StarTribune.com

Wild reduces roster to 27

Posted on September 26th, 2009 – 2:06 PM
By Michael Russo

Danny Irmen, Robbie Earl, Matt Kassian and Cody Almond were sent to AHL Houston. Marco Scandella was returned to Val-d’Or.

Final spots down to Jaime Sifers, John Scott, Andy Hilbert, Nathan Smith and of course, Colton Gillies and Craig Weller. Don’t think I’m forgetting anybody.

28 Responses to "Wild reduces roster to 27"

Wafer says:

September 26th, 2009 at 2:34 pm

Is that the same Nathan Smith who played for the Canucks?

casualobserver says:

September 26th, 2009 at 2:43 pm

Kassian isn’t the new Boogard. Boy, would I sure feel like I didn’t know what I was talking about if I had said he was the new Boogieman.

Wild Road Tripper says:

September 26th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

I still think CF is trying to trade someone. Now, he may just wait ’til after Tuesday’s game in Philadelphia in order to do it, but Chuck Fletcher isn’t done trading…yet.

Michael up North says:

September 26th, 2009 at 4:23 pm

I agree, i think one of the centers is going to get moved for a prospect.

Oh yeah, I’m back posting, but I never really left :)

Five Forward System says:

September 26th, 2009 at 4:38 pm

Good to c ya MUN and I agree that a center is likely to be traded. Too bad JL was able to pull Russo’s BFF off the street for a song otherwise Belanger could have worked over there (assuming they have the cap space).

JEFFS468 says:

September 26th, 2009 at 5:04 pm

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=292646
KJ, help me out with this please.

WildinATX says:

September 26th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

Three quarters of the way through a 24 hour car drive weekend. So much fun!

Mister Know it all says:

September 26th, 2009 at 7:00 pm

Casualobserver: My prediction for the lineup is right on the money thus far MEE BOY. Matt Kassian was not on my starting 14 forwards. All of my starting 14 forwards are in play I am happy to say

It might be suggesting the Wild will keep Siffers and obviously Scott as my prediction says.

After Russos article on Scott it was clear he knew that Kassian would be gone

I will say I find the decision to send Cuma to the minors necessary because of the amount of quality Dmen the Wild have. I was unaware of Siffers so I apologize to you Casualobserver. I will strive for perfection more in the future

Truth be told Casualobserver, typically coaches don’t put enforcers the age of Kassian on an NHL roster. My thought is Boogy is hurt and he is the next guy in line.

Teams might really take advantage of the Wild without Boogy

Five Forward System says:

September 26th, 2009 at 7:25 pm

I will strive for perfection more in the future

Well, the only place for you to go is up.

Can’t believe I read an MKVN post. I think I need the season to started now.

Whistler says:

September 26th, 2009 at 7:31 pm

very funny stuff FFS

Argonbeast0034 says:

September 26th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

Back with a capital A bi@##$!!!!!!

Argonbeast0034 says:

September 26th, 2009 at 7:59 pm

sorry……I am a tired from working too much…I need another vacation!

Forsberg is the favre of the nhl…..except with a brittle foot, and he is hated a little more.

heres to hoping there is another good forward coming our way…..come on cap casualties!

Argonbeast0034 says:

September 26th, 2009 at 8:00 pm

Any chance bela isn’t traded in the next week?

darkknight9 says:

September 26th, 2009 at 8:03 pm

Final spots down to Jaime Sifers, John Scott, Andy Hilbert, Nathan Smith and of course, Colton Gillies and Craig Weller.

Yeah.

Bulldog says:

September 26th, 2009 at 9:03 pm

Sifers is too small to play in the western conference. Should try to trade him. Nathan Smith should make the team, alot more energy on the ice than Weller. Like hilbert too.

Mister Know it all says:

September 26th, 2009 at 9:15 pm

I am to the point where I am going to start copying and pasting my posts like casualobserver does so I can replay everytime I am right back to you all.

When you see the stats your eyebrows will raise

Mister Know it all says:

September 26th, 2009 at 9:34 pm

Bulldog= I like your post. Much better then the ones I get from Five forward system & The more then casual observer.

Craig Weller= ever since the Souray incident I dont like the guy. He is a big guy who can skate and kind of fight but he is not as intense as a Clutterbuck so I dont have time for him. He is not part of my 14 forwards.

Maybe contract is the issue because he will clear waivers with flying colors as he did the last time he was placed on waivers. I dont know enough about contacts to know if it is a business reason they are keeping him

Yes- I admited I did not know something ! When it comes to going to juniors at 19 or 20 and not to the AHL because you are to young. I dont know about these things OR contract implications and rules

That explains why I was wrong on Cuma because I did not know he could not be sent to the minors

Seek to understand Casualobserver. There just had to be an explanion why I was wrong and now you have it. Maybe you can explain the rules to me so I would understand ??

John Scott= Hes in

Andy Hilbert = Gosh darn, I have not seen enough hockey to get why on this guy so I say the Wild may keep him if injuries are a problem, but my heavens I hope we can do better then Andy Hilbert

Nathan Smith= He is a center- I dont get it- I thought Bellanger was playing center and then Brodziak.

And of course I need to mention to Casualobserver about my prediction on Bouchard playing center

Pheasant in the Cornfield says:

September 26th, 2009 at 9:38 pm

I agree with you about John Scott, Mister Know it all. I like the big fella.

Mister Know it all says:

September 26th, 2009 at 9:42 pm

Argonbeast- I would take Forsberg in a heart beat. Your after my heart tonight.

Bulldog may disagree with us. I think he fancies Nathan Smith- Even if a Modano or Forsberg or somebody like that plays 3/4 of the season for you, your still ahead over what you have now at center…. This has been my soapbox all summer Misterbeast…. Instead of my center I get Sykora. Russo got some wood with Sykora… Sure I will take him because he cant hurt our forward strength

Schmidty says:

September 26th, 2009 at 9:46 pm

From reading the “final spots” list, there was one name missing….. Poolboy.

Does this mean he has officially made the team?

If so, we have SIX potential centers ON the team:
Koivu
Brat (Shep)
Brodziak
Bela
PMB
Poolboy

Ah.. ya, someone body needs to be moved around. So… opening night line?

Havlat-Koivu-Bruno
Sykora-Brat-PMB
Nolan-Brodziak-Mittens
Clutter-Bela-Poolboy

??? Should be an interesting few days ahead. Go Wild! :)

for4rest says:

September 26th, 2009 at 9:52 pm

I like a Havlat, Koivu, Sykora first and a Nolan, PMB (at center), and Bruno second. The rest are basically interchangeable.

DaveD says:

September 26th, 2009 at 11:44 pm

I never understood the John Scott hate (too strong a word for what we’ve seen for the past year?) From the games I watched him play (on TV) last season, he was FAR from the worst person on the ice. He seemed to be in decent position for a guy with his level of experience, and he’s just such a presence.

I’ll admit, I’m not the greatest hockey mind in the world, but I’m a pragmatist. I say we keep him.

Pewterschmidt says:

September 27th, 2009 at 7:30 am

“Any chance bela isn’t traded in the next week?”

Only if our prayers aren’t answered.

Just finished the Kimberly Johnsson article. Reminds me of a line from Glen Gary Glen Ross, “so you’re a family man, f u go home and play with your kids”.

The picture of Kimberly at the front of the article is classic. Kim’s vintage stick check on Tkachuk. Ya ya, I keep forgetting he’s a ‘puck mover’. Wow, $4.85M cap hit. Someone call the cops.

Alright, that’s enough negativity for today.

Pewterschmidt says:

September 27th, 2009 at 7:32 am

“Sykora-Brat-PMB”

Why not put Shep at W and let PMB center this line?

I haven’t heard anyone argue for Shep at Wing. Why?

Bulldog says:

September 27th, 2009 at 8:33 am

Pewter - Great post, couldn’t agree more. Bela (I think I just threw up in my mouth) needs to go and take his 39% faceoff percentage with him. Sheppard and Brodziak have the size to play cewnter in this conference. PMB doesn’t have a prayer when we go on the road and teams can create a mismatch with him with a Getzlaf, Nash or Thornton type.

ARMYMOM1 says:

September 27th, 2009 at 9:28 am

MKIA who the heck are your 14 forwards
you’ve changed them about ten time’s now do you even remember who your 14 guy’s were?

terryc says:

September 27th, 2009 at 10:02 am

when does coach pin the “C” on miko??

John says:

September 27th, 2009 at 12:24 pm

Bulldog wrote Pewter - Great post, couldn’t agree more. Bela (I think I just threw up in my mouth) needs to go and take his 39% faceoff percentage with him.

Belanger had a faceoff percentage of 52.0 last year. That ranked 34th in the league. The only player on the Wild better was Koivu (52.7%, 27th). And remember, only 45-60 players end up 50% or above.

The worst anyone can say is he hasn’t been as consistent throughout his career as some of the elite faceoff guys (Brind’Amour, Perreault, Sillinger, Drury, Nieuwendyk, etc.) that always or almost always end up above 50%.

Belanger’s record:

07-08 - 49.1% (61st)
06-07 - 53.1% (19th)
05-06 - 49.0% (62nd)
04-05 - lockout
03-04 - 53.7% (30th)
02-03 - 51.8% (38th)