because I really like him and respect him as a coach but… it feels like it’s time for a change. I understand defense wins championships but you do not have to choke the life out of 82 regular season games. I would hope we open it up a little on the offense some time in the future because as it is now the Wild are a pretty boring team when compared to the rest of the NHL. I can’t see many people here bragging to their grand kids about going to the old Wild games and watching the team chip the puck out of their zone to protect a 3 - 1 lead for over 2 periods.
The Wild went out and stocked their D with guys who could wheel out from behind the net and hit Gaby with a long pass in stride at the opposing blue line. They made a conscious effort to accomodate Gaby’s talent.
Watching him the last 12 games, I am taken aback by how effective he is running at 75%. How it can get to a point where the relationship has apparently gone south like this is hard to comprehend.
I have come to agree with those who think that if you raised Gaby from a pup, you should have had a pretty good read over a year ago on whether keeping him was doable. If not, trade him at the draft.
The only thing Smug can do now to save face is let Gaby field offers, give him one for 10% more and when he still declines, look directly into the camera and say “He just didn’t want to be here. Nothing we could do would change that.”
Interesting note during last night’s game when they compared the North Stars commitment to Minnesota kids vs the Wild. The NS drafted something like 40 kids over several years in the 80’s while the Wild have drafted less than 5.
kj 4:18
ditto
Right in one kj, top line scoring forwards, who’d a thunk it? Forwards are supposed to score? I thought they (the top line) were supposed to make pretty plays that go no where and let the grinders and the D score the goals.
“It’s hard to rip on MAB and Zids and Skoula too much when they’re part of a defensive corps that dang near led the league in goals against…”
The Wild have the stellar goals against in spite of Zids and Lord Helmet, not due to their shut down defensive abilities. I credit the goals against ranking to the “Lemaire system” and the Backuum.
Re: Forwards. As long as a player like Belanger, who would rather skate 100 mph to the corner instead of to the net, plays second line center this team will not score goals. On any other team Belanger would be a 3rd line penalty killer and Sheppard would be the “prospect in the pipeline that will kick our team up a notch in 2-3 years.”
So did ANY of the Russoville faithful win game worn jerseys?
BG: awesome you and your buddy were on the video board.
Looks at it this way - in ‘06 - ‘07 the Houston Aeros were at the very bottom of the AHL. (I believe dead last?) Then Risebrough and Lynn go out and get Kevin Constantine to use a defensive system. Come ‘07 - ‘08 the Aeros are a playoff team. Defense first hockey can make teams look better then they are.
Please. Do not re-sign Skoula, unless you assure the rest of us he will be a number 5 or 6 defenseman. Yes, he has improved his game, but since he was SO bad the year before, anything would be an improvement. Trade him at the draft for someone who will not skate quite like Frankenstein on saktes out there.
Mister Know it all notes from the game last night.
Gaborik is doing just as Mister Know it all said he would do. Playing for the money and doing it very well.
Can the Wild let a team punish Gaby like number 28 did ? Did anyone see the late hit on Gaby ? It could have caused serious injury. No penalty ?
I think people get the point when Mister Know it all speaks about the Wild being a team capable of getting to the cup if they made the playoffs.
“Frankenstein on skates”
WRT, you’ve nailed it.
I don’t care who you are that’s funny.
That’s Fronkenshteen! Oh sweet mystery of life now that I’ve found you. (Sung using my best Madeline Kahn imitation).
Sorry WRT. I just can’t share in your Skoulangst. I like the guy. He may not be pretty, but he does a nuanced job that many fail to appreciate. He is the triumph of substance over style. All those minutes and 5, count ‘em 5 minor penalties this year. And its not because he isn’t in the middle of the action.
As we approach the end of a disappointing season and look towards the future, let us remember the words of Dr. Froederick Fronkenshteen: “For what we are about to see next, we must enter quietly into the realm of genius.”
Let us hope that Smug & TooL™ are up to the task.
I don’t mind Frankenskoula either.
Re: the brain. “Abbie something. Abbie Normal I think”
I think DR has always maintained that he wouldn’t get rid of a coach or maybe its just Lemaire for a player. He has put a premium on coaching because players can come and go or get injured but a coach will have to maintain continuity
So, I don’t think Gaborik has not and will not have any say in who is the Wild’s coach.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
I almost spit out my beer…Frankenskoula.
I can see him, Smug (Tarzan)and Tool (Tonto) singing “Away in a Manger”…
Sorry about the ‘Frankenskoula’, folks, but every time I see Martin on the ice, I hear the Edgar Winter version of “Frankenstein” with Gene Wilder screaming, “It’s alive! IT’S ALIVE!”…
Now, if Martin just did ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ from the movie, we’d be all set! ;P
SotB, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree. I still don’t want Skoula on this team next season. Buh-Bye, Marty…
Sad day in hockey… Maggie the TSN monkey is set to retire after her picks for the 2009 playoffs 
kj and WRT, classic high comedy!
I hope Gaby goes to a system where one of the wings is supposed to ‘hang back’ and play defense (like his wing position), instead of the center in JL’s system. He’ll appreciate what JL did for him much more.
Speaking of predictions kj, I seem to remember predicting the Wild would trade up 1 spot for a defensive minded defenseman about 10 minutes before it happened.
bela isn’t a free agent, nhl numbers says he has one more year left….
frankenskoula….classic…..I am all for resigning him if it is 1.5 mil or under…..and as a 5th d-man……
anything else we can get equal market/talent anywhere…..
Still want Leopold as a 6th….it would be nice to see him finish his time in the nhl in the place where it started (birth)
the mention of edward winter’s frankenstien made me want to play guitar hero…..great song….fun to play
good stat with the penaltys though……makes you kind of reconsider things…..
The blog with Mel Brooks movie quips as a tangent to a tangent from hockey talk. Thanks for the levity.
I’ve been gone for a couple days, now catching up on reading.
M 03, what sort of event were you at that got cancelled after waiting in like with the people from Duluth and the Seniors?
How can you people not appreciate a team that has a boat load of injuries to key guys, plenty of reasons to die and yet they are still mathematically still alive?
Whatever happens in remaining two games I think they will believe JL next year if he says “these are important points”!
I am counting on JL returning.
So Riser’s going to look bad no matter what if he can’t sign him.
it has gotten to the point where riser will look bad no matter what he does. some of that is his own fault.
it’s a huge leap to take #10’s comments and deduce that he has already checked out.
sometimes, for whatever reason, ya just don’t like a guy. I’ve been there. so i understand the WRT/Skoula relationship. Me, i think skoula has bounced between our 2nd and 3rd best D this year.
Remember the Visionquest “campfire in the desert” story that NiNY described about six mths ago? Where Boogard was trying to eat the scorpion.
Anyway, the only thing NiNY left out was Skoula backing away from the fire and saying “Fire BAADDD, Fire BAADDD”
IceMan: a Sunday matinee at the Guthrie theater, a bunch of years ago. The crowd is a mix of arts patrons, college students, people out for a quality arts event. The guy standing next to me on the way OUT of the building, just shook his head and said his group drove down from Duluth for that event.
ha…that’s what you get for trying to inject a little culture into your life, M 03!
anyone here have experience with or know someone that has experience with the blackberry storm?
if you could offer your opinion i’d appreciate it.
Two words for you Green*…
iPhone
For me, culture = Fat Tire instead of Miller Lite…
Has anyone else seen the shoot out goal by Nick Lindberg? Google video. It’s sick.
G*: what I’ve heard is that you have to get to a store to try typing on one to know if you’ll like it or not. It’s different enough (typing-wise) that you need the tactile experience.
For me, culture = Fat Tire instead of Miller Lite…
LOL…or an Activia at breakfast instead of a McMuffin.
kj: just caught the “two words…iPhone” part, still laughing at it.
kj - i’m with ya but i’m tied to verizon.
i’m on my 3rd Dare and very frustrated with it. want to upgrade to blackberry but need to decide between storm and curve. safer and cheaper to run with curve.
Greenstar- you don’t like the Dare? I’ve been thinking about getting one. What don’t you like about it?
verizon’s browser
touch screen went bad got replacement, now it won’t calibrate so browsing is a pain and text messaging is imposible. after calibrating multiple times, 75% of time ‘A’ comes up as ‘D’. it wasn’t like that at first but not it is constant.
haven’t been able to figure out how to make a playlist that doesn’t sort music in alphabetical order making the music player part useless to me.
there are virtually zero applications for it.
it’s not an entirely bad phone and was good for a while. i’ve just become frustrated with trips to verizon to see if they can get it to respond better. i’m hoping a blackberry will be more reliable.
Lets Go Beavers…(clap…clap… clap,clap,clap)
Lets Go Beavers…(clap…clap… clap,clap,clap)
Lets Go Beavers…(clap…clap… clap,clap,clap)
G*: FWIW, I have the Blackberry Curve from VZW and I am a big fan. Great phone, easy to use, no service or hardware issues at all yet (in 6 months of use).
kj - i’m with ya but i’m tied to verizon.
+1
I have a iPod Touch and it’s fan-effin-tstic. I really wish the iPhone would become available for Verizon one of these days. I want my G3 internet damnit!
G*, if you want something smaller and more phoe-like the Pearl is good too. My wife has one of those and she loves it.
Lets Go Beavers…(clap…clap… clap,clap,clap)
+1 - I have to bail on Russolville after 2 today so I can live in blissful ignorance until I get home to watch the game in brilliant espn2 HD. Go Beavers Go!
One more thing… steer clear of the Samsung Glyd. Ugh.. worst phone I have ever had.
Good thought Lapper.
Skoula’s stellar play this year is but an example of a reputation being so hard to change even when the individual’s performance outgrows the reason for it Greenstar.
100th!
Stoned is absolutely right on Skoula– a nuanced game that too many don’t appreciate. He blocks shots, digs pucks out of the corner and prevents good offensive shots from happening. He doesn’t smash people; he isn’t flashy. He just gets it done. If we lose him we will miss him.
5mM: Too late.
>>>How can you people not appreciate a team that has a boat load of injuries to key guys, plenty of reasons to die and yet they are still mathematically still alive?<<<<
The boys are appreciated. The real marvel is the scoring and scheduling that keeps the bubble teams in the hunt because of the 3 point system and they are all playing each other at year end.
Just because the math says they’re still in it doesn’t mean they weren’t “eliminated” weeks ago.
Frankenskoula. That could stick. His TV interviewing presence has been on the uptick lately. Not sure what’s behind that.
Agreed on Gaby interview. When he starts varying from the script, he gets into trouble because of language barriers. Not saying he will be here, but I had pretty much accepted his departure until he started lighting it up again in the last few weeks. Now watching him walk is going to be that much tougher. And yet, are his injuries behind him? What happens if Smug pulls the rabbit out of the hat, signs him to big bucks and Gaby blows a tire in training camp?
What happens if Smug pulls the rabbit out of the hat, signs him to big bucks and Gaby cracks an axle in training camp?
Fixed it for ya.
re: Skoula doing interviews on TV…his mug sort of reminds me of Beavis and Butthead. Just sayin’.
I think fans are apt to “overvalue” one of “their” players at least as often as they are apt to permanently pigeon hole a guy.
Skoula’s better this year. I don’t think anyone (even WRT) is arguing that. But he’s not irreplaceable.
NiNY,
Few are irreplaceable, except maybe Gaby. But that doesn’t mean we will effectively replace a particular player with someone as good or better. After all, half of the conversation on here this year has been how DR failed to replace–name the player–Demitra, Rolston, etc.
Stoned was dead-on @ 4:36, IMHO that is, about what Smug’s only real option is for keeping Gabby. The 10% option is just about all he’s got left. With the cap expected to go down, and with Smug having the injury-prone excuse / out concerning Gabby to use as his “net”, I just can’t see him doing it though. Throw in the egos and hard-feelings involved and the outcome is all-but-assured to go as most predict it will.
Judging from the apparent man-crush that Gabby has on Demo, my prediction is that he will again be holding hands and spooning with his old pal next season in Van.
On a different note… From the looks / sounds of the X on Weds, I’d say that this is a team / organization that pretty much knows it’s all over but the cryin’ for this season.
not considering pearl as i want full keyboard.
Butch: Woodcock. Is that you in there. Open up the door and let me get a look at you.
Woodcock: Butch, you know that if it were *my* money, there is nobody that I would rather have steal it than you. But, you see, I am still in the employment of E. H. Harriman, of Union Pacific Railroad.
Kind of on a movie kick.
>>>Skoula’s better this year. I don’t think anyone (even WRT) is arguing that. But he’s not irreplaceable.<<<
Yeah that’s true. I’m old school and like to see a team stick together for awhile; especially the hard working good guys. FA destroyed all that. Good for the players, but changed the way the game is perceived by the fans.
Gaby seems to be like he was pre-groin days. And, his body language says he is part of the team instead of playing his own way.
Sunshine, personally I think when a GM caves into a player having a say in who the coach is I think you have started chaos on that team that will be the basis for “no respect” of the team management and coaches by the players.
Stoned at 4:36 … the Wild’s committment to MN kids is different, the hockey associations generate revenue by selling programs is but one example.
But also Stoned, I do not think the Wild, at this stage of their development ought to be focusing on MN players necessarily. A good one dropped at their feet would be good but not if they need to reach and it would be hard to have a MInnesota player that is borderline NHL ready.
In the beginning they had two Gophers: (Neilson and Darby. Then, they gave Westrum an audition, signed Parish, had Cullen, Crowley in their system for awhile and I am having a senior moment and forgot the ex-Gopher Hobey Baker winner from WhiteBear who was also here.
So, it is not that they have not had them, only that they have not had the right ones. Lots of those guys they have had did not made the leap and we have not had the premium guys fall to us.
Ms.conduct, I agree with your comment that Gaborik should not sign with a Western Conference squad should he not choose to play with the Wild next season. If he plays in the East, we’ll be playing against his team at most twice.
Did Cam Steward ever recover from his concussion?
That is one injury with serious consequences. All of them we have right now is scary.
Helmet’s need better padding and protection?
Geno:
Do you think Gaby and Demo are really that tight? Sometimes I think yes, others no.
Maybe the only way Smug would offer him the 10% is if he knew Gaby would turn it down. That way, he stays financially prudent and flexible, isn’t on the hook for injury risk and shifts all the blame to greedy Gaby.
“not considering pearl as i want full keyboard”
Don’t rule out the Pearl. Blackberry’s ’smart text’ or whatever it’s called is like T9 on steroids. Very easy and 99% time the phone knows what your trying to type and gets it right.
AT&T offers a 3G iPhone.
Ice, Brian Bonin.
What happens if Smug pulls the rabbit out of the hat, signs him to big bucks and Gaby cracks an axle in training camp?
Baring medical research that suggests issues with long term recovery from his surgeries, I for one will defend DR - if anyone thinks as of April 2009 that DR can go out and replace Gaby’s goals in UFA I will transfer my Xcel PSLs to you today for just $100 per seat - I see DR being foreced to add a 2nd line center (Saku?) this summer while trying too sign/trade for a top wing (I assume the Where Players Want to Play™ marketing materials are at the printers). However, if he can somehow keep Gaby, I would be more than willing to role the dice (again) on what DR can do center wise on a budget.
Ice: Brian Bonin.
I think he ended up with Pitt but never quite made it.
I would not be disappointed if the Wild take Jordan Schroeder. Not because he’s a MN kid and a Gopher, but because this kid is pure offense. Isn’t he one of the top point getters in the WCHA as a young freshman. I think he started college about a year early. This kid LEAD SPA in the state tourney as an 8th grader. That is F’d up, as the kids say.
He’s small, but look at what Parise is doing in the NHL.
I could not agree with your last comment more Stoned. I also like “a team sticking together to develop chemistry and “esprit d`corps”.
The Wild maybe have a good chance to hang onto Mikko, Burns, and Schultz throughout their careers but how many others? Not many Iginla’s, and Modano’s who stay in one organization throughout their careers? (And, if memory serves Modano tried to interest the Wild in his services).
Even Trevor Linden did not spend his entire career in Vancouver.
Re: Gabby
As the Chicago White Sox announcers say (and yes I hate them too): “He gone”
It is not a leap to say that Gabby’s comments in the PP equate to him packing up his racing simulator and leaving the State of Hockey. The gap was filled long ago when he and his agent made various comments surrounding the negotiations, when he did not sign the big contract, and the way he acted in general toward the Wild this year. The comments in the PP are just more evidence, albeit very weak, that “he gone.”
I have a blackberry curve through sprint & love it.
Why does it matter so much to people where the players come from? As long as they play well, do their job, put in an effort, & contribute it shouldn’t matter if they are from Argentina or Nimrod, MN. I get really sick of hearing that we need more Minnesota/USA players. We need some consistent 20+ goal scorers, a quality center, & a physical D-man or 2. If the happen to be from MN fine, I don’t care, but if they are from Timbuktu & geg the job done what is the difference at the end of the day? /rant. Sorry, needed to get that off my chest.
KJ at 4:18 … right on with your assessment that we need a lot of younger wings who can score.
Assuming Gaby is gone, he is not exactly replaceable. That is not saying there are not different skill sets available who can serve the Wild well.
The team’s lack of success this year was more the lack of scoring than it is lack of team D but it was also the lack of holding late leads at key times.
But, at least one of them needs to be a younger version of Nolan!
The Wild should develop farm systems in Argentina and Timbuktu
Geg=get
“We are still here!” - Morpheus
Bonin, thanks.
One thing about the team not holding late leads is that if they finish just out of the playoffs they have only themselves to blame for at critical times careless and lackadaisical play.
You can bet every time they Tee off this summer they will hear JL’s comments echo through their brain “about letting points get away” as their ball slices or hooks into the timber.
It is a hard lesson, they will probably never forget it! Hopefully, they will be better in the future as the result!
wild will win two in a row but it up to dallass phoenix columbus and the avalanche to show some gut hard to do when they are already out of it except columbus who just made it so they reall y do not have much to play for good for the wild in sat game but bad for friday in st louis so lets go STARS AND COYOTES
Assuming Gaby is gone, he is not exactly replaceable.
??
Ice: you don’t think even DR could scare up 11 goals on the UFA market this summer? I thought you LIKED DR?
NiNY, wouldn’t it have been nice to have his average contribution? If everything else was the same they would be near the top of the division if not leading.
DR is just fine. He is no miracle worker but he has put together an organization that has been competitive since they started. They have not been without their problems. This year will not be the last bump in the road we ever see.
If we say this is because JL is a miracle worker, then who hired him?
“If we say this is because JL is a miracle worker, then who hired him?”
So he’s genius by association?
NiNY, wouldn’t it have been nice to have his average contribution? If everything else was the same they would be near the top of the division if not leading.
Sure….if you could guarantee me we would have had this contribution - which, I hasten to point out, is far in excess of his career point production - all season.
Including this season, he has scored at a rate of 0.864 points per game (432 points, 500 GP).
During his 15 games this season he has scored at a rate of 1.2 points per game (18 points.)
He’s scoring at a rate that’s 38.8% higher than his career average. If that doesn’t scream “combination of contract year and reversion to the mean warning” to you, nothing will.
Wasn’t Mittens leading the league in scoring for a while this season too?
If I’m a GM negotiating with Gaborik this summer, as soon as his agent starts talking about how many points he put up when he did play this season, I’m going to say,
“yeah, and when your client finally got healthy again - which will not be conveniently ignored - he came back and was facing teams that were out of the playoffs (the Isles) and beaten up (Flames and Stars) as often as not. Not to mention getting teams that were 75 games into their season (with the bumps and bruises and general fatigue that comes along with it).”
The point is that you can not ignore the fact that Gaby DID miss 65 games this year. That, assuming he plays in the final two games this season, he will have a career average of 62.75 GP per season.
So, to me, Gaby’s “worth” can really only be based on his actual production.
Of course having a player for the whole season that scored at a rate of 1.2 points per game (or 96 points in 80 games) would have been nice. But you’re talking about four (4) players in the league with that many points right now (Malkin, Ovechkin, Crosby, Datsyuk.)
Should we have one such player? Ask DR. But, as you said, “he is no miracle worker.”
Stoned @ 10:52…
From what I was told by a friend who has pretty good knowledge of the situation, and unfortunatley I can’t say why that is on a public blog, the last time Demo was in town while Gabby was still out with the injury, Gabby and Demo were all buddy-buddy, and our guy just about got on the team bus with Demo when the Nucks left. Or so I hear anyway….. Again, this was not witnessed first-hand, so take it with a grain of salt.
Of course, I could also see Gabby and Hossa teaming-up somewhere as well. That wouldn’t surprise me one bit.
I think you’re right about the 10% offer being extended only if Gabby turns it down as well. Smug is all about saving face at this point, and that would most definitely be a good way to do that.
FOOD
