Veilleux hires agent; Havlat replaces Gaborik?
Posted on May 4th, 2009 – 9:43 AMBy Michael Russo
Good morning from Chatteau de Rousseau. I’ll be on KFAN with Paul Allen at 10:20 a.m. and NHL Live on XM and NHL Network at 12:20 p.m.
Just got off the horn with potential free agent Stephane Veilleux. Remember, last summer, he acted as his own agent and signed a one-year contract with the Wild as a restricted free agent after the Wild humbled him by putting him on waivers.
As I wrote at the time on this link, it was a completely disingenuous by the Wild. Teams wanted to claim Veilleux, I was told by numerous sources, but the Wild knew nobody would take him with his arbitration brief due 48 hours or so later. So he cleared waivers, they told him, “see, you’re not as valuable as you think you are,” and he signed soon after.
Well, Veilleux just told me he learned his lesson. He’s hired Allan Walsh, who’s got a stable of clients that include Martin Havlat, Marc-Andre Fleury, Patrik Elias, Petr Sykora, Scottie Hartnell, Milan Michalek, etc, etc., and of course, Pierre-Marc Bouchard. No word yet if Bouchard gets a finder’s fee. 
Veilleux said he was convinced that come July 1, he needed somebody in his court. After all, last summer he was only dealing with the Wild. This summer, he needs somebody who at least, say, knows the phone numbers of the GM’s and assistant GM’s. But, hey, with a new regime on its way, maybe something can still work out between the Wild and Veilleux.
That’s what he hopes at least. Regardless, he’s a respected — and young — checker, so he’ll get a job somewhere.
Hey, maybe Havlat comes here if he doesn’t re-sign in Chicago. Wouldn’t that be ironic, eh? Talk about things coming full-circle, but years after Marian Gaborik leaves Walsh, the agent signs Havlat to Minnesota to a big free-agent deal … because Gaborik left. OK, lots of things would have to happen and not happen to make those stars align.
This is how bad rumors start, so I take it all back.
Speaking of agents, I keep on getting emails from readers about Neil Sheehy.
I haven’t written his name since I believe the first or second GM search article because about 10 days ago, according to numerous player sources, the Minneapolis-based agent sent an email out to his clients saying he’s not interested in the Wild’s GM job and that his interest was only to continue to represent them.
He’s built himself quite the firm, including clients like Zach Parise, Kyle Okposo, Lubomir Visnovsky, Drew Stafford and Ryan Suter. Heck, add Ryan Carter to that list to the way the Minnesotan is emerging this postseason. Man, he’s playing well for Anaheim.
OK, more later. GM interviews are lined up this week….
Also, contrary to reports, John Ferguson IS NOT being interviewed.
94 Responses to "Veilleux hires agent; Havlat replaces Gaborik?"
Veilleux… Veime… Vei it together.
could SRV find a job here or was his game the kind only a JL could love?
Will there be a commercial featuring the Team of 18,000 conducting the interviews?
I don’t know about SRV. While he played as a PK and a grinder for us under the past system, he DOES have some offensive skill. I’ve always wondered how his game would be different if he were in a different system… especially if he had come up into a different system.
From the previous blog:
I agree the after the whistle stuff is getting old and the two Geno named (Ducks and ‘Nucks)seem to be the biggest offenders, and my recollection is the same as Geno as to the Wild’s unwillingness to shake hands. Don’t know enough about PM but do think being a commentator for as long as he has (and I do like hinm there) is not a qualification for being a GM. Would rather have somebody who has been doing it as a GM or asst GM recently instead.
Good for SRV. Glad he finally got an agent who knows the ropes of the NHL as well. Maybe now the new Wild GM (whomever that will be) won’t be as assuming and…Smug! 
AiH: Shouldn’t the Wild TV ad be showing the ‘Team of 18,000′ in a medieval scene, torturing the GM candidates? TooL on the rack, Pat Quinn chained to the wall, Pierre McGuire muzzled, etc., that would sell…
OK, maybe not…
Will there be a commercial featuring the Team of 18,000 conducting the interviews?
AiH is ON IT this fine Monday morning…
Oh, and smart move SRV. He was being a doofus with that whole thing.
The GM candidate commercial should be 3 on 3 pond hockey tournament. The winning team does a shootout/skill comp to determine the winner.
From the previous thread -
“Former Maple Leaf GM John Ferguson is also expected to be interviewed”
Interview to be our GM? I would rather have kept Risebrough and Lynn for another 10 years. Ferguson is a complete a$$ clown. If you got upset over Riser tossing around 2nd and 3rd round picks like pieces of candy, just imagine your GM using 1st round picks and top prospects!
We’ve been hearing some pretty awful names: Jay Feaster, Pierre McGuire, Doug MacLean and now John Ferguson Jr? Should we be worried that it’s being reported that Leipold is even giving them interviews? 3 of these 4 crippled their franchises and 1 has been away from the business end of hockey for decades. Scary stuff…
WRT - unfortunately Minnesota Nice wouldn’t allow the Team of 18,000 to put the GM candidates through the thorough interrogation you have outlined above.
I’ll say this much though, anyone capable of muzzling Pierre McGuire would earn my respect. Not that I think he should be muzzled, just saying it would be feat.
Michael, Thanks for saving us much anguish by telling us Ferguson is not being interviewed. Whew.
We’ve been hearing some pretty awful names: Jay Feaster, Pierre McGuire, Doug MacLean and now John Ferguson Jr?
You sound surprised. Great GM’s don’t grow on trees.
I’m pretty well convinced that “Minnesota Nice” is code for “Minnesota Passive/Aggressive”… do I have that right?
Yes, you do, ms. c.
I suppose if they’re a great GM they aren’t sitting at home, huh?
I guess I have my heart set on a assistant GM in the waiting or a player agent like Mike Gillis. I do not want a retread.
Russo updated above - no John Ferguson Jr.
full-circle
No, it’s 100wattjones now… 
Ms. C, taking all the fun out of our local traditions… 
Lucky: They may not be sitting at home, but they also sure aren’t heading up franchises right now, are they?
kj: Another shameless plug? (Tsk, tsk.)
NiNY: Answer to my e-mail?
Had some errands to run before work today anyway, so I think I’ll leave a little early and use the best thing to EVER be put into a vehicle, satellite radio, to listen to the Don at 12:20pm.
Three words…. Fletcher, Fletcher, Fletcher.
Don’t worry WRT, I only recognize it because Southerners aren’t much different. Just a little more “bless his heart” and a little less argument. More back stabbing.
Isn’t that nice that Ms. C can post whenever she wants on this blog, never having to worry about getting in trouble at work. I wish I didn’t have to work so hard, so that I could have that freedom to post all day.
(How was that for Minnesota passive/aggressive ?)
Would someone be able to summarize Michael’s spot on the radio this morning?
WRT…plug?
Yep.
Shameless…absolutely!
John Ferguson’s not being interviewed, but I am.
Pretty well spot on, Damp. Trust me, I’ve observed my fair share over on the WMB.
Russo - have you heard anything regarding whether Jim Nill has displayed any interest at all?
M03: talked about Pierre McGuire and Chuck Fletcher as either popular (inside Wild org) or leading candidates at this point.
Now talking about how the fans are taking the change.
Question about how much of an issue it will be that the Pens are still alive in the playoffs. Vis-a-vis Gaborik negotiations, for example, and needing time to get in front of him as far from 7/1 as possible.
now talking about the playoffs in general…Russo saying it’s been great…highlighting the Carolina/Jersey series in particular.
arrgh! Russo pimping Minnesotan players, saying the fans are clamboring for more of them on the Wild!
Are you ever going to be able to print the real reason Smug “was let go?”
You mean running the franchise into the ground is a fake reason?
You mean running the franchise into the ground is a fake reason?
LMAO
WRT: I haven’t forgotten you. I just move slower during the off-season.
Pat quinn, pierre mcguire, chuck fletcher, paul stenton? From nashville, TooL, & couple others get interview but named 1s the guys they looking at.
Pierre mcguire in mix because knows a lot of people in league, gets to be closer to guys then anyone else, he being looked at heavily, & wants it bad. Lot of people with the Wild enamored with him.
Chuck Fletcher top of list but Mcguire near top. High praise from the Don for Fletcher. Problem with Fletcher is Pens still in playoffs so when do you talk to him/bring him in. We still need coach & to camp out at Gaborik’s house.
Timetable can be problem getting Fletcher, won’t want to be a distraction to Pens, may not leave Pens if still alive.
Prob won’t resign Gaby.
Not big time sensitivity on hiring coach.
Russo not switching now so still picks Caps for the cup, can prob see nucks vs hawks for West.
That summary from NHL Live. Have a dvr so paused a couple time to get it all. The guys plugged the blog.
Nick, let’s hope the new GM has good enough sense to not listen to them - that is unless the MN born player happens to be the best available.
Fletcher will be free to talk in a week or so once Ovenchicken sends them to the golf course for the summer.
“Nick, let’s hope the new GM has good enough sense to not listen to them - that is unless the MN born player happens to be the best available.”
+1
As long as he isn’t picking MN born players just for the sake of picking them, I am happy.
NiNY: Yeah, we all move slower during the off-season, especially when our favorite team is not in the playoffs.
Ms. C: Which Aeros team will show up for Game 3?
BNAG: Ovenchicken? I wish the Wild had that kind of bird…hits, scores goals, and puts up with absolutely nothing. And makes those playing with him that much better. As I said earlier…
kj: I dunno about you sometimes…
No, that is not the reason he was let go…
It has more to do with what he did with HIS contract just before the “sale” of the team.
(note to self “never give yourself a raise just before the company is sold and think that the new owner will not notice.” Especially if you are at or close to the top.)
especially when our favorite team is not in the playoffs.
writing pittsburgh off already?
I’m excited by the idea of Pierre McGuire as the new GM but I don’t know if I’m sold on it.
That being said I’d hate to see him land in Colorado.
Maybe that is another good way to analyze the GM candidates. Which rumored interviewee would you least like to see in the NW Division with the Avalanche?
Quinn?
Fletcher?
McGuire?
Ferguson?
Fenton?
Lynn?
The Leafs (Ferguson and Quinn) strike me as middle of the road candidates.
Lynn and Fenton can be labeled as Comfort Zone. The whole point of this firing is to get a fresh look. I don’t think Leipold’s buddy brings anything fresh.
Fletcher - is there something there? Can’t argue with the draft picks (although it isn’t hard to draft Crosby). Good trades for Hossa last year and Kunitz/Guerin this year.
McGuire - it would appear this guy would shake things up - I think I would fear seeing him in charge of a rival team the most even if there’s a chance he run’s that team into the ground.
Why was Riser fired? If I had to sum it all up with only one sentence, it would be; CL would rather be entertained seeing his team lose 6-5 than wondering why he bothered to fly in tonight to see another 2-1 snoozfest loss.
“John Ferguson’s not being interviewed, but I am”
Do do do, do do do, do do do, do do dooo doooo. I ask again, what’s the Thunder Island reference. Or are you just being obtuse.
Good luck to Dennis the Menace on his next contract. Not sure an agent will help him much, but he was able watch 21 yr old C-Foam play the checker role very effectively, so hopefully he learned something.
Decent article about McGuire in the Toronto Sun discussing recent GM hires that were agents and TV analysts.
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/628477
One of the comments on the story addresses an interesting point - if hired, would McGuire take over the analyst duties on FSN North as well?
Is versus doing a bad job? How about one frikin replay!!!! I would pay to get TSN on my TV. The NHLl is worried about fighting. How about taking control of your product!!!
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
I was just reading the Star comments - lot of hate out there for PM’s tv work that is for sure. What kind of person would post such harsh words anonymously on the Internet? But I digress. A main question on PM I have is does he have a big ego in real life - obviously we don’t want DR II but we don’t want a GM trying too hard too “prove” it to the critics either.
I think I am about to get on the Fletcher bandwagon - on a scal of 1-10 where 10 is Sean Avery, how much of a distraction should the assistant GM’s departure bring to the Pens?
PS - Glad the Ferguson rumor was inacurate - Jay Ferguson would never run out of material then
If they hire Mcguire, I become a Canucks fan.
You might just as well stop watching hockey then DS.
[…] to Mike Russo, Stephane Veilleux has hired an agent for this off season. Apparently he realized that the whole no agent thing didn’t work out […]
If they hire Mcguire, I become a Canucks fan.
I would rather scoop my own eyeballs out with an ice cream scooper, place them gently into a waffle cone, and eat it like McDonalds soft serve.
G*: Sorry, but Pittsburgh is not my favorite team in the East (Boston is, then Washington, then the Pens.)
In the West: Chicago, Detroit, and then the WCF matchup that no one will care about…Anaheim vs. Vancouver.
If that matchup comes about, no one east of the Rockies will see it, as the games will be too late for national TV.
AiH: If McGuire takes over, and also becomes the FSN analyst, GreenStar will not be happy with you, as you will be taking his Marney away.
Wait? What do you really think, ATX? Though, that seems like an appropriate response.
re: Riser & real reason: Don’t you think if he were doing a bang-up job as GM, the new owner would be okay with him giving himself a raise?
WRT: Who the hell knows? I stand by my rather miserable Milwaukee in 5 prediction, however, so that kinda tells you what I think.
I would rather scoop my own eyeballs out with an ice cream scooper, place them gently into a waffle cone, and eat it like McDonalds soft serve.
I could never do that. Sounds like it would hurt. A lot! Then there’s that missing eye thing which would kinda be a drag…
One amusing thing I’ve been picking up on in the internet chatter regarding Maguire (who I do find entertaining as a TV analyst) is that he would fill the roster with MONSTERS!
Nice to see the pride of White Bear Lake get a mention from the all-mighty Russo!
McGuire does love his monsters. Ever notice when he does an interview he is uncomfortably close to the person he is speaking too? Although I do love listening to him rip Mike Milbury over his awful trades. Every time those two talk Pierre rips in to him. Then Mike lashes out at him.
NiNY: thanks for the summary and your great comments.
toivo: kudos. You were featured on the weekly Strib’s Sunday best of the blogs. Do you get a prize from the Don?
I could never do that. Sounds like it would hurt. A lot! Then there’s that missing eye thing which would kinda be a drag…
that is true.. but would you really want to go through life as a Nucks fan? I think I would just stop watching Hockey all together if it was a choice between that and being a Nucks fan.
I dunno, the Nucks are kinda like a novelty act… between Luuuuu’s mullet and the brain-eating Sedin zombies and Burrow’s “sportsmanship”… It’s charming in a circus-freak kinda way.
You could become a Nucks anti-fan. That is, you watch all their games and root for whomever they are playing. The only bad games would be the games they win!
Anyone else see this? Unbelieveable. From puck daddy:
Some may consider Slovakian winger Tomas Surovy a thug for taking a baseball swing with his stick at goaltender Jaroslav Halak’s head after their team surrendered the eighth goal in a 8-0 loss to Czech Republic at Worlds over the weekend.
Yeah. I woulda effing chopped his leg off with my goalie stick if he’d done that to me. Oh man… lemme tell ya.
This team has to get rid of 7 players to make any progress next year. veipoo,belanger,bouchard,skoula,johnnson,sheppard,gillies.
kg: just saw your post & summary - awesome. Thanks! It is always a good day to talk hockey.
toivo: kudos. You were featured on the weekly Strib’s Sunday best of the blogs. Do you get a prize from the Don?
Really? Is that a print edition thing? I think the prize is something intangible.
ATX: sounds like it might hurt just a bit… but that’s just me.
Re: Tomas Surovy
what an asshat. That is an understatement of course… but you get it. Can’t believe that anyone would do that. Try playing better defense you turd.
toivo - yes the print edition, page 2 of the sports section. Maybe the Don selected your comments as the best of the week.
and fitz, you are smoking something. Your list is off base. Especially if we do make the leap to a more offensive system. If we go for offense Butch, SRV, Gilles and Shep will be wanted around.
I’m sure that Sirovy will be ‘remembered’ by his fellow countrymen next Euro-season.
Goalies from the Arctic to the Med, from Siberia to Gibraltar are going to hope and pray he comes even within earshot of their net, just to give him a ‘friendly’ hello…
What a dumb thing to do!
What does an asst. GM do during the playoffs anyhow? Other than possibly handle the scouting duties, and some of the media requests, especially with an NHL club, the Pens couldn’t find someone to take over should Fletcher be hired out?
I thought that’s why you have staffs…
—Nice to see the pride of White Bear Lake get a mention from the all-mighty Russo!—
We’re from White Bear Lake. Home udda Bears. Yah. Go Bears!
Well, the little guy was kinda funny-lookin’.
In what way?
I dunno… just funny-lookin’.
Can you be any more specific?
I couldn’t really say… He wasn’t circumcised.
Was he funny lookin’ apart from that?
Yah…
So, you were havin’ sex with the little fellow, then.
Uh huh…
Come on. It was a love tap. These guys hit each other harder banging heads with their goalie after the game.
Nice, Stoned. Good movie quote. By the way, fitz posts the same thing every few days.
Is there some way for me to filter out fitz’s posts? Russo?
Ok guys, here’s my rebuilding plan, step one, we get rid of every player that is under the age of 25. Then,
Actually there wound’t be any “then” fitz because you got your a– sh-tcanned after step one.
“This team has to get rid of 7 players to make any progress next year. veipoo,belanger,bouchard,skoula,johnnson,sheppard,gillies.”
The only one I whole heartedly disagree with is PMB. This guy is the only thing not named Gaborik that brings any offense.
It’s too early to count out Shep and Gillies but I would sure listen to offers. My expectations get lowered each time I see them play.
The rest can go. I’d trade Belanger for a packing peanut if there was a taker.
http://wild.nhl.com/team/employment_0809.htm
“The Minnesota Wild has no job openings available at this time.”
What are they interviewing for then?
Also while digging around wild.com I noticed DR hadn’t updated his Hockey Ops blog since January 30th. Perhaps letting his blog slide contributed to his dismissal?
If you are writing off players at the age of 20 or 21 then Koivu and Burns shouldn’t even be on our roster. This is just silly with the constant Sheppard and Gillies bashing. It’s hardly their fault Risebrough and Lemaire decided they needed to be rushed in to the NHL.
What was the guy so upset about the eighth goal for? Did he think they could come back from seven, but eight, that’s imposible.
And he wasn’t even the goalie who let all those others in! Friggin Halak! He’s a good goalie! Man, I get mad every time I think about it.
Why does it seem like a slow news day = great blog reason?
Some of these posts are ‘beer out your left nostril’ funny!
Oops…reason=reading
Domn iPone
Pens-Caps are playing very entertaining hockey. Up and down. STK has 2 goals and AO one. What’s this about STK being overrated? Varlamov has certainly stepped up.
I think Neil Sheehy would be a good choice, I played youth hockey with his nephew Patrick so it would be cool to see it
So AO and STK each get hat tricks but Caps win 4-3. So who was whining about STK only being the second best player on the team? He has shown up and Malkin hasn’t. Malkin is an excellent player but where was he the last 2 games?
is Fletcher under consideration for the CO gm position as well? just wondering.
M 03… I hope not. Shhhhh…don’t give Dater any ideas…
Th Don just posted an article on the GM search:
Fletcher and McGuire, eh. Ok, saw about Tallon and Davidson so maybe McGuire would be ok. Both appear to be good candidates.
- Thanks for the solid update Russo
- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “The Penguins are not expected to stand in the way of assistant general manager Chuck Fletcher if he is offered the vacant GM job with Minnesota” - http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_623649.html
Russo has this in the sidebar:
Tom Lynn, Wild acting GM: Wild’s assistant GM since Day 1 has negotiated virtually every contract in Wild history. … Understands the Wild better than anyone.
I think that was a shot at MKIA and/or Sports Guru Dan
http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/the-morning-skate-is-stanley-cup-overtime-in-danger/
This sickens me as a fan.
