Wild Qualify Six RFAs

by BReynolds on Jun 29, 2009 4:08 PM CDT Comment 12 comments

Bye Dan. We hardly knew you.

According to Wild.com, the Wild have made qualifying offers to six restricted free agents. As expected, Dan Fritsche was not one of them. Offers were made to:

C Kyle Brodziak
LW Robert Earl
G Josh Harding
RW Danny Irmen
LW Benoit Pouliot
D Clayton Stoner

RFAs not receiving qualifying offers, and now become UFAs are:

D Paul Albers
LW Riley Emmerson
LW Dan Fritsche
LW Peter Olvecky

Comments

Very, very disappointed in non-tendering Fritsche

I thought the kid showed great promise after the trade last year and I’m seriously bummed that he’s not sticking around. I see a Dominic Moore-like future for him.

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Jun 29, 2009 4:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

New GM

Certainly not shy about making changes.

I was surprised when Russo mentioned it. Same role as Brodziak though, so… I guess. I am really interested to see how this all plays out.

http://www.hockeywilderness.com

by BReynolds on Jun 29, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like what Fritsche brought to the team — heck, he was one of the few players that could actually get the puck on a dump’n’chase play. That said I don’t think it’s a wise spend of $1 mil (likely more with arbitration) with all the positions we have yet to buy / fill.

by SpaethCo on Jun 29, 2009 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The kid had energy

I’m pretty sure at the end of the season when everyone else was half-hearted Fritsche was still giving everything he had.I would like to see him stick around.

by mckay10 on Jun 29, 2009 6:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Buzz Eklund's Twitter: Saku Koivu to the Ducks

And his article here says its a better than 75% chance…UGH!

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eklund/Hocketbuzz-Central-Top-15-UFAs-As-of-NOW/1/21841

by Tony_O on Jun 29, 2009 6:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't get too worked up about that rumor

Eklund is simply a hockey-oriented Nostradamus:

http://hockeybuzzhogwash.com/

by SpaethCo on Jun 29, 2009 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

and TSN is saying that only the Oilers and Rangers are left in the Healty sweepstakes.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283236

by Tony_O on Jun 29, 2009 6:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

In a way I’m kind of glad. We already have a pain in the ass goal scorer who hates his coach on the roster… well, for a couple more days anyway.

Personally I favor the equally improbable rumors of us putting together some sort of deal to get Vinny Lecavalier.

by SpaethCo on Jun 29, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we Got Vinny LeCavalier...

you would be able to hear me scream all the way down in florida

by Tony_O on Jun 29, 2009 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

For what it's worth...

The Canadiens have not made a pre-July 1st offer to Saku Koivu but say they’ll be looking into trying to work out a deal after that.

There was a lot of buzz in Montreal from folks there this weekend that they suspect Saku might want to play on the same team as his brother if Montreal opts to not make him a good offer to stay as Habs captain.

Gross Misconduct with yours truly

by HockeyJoe on Jun 30, 2009 12:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs