Wild make qualifying offers to Harding, Pouliot among others
Posted on June 29th, 2009 – 4:09 PMBy Mark Wollemann
Russo is flying now, so we post this as a favor to him:
Here’s the breakdown of the players who received qualifying offers from the Wild:
C Kyle Brodziak
LW Robbie Earl
G Josh Harding
RW Danny Irmen
LW Benoit Pouliot
D Clayton Stoner
And here’s the list of those who didn’t get offers and now become unrestricted free agents who can shop for a team starting July 1:
D Paul Albers
LW Riley Emmerson
LW Dan Fritsche
LW Peter Olvecky
Fritsche was probably the player most expected would be cut loose, based on the acquisition of Brodziak at the draft. So no big surprise there.
About Pouliot, Fletcher said: “We’re excited to see where he is come training camp. He’s had his ups and downs along the road, but (new coach) Todd Richards is excited about seeing him in camp. We want to see if he can push his career forward, take the next step. It’s up to him, but we want to give him that opportunity.”
He said not qualifying Fritsche and Olecky was a roster “flexibility” issue. About Olvecky, Fletcher said making him a qualifying offer might possibly have “made him eligible for a one-way contract. We wanted to keep the option open of a two-way contract.” So, by not qualifying him, Fletcher said he still held out hope that he could reach agreement on a two-way deal and keep Olvecky in the fold. Fletcher said it was important for the franchise to have as much financial flexibility as possible heading into free agency.
The NHL free agency period opens on Wednesday at 11 a.m., so stay tuned to this site for constant updates.
Russo will be back on later this afternoon to update this post.
147 Responses to "Wild make qualifying offers to Harding, Pouliot among others"
Mark: It’s Wednesday at 11 A.M., the free agency period starts. Not Friday.
Other than that, not bad…
The note on Olvecky makes a lot of sense. My first thought when I saw he didn’t receive an offer was that they were trying to do something different with the contract.
When Olvecky showed up for a two game tease in the Playoffs it was obvious he improved while up in Minny.
Really in the three seasons I’ve seen him he has improved quite a lot. He’s also starting to look big.
#3?
“What a stupid move. Brodziak was a local kid who loved playing here. He was their second best face-off man.”
This is one of the comments at the end of the Mansiere article (Bro is too ethnic) from an Edmontonian.
They have homer dolt’s in Canada too.
did you hear how Canada was named. Two Canucks sat next to a fire and took turns.
“C ‘eh, N ‘eh, D ‘eh.”
In honor of the great Ed McMahon
HHHHHeeeeeeeyyyyyyooooooooooo!
Ah, we hear from the boss!
11:00 Wed - Free Agent signing period begins
11:00:01 Wed - Gaborik signs with Vancouver (They protest too much)
11:00:02 Wed - Gaborik’s brother is dumped as Wild Euro scout
Sorry, folks. The editor needs an editor.
Wow! The Big Wig!
Didn’t Russo talk about getting incriminating (sp?) photos of TooL?
Mark - Did he get a couple of you too? He couldn’t get Stencils to blog for him - or maybe Lynn? 
Nice job Mark.. getting insight on Olvecky and Pouillot! Mssr. Russo will be proud.
Nice job Mark.. getting insight on Olvecky and Pouilot! Mssr. Russo will be proud.
In about 42-1/2 hours, I’ll be doing what I did last year at this time: Watching TSN, and refreshing about 7 websites for instant news about who ends up where, while my whiteboard (which is incidentally made of glass) gets a workout in multicolored dry erase pens.
This year, I’ll add my phone to the mix, as it auto-updates about 20 twitter accounts of various NHL media types all looking to break the story of who just signed where.
If you remember last year, the stunner of all deals wasn’t really the Hossa to Detroit move.. It was Jeff Finger to Toronto for a boatload of cash and everyone, and I mean everyone was scratching their heads in amazement wondering if the senior Fletch had lost his marbles.
With teams in cap trouble already, and others hoping to make a splash, I’d say we probably won’t see something like that again, but instead I think we’ll see a few quick hits, then nothing, as several premier FA’s sit back and wait for the money that will never arrive.
Man, thought for a second I took the wrong day off.
I took Wednesday off. I labeled it an early 4th vaca, but really its just because it’s UFA day.
Best offseason day of the year! Though I know I’ll end up upset about something. Always do.
Man I want wednesday off… I foresee a total lack of production at work starting at 11, here’s hoping I don’t get fired for prioritizing correctly…
Does anyone know what the league minimum salary is?
And I was given Wednesday off, haha! And a lot of other days…d’oh.
Surprised to see that Eminger and Anthony Steward of FLA not qualified.
Marcel Goc of SJS not qualified either…I always thought he was a good third line center…but don’t worry, we have Brodziak or Belanger there so I won’t suggest interest in him.
Too bad about Fritsche…I kind of liked his energy out there, not a bad low liner and is only 23.
Hope Olvecky gets worked into the fold as written. Blogger Aaron is right on Olvecky’s improvement and he too is only 23 and getting big.
Anyone think there is a chance they move Shep to wing if he can’t improve in the faceoff circle? Boy, if he isn’t spending every day this summer taking faceoffs, he deserves a good whippin.
Wild Road Tripper says:
June 29th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Mark: It’s Wednesday at 11 A.M., the free agency period starts. Not Friday.
Other than that, not bad…
Am I missing something when i read this i don’t see anything that say’s friday
wild1 - he fixed it already
Jonsey
ok i thought i was going a little crazey
thank’s
Fletcher said he still held out hope that he could reach agreement on a two-way deal and keep Olecky in the fold.
That’s good. Sucks to not be given a qualifying offer, but at least they might ask him back if they have the chance.
El Gato -
There’s NO way the Canucks sign Gaborik. That might be the dumbest rumor of this off-season.
It won’t happen, sport. Never. They have no interest in him.
Gabby will be lucky if LA is still interested in him. Or the Isles. But if I were Chuck Fletcher, I’d take that five year, $35 million offer off the table quick! Gabby might find it a lot tougher out there than he thinks. No one has any money. If they did, Dany Heatley would be gone, and Hossa would already be signed by Detroit.
Gabby comes back begging. That’s my opinion. And I say let him go and get someone that hasn’t missed 103 games the past three seasons.
Besides, Gabby’s agent hates the Canucks GM almost as much as he hates Risebrough.
And I was given Wednesday off, haha! And a lot of other days…d’oh.
I lol’d. That was very funny Kevin.
Sounds like Lala read that Vancouver Sun article today….
That was very funny Kevin.
Have to be able to laugh at yourself, right?
MuN,
That Jeff Finger contract was a head scratcher indeed. Not sure what that was about but someone wrote a serious article claiming Cliff Fletcher had confuse Finger with Sauer.
I still think Gaby and Hossa both end up in Vancouver, Sun article notwithstanding.
Argh! My comments below were put in the wrong thread so I will do it again here:
IMO I dont think Pouliot is worth receiving a qualifying offer. Regardless of the change in philosophy from Lemaire to Richards this guy has had more than enough chances to prove himself and done nothing. While I won’t go so far as to hoping he fails, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he doesn’t get it done again
What Richards said about Pouliot is very much what DR said about Pouliot before last year’s camp, IIRC.
WildFan,
If the new management let Pouliot walk for free and he thrived under a new franchise we would never hear the end of it. If he was a second round pick or something like that this wouldn’t even be an issue but he was the 4th overall pick. I wouldn’t be upset if he was packaged in a trade but as noted several times he has little to no trade value because of his poor numbers and his reputation. I agree that his window may be closing but it hasn’t slammed shut yet…
Lucky good point. I never thought of the walk for free angle. The only other problem I had with the offers was why Irmen got one and not Fritsche? I liked Danny F and am sorry to see him go.
Let’s move Sheppard to ….. Houston.
I believe Pouliot as a 1st rounder should have one more chance…not for him!!! For the team! As a hopeful team asset, the team is right to try one more time. Enough has been said of his talent..one last try to work on his head.
Have to be able to laugh at yourself, right?
That is indeed correct. Keep that attitude and you’ll be gravy. Hope you find something pretty quickly dood.
Here’s hoping we can get Hossa. Long shot, I know.
Buzz Eklund’s Twitter: Saku Koivu to Anaheim….
For the people that want to ditch Pouliot because he hasn’t paid off, just remember the Coyotes dumped Briere for nothing and it worked out great for the Sabres.
If Eklund says Saku is going to Anaheim it is nearly a moral certainty that he will end up anywhere but Anaheim…
Eklund’s been sniffing glue again huh…
McKenzie has it that NYR and the Oil are the only teams left with Heatley interest and neither has had made - http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283236
has had made = has made a significant offer - is it Wednesday yet?
Brodziak article in the Edm Sun - http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/2009/06/29/9975091.html
and TSN is saying the Wild are not in the Heatley Sweepstakes anymore.
I kind of wonder if the Wild aren’t going to lay in the weeds a little bit in the FA market. With all the teams under cap stress, the Wild is sitting on a mountain of cash by comparison. I kind of think what the Wild will be able to offer a top flight FA might be pretty good by comparison.
I think the Sedin Sisters would look ok in Iron Range Red… I also kind of hope Gaborik signs with the Nucks. My friend in Vancouver was just giddy about the idea, until I reminded him that he felt the same way about Demitra. At the time, I told him “our loss is your loss.” In January he emailed and said “Was he like this with the Wild? Shows up about every third game?” In March I got an email that just said “OK. I see what you meant…”
I really think Fletch might take a wait and see approach to the FA frenzy. Unlike DR though, I think Fletcher will actually pull the trigger when the time comes.
There is no way a prima-donna 2 time runner-up like Hossa takes a chance on a fledgling franchise such as our own. The guy has talent, and we have pieces to build around him successfully. However, his head is seemingly stuck up his hind-end. Watch him probably have to take a minor pay cut to get a multi-year deal done. Not the best UFA season to be named Marian now is it?
I for one am bummed that Fritche did not get an offer. I think he brings more to the club than Benny Poohbah.
I understand the thinking of not giving up on a 1st rounder, but Fritzie sure as heck did more for the team on the ice last year than Poohblah did.
And why offer a career minor leaguer in Irmen a contract? He is a dime a dozen player.
Gotta agree with Dampland on that one…offer for Irmen had to be his $640K plus 10%, where as Fritche would have cost his $875K plus 5%. So Fritsche would have cost appx $220K more per season. I think I would rather have Fritsche even with that incremental cost rather than Irmen.
PATIENCE : PATIENCE
Wednesday will be an exciting day. Does anyone really believe that Gaby will still NOT be a Canuck at 11:00:01 Central Time Wednesday? If you do, gulp down another pitcher of Kool-Aid…
…and wait as Chuck Fletcher un-does all that DR did to hamstring this team. (Biggest possible move: not re-signing Skoula!)
Irmen getting over $700K? No, that shouldn’t happen, unless he is on a two-way contract. He may have impressed our Texas contingent mightily in the AHL playoffs, but it’s just that… the AHL playoffs, not the NHL.
And for those of you who hate Eklund, he is now in his ‘bunker mentality’ mode in his south Jersey home, throwing out massive amounts of you-know-what just to see what sticks.
Remember, Eklund’s wrong nearly 97% of the time!
Rev: I agree that I doubt Hossa will land here, but everyone has a price. And, if he does take a pay cut, that should help the Wild by setting a lower standard for a similar quality player.
NiNY agree with your blog post today. Can’t post comments to yours or ms. c’s blogs from my phone. Can only read them.
Ms. c, late on this comment but loved the hot goalie blog, Hedberg is just..well..YUMMY!
Ain’t he though? Wow. That post will get me through a good part of the summer. Hell, that one picture of Moose watering himself will get me through at least 2 weeks in August.
We really need more female photographers in hockey to capture those… special moments.
Hope you find something pretty quickly dood.
Thanks. It won’t be a way to make a living, but I’ll probably be a stringer for the old paper, and I’ve been told I’d get a higher payday than other stringers they’ve used, so there’s that. It’ll help.
Penguins won’t be players in the FA market. They re-signed Guerin tonight.
That’s excellent that they re-signed Guerin.
Not sure how to take that, Ms. C, so I’m going to take it at face value. It’s even more awesome since his salary will be $2 million (bonuses up to $2.85M.) He made $4.5 million last year.
Face value is exactly how I meant it. He seemed to be a real missing link for that team, along with the coaching change. From reading Bourne’s blog, I knew he was one of those “glue” guys in the room. Can’t beat that and esp. of you can get a bargain.
of=if
Yep, he was. Stories circulating now that his personality played a HUGE part during the run. How he walked into the locker room and threw a one-liner zinging Crosby right away, treating Crosby as one of the guys instead of how the media treats him. Really loosened up the locker room.
Nice bargain too. My understanding is some of those bonuses aren’t likely to be reached so that’s a comfy cap hit, and just for one year.
Well, TSN is reporting that Gillis is going to Sweden to re-sign the Sedins. Their agent is in Sweden also.
So, I don’t think Gaborik will sign with the Canucks at 11:01.
I think we might have what happened last FA. The elite guys didn’t sign on the first day but a day or two later.
I know that everything is rumor right now, but I am worried since no rumors involve the Wild. All the good players are going elsewhere it looks.
But management better figure out something cause our lineup may be the worst one of the worst in the NHL this fall otherwise.
Pessimistic are we Simon? We won’t be as bad as the Isle, or the Bolts, or the Leafs, etc… I perdict a fairly similar season as last year.
Throwing this out there with absolutely nothing backing it up but my humble opinion: Wild should go for Chad Larose. I think he will fit in an uptempo style. Good energy.
LaRose is going to be gooood. Hated playing against him in the Eastern Final.
ms. c, I think if we trade Harding I could get through it better if we got Hedberg from Atlanta to be our benchwarmer. He could look really good in IRR (although the blue is good). Mmmmmm, yummy, he is just yummy. (Yes, still very happily married but not blind).
Russo will be back on later this afternoon to update this post.
Shenanigans
You knew it wasn’t real, FFS. But that’s okay. Russo’s been busting it pretty good, except for lolling around beautiful Vermont.
I already offered up taking Hedberg off my Thrash friend’s hands and I think I could feel her eyes welling up from across the internet. I mean, poor Trash fans… they need SOMETHING. Might as well be a ripping hot back-up goalie.
I like all he decisions Flecth has made thus far. He has done a solid job. The big thing is he has brought good energy and freshness to the job, something that DR was not doing anymore
Of my favorite free agents for the Wild
This is my free agent wants
(1) Martin Havlat- Nice and clean- Not like Gaby
(2) Gaborick sined to a reasonable deal for 4 years like Russo has mentioned or a 1 year deal
(3) Hossa, If he is receptive to the Wild and they cant get Gaby or Havlat.
(3) Mike Cammelery- 82 points last year
(4) Alex Tanguay - nice fit
(5) Joe Sakic, A fresh start for a different team would work great for him. I will take him at a reasonable price and for a 1 year deal. I am not scared of smokin joes age. Can you say Sakic and Brunnete
(6) Maxim Afinogenov what is his price and how does he fit after you weed through the big names you may or may not sign. Injuries a concern
(7) Chris Neil He would be nice but will likely be a luxury they cant pay for
(8) Mats Sundin sure he is the 20 million dollar man- Will he sign for reasnable dough ?
Finally- It does not seem the Wild is going to give up important assets as they should not. If you can trade PMB and Zids for Heatley great do it
For the Wild I like the veteran players who are scorers and hold are assets
Short term deals with veterans
Plenty of veterans available or that could become availale. Joe Sakic (Brunette), Mats Sundin (probably not as who could afford) Make a check on Jagr but thats a long shot, and finally Mike Modano who needs a change of scenery as his stats will show
All the above can help the Wild get more offense
You knew it wasn’t real, FFS. But that’s okay
Yeah, I know.
your back at it mkia.I can see what you are saying now after looking at your free agent list.
I am a fan and I want big name free agents. You are talking about holding on to our assets and adding veteran players with a history of offense who are in a need of a change of scenery. Is this what you are saying mkia ?
Yes Mister Rodent this is what I am saying. Just until the Wild are able to ramp up. Guys like Sakic, Sundin, Modano you can sign for a short term. You know Mister Rodent, Gaborik might sign for a short term as well which again would be good for the Wild and good for him as he can prove he is healthy.
I like your list mkia. I would say out of that list I like Havlat the most, Hossa would be nice too but if Gabby’s hip is really healed I would rather have him over Hossa. I am pumped though about the new changes in GM and coach. I think this is the earliest I’ve ever been excited about the Wild.
<a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051077/”*sigh*
“(1) Martin Havlat- Nice and clean- Not like Gaby”
Havlat shouldn’t even be on the short list — he’s a lesser Gabby and less reconstructed. One good season in a contract year does not a great acquisition make.
ms.c - you owe me about a half a roll of paper towels from wiping coffee off my keyboard. Plus my dog’s all freaked out now. She thought I was choking, and tried to go all Lassie on me, and ended up scratching up my legs.
No more funnies like that - too dangerous
From the previous thread:
Hockeydad says:
June 29th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
It certainly is a clean slate, and that’s fine - I think Fletch is entitled. But it’s still interesting to me that folks have made this point about being happy to be in the running for these big deals without even an acknowledgement that, as far as we knew or was reported to us, the same was true for DR.
Maybe I’m way off base… rather than being happy the Wild are in the mix as compared to previously (which has been shown to not necessarily be true) they are happy that Fletcher seems to be willing to go for it this year as opposed to simply ‘rebuilding’ or going for the 1st overall pick next year. Make sense? It’d be way easy for Fletcher to hold on to what we have, sign all our FA’s (except Gaborik), qualify all our RFA’s and say “Let’s see what they can do under a new system.” Nope, instead he says “We have holes. We need to fill them. The current roster won’t get it done, let’s get to work.”
If only I’d gotten the link right RIK.
Ms. C.: That was one of the better ones you’ve dug up in a while. Freaky good!
Ward Mtn. says:
June 29th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
What Richards said about Pouliot is very much what DR said about Pouliot before last year’s camp, IIRC.
DR also pretty much guaranteed him a spot on the roster too. Perhaps without that guarantee and with new management, Pouliot will actually look at this as a last chance and get his butt in gear.
Gong Show says:
June 29th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Let’s move Sheppard to ….. Houston.
Can’t, I suggested that several weeks ago and Don Russo himself stepped in and set me straight (still stings a little). He’s played too many games with the big club. To get to Houston, he’d have to go through waivers and it is highly likely some team would claim him and place him on their AHL team.
If you want to be rid of Sheppard, a trade is the best way to do it. Otherwise, hold on to the hope that he’ll improve under Richards.
Another day closer…
Five Forward System says:
June 29th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
McKenzie has it that NYR and the Oil are the only teams left with Heatley interest and neither has had made - http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283236
The Ragners? Really? How can they fit that under the cap? Adding Heatley’s $7.5 hit to Gomez’s $7.357 hit, Drury’s $7.05 hit, Redden’s $6.5 hit, Rosival’s $5 hit and Lundqvist’s $6.875 hit doesn’t leave a whole lot of money for the rest of the roster.
i don’t think #10 will sign with vancouver at 11:01 and i don’t think he is signing here, so why do i need kool-aid?
DR also pretty much guaranteed him a spot on the roster too. Perhaps without that guarantee and with new management, Pouliot will actually look at this as a last chance and get his butt in gear.
Pouliot also strikes me as a more offensive player and might, might, perform better under a system other than JL’s.
For just the reasons you mentioned, G*…he’ll be a Canuck by lunchtime Wednesday, IMO.
One day closer…to the end of the Martin Skoula era in Minnesota…
I also think that Backs will be on the max dose of your average antidepressant before the third game if Richard’s system is as open as we’re expecting.
Goody, I think I read a rumor that the Rags were wanting to send Gomez to OTT in their deal.
The Ragners? Really? How can they fit that under the cap? Adding Heatley’s $7.5 hit to Gomez’s $7.357 hit, Drury’s $7.05 hit, Redden’s $6.5 hit, Rosival’s $5 hit and Lundqvist’s $6.875 hit doesn’t leave a whole lot of money for the rest of the roster.
Who else do you need on your roster?
Wafer, you’ve got 1 forward line, one defensive pair and a goalie. I’m thinking they’ll want to rest at some point and a bunch of AHLers aren’t going to keep the opposition off the scoreboard.
I suppose Gomez to OTT solves the problem.
Luke G = You cant spend the money on Gaby and Hossa and walk away having the warm and fuzzies
Cammalarry (spell check) maybe the player that gives you more warm fuzzies when your righting the check then Gaby and Hossa
Are the Sens going into rebuild or are they trying to move Heatley and re-arm for another run? Wait, what am I saying? I couldn’t care less.
Let Heatley stay in the hockey purgatory he created for himself. And if that takes down the Sens for a while…well you make your bed, you gotta lie in it.
I was bummed when I see they didnt make an offer for Fritche. I thought he played very well, he is a big time hussler also. I like the guy.
Weird how in the NHL you can work your arse off, stay healthy, play great, and lose your job or get traded. Part of the game, I know. They better not trade Clutterbuck either.
Like I have been saying. Lets say you cash in with the veteran players, like Sakic, Sundin, and he market price is 3.5 million on each player. Oh yes not to forget about Modano but he is after free agency.
I would rather have Sakic- Sundin- for a combined 7 million on a short term then Gaby and Hossa at 15 million. The Wild cant afford 15 million nyways
I fully approve of the plan to move Shep to Houston. 
Except for the part where he has to go thru waivers and gets picked up. Yeah, ain’t gonna happen.
I suppose Fletcher could still offer Fritsche a UFA contract as he could with Olvecky. Same money as he made last year (or less if he feels he’s overpaid), etc. Not saying he should, but he could.
Did you all see this article from the east side?
http://www.twincities.com/wild/ci_12717423
Man that Salcer is a real piece of work.
For just the reasons you mentioned, G*…he’ll be a Canuck by lunchtime Wednesday, IMO.
so is it if you don’t agree with WRT then you drink kool-aid? I don’t get it. thought i did, this whole kool-aid thing back when it meant you drank it when you wouldn’t blindly rip the wild brass. now i am lost.
doesn’t really matter
lucky, you predicting ice girls yet? you are on a roll and i want ice girls.
geez…I guess it’s just Gaby and Ronnie-poo against the world, isn’t it?
What a yutz.
I wonder what’s easier for another GM to believe: that Salcer’s right and the whole organization is poisoned with arrogant jerks - none of whom can appreciate the true talent potential of his star client, choosing instead to only see the glass half-empty view of his injury history, and even overhyping that…
…or that a regime change has taken place and Salcer’s still lobbing grenades at the Wild, so maybe it’s him that’s the bad apple - not the organEYEzation?
And, oh by the way, if the conversation that wasn’t characterizable as an offer went something like this:
Fletch: So, what’s it going to take for Marian to re-sign with us?
Captain Ron: Well, your predecessor offered us $83M over 7 (or whatever, I don’t remember exactly)…that sounds pretty good.
Fletch: First, I’m not my predecessor. Second, let me think about that….yeah, no.
Ronnie “Dutch” Salcer: Fine! You don’t want to negotiate with us? You’ll rue this day, Fletcher! You will RUE. THIS. DAY!!!!
Then I’m cool with Fletch.
Lastly, I’m a little hazy on the exact numbers…but can someone remind me what the perceived odds were of Gaby re-signing with us in the first place? Because I seem to recall Don Russo repeating ad nauseum that they ranged between nil and bopkus.
Get over yourself, Salcer.
Funny stuff NiNY. Salcer now and always has come off as quite the D-Bag.
Get over yourself, Salcer
$alcer is ripping the Wild for his failure in his client’s contract situation.
As much as DR fumbled the #10 situ, $alcer did too as #10 shouldn’t see an 8 mil per year offer anytime soon.
Salcer is the epitome of DOOSH.
Why is it a given that Gabby will sign with Vancouver — Just because he bought some land up there, and his little friend Demo plays there? No way. The organization doesn’t want him. The fans REALLY don’t want him. And he probably wouldn’t be happy with their style of play.
As much as DR fumbled the #10 situ, $alcer did too as #10 shouldn’t see an 8 mil per year offer anytime soon.
A-freakin’-men, G*.
Eklund says the Sedin Sisters are headed to MTL. And the odd of that actually happening??? 0.001%
Eklund is bad entertainment.
Eklund is bad entertainment.
It’s like a car wreck. I try not to look, but I can’t help it sometimes.
Eklund says the Sedin Sisters are headed to MTL. And the odd of that actually happening??? 0.001%
I think you’re giving him too much credit.
Otto: Vancouver is about to lose most of their current offense (the Sedins) to free agency; unless Gillis can pull a rabbit out of his hat and get them signed today. They will have lots of money to sign lots of Slovaks…
…who will show up about one game out of three.
G*: You’re right when you say Salcer blew it when he had a 10-year, $83M deal on the table from DR. He told his client not to sign. Bad move.
Just got word: the Kool-Aid stand was closed today. Lack of interest.
Only one more day of the Skoula era!
ATxWF: You forgot when talking about Eklund:
(e67)
Can it be tomorrow now? I’m ready to do this this.
Oh yeah, thanks WRT… but I think it was an (e999).
Although, according to TSN the Hab are going after anything with two legs and a stick in their hand. http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283236
*snort*
Eklund says the Sedin Sisters are headed to MTL. And the odd of that actually happening??? 0.001%
Correct me if I am wrong, but if this comes to fruition, couldn’t Montreal be investigated for tampering?
From St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
“So the team has few pressing needs. John Davidson, Larry Pleau, Doug Armstrong and Co. are shopping for a goaltender (Josh Harding? Craig Anderson? Scott Clemmensen? Ty Conklin?) to replace Manny Legace and another offensive defenseman to boost the transition game.”
I say offer up Hards and Zids in a package deal, yeah?
The Blues definitely have some interesting young players and prospects that could come the other way. I’d be okay with a trade with the Blues.
Mister Road Tripper, it is fact that DR and Bob Gainey have prejudice against the players from Minnesota as it pertains to the ability to be effective in the grind of the NHL
I say offer up Hards and Zids in a package deal, yeah?
Sounds like a perfect fit to me…. But what would we get in return?
*grits teeth and holds back* >_<
I dunno. A couple of picks and something cute for the farm? I wonder if they QO’d Chris Holt… I’d be all kinds of “Anton who?” if they brought him in the play behind Brusty.
Atta boy, ATX…
A couple of picks and something cute for the farm?
LMAO
*grits teeth and holds back* >_<
Russo’s Rants, brought to you by Preparation H.
according to TSN the Hab are going after anything with two legs and a stick in their hand
Austin, this statement can be taken all kinds of wrong, thought it was supposed to be a family blog
I do what I can to add an ‘edge’ to the PG rating kgopher
Ms. C. is ’spot on’ this morning!
…”and something cute for the farm?”
Priceless!
So if Salcer is in “rip-on-the-Wild” mode I guess we can safely, not that it wasn’t a foregone conclusion already, say goodbye and asta-la-veeesta to one Mr. Marion “Sugar Groins” Gaborik. Ya know, I’m actually getting more and more OK with it every day. Many a star player has left many an organization over the years and life still goes on. As my Dad used to be fond of saying…”Don’t let the doorhandle hit ya in the arse on the way out”.
I hope tomorrow lives up to the hype we’re all giving it beforehand and doesn’t turn out to be sort of a bust like the draft did in terms of all the trades that DIDN’T happen. Like someone mentioned, with so many teams strapped for $$$, the moves / signings might not start to happen until a few days from now, or maybe even a few weeks. We’ll see……
Salcer has no one to rip on the Wild any more, and he won’t rip on himself (see earlier in this thread) so he just bombasts in general and then runs away.
Gaby is gone; I’ve said he’s going to the Canucks, and unless he signs somewhere else, I think I’ll stick with it, good or bad.
Gaby sure knows how to pick the agents, no? IIRC, Salcer was his pinch hitter when his prior didn’t get the job done.
I appreciate it Austin.
ms. c, loved the something cute for the farm. Have to admit, the Wild do have some of the best looking players in the NHL.
WRT - for the record Gaby scored 10 goals in his last 11 games. Not exactly the one in three picture you painted.
Although, you could easily argue he was playing unreal hockey because he was motivated to prove something headed into free agency.
I could just as easily argue it was a sign he was fully healthy and ready to dominate the league.
Either way, I don’t think Wild fans should be so indifferent about this guy leaving.
I don’t blame Salcer one bit after the way Smug ran the show. Any idea who else he represents so we can strike them off the list as well?
Either way, I don’t think Wild fans should be so indifferent about this guy leaving.
I am not happy about him leaving. I love watching the guy play. If we could keep him I would be all for it. As much as his attitude sucks, and as much of a Doosh Salcer is… if Gaby can stay healthy I think we all know what he is capable of.
. Any idea who else he represents so we can strike them off the list as well?
Isn’t it Burns and Boogie?
As much as his attitude sucks
Gaborik’s attitude? What’s wrong with his attitude?
I think it is Burns, Boogie, and Schultz.
Food is served…
Is $alcer trying to negotiate in the press? Is he using the negative comments about the new regime to try and pressure them into making an offer - because Gho$t will be grossly disappointed tomorrow?
It seems like a desperate move.
If Fletcher truly wants to burn the bridge, he would go public with his side. However, I suspect he will keep saying ‘no comment’ to keep professionalism in his demeanor.
Besides, throwing players or their agents under the bus doesn’t exactly motivate UFAs to want to come here.
Right Smug?
Gaborik’s attitude? What’s wrong with his attitude?
Maybe his atttitude isn’t that bad, but I was reffering to his tendency to take a night off every once in awhile. He takes a few shifts off pretty much every game too. More his work ethic than his attitude I suppose.
Something in the P. Press article doesn’t quite add up. If Salcer is correct in saying the Wild are done with Gaborik then why didn’t the Wild move his rights?
This Fletcher guy loves draft picks. If he had truly written off Gaborik wouldn’t he have traded his rights for something? Even a 5th round pick, anything.
This Fletcher guy loves draft picks. If he had truly written off Gaborik wouldn’t he have traded his rights for something? Even a 5th round pick, anything.
This Fletcher guy loves draft picks. If he had truly written off Gaborik wouldn’t he have traded his rights for something? Even a 5th round pick, anything.
This Fletcher guy loves draft picks. If he had truly written off Gaborik wouldn’t he have traded his rights for something? Even a 5th round pick, anything.
This Fletcher guy loves draft picks. If he had truly written off Gaborik wouldn’t he have traded his rights for something? Even a 5th round pick, anything.
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Interesting article. Were did you got all the information from? Did you type it yourself or you copy it from elsewhere?
Hey, can I share your post with my readers? Let me know if it’s okay or not.
