Goon's illegal curve article.

Here is the latest article I wrote for the illegalcurve.com

Minnesota Wild: Courtesy of Goon’s World

The Minnesota Wild were mired in a tough stretch during the month of December going 4-9-1. Early on it became very apparent to the fans that the Wild didn’t have enough firepower up front to win on a regular basis. Then to kick off the New Year, the Wild found out that their top star Marian Gaborik was going to be out 10-14 weeks after surgery on his hip.

This revelation was made after a lot of tension between the Wild management and Marian Gaborik, because no one was able to figure out what was wrong with Gaborik. Then it was announced right during the Christmas break that Gaborik was going to be held out of a few games and practice to rest Marian’s beat up and fragile body. Then January 2nd, it was announced that Marian Gaborik was going to have surgery on his hip at the recommendation of his doctor.

Gabby had successful hip surgery on January 5th. There is a lot of speculation that we may have seen Marian’s last days in a Wild uniform. Most of us believe that Gaborik’s time in Minnesota has come to an end. I, like a lot of fans, have grown tired of Gaborik’s self-centered ungratefulness. I don’t understand where Gaborik gets this selfishness, because he has been treated well in Minnesota. I am also bored with Gaborik’s attitude; he won’t play unless he is 100%. Gaborik is one of the most prolific players when he is healthy, but the guy is made out of glass and is easily injured. The fact that he turned down $80+ million to stay with the Wild makes me upset more as a Wild fan. In my mind, general manager Doug Risebrough couldn’t get rid of Gaborik fast enough to make me happy. It’s time for this prima donna to move on.

Fans in Minnesota not happy

To top all of this off, there is a building tension between the Wild management and the Wild fans. The fans actually started booing the Minnesota Wild during a recent game at the Xcel Energy Center. Michael Russo wrote a nice article on the state of the fan base in the Twin Cities on December 31st in the Star Tribune. Russo’s article took the Wild management to task for their mismanagement of the team and basically became the sounding board of what the fans are feeling. There are lot of us that are unhappy with the way the Wild have been managed. To some of us, the only way to make this situation better is to get rid of the head coach Jacques Lemaire as well as Risebrough. The team has grown stagnant under these two men and it is time for change.

Last year the Wild had a chance to get Ollie Jokinen, but Risebrough didn’t want to give up Pierre Marc Bouchard (7-12-19 in 36 games) or James Sheppard (2-6-8 in 39 games) to get Jokinen. For whatever reason, Risebrough deemed these two underachievers as untouchable and not on the trading block. Who in their right mind would make such a statement? These players have been an utter disappointment this season. How would Jokinen look in a Wild uniform? I bet with him in the lineup, the Wild would have won five more games.

Wild’s winning ways

Since December 31th the Minnesota Wild have gone 3-1, losing in a shootout to the Detroit Redwings and beating San Jose, Boston and Colorado. Two of these teams are the best hockey teams in the NHL. During the last four games the Wild have given up a grand total of four goals and shut out their last two opponents. I think the reason for the turnaround is that the Wild players have accepted the fact that they aren’t going to have the services of Gaborik and the return of Owen Nolan to the lineup. If there has been a bright spot to this season it has been the play of Nolan when he has been healthy. The Wild are going to need more than one bright spot if they are going to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Seems like everytime I talk/write about the Wild they start losing. Yikes!

More from Russo.

Check out this awesome blog by Minnesota Wild beat writer Michael Russo this article is a must read. I think Wild fans are lucky to have a guy like Russo covering the Minnesota Wild.

Lastly, on today’s column, I know a lot of people inside the Wild ain’ t happy with me right now.

I have always considered myself an objective beat reporter. I don’t root. I tell it like it is (ask Mike Keenan, who grew tired of me real quick in Florida). And I have written a lot of positive stories about the Wild, the players on it and the GM, who I do have great respect for.

But as I once told Ray Whitney, who got angry with me after an article, “Ray, I’ve written a lot of good things about you, and you know what, you have to take the good with the bad.”

The Wild has lost nine of 11, and I don’t believe this just a slump. My job is to write for the fans, for the Star Tribune readership. And I believe I expressed the sentiment today that a lot of fans have felt for a long time (and incidentally, the midseason report is about 10 days from appearing).

The fans drive the NHL like no other sport. Hockey basically makes squat from TV, from merchandising, etc. The NHL is unique because the paying customers, for the most part, almost directly pay everybody’s salaries — players, coaches, management. That’s the biggest revenue stream.

The fans are upset. There’s serious problems going on right now inside this organization. I wrote it, and the fans deserve to have it written. That’s my job.

I like these players. But the overall team is not good enough, and that’s what I

Mike I agree with you 100% the Wild are a mess and the management needs to know this. If they are upset with you so be it. They need to take a look at what they are doing. Since 2000 Wild fans have been patient with the team and watched them flounder and have limited success.

Please don't hold back and keep reporting it like it is. I know there are a lot of us that appreciate what you’re doing. I appreciate your candid writing while others in the print and broadcast media dance around the issues and act like there is nothing wrong with this team. The Wild fans deserve better.

Goon's Illegal Curve article.

Here my aritle that was submitted to the illegal curve.
1. Minnesota Wild by Eric Burton of Goon’s World

Last night on Versus I had the opportunity to watch the Wild and the Capitals play a non-conference game. Minnesota raced to a convincing and almost unheard of four goal lead. At this point in the game you expect a Wild team to go into their patented defensive mode where they shut down the opponents in the offensive zone and make it almost impossible to score.

In Monday’s game that was not the case and before the third period was over, the Wild had tried to give the game back to the Capitals allowing them to score three goals in under four minutes from Matt Bradley, Alex Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom. For the Wild that is very uncharacteristic.

I think it is an enigma to see the Wild score four goals in a game, in fact it is almost unheard of. The Wild are known for their stifling defense and lack of offensive prowess. The Wild are offensively challenged and are in the bottom of the league for goals (49) for and are only ahead of lowly Phoenix (48). Breaking it down further the Wild have only scored four or more goals in a game only five times so far this season. Wild goalie Nicklas Backstrom should sue his forwards for lack of support.

The Wild had been getting a most of their scoring from the big three: Mikko Koivu (5-4-19), Andrew Burnett (6-5-11) and Anti Miettinen (6-7-13) finally got scoring from two unexpected sources last night as Kyle Clutterbuck (2) and James Sheppard (1) scored their first goals of the season.

There have also been some disappointments so far this season. Pierre-March Bouchard that signed a big contract in the offseason has been invisible so for going (2-4-6) in 16 games so far this season. That is unacceptable for a player of Bouchard’s offensive talent.

Defensively the Wild have been solid getting great offensive play from Marc-Andre Bergeron (2-7-9), Marek Zidlicky (3-5-8) and Kim Johnnson (1-6-7). Also in the mix is Brent Burns (3-4-7) who has been hurt earlier this season and sat out four games has now been asked to play at forward for the Wild because of the Wilds lack of offensive dept.

I think the Wild are going to have to get some balanced scoring or they won’t be able to remain in the top part of the western conference. They are going to have to eventually have to score more than 1-2 goals a game to win. Backstrom is good but he is going to have stretches where he is going to be well, human.

Forget Gaborik: Minnesota should focus on Backstrom

Here is a good story by Sean Leahy on how the Minnesota Wild should forget about Marian Gaborik and focus on getting Niklas Backstrom signed up to a contract. That is a good idea because Wild back up Josh Harding has less than impressive since he became a member of the Minnesota Wild.

Whatever happens to both Gaborik and Backstrom, this is a very important season for the Wild franchise. They have their superstar player and superstar goaltender both on the verge of big raises. Minnesota has $37 million committed for next season, but with eight soon-to-be unrestricted free agents and four restricted free agents, how will Doug Risebrough approach the future of the team? Backstrom's future won't be determined until Gaborik is either signed or dealt.

An alternate thought: With the Wild's hot start, does Risebrough roll the dice and keep Gaborik all season and sign Backstrom instead for a run at the Stanley Cup?

It'll be an interesting season in Minnesota, both on and off the ice.

I have to agree on Sean on this Marin Gaborik had played a grand total of two games scoring an eye popping 1 goal, the Wild have managed to win with out Gabby and need to start their life without him. While Gaborik has been on the shelf since October 16th the Wild have gone 7-3-1.

Ouch: with friends like Martin Skoula...

Jim Mone, Associated Press
Ouch that is going to leave a mark, you just hope that Harding won't miss too much time, although Harding claims he is going to be ready I still get nervous when I see freak accidents like that happen.

I sometimes wounder if the NHL goalies shouldn't be wearing the same face masks as the NCAA Division 1 college goaltenders. There is way too much room in Harding's mask for a stick to poke him in the eye.

Wild goaltender Josh Harding wasted little time Thursday declaring himself ready to get back into the net.

"Everything's fine," Harding said after watching -- through sunglasses -- his teammates practice. "It's just a slight scratch. But nothing serious. I should be back right away."

In Wednesday night's preseason game against Buffalo, Harding was poked in the right eye with the blade of a stick that made it through the eyehole of his goalie mask. He was sent to a hospital as a precautionary measure.

Will Colton Gillies make the Wild?

What little I say this past weekend impressed me. If Gillies puts some size on his tall frame he could be a big force for the Wild in front of the net, which they desperately need. In a way he reminds me of Milan Lucic last season, because it appears Colton will also not benefit from another year in the major junior ranks as well.

If forward doesn't make team, he must return to junior hockey
By John Shipley --- Pioneer Press 09/26/2008

Right now," he explained, "I'm trying to lay low and hopefully make the team."

That's a tall order for a 19-year-old, but the Wild are taking a long, hard look at the 6-foot-4, 190-pound winger because they think he can contribute this season and, if Gillies doesn't make the big-league roster, he must return for his fourth season of junior hockey.

Asked Thursday if there's more for Gillies to learn in juniors, coach Jacques Lemaire rubbed his face and thought a moment.

"Not a lot," he said. "Not a lot."

Lemaire plans to take another long look at Gillies tonight in Chicago when the Wild play their second exhibition game against the Blackhawks. "I like what he does on the ice," Lemaire said. "He's a good skater, he plays a physical game. He's fast, quick for his size. He has a presence. We'll have to work on his shot, around the net, his hands so he can get some points.

The Ralph benefits injured defenseman.

I wounder if this is what Ralph Englestad had in mind when they made the Ralph Engelstad Arena. I wounder if the Wild would consider training up here every year. I attended yesterday's practice and there was a pretty nice crowd on hand to watch a practice. I always love the opportunity to watch hockey in shorts.

Defenseman Kurtis Foster, rehabbing from a broken leg, is taking advantage of the spectacular training facilities at Ralph Engelstad Arena, which boasts a 10,000-square-foot fitness center and underwater treadmill.

Sunday, Foster, who has strengthened his upper body dramatically this summer, got into a weightlifting competition with Gaborik.

"In the long run, coming to Grand Forks was a great idea," Foster said. "You can't say enough good things about this facility. This is unbelievable."

Foster said getting away from the Twin Cities could be beneficial for a team with potentially eight to nine new faces.
(Read the whole article here)

Gaborik to agent get deal done.

THE Wild Blogger Michael Russo had this story on his blog today. Now that is a Russo's Rant that I can feel good about. While Mike is right that it means no deal is imminent it is does give me some hope that one of my favorite teams (Boston is my other one) has a better chance of making the playoffs.

Tom Lynn eventually worked his way over during the scrimmage’s intermission. The two plan to meet later today. Salcer made clear again to the two local beat writers that Gaborik has instructed him to try to get a deal done with the Wild, and that this is a “sincere” negotiation. Again though, that doesn’t mean Gaborik’s signing at the end of the day, as Risebrough likes to say.

This is all part of a complicated process. Nothing is imminent.

Remember, the biggest chore here is guesstimating what the cap can go up to, or down to. In other words, guessing what a player like Gaborik would be worth in say, five years, six years, whatever. Remember, one big reason why the cap keeps going up is the strength of the Canadian dollar, which has aided in the increased revenues for the six Canadian teams. Well, these are uncertain economic times, and the Canadian dollar is down to 94 cents last time I looked.

30 Teams in 30 Days: Minnesota Wild

The Illegal Curve has been doing 30 teams in 30 days and Richard broke down the Minnesota Wild. There is no way the Wild finish as high as third, I just don't see it with the personel the Wild lost. Realistically I am thinking the Wild finish somewhere in the 10th-11th place in the West. With the low finish the Wild GM and the coach being shown the door.

by Richard ~ September 18th, 2008 --- After a disappointing six-game loss to the Colorado Avalanche in last year’s playoffs, the defending Northwest Division champions are coming into the 2008/09 with a different look. Sure Jacques Lemaire is back for another season behind the bench, and the team will continue to play the same suffocating style but the players playing that style have changed. Will the Wild take another step forward after winning the division last season and make it to the next round of the playoffs? That is a good question, but the most important question on Wild fans’ minds may be whether Marian Gaborik will re-sign with the club or be traded during the season? Unfortunately for fans of the Wild, that question could linger for quite a while; so let’s take a peek at the Wild’s outlook for 2008/09.

Forwards:

The Wild’s biggest offensive loss over the off-season was the departure of Brian Rolston to the New Jersey Devils via free agency. Rolston played in all situations for the Wild and was a critical component to team success. In fact, there probably isn’t a player more suited for Jacques Lemaire’s system. In addition to Rolston, the Wild also lost Pavol Demitra to free agency. While Demitra struggled last season and was unhappy with the system and how he was asked to play, he still had the ability to put points on the board (54 points in 68 games) and the team will miss his production. Without Rolston, Demitra and the recently bought-out Mark Parrish, the Wild is going to have to replace 61 goals and 81 assists in its line up. Is that impossible? Definitely not, but it also is not easy.
-------snip--------
Prediction:

Ceiling: 3rd place in the Western Conference. The Wild can earn this slot by way of winning the Northwest Division and they are certainly capable of that. Unfortunately, they won’t be good enough to slot ahead of Detroit or either San Jose/Dallas.

Floor: 9th place in the Western Conference. This is unlikely but the West is still fairly deep and has non-playoff teams like Edmonton, Chicago and Columbus to go along with all the seven other playoff teams from last season.

The Wild should be an interesting team to follow next season.

Is the Wild Style of play hurting them in free agency?

Puck Daddy had this nice article on the Wild and their style of play. Puck Daddy brings up some good points about the Wild's style and how their style of play is holding them back in the free agent market. Also he points out how the Wild while offensively challenged have made the playoffs three time since they joined the league in 2000-2001 while being offensively challenged. This could be a testament of the quality of coach Lemaire, while he is probably a hall of fame coach his style of play is getting more and more boring...

I also believe this is a make or break season for the Wild. If they lose Marian Gaborik they are going to be a very average and or mediocre team. I also do sense a feeling of impatience with some Wild fans and I am no difference.

This team can't attract top flight offensive players on the open market, and has had to work its collective ass off to convince Marian Gaborik not to leave; dazzling him with pie charts and bar graphs that show Lemaire hasn't sucked all the creativity out of him.

Here are the facts: The Minnesota Wild have made the postseason three times since joining the NHL with Lemaire as coach in 2000-01. They have one conference finals appearance, and two first-round losses. Since joining the NHL, the Wild have been below the league average in goals scored every season. Even the offense-challenged Devils can't make that claim over the last seven seasons.

Is that record good enough for today's NHL? Is it good enough for Wild fans?

What's clear is that Lemaire will never be fired. He'll have to resign, and it's conceivable that his departure could be a reality after losing his smile last season.

Will the next coach be a defensive disciple of Lemaire hockey, or someone with a fresh approach who could give this franchise an offensive identity?

And will Risebrough's defense of Lemaire's coaching style be forever undermined if his successor has a contradictory philosophy?
(Read the whole story here)

Wild Practice open to the Public.

I may have to check this out on Sunday morning it sounds like a lot of fun. I actually wish there was another pre season game at the REA but isn't going to happen this season.

Wild opens Sept. 21 training camp day to public Minnesota Wild
SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced today that the team will hold an open training camp day free to the general public on Sunday, Sept. 21 from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.

Fans can enter the Ralph Engelstad Arena main entrance beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21 to watch the Wild practice during their second day of training camp.

The team selected Ralph Engelstad Arena as its location to open training camp this season as a result of the Xcel Energy Center hosting the Republican National Convention, September 1-4, and the move out from the arena following the event. Minnesota will open training camp presented by Wells Fargo on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Ralph Engelstad Arena at 10:00 a.m.

Media are welcome to cover the Wild’s training camp at Ralph Engelstad Arena and are asked to enter through the Ralph Engelstad Arena main office. Players will be available for interviews following each practice session and Head Coach Jacques Lemaire will address the media following the last practice session each day. For more information on Wild training camp please contact the Minnesota Wild’s Aaron Sickman at (651) 602-6009 or Ryan Stanzel at (651) 602-5736.

Wild must sign or trade Gaborik

I saw this story over on Truth & Rumors. Make no mistake about it the Minnesota Wild are down to crunch time; there is no sugar coating it. The Wild must either sign Gabby or trade him for a worth while replacement, they can't let him go to free agency.

I do wonder if the fact that Hossa is only signed for one year with the Detroit Redwings is having some affect where Gaborik goes or what he wants to do?

It does make me wonder what the heck Gaborik is thinking? Gabby must know that the Wild aren't going to let him wait until next summer to see what he can get on the open market. I would also like to see where Hossa wants to go in the offseason.

The Wild are in negotiations to retain their marquee player, Marian Gaborik, but if they can't sign him, will they trade him before he can become a free agent next summer? As the lengthy negotiations continue, the only deadline -- and it's a soft one -- seems to be general manager Doug Risebrough's desire to have a deal done before the season starts Oct. 11 against the Boston Bruins at the Xcel Energy Center. And yet the specter of a world without Gaborik, the leading scorer in franchise history and its last original member, haunts Wild Nation. On the team's Web site, there were 65 pages dedicated to the topic as of Saturday afternoon, and for good reason. If Gaborik waits for free agency, he virtually could have his pick among 30 NHL teams that would pay him as much or more than the Wild are offering.

St. Paul Pioneer Press

Patrick Reusse on Doug Risebrough

I found this awesome article in today's Star Tribune written by Patrick Reusse. While Reusse isn't Michael Russo this is a well written hard hitting article because it covers all of themes of the past few months. It is beginning to look like the jig is FINALLY up and now the fans are on to the Wilds management scheme or lack of management scheme.

Patrick Reusse: Wild boss selling a sorry story to fans

Risebrough was in the bargain basement's hockey section, up to his elbows in the squalor of stinking pads and broken sticks, trying to find bodies that he could pass off to his team's gullible consumers as real players.

In several instances, Risebrough was required to place a mirror under the individual's nostrils to make sure he still was breathing. This did not prevent the boss from suggesting the Wild was a better team with these scraps than with Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra.

Double-Talking Doug operates with a motto that has served him extremely well in St. Paul: "You can fool some of the people some of the time, and you can fool all of the Wild fans all of the time."

DTD went into this NHL free agency in great need of a center. He signed forwards Owen Nolan, Andrew Brunette, Antti Miettinen and Craig Weller, none being a center.

Poor beat-up Nolan is tied together with baling wire. Brunette spent the best three seasons left in his career in Colorado. And Miettinen received the glowing recommendation from Tom Lynn, DTD assistant and apologist, that he was remindful of Branko Radivojevic.

That should make you excited to send in that last payment for 2008-09 tickets, since Branko lit the lamp seven times last season. He now has gone to Russia to find a contract.

And Weller? He has first cousins who didn't know he played in the NHL last season.

DTD also traded for a pair of softies for the defense, Marek Zidlicky and Marc-Andre Bergeron, as part of his latest message directed to the Cult of 18,000:

The way to score more goals is to move the puck better from the backline, rather than to spend a large pile of dollars on someone to help bring out the best in Marian Gaborik.

A year ago, Smith and the Twins made sure the offers to Torii Hunter and Johan Santana -- though substantial -- were well short of what was required to keep them on the payroll.

Risebrough was able to get some PR out of a similar circumstance with Marian Hossa: He figured out an offer that Hossa could refuse, then made it public after the star right wing signed a one-year deal with Detroit.

Minnesota's hockey fans aren't really gullible enough to believe that there was nothing more DTD could have done to bring Hossa here. Are you?

The Wild boss was back at his double-talking best over the weekend, suggesting it wasn't really salary but the length -- three years rather than four -- that caused him to lose Rolston to New Jersey.

Hogwash. New Jersey came up with $5 million a year, and the Wild never got there.

DTD was moaning last week in a rival newspaper that people suggesting the Wild was cheap were "ill-informed." He based this on the fact the team will be close to the NHL salary cap for the 2008-09 season.

The problem is, being cheap is bringing in a half-dozen marginal players at modest numbers who can be dumped, and being aggressive is making whatever moves are necessary for pricey difference-makers such as Rolston, Hossa and Ryan Malone.

Yes, DTD, the Wild is cheap, and you're a world-class double talker, and the only thing that's going to save next season after what you've lost and what you've added is for the equals of Alexi Casilla, Glen Perkins and Brian Buscher to fall from the sky.

Patrick Reusse can be heard weekdays on AM-1500 KSTP at 6:45 and 7:45 a.m. and at 4:40 p.m. • preusse@startribune.com

Along the Boards with Tenna-B (Gaborik talk)

Check out this P.A. and Dubay podcast where they talk about Gaborik and they bring up some good issues that I and other Wild fans have been bringing up this off season, some valid concerns.

Lets face facts; there is no way to sugar coat this Doug Risebrough has had a brutal off season. Lets face fact there are not a lot of top free agents that want to play for the Wild because of their style of play. It is boring to watch. I strongly believe that if the Wild loses Marian Gaborik the fans will revolt. If the Wild lose Gabby they will take a long time to return to the level they are at right now, and they aren't going to be good this season.

The fact that Gabby hasn't signed a contract probably is a good sign that Marian wants to play for another team. Also, Jacques Lemaire act is getting old and tiresome< I agree that the game has passed Jacques Lemaire by.

Wild News: Lynn to talk to Gabby.

There is actually some Wild news that I am guardedly excited about; 1.) Wild defenseman Kurtis Foster did in fact skate for 40 minutes today so that is good new for the Wild defensive corps. 2.) Also, Minnesota assistant general manager Tom Lynn is flying to LA to see if they can work out a deal with Gabby agent.

Seriously folks, I am really scared the Wild are going to lose their only true star in Marian Gaborik. Bruno, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Mikko Koivu are not going to be able to score at Gabby's pace, these players are good but they are not even in the same league as Gaborik. In my wildest dreams I can't fathom a Wild team without Gabby. That is not a pretty portrait to paint. That would make the Wilds as exciting as the listless Vikings.

Lynn to meet with Gaborik’s agent---Foster skates for the first time
Posted by Michael Russo

Wild assistant GM Tom Lynn plans to fly to Los Angeles tonight in order to meet with Marian Gaborik’s agent, Ron Salcer, over the next few days “so we can both try to push the process forward.”

I should say, the last time Lynn flew to Manhattan Beach to meet with Salcer, Brent Burns was signed soon thereafter. That was last November. I remember this because Lynn just suddenly appeared in the Anaheim press box wearing his infamous salmon-colored suit

Of course, this is a much more complicated negotiation.

More in tomorrow’s paper.

Defenseman Kurtis Foster, who sustained a season-ending broken femur last season, skated for 40 minutes this morning in Minneapolis.

Foster said, “It felt good. I’m still a long ways away [from returning to action], but it felt so good to be out there. It wasn’t pretty,

Burns out 4 Weeks after Surgery.

This is not good news Brent Burns is the Wilds top defenseman. Lets hope brent is ready to go in the regular season.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brent Burns out 4 weeks after elbow surgery
Pioneer Press — John Shipley
Wild defenseman Brent Burns had surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow on Thursday and will miss the first two weeks of training camp, the Wild announced.

The Wild called the surgery successful and preventative, and said in a statement Burns is "expected to return in about four weeks." Minnesota starts training camp Sept. 20 in Grand Forks, N.D.

Gabby noncommittal.

After reading this article I am beginning to think that Wild management has really done a poor job running this hockey team during the offseason. Now the Minnesota Wild are in grave danger of losing the face of their franchise, the best player to ever play for the Minnesota Wild.

It is time for the Wild fans to speak up and let the Wild Management know how we feel about the way things are being run, and this franchise is not being run well. In my opinion Gabby is worth 8-10 million dollars a year. Now it is time for the Wild Management to step up and offer a serious contract offer.

Gaborik remains noncommittal about signing with Wild
By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune
Skating with three dozen other players, Marian Gaborik danced in and out of traffic like he was in midseason form Wednesday at the Rec Center in St. Louis Park.

Wearing his green No. 10 helmet, green pants and striped red and green socks, Gaborik, feeling strong on his surgically repaired hip, sure looked like the Wild player who owns the franchise mark for nearly every offensive category.

But the events of the next month could determine how long Gaborik will remain in Wild colors.

The Wild is trying desperately to sign the right wing to a contract extension before the Oct. 11 opener, but Gaborik was noncommittal Wednesday when asked whether he's willing to forgo unrestricted free agency next summer to sign long-term in Minnesota.

"I like it here, I am willing to stay here, but I also know what my options are if we won't agree on the terms," Gaborik said during his first North American interview since the end of last season's playoffs.

"I have one year left on my contract. That's all I'm thinking about. I'm going to leave everything out there, work hard and enjoy it. And I'm going to try the best I can to help the team win this year like I've done always."

Told that sounds like he has decided to play out the final year of his contract and leave as a free agent, Gaborik said, "I'm not saying I'm leaving. I'm not saying I'm staying. I'm saying I have one year left on my contract. I'm leaving it up to the Wild and my agent to discuss it. But I want to be left out of it.

"I like it here. Of course, it's been great times and experiences here. But I still have one more year on my contract. I want to be respected that I still have one year left, and I want to just focus on this year and just try to play the best I can. That's how it is. I don't want to think about my contract right now, and I don't want to be put in a position where I have to talk about it."

But asked again if he's at least willing to sign long-term, Gaborik said, "I'm not saying either or. We'll play it by ear. The Wild and my agent are talking right now. I just want to play hockey and not worry about it."

Wild assistant GM Tom Lynn said the Wild is in the process of negotiating, "so we're having back and forth, which is good. I think Marian is rightly reluctant to try to characterize the process, one for his own position and two because he doesn't want it to be accidentally mischaracterized."

With training camp set to open Sept. 20 in Grand Forks, N.D., Gaborik, 26, who will make $7.5 million this season after coming off a career-best 42 goals and 83 points last season, is in the driver's seat.

If he hits the open market next summer, Gaborik, at his age and talent level, could become one of the highest-sought free agents in NHL history.

The Wild is offering Gaborik the richest, longest contract in franchise history, so Lynn said negotiations are "complicated" because the sides are trying to agree on salary, term and what the future market is for star players.

No player averages more than Alex Ovechkin's $9.538 million cap hit. The max for an individual player is $11.26 million, a number GM Doug Risebrough has said he's not willing to approach. Gaborik declined to identify how much money or how long a contract he's seeking.

"I'm willing to stay, but it depends on what kind of deal they're going to propose," Gaborik said. "I had a good discussion with Doug and Tom [last month in Slovakia]. They explained how they want to go forward. Of course, I want to win. If it's here, I would love that, but who knows what's going to happen."

If there's an impasse, Gaborik knows the Wild might be forced to trade him to avoid a season-long distraction and to ensure it receives assets in return for a talent such as Gaborik.

"I'm not thinking that far right now. I can't control that," Gaborik said. "I'm just here to play hockey." But asked again if he's at least willing to sign long-term, Gaborik said, "I'm not saying either or. We'll play it by ear. The Wild and my agent are talking right now. I just want to play hockey and not worry about it."

Wild assistant GM Tom Lynn said the Wild is in the process of negotiating, "so we're having back and forth, which is good. I think Marian is rightly reluctant to try to characterize the process, one for his own position and two because he doesn't want it to be accidentally mischaracterized."

With training camp set to open Sept. 20 in Grand Forks, N.D., Gaborik, 26, who will make $7.5 million this season after coming off a career-best 42 goals and 83 points last season, is in the driver's seat.
(Read the rest of the story here)

Boston Bruins Sign Stephane Yell

It had been rumored that the Minnestoa Wild were interested in signing defensive forward and face off specialist Stephane Yelle but it appears that the Wild have lost out in another bid for a free agent.

Boston, MA – Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has signed center Stephane Yelle to a contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

A 12-year veteran of 844 regular season games and 154 postseason contests, Yelle comes to the Bruins having won two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 and 2001. Yelle made his NHL debut during the 1995-1996 season with Colorado and played in all 22 of the Avalanche’s playoff games during their Stanley Cup title run. During his rookie year in 95-96, Yelle tallied a career best 13 goals and 14 assists in the regular season and added one goal and four assists in the playoffs. When the Avs captured the Cup a second time in 2000-2001, Yelle again appeared in every playoff game (23) and registered a goal and two assists in the postseason to go along with 4-10-14 totals in the regular season.

He played a total of seven seasons in Colorado, appearing in 505 games with 54 goals and 89 assists.

Yelle spent the last five seasons with the Calgary Flames. On October 1, 2002, he and Chris Drury were traded by Colorado to the Flames in exchange for Dean McAmmond, Derek Morris and Jeff Shantz. During those five years, Yelle contributed 31 goals and 65 assists. Last season, Yelle tallied three goals and nine assists in 74 regular season games and added two goals in seven postseason contests.

The 34-year-old Ottawa, Ontario native was originally drafted in the 8th round (186th overall) of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, Yelle was dealt to Quebec on June 1, 1994 and then relocated with the franchise to Colorado on June 21, 1995.

His team has missed the playoffs only once in his 12-year NHL career (02-03 with Calgary).

Wild in spin mode

I have been following this story on the Internet and it appears that the Wild are trying to remake their present image and seem to be getting defensive when people call them a boring defensive minded team that lives and dies by the trap. So recently it appears that the Wild management is in full spin mode like a political campaign. I guess they are taking offense to some fans saying that the Wild as semi boring, with little or no offense, trapping defensive minded team is a relatively accurate description of the Minnesota Wild. It is not like the Wild were tearing the league up offensively last season and were ranked 18th over all goal scoring. The Wild are going to be hard pressed to score as goals next season, as the Minnesota Wild lost 113 points from the line up.

Myth Crackers: Popular NHL myths split wide open
By Tom Lynn--Myth #2: The “Trap” was created by Jacques Lemaire in the mid-1990s to stifle offense from either team and allow weaker teams to beat more skilled ones

Like the old cliché, this myth needs no introduction. Media and message boards connected with the Wild’s opponents have whipped this one up like the Red Scare of the 1950s. It even has some high priests among a cell of the Twin Cities media who need MapQuest to find downtown St. Paul. Unfortunately for them, this myth is more similar to the paranoia of “The War of the Worlds” than the West’s reaction to the threat of the Soviet’s Fifth Column.

The most popular version of this legend has the New Jersey Devils introducing the trap during the lockout-shortened 1994-95 NHL season. The Devils won the Stanley Cup that year, and the tag of a defensive, un-offensive (as opposed to inoffensive) team was stuck to them. Somehow, it mattered not that the Florida Panthers used an even more stifling version of the same defense to reach the Stanley Cup Finals the next season, or that the Lemaire-coached Devils were second in the League in OFFENSE to Detroit at the end of the 1993-94 season. Hence, the trap could not prevent a team utilizing it from being high-scoring, unless the NHL Guide and Record Book has an enormous misprint. However, the convenience of a negative and simple myth to explain to the faithful how one of the “new” teams could dominate over the traditional powers gave this one momentum for many years to come.

One legendary player’s view of it: “We played this system all the way up to pro. Centres forechecked, wingers peeled off with wingers, and the defensemen stood up at the blue line and crunched whomever. The system won championships and Stanley Cups. Much later, this system became lionized as the ‘trap….” This debunks the second part of the myth -- that it was invented in 1994 by Jacques Lemaire. These words were from Carl Brewer, referring to the hiring of Punch Imlach as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1957! The Leafs rode this detested defense to three straight Stanley Cups from 1962 to 1964. Unknown to its local media, the “Golden Age” of the Leafs was not all flying pucks and 7-6 scores. The only thing more awkward in Toronto may be that a team owned by the Province’s teachers is spelled incorrectly.

But the story does not end there. Faithful followers of this blog will recall that the Montreal Canadiens, the “Flying Frenchmen,” won four Stanley Cups in a row from 1976 to 1979, employing a similar defensive scheme and, gasp, leading the NHL in goals-against in each championship year. The only thing left for those clinging to this myth is the lure of Europe -- for sure those flashy, skilled, non-physical European teams playing in big rinks would never fall for such a defensive scheme -- where their work on the ice is pure artistry, improv theater, jazz as sport. Unfortunately, the truth once again gets in their way. Those famed Russian teams of the early '70s convinced the Montreal Canadiens hierarchy to adopt the Left Wing Lock defensive scheme that was part of the groundwork for their looming dynasty. Yes, it was those famed “Flying Russians” that conceived the neutral zone defensive systems of today.

It would be great to watch the Olympics played every year, but the harsh reality of a regular season game on a Wednesday night in Germany is that neither team will forecheck, hanging back in a dump-and-chase war of attrition that is geared to a 1-0 victory as the perfect game. The larger ice surface scares coaches from letting their charges wander far; the players are instructed to bunch up in front of the same 60x45x20x45 trapezoid in front of the net that goals in any hockey game are scored from. Even a game on a completely frozen Mille Lacs would face the same reality -- no matter how big the ice, if you defend the 45 feet or so in front of your net and have good goaltending, it will be exceedingly difficult for the other team to score.

Well, it looks like we killed two birds with one stone -- the history of the “trap” and the idea that more goals would result from more ice surface far from the net. We’ve cracked this myth like a dollar-store safe. We'll be back with another edition, where critical thinking rules, soon enough.

Wild Management tell Gabby this is where you want to be.

This was an article that I read in yesterdays Star and Tribune and it is a must read for Wild hockey fans. It would seem to appear that some of the players like Marian Gaborik are getting tired of the defense first offense second approach to hockey. As a fan I am getting tired of watching it myself. I am sure I can get my buddy Redwing_77 to agree with me as well.

So what do we take form this? Even with Jacque Lemaire's boring defensive style of play; according the Wild management, isn't holding Gabby's offensive numbers down. I am not sure I believe this. Gaborik is all the offense the Wild have. Of course Gaborik is going to get the share of the points offensively. This would make sense why Olli Jokinen, Mats Sundin, Marian Hossa and Peter Forsberg don't want to play for the Wild.

General Manager Doug Risebrough and assistant GM Tom Lynn met with the star forward in Slovakia.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Marian Gaborik doesn't need to play in another city to be among the top scorers in the NHL.

That was the message Wild management delivered to Gaborik during a four-hour dinner meeting last week in Trencin, Slovakia -- the first step in a journey the Wild hopes ends in a long-term extension to Gaborik's contract before next season.

With Gaborik, 26, less than 11 months from becoming an unrestricted free agent, General Manager Doug Risebrough and assistant GM Tom Lynn met with Gaborik on Monday. The two wanted to convince Gaborik, the Wild's all-time leading scorer with 206 goals and 414 points, that Minnesota is the place to be.

Gaborik could not be reached to comment, but Lynn called it a "great dinner and meeting."

"We showed him a lot more info than any player has ever seen before -- how we scout, how we measure players statistically," Lynn said. "We also listened to his opinions.

"We just talked about the team, how we operate and where we are going, and then his performance and place in the future. So I would say it was a good meeting in that (a) it happened, and (b) Marian had good input, observations and understanding."

One objective for Risebrough and Lynn was to prove to Gaborik he's not being impeded from scoring in Minnesota's defensive-minded system.

Lynn considers it a myth, one Gaborik seemed to believe when, at last season's All-Star Game, he said, "Sometimes you think how it could be in an Eastern system, in a more offensive system. There's more offense there for sure."

But at last week's dinner, Risebrough and Lynn showed Gaborik that, since the lockout, he's fourth in the NHL in goals per game (behind Alex Ovechin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley), first in even-strength goals per minute played and tied for second in goals per 60 minutes played (behind Ovechkin).

(Read the rest of the article here)