SAINT PAUL, Minn. – In traditional Minnesota Wild style, GM Doug Risebrough went into day one of free agency facing high hopes from the fans. While he upgraded in a few key places, the over all net did not meet the expectations on fan message boards.
The good news for fans in Saint Paul is this. First, the Wild did not overspend for any of the players they picked up, something not every team can claim. Secondly, the team returned forward Andrew Brunette, a fan favorite, and a player who Risebrough admitted was a mistake to let go in the first place. Lastly, the Wild upgraded the blue line yet again, showing the focus on defense has not waned.
In an early trade, the Wild gave up Ryan Jones, a forward just coming out of the NCAA, and a second round pick for Marek Zidlicky, a solid offensive-minded defenseman from the Nashville Predators. The Wild have tried desperately in the past years to find the offense other NHL squads enjoy from the blue line. Brent Burns has turned out to be the only real threat from the back end, with Kim Johnsson seemingly riding out his huge contract.
Turning to the free agent signings of the day, the Wild landed only two, while giving up three on day one. As listed earlier, the Wild returned Andrew Brunette to Saint Paul. Brunette was a definite fan favorite in his first stint with the Wild, and left a gaping hole in the line-up when he joined the Avalanche for three seasons following the lock-out. Risebrough did not believe Brunette’s game fit the “new NHL.”
Turns out the new NHL doesn’t fit Brunette. He is the current iron man in the league with 453 consecutive games played and has scored 63, 83, and 59 points respectively in his three seasons in Denver. He is a master behind the net, and will mesh quickly back into a locker room filled with players that have matured in his absence.
The Wild also signed Craig Weller, a 6’ 4” 220-lbs agitator. Signed as a likely replacement for forward Aaron Voros, who signed with the Rangers, Weller likely will not be the missing piece between the Wild and a Stanley Cup, but he does add depth and grit to the line-up.
On the other side of the dotted line, the Wild lost three players today as well. Brian Rolston, the Wild’s most coveted UFA, signed a massive four-year, 20 million dollar deal with the Devils, returning him to the team he won a Cup with. The Wild tried desperately to sign Rolston in the lead up to July 1, and tried just as hard today, after having traded his rights to Tampa Bay. As one blog stated, the Wild were “on their knees” trying to resign the massive slap shot. However, the length of the deal was just not one the Wild were willing to match.
The team also lost tough guys Aaron Voros and Todd Fedoruk. Voros was a mid-season call-up that brought new energy to the line-up, but then faded into the background. Fedoruk was claimed off waivers from the Dallas Stars, and turned into a true contributor, even playing on the top line with Marian Gaborik. However, the amount of money Voros and Fedoruk wanted simply did not match the contributions, and the Wild let them walk.
As Star Tribune writer Mike Russo explained, “This is the way it will work. It will be one big recycling machine. Both were quality players here… but in this new cap world, fans need to get used to the fact that every year every team is going to have to let role players like Fedoruk and Voros walk away when they get too expensive.”
Watching the Wild message boards, a casual observer would have thought the team imploded today. However, the holes look like they are being filled, though not necessarily with the players the fans want to see. The fans continued hoping right up until the print deadline for a blockbuster signing of Marion Hossa, but TSN reports that the Wild never even made an offer for the top prize in the free agent class.
Regardless of what fans think, the rumor mill is stirring up, or the media is reporting, the Wild brought back a forward with the ability to score, traded for a solid defenseman, and added a role playing tough guy to help protect the stars and stir up trouble. And they did it all for a rather reasonable price, despite a market saturated with ridiculous contracts reminiscent of the pre-lock out spending sprees of old.
The author can be reached at bryan.reynolds@prohockeynews.com
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