Coming to you live from the Xcel pressbox, where players are on the ice in their jerseys taking their season head shots. The NHLers practiced this morning (Cal Clutterbuck entered that group today) and the minor leaguers and prospects are about to practice.

Busy day out at the X.

1. Colton Gillies news. Jacques said he’s already decided whether the 19-year-old should make the team or be returned to his junior club in Saskatoon. Problem is Jacques doesn’t make these decisions, Doug Risebrough does. And Jacques said it’s up to his “boss.”

Jacques wouldn’t reveal his decision on Gillies, but then spoke glowingly about the kid. Asked if Gillies could learn much more by another year in juniors, Lemaire said, “Not a lot.”

So, lets just say it’s a safe bet Lemaire wants Gillies in Minnesota this season.

2. Marian Gaborik (quad) skated prior to this morning’s practice.

3. Brent Burns (elbow) continues to practice but hasn’t officially been cleared to play in an exhibition game, although that’s close. Tom Lynn said that could come any time, and Lemaire said he’s expecting Burns to make his exhibition debut Sunday in Buffalo or Tuesday at home against Chicago.

4. The Wild usually doesn’t like playing players not under contract in the exhibition games, but Jacques said he asked Risebrough if he’s allowed to play 2008 first-round pick, defenseman Tyler Cuma, in an exhibition game, and Risebrough gave an affirmative.

That won’t happen in Chicago, however.

5. I bumped into owner Craig Leipold. He didn’t want to talk about Gaborik as much as the Brewers. However, Leipold did say that in his opinion, negotiations aren’t at impasse mode.

6.  Today’s cuts are on the below post.

7. Lineup in Chicago: Nolan, Belanger, Veilleux, Gillies, Pouliot, Weller, Boogaard, Sheppard, Clutterbuck, Kalus, Koivu, Miettinen, Skoula, Zidlicky, Noreau, Johnsson, Bergeron, Reitz, Harding, Schaefer. Extras: Mojzis, Irmen.

8.  Two things: Jacques praised Craig Weller this morning, and like I said from Grand Forks, he’ll be a fan favorite. Also, Jacques said, “We’ve got to get our defensive game going because I don’t know if we’re going to score that many more goals than last year. So you’ll have to play well defensively no matter what.”

(more…)

I’ll be on XM Radio & the NHL Network at 11:45 a.m. CT today, and repeated on NHL Network at 4:45 p.m. CT. 

Roster down to 48: Cody Almond and Carson McMillan were returned to their junior teams and Justin Hodgman, Frederic St. Denis and Tyler Schmidt were released.

This was a fun one as Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Brent Burns and Columbus Blue Jackets No. 1 center (at least to start the season) Derick Brassard sat in our Star Tribune seats in the press box. Lots of laughs, and I proved to them, the sport is slow from the press box.

You can’t appreciate how little time and space the players have on the ice all the way up here. A few of the quips are on the bottom post, and no, Burns opted not to write my story.

By the way, I made it the second note of my second edition notebook, but read Niklas Backstrom’s comments on shootouts. As you all know, it hasn’t been his strength. He said he worked on it a lot this summer, so we’ll see if it helps this season.

Obviously, there’s not too much to take from this game because it was the Wild’s exhibition opener, it was a penalty-plagued game  and the Wild was playing a Columbus team that left most its studs at home — Rick Nash, Kristian Huselius, Fredrik Modin, Rusty Klesla, play-by-play guy Jeff Rimer, etc.

1. Benoit Pouliot was outstanding. The 2005 first-rounder — fourth overall — was just a late bloomer. That’s my prediction. Some players just don’t do much in the minors yet have the ability to make an impact in the NHL. I think you’ll see that with him. He scored the winner, but he was strong on the puck all night, used his speed and skill and long reach. You just can’t have that much talent and not make it. I know there have been oodles of enigmas in NHL history that possess the total package and don’t make it, but I just can’t see that with this kid.

(more…)

Wild playing 12 NHL regulars tonight. Wild believes Jackets look to be under the minimum, although nobody’s really complaining. You’re supposed to play at least eight NHLers who played at least 40 games last season or 100 NHL games, or are a first-round pick.

I’ll be on throughout the game to give you scoring updates, etc. because I’m not really writing a traditional gamer for tomorrow’s paper. Hey, it’s exhibition.

Marian Gaborik’s sitting up in the press box with his brother, Wild scout Branislav Gaborik.

Jan Hejda hooks Andrew Brunette 3:14 in. Lone scoring chance so far, Antti Miettinen robbed at the doorstep after he couldn’t pull the trigger fast enough.

Good action so far, Wild 5-0 on shots.

6:30 in, Backstrom stone cold robbed Maxim Mayorov on an open net goal with a sprawl.

Erik Reitz just fought Derek Dorsett. Draw.

1-0 Wild 4:37 left in first. Kim Johnsson drives the net down the left side, wheels around the defender, center Blair Yaworski, and scores.

Intermission, Wild outshot Jackets 17-7.

FYI, looks like some of the young guys are getting cut as we speak up here in the press box. Expect an announcement tomorrow morning.

(more…)

Update: I thought you’d find this funny. When Jacques says Mojzis, it sounds like Moses, as in “Mojzis is going to lead the Wild to the promiseland.” 

Coming to you from the Xcel Energy Center press box next to my new backup, Brian Stensaas. Please join me in welcoming him to the fray, and you’ll be reading a lot from him throughout the season.

Not much news to report. Marian Gaborik (strained quad) obviously won’t be playing tonight, although he is walking around much better.

The Wild lineup is on the below post if you didn’t see. Colton Gillies had the butterflies churning this morning. The 2007 first-round pick and roster contender will make his Xcel debut in front of the Wild faithful.

His lone preseason game last year came in Grand Forks against, I think, Buffalo. These preseason games all run together.

Walked out to the Blue Jackets bench before their skate and chatted with Ken Hitchcock. He won’t be going with nearly an established lineup tonight. Prospect Jakub Voracek will be in, and he’s been skating with Fredrik Modin in practice. He says he’s got Kristian Huselius, normally a left winger, playing on his off wing and Rick Nash on the left side.

That could be one exciting line. Hitchcock is one go-to coach for us longtime hockey scribes. I’ve probably said this before, but you feel you learn something every time you talk to him.

That is it for now. I’ll be back on later.

Here is Jeremy Rutherford’s story in the St. Louis Dispatch on Erik Johnson being lost for the season with a torn ACL/MCL. Just a freak accident. You’ve got to feel for Johnson, the former Gopher and No. 1 overall pick, and the Blues.

Also, here’s a cool Wild video emailed to me. It was produced by fan Desiree Little.

Andrew Brunette will wear a Wild jersey for the first time since 2004 and Owen Nolan, Marek Zidlicky, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Antti Miettinen and Craig Weller will all be in the lineup when the Wild opens the preseason at home Wednesday night vs. Columbus.

The lines (at least to start):

Brunette-Koivu-Miettinen
Gillies-Sheppard-Nolan
Hamilton-Kolanos-Irmen
Veilleux-Pouliot-Weller

Schultz-Johnsson
Bergeron-Zidlicky
Mojzis-Reitz

Backstrom
Brust

(more…)

The players have been split into two practices today, no scrimmage.

Minor-leaguers and NHL guys. Added to the NHL practice are Benoit Pouliot, Colton Gillies, Tomas Mojzis, Erik Reitz and Krys Kolanos.

Looking like there might not be any cuts today. Gaborik is still off the ice with a sore quad.

Here is Columbus’ traveling roster for tomorrow’s exhibition opener at the X. Jackets are in Chicago tonight. Obviously only 20 of these roughly 30 will play:

Kris Russell, Marc Methot, Clay Wilson, Christian Backman, Jan Hejda, Craig MacDonald, Jiri Novotny, Derek Dorsett, Derick Brassard, Andrew Murray, Alexandre Picard, Tom Sestito, Richard Matvichuk, Jason Chimera, Derek MacKenzie, Aaron Rome, Steve Kelly, Jared Boll, Adam Pineault, Maksim Mayorov, Grant Clitsome, Jonathan Sigalet, Jon Mirasty, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Mike York, Trevor Frischmon, Blair Yaworski, Jakub Voracek, Fredrik Norrena and Dan LaCosta.