Minnesota Wild might be done signing free agents

Uh Oh, Havlat isn't as good as Gabby and there still isn't a top assist guy to get him the puck. We now have 1 guy who could play on one of the top 2 lines in this league. #1 draft pick next year.

At least they almost replaced Gabby. They were lucky Havlat called them and said he wanted to sign with the Wild. Fletcher can't even get Mikko's brother to sign. What a salesmen.

What a splash, Chuck. Is it time to show some appreciation for Risebrough yet? At least Risebrough never told fans he was going to make a bunch of moves and didn't follow through.

I am pretty happy with Fletcher's decisions so far. Last year when we played Montreal, the Koivu brothers were each asked about playing together on the Wild and I didn't get the impression from either of them that they would want to...so I was surprised that now it seems they do (or their parents do). If he really wants to play here, he will sign.

New GM SAME OLD CHEAP CRAP. Note to this penny pinching organization. DO NOT GO TO THE MEDIA BRAGGING ABOUT HOW AGGRESSIVE YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN FREE AGENCY AND HOW YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND UP TO THE CAP AND SPEND MONEY TO MAKE THIS A PLAYOFF TEAM THEN MAKE ONLY ONE MOVE AND THEN TELL YOUR FANS YOU ARE BASICALLY DONE IN FREE AGENCY!!!! We are done with this double talk crap and lies!! One half way decent guy and a non descript defensemen is an insult to the fans that fill that arena and line the pockets of this pathetic organization!!! They needed to get at a minimum three players if not four to make the bad taste of losing Gaborik for absolutely no compensation out of the fan's mouths go away. They could have gotten Scaderi but as usual he signed elsewhere. If they get Fedetenko and Koivu or trade for Heatly I might give them another chance but if these are the only moves they make I am not going to spend anotehr red cent to line this lying owner's pockets!! I just hope the 18,000 clowns who cointinue to pay for the tickets and fill that arena like lemmings stay home so we can really hurt this clown of an owner where it counts, in his pocket book. I am done with these clowns!!!

Thats it wrote:

At least they almost replaced Gabby. They were lucky Havlat called them and said he wanted to sign with the Wild. Fletcher can't even get Mikko's brother to sign. What a salesmen.

Moron. You are an example of a stupid hockey fan. I bet you would do a much better job, right?

Artie wrote:

What a splash, Chuck. Is it time to show some appreciation for Risebrough yet? At least Risebrough never told fans he was going to make a bunch of moves and didn't follow through.

Yup, another one of these guys. I'll bet you were one of the first one's lining up to torch Risebrough, and now look at you. You know nothing about the hockey business. Pathedic.

Allow me to elaborate on my stance. Anyone who knows anything about the hockey business knows that in this day and age, you don't go out and buy a hockey team. So all these idiots that think that free agency is the end all, be all of existance clearly don't have any knowledge. The GM's that are smart are the one's that will bring in success. Fletcher strikes me as someone who isn't going to go out and sign the first piece of garbage that comes along (Reference: Oren Koules, Len Barrie, Tampa Bay Lightning). What are we going to do, fire him a month in?? Grow up people. How about instead of that, we give this guy a chance and see where this goes?

Gaboriks Proxy, quit posted 1 comment after another. What you have to say isn't that important and calling people who disagree with you stupid or idiots is pretty sophomoric. Try writing without name calling in a single post and do a spell check. It is fun and you still get your opinion across

Gaboriks Proxy wrote:

<quoted text>
Yup, another one of these guys. I'll bet you were one of the first one's lining up to torch Risebrough, and now look at you. You know nothing about the hockey business. Pathedic.

Actually, I thought Risebrough did a decent job getting the team up and running and providing a pretty decent core of young players through the draft (Koivu, Burns, Clutterbuck, Schultz, Harding, hopefully Cuma/Gillies/Sheppard). There were definitely mistakes made, but a decent job overall. My beef with the new regime is that they came in guns blazing with Fletcher stating we're going to make a splash in free agency. Then he stated we needed to make trades to build our assets. So far, they've signed a player with considerable injuries each year and defensive-minded D-man. And now he says they might be done. So, we're now left with watching last year's team with a whole new agressive, up-tempo offensive plan. You really want to watch Bouchard lose battles along the boards? You really want to see Boogaard, Weller, Brunette, Nolan, etc. try to beat players to the puck? It's going to be a long season if the roster stays the same.

"Taylor is a Bafoon".. what a typical hockey idiot who probably never played hockey before.. The Wild DO NOT NEED HEATLY and his nonsense cap hit of 7.5 million holding the team down for many years, plus what the Wild would have to give up to get that "ME FIRST PLAYER". Everyone besides "Gaboriks Proxy" is a moron and thinks that the Wild need to be the Yankees of hockey and buy everyone for nonsense cash amounts to be good. Havlat was a great pick up, and for only 5 million a year (solid). Zanon is also a good pick up, everyone doesn't like this pick because you probably don't watch hockey. He is a solid defensive defensemen who's going to help protect Backstrom. Honestly I think that the Wild would be better off without Saku. Its going to be very valuable to have alot of cap space to make a move (via a trade) during the season, most likely around the trade deadline. Alot of teams are in need of cap HELP and will give up quality players for the much needed space.(I think Jack Skille from Chicago might be available) Fletcher has a very good history of making moves around the deadline, check out what Pittsburg did last season to help push for the cup. Cliff FLetcher is doing a superb job and is starting to make the Minnesota Wild an attractive place for players to actually want to come here. Plus hes only a month in. What MORE can you REALISTICALLY expect??

T-Bone wrote:

Gaboriks Proxy, quit posted 1 comment after another. What you have to say isn't that important and calling people who disagree with you stupid or idiots is pretty sophomoric. Try writing without name calling in a single post and do a spell check. It is fun and you still get your opinion across

TBone, Proxy probably would quit name calling if you and some of the other posters on here had any clue about hockey!

Artie wrote:

<quoted text>
Actually, I thought Risebrough did a decent job getting the team up and running and providing a pretty decent core of young players through the draft (Koivu, Burns, Clutterbuck, Schultz, Harding, hopefully Cuma/Gillies/Sheppard). There were definitely mistakes made, but a decent job overall. My beef with the new regime is that they came in guns blazing with Fletcher stating we're going to make a splash in free agency. Then he stated we needed to make trades to build our assets. So far, they've signed a player with considerable injuries each year and defensive-minded D-man. And now he says they might be done. So, we're now left with watching last year's team with a whole new agressive, up-tempo offensive plan. You really want to watch Bouchard lose battles along the boards? You really want to see Boogaard, Weller, Brunette, Nolan, etc. try to beat players to the puck? It's going to be a long season if the roster stays the same.

Well, now you've put your foot in your mouth. The roster we have now, minus Zanon and Havlat, is the roster that Risebrough put together. So if Risebrough did a good enough job in your eyes, why would we need to go after Havlat or S. Koivu, or anyone for that matter?

Here's the deal: Risebrough started out good in 2000, and it has been a steady decline since. Last season screamed MISMANAGEMENT. He had to go, otherwise this franchise was doomed for the next 5 years at least.

In one month, Fletcher has nearly doubled our draft picks (2007-5 picks, 2008-4 picks, 2009-9 picks). He has signed a player similar to Gaborik's production and style. He has signed a defensive d-man for depth. And last but not least, he is trying hard to get Saku Koivu.

If Risebrough would have stayed and had his way, Sheppard (Based on his production over the last two years...which is next to NOTHING) would be your 09-10 second line center. This team is heading in the right direction. It will take some time, but the Wild will be a contender again.

T-Bone wrote:

Gaboriks Proxy, quit posted 1 comment after another. What you have to say isn't that important and calling people who disagree with you stupid or idiots is pretty sophomoric. Try writing without name calling in a single post and do a spell check. It is fun and you still get your opinion across

Maybe you should find spell check, genious. I bet you couldn't go back and find a single misspelled word in any of my posts.

Gaboriks Proxy wrote:

<quoted text>
Well, now you've put your foot in your mouth. The roster we have now, minus Zanon and Havlat, is the roster that Risebrough put together. So if Risebrough did a good enough job in your eyes, why would we need to go after Havlat or S. Koivu, or anyone for that matter?
Here's the deal: Risebrough started out good in 2000, and it has been a steady decline since. Last season screamed MISMANAGEMENT. He had to go, otherwise this franchise was doomed for the next 5 years at least.
In one month, Fletcher has nearly doubled our draft picks (2007-5 picks, 2008-4 picks, 2009-9 picks). He has signed a player similar to Gaborik's production and style. He has signed a defensive d-man for depth. And last but not least, he is trying hard to get Saku Koivu.
If Risebrough would have stayed and had his way, Sheppard (Based on his production over the last two years...which is next to NOTHING) would be your 09-10 second line center. This team is heading in the right direction. It will take some time, but the Wild will be a contender again.

I stated Risebrough did a good job of getting the franchise on its feet. He wasn't necessarily the best GM to keep it moving, but he provided a nice base. Look at other expansion teams as a comparison.
Second, the Wild had 8 draft picks in the 2009 draft. Not sure where you got 9 from.
Third, and most importantly, Chuck Fletcher stated that he was going to make a splash in free agency. So far, it hasn't happened and now he says they might be done. That's all I'm trying to say.

The Wild suck just like the North Stars. I want Norm Green to get rid the Wild & tear down Xcel Energy Center.

Artie wrote:

<quoted text>
I stated Risebrough did a good job of getting the franchise on its feet. He wasn't necessarily the best GM to keep it moving, but he provided a nice base. Look at other expansion teams as a comparison.
Second, the Wild had 8 draft picks in the 2009 draft. Not sure where you got 9 from.
Third, and most importantly, Chuck Fletcher stated that he was going to make a splash in free agency. So far, it hasn't happened and now he says they might be done. That's all I'm trying to say.

We gave up at least one draft pick to acquire Brodziak.

I don't actually recall Fletcher ever saying that he would "make a splash" in Free Agency. That doesn't mean he didn't, but I don't recall it. Aside from that, all in all I think that so far, he's done fairly well. You can't say that he hasn't tried. I just want Fletcher to do what he thinks needs to be done to get the Wild back on top in the division. Obviously, your expectations have not been met, so I have to wonder, what ARE your expectations? What do YOU think Fletcher ought to do?

Gaboriks Proxy wrote:

<quoted text>
Yup, another one of these guys. I'll bet you were one of the first one's lining up to torch Risebrough, and now look at you. You know nothing about the hockey business. Pathedic.

I agree with the people you have slammed, you obviously are use to laying down and settling for average. I know what it takes and the job isn't getting done before or now. If you ever want to go toe to toe about business or how to run a successful business I am game, as for my hockey knowledge, agian I was probably watching hockey when you were a suckeling your mama. I give Fletcher less then a year before he is not fired but resigns.

Gaboriks Proxy wrote:

<quoted text>
Maybe you should find spell check, genious. I bet you couldn't go back and find a single misspelled word in any of my posts.

you misspelled "genious". it's genius. but at least you didn't misspell "misspell".

Gaboriks Proxy wrote:

<quoted text>
Yup, another one of these guys. I'll bet you were one of the first one's lining up to torch Risebrough, and now look at you. You know nothing about the hockey business. Pathedic.

you also misspelled "pathedic". that is pathetic.