Talking Aeros hockey; Getting out of dodge for a bit
Posted on May 15th, 2009 – 11:34 AMBy Michael Russo
Good day everybody. Just thought I’d jump on to say goodbye.
Not for good (unfortunately for some), but I’m heading outside the continental U.S. Saturday for a little more than a week. But I’ll have the cell phone, blackberry and laptop at my side, so I’ll be paying attention to the GM search as best I can on the sands of Hawaii.
How great were those Game 7’s last night, by the way? The conference finals should be extraordinary.
I did a Kevin Constantine story for Saturday’s paper. Remember, many considered him the potential frontrunner to replace Jacques Lemaire if Doug Risebrough was doing the hiring. But once Risebrough was fired, everything changed – for Constantine, too. Now his future is up in the air.
He should still be a candidate, especially after coaching the Aeros to at least the AHL’s Western Conference Finals. But it’ll be tougher for him just because of the perception he’s also a defensive coach, and the Wild’s new GM almost certainly will want to change the Wild’s style to a more up-tempo type in the post-Lemaire era.
I wasn’t able to squeeze in a lot of stuff about the Aeros, so I figured this would be a good venue for that.
Constantine never realized the Aeros had this run in them. After the team won its first four games, the Aeros battled inconsistency due to injuries and callups, including Cal Clutterbuck, Krys Kolanos, Peter Olvecky and John Scott.
Clutterbuck never left Minnesota after his Oct. 16 promotion, while Kolanos, Olvecky and Scott played a combined 72 games for the Wild.
“Whenever guys were gone, we weren’t that good to be honest,” Constantine said. “It just shows how much the players are the most critical factor in wins or losses. When we were healthy and had bodies, we put together runs.
“The turning point might have been when Kurtis Foster came down [on his rehab stint]. We won six in a row with guys like Foster, Kolanos and [Benoit Pouliot] all playing. So we went through stretches where we said, ‘Maybe this team has something.’”
Critics like me have blasted the Wild for not having much talent in the minors, and the reality is even though the Aeros have reached the AHL’s Final Four, they’re nothing without the scoring of veterans Kolanos (37 goals in 59 Aeros’ games), Corey Locke (15 playoff points) and Jesse Schultz (second-leading scorer in the regular season, injured right now), who all could become unrestricted free agents. And quite frankly, there’s a chance they all leave. Heck, a guy like Kolanos can probably make $1 million net in the KHL.
“Those guys carry us offensively, and then you try to wrap some detail around that,” Constantine said. “But I think there’s pieces here. I really do. I’m still a believer in Pouliot because I see talent and improvement. I just think sometimes in pro sports we’re not allowed to be patient, so sometimes it’s like now or never. But I think the guy’s going to be a good player. I don’t know what role. Don’t know if it’ll be a first- or second-line center role, but I think there’s a role for him as he matures through the business.
“[Justin] Falk, in the third [period Wednesday], looked like a very big, strong, calm defenseman. [Maxim] Noreau turned into a good defenseman. I don’t think the main future of the Wild are here, but I think there’s a lot of pieces here.”
Other bright spots include role players in Irmen and Robbie Earl, up-and-coming defenseman Marco Scandella, defenseman Clayton Stoner, who’s rebounded after years hampered by injuries, and goalie Anton Khudobin, who’s extremely unorthodox and raw but has carried the Aeros through the playoffs with injuries to goalies Nolan Schaefer and Barry Brust.
Remember, Carson McMillan’s there now practicing, and Cody Almond will be there too next year. And quite frankly, probably Colton Gillies.
Anyway, that’s my take on the Aeros. It was fun actually getting to see them play in Wednesday’s Game 7, 5-2 win at Milwaukee.
I also wrote a Tom Lynn feature that should appear some time in the next few days on what he’s been up to the last month and the job he’s done in Houston – which makes him at least a candidate to be the Wild’s next GM – or certainly a GM in this league somewhere someday.
Chuck Fletcher and Pierre McGuire are still the frontrunners, I believe, but knowing Lynn, he probably impressed in his initial interviews with owner Craig Leipold. I still think Leipold’s at the very least a week away from naming a GM. To me, it was necessary to have a far-and-wide search, and Leipold’s done a quality job with it.
Like I said, I’ll do my best to keep tab from Hawaii. Talk to ya later Wild fans.
61 Responses to "Talking Aeros hockey; Getting out of dodge for a bit"
best news in this post? Colton Gilles in Houston. Thank God. He needs ice time, confidence and…offensive skill of some sort.
If we went through all of this just to make Tom Lynn our GM and Kevin Constantine our coach I will go in to deep depression.
Is Cuma too young to be in Houston next year? I don’t expect him to be in a Wild sweater but just wondering if he’ll stay in the OHL.
Yes…NHL or OHL only…Can’t go to Houston.
- Yes…NHL or OHL only…Can’t go to Houston.
Alert MKIA - I think he had 10 posts last year on why Cuma should have been in Houston despite all my emails to him 
- So is McNab on the outside looking in too?
Wild will announce the new GM the moment Russo boards his plane. It’ll happen.
Great read Russo,
I would love to see Shep in Houston along with Gilles to see them both succeed and get some top line time.
Enjoy the vacation Mr. Russo. Remember the time difference if they get hockey out there.
Enjoy the tropical fruit and the Mai-Tais, Michael.You’ve earned it.
Then, when you get back, remember those sunny beaches whenever your favorite airline makes you 12 hours late on a snowy January gameday…
For what its worth, Duhatschek is calling Fletcher the “favourite” - http://sports.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090515.wsptduha0515/GSStory/GlobeSports/home
He’s definately my “favourite” and my favorite.
I went with the exact quote for Alan’s sake - it was an olive branch 
You know what Geno, you’re an as*hole I really don’t have to take the kind of abuse you throw out every time I post anything.
So guys, I’m over and out. Maybe I’ll come back in the fall on or around the first Canucks vs. Wild game.
Adios!
Have a good summer, everybody.
Guess my olive branch was hacked by Geno - fare ye well Alan and say ahoy to all the Nuks you see from us.
Hope you are bringing a fine piece of “trim” with you out to the islands Don Russo….
Michael - you have more than earned this holiday. Enjoy!
Alan, you know you won’t go…you’ll just suffer in silence like a good Canadian.
If you do see Burrows, tell him to take it easy on the Figure Skating Midget.
You all know why Russo’s going to Hawai’i, right?
Bottomless refills of pure Kona coffee!
NiNY: great news! Economic stimulus will move forward. Wait a minute, well the Don will single handedly keep one industry robust.
I’m traveling to Vancouver this summer. Where is the park where I can shat on Canucks players located?
oooo, kona coffee , love that stuff, especially with a shot of baileys .
for4rest, you’ll find the dog park easily, just look for Anal sniffing around the Canuck players arses!
Even with the bad officiating in the Ana-Det game last night, they at least didn’t have the quick whistle costing Cleary the goal. They got that one right.
Sonofa! I missed feeding time, now my awesome play off of KJ’s comment about Purgatory being Toronto (Purgatoronto) is alone at the bottom of the last post–in comment Purgatory. I was wondering why there were no comments for an hour and a half. Der!
Enjoy your vacay, Russo!
“If you do see Burrows, tell him to take it easy on the Figure Skating Midget.”
Great…another cute little nickname degading one of our players. Hey, can I play too? See if you can figure this new one out for KJ…who will now be known as BTSG.
Good work as usual Mr. Russo.
My three favorites for GM just based on what I’ve read on here would would be.
1. McNab-Seems to have the qualifications, and I like the fact that he has an appreciation for, and ties to American hockey.
2. Fletcher-Seems to be very qualified, and you can’t argue with the success of the Pens. Of course being bad enough to be able to pick Malkin,Fleury, and Stahl, and lucky enough to win the STK drawing does’nt hurt either.
3. Maguire-Big name but how much of the responsibilities of a management position has he ever handled in the NHL. IMO he has the biggest potential to be a boom or a bust.
That’s just my opinion, and it’s only based on what I’ve read, on here mostly.
BTSG?
Big Tambourine Shaking Guy?
Russo’s going to be busy watching hockey in the middle of the day while he’s in Hawaii.
I need a vacation, too.
Looks like Let’s Play Hockey has pegged Fletcher as the favorite for the job: http://lphblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/chuck-fletcher-odds-on-favorite-for.html
Big Tambourine Shaking Guy?
LMAO
Encrimson’d: You’re not alone in missing the last train. I put to much into my post to let it languish in isolation. Encore Encore.
With any luck, looks like we may get the SC awarded before the 4th of July. Hockey is nice, but mid June is too long a season.
Burrows gets surgery for bone chips in his wrist. Oughta get a consultation for a personality transplant while he’s in there.
UND logo change. I’ve sent more than a few tuition dollars their way. Scratch me off the list of benefactors. They will never see another penny. Nor will casinos run by the tribes. It won’t change the world, but I’ll sure feel better. Don’t we have bigger issues to worry about?
Bummer for the Bruins. I don’t think the Hawks can stay with the Wings. The Canes seem to be the EC version of the Ducks/Nucks defensive scheme. I’ll go with Pens/Wings with a Wings redux. The Wings/Ducks was 4/3 in games, but without Hiller, it wouldn’t have been close. And the Ducks D is as tough to play against as there is in the league. For the Wings, it only gets easier in that respect although the Hawks are still excellent.
Agreed on last night’s refs. If the Wings had lost on the Pronger/Hudler missed call, it would have been shameful. Early calls on Getzlaf were laughable. At least call a Wings dive on the weak slash.
And Bettman attributes this year’s excitement to improved standards in officiating. Please stop.
I don’t get trolls like Alan. He comes here trying to get people worked up. When they do, he takes his ball and goes home because they aren’t nice to him. Must be a Canadian thing.
Aloha, Mike!
And quite frankly, probably Colton Gillies.
You think? Man, that would be sweet. He’s almost as adorable as Falker. Not quite. Houston could shape up to be a rather young team next season if he’s down here, too. Would be great for him, I think, esp if KC is still here.
I have it on good authority that The Don is conducting due diligence for Bettman et al, to determine if The Islands will support an NHL franchise. Nice work if you can get it.
Kolanos can make $1M in the KHL? Dosveydonya Krys!
Beaudoin is another solid team player like Iremen that seem to be under appreciated even though he had a hat trick within a month after coming to Aeros on PTO.. which may good for next season’s Aeros.
Kolanos is hungry to leave, for sure. Will Khudobin stay .. I don’t think so, am sure goalie hunters are ready to pounce.
Beaudoin is another solid team player like Irmen that seem to be under appreciated even though he had a hat trick within a month after coming to Aeros on PTO.. which may good for next season’s Aeros.
Kolanos is hungry to leave, for sure. Will Khudobin stay .. I don’t think so, am sure goalie hunters are ready to pounce.
Yep, KK could do very well over there if he wants to go.
BtB, I think Dimples has one more year on his entry level contract with the team. Doubt they trade him.
I have to admit, the hope that KC has for Pouliot gives me hope, too. I’ve seen how it goes for guys he doesn’t have hope for or can’t coach and it looks very different from what’s going on between those two. Interesting to watch.
Two to watch in the system are 2007 draft picks Cody Almond / 33G, 33A, 105 PIM and Carson McMillan 31G, 41A, 93PIM PLUS 41. They are both 6′2″. Almond goes 205lbs and McMillan 215 lbs. Almond’s team just beat McMilan’s for the WHL title and now they are playing for the Memorial Cup. Almond has had a huge playoffs with 10G and 17A in 22 games.
I’m in Hawaii — the east coast games usually start at 2pm and are well wrapped up before I leave work. Center Ice + Tivo is required.
Btw, inline hockey is a poor approximation of ice hockey. Thankfully, Hawaii winter sports > MN winter sports
BTSG?
That would cover Grandpa Sports: Boring Talk Show Guy. For me? No clue.
FSM wasn’t my creation, but it fits (IMHO). I have stated many times my disdain for his game. There’s 4.5 million reasons.
Ugh. This’ll be weird to not be watching or taping (again with the VHS) playoff hockey tonight and tomorrow. Sunday, however, I have my rube street hockey league and the West game will be taping, so all will be right and good in the land.
Hawaii is 5 hours behind us this time of year, so the best place to watch a hockey game while in Hawaii? Down at the pool bar sipping on one’s favourite tropical beverage.
I sure hope Gillies gets sent down to Houston next year. Nothing wrong with him personally it’s just he was rushed in to the NHL too early. I think Houston fans will like having him down there too. Seems like a good kid with a bright future.
I can’t see Cuma making the team next year with the knee injury. I would think management would want him to go back to juniors and play top minutes. Seeing him play and hearing what the coaches had to say I wouldn’t be shocked if he played next year in juniors but made the jump directly to the NHL the year after that. He has great hockey sense, just needs to adjust to the speed and pack on some muscle.
to feed your sense of (wicked)humor, here is a new site- scroll about halfway down to get to the daily entries. http://www.theloopnow.com (jds from the other paper is one of the writers) I almost coughed up my dinner on the keyboard.
Nick Schultz and his wife welcomed a baby girl almost two weeks ago. He mentioned this when he was WCCO radio over the noon hour.
He didn’t give a name but aawwee! Congrats to the Schultzes.
Congrats to the Schultz’s, now they have 1 of each.
Lucky- I completely disagree with you on CUMA. He makes the team and has 0 chance of going to the juniors
The Gm that sends him to the minors or to Juniors will be considered a first class Moron. This guy is the pick of the century and maybe DRs best draft pick of all time besides Gaby
Lucky- I have been on here talking about the horrible moves to keep Gillies and his special treatment since day 1. CUMA would have been a better move to keep last year then Gillies.
Yes Gillies maturity may have been ready but his play never proved itself last year
Tyler Cuma could be rookie of the year next year. He is that good. John Tavares is good too but we will see
Mister Know it all you are a genius
Nice of you to notice Kit Kat- Lovely day outside we are having ??
Heavens yes Mister Know it all
What do you think of the players available in the free agency MKIA ??
Good question Kj, as usual I might add.
I was talking to Nick in New York over a hamburger at the White Castle about this very subject.
With a new GM coming in it will be very hard to predict Gabys situation on whether he stays or he goes. Nick thought it depended on whether him and his local gilfriend are together
If Gaborik leaves the new GM cant leave the offensive production to chance Kj
I fancy Steve Sullivan from Nashville. Mister Know it all is a fan of his Kj
What happens with Colton Gilles next year Mister Know it all ?
You must have been reading my posts last season Emily. I was very critical about DR and his decision to make him part of the line up site on seen.
Hard not to like his size and speed but he will have to pick up the hitting and the aggresive play to be effective and get goals. I will tell I will be surprised if he ever hits 20 goals
Why dont you run for the new General Manager Mister Know it all ?
I get this question all the time Six. My wife is always asking why I just dont put an application in. I just dont know if I could work with Leopold or not
Mister Know it all. What will he defense look like next year ?
Good question Brent ? By the way I hope you are feeling better. I think that the team will say goodbye to Martain Skoula and Kurtis Foster. The Gm will add one or two of his own prospects that are close to playing in the NHL
Last year Brent you will remember that the team had 8 defensement. This next year I think that they will go with 7. This will allow the team to have 14 forwards
You
Marek Zidlicky
Schultz
Kim Johnnson
Mark Andre Bergeron. They will bring him back Brent
Tyler Cuma
John Scott
Please guys no more questions I have to get back to work now
