Tremblay over and out; MacTavish speaks — kinda, sorta
Posted on June 4th, 2009 – 6:44 PMBy Michael Russo
I spoke with Wild assistant coach Mario Tremblay this afternoon, or actually former Wild assistant coach Mario Tremblay. As expected, Tremblay said he’s moving on and will be leaving Minnesota.
Tremblay said he was informed by Wild GM Chuck Fletcher he didn’t make the short list of candidates to be head coach. He was disappointed but completely understood Fletcher’s decision. He said he’ll move on and look for another job. Rumors in Montreal are that he’ll join Jacques Martin’s staff as an assistant. Tremblay said he hopes that is the case, but he said he’s spoken to nobody with the Canadiens.
He said he had a wonderful nine years in Minnesota and wanted me to make sure to thank the fans. On a personal note, just a great dude to deal with for my purposes. He was a walking cartoon character.
He said he hopes Mike Ramsey’s not in the same boat. Ramsey is also in the last year of his contract, and he said he very much hopes the new coach retains Ramsey and that he deserves to stay. If Ramsey is not retained, I know for a fact Tampa Bay wants him as an assistant. But with young kids and roots here, I’m not sure Ramsey’s going to chase jobs or be willing to uproot his family from Minnetonka.
Bob Mason and Matt Shaw have one year left on their deals, Tremblay said, and like I’ve been writing on here, I think they have a tremendous chance of staying.
Mason has done an extraordinary job as the Wild’s goalie coach, and most smart new head coaches don’t mess with a goalie’s goalie coach without talking to that goalie, in this case Nik Backstrom. You should have heard the other end of the call in the summer of 2004 when I called Roberto Luongo during his honeymoon in Hawaii to get reaction about Clint Malarchuk being fired. Luongo’s response, “What the $^#%% did you just say?”
Oh, that Jacques Martin.
And trust me, from somebody that sees the behind the scenes of the Wild, Shaw made this coaching staff tick. He does all the legwork and video work and lots of the gameplanning. He’s a bright, young guy.
Also, I spoke with Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson today. Craig MacTavish hadn’t spoken publicly since he was let go, but Jim got MacT on the horn today. He wouldn’t comment on my report saying that he has been interviewed by the Wild, but he said he wants to coach again and won’t sit out forever.
Of the candidates I’ve reported, MacTavish knows the Wild better than any of them just because he’s coached against them six to eight times a year since 2000. Of course, since I began covering the team, the Wild had his number, too. MacTavish is considered a pretty defensive coach — not Jacques Lemaire defensive — but defensive. But he likes aggressive, up-tempo play, too.
I’m sure MacTavish had an impressive interview. If you know him, he’s a very engaging, personable, well-spoken guy, so I’m sure he charmed them.
OK, that is it for now.
115 Responses to "Tremblay over and out; MacTavish speaks — kinda, sorta"
Good stuff Russo. I think you’re right, it’s going to be Richards.
Why would we want MacTavish? Just asking. It doesn’t seem obvious to me.
Awesome coverage Michael. Thanks.
Russ, any ideas on free agents or players via trade who Fletcher might target?
Mike,
Nice to have you back! Now I can get my Wild fix again on a frequent basis. Keep up the great work.
Laughed out loud at the Luongo story.
[…] Russo’s Rants – […]
Bon chance, Mario! Et merci!
He seemed like such an affable guy. Plus he used the word “damn” to accentuate a positive statement in a charming French Canadian way.
Nothing but good memories of MT with the Wild.
Goooooooo Pens!!! Here’s praying that Matt Cookesux does something dumb enough to warrant a suspension for the rest of the Cup Playoffs, and as additional penalty, his name is struck from the Cup.
I’m just not one for dynasties in the sports world or anything resembling such, unless of course it’s our MN teams…or the Colorado Rockies….man that would be a cold day in hell before they would win 1, let alone MULTIPLE World Series’.
Also….SIGN CAMMALLERI!!!!
08-09 Stats:
39G, 43A, -2, 19PPG, 17.5 Min/Game.
26 years young, made $3.35M last season…
Pay him around $6M/year, which is Getzlaf, Carter, Savard, St. Louis type money.
Oh wait…scratch all that…he’s only 5′9″ and 185lbs…FSM #2. 
If the rumored JL assisting Bob ‘I never smile…ever’ Gainey in Montreal, perhaps Mario will wind up back with the Habs as an assistant after all.
Can’t really blame Ramsey for staying here if that is what he wants. Won’t blame him if he goes to Tampa Bay (after all, it is winter. In Florida. And he gets PAID for it.)
Please. Please. No MacT. His style would not work well with the current core of players here, IMO.
Ridiculous dive by Crosby…sure he got clipped, but in the defensive zone, up by 2 in the 3rd period…stay on your feet and finish the play, bro.
I am finding it increasingly difficult to like Crosby.
Now, Malkin, on the other hand …. wow!
F mctavish-this is the guy that had stortini as his enforcer! This guy does not know what physical hockey is.
Interesting deal with Mactavish. As I was saying this guy might fit. He is experienced and has plenty of stanley cup time in his past. He wont be hired because I think Fletcher will see it as being too soon for him. Fresh off the change in Edmonton
Fabulous game. Dive? The guy could barely make it to the bench.
Oh man that was one awesome game tonight! So much talent on both teams it’s insane.
Good luck in Montreal Mario and thanks for the memories.
Lemmi, I’m pretty sure the media has reported that the Squid wants to “test the market” (go play for his home team)
I am going to miss Mario Tremblay — he’s a funny guy.
Has anyone see the resemblance between Drew Carey and Craig Leipold now that Carey has grown his hair and it looks more blonde now?
How can the NHL not figure out that they can’t keep going up against the NBA Finals on the same day?
I know notice Game 6 in Pitt is going against Game 3 in Orlando?
Say what you will about which sport is better, this league needs exposure and they have a one line blip on the front page of Espn.com right now.
remember, espn also broadcasts basketball….if they broadcast hockey too, there would be two blips!
the nhl screwed the pooch right when they signed to vs, and nbc….nbc will willingly bump playoff hockey for horse racing (there is a reason they are last), and refuse to show prime time hockey even over reruns of crappy shows
vs, while doing a good job, is not seen by most of america, I can’t watch a single game except for a small box on the sports mix channel….if hockey fans can’t watch, how can you get the casual fan/new fan?
NiNY,
The Crosby deal looked like he took a stick up the spinal cord. He went down pretty good, but it was a clear dive or shock to the system.
Malkin is not my favorite as he plays a dirty style of hockey when allowed. He should have been suspended for instigating the fight with Zetterberg. Star or no Star, he is cheap.
Cooke is just a royal piece of work. I wish nothing short of him being barred from the NHL.
The refs have been really loose with the checking from behind and the chippy play so far. In Detroit the Wings got the calls and in Pittsburgh, the Pens got the calls. It is time to start calling it as they see it. The cheap stuff and clean hockey needs to start Sat. If so, the Wings will be taking another cup.
Datsyuk should be back and the Pens need to worry. Hossa has been a bust so far.
Lucky: you mean go play for Toronto (the place where players go to lose)?
Good points Argon,
Just frustrating that this amazing series is completely overshadowed by almost everything else in the sports ether.
I’d like Russo’s take on Fletcher’s interest in Laviolette and MacLean and his familiarity /history with the two. Fletcher’s chronology with Richards has been documented for some time and has become almost granular. Also, is Richards’ being from Minnesota a plus in the hiring process or doesn’t it play any part at all? Just wondering. Personally, I like MacLean’s six years’ experience under Babcock, expertise on the power play, and NHL-player experience. Anyone know what the guy’s personality is like and how well he connects with the guys? Russo?
We have had this debate forever–it’s like the MN player debate nd the D blasting guys in front of the net. The NHL is on VS because that’s the only network that gave a damn and was willing to promote hockey.
The NHL is on VS because that’s the only network that gave a damn and was willing to promote hockey.
exactly. talk about beating a dead horse. To me, the only legit complaint is that you don’t get it in most hotel rooms.
the league’s visability, or lack thereof, is only of concern if you think the league could A) ever gain “top 4″ status in America - with or without ESPN and B) care if that happens.
Will being on ESPN make the Wild better? Will it make SRV score 20 goals? Will it help Boogaard develop into a serviceable forward?
Hockey fans will find the game. The league will grow in visibility only to its natural boundaries which, in my humble opinion, are probably not wide enough to grant it more than peripheral programming status on the likes of ESPN - which is what it had at the time of the lockout.
That game last night wouldn’t have been any better if it had been broadcast on ESPN.
To me, the only legit complaint is that you don’t get it in most hotel rooms.
Include the TGiFriday’s in Allentown, PA just down the street from Dorney Park in that.
Wow. Talk about three wolf moon t-shirts!
I thought the Crosby faceplant looked legit. Dude looked like he’d been shot, even the look on his face.
Boy can that kid skate though. What a stride he has. I know I’m stating the obvi here, but last night I zeroed in on him a lot… incredible.
I vote NO on MacT.
“but last night I zeroed in on him a lot”
Why does that not surprise me?
He definitely got whacked, no doubt about that. And it probably hurt, whatever.
I’m just saying in that situation you have to sack up and finish the play. What if the Wings had scored while he was doing the plank on the ice because his guy was wide open?
Now, they didn’t… But would Malkin have just laid there like that for five seconds and then half-a$$ed it to the bench? Would Ovechkin have? Would Zetterberg or Datsyuk have?
I am in awe of Crosby’s skills and vision and he’s clearly improving in every aspect of the game. But the one area that is still irksome to me is the prima donna act. That was THE knock on Forsberg, too, and his legacy will be tarnished somewhat because of it.
To me, the only legit complaint is that you don’t get it in most hotel rooms.
I thought what happens in Vegas, stayed in Vegas… 
On Zajac (or any RFA for that matter)…
Because of Smug’s shortsightedness (i.e. handing out draft picks like business cards) the Wild cannot sign a RFA because they do not have the required compensation. From last year:
Salary Range Compensation
Below $863,156 No Compensation
$863,156-$1,307,812 3rd rounder
$1,307,812-$2,615,625 2nd rounder
$2,615,625-$3,923,437 1st and 3rd
$3,923,437-$5,231,249 1st, 2nd, 3rd
$5,231,249-$6,539,062 2 #1s, 2nd, 3rd
$6,539,062 or more 4 #1s
I believe those picks have to be for the current year as well.
So, no RFAs this year.
Wow…that looked so much better in the text box before I hit submit… 
Russo keeps saying Fletch will be active in the trade market, maybe as soon as the draft. Whether that’s for players or picks I guess remains to be seen.
Looked to me like he got the wind knocked out of him when he went down like a redwood. *wheeze*
“but last night I zeroed in on him a lot”
Why does that not surprise me?
With that ugly ’stache he’s sporting, trust me when I say that my interest was purely hockey related. I just don’t have time to watch these eastern teams much, which is a shame because I’m missing some of the best players in the league. Makes me wonder why I wasted so much time watching the Wild last season. Oh yeah, Clutter…
yorbington,
What is this “NBA” you speak of?
NiNY…is the trip to MN for 100 watt jones…er…State Fair an annual event?
They don’t have deep-fried chocolate bacon in NY???
kj: not that I’m aware of, and even if they do
there’s no place deep-fried chocolate bacon like home…
there’s no place deep-fried chocolate bacon like home…
there’s no place deep-fried chocolate bacon like home…
but we do try to get out there every summer. If it coincides with the Fair, so much the better.
Nevermind,
I looked it up on “Bing”. Apparently it is some sort of basketball league that employs criminals, both as players and referees. Also, the rules of the game are meaningless as they are not enforced uniformly, but rather are enforced on the quantity of a players jersey sold. Thanks for warning me of this abomination of a “sport”.
And what have you learned Dorothy???
M 03…did you see your picture?
In a local promo, CoCo Christopher (O’Brien) said if he could get his weight in chocolate covered, deep-fried bacon, he’d bring the Tonight Show to the fair for a week.
“Bing”
I wonder if Matthew Perry gets residuals from Microsoft.
I looked it up on “Bing”. Apparently it is some sort of basketball league that employs criminals, both as players and referees. Also, the rules of the game are meaningless as they are not enforced uniformly, but rather are enforced on the quantity of a players jersey sold. Thanks for warning me of this abomination of a “sport”.
lol
Bob Mason and Matt Shaw have one year left on their deals, Tremblay said, and like I’ve been writing on here, I think they have a tremendous chance of staying.
I hope this is accurate. I really think Bob Mason is a quality goalie coach.
kj: thanks - saw the photo. You are a miracle worker - the webpage is amazing. Great musicians & songlist and fun mix of people. You just gotta coax the Don to attend a gig.
Great Luongo story.
Morning all…I’m still up on my Squid soapbox and thought up something interesting to ponder.
-Using kj’s RFA info…The Wild could tender an offer to RFA David Booth of the ‘Cats and pay nothing because he only made $750,000 last year. Don’t know what we’d pay him, but he’s a 30G/60P guy.
MN > FL for hockey players, right?
SIGN SQUID/BOOTH Summer ‘09!!!
Point #2 on Booth - How much should he get paid?
That is a hilarious Luongo story. Thanks for the nugget, Russo.
Booth + Squid = 70G & 140Pts
Maybe $9-10M/season for both?
Gabby who?
Squid FTW.
I think our roster has more holes then that and I don’t think we can just throw money at it and make it go away. We need to step back re-tool and then move forward. Give Fletcher some time to make this HIS team. He has a lot to fix on and off the ice.
Wait, I thought you wanted to get rid of TooL… and now you want to re-TooL? Make up your mind!
Lucky: I thought the knack on the Wild was lack of scoring. Those moves would give us scoring to the tune of 70G/season+. What else am I missing?
knack = knock
The Knack = My Sharona
http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/105390-parrish-hopes-for-wild-reunion
Didn’t someone bring this up yesterday?
Can’t say at this point in his career that it would be a good move to bring him back.
Yeah, let’s pay Parrish twice.
I don’t think so. Too many other, younger, less brittle options.
Holy Crap PIT is gonna be busy before the 10/11 season! I just went to nhlnumbers.com and unless their database is out of date, Pittsburgh has a whopping 18 players set to go UFA or RFA after the 9/10 season.
why would we do an offer sheet for a RFA anyways? That would be a stupid move.
Forgot to add that it would still be stupid if we had all our picks to make an offer sheet.
So, if Parrish were to come back, not that I’m campaigning for it, how would that work cap-wise? Would we really have the $.728M cap hit for the next four years or would that somehow magically disappear? I’m guessing not. I’m thinking the only way Fletcher would consider paying him twice is if he were to come for league minimum (currently $.45M but will go up to .525 by the ‘11-’12 season).
So, if that were the case, here’s what Parrish’s cap hit might look like…
‘09-’10: $1.178M (.45+.728)
‘10-’11: $1.428M (.5 (guess)+.928)
‘11-’12: $1.453M (.525+.928)
And compared to what he’d originally been signed for…
‘09-’10: $2.85M
‘10-’11: $2.65M
So, originally, had he not been bought out he’d have been compensated $4.059M If he were to come back, assuming my assumptions above are correct (3 years at league minimum and that guess at league minimum for the ‘10-’11 season being right), he’d be compensated the exact same amount!
Sunshine:
The point I was trying to make is that regarding kj’s post about RFA compensation to the other team.
Salary Range Compensation
Below $863,156 No Compensation
$863,156-$1,307,812 3rd rounder
$1,307,812-$2,615,625 2nd rounder
$2,615,625-$3,923,437 1st and 3rd
$3,923,437-$5,231,249 1st, 2nd, 3rd
$5,231,249-$6,539,062 2 #1s, 2nd, 3rd
$6,539,062 or more 4 #1s
David Booth makes 750K which according to the above table would require no compensation. Therefore, he’s pretty much like a UFA as we would give up nothing if we signed him.
Are those numbers for their current salary or are they for the amount offered?
That is, if offered a cool $1M would he fit into the ‘3rd rounder’ slot instead of the ‘no compensation’ slot?
You don’t think Florida would match the offer? They will have plenty of cap space with Bowmeester walking to free agency.
My point on our lack of scoring is that we have been utterly dependant on Gaborik to carry our team. Camellari(SP?) is not Gaborik’s replacement. Our top six is weak and 1 over paid free agent won’t take this team to the next level.
First Line - Brunette(aged vet) Koivu(stud but can’t do it all) Miettenen(grinder playing top line minutes)
Second Line - Nolan(aged vet) Belanger(grinder playing second line center) Bouchard(fine second line player but MUST HAVE someone to play with)
Look at those lines. That doesn’t look weak to you? You think you can hit free agency and fix all those holes?
my point on the espn..is the fact that I (like so many others) don’t have the disposable income to up my dish package to the next slot to get vs.
I also dispise watching the games in bars/restuarants. No sound…too many other people, bad watching angles (at least at the games I feel comfortable…horray for comfy seats)
also can’t afford to go to the games (that is a long trip!)
it’s the stanley cup finals…..and I can’t watch most of the games, that is my complaint.
ahh nevermind, I misunderstood, the compensation goes with the salary offered
looking at the roster…..there are some big holes…..
The thing is we do have some young talent (albeit average talent) to fill out the lines….
what we need to do in free agencey is to get a couple of top two line forwards, and a solid D-man.
then trade either backstrom, or Harding (obviously harding is more likely) to get a young skilled forward that is cheap now, but can graduate to the top line once the F/A’s from this year move on…..
It is possible to climb out of this mess in a year….because we do have some top shelf talent (unlike florida, and the islanders.) It just takes some good skill in the front office.
The Islanders have the nastiest neck fungus though, that has to count for something.
I’ll miss Mario, and since I don’t know French I’ll just say Auf Wiedersehen.
Please keep Rammer.
And Sweet Jesus, please no MacT! I don’t care if he’s all that is sweetness and nice off the ice, he’s a dousch behind the bench.
If Havlat stays healthy, he could put a healthy dent in Gabby’s numbers. It’s pretty much comparing apples to apples considering both of their injury histories. It is kind of a rude awakening to look at the UFA list and see that the best talent is leaving. Not that it wasn’t expected, it just hurts when you remember it.
The best that we could do would be to go young. There’s no way that Booth or Zajac, or any young and talented RFA is coming here. Our cupboard is fairly empty. We do have 2 grizzled vets that could put a team over the top come playoff time. Nolan’s could be a Guerinesque type signing for a team in the hunt.
They can only do so much. Getting top-tier UFAs to come here would be a step in the right direction.
This young talent you speak of, who would that be and where are the going to play? Sheppard, Gillies and Cuma are by far our best assets and will probably make great NHL players some day… but Sheppard may be damaged from being thrown in too early, Gillies was thrown in too early but will most likely go to Houston and Cuma suffered a season ending injury in juniors and missed out on an entire year of development.
By the way Gillies is most likely a stud 3rd liner not a top line player, he will be used to shut down power forwards like Iginla. Unless he somehow finds a nose for the net which he never had in juniors.
Put Tremblay in the booth! I’d love to see him as our color guy instead of Greenlay. His excitable babbling thickly-accented ramblings would be worth tuning in for alone, even if you were watching a blank screen. Anybody remember the “Duker” segments during North Stars TV broadcasts, with Gaetan Duchesne? Entertainment gold. And who else could you possibly get to do the job that A) has a broadcast background, B) knows the team better, C) has a better career to draw insight from, and D) would be more entertaining?
For the one or two of you here that are unaware, signing RFA’s to an offer sheet has been used by teams, what….2 times in the last decade. The reason being is you have to grossly OVERPAY said RFA so their current team is unwilling to match your offer. By grossly overpaying for said player not only are you grossly OVERPAYING what his market value is, but you end up having to give away compensatory picks. That and you piss off every other GM in the league.
Anyone else think MacT would have been a Stanley Cup winning coach if he doesn’t lose Roloson in the series vs Carolina and is forced to go with Ty Conklin?
If I have to hear the complaint about the NHL choosing Versus instead of ESPN one more time……seriously, in order to bring this subject up again, one of two things must have recently taken place. A; you were just released from a long sentence at a maximum security federal penitentiary (wait, don’t they have t.v.’s in all the cells?)or B; you are an excellent talker but still have to work on the listening part. I wish the Wild would play 5 games a year in my backyard, but it makes no sense so this will be the only time I bring it up. Let’s all do the same thing for the NHL t.v. coverage thing.
Ageed in the RFA signing Evil Russo. You guys should go ask Oiler fans how they like giving up their 1st, 2nd and 3rd picks in 2008 for fat lazy Penner. Now they lost all those picks and have to pay a bum like what $4 Mil a year?
On top of that I think their pick was used to get Tyler Myers, he’s had quite the season with the Rockets. Looks to be a solid pick up at #12 in last years draft.
Tyler Myers = MONSTER
I think we will keep Mace. The new coach will see Bob’s value, especially as we see a more offensive style of play resulting in a higher G.A. for Backs and Hards. Backs is a good goalie, but he hasn’t had to face the odd man rushes he’s going to see if we go with an uptempo style of play….especially if we go to that style with the roster we have. It could get ugly for the goalies. Mace will be needed then. I like Backstrom, but I predict in one year most Wild fans will realise Doug overpayed for Backy.
Ha ha, MsC you probably would have loved McGuire being our GM. He loves his monsters too!
Right on the money Lucky. Penner was a huge mistake by the Oil.
I will be making a rare offseason appearance at Tom Reids Hockey City Pub on Saturday evening. Hope to see you there Geno!
I agree with that el gato, but i think the back-up was markinen (sp?)
That Luongo thing was very funny..I think Russo ruined the Mrs.Lou’s honeymoon by telling lou that.
Sheppard may be damaged from being thrown in too early,
You mean, like, when he was 3?
I wish the Wild would play 5 games a year in my backyard, but it makes no sense so this will be the only time I bring it up.
Line of the day.
Speaking of Shep and his huge feet…I wonder if Fletch and the yet-unnamed coach are going to sit him down and take him to school - nicely, severely, I don’t know - to ascertain where his head/attitude is/are?
His “since I was three” quotes would be a red flag to me, that’s fo sho.
Penner may have been a mistake, but better to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all, eh?
The Grease has plenty of good young kids. Taking a chance on Penner - even at the cost of the picks - for them was more reasonably justified than DR sitting around with his thumb up his butt and a picture of Dougie Gilmour taped to his bathroom mirror like Rocky in Rocky IV.
Speaking of Shep and his huge feet
Were you just trying to get my attention?
His “since I was three” quotes would be a red flag to me, that’s fo sho.
On the plus side, its the quote that keeps on delivering jokes in Russoville. Since DR is gone, it might even have a longer shelf life than
Managing Expectations™ - Now score 20 goals and prove me wrong Shep
Did MacT coach somewhere before Edmental? I should know this but I do not. And what was his win-loss record while in EDM? Unfortunatley I am blocked from most sports related sights at work.
Russos Evil Twin. If the Wild go somewhat reckless like expected then you may be right. I think what your thinking is that his ghosts from the past will re appear on a more frequent basis thus causing more bad games then good games.
Russos evil twin you bring up a good point. I think the 6 million dollars a year they are paying him. If the Wild think they can win the way they are expecting to play then why pay backs the 6 million ? Just keep Harding and trade him
No proof that feet size has anything to do with ….. I think hand size might though Misconduct
From wikipedia:
Craig “MacT” MacTavish (born August 15, 1958) is the former head coach of the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers. He is a former NHL centre who played 19 NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues. He has also served as assistant coach with the Rangers and Oilers. He was known for being the last NHL player to play without a helmet.[1][2][3] He is also remembered as the player who took the last faceoff for the New York Rangers in Game Seven of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals against the Vancouver Canucks with 1.6 seconds remaining, to solidify the win and break the Rangers’ 54-year Stanley Cup “Curse”.
Lucky - Gillies does not really do it for me. I think his career high may be 12 goals
I will be making a rare offseason appearance at Tom Reids Hockey City Pub on Saturday evening.
How about a visit to Minnesota Music Cafe on the 26th. Leave the speedo at home please.
The Grease has plenty of good young kids. Taking a chance on Penner - even at the cost of the picks - for them was more reasonably justified than DR sitting around with his thumb up his butt and a picture of Dougie Gilmour taped to his bathroom mirror like Rocky in Rocky IV.
No room for a thumb with (insert your favorite DR bobo here) already occupying it…
Tyler Cuma== Misconduct wont be seeing him play one game in Houston. This guy is a stud just like Mister Know it all
Mister Know it all will be making a guest appearance on the 26th at Music Cafe- You will sell more tickets for your gig if you mention Mister Know it all KJ
Thanks for the heads up MKVN.
I will make sure that Sid, Dater and Slover save you a spot.
He was known for being the last NHL player to play without a helmet.
That’s the final nail in the coffin for me. Ego bigger than his brains. No thanks.
kj: you have mail, at the band addy
Back atcha!
The Let’s Play Hockey Blog is saying Richards is to be named the new coach in the near future.
http://lphblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/todd-richards-to-be-named-new-wild-head.html
Nice job on the scoop if that turns out to be true.
so, if you pine for an all-Minnesotan roster, but you hate the Gophers…is your head going to explode if they hire Richards?
You can put your MacT fears to rest
Wild twitter:
Check out http://www.wild.com pondcast section with new Wild’s GM Chuck Fletcher’s conference call with local newspaper outlets from earlier today.
“You can put your MacT fears to rest.” This is true if the Richards rumor is also true. But, if the Richards rumor is true, then we will have to worry about team chemistry, right? According to one repitious poster who is never wrong, Richards isn’t going to get along with anyone, the team chemistry is going to fall through the ice, and the Wild franchise will cease to exist…unless we can get a MN born player.
I’m looking forward to rumors regarding free agent signings.
based on what Fletcher is saying in this press conference, it doesn’t sound like he is anywhere near a final desision yet, so the LPH Blog might be jumping the gun.
I would have liked a definition of “near future” in that report such as the decision has been made but they will not announce it during the SC Finals*. Otherwise, why the wait to make it official? Saying either the/a leading contender is going to get the job soon isn’t exactly going out on the limb. However, it is interesting to note there was a bunch of PM buzz just before Fletcher got the job and recently the MacT buzz has been high.
* Didn’t stop the Avs or Panthers/Habs from making announcements
- Thanks for the audio note Jonsey, I plan to check it out latter.
Fletcher saying we don’t need a major changes in our roster, just upgrade in a few areas and address some contracts. This roster is capable of the up tempo style he wants.
^new post from the Don
So if Jordan Schroeder is still available when it is our time to pick do we take him…
Apparently he had a very solid combine…
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=424418&navid=DL|NHL|DraftMicrosite
One point of having a MN player on the Wild is simply that MN is the State of Hockey.(You can look it up!) Hockey fans from this area are able to connect with MN players easier than those from Canada and Europe.
Many MN hockey fans enjoy following the progress of in-state players as they make they way from the high school/jr level on to college and/or the pros.
In CA, the fans really follow their baseball, football & basketball player’s development with real zeal.
Same as in FL, and TX with baseball and football.
In Indiana it is basketball.
So the natural progression would be for fans to want a player with MN ties be on the Wild.
After moving back here in ‘07 from a self-imposed exile to the SW US, I was a little surprised to find so few
MN players in the Wild system.
