The good news for the Wild, which as I predicted in my Monday game story would be out of the playoff top-eight by the time it next played, is Marian Gaborik is officially back. The Wild activated him this morning. And he’ll even get to dictate his ice time tonight. Took him eight years, but Jacques Lemaire told him before today’s skate that he needs to be communicative tonight. In other words, tell Jacques how he’s feeling, and if he’s feeling good, he’ll get more and more ice time.

I asked Gaborik if he gets to pick his linemates, too. Nope. He’ll start with Sheppard and Veilleux tonight. Incidentally, I’m pretty positive that was Gaborik’s line against Atlanta and Boston in his only two previous games this season.

Brent Burns moves back to defense, and Jacques still maintains that long-term he’d make a bigger impact on the lineup as a forward. I’m done arguing this point, but I will say this: I don’t think Burns will be playing wing in the 2010 Olympics for the country north of us.