Erik Westrum has signed to play with HC Ambrì-Piotta in Switzerland next season pending arrangements with Toronto to release him.  Westrum had signed a two-year deal with Toronto last season, the first year a one-way deal, the second a two-way contract.  The deal with Ambrì-Piotta, in the Italian part of Switzerland, is for one season with an option for a second season.
 
Former Gopher Joey Martin will be leaving Minnesota for Las Vegas in a few weeks for a job with MGM's casino business. He will eventually spend some time in Hong Kong with the job.  Martin has spent the last two seasons as assistant coach for the St Olaf Men's Hockey Team and Women's Softball Team in addition to running a summer camp for youth hockey players. He completed his first year at the Carlson School of Management Graduate School this year.
 
Defenseman Tom Gilbert assisted on all three Wilkes Barre Penguins Penguins goals on Monday night.
 
Colin Stuart opened the scoring for the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday as they finished their sweep of the Milwaukee Admirals in the Calder Cup playoffs.
 
Matt Niskanen scored as the Iowa Stars beat Kris Chucko's Omaha Knights Wednesday. Iowa is one game away from taking that series.

Sean Curry is the leading Minnesota scorer in the AHL playoffs with 2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games for Providence.

The Las Vegas Wranglers have matched the all-time professional hockey mark of 18 consecutive wins. Nick Anderson & Marco Peluso are members of the historic team. Idaho ended the Wranglers storied run with a 4-1 victory in the Kelly Cup playoffs. Only the Peoria Rivermen during the 1990-91 season have won 18 consecutive games in the history of professional hockey.

Luke Curtin is the 5th leading scorer in the ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs with two goals and 9 assists in 6 playoff games with the Fresno Falcons.

Of all the players who won the Calder Cup with the Wild's AHL affiliate Houston Aeros in 2003, only Stephane Veillieux currently plays with the Wild and only Eric Reitz and Curtis Murphy remain in their system.

Wyatt Smith, who played with the Wild this season, won the Calder Cup, scoring the Championship-winning goal, with the Malwaukee Admirals in 2004.
 
Should Patrick Elias be unable to play in the first game of the second round of the playoffs for the New Jersey Devils Erik Rasmussen could be used on the top line with Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez. Rasmussen has reportedly been practicing in that position with Elias missing time due to a severe cold/virus. Elias missed most of the beginning of the season after recovering from hepatitis.

Former UMD Bulldog TJ Caig will play for EC Graz 99ers in Austria next season. He played in Germany with Heilbronner EC this past season.
 
Former North Stars head coach Pierre Page will be head coach of Red Bulls Salzburg in Austria next season. He has spent the last several seasons as head coach of Eisbaren Berlin in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
 
Sean Hill appealed his suspension for a positive performance-enhancing drug. He continues to deny knowledge of how the positive test came about.
 

Quick Speculation:
 
Alex Goligoski has received an offer to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins but he is still making up his mind whether he believes he is ready for the pro game or whether he should return to the University of Minnesota next season. Surgery to repair an injured shoulder reportedly went very well and he is currently rehabilitating. The injury and Goligoski's recovery from it is playing a key role in his decision whether he is truly ready for the pros, whether he can take the more physical play and additional games of the professional game. The Penguins definitely want him with their team next season.

Defenseman Filip Kuba scored a short-handed goal for the Lightning in Game Three of their series against the Devils. Kuba has had five short-handed goals in regular-season play since 2002-03, the most for any NHL defenseman over that span.
 
Former Gopher forward Matt Koalska traveled back from Binghamton, New York with Grant Potulny.  The two were teammates with the Binghamton Senators at the end of the year but neither played in the final games of the season for the Baby Sens; Potulny still recovering from injury, Koalska bumped from the roster to make room for newly signed prospects.  Koalska began work right away with his alma mater Hill Murray as an assistant coach of the Baseball B-team.  Koalska, despite being a hockey star, was also a letterman in baseball in High School.  
 
Former Badger goaltender Bernd Brückler was named Eurohockey.net's player of the month for February. He played in 51 of the 56 games for Blues Espoo with a 2.13 GAA and a 92.6% save percentage for the season.
 
Niklas Backstrom's former team Kärpät Oulu won the Finnish Elite League championship, topping Jokerit Helskinki.
 
TJ Caig will play for the EC Graz 99ers in the Austrian League next season.
 
Brad DeFauw will play with Nordsjælland Cobras in Norway next season.
 
Derek Eastman has signed to play with Rødovre Mighty Bulls in Norway next year.
 
Darby Hendrickson, Adam Hauser and TJ Guidarelli, all of whom played in Europe last season, have seen their contracts expire and are free agents.
 
Clay Wilson has been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks to practice with the team as his Portland team did not qualify for the AHL playoffs.
 
The Minnesota Wild has not renewed the contract of Rob Daum, the head coach of their Houston Aeros team. Daum was hired out of the Canadian University system and lead the Wild's affiliate to their worst record in franchise history this year.  This is the first year the team did not qualify for the playoffs since they began as an IHL team.
 
Troy Riddle has two goals and three assists for the Trenton Titans in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
 
Luke Curtin is the leading scorer in the ECHL playoffs with Kelly nine assists and 11 points in five games.

Since its April 9 debut, Christie Brinkley's Stanley Cup Playoffs blog on NHL.com has had more than 160,903 page impressions, tops among the site's celebrity bloggers. Hip hop artist and producer Lil' Jon is a close second with 102,129 page impressions.  Throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, celebrities from the television, motion picture and music industries are writing exclusive blogs and providing original video content to offer fans a unique perspective of the postseason. Other celebrity bloggers include WWE superstar Edge (41,086), Prison Break co-star William Fichtner (27,434), Bonesstar David Boreanaz (24,295) and former Dancing with the Stars contestant Willa Ford (20,213), among others. (NHL.com)
 
Former Wild defenseman has averaged more than 30 minutes of time on ice for the Vancouver Canucks through their first four games.  Of course that average includes their four-overtime thriller in their first game.
 
The additions of David Backes and Erik Johnson to the Team USA roster brings the number of Minnesota-connected players to eight.  They join Phil Kessel, Keith Ballard, Andrew Alberts, Toby Petersen, Brandon Bochenski and Tyler Arnason competing in the IIHF World Championships beginning next week in Moskow.
 
Quick Speculation:
 
The Minnesota Wild picked up Kim Johnsson to help provide solid defense and some offense from the blueline. He performed on half of that equation until he was knocked out with another head injury by Brad May. There is no doubt the Wild will look to upgrade their defensive corps in the offseason, and may be helped cap-wise if Johnsson is placed on the long-term injury list. Word out of Ottawa is that with the emergence of Joe Corvo and Anton Volochenkov, Wade Redden may be available this summer.  Quick Facts wouldn't be surprised to see the Wild make a move for Redden if they can't find cap room to acquire Sheldon Souray.
 
Kimmo Timmonen & Vitaly Vishnevsky of Nashville, Sean Hill of the Islanders or Tom Preissing of the Senators could also be defensive free agent acquisitions for the Wild.
 
Goaltender Adam Berkhoel, just named the ECHL goaltender of the year, can become an unrestricted free agent this summer.  Should the Wild move Manny Fernandez the Wild will need another netminder to help fill out the roster in Houston. Berkhoel may fit that bill.
 

Quick Quotes:
 
"The purposeful puck would not take no for an answer, much like the home team. And so Matt Cullen’s slap shot beat Johan Hedberg, bounced down off the crossbar and then the vulcanized rubber disk crossed the goal line by less than its own three-inch diameter. Play continued for 16 interminable seconds. Cullen didn’t know yet that he had just created a bit more of postseason lore for the Rangers. The Thrashers didn’t know they were chickens without heads. Nobody did, until a lengthy replay review"

- Filip Bondy, writer with the New York Daily News on Matt Cullen's series-winning goal for the New York Rangers.
 

"I just think it was a hard hockey play. It was just a tough play. When you don't see guys coming and they're in your blind spot there, that's the kind of thing that happens. I think people are trying to blow it out of proportion and trying to change the rules. I think every situation is different, so I don't think one rule can cover every hit like that."

- Patrick Eaves on the hit by Colby Armstrong that knocked him out so that he had to be carried off the ice on a stretcher. (ESPN.com)

James Jernberg will not return to CS Villard-de-Lans the  French team he played with this year.  No word yet on where the former UW Stevens Point player will go next season.
 
Darby Hendrickson and his Red Bulls Salzburg team won the Championship for the Austrian League.  With the conclusion of the championship Hendrickson completed his two-year contract with Red Bulls.  He will return to his Minnesota with his wife and children this summer, and according to Hendrickson, is "going to go home to my cabin and go fishing!  I haven't decided on anything for next year yet," he said.
 
Adam Berkhoel was named the ECHL Goaltender of the Year. According to the ECHL, the Rbk Hockey Goaltender of the Year award is presented annually to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches. Berkhoel was 23-17-3 with five shutouts, a goals-against average of 2.44 and a save percentage of .910 while helping the Bombers finish first in the North Division and return to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2001. He tied for second in the league with five shutouts and was third in goals-against average. Berkhoel was the starting goaltender for the American Conference in the ECHL All-Star Game and was named Most Valuable Player after stopping 10 of 11 shots in the first period of a 6-3 win. He is under contract with the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL.
 
Reggie Berg was named In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week for Apr. 2-7, 2007. According to the ECHL the 30-year-old Berg had four goals, four assists and a plus-minus rating of +8 as the Everblades went 3-0-0 to finish first in the South Division and the American Conference with 94 points. After scoring four points (2g-2a) in a 9-0 win at Pensacola on Apr. 3, the 5-foot-10 and 195-pound Berg scored two goals, including the game winner, in a 5-4 win against Augusta on Apr. 6 and had two assists in a 6-2 win against Augusta on Apr. 7. The Anoka, Minn. native finished the regular season tied for the team lead with 29 goals and tied for second with 35 assists and 64 points in 58 games.

Proctor, Minn native Nick Anderson scored the game-winning goal for the Las Vegas Wranglers to give the team a 3-2 win over the Phoenix Roadrunners in the first round of the ECHL playoffs.  It was the 15th straight win for the Wranglers who have a 2-0 series lead.
 
Luke Curtin is playing with a cage to protect a surgically repaired deviated septum in his first round playoff series that pitts his Fresno Falcons against the Bakersfield Condors. Curtin was injured by teammate Cory Murphy's skate in a strange accident in Stockton on Tuesday of last week. Curtin and the Falcons beat the Condors 9-2 on Thursday, following up a 7-3 victory earlier this week, taking a 2-0 series lead.  Curtin had a goal and three assists on Thursday after missing the first game after undergoing the surgery on Tuesday. Curtin had two points on Sunday with the series now tied 2-2.
 
Steve Martinson is certainly going out with a bang in Rockford.  His UHL Rockford Ice Hogs are moving up to the AHL next season and will become the affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. Martinson and his coaching staff will not be asked to join the new higher level team.  But Martinson is making certain that his incarnation of the Hogs are remembered in Rockford, he has lead his team to a 7-game unbeaten streak heading into the playoffs. The Hogs tied their club record with 48 wins and broke their record with 22 road wins. As anyone would expect from a Martinson-led team, the Hogs lead the UHL in PIMs for the season. They also gave up the fewest shots on goal in the league, allowing an average of 28.62 shots per game. Every active skater on the IceHogs roster finished the season with a positive plus/minus rating and they allowed just one goal in its final three games of the regular season. Rockford faces rival Quad Cities Mallards in the first round of the playoffs on Friday.
 
Luke Staffaucher finished as the 11th leading scorer in the UHL with 42 goals and 29 assists for the Quad City Mallards in 76 games. He also had 221 PIMs.
 
Former Gopher nemesis Brett Sterling was named the the winner of the  Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding rookie for the 2006-07 season, as voted by AHL players and media in each of the league’s 27 member cities. According to the AHL, Sterling, a 22-year-old native of Los Angeles, has scripted one of the most prolific rookie campaigns in American Hockey League annals, becoming just the fifth rookie in the league’s 71-year history to score at least 50 goals in a season. Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, Sterling leads the AHL with 52 goals and ranks fourth with 93 points in 74 games for Chicago. He was named a First Team AHL All-Star last week, the first rookie since 1999 to earn such an honor, and earned a spot on the league’s All-Rookie Team for 2006-07. Sterling, who also leads the AHL with 21 power-play goals, was a winner of the Rbk Hockey/AHL Rookie of the Month award in both November and December, combining for 30 goals in 26 games during those two months, including the longest goal-scoring streak in the league this season (nine games) from Dec. 12-29. He was voted to the starting lineup for the PlanetUSA team at the 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic, and earned MVP honors at the All-Star Game after recording four points in a 7-6 victory. A fifth-round draft pick by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2003, Sterling was a four-year standout at Colorado College, and was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker award in both his junior (2004-05) and senior (2005-06) seasons
 
In a feature about Chris Harrington on theahl.com, he states a desire to join his dad behind the bench when his playing career is completed. “When I’m done playing, if my dad is still coaching, I’d love to work with him,” he speaks enthusiastically and with obvious pride. “Maybe be his assistant coach. That would be cool.”
 
Karl Goehring earned his 22nd win of the year with a 29-save performance for the Milwaukee Admirals against the Houston Aeros on Thursday. Curtis Murphy scored the lone goal for the Aeros who have had one of their worst seasons as a franchise.  As the development team for the Minnesota Wild that doesn't bode well for the future.
 
Troy Riddle of the Trenton Titans had a goal and an assist in Game 1 of the Kelly Cup Playoffs but his team is down 1-0 in the series against the Dayton Bombers. Riddle won the championship with Alaska last season.

 

When Minnesota Patrick Eaves finally returned to practice for the final week of the regular season after taking a puck to the groin last week.
 
Jeff Taffe is out of the Coyotes' lineup with an injured foot.  MRI results showed no significant damage.
 
Bloomington's Toby Petersen has been nominated for the Bill Masterson Trophy. Petersen, who has bounced around the NHL for years, played 61 games for the Oilers this season and has managed diabetes since a child.  
 
White Bear Lake's Tim Hambly was named the Omaha Knights' Man of the Year for community service.  According to the Knights, Hambly has made repeated visits to the Children’s Hospital of Omaha, meeting young patients and hospital staff. He also has taken part in the Knights’ Fitness program. Players make appearances in front of full school assemblies, encouraging kids in the areas of teamwork, sportsmanship, healthy living and aspirations.
 
Marty Sertich was also named his team's Man of the Year.  Sertich served the community of Des Moines representing the Iowa Stars.
 
Jason Elliot finally won his first game with the Binghamton Senators, allowing only one goal against Syracuse stopping 38 shots.
 
Brett Bruininks, who played hockey at Notre Dame and had a brief minor league career, is in Graduate School at the University of Minnesota studying Kinesiology. He is also a teaching assistant in the program.
 
Mark Hartigan has been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks.  He and Joe Motzko have dominated the Portland Pirates since being traded from Columbus.
 
The Minnesota Wild saw their merchandise sales increase on NHL.com in March. According to the league the Wild's merchandise sales were 154% over last year's figures. Thomas Vanek has the 10th best selling jersey in the league according to NHL.com figures. Vanek scored his 40th goal of the season on Tuesday.
 
The man who changed Minnesota hockey rinks forever will be honored in California this week. The late Frank Zamboni, inventor of the dominant ice-resurfacing machine, will be inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Akron, Ohio on May 4th. Zamboni was granted his patent in 1949 for the famous Zamboni machine.
 
Brad DeFauw has left IF Björklöven following the conclusion of the season. Cory Laylin will also not return to Frederikshavn White Hawks next season. David Lundbohm will also not be re-signed by EHC Straubing.  It is unknown where they play next year.
 
Adam Berkhoel was named the ECHL First-Team All Star Goalie of the season.  Berkhoel is 22-16-3 and is second in the league with a goals-against average of 2.39 while his five shutouts tie him for second. Berkhoel was the starting goaltender for the American Conference in the ECHL All-Star Game and was named Most Valuable Player after stopping 10 of 11 shots in the first period of a 6-3 win. Under contract to Buffalo of the National Hockey League, Berkhoel has also played six games in the AHL with Rochester where he is 2-3-0 with a goals-against average of 3.22 and a save percentage of .899. In his third professional season, Berkhoel is 41-30-9 with eight shutouts, a goals-against average of 2.46 and a save percentage of .910 in 80 regular season games in the ECHL with Gwinnett and Dayton.
 
Phil Kessel and Brandon Bochenski have accepted invitations to play for Team USA in the IIHF World Championships in Moskow.  Their Bruins teammate Andrew Alberts is also likely to join them.
 
 
 
Quick Quotes:
 
"To make it to this level in the first place with diabetes, and to make it back after spending so much time in the minors. It's something I take pride in. It's a double-edged sword. You want everyone to know just in case something does go wrong, so they can help you out, but you don't want to make it an issue - you don't want people to say he played well, and had a good career, for a diabetic."  

- Toby Petersen on being nominated for the Bill Masterson award. (Edmonton Sun)
 

"Just said to him, don't lose your self confidence because this is a process you have to go through. You know, he didn't know what to expect. He didn't know the difference between collegiate hockey and American League hockey. And he finds it faster. He finds that more shooters shoot hard, get their shots away quicker. So it's an educational thing for him. This is good for him.

- Ottawa Senators General Manager John Muckler on Jason Elliot after Elliot was shelled in an 8-1 loss for Binghamton.  (Binghamton Press)

 
"I never, ever thought I would play hockey out east.  I always wanted to play hockey in the WCHA. That's all I ever knew about. I had heard a little bit about Maine and New Hampshire and the tradition. But then I came out on my visit here and saw what it was like and the tradition and there was no way I was going to commit to a school that didn't have this success or ability to win a national championship every year."

- Mike Lundin on playing for the Maine Black Bears in the Frozen Four (Maine Campus)

 
"I don't want to get in their way, at all.  This is about college hockey and the other stuff, it'll march along on it's own time frame."

- Blues President John Davidson on watching draft picks TJ Oshie and Ben Bishop in the NCAA Frozen Four in Saint Louis. (AP)


"Last year was my first time playing in the Worlds, and I really enjoyed going to Latvia. It's different hockey, with the bigger rinks. It's always fun to play for your country, you know? And it's a whole different atmosphere, to see how the Finnish and Swedish fans get into it, really throw themselves behind their teams . . . pretty cool."

- Andrew Alberts on being invited to play for the US in the World Championships (Boston Globe)

 

 

You can't make this up!: When Minnesota Wild season ticket holders received an email with shipping information from UPS about their Stanley Cup playoff ticket packages (sent as soon as the Wild clinched), the email indicated that the tickets were being shipped from customer Alta Genetics Inc. Alta Genetics Inc. is a worldwide company dealing in livestock genetics, specifically, bull semen.  The mistake, according to the Wild, was because the Wild's United States UPS account number is the same as the Alta Genetics Canadian one, hence the mistaken identity on the emails. Those could have been some rather interesting ticket packages!

Former Wild draft pick Mike Erickson, playing for the ECHL Augusta Lynx, is the 8th leading rookie scorer, with 25 goals and 20 assists in 56 games played.  Former Gopher Andy Sertich is ranked 4th amonst rookies in the ECHL with 7 goals and 36 assists in 66 games for the Utah Grizzlies that also puts him 9th amongst all ECHL defensemen, just edged by Stockton Thunder defenseman Beau Geisler who is 8th in scoring by defensemen with the same number of points but has 8 goals and 35 assists.
 
Peter Kennedy has one goal and 16 assists with the New Mexico Scorpions of the CHL. The Scorpions will meet the Amarillo Gorrillas in the first round of the playoffs this weekend after winning the Southwest Division title. The Scorpions dropped their regular season finale against the Rocky Mountain Rage in Colorado 5-2 on Saturday night with Preston Briggs, brother of Gopher goaltender Kellen Briggs, tallying the fourth goal for the Rage and a helper on their fifth in the first period. Kennedy notched an assist on New Mexico's first goal.
 
PJ Atherton was reassigned to the ECHL Johnstown Chiefs from the Springfield Falcons last week after spending two weeks with the AHL club.  In seven games with the Falcons Atherton had a goal and an assist. In 49 games with Johnstown he has four goals and 22 assists for 26 points.  
 
Atherton will likely play with the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL next season as the Tampa Bay Lightning just signed an agreement to make the franchise vacated by the Chicago Blackhawks their new affiliate.  The Edmonton Oilers, who currently place their prospects in Wilkes/Barre are expected to become the Falcons' new affiliate. The Colorado Avalanche's new affiliate in Cleveland will be called the Lake Erie Monsters.
 
Matt Hendricks has scored six goals in his last five contests with the Hershey Bears.
 
Much has been made about the lower salaries of entry level contracts for NHL players.  However, there are generous 'A' and 'B' bonus clauses for entry level contracts that can be triggered to provide a huge salary bump for players. Basically, the absolute maximum amount an entry level player drafted in 2006 can earn next season is $3,700,000 which includes the maximum $850,000 salary and signing bonus and every 'A' & 'B' bonus. 'A' bonuses are awarded for statistical benchmarks like goals and assists and games played.  'B' bonuses are awarded for All Star team berths, Trophy awards (Hart, Lady Byng, etc) and performance rankings.  
 
Kris Chucko, a freshman with the University of Minnesota last year,  was given a contract with over $1,000,000 guaranteed money, by the Calgary Flames and signed with the club last summer. According to sources, the Flames were not happy with his development under Gopher coach Don Lucia and in college hockey and wanted to get him into a different system.  Chucko has had a very good rookie year for the Knights, scoring 12 goals and 14 assists in 69 games with a solid +8 rating and the Flames are pleased with how he has progressed under head coach Ryan McGill.  The Knights are contending for the Division lead, just a few points shy of the dominant Chicago Wolves.
 
Craig Johnson, playing for the DEG Metro Stars in Germany, is in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga semi-final. His DEG team is meeting the Sinupret Ice Tigers this week.  Adam Hauser, backstopping Kölner Haie, meets Adler Mannheim in their semifinal round. Johnson has a goal and two assists in the playoffs for Dusseldorf. Hauser has two assists for the Sharks to go with a 2.40 goals against average and 91.07 save percentage and one shutout in six playoff games.  Hauser finished the regular season leading the DEL in both GAA & Save Percentage.  Also suiting up for Cologne are former Wild players Jason Marshall & Aaron Gavey.
 
Darby Hendrickson is competing with his Red Bull Salzburg Team in the Erste Bank Ice Hockey League Championships in Austria.  Salzburg led the seven-game series 1-0 after shutting out EC Pasut VSV 2-0 in the first game but Pasut came back on Thursday to win in a shootout 4-3 to tie the series.
 
Bryce Lampman has returned to the Hartford Wolf Pack lineup after missing nine games with an eye injury.
 
Singing Soprano? Patrick Eaves took a puck to the groin off a shot from teammate Christoph Schubert while playing for the Ottawa Senators Tuesday, and is questionable for a Friday game.
 
Former Badger goaltender Brian Elliott has had a miserable start to his professional career. In his first game he gave up six goals, second game he allowed four. In his third outing he was spanked for seven goals against, giving up four goals on the first eight shots, before being replaced by Jeff Glass as the Binghamton Senators lost 8-1 against the Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins Wednesday. In three games he has allowed 17 goals.
 
Elliott's former teammate Joe Piskula likely doesn't care how he does after signing for the remainder of the season with the LA Kings. The contract he signed has angered the NHL and many other GMs. According to TSN, as part of Piskula's contract, there are games played bonuses of $25,000 for playing one game, three games and five games. In other words, he gets $75,000 guaranteed for playing just five NHL games with the Kings, which will likely happen by the weekend.  The NHL is making the argument that the contract violates the CBA but the NHLPA filed a grievance so the contract stands until decided.
 
The Minnesota Wild could have had Slovakian defenseman Andrej Mezaros with their 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft instead of A.J. Thelen.  Mezaros, who has played in the NHL for two seasons, had 10 goals and 29 assists in 82 games last season with the Ottawa Senators. This season he has 7 goals and 26 assists in 77 games for the Sens. Mezaros was taken 23rd overall in the 2004 draft, 11 spots lower than Thelen, who isn't likely to be signed by the Wild.  
 
Interesting CBA item: From Exhibit 14 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Standard Club Rules:
"Alcohol consumption is absolutely prohibited on Club flights in airports or in any hotel in which the Club is staying unless specifically authorized by the Head Coach or General Manager.  In all other cases, alcohol consumption must be sensible.  If a Player has been drinking and has a vehicle with him, the Club shall reimburse him for his cab fare home without questions or retribution."
 
Former UND star and former Wild prospect Curtis Murphy missed all three of Houston's games last week after playing 322 consecutive regular-season and playoff games in the AHL, the NHL and Russia since 2003; The five-time AHL All-Star and two-time Eddie Shore Award winner had missed just one of 521 games over the last seven years - Milwaukee's 2003-04 season opener while attending the funeral of former teammate Dan Snyder. (Springfield Republican)
 
Luke Curtin of the Fresno Falcons ranks fourth in the ECHL with 54 assists and eighth with 74 points.
 


Quick Exclusive:

In an interview with Jeff Dubay on KFAN Tuesday, Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said that he spoke with former Gopher defenseman Jake Taylor last summer and Taylor had expressed a wish to Lucia for a "do-over" on his decision to leave the program early.  
 
However, Jake Taylor was reportedly not happy with the characterization and denies that he made any such statement. Said Taylor, "I really enjoyed my time at the University of Minnesota but have no regrets about my decision to turn pro. I have never looked back on that decision nor (have I) ever told anyone I have regrets about leaving school early. Playing three years of pro hockey with the NY Rangers organization has been an extremely positive experience and has been beneficial to get closer to my goal of playing in the NHL.”  
 
According to Rangers management, the only reason Taylor is currently still in the minors is because of four major injuries that required four different surgeries, which have limited his game play and ice time. Ken Gernander, Taylor's assistant coach with the Wolf Pack, told Quick Facts in an interview last month that Taylor is definitely still in the Rangers' plans and remains a good prospect for them; that his development may have been slowed by injury, but they are still pleased with his progression. Gernander also rebuffed any claims that Taylor had any regrets about turning professional after his freshman year with the Minnesota.
 
Taylor will miss the remainder of this season following surgery April 2nd to repair his left shoulder, injured in early March during a fight with the Hershey Bears' Louis Robitaille.  He is a restricted free agent this summer.  
 
A request for clarification from Lucia was not received prior to publication.
 

 
Quick Speculation:
 
The Pittsburgh Penguins wanted to sign Gopher defenseman Goligoski as early as Monday. However, an injured shoulder that that hampered Goligoski this season, will need to be addressed before he can join the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins or the Pittsburgh Penguins for their playoff runs. There is also the issue of a broken finger, to which coach Don Lucia attributed the failure of the Gopher power play in the Regional Final game. Once the injury issues are addressed, which should happen shortly, the Penguins will be looking to sign the junior Gopher defenseman. The Penguins are also negotiating a professional contract with St. Cloud State goaltender Bobby Goepfert, who is expected to be signed shortly.
 
Minnesota, however, may not lose Ryan Stoa, whom Colorado Avalanche management indicated earlier in the season that they had no intention of pulling out of school early unless Stoa pursued it himself. Despite the key power play goal in the first game of the West Regional, Stoa hadn't likely done much to change the minds of the Avs toward the end of the season, so he is likely to stay for his junior season unless he decides he has had enough of college.
 
It will also be up to Blake Wheeler whether he wants to leave the University of Minnesota before completing his eligibility. The Coyotes are impressed but will not seek to sign him unless he initiates the discussion. Though Quick Facts wouldn't be surprised to see Wheeler choose to begin those negotiations, it is more likely that he returns for at least his junior year but is unlikely to play four full seasons in Minnesota.
 
The Minnesota Wild hold the rights to defenseman A.J. Thelen until June 1st of this year after making a "Bona Fide Offer"  before the June 1st of 2005 (the year following his draft). By making that offer the Wild held his rights for two more years.  If he is not signed by June 1st of 2007 he becomes a free agent.  The Wild, not happy with his progression, are most likely to allow him to become a free agent and take the second round #12 compensatory pick instead. They could still sign him as a free agent June 2nd and receive the second round pick as well. The Wild could also try and trade Thelen to another team for a second round pick, then the receiving team would gain the compensatory pick if they fail to sign him, basically making a swap for second round picks.
 

Quick Quotes:

"He struggled tonight. This is a big jump from college to the American Hockey League, and you know, he's going to have to regroup. But he'll be fine."

-Binghamton Senators head coach Dave Cameron on Brian Elliot giving up seven goals during a game. (Binghamton Press)
 

“Hey, rough start for a kid for his first game in the American League. Likely wonders why he left college. But that’s not a big deal. He’ll get better.”

- Ottawa Goaltending coach Ron Low on Brian Elliott's first pro start, giving up six goals (Binghamton Press).
 

"Sunday was one game, and I've told him that, but he did a nice job. He played four years of college hockey at a high level, and it was obvious from the way he performed that he's been involved in a lot of power plays, penalty-killing and four-on-fours. He's a puck-moving defenseman with poise and good stick skills."

- Springfield Falcons head coach Steve Stirling on former St. Cloud State Husky Justin Fletcher after his first game in the pros. (Springfield Republican)
 

"As I told him, very often the things that will require the greatest amount of difficulty are things you cherish most.  So when he gets there, he will have gone through a lot of obstacles, so he should really appreciate it. You never like to see anyone get hurt, especially after working so hard in the summer. But you just have to look at it as one more challenge. He can't feel bad for himself. He just has to grit his teeth and do whatever is necessary going forward."

- Hartford Wolf Pack head coach Jim Schoenfeld on Jake Taylor's training camp injury. (Hartford Courant)
 

"It's part of the territory with hockey. You can either let it break you or make you stronger, so I'm just going to do my rehab and anything I've got to get done. I was looking forward to having a good season, but hopefully it's not completely gone. Hopefully I can get back and salvage as much as I can. Hopefully I take these licks early in my career so that will be the end of it for a while."

- Jake Taylor after
re-breaking his collarbone in training camp this season.  (Hartford Courant)


"He went on the ice for 10 seconds and didn't feel very good.  We told him to relax and get away from the building."

- Ottawa head coach Bryan Murray on the injury to Patrick Eaves [taking a puck to the crotch].  When he was asked to elaborate on Eaves' injury, Murray said: "It's better if I don't." (Sun Media)

Luke Curtin scored his 20th goal on Mar. 18 for the Fresno Falcons, marking seventh time in nine years he has scored 20 goals.
 
Mark Hartigan has 18 points in 17 games since joining the Portland Pirates on Feb. 10
 
Joe Motzko has tied an AHL record with 10 unassisted goals this season.
 
Grizzlies’ defenseman Andy Sertich has team-leading eight points (1g-7a) in eight games in March
 
Jordan Parise is 8-3-2 with a 2.76 goals-against average and .915 save percentage playing at home at Tsongas Arena for the Lowell Devils.
 
Mark Cullen is currently riding a five-game scoring streak, registering a goal and seven assists in that span
 
Nashville Predators Defenseman Ryan Suter will be used at forward from time-to-time towards the end of the season.
 
Former Wild Defenseman Filip Kuba was benched by Lightning coach John Tortorella and reportedly berated by the coach for his lazy play. Kuba redoubled his efforts and has been scoring more of late.
 
John Curry is the winner of the fifty-fifth Walter Brown Award, the nation's oldest college hockey honor presented annually to the best American-born college hockey player in New England. According to the news release, Curry, a Terrier senior from Shorewood, currently ranks third in the nation with a 1.92 goals-against average and leads the country in shutouts with seven. His save percentage of .931 places him second in the country in that category. The former Breck Mustang posted a 17-9-8 record in backstopping BU to a third place regular season finish in Hockey East. Curry is Boston University's all-time leader in goals-against average with 2.05 and in save percentage with .924. He was a semifinalist for the Walter Brown Award in both his sophomore and junior years.  Earlier this month Curry was named to Hockey East's first all star team and was selected the league's Player of the Year. He is the only Hockey East Player to be named a finalist for the 2007 Hobey Baker Award. Curry will receive the 2007 Walter Brown Award at the New England Hockey Writers' Dinner on Wednesday, April 11 in Saugus, Mass.
 
Finishing second in the Walter Brown balloting was another Minnesotan playing for an eastern school, Reid Cashman of Quinnipiac. Cashman finished the season as the nation's highest scoring rearguard, collecting three goals and 38 assists. The Red Wing, resident led the Bobcats to a fifth seed in the ECAC Hockey League and playoff upsets of fourth-seeded Cornell and first-place St. Lawrence and came very close to upsetting number one seed Clarkson. He ended his collegiate career with 148 points.
 
How soon they forget: Former Avalanche forward and NHL star Steve Konowalchuk was unable to gain entry to Pepsi Center to watch the NCAA West Regional until a member of the Avalanche staff came to escort him into the building. Konowalchuk just retired following last season.

NCAA Tournament Coverage: Minnesota's Big Mo 03.24.07

Brock Hooton has seven points (2g-5a) in his last six games for the Phoenix Roadrunners of the ECHL.
 
Andy Sertich has two goals and four assists in his last six games for the Utah Grizzlies.
 
Erik Westrum has been immortalized in a bobblehead for the Toronto Marlies. The first 5,000 fans in attendance at the March 24th game versus the Hamilton Bulldogs will receive the bobblehead.
 
Former UND and Wild defenseman Curtis Murphy reached 200 points in his career this week.  According to the AHL he became the fourth player, and first defenseman, in Aeros history to reach that mark.
 
Mark Hartigan has eight points (3g, 5a) in his last five games with the Portland Pirates. Teammate Clay Wilson leads the team with 12 points (4g, 8a) through 28 games on the road.
 
Former University of Minnesota Duluth goaltender Josh Johnson has signed a professional contract to play with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. 

Preston Briggs, the brother of Gopher goaltender Kellen Briggs, signed a contract with the Rocky Mountain Rage of the Central Hockey League. Preston played collegiately at Mercyhurst College and played three games with the Oklahoma Blazers of the CHL earlier this season.
 
Kellen Briggs, at 81 victories, is two wins away from tying Adam Hauser's all-time school record for career wins. He is also tied with Robb Stauber & Jim Mattson for career save percentage (.906).  Briggs owns the school record for shutouts with 13 and goal against average (2.46).
 
After a brief stint with the Detroit Red Wings, Matt Hussey has been returned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Josh Langfeld is still playing with the parent Wings.
 
Though the hope was that he could return for the playoffs for the Alaska Aces, it doesn't look likely that Gino Guyer will play again this season. Guyer suffered a torn ACL in his knee and underwent surgery just prior to Christmas. He has been rehabilitating the knee since.
 
Erik Rasmussen was knocked out of the Devils' lineup after being hit in the mouth with a puck shot on a clearing attempt by Brian Rafalski during Sunday's game against Buffalo. Rasmussen took eight stitches to the face and did not return. Reportedly the former Gopher loosened some teeth on the hit, but didn't lose any.
 
Last Friday Paul Martin logged a mind-boggling 34:45 minutes in ice time for the New Jersey Devils. The Devils were playing with only five defensemen, including rookie Andy Greene, who was just recalled from Lowell after Lou Lamoriello shipped David Hale at the trade deadline.
 
The Toronto Maple Leafs took part in their annual outdoor practice recently.  The team braved 20-below windchill conditions for the 45-minute practice at an outdoor rink in front of 250 schoolchildren.
 
Bret Hedican remains out of the Carolina Hurricanes' lineup with a 'lower-body injury'.  The Canes are fighting for the final playoff spot in the East with the New York Rangers, who feature former Canes' star Matt Cullen.  Cullen helped the Rangers beat Carolina over the weekend with a successfull shootout goal. He has 33 points on the season, nine of which have been scored in the last 13 games.
 
Kurt Sauer, who has been the subject of trade rumors for the Colorado Avalanche for three years, was on the ice for 28:30 in Sunday's loss against the Minnesota Wild, a team-high. Sauer was Brett Clark's defensive partner.
 
Terry Frei of the Denver Post recently wrote a story about the deadline-day deal three years ago that send Derek Morris & draftee Keith Ballard to the Phoenix Coyotes for Ossi Vaanannen and Chris Gratton.  Neither player worked out for the Avalanche very well, and Morris & Ballard have excelled in Phoenix. But there was one more component of that trade, a second round draft pick in 2005, with which the Avalanche selected Paul Stasny, who just broke the all-time rookie record for consecutive games with a point.  The Avalanche also selected Ryan Stoa in the second round of that draft.
 
Comcast, the NHL's cable television partner, has only a few months to launch The NHL Network in the United States. The network agreed to a requirement to bring the channel to the US as part of their contract to broadcast NHL games. There will be significant penalties, upwards of $10 million, should the channel fail to launch by July.
 
Former Gopher Captain Grant Potulny was in attendance to see the Golden Gophers drop their first playoff game at Mariucci Arena. Potulny is recovering from surgery to after a puck from a teammate's shot hit his hand during a game for the Binghamton Senators and left him with a partially severed fingertip and compound fracture. Potulny had a pin inserted to repair the broken bone and surgeons were able to reattach the severed fingertip. He is expected to make a full recovery and the injury will not affect his future career in hockey.  However, he will miss the remainder of the season as the last-place B-Sens will miss the playoffs.
 
Matt Koalska is trying to finish the season on a positive note, despite being a member of the worst team in the AHL that is mired in a 10-game losing streak. He scored a goal on Saturday in the loss to the Admirals, and finished with a +1 rating with three shots on net. Koalska is playing for a contract next season as he will become an unrestricted free agent this June.  Koalska has a combined seven goals and seven assists in 41 games with three different teams this season.  He will play against Erik Westrum & Chris Harrington's Toronto Marlies in Toronto on Wednesday.
 
Former Gopher Ken Gernander was recently featured on a Hartford Wolf Pack Team giveaway poster of the All-Decade Team. Gernander is now the assistant coach of the Pack.
 
Jake Taylor was knocked out of the Wolf Pack lineup again with a shoulder injury.  He is expected to miss two weeks.
 
Cloquet's Matt Snesrud has signed with the Phoenix Roadrunners of the ECHL.
 
The Minnesota Wild's ECHL affiliate Texas Wildcatters are currently leading the South Division and are close to guaranteeing  a berth in the Kelly Cup playoffs. The team was unable to play last season due to issues from Hurricane Katrina & Hurricane Rita.  
 
Quick Speculation:

Look for changes soon at Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub in Saint Paul.
  

Quick Quotes:
 
"I don't know if we need a cause, but this team deals with adversity real well. It's easy to get up for big games, but this team has an uncanny ability to put problems aside and move on. This team has been through a lot together."  

- Erik Rasmussen on the recent spate of injuries shuffling the Devils' lineup. (Newark Star-Ledger)

 

"I get that a lot.  Actually, it's cementhead, not meathead, but it's close."

- Devils enforcer Can Janssen on Rangers tough guy Sean Avery calling him a 'meathead' for his hit on Maple Leaf Tomas Kaberle, for which he was suspended. (Bergen Record)


"I'd like to see that happen by the IIHF's 100th anniversary in 2008.  I think we're very serious in getting that started. "The women should be judged by their peers and women who have played the game, rather than someone who hasn't seen the game before."  

-IIHF Vice President & Hall of Fame Chairman Walter Bush on inducting the first woman to the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame. (Globe & Mail)

 
"I was just told if I do what they want, I can play a lot more.  I'm trying to get back to the way I was in Anaheim, and the way I should be playing all the time. They don't need me to be moving the puck. I was a little off on (what) they wanted from me. I was worried about certain things that just don't matter anymore."

- Kurt Sauer on his increasing role with the Colorado Avalanche after being a repeated healthy scratch for most of the season (Denver Post)


"That hair is embarassing!  The perms were bad but this is terrible.  Hope it works for them!"

- Grant Potulny on the bleach-blonde hair of all the members of the University of Minnesota Men's hockey team.

Quick Facts Feature: Men's Gophers 03.09.07

Both Potulny brothers are currently not playing in AHL action due to injury.  The elder Grant suffered a severe finger laceration and is still in Ottawa following surgery and is out indefinitely. The younger Ryan has an ankle infection but is expected to return to the Philadelphia Phantoms' lineup next week.
 
Should they fail to win the WCHA Final Five Tournament the Wisconsin Badgers will become the third team since 2000 who won the National Championship and failed to make the NCAA tournament the following year.  They join Denver and Boston College in that ignominy.
 
Phil Kessel has failed to score a goal in his last five games for the Boston Bruins.
 
Andy Sertich of the Utah Grizzlies is fourth among ECHL rookie defensemen with 35 points (6g-29a).
 
Evan Kaufmann & Tom Pohl were named WCHA Student Athletes and this week were also named to the All-WCHA Academic team.  Joining them with the latter honor are Kellen Briggs, Justin Bostrom, Derek Peltier & Mike Howe.
Former St. Cloud Husky Jeff Finger scored his first career NHL goal in Colorado's 6-1 win over Chicago last week. Finger was called up to replace an injured Jordan Leopold.
 
Kyle Wilson scored the winning goal with 2:31 left in regulation for the Hershey Bears on Wednesday, February 28th, giving the team a 4-2 victory over the Albany River Rats.  
 
Mound native Chris Kenady retired from professional hockey following last season in the ECHL and is now living with his wife and family in Long Beach, Calif.  After a 15-year playing career he is the new head coach of the Squirt-A and Midget AA 18-U Anaheim Wildcats teams.  Kenady won a title with the Vulcans in the USHL and with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.
 
Matt Hendricks suffered an undisclosed injury in the second period of the game as his Hershey Bears fell to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday.  Hendricks missed time at the start of the season with a back injury.
 
Joe Motzko has recorded seven goals and six assists in 15 games since joining the Portland Pirates after being traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Anaheim Ducks.
 
The Minnesota Wild recently sent customer satisfaction email surveys to season ticket holders and single game ticket purchasers on email newsletter distribution lists.  The questionnaires asked respondents to rate everything from the food at Xcel Energy Center to the performance of Wild brodcasters and the team.  Questions included ones about ticket prices and asked about Wild sponsors and promotions as well.
 
First they got haircuts, short buzz cuts in most cases, including Blake Wheeler who had likely the longest locks of all the Gophers.  Then they decided to bleach their hair, all in a team bonding exercise.  The years the Gophers Men's Hockey team won their most recent National Championships the team went with full bore beards and permanant waves. Perhaps this is just the spark the team needs to get their blonde-tinted heads in the game. Most unusual looks expected: Mike Howe, Evan Kaufmann & Kyle Okposo.

Duvie Westcott will miss the remainder of the season for the Columbus Blue Jackets with a concussion.

Bret Hedican is out of the Carolina Hurricanes' lineup with a "lower body injury", likely a groin injury after missing several weeks with a thumb injury.

Mike Hoeffel is the top ranked Minnesotan for the upcoming draft by the International Scouting Service.  Hoeffel is ranked 23rd overall by ISS.

Look for former Gopher goaltender Adam Hauser to return to Germany to play professionally next season.

Nick Angell has two assists in one playoff game for Brynäs IF in Sweden. Brynäs won their first game, beating HV 71 by a score of 4-3.

EJ Guidarelli is the 14th ranked scorer in the 2. Div Bundesliga in Germany.  Guidarelli has 22 goals and 38 assists for EV Landshut this season

Aaron Fox is the second ranked scorer in the Erste Bank Eishockeyliga with 38 goals and 48 assists in 53 games for HK Acroni Jesenice.  Darby Hendrickson, playing for Red Bulls Saltzburg in the same league is ranked 48th in scoring with 10 goals and 26 assists in 53 games. The Red Bulls currently lead the league in points heading into the playoffs.

Former Gopher Thomas Vanek graces the cover of "PowerPlay" magazine in Austria this month.

  
Quick Speculation:
 
Last year Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander revealed he was very interested in bringing an NHL franchise to his Toyota Center in Houston. The arena is currently home to the Minnesota Wild's primary affiliate Houston Aeros, owned by Minnesota Sports & Entertainment.
 
Said Alexander in a Houston Chronicle interview:  "I am trying to get a team. I am trying.  I went to see the commissioner. I told him about my interest. I can't disclose teams, but I've been talking to people (in the NHL) and to investment bankers.
 
"I had conversations a month ago with an investment banking firm. I'm looking to buy a team. So people know my interest. You hear from time to time that teams might be for sale, then it changes or something else happens. But my interest is out there."
 
With the recent declaration of an "impasse" in talks to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh Houston becomes a very viable place for the possible relocation of the Penguins.  As the 4th largest market in the United States and a market that has proven itself as a hockey market there is a much larger likelihood the Penguins will land in Houston than the much rumored Kansas City location.
 
In 1995 the Minnesota Moose faced the same proposition now facing the Aeros. Richard Burke & Norm Coleman were pursuing the Winnipeg Jets to relocate to Saint Paul, while the Moose still had a lease at Civic Center.  The Moose were forced into an early decision to move the team to Winnipeg because another franchise, the Peoria Rivermen were also interested in the Winnipeg market.  The Moose left, but the Jets never came to Saint Paul, leaving a hockey void in Minnesota until the Minnesota Wild arrived.
 
The Aeros, however, may not be likely to relocate to Pittsburgh if the Penguins leave. Instead, Quick Facts believes that the Phoenix Coyotes will partner with the city of Tucson, which would like to build a hockey facility to house an AHL franchise.  With the Coyotes moving their affiliate to Tucson, that would leave the San Antonio market available for the Aeros' relocation.
 
Of course this is all speculative.  Quick Facts believes that the Penguins will eventually get a deal in Pittsburgh, making all relocation talk moot.  However, there remains the possibility the Aeros may be forced to relocate eventually, if not for a team moving from another market, for an NHL expansion team. The Minnesota Wild & MSE do not comment on such speculation. The Wild's Bill Robertson did say, "talks about teams moving to Houston have been going for many years.  It is an excellent sports market and attendance continues to get better and better for the Aeros."  
 
While the move is still speculative it is likely they are evaluating future options, ones that could include an AHL team much closer to the parent club's home in Saint Paul; perhaps even in Kansas City where former Wild president Tim Leiweke is President of the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) that will run the KC Sprint Center.
 
 
Jim Farnum, a former crew chief who's father raced in Minnesota as well, is now CEO of International Motorsports Entertainment and Development Corporation which recently announced plans to build a $200 million racing & entertainment facility in the Twin Cities area. The standard quote from the Minnesota Wild when asked if they are involved in projects such as this is "MSE will always look for opportunities to bring quality entertainment to the Twin Cities and Upper Midwest region, but will not comment directly on potential and on-going interests." The mention of  "Minnesota Sports and Entertainment" in the release from IMEDC about the project is just a coincidence, according to Bill Robertson of the Wild.  It has long been rumored that the Wild's parent organization, MSE, would become involved in a motorsports facility in Minnesota; they have a history of hosting motorsports events at Xcel Energy Center. Quick Facts wouldn't be surprised to see MSE involved with Farnum in his endeavor but there is no evidence currently that they have interest in the development.
 
 
Quick Quotes:
 
"Another banner hung, no big deal, that's all we do!"

-Matt Koalska upon learning of his former squad's McNaughton Cup Championship.
 
"Good, that's what they need.  It will be good for them. A little wake up never hurts."

- Koalska on the Gophers' Sunday morning practice.

" Yep, got us back to reality. It just doesn't happen.  You can't just show up." Koalska added, when asked if the same tactic worked for his class after an abysmal weekend in Denver.
 
"The hair in the locker room is pretty entertaining"

- Evan Kaufmann on the communal hair bleaching by the Golden Gophers Men's Hockey Team.  Kaufmann himself is sporting a more "red/orange" look than a bleach blonde. "It is tough for us guys with jet black hair,"

"This is just another week for us.  We're packing up the circus and taking it on the road again."

- Wisconsin Head Coach Mike Eaves on his Wisconsin Badgers hitting the road for the playoffs.  They played their last two series of the regular season on the road.

Quick Facts Feature: Coleraine's Ken Gernander discusses new Wild acquisition Dominic Moore with Quick Facts 03.02.07

Luke Curtin is on a seven-game point streak (3g-11a) for the Fresno Falcons.
 
Osseo's Andy Hedlund found himself part of this year's NHL trade dealine moves.  He was shipped to in exchange for former Wild prospect Lawrence Nycholat and a 5th round draft pick to the Washington Capitals. Hedlund was signed to a minor-league deal with the Ottawa Senators last year, after spending a season in Europe. Hedlund has 56 NHL games under his belt and is a solid defensive-defenseman. Nycholat won the Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears last season. He was signed as a free agent by the Wild in their inaugural season in 2000 but spent his entire tenure with the organization with the Cleveland Lumberjacks and Houston Aeros.  He was traded to the New York Rangers for goaltender Johan Holmqvist in 2003. Hedlund will report to the AHL Hershey Bears. Hedlund's departure from the Binghamton Senators leaves Matt Koalska as the sole remaining Minnesotan on the team with Grant Potulny also out following surgery to repair a severely damaged finger.
 
Former University of Wisconsin and current Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter is blogging for NHL.com all week.  
 
Matt Koalska's two successful penalty shots this month have paced the Binghamton Senators to a 4-for-4 record this month alone in penalty shots, and they are perfect overall, with their goaltenders stopping three attempts against. The AHL has seen almost as many penalty shots awarded in February (17) than in the four previous months combined (20).
 
Boston University goaltender John Curry was named the Beanpot Tournament MVP and is pacing the Terriers to one of their best seasons. He is also a Hobey Baker candidate. However, he is an undrafted free agent following his senior season this year. There is no word on whether he has peaked the interest of any NHL or AHL clubs but the Minnesota Wild are not interested in acquiring the Shorewood native.
 
Jeff Taffe made his season NHL debut with the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday night after being recalled from the San Antonio Rampage.  The Coyotes lost the game 5-2 and Taffe was a -1 with two shots on net.  The recall of Taffe fueled speculation that the Coyotes were likely to trade centers Yanic Perreault or Kevyn Adams prior to the NHL deadline.  Perreault was traded while the Coyotes re-signed Adams.
 
Matt Hussey benefitted from the moves made by the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline, being recalled to the parent from their affiliate in Grand Rapids.

 
Quick Quote:
 
"Its awesome. Erik was one of the first people to call me today so its pretty cool knowing that we could be teamates once again The Blues have a great organization with a lot of young talented prospects, so its very exciting. But it is still a long way away so I need to keep working hard and developing so one day I can actually be a Blue."

- Minnesota Golden Gopher Jay Barriball in an email to Quick Facts on his rights being traded to the Saint Louis Blues (who also drafted teammate Erik Johnson) from the San Jose Sharks in the deadline day deal that saw the Blues move veteran Bill Guerin.

 
Quick Take:
 
After two embarassing sweeps at the hands of North Dakota and Saint Cloud there may be dwindling hope for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Men's Hockey Team to earn a berth to the NCAA Frozen Four in Saint Louis among some fans. But should the team pull a turnaround and make it to the Championship Game on April 7th, those fans that also hold Minnesota Wild season tickets, or are Wild fans, will face a terrible dilemma. The Minnesota Wild have scheduled the final game of the season on Saturday, April 7th, ironically against the Saint Louis Blues, for the same time as the NCAA Championship Game in Saint Louis, forcing Gopher and Wild fans to choose between loyalties should Minnesota be vying for the title.  
 
The Wild's Bill Robertson said of the conflict "We do not always receive every date we submit to the league almost a year out." Adding "April 7th could also be a critical game for the Wild in the Stanley Cup Playoff race. It is also Wild Fan Celebration weekend and could be a very interesting game on the NHL schedule."
 
Unfortunately, that just makes the decision making more difficult for fans of both programs. I know Gophers fans are hoping it is a decision they will have to make: attend or watch the Wild game or watch the NCAA Championship Game to root on the Gophers, but that won't make the decision any easier. Hopefully the NHL is more sensitive to key dates like the NCAA Frozen Four when completing league schedules in the future.