Clutterbuck and Scott talk smack with Phaneuf

This was too good not to share, I wish we could hear more of the back and forth that goes on between the players. I suppose a lot of it is unfit for public consumption.

On Phaneuf, recently snubbed from Team Canada, Clutterbuck said, "I asked him how his Olympic break was going to go. [Defenseman] Johnny Scott asked him first. It’s not my joke. It’s Jonny’s. I double-used it on him.”
[Russo's Rants]

Yeah that is going to happen.

I wonder if Wild fans would trade James Sheppard (160 games 9 goals 34 assists 43 points) for Phil Kessel (222 games 66 goals 60 assists 126 points) ? I say in a heart beat. If the Bruins aren't going to resign him I would rather see him playing in the west not killing the Bruins.

One player who falls into the latter category -- and one who might intrigue the Wild -- is Bruins sniper Phil Kessel, the former Gopher who scored 36 goals in 70 games last season.

The 21-year-old Madison native is a restricted free agent and seeking a deal worth between $4.5 and $5 million a season. While the Bruins plan to meet this week with agent Wade Arnott in hopes of re-signing Kessel, the Bruins are $6 million shy of the anticipated salary cap for next season, and have several other key players to re-sign.

According to numerous sources, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is fielding offers, but because he can't take hefty salaries back, he's looking for a first-round pick and at least one top young player. If the Wild was to enter the fray, it would likely cost at least the 12th overall pick and James Sheppard or Tyler Cuma.
[StarTribune]

Hey Gabby just say it!

I am getting sick and tired of Gaborik and his agent stringing the Wild along, just say it, you're not coming back. It would be interesting to see if Fletcher has made an offer to the much injured "prima donna". I think the Wild might want to look into tampering allegation if Gaborik does in fact end up in Vancouver, I am not sure how one would prove that? Zanstorm has an interesting take on the prospects of Gabby playing in Vancouver- 'If Gillis were to sign Gaborik, I hope I'm not around a gun when I'm drunk in the near future. Yeah I could imagine the two injury-prone Slovaks on the Canucks. No bloody thanks.'

Yeah, I can imagine the two Slovaks would both miss quite a few games playing for the Canucks. Pavol Demitra hasn't played a full 82 game season since 2001-2002 season. Marián Gáborík is no better and is known for being a oft injuried player missing a bunch of games the last 4 season (131). During his NHL hockey career Marián Gáborík has only played 81 games in a season once that was 2002-2003. So yeah if you want to play in Vancouver by all means pack your bags. The Canucks are also taking a big time gamble based on his injury status. So it does puzzles me why Gaborik turned down such a big contract offer from the Wild? Gabby has to know he more than likely he isn't going to get such an from another team.

Marian Gaborik’s agent said he has not “closed the door on the Wild.”

But amid an unsubstantiated report out of Vancouver that Gaborik’s already bought a home there, it’s clear it won’t be easy to get Gaborik to pass up the lure of free agency this close to the market opening.

“You never know what can happen,” agent Ron Salcer said Tuesday. “Right now, the only team we can talk to is the Minnesota Wild. I don’t like to say anything’s a foregone conclusion [that he’s leaving] because until July 1, it’s not going to be.

“But free agency is very enticing. To find out what’s available out there in a free market with 29 other teams would be interesting. But you never burn bridges and you wait to see what happens. So we’ll see where it goes.”

But with the strong likelihood of losing the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Wild GM Chuck Fletcher continues to hold trade talks with several teams, including Ottawa regarding two-time 50-goal scorer Dany Heatley, as the Draft approaches Friday and Saturday. [Startribune.com]

Wild interested in Heatley?

Mike Russo has said that the new Wild GM has talked to the Senators GM about acquiring former Wisconsin Badger and current disgruntled Senator Dany Heatley. While Heatley is a dominating hockey players and one of the better forwards in the NHL, I would hope that Heatly wouldn’t come here. I think it could be a potential cancer in the locker room. That is all the Wild need is another potential hockey player that is unhappy in Minnesota, ala Marian Gaborik. This is also the second team that he has asked for a trade from.

With the State of the Wilds cap and who they have on the roster I don’t think the Wild could find enough talent on the Wild’s roster to trade to the Senators to get Heatly anyways. I do have one suggestion if the Wild Management could dump James Sheppard and the ever soft perimeter player Pierre-Marc Bouchard I would be all for it.

Fletcher expects trade talks to intensify this week. He has spoken to all 29 other teams about a variety of hopeful fits. He even has talked several times to Ottawa GM Bryan Murray about two-time 50-goal scorer Dany Heatley, who has asked to be traded and could be by Friday night.