Minnesota Wild fans react to the Matt Cooke Signing...

The Wild signed Matt Cooke. Bye. pic.twitter.com/kGuVseF62o
— Abby (@ybba2215) July 5, 2013

Minnesota Wild Won't Earn Any New Fans By Signing Matt Cooke - Rant Sports http://t.co/eDMaOi42xY
— Minnesota Wild 24x7 (@MinWild24x7) July 7, 2013

Since initial shock I have decided to give matt cooke a chance...plz surprise us wild fans, we cud use some positivity right now
— Tyler Martin (@wildgeorge12) July 7, 2013

Sick of this Wild franchise. Fans have nothing to be excited about. Matt Cooke?? I have absolutely zero interest in this bum.
— mleegwater (@mleegwater) July 7, 2013

Still extremely upset about Matt Cooke😣
— Rachel Herbert (@dustyherb) July 7, 2013

@braja57 @Russostrib From Pens' HR and a Matt Cooke superfan. Good guy off the ice? Sure. The point is, he played the wrong way for years.
— Jordan Hansen (@JordanBHansen) July 7, 2013

There is way too much emotion flying around over Matt Cooke. Try using common sense folks.
— Giles Ferrell (@gilesferrell) July 7, 2013

If you are comparing Heatley, Cooke and Clutterbuck or any two thereof, just stop. Don't care what your personal feelings of each are. Stop.
— Jeremy (@knowsknothing) July 7, 2013

Bruins went after Parise as well

Perusing the internet today it appears that the Boston Bruins also offered Zach Parise a significant contract offer.

Fluto Shinzawa, Boston Globe --- Before Sunday’s market opening, GM Peter Chiarelli said he expected to be quiet. The Bruins have less than $3 million in available cap space.

Had the Bruins signed Parise, they would have exceeded the $70.2 million cap by the allowable 10 percent offseason margin. They could have placed Marc Savard on long-term injured reserve if necessary.

Parise said his final decision came between Minnesota and New Jersey. Parise is a Minnesota native. The left wing had previously played for the Devils his entire career.

Parise, the ex-captain of the Devils, was one of the two high-end free agents available on the market. Ryan Suter was the other. Both signed identical deals with the Wild.

Obviously, the Boston Bruins didn’t have a lot of space to work with and they would have had to makes some moves to get under the cap. Could Bruins fans imagine how he would have looked in the B’s line up skating alongside a couple of the Bruins faster forwards like Patrice Bergeron and say the “Little Ball of Hate” Brad Marchand.

Latendresse calls himself symptom-free, wants to stay

This is is one of those stories of what could've been - Guillaume Latendresse came to the Minnesota Wild via trade that sent Benoit Pouliot to the Montreal Canadians on On November 23, 2009 and started out on fire scoring 25 goals in his first 55 games in a Minnesota Wild uniform before he was then out of the line up for the past two seasons with a myriad of injuries... There seems to be a lot of risk with this potential signing.

One of the biggest concern is Lattendresse had a concussion last season and missed most of last season and as we have seen with the Pittsburgh Penguins super star Sidney Crosby, Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard and with the Minnesota Wild's Pierre-Marc Bouchard concussion are can return again and linger for some time. All three players suffered multiple concussions and the Bruins Savard's is no longer in the NHL and Bouchard could soon join Savard in the retirement line if he doesn't get healthy but also stay healthy. 

Michael Russo, Star Tribune --- Latendresse, after being treated by a concussion specialist in Georgia who uses a contraption called a "GyroStim," has declared himself symptom-free from a concussion that destroyed his 2011-12 campaign. He said he can return to being the thunderous power forward who scored 25 goals in 55 games after a November 2009 trade from Montreal.

"It's like I never had any concussion," Latendresse said from his home in Montreal. "I feel 100 percent. I'm doing training like before. I have nothing. I can't even remember when my last headache was." But that doesn't mean the Wild will re-sign Latendresse. While collecting $5 million, Latendresse has played only 27 of 162 games over the past two seasons because of injuries.

The Wild would have to tender him a qualifying offer of $2.5 million by June 25 to retain his rights and make him a restricted free agent. That's unlikely. "I know I won't get a qualifying offer," Latendresse said. "I'm 100 percent sure about that. It's pretty obvious with my last two years."

This would be a perfect player for the Minnesota Wild to sign to a one year contract that based on incentives. If Latendresse isn't healthy you fail to re-sign him in the off-season.

For all of your Minnesota Wild Ticket needs you can purchase tickets on this link See Minnesota Wild games.

In the NHL a day of bad news...

Image via WikipediaThere are three stories that I have been following today. Former NHL tough Guy Wade Belak (549 games 8g-25a-33pts 1263PIM) was found dead in his condo in Toronto, Ont... Wade Belak is the third current or former NHL hockey player that has died this summer during the offseason, Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien also died this summer.

NHL.COM --- Former NHL player Wade Belak has been found dead in his condominium in Toronto. Belak, who played in parts of 14 seasons with five NHL teams, was 35 years old.

A source with the Nashville Predators confirmed the news. Belak finished his career with the Predators and remained with the team in an organizational role following his retirement.

According to reports, the cause of death was not immediately known, but foul play was not suspected.

Also it was revealed today that Boston Bruins star center Marc Savard has not improved and will miss the 2011-2012 season. Marc Savard is still suffering from post concussion syndrome and you have to think that his career with the Boston Bruins is in jeopardy.

Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli does not expect Marc Savard to play this coming season, Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe reports.

Savard played 25 games last season, but his campaign started late because of symptoms from a concussion in 2009-10 and ended in January after another concussion.

"Marc Savard won't play this year," Chiarelli told Shinzawa on Wednesday. "Nothing has changed in our monitoring. He'll be examined and he'll be declared unfit to play."

The 34-year-old center had two goals and 10 points last season. In the four seasons before his first concussion in March 2010, Savard averaged more than 89 points and was considered one of the top passers in the League.

If the news couldn't get any worse, today we also learn that former Minnesota Wild and Anaheim Duck's tough guy Todd Fedoruk is also battling addiction issues.

VANCOUVER — You have to give Todd Fedoruk credit; he isn’t shy about discussing his drug and alcohol addictions which he says were the real reason he was bought out in Tampa, ending his NHL career unless he should happen to catch on with the Vancouver Canucks this fall.

The winger says he’s been clean for nearly 18 months, is in terrific shape and is ready to drop the gloves as part of the role he has to play if he’s going to be a regular in the league as he has been for nine seasons, most of those with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Fedoruk has had many legendary fights, the most devastating being the shattering of his face by the late Derek Boogaard in October 2006 when the prospective Canuck was in Anaheim. It had to be rebuilt by doctors.

The first question that comes to mind is what is going on here? Something is not right in the NHL. At first glance one has to wonder if the NHL has a  problem with players suffering from depression... Add to that, one has wonder if the NHL also a Drug and alcohol problem. My next question does the NHL have  a peer support and counseling service for their players. I am serious these are very serious issues. 

Related articles

• NHL Breaking News: Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins Will Not Play in 2011-2012 (bleacherreport.com)
• Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli says Marc Savard won't play this year and might not ever play again (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Boston Bruins: Marc Savard Will Not Return for the 2011-2012 Season (bleacherreport.com)
• Former Leafs enforcer Wade Belak found dead in Toronto hotel (thestar.com)
• Report: Marc Savard out for season, career in jeopardy (canada.com)
• Savard's career likely over (theglobeandmail.com)
• Bruins F Savard will miss season with concussion (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Bruins GM says Savard's playing career in doubt: report (reuters.com)
• Bruins GM: Savard out this year, likely beyond (espn.go.com)
• Breaking News: Former Nashville Predator Wade Belak Found Dead in Toronto (bleacherreport.com)
• Wade Belak, Another NHL Enforcer, Found Dead [Nhl] (deadspin.com)

Montreal police complete their investigation on Chara...

This just in from James Murphy of ESPN Boston. My first question is; what the heck are they going investigate? Along those same lines, how many police detectives did the Montreal Police department use to investigate this hockey play/hit? The play in question was about 3-4 strides and about 3.5 seconds ending with Pacioretty getting hurt.

Let's not kid ourselves Max Pacioretty got hurt and that was unfortunate, no one wants to see anyone get hurt on the ice, On the flip side of that discussion, do we want metro police departments and law enforcement agencies investigating questionable hits or actions that take place on the ice or playing fields I am being serious; you don't see the Boston or Pittsburgh Police departments charging Penguins' hack Matt Cooke with a crime for attempting to take Marc Savard head off, which was a more egregious hit than the Chara hit on Pacioretty. There was no crime committed by Zdeno Chara. What nexts, is the Montreal Police Department going to send officers to the Boston Bruins locker room and take Chara away in hand cuffs, just like they did the Hanson Brothers in the movie Slap Shot... Let's wrap this up, and move on.

James Murphy, ESPN --- Montreal police have concluded their investigation into Bruins captain Zdeno Chara’s controversial hit on Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty on March 8 and forwarded their report to Crown prosecutors. It is now their decision whether to prosecute Chara.

Amid public outcry from Canadiens and NHL fans in Montreal after Chara was not suspended by the NHL for the hit that left Pacioretty with a cracked vertebrae and concussion, the police launched an investigation in March and just recently questioned Chara.

Related articles

• Police investigation into Chara's hit on Pacioretty complete (thestar.com)
• Chara file handed to prosecutors after police investigation (tsn.ca)
• Probe into Bruins' Chara done, file with prosecutors (cbc.ca)

Boston Bruins set up to repeat?

Image by slidingsideways via FlickrI would say that the Boston Bruins based on who they lost and who they retained during the offseason; would have to be “one” of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference and repeat as Stanley Cup champions. That’s not to say that the Bruins won’t be challenged by the other teams in the Eastern conference because they will, I would also put the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Pittsburg Penguins if Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are healthy as teams that will also compete for the Eastern Conference crown as well.

NHL.COM --- Unlike the mass exodus from Chicago last season, and even the losses Pittsburgh incurred two years ago, the Bruins will return much of their Cup-winning club intact. They have three key players to replace: Mark Recchi, Michael Ryder and Tomas Kaberle.

Recchi defied time in the Cup Final, authoring a vintage performance and finishing the 2011 postseason with 5 goals and 14 points. He embraced the role of steady, veteran leader and spent much of the season on the second line. He slumped early in the postseason, but came on strong to help win the Cup for the third time in his career before announcing his retirement on the ice after Game 7.

Ryder was one of several Bruins who elevated his play during the Cup run. He had only 18 goals in each of the past two regular seasons, but racked up 8 goals and 17 points in the playoffs and earned a hefty contract from the Dallas Stars.

Kaberle struggled for much of his time with the Bruins after arriving in one of the marquee deals of the 2011 trade deadline. The power play was awful during the postseason, and that was expected to be the one area where he helped. He did finish the postseason with 11 assists, but was mostly a third-pairing defenseman in tight games. Had Boston not won the Cup, the trade would be considered a huge disappointment. Kaberle signed with Carolina as a free agent.

Boston also lost depth defenseman Shane Hnidy, and the future of center Marc Savard remains uncertain -- he only played 25 games for the Bruins last season while recovering from a concussion.

Related articles

• NHL Injury Report: Boston Bruins' Marc Savard Not Likely to Play in 2011-2012 (bleacherreport.com)
• Boston Bruins: Will David Krejci Get a New Contract by the Start of the Season? (bleacherreport.com)
• You: 5 Reasons Tyler Seguin and the Boston Bruins Will Be Better in 2012 Than 2011 (bleacherreport.com)
• Boston Bruins: Six Reasons They Are Better Without Tomas Kaberle (bleacherreport.com)
• Boston Bruins: Will Marc Savard Get His Name Engraved on the Stanley Cup? (bleacherreport.com)

Boston's Marc Savard done for season

According to Joe McDonald of ESPN Marc Savard is going to be shut down for the season. This is not good news for the Boston Bruins as they have lost one of their top players for the rest of the season. This was the second concussion in ten months for Marc Savard.

Boston Bruins center Marc Savard will be shut down for the remainder of the 2010-11 season because of ongoing problems with concussions, according to a team source. An official announcement is expected from the team on Monday.

General manager Peter Chiarelli declined to comment on Savard's status on Sunday, but early last week Chiarelli admitted to ESPNBoston.com that there was a "strong possibility" Savard's season was over.

Earlier Sunday, at the conclusion of the Bruins' practice, coach Claude Julien said there was no update on Savard.

Savard, along with his agent, Larry Kelly, met with Chiarelli this weekend after undergoing further tests.

Savard suffered his most recent concussion on Jan. 22 against the Avalanche in Colorado when his head hit the bottom of the glass after a clean hit by former teammate Matt Hunwick. In fact, it was the second such hit he suffered in a week's time after he was hit by Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland early in the third period on Jan. 15 at TD Garden.

While the loss of Savard hurts the Boston Bruins they have played a good portion of the season without him and with their dept the Boston Bruins can still make a big move in the post season. When Savard is healthy he can make a major contribution on the ice for the Bruins.

Miller slams Cooke for Savard hit - Hjalmarsson suspened two games

Bravo to former Michigan State Spartan Ryan Miller. I am glad that someone has the balls to say this. Incidently, Niklas Hjalmarsson has been suspended by the NHL for his hit on Jason Pominville.

Boston Globe --- Withering words from Ryan Miller, courtesy of Buffalo's WGR 550, regarding head shots in the wake of Niklas Hjalmarsson's blast from behind on Jason Pominville. During the interview, Miller was asked if the Pominville incident would have drawn more eyeballs had a star player been injured.

The Buffalo goalie responded that Marc Savard, one of the NHL's premier setup men, remains out with post-concussion syndrome following Matt Cooke's hit to the head last season.

"Savard's still not playing," Miller said. "One of the best playmakers we have in this game is still not playing because of a stupid, [foolish] hit."

Chiarelli 'happy' to have Marc Savard

There was some talk this past summer that the Boston Bruins were trying to trade Marc Savard after signing him to a cap friendly contract. I can imagine that there are a lot of Bruins fans relieved that Marc Savard is staying put.

ESPNBoston.com ---Chiarelli acknowledged Friday that he did indeed have trade discussions regarding Savard, but apparently they weren't enough to entice the GM to pull the trigger on a deal. Chiarelli also acknowledged that teams have inquired about other Bruins players, as well.

"There is all these things that happen and there are always things that swirl around about moving guys, and I cannot respond to anything in kind because I don't directly comment on trade rumors," Chiarelli said. "I can tell you, though, that there was discussion and inquiries on Marc and they became public.

"There has been a number of inquires on a lot of the players, some become public and some don't for obvious reasons, but as we told Marc, that's part of the business and he understood that. I made sure he knows what we think of him: He is a Boston Bruin and an elite offensive player we're happy to have on this team."

Since the NHL entry draft back in late June, Savard's name has been constantly bandied about in trade rumors. Due to the Bruins' salary-cap woes and the anticipated addition of another talented center in Tyler Seguin to an already deep center corps, Chiarelli reportedly was open to trading his star pivot, who led the team in scoring in three of the past four seasons.

How far are they going to go back...

Ilya Kovalchuk contract caused a fire storm with contracts that some claim circumvent the CBA. My question is how far are they going to go back and look? I also wonder if I am the only one that doesn't really like the current CBA? I think teams should be able to adjust their cap numbers when they get into injury problems.

Arbitrator Richard Bloch's ruling on the Ilya Kovalchuk grievance yesterday could affect the registration of Marc Savard's seven-year, $28.05 million contract.

In Bloch's decision, acquired by Team 1200 legal analyst Eric Macramalla, the arbitrator upheld the NHL's rejection of Kovalchuk's 17-year, $102 million contract. In the decision, a footnote includes Savard's contract (others include those of Chris Pronger, Roberto Luongo, and Marian Hossa) as featuring a similar structure to Kovalchuk's rejected deal. Savard will be paid $7 million in 2010-11 and 2011-12; $6.5 million in 2012-13; $5 million in 2013-14; $1.5 million in 2014-15; then backdives to $525,000 in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

According to the footnote, Savard's contract has been registered but is being investigated once more by the league. According to the collective bargaining agreement, the NHL can conduct an investigation to determine whether circumvention took place even after a contract has been approved and registered.

"[W]hile the contracts have, in fact, been registered, their structure has not escaped League notice: those [Standard Player Contracts] are being investigated currently with at least the possibility of a subsequent withdrawal of the registration," the footnote reads. "It is also the case that the figures in Kovalchuk's case are demonstrably more dramatic, including a 17-year term length, a $102,000,000 salary total, and precipitous drop that lasts for the final six years of this contract." [Boston Globe]

Cox: Marc Savard talk risky business for Leafs

When I start hearing these rumors and as a Boston Bruins fan it kind of infuriates me, what is it with the Bruins management that makes them want to trade away their best goal scoring talent? My next question would be; if you were unhappy with Savard attitude or play why did you sign him to a long term contract? I would also ask the same question about their goaltender former Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas. In today’s salary cap NHL, there is little room for error when you’re signing players to long term contracts.

What it means in general is that the Leafs can consider financial commitments other franchises can’t. Today, what it means is that Burke and his hockey department are seriously examining the possibility of acquiring Boston Bruins centre Marc Savard and his mammoth contract, something franchises like Nashville, Florida, Buffalo and Phoenix would never have to bother spending even a moment considering.

Savard’s a very good player, a point-per-game pivot albeit one with warts, like a history of concussions and a background as a fellow a coach might not always enjoy having on the roster.

His contract is — excuse the expression, commissioner — coyote ugly, a seven-year deal that comes with a salary of $7 million in each of the next two years, with an annual salary cap hit of $4 million (all figures U.S.). The B’s gave him that deal a year ago when they loved him and before he’d been cold-cocked by Matt Cooke of the Penguins, and before they’d used the second overall pick this past weekend to draft his successor at centre, Tyler Seguin.

Stuck with Tim Thomas, a very expensive goalie they might not be able to move, the Bruins may be prepared to surrender Savard in a so-called “soft” deal. In other words, basically for free. [thestar.com]

Bruins yet to approach Savard regarding no-trade clause

This might Savard getting traded rumors to bed. One has to wonder where the rumors are coming from. I have read Toronto fans pontificating about how Savard would look good on a line with Kessel in Toronto. I would be very surprised if he was traded tonight or this summer especially with his no trade clause.

With tonight's first round approaching and picks remaining in play, the Bruins are expected to continue fielding inquiries for Marc Savard. However, the Bruins have yet to inquire with Savard about waiving his no-trade clause, which is a significant hurdle they must clear. [Boston Globe]

What's up with the Savard rumors?

Darren Dreger seems to think that Bruins star center Marc Savard is available and on the trading block, first off Savard is signed for a very long time through the 2016-2017 season and a no trade clause for the 2010-2011 season. You have to wonder if Dreger is a leaf’s fan with a case of wishful thinking. The deal makes no sense what so ever unless the Bruins are going to replace Savard with another top line offensive player.

Prelude to another deal?

By landing Nathan Horton, the Boston Bruins had to punch a hole in their blueline by including defenceman Dennis Wideman in the deal with the Florida Panthers. This move has sparked speculation that the Bruins may not be done - and some believe Boston may now zero in on Toronto's Tomas Kaberle.

Now Leafs GM Brian Burke and Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli thought they had a trade involving Kaberle and Phil Kessel at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, but the deal was scuttled over confusion as to whether or not draft picks would be included.

Burke has publicly stated he wants a scoring winger as compensation for Kaberle, but according to league sources, star centre Marc Savard is available.

Boston and Toronto have yet to re-open talks involving Kaberle, but it's likely the Bruins will express interest and if Savard is in play, why wouldn't the Maple Leafs consider reuniting him with Phil Kessel?

Will Savard own up?

Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.COM wrote this article about the Bruins star Marc Savard needing to own up for his costly mistake that led to the historic game winning goal and epic collapse. I don't think Savard's mistake is the sole reason the Bruins lost that game, while some of the onus should be on Savard there are other reasons (mulitple) the Bruins lost the game and series. I honestly don't see Savard owning up for his mistake.

BOSTON – There's a golden opportunity approaching for one of the Bruins to step and do the right thing when the players pack up their lockers, sit in for exit interviews and shut it down for the summer after crumbling against the Flyers.

The B's will meet Tuesday morning and go their separate ways, and it will provide the stage for Marc Savard to speak up and prove he learned something amid one of the worst playoff collapses in sports history.

The B's center will have the chance to own up to the critical mistake he made in the third period of Game Seven when he waved his stick for a line change, looked away from the bench after his replacement, Vladimir Sobotka, didn't immediately come over the boards and then skated deep into the play while Sobotka hopped onto the ice to replace him.

Bruins coach Claude Julien admitted as much amid the rubble of Game Seven when he said that "a player waved for a change then changed his mind." That "player" was Savard, who requesting a line change and then experienced a sudden change of heart in the middle of a change.
In terms of Ice Hockey 101, that mistake was on Savard for not immediately getting off the ice.

Forget about the timing of the play, and whether the call was appropriate or not in the throes of a tied Game Seven during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Forget also about the four hooking calls against Savard in the series and how far his game dropped after Game 3 -- the player came back from a Grade 2 concussion after two months and shouldn't have been expected to be in peak form. Those are side issues, of course, but it was the correct call with six Bruins skaters on the ice and referees under a directive to call "too many men on the ice" much more stringently than in years past.

There were 33 "too many men" penalties called after two rounds of playoffs this season, compared to only 17 through all four rounds last year.

The penalty led to a Simon Gagne third-period goal that gave the Flyers their winning margin. [CSNNE.com]

Savard put a bull’s eye on his back...

I think that Bruins Center Marc Savard has put the bull’s eye firmly on his back with his post game comments last night. Apparently the fans in Philly are not happy with Savard as well. In a way I do agree with Savard because the Flyers have been taking runs at him all series long, it has been blatantly obvious from the drop of the first puck during game one.

In game four during the second period Marc Savard had the puck behind the Flyers net, Mark Richards went hard at Savard but luckily he missed, I can’t even imagine what would have happened if Richards had connected? I do admit that the Begin hit on Giroux was unnecessary and some might say it was dirty. Rough play is part of hockey and there has been questionable hits on both ends of the ice during this series and I don’t think the Flyers have the high moral ground based on their tarnished reputation. The reffing in this series has been questionable at best. I do think this series is going to heat up even more in the next game.