Blogs
Minnesota Wild signs Shane Hnidy
by nathaneide
on Jul 3, 2009 12:56 PM CDT
in News
10 comments
Chuck Fletcher continues to shore the blue line by adding stay-at-home defenseman Shane Hnidy to a one-year, $750,000 contract. .
Hnidy will be expected to offer solid positional defense and will pair nicely with a more offensive-minded blue-liner and will likely find playing time on the penalty kill.
I am going to assume this removes the Wild from the Francois Beauchemin sweepstakes.
10 comments
| 0 recs
|
Beyond the Wilderness: Saku it to me?
by nathaneide
on Jul 3, 2009 11:13 AM CDT
in News
7 comments
- NHL.com - 2009 NHL Offseason News: Fletcher: Not signing Havlat would have been big risk - 07/02/2009
Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher admits that signing forward Martin Havlat for six years was a risk. But to the rookie GM, not signing him would have been a bigger risk. - Minnesota Wild might be done signing free agents - TwinCities.com
Chuck Fletcher still has a few players in his sights, including center Saku Koivu, but if none of those deals materializes, the Wild might be done with free agency. "We still could land somebody in the next day or two," the Wild general manager said Thursday, "or it could be we're not going to do much more in free agency, and could fill some holes via trade." - Adding Mikko Koivu's brother, Saku, is Wild's only answer at center - TwinCities.com
The Wild desperately need a quality center. The last one available via free agency is Saku Koivu. That's it. There are no other options. Chuck Fletcher has to outmaneuver about a dozen other general managers bidding for Koivu's services. So he really needs to be creative in coming up with perks to lure Koivu to Minnesota. - Russo’s Rants " Source: Saku deal appears to be going south; Best of the Rest
Last night, the Wild thought Saku Koivu would be signed, sealed and delivered by this morning. Now, it appears as if it’s going nowhere, according to sources. Agent Don Baizley said no decision is imminent and he’d reserve comment until "the situation is resolved." - Wild waiting on decision from Saku Koivu
One day after signing winger Martin Havlat to a six-year, $30 million deal, General Manager Chuck Fletcher spent much of Thursday trying to fill another significant hole in the Wild's lineup. Fletcher said "negotiations are ongoing with Saku" - Gaborik turns page on his Wild years
One day after his Wild career ended, Marian Gaborik turned the page and focused on his new team, the New York Rangers. "I've only experienced playing in the NHL for one team, and it was for nine years in Minnesota," Gaborik said. - Patrick Reusse: Gaborik's departure is no cause for jeers or tears
The Minnesota sporting public spends much energy complaining over the loss of standout players with the local pro teams. If you listen to these martyrs long enough, they will raise a hand and count off the departures: Kevin Garnett. Randy Moss. Johan Santana - As Koivu's stock rises, Minnesota's outlook gets bleaker? - Puck Daddy - NHL - Yahoo! Sports
The Minnesota Wild thought they had former Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu(notes) on the hook until the rest of the NHL realized that veteran centers that can anchor a scoring line aren't exactly in abundance in the UFA market.
7 comments
| 0 recs
|
Beyond the Wilderness: The Haves and the Havlat's
by nathaneide
on Jul 2, 2009 4:04 PM CDT
in News
17 comments
-
Bitter split? Havlat leaves Chicago for Wild, promises 'real story' - Puck ... - NHL - Yahoo! Sports
Sniff, sniff ... anyone else smell smoke? That's the bridge to Chicago that Havlat might be igniting soon, according to his official Twitter feed. The following appeared after the Wild signing: "Excited to be in Minny where I was welcomed and appreciated by management. The real story about what happened in Chicago to come out." And later: "There's something to be said for loyalty and honor." - Gaborik vanishes, signs with Rangers
And just like that, the last remaining original Wild and team's career leader in virtually every offensive category is in fact ... history. Marian Gaborik's Wild career officially ended Wednesday night when the gamebreaker signed a five-year, $37.5 million -
Wild signs Havlat for $30M
With Wild fans in a tizzy for much of Wednesday as the Sedin twins, Marian Hossa, Mike Cammalleri, and yes, Marian Gaborik left the free-agent board, the Wild finally calmed the masses by landing the biggest free agent in team history late Wednesday night -
In zigzag day, Wild lose Marian Gaborik but add Martin Havlat - TwinCities.comWith Gaborik gone, scoring winger was the Wild's most conspicuous hole, and Havlat fills it. Zanon fills a need for a top-six blue liner. Now the Wild need a center, and Koivu would look very good on the second line while giving coach Todd Richards the kind of flexibility with his lines that Jacques Lemaire didn't have last season.
-
Tom Powers: Martin Havlat a good start for Wild; now if Saku Koivu signs... - TwinCities.com
A gifted winger, Havlat will be a fine addition to the Wild. He and Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher agreed to terms on a six-year, $30 million contract late Wednesday night. Havlat is fast, responsible on defense and, well, not a stone-face. All of those are good qualities. -
Ranger News: Examining the Signings - Blueshirt Banter
Onto Gaborik. Now some people might thing that the 5 year 7.5 million dollar contract is too steep for the oft-injured sniper but I disagree. Gaborik, when healthy, is top 3 snipers in the league; behind Kovalchuk and Ovechkin. If you disagree with me name the players that feed Gaborik the puck ... Exactly, I thought so. Gaborik will help the power play become lethal, and he will help round out the lines because the Rangers finally have a legit 1st line winger.
-
July 1 Roundup: 46 players signed, $406-million spent - From The Rink
I love what Gaborik brings to the table as an offensive player — he's one of the five or six most dynamic players in the league, and that was playing in Minnesota — but his health is always going to be a concern and that's a huge ticket. -
Gaborik issues himself a clean bill of health - 07/02/2009
Marian Gaborik has declared himself 100 percent healthy -- and hopes the injury-riddled part of his career is behind him as he starts anew with a lucrative contract and the pressure of the Big Apple weighing on his shoulders.
17 comments
| 0 recs
|
Havlat Signs with Wild
by buddhafisch
on Jul 1, 2009 10:13 PM CDT
123 comments
It's Official!
Just got the email from the Wild PR staff:
MINNESOTA WILD SIGNS RIGHT WING MARTIN HAVLATSAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has agreed to terms with right wing Martin Havlat on a six-year contract."We are excited to add the speed and scoring of Martin Havlat to our lineup," said Fletcher. "He is a terrific two-way player."Havlat, 28 (4/19/81), led the Chicago Blackhawks with a career-high 77 points (29-48=77) while skating in a career-high 81 games in the 2008-09 season. He ranked ninth in the NHL in plus-minus (plus-29). Havlat added 15 points (5-10=15) in 16 Stanley Cup playoff games as the Blackhawks advanced to the Western Conference finals. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound native of Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic, has recorded 396 points (169-227=396), a plus-87 rating, 53 power play goals and 31 game-winning goals in 470 NHL games in eight seasons with Ottawa and Chicago. Havlat participated in the NHL All-Star Game in the 2006-07 season, when he led Chicago in goals (25), assists (32) and points (57) despite appearing in just 56 games. He was a member of the NHL’s All-Rookie team in 2000-01 and played for the Czech Republic at the 2002 Olympics.Havlat was Ottawa’s first-round pick (No. 26 overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.
The term of this deal is even better, and leaves me wanting to bow at Fletch's feet. Get this. 6 years, $30 mil. 77 points a year for $5 million per. Awesome deal. Simply AWESOME!
123 comments
| 0 recs
|
Havlat has Verbal Agreement with Wild
by buddhafisch
on Jul 1, 2009 9:43 PM CDT
31 comments
Martin Havlat will be the next member of the Minnesota Wild.
Here's the story.
Thanks to Tony O for the head's up on this one!
31 comments
| 0 recs
|
Gaborik a Ranger
by buddhafisch
on Jul 1, 2009 7:30 PM CDT
35 comments
TSN has Gaborik signing a five year, $5.75 million per year deal. If I am Gaborik, I fire Salcer tomorrow.
See ya, Sally. Enjoy the Pine Rider NY.
UPDATE @ 7:53 PM... deal is for $7.5 million per year. Stupid Rangers.
35 comments
| 0 recs
|
Minnesota Wild Sign Greg Zanon
by nathaneide
on Jul 1, 2009 5:42 PM CDT
in News
6 comments
The Minnesota Wild made their first splash into the free agent pool by signing Nashville Predator defenseman Greg Zanon for three years at $5.2 million.
Zanon, a product of the University of Nebraska - Omaha, is well acquainted with Todd Richards, having played for Richards as a member of the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL.
Zanon is considered to be a defense-first blue liner. He has a knack for playing solid positional defense, taking the body and blocking shots, something the Wild sorely need.
6 comments
| 0 recs
|
Ultimate Standings 2009 - No. 66 - Minnesota Wild - ESPN
"The X is stunning," says Bryan Reynolds of Hockeywilderness.com. Of course, fans help supply the green for this glitz by paying through the nose. Tickets to the Xcel Center cost $61.28, which is more than the Flyers or Blackhawks or Flames or Rangers charge. Yet the on-ice product is merely mediocre: Minny has failed to make it beyond the first round the past five seasons. Blogs Nathan Eide of Hockeywilderness.com: "They're satisfied to make no effort to improve the team yet sit back and collect revenue hand over fist." Yes, a very good point, Nathan, but have you seen the 40 TVs at the Iron Range Grill?
2 days ago
nathaneide
0 comments
0 recs
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
New FanPost
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Featured Stories
Hockey Wilderness on Twitter
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
