Hockey’s getting closer
Posted on September 4th, 2009 – 12:37 PMBy Michael Russo
Boy, I’m exhausted. It’s hard working everyday again, so hard I’m going to Florida in an hour for the long weekend 
You may not see it in the paper yet, but I’ve been busy sitting down with people in preparation for the Star Tribune’s daily hockey coverage, which begins again late next week.
Just got back from the arena, where there are plenty of signs that hockey’s on the horizon. Equipment managers Tony DaCosta and Brent Proulx were running around, new strength coach Chris Pietrzak-Wegner was working out players and new video coordinator P.J. DeLuca was pulling clips of Wild games last year for new coach Todd Richards.
Got to meet assistant coach Dave Barr, and he and assistant Mike Ramsey were at their desks preparing for camp.
Mikko Koivu and Antti Miettinen arrived to meet Richards for the first time, and both looked in shape, tanned (well, tanned for two Finns) and ready to go. Marty Havlat gets to town for the first time since his initial press gathering tomorrow.
Richards, GM Chuck Fletcher, assistant GM Brent Flahr, Houston coach Kevin Constantine and Houston assistant coach Troy Ward also gathered the prospects and tryouts kids in the locker room for a meeting and highlight video as they prepare to travel to Traverse City for the prospects tournament.
So hockey is clearly on the horizon.
Players report for camp one week from tomorrow with on-ice sessions beginning in eight days (Sept. 13). Good news: The first two days of scrimmages (Sept. 13 and 14) are going to be open to the public.
The locker room area is a lot different than last year. Amazing what a fresh coat of paint and new carpet can do, but gone are all the pictures of players and big Wild moments that the team wallpapered the locker room with last year. That’s been painted over with “Champions Are … ” and Richards will likely have the players fill in the blanks. Richards also has added some inspirational messages all around, like his favorite, “The Man on Top of the Mountain Did Not Just Fall There.”
Richards also re-did his office, modernized the players lounge, added a room specifically for massages and modernized the fitness center. It looks good; the players should be happy.
Later today, the Wild is expected to release its new scouting staff. The team kept many, but replaced others. As I mentioned earlier this summer, Barry MacKenzie and Todd Woodcroft won’t be returning. As reported in July by Sid the Kid Hartman, part-time scout Glen Sonmor has retired from the NHL but will remain doing Gophers radio. Also, Marty Nanne, Lou’s kid, will be joining as a part-time scout.
Nanne is a former scout of the Florida Panthers, so he knows Fletcher well. In fact, yesterday Fletcher reminded me of the time in 2000 when Nanne begged the Panthers to take Paul Martin 58th overall. They took Vladimir Sapozhnikov instead. Nanne was so upset, he called the travel agent from the draft table to get out of Calgary.
Nine years later, uh, … the Panthers should have listened to Nanne.
That’s it for now, but when I land later tonight, I’ll publish a fresh blog you’ll be interested in. After tonight’s, unless there’s news, the blog will likely be dormant until mid-next week.
Update: The Wild announced changes to the team’s scouting staff today, adding Chris Kelleher (professional), Pavel Routa (European), Craig Channell (amateur) and Marty Nanne (Amateur/part time). Among the notable scouts who are no longer with the team: Marian Gaborik’s brother Branislav Gaborik and Glen Sonmor.
24 Responses to "Hockey’s getting closer"
Thanks Russo
Hockey is almost here!
WildinATX…great summation @ 11:58 on the previous blog entry.
I think Ballberry will continue to dog the NHL until they let him play with them.
Too bad he didn’t try to do it right.
that’s what the panthers get for passing on a Minnesotant!
(cue the groans)
Muahahahaha!!!
The locker room area is a lot different than last year. Amazing what a fresh coat of paint and new carpet can do, but gone are all the pictures of players and big Wild moments that the team wallpapered the locker room with last year. That’s been painted over with “Champions Are … ” and Richards will likely have the players fill in the blanks.
So there were able to paint over the old GM’s slogan?
Managing expectations…it’s what we do.
I always love that one.
I cannot wait! Who is gonna be camped outside xcel this year?
Michael: thanks. Leave us … wanting more … hockey.
kj: great quip. Re: email - thanks.
I have to say that I really can’t stand all of those coach motivational messages but if they work…
As to Encrimson’d message on the previous blog–I don’t think you fault Bettman for moving a team to Phoenix. Again that was part of the bridge across America strategy. And in theory with all the Northerners down there and the rise of hockey among the upper-middle class there it might have worked. The fault was at the ownership level not realizing that placing your arena far away from where most of your potential audience lived was suicide.
Any idea what time those first two practices will take place? Gives me another reason not to watch the Vikings I hope.
Thanks, Russo! Poor me, though, if the blog doesn’t pick up until mid-week–I’m leaving for a week at that time. Ugh. Schadenfreude, anyone?
Wood, good points, especially about the forsight about where exactly the team should play in Arizona if it must be in Arizona. Bettman and the then owners could/should be held accountable for that responsibility.
Regardless, I don’t mean to put so much blame and hate on Bettman. I don’t want to come off as one of those guys. I definitely think he’s being a DB about the Yote’s current limbo, though. What’s worse is that Balsillie probably is not the answer that team needs. It’s probably a lose-lose DB vs DB situation, and the true victims are the players and Yotes fans. :’(
To the extent he is being a DB about Phoenix at the moment, it is largely because of Balsillie and the owners reactions to him. If you were commissioner and a guy kept trying to do end-runs around your rules would you be too excited about letting him become an owner?
Exactly. I sympathize with both of their causes (dooshbaggery aside). No one wins.
The first two days of scrimmages (Sept. 13 and 14) are going to be open to the public.
WHAT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This younger Nanny sounds very parochial to me. He probably hates the new jersey also.
I’m sure his head is in the first place though: he knows we need more Minnesotan players that can clear the crease.
indeed
I could have told a slew of teams that they should have drafted Paul Martin higher. ‘Don’t know Marty Nanne, but is he credible just becuz he’s Lou’s kid???
Finally got the last stink of Gaborik out of the air in MN…
I see that I’ve kept up my average of at least one misspelled word for every other comment. I meant Nanne.
Ogie…that is about as right as you can get.
I think Branislav will be scouting for Minsk next year…
added a room specifically for massages
But … Gaborik is in New York now?
Kyle McLaren offered a try out from the Flyers. He was traded their last year, but failed a physical due to a knee injury in Worcester. After spending a year in the A, you’d have to think his price tag isn’t near the $3 million it was last year.
Is Matti Vaisanen still scout for Wild?
