Backstrom’s hip feeling good as new, excited about Richards’ system; Constantine, staff returning
Posted on June 17th, 2009 – 4:50 PMBy Michael Russo
Just got off the phone with Niklas Backstrom, who infuriated me because he was sitting by the pool at the Palms.
Tough life, pal. Me, I just walked the Stone Arch Bridge. Nice, but not the same.
Backstrom’s jacked to be in Vegas, where I gave him some advice on must-see’s, like the “Love” Beatles’ Cirque du Soleil show at the Mirage. He’s a Beatles fan, as his girlfriend, Heidi. I gave him some other advice, too.
He’ll be up for the Vezina (Best Goalie) on Thursday night’s NHL Awards Show, which can be seen on VERSUS at 6:30 p.m. He’s a finalist with Boston’s Tim Thomas and Columbus’ Steve Mason. At the Show with Bax offering him support so to speak will be Heidi, Wild goalie coach Bob Mason, GM Chuck Fletcher and P.R. guru Ryan Stanzel — yes the same Stanzel who constructs the famed R.S.S. Feed on the Wild’s web site.
I talked to Backstrom about a variety of things that you’ll see in future sports sections, but here’s a few quotes I’ll offer up now.
On Vegas, Awards Show: “I haven’t been here before. Just to be part of it, it’s going to be one of the biggest days of your career personally. You never know if you ever get the chance to do it again. It really kicks in when you get here and you see all the guys – you know all these stars – and posters all over the city. I’ve never seen the Awards Show before. I don’t know how big it is. But when you get here, you start to feel it’s a pretty big thing.”
What do you think of Vegas: “I cant complain about the weather.”
How’s the surgically-repaired hip: “I feel really good actually. I’m going to see the doctor on Monday. I fly from here to Vail. I’m excited to see him there because it feels so good. I’ve never looked so forward to a doctors appointment before. Hopefully I’ll get permission to go full.
Nervous about being on camera and the Vezina? “Every athlete, you want to win. But when you go to a normal hockey game, you feel more that you want to win. It’s a great honor just to be here. You look at all the goalies, there’s only three who will be here tomorrow, but you look around the league, you could easily take 20, 30 goalies. So for sure it’s a great honor to even be here. Just looking back to where I have come from. Couple years ago, I played in Europe, and now you’re here up for such an award. I don’t want to say it’s enough. You want to be the best everyday and all the time. But it’s really good even to be here.”
Richards says the D will be running wild. Does that concern you? ”My job is going to be the same – stop the puck. If we win, it doesn’t matter how you play. That’s the only thing you’re concerned about – to win. If you’ve got a system that all the players believe in, and everybody really jumps into that, then every system is good. You look the way hockey is played now, you look at the good teams who were in the Final, even if they play some offensive hockey, I think everything starts from the defense. Even if it would be fun to have the 80s and 90s Edmonton Oilers here and score six, seven goals, I don’t think it’s possible in today’s NHL. So I think you can have a good offense, but everything still starts from the defense. Like I said, it doesn’t matter how we play, the only thing that matters is that we win.
You could be facing a few more odd-man rushes, but are you willing to give that up if it means you won’t have to be holding onto tie or one-goal games anymore? “It’s part of hockey. You have to live with that. You can’t worry about it. You have to make sure you’re ready for whatever happens. Goalies, we have to be there, we have to help the guys if that’s the case. On the other hand, if we play more offense, score more goals, maybe every now and then our goalies can make a mistake and we have a chance to win. So there’s some good and some bad things with every style. The only thing that matters is that you play good hockey. Then that gives you a chance to win.”
Backstrom and a number of Wild players — and 120 NHLers — will be in Vegas the rest of the week for union meetings. General membership meetings start Friday. There will also be a golf tourney that day. Wild players scheduled to partake are Josh Harding, James Sheppard and Krys Kolanos, and former Wild center Todd White as well. Oh, and retired Wild player and FSN North superstar Darby Hendrickson.
Derek Boogaard is currently “fighting” the competition committee on the future of fighting in the game, and Boogaard’s under strict instructions to call me immediately AFTER the meeting and BEFORE he goes out and enjoys Vegas.
We’ll see if he obeys.
Also, as reported by the Houston Chronicle here , Houston Aeros coach Kevin Constantine and his staff will return to the Aeros next season. I’ve confirmed with GM Chuck Fletcher. This was a good decision. They do a great job down there, and made it to the AHL’s Final Four this year.
OK, talk to you later.
153 Responses to "Backstrom’s hip feeling good as new, excited about Richards’ system; Constantine, staff returning"
KC and crew are back next year. Excellent (though I wonder how many returning Aeros are groaning).
WRT, I’m not particularly sheltered I don’t think, we just don’t call them that. Never saw a mass parking structure in NYC that I wouldn’t have called a parking garage.
I see Backstrom has all of the top notch cliches from a goalie down cold.
FWIW, Ms. C: In Canada, a parking ramp is called a ‘Parkade’. (The things you learn while on the road.)
Hopefully when Boogaard finally does call you, Michael, he’s not on his last dime, hitting you up for plane fare back up to Saskatoon…
Darby in Vegas? Who’s next? Marney and little Grady?? (if they were, we know where GreenStar would be…) 
AiH: I’m sure as Backstrom has perfected his English, he’s also been catching up on catch phrases!
Ms. Conduct, what happened to the last person who announced Chuck Fletcher said he was staying? UH-OH
Yeah, we just had that conversation, Mike. 
Don Russo - since we have your ear, there’s one other issue that I’d like you confirm on. RE: the former Wild management being disinclined to have MN players on the team. Is this true? Some have said it’s because they favored Canadian junior players, some have said it’s because they thought it was too much pressure for a local kid to play here. It is now being spoken of as though it was a widely known fact, but I had never heard such things until after DR was fired.
Please weigh in. Thanks!
Michael - as always, awesome stuff! Thanks for the giggle with Baks, bet he had a whole bunch of fun razzing you from poolside.
I want to be pool side at the Palms with Backs… or Boogie…. maybe not Darby as he has funny hair. (throws tantrum like a 2 yr old)
MsC, the Mr and I were at the Mall of America last night, and we went to the Hockey Lodge and they had this huge collage of Clutterbucks hits. It was even signed. It made me think of you, the Mr says if we win the lottery we’d buy it and then fly down to give it to you in person (after the season starts of course).
I’m stuck at work.One good thing about the budget cuts; no more evening tours.
Ha, awesome BG. I hope you win the lottery because I wouldn’t mind hanging that on the wall. But I’d rather you fly me up there so I can go to some Wild games!
Let’s say that we do trade Harding for whatever. The package is not the interesting part.
Who do you want to see as Backstrom’s back-up? Someone from Houston or one of the many veteran goalies?
Won’t be anyone from Houston. The list of FA goalies is actually quite nice this year in terms of guys who could back up.
MsC that FA link is great!
Looking through it, obviously you gotta hope for Cammalleri, and we all know, or think Saku wants to come here, but something about Antropov keeps tugging at me. 2 of 3 of these guys and I’d be extremely happy - or just Cammalleri.
Just watch — the elder Koivu will take a huge pay cut to go to a team with “a better chance to win the Cup”, just because we think he’s coming here. It just feels like one of those things that happens…..
God that was depressing, WATX!
Just watch — the elder Koivu will take a huge pay cut to go to a team with “a better chance to win the Cup”, just because we think he’s coming here. It just feels like one of those things that happens…..
If that means we win the Cup then I am all for it
I know. But I’m still working, and that’s where my mind goes….
Way to find the silver lining FFS!
But I’m still working Yikes! get that lady a white russian!
Positivity is my middle name
Well he’d have to take a pay cut to come here. There’s no way we could afford him at 4.75 mil.
Yep, I’m working and the husband is at bowling league. Totally awesome.
WATX: wow…make that 2 white russians…actually, you just tell me when to stop pouring.
NiNY, Don’t you mean a Caucasian?
Bowling and white russians, sounds good. I’m in. Over the line!!! Mark it zero!!!
Y’all are making me thirsty.
wood…it is a caucasian eastern european.
has FSM been traded yet???
Rookie Head Coach, Rookie GM…this does not sound good. Did Leipold hire 2 rookies to save money over what it would cost him to hire experienced staff??? I just know that McCombs did the same with Mike Tice, and Brad Childress was also a bargain as a first time coach. Those moves didn’t work out so well for the Vikings. I really hope our owner isn’t trying to get by on the cheap.
Wow! The cluelessness of that post just caused my head to hurt. I need coffee!!
Go4it: He’s not. Go back to sleep.
Go4it = Sid?
oohhh…well spotted, Gun…
Go4it: He’s not. Go back to sleep, we’ll save some donuts for you.
Is it the Draft yet?
saku…saku…saku….saku
Mmm. Donuts.
Sid actually compared the Wild favorably vs. the Wolves today - I know it’s obvious but for Sid to acknowledge it is out of the box for him.
MKiA…..there one thing I have to comment on from the last thread….
You appearently associate aggressive up-tempo hockey with inconsistant results…while that does occour on occasion…..there are teams that do it right, and are consistantly good every year (detroit obviously, pitt is starting to do it right now, washington is on the verge, philly has always been pretty up-tempo, and is always a threat.)
the main problem with your assertment, is that it’s hard for any team, no matter what system they run, to be consistantly excellent every year…..that falls on the gm/scouting staff far more than the system.
I wish you luck with your pessimistic view of the new regime, and look forward to later in the year, when we are high in the standings, and you pull out your bible, and start preaching the end of the world (the wild world at least)
(continues to poke MKiA with a stick…)
-”Is it the Draft yet?”
I wish. Jordan Schroeder or Carter Ashton-get er’ done.
Does any one think any trades will be announced before the draft?
argon: because it’s dead, my personal belief is that the system that Fletch and TR are talking about - with the current roster we have - will product inconsistent results vis-a-vis the win column.
Now, obviously the current roster we have will not be the roster we emerge from camp with in September.
So the point to me is: Fletch still needs to upgrade our overall skill lever if he wants his and his new coach’s system to produce Ws this season.
JMO.
agreed…..I guess I am assuming fletch is going to sign all of the right players (takes another gulp of the kool-aid……ahhhh…refreshing…..doesn’t taste like shoe anymore!)
d’oh…”product” should obvioulsy be “produce”…my bad
yahweh…and “lever” should obviously be “level”
need…more…coffee
OMG…”obvioulsy”…I’m just going to go cry in the corner for a while.
warmhappyplace
warmhappyplace
warmhappyplace
warmhappyplace
warmhappyplace
I’ve always wanted to upgrade our skill lever….
silece….twist those knobs….twist those knobs!
YOU….pull some levers…..pull some levers!!!!!
“silence”
I blame the weather…..it’s too stormy out to be fully aware……
Nick and argon… bless you for the laughs on an otherwise boring day. Work work work work work work. blah.
“Is it the Draft yet?”
X 2
Let’s draft some people already!
Jake: “Work, work, work! Hello boys! Miss me?!”
On another topic. Cool video shot by the Twister Sisters yesterday in Austin, MN, if anyone is interested.
Russo - any rumors out there for us to tide us over until the draft?
there is a timberwolves rumor…..it is horrible, and it made me swear at the computer for 2 minutes straight…..
hopefully fletch doesn’t pull one of those out.
Hey Russo…
Stop crying about Nick sitting in the sun by the pool enjoying himself.
Boo–Hooo…Where were you traveling all over the place for about a month?
I know you’re kidding… But, everyone that works hard should get to enjoy their free time without apology
I think we will get a pretty good idea what kind of GM & coach we have by what players stay and go.
We have all seen them enough to know which D can step into the play and which can’t stick handle but panic and dump the puck.
And which O-players need to step up to their potential and which are doing the best they can or ever will. Does not mean they cannot fit, nor don’t play hard. Just won’t start scoring 20 goals in any system.
The next month is going to be very exciting or…. ?
Anyone interested in signing the the Sedin twins for identical 12-yr $63 million contracts?
Who can afford them?
Going back to much earlier in the thread: two differences between the current Wild and the Tice era Vikings. First, Tice was hired because the owner in a GM-less system wanted to go on the cheap. Plus, Tice was also forced to go on the cheap on his staff as well. No such restrictions that I can see from the Fletcher era from CL, so we can hire the best available rather than cost effective. Secondly, the pedigrees for the Wild look very promising for the up-and-coming GM and coach. TR has actually lead a team and put a staff together (which succeeded at their level) where Childress had not had that experience at any level of coaching.
I’m not expecting us to hop immediately into contention. It takes time to build the team you want and Fletcher and TR need to rebuild from the ground up, starting with acquiring draft picks, making the best out of those picks and restocking the farm team.
Positivity is my middle name
I thought “Forward” was your middle name?
(Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
Yeah, the Sedin twins are intriguing, but in a salary cap which is supposed to go down after this year, what team has the flexibility to fit them under the cap…especially for multiple years.
Someone mentioned earlier about the Caps being on the verge of being an up-tempo team. As someone watching them over this year, I think they’re going to miss their window for the Cup. They have some good players, but their young guys are going to want to get paid, especially Backstrom (the other one) and Mike Green. I really doubt the Caps have the cap room to make moves on either of these guys.
They’ll end up in Toronto
Mister Russo…
You need to have a chat with your Strib IT support folks about WordPress.
Was writing a post and I noticed that I was logged in as you.
Boy, the temptation was great to have a little fun…but I did the noble thing and logged out.
I don’t know. They each played in 82 games and put up 82 points last year, and their contracts would be 5.25 mil/year (not sure if they’re loaded heavy on one end or not). Maybe I’m wrong, but 5.25/yr doesn’t seem too bad. But I have my doubts that they’d be able to produce at that rate or stay that healthy for 12 years. That seems like a stretch.
I too noticed that the fossilized one had some half-ared nice things to say about the Wild in today’s edition. Wow… The post-presser media grub after TR’s intro the other day must have been REALLY good!!!!
Hey Bandgeek…. When you were out at the Hockey Lodge @ MOA last night, did you get waited on by a cute-as-a-bug brunette woman? If so, that was my “Devine Miss M” that I have referred to in posts from time to time. She is out there several evenings a week and can also be found in the 200-level Hockey Lodge store at the X on game nights. She loves working for the Wild and meeting all the great hockey fans, so stop in and say hello. Mention my name…well, maybe not. Ya never know if she might be pi**ed at me that day about something. 
Since the NHL saw fit to screw-up the draft by having the 1st round on Friday night and then have the 2nd thru the 7th rounds the next day on Sat, it sort of put the kabosh on the draft parties that the Wild used to have. But this year Tom Reid’s Pub is bringing it back. For those that don’t know, TRHCP is having a draft party on Friday night for the 1st round action. From what I’ve been told, it sounds like it should be a lot of fun. With all the buzz over the new GM and coach, it would be great to get a full-house of Wild fans together to see what Chuckie’s first big move(s) might be, and to just party a bit and talk some hockey. I’ve even heard rumors that there could possibly be another rare summer appearance by RET, possibly in his custom “Wild” speedo, but at this point that is unconfimred. We’ll see….
I’d like to see these guys establish themselves seperately. Or can they not play with anyone else and be that good?
This whole “package deal” for them is rediculous. Can you imagine if all the Staal boys did that?
Jake: “Work, work, work! Hello boys! Miss me?!”
“Just think of your secretary”
Wow, that WAS noble, kj… yikes.
Can you imagine if all the Staal boys did that?
I would SO be a fan of that team.
That would be pretty funny if the Staal boys tried to do that.
I can understand that they want to play together - they’ve had success, and I have brothers so I could only imagine how cool it would be to play on the same NHL team as them. But you think that they’d have to give a bit. A 12-yr deal? I think that’s a tad demanding. IMO that’s a stretch for anyone in this league, with injuries, etc. Imagine if one of those two went down for the long-term, losing 5.25mil/year, and like you mentioned, they’re not established without each other. It’s unknown how they would produce when separated. It could be a disaster.
The Sedins are a little different from the Staals simply because they are twins - identical twins, at that.
I have a pair of twins (fraternal) myself, so I get the attachment issue. That said, it’s still a little weird that these two have to be a package deal.
I would have to think being a package deal is keeping their collective market value down, as well.
They actually came out and said they have to play together and they wat a 12 year deal? That is insane. What a couple of babies.
Well, they are skilled but a $10.6M cap hit for numerous years could be a real challenge.
It’s unknown how they would produce when separated.
For whatever reason, I found this hilarious. I can imagine Henrik crying quietly in the corner of the locker room curled in the fetal position… “Where’s Daniel???”
For whatever reason, I found this hilarious. I can imagine Henrik crying quietly in the corner of the locker room curled in the fetal position… “Where’s Daniel???”
LOL, that reminds me of that scene in Strage Brew where Bob and Doug have to go seperate ways and they don’t know what to do because they have never been apart. Hilarious!
Have the Sedin wins actually stated they have to play together, or is that just being assumed because they were drafted together and have so far always played together?
For whatever reason, I found this hilarious. I can imagine Henrik crying quietly in the corner of the locker room curled in the fetal position… “Where’s Daniel???”
This would never happen. According to every broadcaster and play-by-play man I have ever heard covering a game with them playing, one Sedin always knows there the other one is.
This would never happen. According to every broadcaster and play-by-play man I have ever heard covering a game with them playing, one Sedin always knows there the other one is.
FTW
“Splitting us up is not an option,” Henrik said earlier this season.
“Why would anyone want just one of us?” Daniel wondered.
At this point, I can’t imagine the Sedins to be anything other than a package deal. They might be willing to take a discount to keep that true.
Should we pursue? Eh… I’m not really high on the Sedins, but they certainly bring points.
I don’t think the 5.25M for each of them - even as a package - is necessarily unreasonable. But 12 years?!
Ok, thanks Gunslinger.
No problem WS. I honestly didn’t know for sure either. I had to dig a bit to find that one!
I thought “Forward” was your middle name?
LOL - I still need time to get to know the new me
have they said they’ll only sign for 12 years….or could that number be their starting point for their negotiations???
Nick in New York says:
June 18th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
have they said they’ll only sign for 12 years….or could that number be their starting point for their negotiations???
Right. I would guess they’re going all out in what they ask for. That way when they sign for less, it will seem like the buyer is getting a deal. Somewhat similar to a dealership or realtor setting the price of a vehicle or home high, and then coming down. Even so, I think 12 years is a bold starting point.
Still, if we could get the Sedin twins for 4.5/year for 8 years each it would be a good value.
Still, if we could get the Sedin twins for 4.5/year for 8 years each it would be a good value.
Would it? 9 mil/yr to essentially anchor your 2nd line?
Screw the twins. Wait… that sounds like a good thing. I mean, let’s not go after the twins… damnit.. that sounds fun too. Forget it.
When I say twins my mind automatically goes into the gutter.
Would it? 9 mil/yr to essentially anchor your 2nd line?
I have no clue if they would sign for 4.5/yr each. But 2nd line? They have a combined 164 (82 each) points between the two of them. The two highest scorers on the Wild (Koivu & Brunette) had 117.
I’m not sure if they’d be 1st or 2nd line material on the Wild (without knowing the rest of the forward roster) but I will say that their 82 points each last year was also in a system that was only slightly less-restrictive than ours under Lemaire…a rising tide lifts all ships.
Well, it’d be nice to have two scoring lines at least.
jake: it’d be nice to have one legit NHL scoring line
I can’t believe any Wild fan actually wants the sisters on the team. I just can’t imagine them in a Wild uniform myself.
I’m not too interested in the Sedins personally. I think there are better options out there. Although there’s no way to tell if those options want to come here either.
Boy is it nice just to have options though…Options that may actually get pursued by our new fearless leaders
I am not the biggest fans of the sedins….but at 5.25 mil or under…….
I was a bit intrigued by that…..
certainly the sedins paired with nolan sound like a very good scoring line…..heck….clutterbuck with those two sound good as well….
12 years is a bit much, but it isn’t as bad if it is a zetterberg type deal where it is 6 mil the first couple years….5 the next couple and proggresivly trending downward…
during the last couple years when they are older, you’d be paying about 2.7 mil a year….
I don’t really want them, but that certainly is a good price for a solid two players for a top line…
(sedins are top line material if you pair them with a rugged winger….eric cole anyone?)
Imagine the twins under JL’s system. They’d be on different lines occasionally and with such confusion, you’d see a lot of their passes going to the bench.
I can’t see the evil twins, Tomax and Xamot, coming to the Wild. They’ll get more money to doom themselves in PurgaToronto.
I can’t see the evil twins, Tomax and Xamot, coming to the Wild.
Someone’s excited for the new GI-Joe film…
What happened to Destro and Snake Eyes?
Niveous, I’m old school, so I wasn’t even thinking about the movie. Actually, with movies I want to see, I put myself through a complete media blackout as to not ruin the experience. Not that you’ve ruined any surprise, but would your comment mean the evil twins make an appearance in the movie? By any chance were they played by H & D Sedin?
during the last couple years when they are older, you’d be paying about 2.7 mil a year….
Cap hit will still be 5.25, regardless of their actual salary. So then you’d have 10.5 million in cap space used up on two 41 year-olds? That sounds loco to me.
GI Joe looks like trash. The GI Joes I remember didn’t wear space suits that made them into superheros… ghey.
What’s the rules about a buyout and the cap hit? Does the cap hit get reworked based on the buyout amount over the buyout term?
I want to say that that is one of the benefits of the long-term front loaded contracts.
Have been following the updates over the last couple weeks, and as a season ticketholder, I am very excited to see next year’s product. As stated by a fellow submitter earlier, I think there shouldn’t be any ‘managing of expectations’ (the death blow for DR IMHO.) This year you must plan to make the playoffs and a run. I am certain Fletch is planning just that. “What do I need now.”
As far what we will see next season: You may be retooling your philosopy to a more offensive style, but you do not abandon defense. Do not expect to see 60 minutes of hockey played as if it is the final minute of play we are down by a goal. I like Schultzie’s take on a team being able to adapt to a more offensive style coming from a defense first style, versus the other way around. Don’t get caught up in the buzz words ‘uptempo’(yeah who doesn’t want their players to hustle.), ‘more offensive style’ (score more goals! Who isn’t trying to do that.)
As far as what the roster will look like and who is disposable????. How do you judge our current talent if they have always played/coached to play a patient style of hockey. i.e wait for the other team to make a mistake!
Also,from what I read from our Aeros contingency on this blog there’s not a ton of talent in the cupboard.
Possible moves:
Harding= Huge upside. A starter on any other team. I would almost prefer to keep and move Backs and his 4.something mil contract. I hate saying that because I love the guy, but Harding is more long term. And Backs is at peak trading value.
Johnnson= Was brought here because he is a more offensive style defenseman. But in our previous system dropped from 40 point average to 20 point average/season. We need that 4mil off the books though. Cap space and picks.
Wild will need to make a splash in Free Agency, make cap space to do so, and start picking up draft picks along the way. With Back, Johnnson and gaborik gone that’s 14-15 million right there.
jake: IIRC (Parrish) the team that’s buying you out owes you a percentage (1/3??) of your remaining cap hit which does count against their cap.
I think nhlnumbers.com still lists Parrish as a cap liability for the Wild.
Wild will need to make a splash in Free Agency,
Why?
Those buyouts last so freagin’ long. Didn’t the Caps just recently finish paying off Jagr?
The Caps are still paying me.
NINY, we’re going to lose Gaborik who was our primary scoring threat over the past 8 seasons. How do you not replace him? Is your question is why free agency?
the point of a front loaded contract…I thought….was to have a lower cap hit later on in the life of that contract…..that is why the vikings always have cap room….they front load all of their contracts, and have done so for about 6 years.
I beleive it is the same for hockey/other sports…..otherwise, there is no reason to frontload…..
NINY
“my personal belief is that the system that Fletch and TR are talking about - with the current roster we have - will product inconsistent results vis-a-vis the win column.”
NiNY…..you went really far out on a limb on this one…..considering last years team was wildly inconsistant, even with JL’s “stable defensive” system
gabby is gone……..but luckily there is some solid talent out there on the market.
I think I can field this one. Check out this link. Should show the current cap hit and salaries (Man, we are paying Parrish for a long, long time).
We’ve got about $9 million in cap space and a lot of question marks. The question is do we try to win right away or do you start rebuilding a depleted team? I would opt for making smart FA choices and getting some draft picks back.
parish is on the cap for another 3 years……5 year contract bought out after 1 year……
another contract where DR overpaid….(Dr bashing never goes out of style!)
5 years?!?!?
dang!
I hate saying that because I love the guy, but Harding is more long term. And Backs is at peak trading value.
Backs has a two-year NTC doesn’t he? The only way he goes bye bye is if he agrees to it.
Ash: I guess it depends on how you’re defining “splash.”
To me, “make a splash” smacks of putting out an “entertaining” product that was discussed at length yesterday.
Go out and get guys that make sense for supplementing the roster we have already, in the style that they want to play. Don’t necessarily just go sign some big name player. They could sign Joe Sakic and Alex Kovalev and that would certainly make a splash, but I feel like that splash would just leave me soggy and cold. Or they could go out and sign Gionta and Cammalleri and that might make less of a splash, but I personally would feel like it was a nicer, warmer, more soothing splash.
Last, Gaby scored 13 goals for us last year. If Fletch can’t find a way to replace 13 goals we’re in serious trouble.
we have 10 spots on the nhl team available…..ahl salaries don’t count against the nhl cap…right?
I do think fritzy will be tendered, as he is a great 4th line center to have…the key is finding top end talent, at less than top end prices….saku will take up between 2-3.5 mil for 2-3 years….(hopefully 2.5….sounds good to me!) that means, barring any trade of big contracts, (looking at you kimmy and Butch!) we can afford one more really good forward, and then fill out the team with solid/cheap players…(they will be third pairing d-men/3rd-4th line wingers…and a backup center/winger.
mittens was over paid a lot too….
yaaayyy!!!! More Dr Bashing!!!!
lol…..nick that was awesome!
Last, Gaby scored 13 goals for us last year. If Fletch can’t find a way to replace 13 goals we’re in serious trouble.
Give Boogaard more shifts…he’d be good for one…
Argonbeast0034=not a math guru!
……..
..struggles to count to 5 on a regular basis!
I think you are forgetting Veillux will be able to score 20 goals with a less restricting system.
(looking at you kimmy and Butch!)
I’m telling you… leave Butch outta the trade talks. this is your final warning….
Give Boogaard more shifts…he’d be good for one…
Just park him in front of the net and fire away! I’m sure at some point, one will bounce off his knee or leg.
Who will Butch get to play ping pong with him if SRV bails?
I think you are forgetting Veillux will be able to score 20 goals with a less restricting system.
Now I can’t tell if that is optimism or sarcasm… but either way, I like it.
Just park him in front of the net and fire away! I’m sure at some point, one will bounce off his knee or leg.
LAWLZ! That’s good stuff.
Nick, that is a good point about Butch… he will be lonely without SRV.
NINY- I read through the circular argument yesterday regarding ‘winning’ and ‘entertaining’ As a fan that left the X many times after a one goal loss… verbally replaying the number of pipes hit or missed opportunities on the way out the door. I can say for me, nothing is ‘colder’ than that MN winter air slapping you in the face after a loss. Not that I wasn’t entertained!
I will not even begin to guess what color or flavor a Flecher/Richards Kool Aid will be, but if they give me the line that I need to be patient. Yuck! I think we hired some winners! Someone that is sitting down right now saying what do we need to do to be better than half the teams in the league. I would prefer that we make those choices in free agency, or if in trade, that we are not giving up future draft picks.
Your right! Gaboriks contribution of 23 points is meaningless, but it also wasn’t enough for a team that missed the playoff. I don’t care who they bring in, as long they think it fits there ‘uptempo and offensive’style of play and they make they beat out half the teams in the league and make the playoffs.
Mister Argon Beast. Yes you can do it the way the Wild is going to try to do it. No way in teh work is it possible to ply like that and be consistent. Not like the Wild organization was headed before Leopold
With injuries you can still win with defensive type hockey
Say your squad is winning playing agressive and in one game Gaby and PMB get hurt then what ?
Yes maybe they can get like Detroit someday but what if they never make it. Its a hell of a risk Mister Argon. Leopold had a nice deal here but he chose to try it this way.
Dont get me wrong argonBeast, it will be entertaining it always is. I just would be more happier if they won
Sorry - No way in the world is it possible to play(keyboard problem)
nhlnumbers.com has updated their team rosters with 09-10 cap info for anyone interested.
Is Backstrom’s NTC written or one of those DR oral specials?
I thought it was written Encrimson’d…. My brain isn’t all there today though, so maybe I am wrong.
I’m pretty sure it is written.
Backstrom’s NTC is written. Has validity.
PMB’s NTC was verbal. No longer valid. The FSM can be moved at CF’s whim if the right deal coes along.
My fingers aren’t going wher my mind wants them to. Again.
That’s “…if the right deal comes along.”
“Last, Gaby scored 13 goals for us last year. If Fletch can’t find a way to replace 13 goals we’re in serious trouble.” NiNY - you made my day. Thanks.
kj: if I was looking for something to do next Friday, do you have any suggestions?
WRT — Same thing with Schultz’s NTC. Verbal.
And I thought Mr. ATX warned you all to leave Butch out of the trade talk…?
WildATX: Sorry, Ma’am, just pointin’ out the facts. Blame the original poster, not the person who answers it.
And yes, you’re right in that Schultz also had a verbal NTC. But then again, Schultz leaving would leave a bigger hole than the FSM leaving.
Regarding the Sedin gals: If you’re going to represent Sweden, at least be big, blonde, and sexy like Mats Sundin. Not red-headed and pale like Pippi Longstocking. No offense, Russo’s Evil Twin.
Hey now, there’s no need to be mean to PMB. We don’t know that Schultz will leave a bigger hole at this point in time.
And you see what you did there? You’ve got me breaking my “no posting at work rule”!
one of those DR oral specials
I couldn’t let that go by without a double-take…
Sparky… POTD
Mason gets the Calder
Ovi gets the Pearson
Datsyuk gets the Selke
Steve Sullivan gets the Masterton
Datsyuk gets the Lady Byng
Thomas & Fernandez get the Jennings (I still really like Manny & I like Timmy too so woohoo since it couldn’t be our goalies)
kg: thanks! Does Backs look dapper?
Datsyuk is so darn good.
Moreau gets the King Clancy
Luongo gets the Scotia Bank Fan Fav Award
I may be female & straight but can still appreciate that there are some good looking hockey wives & girl friends in the audience.
No sign of Backs yet M 03, will let you know.
Thomas gets the Vezina.
Backs looks very Dapper. Wish he could have won.
TIMMY crying
Julien gets the Jack Adams
Mister Know It All:
You frequently criticize the organization, especially the owner, yet you have not posted, to my knowledge, what they should have done. So, what do you think the Wild should have done? Criticizing is easy, just look at political leaders. Coming up with ideas, now that’s the challenge. Show us your mettle.
Iginla gets the Mark Messier Leadership Award
food
Chara gets the Norris
Malkin gets the Art Ross
Ovi gets the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy
Jean Beliveau gets the Lifetime Achievement Award
Good call on Beatles “Love”, Russo. It’s mindblowingly good.
You’ll have to let us know what Niklas thought about it.
