The Minnesota Golden Gophers have lost three players early for the professional ranks.  Which may lead people to wonder if the roster will be full next year.  According to Assistant Coach Mike Guentzel, the Gophers have twelve returning forwards, and is confident that Tyler Hirsch will return after meeting with Don Lucia last week, which will give them a total of 13 forwards.  Guentzel said they will bring in Jay Barriball and Tony Lucia into the program earlier than their expected 2007 entry year giving them the desired 15 forwards.  Should the Gophers lose any more players, such as Blake Wheeler or Phil Kessel, Guentzel said they would scout the summer camps for a USHL player to play as a walk-on but that he wasn't too worried about losing more players to the professional ranks.  Said Guentzel "It is rare that an 18-19 year old guys play in the NHL right away."

Matt Koalska scored a game-tying goal to send his Bridgeport Sound Tigers into overtime against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penuins in game three of their playoff series.  The Tigers went on to win the game in overtime to give the Tigers the 2-1 edge in the series.  The Tigers had dropped game two after Matt Hussey scored 72 seconds into overtime to give the Penguins the series equalizer.
 
Minnesota native Jason Franke, the Tampa Bay Lightning mascot "Thunderbug" is sitting atop a perch on the St Petersburg TImes Forum around the clock in an effort to get Bolts fans to sell out the team's playoff games against the Ottawa Senators.  It is the third year Franke has performed the stunt for Lightning playoff tickets and it has become so popular it even garners advertising for his "bug-alow" on the Forum roof.
 
John Pohl's Toronto Marlies saw their playoff game scheduled for Wednesday postponed due to a power failure but the Marlies met the Grand Rapids Griffins THurdsay night with Pohl earning two assists as TO fell to the Griffins 2-3.  Nate DiCasmirro earned an assist for the Griffins in the win.
 
Bryan Lundbohm has three goals for the Houston Aeros who swept their way into the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs winning four straight against Peoria.
 
Adam Hauser's Manchester Monarchs failed to close out the Hartford Wolf Pack in Game 6 the Quarterfinals in his first official playoff start.  Hartford tied the series at three games each after losing their number one netminder Al Montoya to a dislocated shoulder during the Pack's 8-6 loss on Tuesday.  Alexandre Daigle leads the AHL postseason with 11 points for the Monarchs, his first playoff points in his nine-year pro career.  Former Gopher Jake Taylor is also out with a broken collarbone suffered on his first shift Tuesday.  
 
Former Wild goaltender Derek Gustafson helped Providence stave off elimination with a 5-4 overtime win over Portland Thursday night, stopping 32 shots.
 
Marco Peluso is ranked 4th amongst rookies in the ECHL playoffs.  Peluso has 2 goals and 8 assists in 5 games for Las Vegas.
 
Reggie Berg has two shorthanded goals and has tallied three assists for the Florida Everblades in the Kelly Cup playoffs.  The Blades dropped their first game against the Gwinnett Gladiators in the second round.

Troy Riddle is scoreless with a -1 rating in 6 playoff games with the Alaska Aces.
 
Matt Gens was named to the UHL All Rookie Team.  Gens registered 23 points (5g, 18a) and 78 penalty minutes in 71 regular season games. His plus-31 rating led the Rockford IceHogs, setting a new team record, and tied for fifth among UHL rookies in that category. Gens netted three power play goals this season and also earned four separate call-ups to Milwaukee of the AHL where he played a total of five games.  (UHL)
 

Quick Quotes:
 "The first game was here before I knew it.  I was waiting (for it) my whole life, since I could walk, it came fast. It was a real blessing.  It happened fast and left just as fast.  (It was a ) great experience.  I know I can play and keep up, just have to find a way to get it done and stay up their on a consisitent basis.  I played three games, had some chances, Just tryin' to represent where I came from and get it done for everybody back home;  let the young ones know that it can happen.  It takes hard work, dedication and focus."

- Matt Koalska on playing his first NHL games after a three-game recall with the New York Islanders.
 
“You are starting fresh now. Everyone is going to be playing different now. Everyone will have more jump. It’s win or go home. People are going to put more on the line out there.”

- Jordan Leopold just before beginning the first playoff series pitting his Calgary Flames against the Anaheim Ducks. (calgaryflames.com)

"No, the 10-1 loss with LA versus Buffalo."

- Adam Hauser on whether his 8-6 victory was the craziest game he's played, referring to his auspicious NHL debut earlier in the year.

Exclusive: Golden Gopher forward Chris Chucko has foregone his final two seasons of eligibility and signed a professional contract with the Calgary Flames.  Chucko was selected 24th overall in the first round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.  In two seasons with the Gophers Chucko scored 14 goals and 20 assists.  Chucko will likely join the Flames' AHL farm team, the Omaha Knights, next season.

Former foes Chris Harrington and Robbie Earl found themselves as roomates when they both signed contracts with the Toronto Maple Leafs this week.
 
John Pohl, called up for the season finale for the Leafs to replace in injured Nik Antropov, scored another goal last Tuesday night.  He deflected a Mats Sundin shot at 8:19 of the first period to open the scoring.  He also assisted on Sundin's second goal at 3:36 of the second as the Leafs topped the Penguins 4-1. Pohl finished his NHL season with three goals, the first of his NHL career, and an assist.  He is signed with the Leafs through next season and will begin his Calder Cup playoff run with the AHL Marlies this week.
 
Jamie Langenbrunner's goal with 2:23 to go in the game capped a three-goal rally by the New Jersey Devils, giving them a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, and securing the Atlantic Division title.  The Devils, who trailed the division-leading Flyers by 19 points on Jan. 6, registered the biggest comeback to claim a division title since the league divided into two conferences with the 1974-75 expansion. Detroit held the previous record, overcoming an 18-point deficit in 1993-94. The Devils rattled off 11 consecutive victories to finish the season. (some info from AP)
 
Former teammates Thomas Vanek and Ryan Potulny will be opponents in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs as Vanek's Sabres will meet Potulny's Flyers in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.  With Peter Forsberg returning from injury, however, Potulny has been a healthy scratch and is expected to be a reserve player during the playoffs.
 
Vanek is having a statistically good rookie season.  His 24 goals are two behind Chris Drury, good for second on the squad, and his points rank him sixth all-time for a first-year Sabre. Vanek has one goal and three assists in the last 15 games.
 
Danny Irmen tallied his first professional points over the weekend, a pair of assists for the Houston Aeros.  Irmen's first official point came on Joel Ward''s game-tying goal in the third period on Friday against the Omaha Knights.  Ward knocked in the rebound on an Irmen shot with the former Gopher reportedly "banging" in the crease.  Matt Foy scored the game winner less than a minute later securing the 5-4 win for the Aeros.  Irmen's second assist came Saturday against the Chicago Wolves on a Curtis Murphy goal.  The Aeros begin their playoff run against Peoria on Friday in Houston.
 
Mario Lemieux is auctioning the stick he used to score his final NHL goal to raise money for his Mario Lemieux Foundation.  Bids can be made at auctions.nhl.com until May 1st.  
 
Tim Leiweke, CEO of the LA Kings and brother to former Wild president Tod Leiweke, has said he will step aside in that role but will remain with Anschutz Entertainment Inc, the company that owns the Kings.

Rostislav Klesla, a defenseman taken ahead of Marian Gaborik in the first round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft signed a 4-year contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets.  He had been making less than $1 million a season.
 
John Adams, playing for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL, suffered a mild concussion and will likely miss the full first round of the playoffs.
 
PJ Atherton played six games with the Springfield Falcons, the farm team of the Tampa Bay Lightning scoring .  He will be vying for a spot on the roster for the Bolts next year but is expected to play for the Falcons for at least a season.  If he does, he'll have a new head coach.  The Lightning fired Dirk Graham and assistant Phil Russell at the end of the season.
 
The Houston Aeros, owned by the Minnesota Wild, changed their logo and jersey crest after their 2002-03 championship season to overwhelming fan objection.  It seems they finally figured it out and will bring back the original bomber logo which will replace the current fighter jet logo.  The color scheme will still mimic that of the Wild.


Quick Speculation:
 Look for the Minnesota Wild to take a look at free agent-to-be defenseman Bryan McCabe.  McCabe is reportedly seeking an average salary of $5 million a season.  The blueliner has averaged around 43 points a season over the last five, and is considered one of the top two-way defensemen on the market this summer. McCabe has told several people that he wants to sign a long-term deal and expects this contract to likely be his last. His first choice is to stay in TO but the Leafs may not meet his demands.  His bluelinemate Thomas Kaberle was re-signed to a 5-year deal worth an average of $4.25 million a season by the Leafs. Jay McKee could be another defenseman on the Wild's shopping list. McKee, of the Sabres, leads the league in blocked shots with 238 this season, and blocked 11 in one game a week ago.  McKee makes $1.5 million and is expected to be asking $2-$2.5 million a year for his next contract.  As a New York native McKee does want to remain in Buffalo but the Sabres may look elsewhere.
 
Former North Stars draft pick John Weisbrod is rumored to be a favorite for the NY Islanders General Manager position.  Dean Lombardi, former San Jose Sharks GM, is expected to be named the General Manager replacement for newly-fired Dave Taylor of the LA Kings.
 
If Wayne Gretzky decides not to return behind the bench of the Phoenix Coyotes the Yotes could look to newly-fired Andy Murray, formerly head coach of the LA Kings.


Quick Quotes:
  "You're 2 or 3, you're outside and you're thinking about the NHL.  Before the game, in warm-up, I kind of stepped back: 'I'm playing in my first NHL game.' Once the puck dropped, I tried to treat it like a regular game."

- Matt Koalska on suiting up for his first NHL game with the New York Islanders.
 
"I don't think it's sunk in.  We were basically so far out of it even three weeks ago that somehow we won this division and have home ice is -- I think we're all a little bit in shock about that. But we definitely earned it."  
- Jamie Langenbrunner on the NJ Devils winning the Atlantic Division (AP)
 
"I was definitely excited.  To be able to help your team clinch a division is definitely a good feeling, especially considering all that we've been through this year with our struggles early on, players leaving and coaches quitting. It's been quite a year."  

- Jamie Langenbrunner on scoring the game-winning Title-clinching goal for the Devils Tuesday night. (AP)

 
"I look forward to the playoffs.  It's a new season. Everyone starts over again, and hopefully I can get back into the mix and get back on the first couple of lines.  I feel like I belong in this league and I can be an impact player in this league. I think I could have done better than what I have done. I always push myself to do more, and as I look back with [47 points], I expected myself to have 70, 80 points. I'd by lying if I said it wasn't frustrating. You want to play more. If I said I was happy with eight minutes there would be something wrong with me"  

- Thomas Vanek on his first season with the Sabres and his drop off in play late in the year (Buffalo News).

 
"Some people may perceive it as he's moved down the ladder, but he's had a good season.  He's had his ups and downs. I still think he's progressing as a player. He's the type of player who will help us win games the rest of the way.  He sees the game a little differently sometimes.  Some of the things he tries at this level will work in the American League but won't work here. But if you told me at the beginning of the year he'd finish with 25, 26 goals, I'd be happy. We know that he can be a game-breaker."

- Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff on Thomas Vanek. (Buffalo News)


Quick PICKS:
 Quick Facts picks for the Stanley Cup Quarterfinals:
 
Flyers/Sabres
Buffalo in 7   
Devils/Rangers
New Jersey in 6
Senators/Lightning Ottawa in 4
Hurricanes/Canadiens Carolina in 5
 
Oilers/Red Wings
Detroit in 5
Flames/Ducks
Anaheim in 6
Stars/Avalanche
Dallas in 7
Sharks/Predators
San Jose in 4

Former Gopher Defenseman Chris Harrington signed a one-year contract for the remainder of this season (pro rata) with the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Harrington is flying to Toronto this evening to join the team.


04.12.06

Congratulations to Ryan Potulny, notching his first career NHL point, an assist, in Philadelphia's 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Potulny again centered a line with Donald Brashear, dressed to replace an injured Peter Forsberg. Potulny's assist came on Joni Pitkanen's third goal for the Flyers. Pitkanen ripped a slap shot from the slot just inside the left post for his 13th goal, giving the Flyers a 3-0 lead. Potulny may be asked to dress again on Thursday if Forsberg cannot skate. (some info from AP)
 
Grant Potulny scored twice last Wednesday, becoming the Sens sixth 20-goal man this season.  He also scored on Friday against former teammate Matt Koalska, and preventing the Sound Tigers from clinching a playoff berth with a 4-0 win.  Potulny's Sens are battling Koalska's Bridgeport club for the last spot and a chance to play the Wilkes Barre Scranton Penguins in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.  Four points won by Bridgeport or lost by Binghamton will clinch a Sound Tigers' playoff berth. If Binghamton ties Bridgeport in points, Potulny and the Senators will earn the berth thanks to total season points and head-to-head competition.
 
Craig Johnson's DEG Metro Stars will face off against Eisbären Berlin in the finals of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga Championships.  Johnson is the second leading scorer in the DEL playoffs with 7 goals and 5 assists in 10 games. Kelly Fairchild is back with the Polar Bears under head coach Pierre Page, and has a goal and 4 assists in the playoffs.  The two Minnesota players face off against each other for the title beginning Thursday.
 
Elk River's Mike Erickson has eight points (3g-5a) in his first nine games with the Augusta Lynx of the ECHL since turning pro on March 24th after finishing his college career at Western Michigan University.  Erickson was a former Gopher and draft pick of the Minnesota Wild.  The Wild have confirmed that he will receive an invitiation to training camp this fall but it is unlikely they will sign Erickson to a contract prior to the June 1st deadline, allowing him to become a free agent.
 
Plymouth native and Princeton grad Steve Slaton was named the ECHL Player of the Week.  The 23-year-old defenseman had two game-winning goals and five points (4g-1a) as his Gwinnett Gladiators went 2-1-0 to become only the eighth team in ECHL history to win 50 games, finishing atop the American Conference at 50-17-7 with a team record 107 points. After scoring the game winner with a power-play goal in a 5-1 win against South Carolina on Apr. 7, Slaton scored a hat trick, including the game-winning goal and two power-play goals, and added an assist as the Gladiators beat Augusta 5-3. The 5-foot-10 and 190-pound Slaton has 36 points (18g-18a) in 72 regular season games after scoring 24 points (2g-22a) in 69 games a year ago, including 13 points (2g-11a) in 59 games with Columbia. (ECHL)
 
Reggie Berg returned to action with the Florida Everblades late in the season after incurring an injury in the season opener last fall.  He promply scored 10 points in 14 games and will help the Everblades in the upcoming Kelly Cup playoffs.
 
Toby Petersen’s goal with 17.6 seconds left in overtime gave Iowa a 5-4 win over the Chicago Wolves Tuesday, moving the Iowa Stars to within one point of clinching fourth place in the West Division while eliminating the Wolves from playoff contention.
 
Former Wild forward Alexandre Daigle has recorded 12 points in 13 games for the Manchester Monarchs. (AHL)
 
Erik Westrum, Mark Hartigan, Steve Gainey, John Pohl, Junior Lessard and Patrick Eaves are all featured in the AHL's Prospects & Heroes Series II Card set.  Also included are Wild prospects, Roman Voloshenko, Kurtis Foster and Shawn Belle.  The 2005-06 Heroes & Prospects set will be available in both a Hobby version and a special Arena version, and will include a variety of autograph cards, game-used memorabilia cards and In The Games popular He Shoots, He Scores Decoy/Redemption cards. For more details, visit In The Game on-line.
 
In 13 games since leading scorer Mark Hartigan was recalled by Columbus on Mar. 9, former Husky teammate Joe Motzko has picked up 19 points (10g, 9a) for the Syracuse Crunch. (AHL)
 
Look for an inflationary price increase in Wild ticket prices next season.


Quick Quotes:
  "It seemed we were just a little off. We were close. We couldn't buy one. It's frustrating, to be so close and yet so far with four games to go.We're just worried about us.  We can control what we have to do, and that's all we can think about."

- Matt Koalska on his team trying to clinch a playoff berth. (Connecticut Post)
 
"I think I'm taking over for Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion. I talked to him a few times. Oh, for real? Maybe something to do with communications, where I can run my mouth and talk. Coaching's a possibility, back home. Some days I feel like, hockey, I want to stay with it. Other days, it's like, 'Let's start over.' Maybe not even in sports."

- Matt Koalska on what he wants to do after his hockey playing career is over. (Connecticut Post).
 
"I've scored about 1,300 points and you haven't gotten one," J.R. told Simers. "I know I'm better than you." To which Simers replied, "How would you know since we've both scored the same amount of goals (none) in the last six games?" (Philadelphia Inquirer)

-L.A. Times columnist T.J. Simers was talking to Jeremy Roenick about his lack of scoring with the Kings.

04.10.06
Quick Facts Feature: Norfolk's Cullen wins Fred T. Hunt Award

John Pohl was an emergency recall to the Toronto Maple Leafs Monday night with Nik Antropov falling prey to the flu.  As Pohl plays in Toronto with the AHL Marlies he just had to "make a u-turn" he said, after he got the call.  Pohl was the right wing on a line centered by Mats Sundin and Pohl scored his second NHL career goal, and from all accounts was inches away from netting two more if not for dramatic saves by Sabres' goalie Martin Biron.  Pohl will be returned to the Marlies due to numbers with the Leafs.  However, as the Leafs are out of playoff contention, Pohl will be playing for a trophy while the NHL players are playing golf. He is the 14th leading scorer in the American Hockey League with 36 goals and 35 assists and was on a six-game scoring streak with the Marlies when recalled.
 
Thomas Vanek, who has just one goal in more than 10 games and has a -5 rating over the last few games with the Sabres was a healthy scratch for the Sabres on Monday night.  It was Lindy Ruff sending a wake-up call to the former Gopher to step up his game.
 
The Dallas Stars have tossed their third jersey, the ugly one with a bull that appears rabid on the crest, and will not wear a third jersey next season.  They will not be eligible for another concept until 2008.  The jerseys sold well at the outset but were despised and disowned by all Stars management.  The Stars will also be required to redesign their regular home and away jerseys as their currecnt look will not work with the new "fitted and streamlined" look required by the league and designed by Rebok.  Teams are expected to be sporting the new look jerseys, also in 2008.
 
Luke Curtin of the Fresno Falcons is third in ECHL scoring with 82 points (21g-61a) in 64 games. Fresno needs a win or an overtime/shootout loss on Saturday against Long Beach to become the first team in ECHL history to go an entire season without a regulation loss to a team within its own division.
 
Former Alaska Anchorage goalie John Decaro earned his first professional win and shutout with 3-0 win against Victoria on Apr. 1.
 
Quick Facts has confirmed that the Minnesota Wild have informed the agent of Mike Erickson, captain of the Western Michigan University Hockey Team, that he will be invited to Wild training camp this fall.  Erickson will likely be an unrestricted free agent June 1st, however.  Erickson formerly played with the University of Minnesota.  He had 9 goals and 9 assists with the Broncos this season.
 
Congratulations for former Gopher Kevin Hartzell on being named USHL Coach of the Year! In his first season coaching the Sioux Falls Stampede, he lead the squad to its first Anderson Cup championship and first playoff appearance in four years and helped the team set a franchise record for wins in a season with 43.
 
Evan Schwabe leads the South Carolina Stingrays on the road with 15 goals, 15 assists and 30 points in 29 games.
 
With the New Jersey Devils purchasing the AHL Lowell Lock Monsters and moving their affiliation to Massachusetts the Carolina Hurricanes have announced they will affiliate with the Devils' former club, the Albany River Rats.  Lowell had been the affiliate for the Hurricanes, meaning the two NHL clubs basically just swapped farm teams.
 
Matt Koalska is just one of nine Bridgeport Sound Tigers listed on the 22-man clear day roster still with the team.  Koalska has missed only one game this season, and only one player, Cole Jarrett, has played all 73 games with the team.  Of the 22 Tigers players on the Bridgeport playoff roster, nine are on recall to the Islanders and four more are injured.  Koalska is having an outstanding season scoring 19 goals, 29 assists and has a +4 rating.  The only knock on him has been too many penalties, the new crackdown has hurt, but a lot of that is his greater focus on a more physical game.  Koalska has racked up 82 penalty minutes this season.
 
Wayzata's John Adams is back in Florida with the Everblades after a short stint with the Cleveland Barons of the AHL.  Adams has no points in the AHL, after playing with three teams this season, but has a goal and 13 assists with the Everblades in the 39 games played with them.
 
Aaron Slattengren, kicked off the Colorado College Tigers team for cheating, was released from his Amateur Tryout with the Iowa Stars.  He had played five games with the Portland Pirates earlier and was released from their team as well.
 
After going scoreless for quite a stretch with the Peoria Rivermen, Troy Riddle was reassigned to the Alaska Aces of the ECHL and quickly scored two goals in his fourth game with the club, as the Aces beat the Fresno Falcons  3-2 on Tuesday.  Riddle is playing with Justin Maiser; the two were teammates with the ECHL Peoria Rivermen and AHL Worcester Ice Cats last year.
 
Former Gopher Steve MacSwain is the rink manager at Palmer Ice Arena in Anchorage, Alaska.  MacSwain played several years in the now-defunct Roller Hockey International professional inline hockey league, and will be laying a SportCourt after the ice melts in Palmer Arena at the end of April to allow for inline leagues to begin play. (source: Anchorage Daily News)

The ECHL Mississippi Sea Wolves have been granted a voluntary suspension for next season as repairs to their rink will not be complete in time for the season to begin.  The Sea Wolves play in Biloxi and the Mississippi Coliseum was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina.  The Wolves are trying to raise money to replace the chillers for the ice surface and to purchase replacement boards for the rink as well as replacing the two lost Zambonis.  Athletica, a company founded by Bob Naegele III, reportedly offered to donate used boards to a youth organization in Mississippi, that the Sea Wolves could use as well, but due to the devastation in the area, there is no ice for the Gulf Coast Youth Hockey Association players to skate on locally.  Admirably, players from Katrina affected areas did participate in hockey this season with the GCYHA but traveled miles and miles to play in tournaments, without practicing.  The GCYHA and the Mississippi Sea Wolves and the GCYHA are still looking for support.  While several companies have donated some hockey equipment the greatest need remains rebuilding rinks and restoring the Coliseum.  The Sea Wolves are selling "Hurricane Katrina Survivor" t-shirts to help raise funds to repair the arena and replace the lost equipment. Place your order at their Web site.


Quick Speculation:
 Some are surprised that Danny Irmen has not yet signed a contract with the Minnesota Wild but they may be forgetting the notorious Wild frugality. Quick Facts believes that the offer tendered to Irmen isn't especially enticing and that it is lower than that given to teammate and best friend Ryan Potulny by the Flyers.  Quick Facts also believes that the contract offer didn't include the option of joining the team and practicing or playing this season.  With an offer of less than $1.5 over two years and less than a $500,000 signing bonus there isn't as much of an incentive for Irmen to forego his final season at the University of Minnesota, especially given that Irmen's shortened season and playoff performance of the team have left him with some unfinished business as a Gopher.  But remember that salaries dramatically dropped last summer.  As comparison, highly touted defensive prospect Paul Martin only signed for a little over $500,000 a season on his second contract, Zach Parise was signed for just over $700,000 a season prior to the lockout, Dustin Byfuglien's entry level NHL salary with the Blackhawks was $550,000.  College players shouldn't expect much more than $500,000 a year as entry level deals unless they are a top-ten draft pick.  The signing bonus would be more key for a player like Irmen, giving him some upfront security and freedom.  Quick Facts speculates that the Minnesota Wild offered a two-year deal near the league minimum for Irmen, $450,000 with a moderate signing bonus, considerably less than $500,000.
 
A quick glance at the Minnesota Wild's prospects indicates that the team will most likely be concentrating on defensemen in this year's NHL Entry Draft.  The Wild have virtually no offensive defensemen in the system.  AJ Thelen has the most points of all Wild blueline prospects with 13 goals and 23 assists in 72 games this season; Eric Reitz has a respectable 5 goals and 23 assists but after that isn't much: Clayton Stoner has 6 goals and 16 assists; Ryan Stokes has 2 goals and 2 assists; Shawn Belle has 2 goals and 3 assists, Riley Emmerson had one goal and one assist in 66 games this year; Anthony Aiello has 8 assists leading up to his playoff matchup against UND this weekend; Georgi Misharin has 4 goals and 9 assists in 50 games and Mikhail Tyulyapkin has 2 goals and 4 assists. With both several rostered players also having contracts come due this summer, the Wild will be players on the blueline free agent market this summer.  Look for the Wild to target at least one high profile offensive player like Bryan McCabe, Wade Redden or Zdeno Chara as well as at least one or two other defensemen who can also contribute offensively.


Quick Quotes:
 "We were quite happy with Danny's development this season. Unfortunately, he missed good chunks of the season with the broken finger and the shoulder separation. He is the same style of hockey player that he always was, only better. He is certainly close to being ready for professional hockey."

- Wild Director of Scouting Tom Thompson on Danny Irmen.

"Everything is a lot nicer here, that's for sure. The ice is better, the towels are softer, the players are better ... everything is just a step up. It's definitely worth fighting to get to, that's for sure." - John Pohl on playing in the NHL versus the AHL. (Toronto Star)
 
"I don't have Maxim Afinogenov's hands, or you look at the way some of these guys skate, I can't do that. I don't think I have any one thing that is spectacular, but the thing is I can read plays and hopefully get the right people the puck."  

- John Pohl on his talents and what he can offer an NHL team. (Toronto Sun)
 
"There's never a time when you want to quit but there are obviously times when you say to yourself, `Is this worth it? Is this worth it?' You can put in years in the grind of the American league and then you get to play in a game like this with Mats Sundin and it's worth it, absolutely. If you can stick. Hopefully, sometime soon I can make the NHL permanently and it then it will definitely have been worth it."

- John Pohl after playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs and scoring his second career NHL goal. (Toronto Star)
 
"We rated him very highly. He's long on effort, for sure.  He reads the play well. He's not afraid to mix it up. He went where the play was and won some battles there."

- Maple Leafs Head Coach Pat Quinn on John Pohl (Toronto Sun)
 
"It's a tough time of the year and tough time in the schedule for us.  He's a young player going through a tough time. He's gotta battle his way out of it. He's got a lot of talent. He needs to use that to be effective every night."

- Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff on Thomas Vanek (Buffalo News)

"I think Troy was starting to think about it too much.  It's nice he doesn't have to push any further."

- Alaska Aces head coach Davis Payne on Troy Riddle breaking out of a scoring slump with two goals on Tuesday. (Anchorage Daily News)
 
"It's great to play with a veteran guy like Rohlly, and he helps me with the transition.  It's a different game, but I think it suits my style."  

- PJ Atherton on being paird on a line with Minnesotan Todd Rohloff, who set up Atherton's first professional career goal. (Springfield Republican)


"We're finding ways to lose games, something different every night. Tonight, though, it was just about everything. There's not much you can say to these guys. It's pretty obvious. Hopefully, we've bottomed out here."

- Houston Aeros head coach Rob Daum on the Wild farm club after an 8-2 drubbing at the hands of the Peoria Rivermen Tuesday night. (Peoria Journal Star)


Quick Take:
 
With the Gophers and Wild not in the post-season race and the High School hockey season over many Minnesotans may be ready to give up the game to hit the links this spring.  But if you do that you could miss some of the greatest hockey games you'll ever see.  The Frozen Four has already seen one instant classic, with the Wisconsin Badgers edging Cornell in a goalie battle for the ages, a 1-0 triple overtime thriller.  The Frozen Four, though it doesn't feature a Minnesota team will still be worth watching.