Clutterbuck, Bouchard updates; Boogaard in; Scott, Havlat out; Harding starting; Sifers at RW
Posted on October 16th, 2009 – 2:04 PMBy Michael Russo
Lots of news down at Rexall Place this morning, so to clean up the blog, here are the updates:
1. Cal Clutterbuck will be out “weeks” with a high ankle sprain. GM Chuck Fletcher said it’s not the severe kind, but it’s a significant injury. Usually it takes six to eight weeks to return, and all players I’ve ever talked to that has this injury says they felt it the rest of the season while playing.
2. Pierre-Marc Bouchard indeed officially has a concussion. He will be shut down for awhile to rest. I think we’ve seen the last of Bouchard for several weeks.
3. GM Chuck Fletcher, as I reported from Anaheim, acknowledged again he’s been working the phones. But he’s not going to mortgage the future for a quick fix. He said any trades he makes will be for the purpose of getting better long-term, not to just get bodies in here to get by all the injuries. So like I said the other day, no trading draft picks just for a body. He’s not against trading picks or players, but it has to be more than a quick fix. He said it’ll be very difficult to make a trade right now, so a lot of this is just intel work for later in the year to see where there are fits. With the Wild at about $56.2 million of the $56.8 million cap and several other teams near the cap as well, it’s hard to get teams, including the Wild, to take on 95 percent of a players’ salary (5 percent of the season gone, estimated) That’s the Cliff’s Notes version. Much more on this subject in tomorrow’s newspaper.
4. Havlat out with a groin day-to-day.
5. John Scott is scratched. Derek Boogaard will make his season debut on a line with Edmonton native Nathan Smith and defenseman Jaime Sifers, who will play wing.
6. Kyle Brodziak, a longtime former Oilers, had tons of cameras around him this morning.
7. Ales Hemsky out for Edmonton with a fever. Shawn Horcoff hopes to play, but he’s laboring with a foot injury. Steve Staios and Sheldon Souray out.
8. Pat Quinn said Tom Gilbert will play next to Mike Comrie and Horcoff in place of Hemsky. I assume he meant Robert Nilsson and that was a senior moment. I don’t see the Oilers pulling a Brent Burns and taking a gifted Minnesotan, I mean defenseman, and putting him at wing.
9. Oh, Josh Harding starting and Niklas Backstrom expected to start in Vancouver. Backstrom struggles in Edmonton, yanked in four straight starts before his win in the last visit to Edmonton last season.
10. Ill be on with Jim Souhan on KSTP at 6:20 pm tonight. CDT.
More tonight.
73 Responses to "Clutterbuck, Bouchard updates; Boogaard in; Scott, Havlat out; Harding starting; Sifers at RW"
At least it wasn’t a break
but a break only takes 2 weeks to recover from…
Hopefully Harding will play a good game, and Boogaard will have a fight. Then maybe Fletcher can package them after the game. Otherwise, why play them.
I think the last time we saw PMB was the 2007-2008 season, so we are not going to miss him (as if we already have!)
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Don’t know if it was mentioned here already but, from The Third Intermission, it appears that Morten Madsen has left the Aeros.
As much as I’d like to say there goes even more prospect depth, I never saw anything out of him that was an NHLer. He had some good physical tools but never seemed to put it together. Based on his stats and the fact he didn’t play a game in Houston this year, I’d say the coaches and management felt the same.
If this was discussed, shoot me because I must be blind.
Saladin says:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Hopefully Harding will play a good game, and Boogaard will have a fight. Then maybe Fletcher can package them after the game. Otherwise, why play them.
Perhaps because there is no one else to play. Would you rather have Scott at wing than Boogaard? Not much difference between the two other than Boogaard has played wing for several years and Scott just started (in the NHL).
So tell us, what would YOU do? And please, make it realistic, don’t just say “trade Boogaard for Malkin and Harding for Ovechkin.”
If you don’t have any ideas, may I humbly suggest stopping with the whining.
Ill be realistic-you dont make any sense. Boogs and scott should be both starting ,and scratch f-ing shep and johnsson.
I said this before the season and got ripped, and now I’ll ask it again.
Is Johnsson becoming the new Skoula? He’s turning the puck over a ton so far this year.
I know I have said this before, but I’d love to see Fletcher move Harding & Brat(Sheppard) to Chicago (with picks if necessary) for Patrick Sharp.
I understand that Chicago doesn’t really want to move him, but I have also heard they aren’t pleased with Huet’s play either. Add to that, the need some significant cap space for next year to sign Toews, Kane & Keith… and moving Sharp’s salary makes the most sense.
Again, it’s not a pipe dream… but with Chicago getting Hossa back in the next few months, maybe they could afford to trade away Sharp’s scoring for a solid back-up (potential starter in Harding) and a Prospect in Brat who’s been playing since he was three. 
That would give us our #2 center and from there Wild could build around Koivu & Sharp.
Anyone know if tonights game will be broadcasted on the FSN HD station for Comcast?
Can someone tell me why we are putting Sifers at forward. he is a D-man. Bring up KALUS, at least give him his shot. He could be a Clutterbuck (well sort of) for the time being.
I’m afraid if the whining on here stopped…there wouldn’t be any posts. We still have regular posters whining about DR and making up “cute” little monikers for him…SODR anyone? Ha Ha Ha Ha…so clever and so funny.
Ill be on with Jim Souhan on KSTP at 6:20 pm tonight. CDT.
Please break Souhan’s nose for us. Just pull his shirt up over his head and wail on him.
Ill be realistic-you dont make any sense. Boogs and scott should be both starting ,and scratch f-ing shep and johnsson.
Well hell, if you’re going to do that, why not scratch Burns in favor of Stoner. And get rid of Schultz and call up Bjorn Krupp. And I think Hilbert could replace Nolan no problem. WE NEED TO SHAKE IT UP.
I’m afraid if the whining on here stopped…there wouldn’t be any posts.
That’s just crazy talk right there. We’d still have plenty of Burns and Koivu man-crushes to express.
but I have also heard they aren’t pleased with Huet’s play either
yeah but they have Nemmi (or whaterever his name is) and he has played well in this starts I think. I would love to pick up Sharp, but I just don’t see it happening.
Anyone know if tonights game will be broadcasted on the FSN HD station for Comcast?
I think the best bet is that every time a game is on 45 cross your fingers and check the FSN HD channel
SOKJ, umm… Hate to break it to ya, but you’re whinning about whinning. That’s really productive.
I know I have said this before, but I’d love to see Fletcher move Harding & Brat(Sheppard) to Chicago (with picks if necessary) for Patrick Sharp.
Yeah, we were all over that idea in July, waiting for Fletch to make it happen and getting all hot and bothered over the prospect.
The problem, I think is that the cost would be too high.
However, I think that Detroit might be a good target for Harding. Filppula or Eaves, anyone?
Also, see the new Wild.com? I kinda like it.
Since the game is in Canada, I’m not sure anyone will get it in HD. And since it’s in Rexall Place, the telecast will look like it was filmed in 1972.
Oh, and get better soon Butch!
On a sort of side note, does this mean we’ll move him onto IR? That would be helpful for my fantasy team…
—At least it wasn’t a break
but a break only takes 2 weeks to recover from…—
Agreed. I have often heard that in many cases, recovering from a break is less of a challenge than a bad sprain, particularly high ankle.
PMB got drilled late last season or is this new? How did he make it through the summer with no indicators? It confuses me as to why this is just now being figured out. It also concerns me that apparentlyhe hasn’t recovered from a hit that occurred 6 months ago.
Is Johnsson becoming the new Skoula? He’s turning the puck over a ton so far this year.
Johnsson is not even close to being worth his contract. Why doesn’t he ever get hurt? I think playing Scott at wing is a waste of time. He does nothing at wing. Does any other team have guys as big as Boogaard and Scott playing wing and not D? I cant think of any good ones, but can definitely think of good defenders -Chara is the obvious choice.
“SOKJ, umm… Hate to break it to ya, but you’re whinning about whinning. That’s really productive.”
Just trying to fit in here
SOKJ
Gophers are on FSN tonight
Oh no, harding is starting. another tally in the loss collum.
SotB, consensus speculation is that he must have somehow… err… reaggrivated his concussion from last year–that sounds really weird, but I guess it works.
I would like to trade everybody but Backs for Ovie. I am sure we can be better than 1-4 with just Ovie and Backstrom in net.
If that doesn’t work, I would like to trade everybody but Backs for Malkin or Crosby. I am sure we can better than 1-4 with Malkin or Crosby and Backstrom in net.
I would like to trade …..
Stoned: That’s what NiNY and I were saying two weeks ago when PMB was pulled out of the lineup at the last moment. Where was the follow-up over the summer?
I can understand his illness masking his concussion symptoms but that doesn’t excuse the medical staff for dropping the ball with PMB. I also blame in part PMB. He might have shaded the truth that he was better so that he can go home to Quebec.
I know the Gophs are on FSN, but I don’t think they are being broadcasted in HD. Is it possible to have one things broadcasted in SD FSN and another on HD FSN?
I guess I’ll find out in a few hours…
I was skeptical about Havlat’s health. Seems he is a poor mans Gabby. Too bad Gabby didn’t resign. Touch to let one of the games most dynamic players go and get nothing in return. No wonder Doug Risebrough hasn’t found another job yet.
Why not trade Backs….you will come to find out as the season progressed that Risebrough overpaid, and Backs is just an okay goalie. Every goalie in the Lemaire system played like a stud….Fernandez, Roloson, and Backs. None of the 3 are superstars. Again, no wonder Risebrough has not found another job.
There is nothing too do right now. Its too early to dump veterans and too late to move any young talent (because they clearly shown they don’t have any).
I find it cute that everyone still thinks Hards could get moved for something valuable. You don’t think scouts were watching (or will watch) that game against LA? That was pathetic. Hards is NOT a #1 goalie nor will he be.
Best we can hope for is KJ/Nolan/Shep/PMB get healthy and can start playing better and then you move every last one of them. We are destined for 11-12th place in the West and need to start acting like it.
I got a high ankle sprain playing beer league hockey last february, and I still feel it….granted I don’t get the kind of treatment he’ll get, but mine sure did plateau–makes it tough to corner on the outside edge of the affected foot….
I would not be surprised if we do not see Bouchard at all this year.
Concussions are such hard injuries to predict recovery from. I think whether he re-aggrivated the one from last year or never really recovered from it is scary either way. If he re-aggrivated it, is he going to end up like Brett Lindros (and Eric for that matter) and become more succeptable to them where the slightest hit triggers one or if he never recovered from the one last year, is it career threatening like Cam Stewarts or Corey Koskie’s (former Twins 3B for all of you who like to point out you don’t follow baseball).
I believe Backstrom has a no-trade clause in his contract.
Cap Hit: $6 million. 2009-10: $6 million. 2010-11: $6 million. 2011-12: $6 million. 2012-13: $6 million. 2013-14: UFA
Boogaard, Nathan Smith and Jamie Sifers on a line? Wow, that is gotta be THE worst line I’ve ever heard of in the NHL. The Wild are desperate. 239 NHL games played between those 3, 2 career goals. Both Boogey’s. I’ll definately be watching the Gophers tonight.
Boogaard, Nathan Smith and Jamie Sifers on a line? Wow, that is gotta be THE worst line I’ve ever heard of in the NHL.
Any team that loses four of its top-six guys will end up having a fourth line like ours tonight.
Pre game speach for the boys
Hmmm, seems I’m not the only one that thinks kj’s little obsession is annoying.
SOKJ, priceless.
—makes it tough to corner on the outside edge of the affected foot….—
How do you corner on an outside edge?
Maybe Johnson’s errors are standing more now because Skoula is gone. Both guys are horrible. Skoula made $1.9 million last year with us and Johnson is at $4.8 million. $7 million between these two clowns, ouch. Great job again DR!
—Hmmm, seems I’m not the only one that thinks kj’s little obsession is annoying.—
There’s always another bar just up the street. We won’t miss you if this one doesn’t suit your tastes.
These injuries are a gift to a team that needs to understand what it needs to do to win.
This will force the players and the owner to get there heads out of their asses otherwise it will be a ghost town at the X during March and April
I do think this team will figure out what they have to do to win this year but I hope it is not too late
I say the more Havlat is off the ice the better for this team to understand the urgency at hand
Bouchard’s diagnosis at this late juncture has me concerned about the quality of medical care being received by this team. We all recall Burns’ isssue last year and now PMB. It’s not up to PMB to diagnose his concussion and I’m not a doctor, but the symptoms that Don described weeks ago seemed to point to a head injury. Many of you felt the same way.
I wish him a speedy recovery and many more years in the NHL.
I would also like to see a leader emerge during these trying times. Who is the captain anyway?
I’m with this team all the way and will cheer them on as long as every man is giving 100%.
Boogaard, Nathan Smith and Jamie Sifers on a line? Wow, that is gotta be THE worst line I’ve ever heard of in the NHL.
Steve McKenna/Stacy Roest/Cam Stewart
Who knows what will happen with Skoula, but if the Pens thought he was worth signing even though they were set on D, that’s good enough for me. Watch them get a couple of injuries on D, Skoula moves into a slot and ends up skating in the conference and/or Cup finals.
You guys who diss the FrankenSkoula are all about style over substance. You’d pass up an all nighter with a nymphomaniacal gymnast because she was only a B cup.
If your turning right your right skate is on it’s outside edge
I hate to even wonder this, but has Richards lost the room already? I wonder if the guys have fully bought into his system, or if we just don’t have the talent to play his system.
SODR
SODR 2
SODR 3
Hey, it is FUN! Now I get it! Yayyyy
Get serious people. The past is the past. Quit dwelling on it. Get over yourselves.
I’m wondering if TR has the room yet, which is also troubling
Someone asked earlier in this thread about HD for tonight. The answer is NO HD this evening from Edmonton. The game will be on Oilers’ PPV (for those outside the Twin Cities who get NHL Center Ice) so that might ease the pain of no HD picture a bit. Also, you won’t have to listen to Dumb & Dumber re-iterating the obvious…
Goody: I don’t know who is available or else I would make a suggestion. Apparently Fletcher has been getting calls. But even if we get a 3rd or 4th liner on another team, he likely will have a: 1) future; and/or 2) upside. That is relative to Boogaard, who has absolutely zero future and upside.
If you think differently about Boogaard, you must have as big of a man-crush on him as Russo
—The past is the past. Quit dwelling on it.—
The past is prologue. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.
Predict something ? Wild win tonight or not
Five Forward-lol that is close, I’ll give you that. Stacy Roest is the best of the 6 involved,so I gotta give that line a slight edge. I was looking at the Houston Aero’s roster/stats. There isn’t much down there, considering Andy Hilbert was the best of the bunch. It’s time to realize that the Wild may very well be the worst franchise in the NHL top to bottom.
Especially if anyone,honestly, considers Cal Clutterbuck to be among your best 6 forwards.
All managers talk everyday I wish Russo would shut up about setting things up for a later day, the wild have nothing to trade they were rate 28th in farm systems last year. Mr. Positive brings up a good point when is Todd going to name a captain, it sounds idiotic but with no captain no one take responsibility for the room and everybody thinks someone else will do the heavy lifting. Let’s face it Mikko is the guy, he was the guy last year and he’s the guy this year, the management needs to quit screwing around and name somebody soon. Injuries don’t help but they need to be more united in the front office and on the ice.
How on earth does one go from “lose 4 top-six players and lose several games while trying to learn a new system” to “the problem is Todd Richards”?
Also, SODR is not dwelling on the past, so whatever moron started complaining about kj, shut it. SODR references the fact that Fletcher will be cleaning up DR’s mess for years to come. As long as DR’s idiotic contracts are still around, DR will be a part of the team’s makeup.
Griz: Top 6? Clutterbuck? No. Top 9? Maybe, if you consider the fact that he is the only forward who will actually hit anything with some semblance of consistency. But unless he improves his offensive game, he will be a 3rd line winger. That’s what he is.
The Wild are not the worst top-to-bottom organization in the NHL (Atlanta may have them beat, so may Florida, Tampa Bay, Edmonton, and maybe Phoenix, but they are getting better) but the disaster which was laid waste by DR put this organization behind the 8-ball for years to come.
At least we have an ownership group who get along with each other (unlike Atlanta and Tampa, whose owners can’t stand to be in the same room) or who aren’t out to screw the NHL and everybody else (Phoenix) over their own so-called ‘due diligence’ which failed to realize the Coyotes were paying exorbitantly for their arena lease.
No discussion of screwed-up NHL ownerships would be complete without the poster children: The Islanders and the Maple Leafs, two organizations which cannot make a move without hue and cry from somebody saying their ox is being gored again…
Well who are these 4 hurt players everyone is talking about? Havlat,Bouchard,Sykora and who else if it’s not Clutterbuck? All I am reading is 4 of the top 6 forwards are out. Maybe I’m missing someone.
And obviously, the Wild franchise is strong and stable with it’s fan-base and not likely to move like other franchises. I was talking about purely from a talent perspective. Toronto is the only other obvious “worst team” candidate I can think of.
Give me back that filet o fish, give me that fish.
Does any other team have guys as big as Boogaard and Scott playing wing and not D? I cant think of any good ones
Try not to think. Thinking after 3PM on a Friday isnt healthy.
Now, Joe Thornton, Dany Heatly, Rick Nash, Dustin Penner and a few others only give a couple of inches, but not pounds to Derek and John, and well, I got this info from the current leaders in points in the NHL. Have a good evening looking for more excuses to pussify this team.
Cant we throw pmb on the ltir to create cap flexibility for the interim? Hes not likely to play in the next 24 days or 10 games…that would open up 4 mil to work with.
LITR is only needed for cap space since he’s already on IR.
Right now, we seem to be okay on cap space. We might need to move him there if it looks like he isn’t going to be coming back soon. But, there is no rush to put him on LITR
I don’t understand why they don’t bring up wingers from Houston instead of a defensemen.
John Scott isn’t going to do anything at the wing and then we have Boogaard. Isn’t one big man enough to take up space? Shouldn’t we be more concerned about bringing up a winger who will help score goals?
If we can’t play defense then we might as well try to score more goals.
I like what you have to say Mister Know it all, having those offensive guys out of the lineup will help the Wild define what they have to do to win. I agree with the Wild 3 Oilers 2
There are others as big as Boogaard/Scott at forward.
Steve MacIntyre(Edm), Brian Boyle(Nyr), Evgeny Arktyukhin(Ana), David Koci(Col), Nik Antropov(Atl)and etc. I believe Artyukhin is the heaviest in the NHL.
About Sifers/Scott at forward… Put Zids up there instead. Also, being .6 million away from the cap really puts a damper on calling people up.
Lastly, who said Jacque Lemaire had problems connecting with youth players?
Here’s the tale of the tape tonight, folks.
MKVN total aliases in this thread: 5
Everyone else: 1
“Lastly, who said Jacque Lemaire had problems connecting with youth players?”
I would say it was Andrew Brunette to deflect the negative attention from himself.
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