Wild Trade Rumors

"Risebrough, in Tampa with the staff, has noticed the coach's frustration for some time. "When Jacques was talking about frustration, I didn't quite understand," Risebrough said Wednesday. "I know we didn't win in the playoffs, and there were times during the year that were tough. But he was frustrated because it's the coach's job to get the best out of the players. He started to say — here's the self-doubt — 'am I the right coach to coach the team?' "My answer to him is, 'Yes, you're the right coach.' Obviously, it's yes.' He's got a high bar. He has given us the level of success we've had. Players responded to him like they wouldn't have responded to anyone else. I can't think of anyone else coaching our team." "

"Jacques Lemaire still hasn't decided if he will return for another season as the Wild's coach. But a decision should be coming soon. Wild management and coaches are in Tampa, Fla., for three days of meetings, which start today. On the agenda: analyzing the season, which included a division title but also a first-round playoff exit; assessing the roster and the organization as it moves forward. Lemaire? "I have to talk to [GM Doug Risebrough] and then there will be a decision made," the only coach in the team's history said Tuesday."

"The Wild's biggest personnel decision this summer won't involve any of the team's nine unrestricted free agents. Instead, it's Marian Gaborik who presents the biggest, and most pressing, challenge."

"Have Gaborik and Pavol Demitra played their last NHL game together? The best friends and countrymen were a dynamic duo during their two seasons together, but Demitra becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1."

"That's a cryptic piece of evidence when trying to assess the status of Brian Rolston, 35, coming off his third consecutive season with at least 31 goals. And maybe even Pavol Demitra, the other key unrestricted free agent in a group of nine. He's 33 and coming off an underwhelming 15-goal season."

"Branko Radivojevic's NHL future is suddenly in jeopardy. The Wild right winger, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, revealed Monday he played almost all of Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals on a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He'll undergo reconstructive knee surgery and be out four to six months."

"With his plate overflowing, it'd be easy for Doug Risebrough to feel weighed down. Think about the Wild general manager's offseason to-do list: • Deal with 10 unrestricted free agents, the most significant being Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra."

"Jacques Lemaire has two years left on his contract, but he still hasn't decided whether to return for his eighth season as the Wild's coach."

"Wild coach Jacques Lemaire was more frustrated by his team's inconsistency in 2007-08 than any other season during his tenure in Minnesota and was undecided Monday whether he would return for an eighth season."

"Wild defenseman Nick Schultz's only NHL coach has been Jacques Lemaire, who reiterated Monday that, although still under contract, he hasn't decided whether he'll return to Minnesota next season. His departure would be difficult, Schultz said."

"First, the Wild, which has $34.9 million of salary-cap room tied into 13 players next season, has to decide between Rolston and Demitra. In a fixed market, one in which Bouchard, a restricted free agent, might warrant a long-term deal between $3 million and $4 million a year like Koivu, Burns and Schultz, there’s only so much of the pie that can go around before a team gets hamstrung."

"Marian Gaborik... He set franchise records with 42 goals and 83 points this season, but his injury history and playoff flop are legitimate reasons to argue he's not worth the $10 million a year he'll want."

"The Wild's first-round playoff loss and Gaborik's inability to alter the series means the team's potentially tumultuous offseason might revolve around the Slovak star as much as any individual. Gaborik can become a free agent after next season. He is a star who has discussed playing in the Eastern Conference, and has hinted he might like to play for a more offensive-minded coach than Jacques Lemaire."

"While Jacques Lemaire would not guarantee he would return as Wild coach after the team's 2-1 playoff loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, Doug Risebrough was confident Sunday that his former Montreal Canadiens teammate will be behind the bench next season."

"Rolston and Demitra are its two biggest free agents. The team likely will be able to keep only one, and even that's not guaranteed. Todd Fedoruk and Branko Radivojevic are free agents the team might try to keep, but it likely will let Carney, Sean Hill, Petteri Nummelin and Chris Simon go. The return of Voros, also a free agent, is up in the air."

"Gaborik's audition for a $10 million a season contract extension seemingly has become precarious based on his performance in the playoffs."

"It wouldn't be surprising if the Wild try to sign Colorado defenseman Kurt Sauer, who can become an unrestricted free agent at season's end."

"You might want to keep on an eye throughout the playoffs on impending Minnesota free-agent left wing and power-play point man Brian Rolston, and on impending Montreal free-agent right wing Michael Ryder, because the Rangers sure are."

"Brent Burns and Mikko Koivu have four-year deals that kick in next season, and Nick Schultz is tied up for the next six years. Pierre-Marc Bouchard made his bones with these guys and likewise has become a key part of the Minnesota Wild's lineup. Yet Bouchard, who led the Wild with 50 assists this season, is still on a one-year deal with restricted free agency waiting July 1. "

"Look for the sale of the Wild by Bob Naegele Jr., to Wisconsin businessman Craig Leipold to be approved by the NHL by the end of this week... The deep-pocketed LeipoldFalcone partnership is expected to significantly increase the chances of re-signing star forward Marian Gaborik, who can become an unrestricted free agent after next season and is expected to have a price tag of at least $10 million a year."

"It's not known when, or even if, defenseman Kurtis Foster will be able to play next season after breaking his femur last week, but Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough said Friday he plans to re-sign the free-agent-to-be... With the Toronto Maple Leafs -- the Mecca of the hockey universe -- beginning an all-out GM search, it's expected that Risebrough will be a candidate, especially since he's pals with the man leading the search, interim GM Cliff Fletcher."

"But if GM Kevin Lowe wants a nuclear deterrent, he'll have a few alternatives this summer. Wade Belak of the Florida Panthers will be an unrestricted free agent. Ditto for Jody Shelley of the San Jose Sharks, Darcy Hordichuk (Nashville Predators) and Todd Fedoruk (Minnesota Wild)."

"Those comments make acquiring Florida's Olli Jokinen seem unlikely. But perhaps Atlanta's Bobby Holik or Columbus' Sergei Fedorov or Michael Peca are possibilities. Belanger believes that once today's deadline passes, nervous Wild players will relax, which should improve their play."

"Whatever the case, the Wild don't seem to be in the market for a rental; it doesn't fit Risebrough's modus operandi — not if the price is a combination of picks and prospects. Last season he went for depth moves that had little to no effect — centers Adam Hall was acquired for Pascal Dupuis, and the Wild sent a third-round pick to Pittsburgh for Dominic Moore."

"It's believed the Ducks, Dallas Stars, Calgary Flames and Minnesota Wild all have made a pitch for Florida captain Olli Jokinen, who is being shopped. The Stars have been among the most aggressive because co-GM Brett Hull wants to make a big move at the deadline. Jokinen might not be opposed to a deal... Talk won't go away that Calgary left winger Alex Tanguay will be dealt to Montreal for right winger Michael Ryder... There has been little talk about Pittsburgh Penguins left winger Ryan Malone, who's eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1."

"It would be surprising if the Wild do not include former first-round draft pick wing Benoit Pouliot if the team makes a deal before today's trade deadline."

" Kings D Rob Blake could be dealt to the Avs, although he has refused to waive his no-trade clause ... There has been talk in NHL circles that the Senators may again ask D Wade Redden if he's interested in moving. Listening to Murray lately, that seems highly doubtful. Redden killed a deal to the Sharks for D Matt Carle and a draft pick earlier this month ... The Sabres have to make a decision on D Brian Campbell, who's also set to become an unrestricted free agent. "

"Carney, 38, is what you would call a tradable asset, a wise old blue liner with playoff experience who can help a contender down the stretch."

"Maybe a sign that the Wild continues to be interested in Florida Panthers center Olli Jokinen? Panthers scout Phil Myre took in Sunday's game. Myre is the fourth Panthers scout to attend five of the past six Wild games."

"While they'd likely offer C Pierre-Marc Bouchard and a prospect for Jokinen, the Wild could also offer an attractive package to get Sundin... Vancouver's Dave Nonis could be among the most aggressive GMs. He's trying to get scoring and made a pitch for UFA C Peter Forsberg. If the Canucks are going to take a run at Atlanta RW Marian Hossa, they'll want a chance to negotiate a contract with him -- which is why Tampa C Brad Richards or Jokinen might make more sense."

"But the Wild should pay close attention to this Marian Hossa situation in Atlanta and learn from it. Marian Gaborik could be the Hossa of next year if the Wild doesn't take care of business this summer."

"Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough is having trouble finding a trade partner, but with Tuesday's deadline four days away, he says, "there's still a lot of time.""

"The Wild is still probably keeping at least one eye on the Peter Forsberg situation, but the fact remains that the team needs a center. And the Blue Jackets might have two available: 38-year-old Sergei Fedorov and 33-year-old Michael Peca."

"Marian Gaborik, who is earning his star status this year, will become a free agent after next season. That means if the Wild wants to avoid being Johan Santana-ized, it will have to trade him this summer if it can't sign him long-term, and perhaps only a long playoff run would persuade Gaborik to agree to that kind of a deal. So maybe this is the time to make a run, to try to trade for Florida's Olli Jokinen, or any other skilled center."

"Forsberg was Plan A. Risebrough now moves on to Plan B. Last month, Risebrough conveyed interest to Florida GM Jacques Martin regarding captain Olli Jokinen, but the Panthers are four points out of a playoff spot and would want a huge amount for Jokinen. Another option could be Edmonton's Jarret Stoll, a potential restricted free agent who's having an off year but has a cannon for a shot and ranks 11th in the faceoff circle."

"Risebrough said he would take any player he thought could improve the team, if the price is right. Big names such as Toronto's Mats Sundin, Atlanta's Marian Hossa and Florida's Olli Jokinen likely will be too expensive, requiring a swap of a player from the active roster plus picks and/or prospects. "

"Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough left Sunday for the league's GM meetings in Naples, Fla. He left with the expectation he'd know by Wednesday, at the latest, whether the Wild had won the Peter Forsberg sweepstakes."

"Defensemen Keith Carney, Sean Hill and Petteri Nummelin have been rotating scratches, but the Wild might be hesitant to trade blue line depth before the playoffs. Impending free agents Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra were brought here to win playoff games, so why trade them? The biggest question surrounding the team is whether it's in the hunt for free agent Peter Forsberg, who is expected to decide by Tuesday if he is healthy enough to return to the NHL, according to Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. "

"The Flyers might be surprised to know there is a new team in the hunt for Peter Forsberg: the Minnesota Wild."

"Risebrough describes himself as a 'selective buyer,' interested in improving his team for the postseason but unwilling to, as he describes, 'go into the abyss.' In short, he's unwilling to throw away the future for a chance to win today."

"Baizley represents Peter Forsberg, and there is speculation the Minnesota Wild has moved on to the Swede's radar. Forsberg is said to be intrigued with the idea of centring Pavol Demitra and Marian Gaborik, and has a relationship with incoming owner Craig Leipold. If Simon Gagne is going to be out long-term in Philadelphia with a concussion, it could sway Forsberg to sign somewhere else."

"Wild GM Doug Risebrough flew to Vancouver on Wednesday and left by Thursday morning -- well before game time. Don Baizley, the agent for free agent Peter Forsberg, was roaming around the Wild's Vancouver hotel, but Risebrough said the two never sat down. The Wild is clearly still in the Forsberg hunt, and it's believed he's having second thoughts about returning to Philadelphia if his past linemate, Simon Gagne, is out long-term because of a concussion."

"Johnsson, the only Swede on the Wild roster, is a former teammate of Peter Forsberg at Philadelphia. He says he hasn't called Forsberg to try to coax him to sign with the Wild. Not yet, anyway."

"Free-agent center Peter Forsberg is willing to return for a run at the Stanley Cup. Whether he's able hasn't been determined, but he apparently has a short list of suitors to choose from if he deems his oft-injured right foot ready to go. That list seems to include the Wild. "

"Chicago RW Martin Havlat and coach Denis Savard aren't getting along these days. Chicago papers speculated that Havlat could be shipped elsewhere because the all-star winger is only one season away from becoming an unrestricted free agent. League sources, however, say Savard could be in trouble... Minny D Nick Schultz could be moved before the Feb. 26 trade deadline... The Panthers can keep up their breathless denials all they want, but they have tried to move C Olli Jokinen several times this season and they're still trying."

"Signing Forsberg wouldn't require the Wild to jettison young talent and wouldn't cost much for a couple of months' work - if, indeed, that's all Forsberg is looking for. Risebrough would not comment."

"A year ago, before the NHL's trade deadline, then-Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold acquired star center Peter Forsberg from Philadelphia in a major move. Leipold is now out of Nashville and before the end of March is expected to be officially approved as owner of the Minnesota Wild. With the Wild maybe just a Forsberg short of making a significant run in the playoffs, some knowledgeable hockey people wouldn't be surprised if the deep-pocketed Leipold makes another run at Forsberg before the Feb. 26 trade deadline. "

"The numbers are not inconsequential this season; Bouchard is a restricted free agent eligible for arbitration after signing a one-year, $2.6 million extension last summer. Though the Wild have been allowed to negotiate an extension since Jan. 1, the sides have not talked about a contract."

"Gaborik tried to say the right thing about his focus on the Wild, but realistically, if Gaborik wants to put this East theory to a test, he will have ample chance very soon."

"In the hopes of winning a Stanley Cup many teams will be interested in signing free agent Peter Forsberg. For one NHL team, the Minnesota Wild, the signing of Forsberg would be a match made in heaven. "