Please tell me you've been to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.  Any Minnesotan or Wild fan should make a point to visit this hockey hot spot to gain a better appreciation for our much loved sport.  Best of all, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Eveleth, Minnesota, just 2 miles from my hometown!

Eveleth is a little town, about 3,500, and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame selected this little city for its headquarters due to Eveleth's early prominence in the sport.  It's only a 3 hour drive from Minneapolis/St. Paul and 55 minutes from Duluth. 

Also, Eveleth has a massive hockey stick on display.  It weighs in at a whopping 3 tons and 107 feet.  What more could you ask for?

While you're in Eveleth, I'd recommend checking out local attractions like Mineview in the Sky (massive mining trucks and iron ore displays), cliff diving into a real mine pit in nearby Gilbert, checking out the big curling club right in Eveleth, and eating at The Whistling Bird, a Jamaican restaurant known for coconut encrusted shrimp and other mouth watering specialties. 

With gas prices so high, a quick day or two day trip up north is the perfect solution to budget and time concerns.  Enjoy!

If I was a betting girl, I'd put my money on Colton Gillies making the Minnesota Wild.   Recent reports coming out of the Canadian World Junior Development Camp show that Gillies is "bigger and faster than last season" and that Gillies is really trying to make a good impression. 

Colton Gillies measures 6'4" and weighs just 195.  In the NFL, I could see the coaches encouraging him to add some more muscle to his frame to be a strong contender.  At only 19 years old, he has plenty of time to work on developing that strength.

Fast fact: Colton Gillies' uncle, Clark Gillies, made his way into the Hockey Hall of Fame for his offensive line prowess.  Apparently hockey is in the Gillies family blood! 

Some people love this August weather, but I can't wait til the snow flies and temperatures plummet.  Only then will our Minnesota Wild be back in action.  Until then, I'll count the days and think about my favorite upcoming match-ups.

November 6 is my birthday, and what better way to spend it than watching the Minnesota Wild take on archrivals, the Colorado Avalanche?  True, I won't be flying to Denver to catch the game from Pepsi Center, but I'll definitely make it over to my favorite sports bar to catch the game from some big screens.  If I could somehow get over to Colorado (in my dreams), I would definitely choose these tickets.  I really love sitting by the face off circle to get in on the action from the start.

The game I WILL be going to is against the Vancouver Canucks on November 20th at the Xcel.  Word has it that lots of tickets are still available, and surprisingly reasonably priced.  At ticketking.net, I found plenty of decent seats for just $55.  That means I can treat my friends to drinks afterwards.  Gotta love post hockey appetizers right in downtown St. Paul!

So, while my friends lounge by the pool and mourn the inevitable end of summer, I'm secretly laying out my favorite Minnesota Wild jerseys and impatiently counting down the days until November.  Can't wait!

Yes, it's a slow time of year for hockey.  So let's fixate on the good news...or any news!  I don't know if you tracked the Lester Patrick Trophy winners for 2008, but they were recently announced in early August.

Quick background info: the Lester Patrick Trophy honors NHL or non-NHL players, coaches, or anyone involved in improving hockey programs around the country.  The trophy is named in honor of Lester Patrick, longtime player and coach in the NHL who passed away in 1960.  Six years later, the Lester Patrick Trophy annual recognition was established. 

Over the years, the Lester Patrick Trophy has been awarded to 108 individuals and 3 teams, including the 1998 women's Olympic hockey team.

Well, this time around, none other than Minnesota native and Wild former majority owner and current chairman Bob Naegele received one of 4 trophy honors.  Bob Naegele's love for hockey dates back to his high school years on the Minnetonka hockey team.  His pursuit of bringing Minnesota pro hockey paid off when the Wild came to the state in the late 90s.

Congrats, Bob Naegele, and good work on behalf of all Minnesota hockey enthusiasts!<!-- TOKEN_1218475997112_TOKEN -->

       I Share season tickets.  There are four of us, we draft games ala a fantasy sports league.  the last three games taken are always the preseason games.  This year's fodder is the The Blow Jobs, I mean the Blue Jackets, the Hawks and the Sabres,  all of witch come during the regular season as well.  I am sorry but going to these games seems like a chore.   We do not get every team here in the regular season and I don't think I am alone as Wild fan, that I am also a fan of the NHL in general.   Why woudn't the teams try to add some value and interest to these games by bringing in teams that do not come here during the regular season.  I have more than enough chances to see Columbus and Chicago this year to get excited about the games in the preseason.   Now, if my only chance to see New Jersey, The Flyers, The Rangers, Ottawa, or even the revamped Lightning live was during the preseason,  I would be able to say, "Hey it's the only time they are in town this year.".   It wouldn't be nearly the chore it is and maybe I might take some interest in the preseason game, instead of just giving the tickets to my brother in law, which is what I probably do if I do not get the first pick in the draft, on the other hand if I do get the first pick, I will still end up having to shell out cash to the other drafters to make up for the value of my extra reguar season ticket.  predetermined values for each game before the lottery.

From Michael Russo over at the star tribune.

The Spin-O-Rama will continue to be displayed at Xcel Energy Center for many years to come.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard, the supremely talented Wild winger who used and abused Nikolai Khabibulin and Evgeni Nabokov the past two seasons with a pair of sweet shootout moves, avoided a Monday arbitration hearing by signing a five-year, $20.4 million deal just before midnight Friday night.

Bouchard, who ranks second for the Wild in career assists and points, was intrigued by the Wild's late Friday afternoon offer because it included verbal assurance from General Manager Doug Risebrough that he would not be traded for at least two years, assistant GM Tom Lynn said.

While the Wild wouldn't put such a guarantee in writing, Lynn told the Star Tribune earlier Friday before Bouchard signed, "If Butch signs a multiyear deal, Doug is willing to commit to him personally that the Wild would not trade him for at least two years."

The Wild usually scoffs at no-trade clauses, but Bouchard, 24, who has 160 assists and 221 points in 354 games with the Wild, was adamant he receive some sort of no-trade, no-movement (waivers) promise.

Even with this multiyear deal, Bouchard probably surrendered some money that he could have received on the open market next summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Since Bouchard, who wanted to remain in Minnesota badly, was willing to do that, he wanted assurance that the Wild wouldn't simply turn around and trade him, especially since the team has dangled him out there in at least the Olli Jokinen trade talks with Florida.

The two-year verbal promise isn't new. Lynn said that Risebrough made a similar verbal assurance to Nick Schultz before he signed a six-year extension in February.

Goalie Niklas Backstrom is the only Wild player who has a written no-trade clause, although it's limited. His no-trade clause is currently lifted, but Backstrom can't be traded from the start of training camp until six weeks before next season's trade deadline.

Bouchard, who could not be reached for comment, will receive $3.35 million next season, $4.25 million the following three seasons and $4.3 million in 2012-13.

The Wild came up significantly Friday from its initial offer. It's believed the Wild was offering Bouchard a four-year deal similar to the most recent contract signed by defenseman Brent Burns ($3.55 million average) last November.

But Burns was just blossoming and is three years away from what would have been his first crack at unrestricted free agency. In other words, the Wild was only buying one year of his unrestricted status.

Bouchard, who had a career-high 50 assists and 60 points last season, and 20 goals two seasons ago, could have become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The way free agents are being paid in today's market, Bouchard would have had the chance to make more than $3.35 million a year.

Next up for the Wild is making a contract extension offer to Marian Gaborik. Gaborik, 26, who scored a career-high 42 goals and 83 points last season, can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

It's believed the Wild will offer Gaborik a long-term contract in the $8.5 million range.

      With a lull in the action right now,  just kind of waitng for the schedule to come out,  I thought I might share an experience and ask Wild fans for a little help in a new experience

                          As well as being a partial season ticket holder, a small group of friends and I have started to attend one Wild road game a year.  This season will be year three.  So far we have done Chicago and St. Louis  First we went to Chi. Obviously a great city to visit, but throw in a Wild win along with it happening to be the weekend tha Bears were hosting the Saints in the NFC Championship game, it was Awesome.  Lots rowdy Cajuns mixed in with a bunch Alcoholic Minnesotans, great time.  Last year we went to St. Louis,  I know, you think...."St. Louis...Blah, but it actually is pretty cool little town as long as you stay west of the river.  We stayed at the Adam''s Mark Hotel.  I would recommend it if you go,  it's right accross the street from the Arch and everything else,other than the Bud Brewery, including Scottrade Center, is within an easy walking distance.

            Scottrade is a cool Arena,  when you walk around the concourse they have life sized pictures of all the "Blues Hall of Fame" players, they call them Blues Heroes including the likes of Al Arbour, Bernie Federko, Brian Sutter and Jacques Plante among many others.  The Fans at the game are great, Just like in Chicago they all wanted to talk about the old days and memories of the old North Star players.

              I was wondering if anyone else has gone to any road games and if they have any recommendations.    The idea from the start was to hit all the old Norris Div. teams first and next up is Detroit,  but I think I might change that plan and visit the Winnepeg Jets Franchise down in sunny Phoenix this year instead,  kind of tired the cold weather teams for now.  Detroit might be a little easier this year to get tickets becouse the Mich. economy is struggling,  but then again what the F---- is there to do in Detoilet other than the game, maybe get shot at Chellie's Chili Bar, but who knows I wasn't all the geefed about St. Louie either.  any recommendations and experiences would be great to hear.    Thanks

can someone fill me in on this Marek Zidlicky guy we got from Nashville. I gotta say, I did not watch too many Predators games last year

We traded Ryan Jones. Apparently we was a minor leaguer, was he any good? He must of been if another team wanted him.

Sorry for my ignorance, I'm relatively new when it comes to following hockey hardcore. I like to watch the game, I really did not follow it closely until last year

Well, the past several days/weeks/months have been fueling my frustration with the management of this team.  We just let whom I believe was our best player go because we didn't want to pay him $5M/year!  If anyone thinks Brunette replaces Rolston, they need to enter rehab!  I have been a season ticket holder since day 1 and I am getting REALLY frustrated with Risbrough's performance.  This team has shown no motivation to win other than the Johnson, Parrish, Demitra move.  Gee, Doug had no issue paying Johnson this kind of money after a poor season in the hopes that he would regain his offensive product and yet we are willing to let a proven leader and performer go bye bye for the same level of money.  How do you not pay Rolston when you know there is no one on the market that can replace his all around ability and contribution.  It is getting really hard writing the check for next years tickets with the hope that this team will truly care about putting the talent that is required to win on the ice! 

The only way I am happy now is if we sign Hossa and he isn't coming here because his slovak buddies told him Jaques style will kill his numbers.  Get ready for Marian to be gone in two!

You are riding on the belief that all the hockey fans in MN won't stop buying tickets but I beleive the Stars proved they will if you don't give hope of an ability to do something in the post season.  

Well, I just found my way over here from TwinkieTown where I have been a reader and writer for years. I am as big of a puck fan as I am hardball, so lets get this going.<p>

I am pleased to see that the Wild picked up Bergeron for one reason, he supplies a heavy shot. Besides that, his salary is low, and it won't impact the cap very much. The undersized, horrible Plus/Minus rating does scare me. The wild had a puck moving small d-man for the PP last year in Nummelin, but he barely saw the ice to be a PP specialist.<p>

Pros and Cons are nothing without seeing how he gels with the squad. But the idea of having a Hard shooting lefty on the blue line, potentially paired with Burns or Schultz, is desirable. Afterall, if he is paired with one of them, his Plus/Minus should get better...however, if he is paired with Marty "Old Skool-aah" we could be scared.<p>

Thanks for having me Hockey Wilderness, don't be suprised if you see some more posts from me.