Gaborik “will always appreciate” support of Wild fans
Posted on July 8th, 2009 – 12:10 PMBy Mark Wollemann
UPDATE: Russo will be on in a bit to update, but it appears Saku Koivu has agreed to a one-year deal with Anaheim, according to the Orange County Register.
Former Wild star Marian Gaborik, who signed a free agent deal with the New York Rangers last week, met with Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan in the lobby of the St. Paul Hotel this morning. He had texted Michael Russo and offered to meet with local reporters in “45 minutes.” Souhan was the only media member to meet Gaborik’s deadline.
Here’s an excerpt of his interview with Souhan:
“I just wanted to make sure that the fans and the people of Minnesota know how much I appreciate them. I’ve been here for nine years. You become friends with a lot of people and I will always appreciate their support. Now I’m moving on to the Rangers. I’m a Ranger and I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my life.”
Gaborik also wanted to reiterate that the Wild never made him a contract offer at the start of free agency July 1, so it’s not as if he turned down an offer from the team.
Souhan will write a column for Thursday’s Star Tribune about his sit-down with Gaborik.
152 Responses to "Gaborik “will always appreciate” support of Wild fans"
Whatever. See ya.
Dave: +1
It’s nice that he came for Burns’ wedding.
Dave, is that directed at Gaborik, Souhan or both?
Never received and turned down an offer, he turned down the 10 year $78 million (or so) offer at the beginning of the 2008-09 season. He doesn’t deserve to play in MN anymore anyways. Good riddens to injury prone Groin-rik. I already gave my jersey away and ordered my Havlat jersey. GO WILD!!!
Seeing Saku to the Ducks…. Fudge!
Um, and, bye Gaby. Enjoy the continued mediocrity of the Rangers.
@Gabs: Woop-dee-doo. HANL
And what about the contract offer that was made last year? Just more PR BS (I’m glad he rejected last year’s offer).
I am stuck between the Dave/NiNY sentiment and the fact that Gaby deserves some credit for separating his strong and fairly understandable dislike of Smug and TooL and desire to simple play elsewhere from the fans that supported him. However, reiterating this whole “they didn’t offer me a contract” thing is a sad way to close the book as $alcer deserves no respect. I hope Souhan presents both sides of this argument in his column as its pretty clear that CF knew there was no way Gaby was going to look at the paper the contract offer was writen on.
Yep, see ya, classic Gaby as well, meet me in 45 minutes or never.
While I believe that there was really no chance at all of Gaby re-signing here, I do think that Fletch owes us an explanation as to why he did not make an offer to Gaby after he had said that he would. He may have had good reasons, as I said Gaby wasn’t coming back and Fletcher surely realized this, maybe Salcer said not to bother on anything shorter than 8-10 years and Fletcher told him to save it. It would be nice to know what those reasons are.
Saku has made no decision yet. http://www.Thefourthperiod.com says Saku is still trying to stay in Montreal. He said he is willing to take less to finish his career there.
Exhibit A in how to endear yourself to your former fan base and cement your legacy to same is filed under Koskie, Corey.
Anything else, including this “yeah, I gotta run but I could squeeze you all in if you can drop everything and get over here right now” BS, is lacking and just makes you look insincere and selfish.
Good point on the previous contract offer too - makes the whole “Chuck wouldn’t give us an offer” bit even lamer (if possible). But again, he owed a thanks to the fans and he gave it even if it was as inspiring as a DR managing expectations lecture.
The fact that TSN’s poll of the day is who the next captain of the Habs be tells me they’re moving ahead without them. Unfortunate for Saku.
Russo is tweeting Saku to Ducks… iz fer realz, yo.
1 year, 3.25 mil
Why, Saku? Why would you be a dirty duck?
So sad.
Tweet: Russostrib Dan Wood from OC Register texted: Saku Koivu signs w/ Anaheim, one year, $3.25 million; Wild look to trade, go w internal options now #nhl
Jeez Gabby, why do you even care what we think? We all appreciate the work you did while you were here, but make it easier on yourself: take your money and don’t look back, it’s not like we haven’t moved on.
CProulx2: I don’t see that item there, do you have a more specific link.
oops, never mind. . .
Well that’s too bad but not surprising. I figured if Saku decided not to come here to avoid the media glare of playing with his brother (which seems to have been a factor), then SoCal would look like a nice change of scenery from Montreal.
Good Bye Gabby agree with most of the posts just one more last shot at the Wild by making sure everyone knows they didn’t offer him a contract on July 1st. Enjoy the big apple were former hockey Stars go to die ie.. Gretzky, and Jager.
Dreger tweeting about a contract for Cam Barker.
-Chicago won’t have to wait for a grievance to determined Cam Barker’s status. He’s signed a 3 year, $9.25 mil ext.-
Is he confusing that with Versteeg? Or did they sign both?
Wow - that’s the best for his family?
Koivu chose to play with his friend selanne for one year over his brother. Time to panic Fletcher.
Hey gabby,
You have 43 minutes to find your way out of minny!! As they say don’t let the hacky sack hit you in the arse on the way out the door.
Time to panic Fletcher.
More like “Time to call Chicago Fletcher”.
Barker and Versteeg both signed.
if Saku and/or Mikko thought it would be weird playing together, then I think we should be grateful that they were big enough to look at the situation honestly. We wouldn’t have wanted an unhappy pair of Koivu brothers here.
Nevermind.
Is it possible that Saku decided to go with the Ducks for a year because he felt they have a good chance at a run for the cup? Maybe try for him again next year if he still looks good? Is that wishfull thinking?
It is almost sickening to see how hard Russoville works to hate Gaborik.
Skoivu to the D*cks? Crap!
A trade has to be made there are no “internal” options.
How could Saku do that to his mother? It was her dream to see her sons play together.
Given the one year deal it has to be Teemu > Mikko since playing with Mikko could be an option next year. It all depends on who else Fletcher can bring in but I think I am OK with this - Saku should be on a team that is closer than the Wild and as things have developed I have wanted to see if we can get more bang for the buck out of PMB at center. Further, unlike DR who would have spent the last week riding his Harley around, I am sure CF has been working on other options all along.
Sonofab.
I’m reading Saku as wanting to play a year with Salami and then consider Mikko next summer. Stinks.
And I’m not reading Gaby whatsoever.
Gaborik said that the Wild didn’t offer him a contract at the start of FA, so that is under the new regime, not old regime.
Moving on… Saku. I thought he wanted a long-term contract? Maybe he just wanted to play in the bright lights and warm weather of LA and California. His kids can go to Disneyland every day.
Just Gaborik, Goody.
Well, we will see if Fletcher is all talk and no action. I have a hunch it will be a quiet summer on the Wild front. We have traded Gaborik for Havlat and essentially will be the same team as last year, maybe worse.
But did we fire his brother the “agent”?
It is almost sickening to see how hard Russoville works to hate Gaborik.
I don’t hate him. I loved watching him play. I don’t like $alcer though….
I think the Wild are better off without Saku — these twilight veterans that can’t make up their minds seem to be overvalued (Forsberg, Sundin).
Your all right, TSN just reported 1 year worth $3.25 mill. He watns to skate with his best friend in his final year Teemu Selane. Good luck Saku and we’ll see you next year in a Wild uniform. . . hopefully!!
As far as Gabby/New regime contract offers goes: Its quite possible that they didn’t give him an offer because Salcer said to CF, “We don’t want one.” In fact, I’d say its fairly likely. Or, in discussing things with Salcer, CF found what he was looking for, and said no f-ing way, man!
In any case, I’m going to chalk this one up as: Things we’ll never know for sure and shouldn’t talk about anymore because it doesn’t matter
We wont need him next year, Fletch will have it all figured out by then.
HUGE mistake letting Saku go to the Ducks! I was hopeing that mn sports would be worth watching again. This is just another reason why not to buy tickets, not to watch games, not to buy merchandise, and not to build stadiums. I am so disappointed, another team, another year, another halfway piece of …
I don’t find it difficult, Aaron. Though ironically I am sitting here in my Gaborik t-shirt. At least I hope that’s irony so we don’t all have to suffer thru 55 posts about how it’s not.
It’s not so much hate I’m picking up (or feeling myself) but more like, “Don’t do us any favors.” Like, we’ve all moved on. Why are you still talking to us? KWIM?
Crap! So anyway, here is a link, for those interested:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=284086
He wanted to play with his buddy for his last year in the league and will be hoping the Wild might still be interested next year. My take.
On the Gaborik front, did anyone else notice that the mention of no offer included the caveat of “at the start of free agency July 1″. So this does not tell us that Fletcher did not make any offer before July 1.
Who cares he can be the rangers $7million mascot, good luck staying healthy on that ice surface. The x had some of the best ice and you still missed half the games you were here…. GOODBYE.
AiH: I really don’t have to work that hard at all at it.
We’re talking about a player who A) comes across as both amazingly selfish and utterly stupid and B) that provided a whopping 17 goals for us last year - while taking up $6.3M (IIRC) of our cap space.
Sure he has upside potential. Tons of it, even. But I simply don’t see where he has earned my ever-lasting love and affection.
Not saying everyone should feel that way.
Well, if true, according to Nanne, CF and Salcer spoke either on June 29th or June 30th about a possible contract. CF was thinking around $6.5 million/yr and Salcer was thinking around $7.5 million/yr. Since they were so far off, CF didn’t bother to offer a contract.
See you maybe Chuck Knoblauch can tell Gabby where to buy a house. The fans and media there can be brutual ask knobby. never offered a contract he was before July 1 and before May 1 and before april 1
The honeymoon wont last long
I don’t know how you can say it is a HUGE mistake, if he didn’t want to come here what was CF supposed to do about it? Offer him a 10-year deal?
Per says:
July 8th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
HUGE mistake letting Saku go to the Ducks! I was hopeing that mn sports would be worth watching again. This is just another reason why not to buy tickets, not to watch games, not to buy merchandise, and not to build stadiums. I am so disappointed, another team, another year, another halfway piece of …
If signing an aging defensive center was the key piece in your following of the Wild this year you’ve got issues. Saku is ot a superstar and wasn’t going to take them to being a 100 pt. team.
Souhan… Oh great, the worst hockey guy in the Star trib’s sports dept. This should be be good.
Per says:
July 8th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
HUGE mistake letting Saku go to the Ducks!
Let? I’m pretty sure it was Skoivu’s decision as to where he signed.
I don’t think there’s ANY mistake about it. Saku’s decision was quite obviously based upon with whom he would be playing with, not necessarily the contract. It remains to be seen what we offered him, but I would be willing to assume it was sufficient.
All i can say is i hope our game 1 roster is different from our current roster, or I will be dissapointed and hope for the end of the sellout streak.
Cool, but CF better find something because we only have one center now. This is going to be unwatchable.
He better be working the phones as we chat.
I got no problem if a guy wants to acknowledge the fans, most of which supported him during his stay here.
don’t understand the hate
People are hilarious… acting like our current roster will struggle to win one game next season. Why in the world would you hope for teh sellout strak to end?? That makes no sense.
Ogie, he wrote one recently that I thought wasn’t too bad. It was about Fletcher’s tenure so far and how it is a departure from what MN fans are used to. Seemed to be pretty straightforward and balanced in its representation of Fletcher. Of course it was mostly a rip on the basketball, baseball and football teams’ management, but still…
Bit of a gamble for Saku. He’ll be 35+ next year and I would think teams will be a little more reluctant to offer LT deals.
Still sux though.
All i can say is i hope our game 1 roster is different from our current roster, or I will be dissapointed
can we put a sticky on this so the poster doesn’t have to type it in every blog?
Because that is what its going to take to get some action around here, When the pocketbook starts getting affected then you will see results and change.
Wildfan says:
July 8th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
He better be working the phones as we chat.
Yeah, or it might be wise to wait. Other GM’s right now might try to pull one on him because they’ll think he’s desperate at this point. It might also be wise to wait to let some GM’s who are close to or over the cap to ‘twist in the wind’ a bit before graciously taking some salary and talent off their roster.
I don’t know how you can say it is a HUGE mistake, if he didn’t want to come here what was CF supposed to do about it? Offer him a 10-year deal?
funny how a new GM changes everyone’s perspective.
During the dump the dumper days, this was said in reference to HOSSA and summarily dismissed as kool-aid drinking, DR loving blasphme.
He better be working the phones as we chat.
Don’t quit your day job, Wild Fan.
Because that is what its going to take to get some action around here
I’d love to have some of what you are smoking… it must be quite good.
WTF do you call changing the entire organ-eye-zation? We have a new GM and new coaches… it’s going to take some time for them to carve their mark onthe team. Fletcher isn’t a effin miracle worker… jeebus effin christ. He has already done more than DR would have done. A losing season will likely be part of rebuilding.
Well, it’s a bummer Saku won’t be playing here. We still need a top six guy.
Yeah, we need action! Lets start with a new coach and new GM! Then maybe a new FA winger or something!
Green* is also observing the double standard about which I hypothesized a couple of weeks ago.
If the reason Saku chose the Fowl was becuase of a more lucrative deal, then an argument that the Wild better open its pocket book might make sense. There is no evidence, however, that this was the case with Saku.
Yeah, we need action! Lets start with a new coach and new GM! Then maybe a new FA winger or something!
Buck, actions that happened less than a week ago don’t count.. didn’t ya know?
Weird that at age 34 Saku is (likely) passing up on multiyear contract offers to play a single season with the ducks, considering the cap rules about retirement or injury to contracts signed when 35+
I have no problem with Gabby. Clearly his injuries were legit; he certainly provided a lot when he was able to play. Whether the Wild offered or didn’t offer, who cares at this point? He’s gone.
I am disappointed in not getting Saku, but will look forward to seeing little brother put a beat down on him at some point on the ice. My hope now is that the Wild will have moved on by next year with younger, better fish in the sea. And I don’t think Saku would be interested in playing 3rd line, and he certainly isn’t going to be checking.
During the dump the dumper days, this was said in reference to HOSSA and summarily dismissed as kool-aid drinking, DR loving blasphme.
Not by me. DR went after Hossa, he took less money to try to win a cup in Detroit. While I was not a DR fan, I was not a big basher either. He did some good things but ultimately made some bad draft picks and I do think is largely responsible for screwing up the Gaby situation.
When the pocketbook starts getting affected then you will see results and change.
Square that with showing DR the door which surprised everyone. Wildfan meet MKIA, MKIA meet Wildfan. You guys can talk Modano all day long.
Okay people, everyone be nice now. I’ve got to back Wildfan here. I too hope that our game 1 roster is different from the current roster we have. It’s basically the same group of guys that didn’t get us to the playoffs last year.
Now wait a second, don’t start calling me a non-fan. I’m a passionate season ticket holder since our first season. I wouldn’t miss a game. The fact that I am a passionate fan gives me the right to want change with my team. It gives me the right to want more from them.
Yes CF and TR need time to build their own team, granted. So do it then, start now, make a trade with Chicago or someone for additional scorers. Trade Harding, Sheppard, PMB, Gillies…anyone.
When he played, Gabby was one of the best scorers in the game period and now that he is fully healed Fletch lets him walk? I surely am owed an explanation to why you’d offer Havlat a deal and not Gabby. Gabby is a lot better Marty and worth that extra 2.5 million per. He could of signed both even and traded Johnsson or PMB for prospects and still be under the salary cap by 1.5 million like he wanted. Hello? I want an explanation because Fletch’s actions are a serious slap in the face to the fans and the franchise. I will never forgive him for this. He better have a good explanation then. Mark my words Gabby will score 50+ goals this year. You don’t just let your franchise player walk. Sounds like he would have given serious thought and probably would have stayed if he was offered a contract. Whats next are Koivu and Burnzie walking in a few years? At least Smug made the guys offers even if they were sometimes overpaid ones and declined because of the way the franchise was being run. Does Fletch just assume Gabby wasn’t going to say that to the press? It makes Fletch look like a real Tool. Thanks a lot Fletch!
I wonder how much help the captain of the Canadians would help us compared to Pouliot, pretty much a push huh?
btw - rebuilding every year sucks. Think win.
Bummer to see Saku going to Anaheim, but looking at it from his p.o.v. he gets to play with his best friend on a team that I’m sure most would agree looks to have a better shot at winning it all this year than the Wild does.
I’m sure that Fletcher is doing everything he can to get the right guys here to make a run, but he can only do so much with what he’s got. As in cap space/tradeable assets.
Hey we could get Rob Niedermayer, then we’d have both younger brothers, and the Dicks would have both older brothers. 
It might be that if Saku wants to play with Mikko here that he wants Mikko to be the undisputed C on the Wild before coming here. If he came in now, there would be questions about who the real captain is. If Saku waits for Mikko to wear the C permanently it makes it easier for him to come in.
dump the fletcher
If Skoivu wanted four years from CF but he was only willing to give three, Skoivu’s probably thinking one year in Anaheim and maybe three in Minnesota after that equals out. Who knows.
The main thing to remember is that the sky, in fact, is not falling. So if somehow *this* was the last straw and you just can’t take it anymore from this organization, then please back up your text and stop attending/watching/writing.
One unfortunate event does not an excuse to b!tch make.
We have more than one center. We have Koivu, Belanger, Sheppard, and Brodziak. We just switched Pouliot/Olvecky/Fritsche for Brodziak. What we don’t have is a legitimate #1 center. If you say Koivu is #1, then we don’t have a legitimate #2.
Good centers are hard to come by. We saw that with the last regime and we are starting to see it under CF.
Chris, something to think about: Next season Zetterberg will be making 6M a year. Now Gabby is going to be making 7.5M a year. Is Gabby a better player than Zetterberg. Well if your high maybe he is, but you’d have to be pretty high, he isnt even in the same league as Zetterberg. And he is making 1.5M more next year. Thats all you need to know and proof that Gaborik is overpaid.
The fact that I am a passionate fan gives me the right to want change with my team. It gives me the right to want more from them.
It give you the RIGHT to nothing. Being a passionate fan doesn’t make you special. However, I don’t have a problem with your complaint because you are not foolishly hoping that the sellout streak ends. You will continue to go to games even if the team is less than stellar, which is great. Especially since mgmt just changed and everyone should be expecting a few rebuilding years. wildfan is being irrational, you are not.
Also,
It’s basically the same group of guys that didn’t get us to the playoffs last year.
If Havlat stays healthy we should make the playoffs given this logic. Gaby’s injury was the only thing that kept us out of the playoffs last season.
Chris, I hate what happened as much as anyone, but realistically Gabby was as good as gone when he got here. Save at least a little of your anger for DR.
Swami says that the Koivu’s will play together but it won’t be in a Wild uniform.
I could care less about Saku, he just pulled the same stunt Hossa did.
making a trade for the sake of making a trade is just a different kind of idiocy.
They are doing well. It will take time. With so few assets left after the Riser debacle…we need to make sure we get top value for our assets. (I guarantee a trade before the season begins)
Patience my friends.
+1 what the what
THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT.
clearly I don’t want the sellout streak to end or I wouldn’t be coughing up yet another 6k for the upcoming season.
Swami says that the Koivu’s will play together but it won’t be in a Wild uniform.
I gotta find out where you guys get your drugs…
Are you kidding me Kent? If Gabby was on the Red Wings he’d score 50+ goals and have over 100 points. You sir are retarded. Gabby is obviously way more talented.
Wow, it doesn’t take much for the Rubes to swallow the KoolAde. So you add an unproven GM, a coach who’s “great because he’s one of us and trade Havlet for Gaborik. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Here’s the thing about Gabby “not getting an offer”: For all you know, Gabs’ agent told CF straight up: “Gabs wants $Xmil per to come back to Minnesota, otherwise don’t bother making an offer, he ain’t coming back.”
So Fletcher realizes he’s not willing to meet the demand, and doesn’t tender an offer. Then Gabs can claim he wasn’t even given an offer.
Or maybe Fletcher came to that conclusion on his own after seeing the contentious nature between Gabby and The Organization, and thought he could get a better deal elsewhere.
DR made damn sure Gabby would bolt the next chance he got, and that’s exactly what happened.
- dump the fletcher
I believe the new phrase is “Chuck the Chucker”
- Swami says that the Koivu’s will play together but it won’t be in a Wild uniform.
Yep at a little event called the Olympics.
Don’t forget that the reason why the team was so close to making the playoffs was because of Lemaire’s defensive system in IMO. He won us several games just as the defense and Backstrom won us several games.
I don’t know Austin, it’s plausible. Mkoivu is a UFA 2011/12. Skoivu signs a one year deal this year and next. Then whammo, they are both back in MTL, where Skoivu can finish out his career and then passes on the batton of leading MTL to little brother.
Awe, come one Five, I had everyone all riled up and you had to go and figure it out so quickly 
I don’t get the Koivu thing at all!!!
7.5 million for Gabby was affordable, Fletch could have had the exact same team as he has right now minus a FSM or Yawwwnsson with the 1.5 million cap cushion he said he wanted. There is no better deal when Gabby is healthy and now he’s healed that is the biggest mistake in the history of this franchise to let him go.
Sunshine, Nick and I went through that in the SRV blogpost. Mikko is either a world class #2 center or a second tier #1 center. Either way, we need another center, and I’m beginning to warm up to the idea of PMB filling those skates. Especially if CF can swing Harding for Sharp.
Yep at a little event called the Olympics.
Soooo clever…
Foodz btw.
he turned down the wild’s offer last year. what a b*ll sh*tter. gabby thanked the fans by ditching us and running to new york.
Wafer, if we get Sharp, we don’t need PMB to move to C unless it’s on the 3rd line. Sharp is a Center. or is that exactly what you’re saying?
I still want Ilya Kovalchuk.
you would sign a contract that hindered your hockey ability. I wouldn’t have signed either.
The Blackhawks website has Sharp listed as a LW
Will Calgary have to dump OJ? They got to be in cap trouble.
what the what, you’re a hack.
When Gabby came he was scary. Around the net, the puck somehow found his stick every time. Each goal he scored, was one out of i don’t know how many great chances. You cannot replace a player like him.
Wafer:
That’s what Nanne said on Barreiro.
Gaborik is right in saying that the Wild didn’t offer him a contract because they didn’t.
Sharp played Center all last year.
I give the big eff you Fletcher for that one. Fletch replies ” i have no comment on that right now”….
I love hearing people demand an explanation of why such and such did or didn’t happen. Folks - we have no ownership in the team and they owe us nothing of such. Don’t watch or buy the merchandise if you don’t like the product they are giving on the ice.
I may have thought Gabby’s comments were sincere had he played through his nagging injury last year instead of throwing his teammates and franchise under the bus so he could be completely healed by July 1 free agency. You know, like Brunette playing with a torn ACL for the last half of the season….
I wouldn’t blame DR if he had a Gabby voodoo doll…he probably cost DR his job (in additional to DR pi$$ing away draft picks).
We getting 3rd jerseys this year. Ten years in the league type reasoning for not having them last year.
Whoa those should be question marks. Are we getting?
Encrimson’d says:
July 8th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
The main thing to remember is that the sky, in fact, is not falling. So if somehow *this* was the last straw and you just can’t take it anymore from this organization, then please back up your text and stop attending/watching/writing.
+1, especially the very last word.
Bartender edubs needs a refill!
It is very bad to drink edubs kool-aid, very bad.
I’m still stunned at people’s hate for this team. DR left the new regime with nothing, almost zero young talent, no veteran talent, no draft picks. Look what they have done, they managed to bring in an elite player in Havlat with minimal supporting cast in place, they drafted just fine and managed to avoid getting an overhyped undersized accident. Also, they didn’t overpay to keep Gaborik here. He is a prolific scorer, don’t get me wrong, and it was great to have him on this team but other than his speed and shot he was nothing, no defensive upside, no hands to speak of, and Havlat has all of those things, with maybe a little decline on the speed and shot.
If you were expecting that CF would take this team from incredible overachiever, due to Lemaire’s system, to playoff and cup contender this year you were crazy. They will be mediocre this year, but not because of CF or Richards, and increasingly better the following years. Settle down, the offseason isn’t even over yet.
Todd Richards has to go!!! He has done absolutely nothing with this team so far. It a true statement, can anyone deny it?
Gabby wouldn’t have signed here if Pavol Demitra was the new GM and he threw the bank at him. Dude wanted out. Period.
It’s getting to be that part of the day when I have to manage expectations.
Gaborik situation is probably pretty simple. Fletcher got the message from Salcer before July 1 that they wanted the same cash as last year (~7.5 mil/yr) and a long term committment.
Fletcher probably thought it was too much money for one player, especially with the cap going down. He probably also sensed Gaborik wasn’t necessarily eager to stay.
When Havlat’s agent called right away and Fletcher determined he _wanted_ to come here and could get him for a substantially less cap hit…
It’s the same reason he signed Zanon instead of Scuderi (1.9/yr vs. 3.4/yr).
I like what Fletch has done so far and how he is going about it. He knows what he wants to do & how to build the team to win with the style he envisions.
I’m not drinkin’ the kool-aid, but I will take a few jello shots with CF & TR!!
What has Fletch done? Havlat fell in his lap, by calling and telling them he wants to play here. If Havlat doesn’t call he signs somewhere else. Ok so he signed, well guess what whe lost Gaborik so that is a wash or a step back. Oh wait he signed 5th and 6th D men and added a couple of middle- late round draft picks. Sorry i am not high on Fletcher like the rest of you, where is the splash we were promised by Leipold. The Wild are no better than they were last year, I understand there is still time for something to get done, but some of you guys act like he is a dam hero already.
I have nothing against Gaborik, but I find it highly doubtful he wanted to stay here or would have even if the Wild matched what the Rangers offered him.
It’s been rumored for a long time he wanted out. Just because the GM and coach changed did not mean he was going to stay if the Wild showed him the money.
Anyone who claims the Wild “let him go” should remember that players have their agendas too and are part of the UFA equation.
None of us know what was discussed between Fletcher and Salcer or what Gaborik’s thoughts were about staying with the Wild.
IMO, he wanted a change of scenery.
Wildfan- I bet you were huge on the Herschel Walker deal.
I’ll bet Gaborik’s agent told him to say what he said about the fans…
i just want to reiterate that you turned down a huge contract and elected to f us by getting surgery.
DOES NINE YEARS OF PLAYING HERE MEAN ANYTHING TO ANY OF YOU GUYS? GIVE GABORIK A BREAK, AS MUCH AS HISTORY SUCKS AND HOW MANY INJURIES HE HAD. HE DID NOT GET AN OFFER FROM THE WILD. I HONESTLY THINK THAT THE NEW GM THOUGHT IT WOULD NOT WORK OUT AND THAT GABORIK HAD THE RIGHT TO GET OFFERS FROM OTHER TEAMS. IT WAS ALREADY IMPOSSIABLE TO RESIGN GABBY! I THINK EVERY FAN NEEDS TO BE THANKFUL FOR HIM BEING HERE FOR THIS LONG, AND TO APPERICATE THE MEMORIES THAT HE GAVE US! HE WILL ALWAYS BE RESPECTED FOR BEING ONE TALENTED PLAYER WHO MADE FANS SMILE EVERYTIME HE SCORED A GOAL FOR US! NOW, THE CHAPTER HAS CLOSED, AND HE NEEDS TO MAKE A NEW HOME FOR HIMSELF!
I’d say the signing of Havlat is a pretty big splash this early. The top 3 FA’s listed were Hossa, Gaby and Havlat. We got one of the three. Not too shabby considering 2 of the 3 made it clear last year they didn’t have interested in playing for the Wild.
However, I don’t want to hear from the Wild that we are just going to roll into the season with our roster as is. That would be unacceptable. Fletcher isn’t new to the NHL people. In today’s professional sports you don’t get “ramp up time”. When the team of 18000 pays up game in and game out, they deserve action IMO
Good Riddance Marianne!! Have fun playing with all the other rejects in NY!
I really would like to know why Fletcher didn’t make an offer. [Yeahyeahyeah; We can all think of a million reasons, but I want to hear it from him.]From the way things sounded before, it sounded like we were going to, but I guess not. [I probably misinterpreted, or assumed.] Anyways, I wish him the best of luck. When he was healthy, he played beautifully &it’s great that the Wild got to have him for as long as they did. It’s great that Havlat’s here &happy to be here too.
chris in ca:
Gabby maybe an incredible talent, when he’s on the ice. Which lately hasn’t been much. Let him go. I would take Zetterberg anyday as he’s on the ice and plays both ways. Gabby may score 50 next year but I’ll bet they give that many up when he’s on the ice so its a wash.
Gabby care about the fans? …Pass the hallucinogenics.
The New yourk media and fans will chew him up!! I wonder if he really understands what smart and loyal fans he had in Minnesota. It will sure be different playing in NYC on the worst ice in the NHL and where great players went before him, only to fade away.
Don’t let the door hit ya where the good loard split ya gabby!!
Fletcher understood in the short time he has been here that Gabby is not very popular among those that really understand and play hockey. I hate playing hockey with guys like him. They float between the blue lines while you work your butt of to keep the other team off the board. Don’t let the door hit you Gabby!
screw gabby-let boogs hit his soft butt in the corner next year if we play them. F Betman
I have looked into the crystal ball and it tells me: patience…a trade for a center will happen before opener.
Amen SO
Fletcher let Gaborik walk because he [mg] is not a team guy, he didn’t even watch the games while he was recovering from surgery. You don’t win championships with superstars,just look at the us 1980 Olympic team. Herb Brooks didn’t want the best players,he wanted the right ones. There is a huge difference there. In my book,players like mg are not worth 2 cents.The wild will be better this year and will make the playoffs but may take several years to bring us the long awaited cup.All you anti Sheppard people will eat your words by the end of this season. The kid is good, they started him too early but look for a huge improvement this year.
Mister knows nothing, that is a perfect name for you. I am not even going to try and correct you, like they say, you can’t fix stupid
I know this is way late but I just want to point out how big of a B*tch Chris in CA looks like. Im sure Chris Fletcher is devastated that you’ll never forgive him
+100
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