Granlund is a DONE DEAL!!!

[OnAFly]

Signed today. I'm really excited to see this kid play. The Strib has a nice write up on it with a really impressive highlight reel. This kid is a stud.

[Bran32]

Same here cannot wait to see what else the wild will do this summer!!

[Bear55]

Saw that too, can't wait to see some of these young guys play this year. Wild have never had this much young talent before. Sure Gaborik, Burns, and Koivu were all young once be we have a rather large group of talented players coming up and we should pick up a couple of nice prospects in this draft as well.

[scsavre]

I think Coyle is gonna be the one to surprise us.

I hope Granlund is as good as some say. The coaches of his own league say he was getting a little worse, not challenged enough. Pretty sure the NHL will provide enough challenge.

[OnAFly]

Hey, I would rather get him when he's ready for a step up in the talent pool than redo James Sheppard.

[Bear55]

I'm excited for Coyle too but I think he might take a little longer to show us the goods. Big adjustment from the CHL to the NHL. Granlund doesn't have size or speed but they say his hockey sense is off the charts. He's been playing pro hockey for 3 years and now has 2 world champion tourneys under his belt. He will have an adjustment period too but I think he will be ready sooner. Either way we will have options next year and plenty of bodies to give these guys AHL time if needed.

[10,000 Casts]

no size and no speed.. I thought you needed at least one to play in the NHL, maybe I'm wrong?

[Bear55]

Its only a pre-season game but it is sure nice to see Grandlund net 4 goals at the AHL level!!! Coyle added two goals as well.

http://www.aeros.com/news/news/index.html?article_id=3460

[Bear55]

no size and no speed.. I thought you needed at least one to play in the NHL, maybe I'm wrong?

That is part of it but what he lacks in those areas he makes up for with brains and puck skills. Not comparing him to Gretzky in any way shape or form but he didn't have blazing speed and was as scrawny as they come.

[10,000 Casts]

that's awesome, Granlund is going to be a huge piece to the puzzle in the next few years. Him, Bouchard and Cullen are the guys that can give us alot of depth and add the goals that we have been missing the past few years along with Parise, Heatley and Koivu.

Wow did the wild get good fast, now we just need a season.

[BartmanMN]

If you've been watching ESPN you wouldn't even know the NHL existed. They never talk about the lockout.

I want to watch some WILD games bad with this new team.

[OnAFly]

ESPN: "EVERYTHING WE WANT YOU TO SEE"

This really is terrible timing for the Wild. Just as they were putting something onto the ice that gave casual fans a reason to watch, this happens. And now, if it goes on much longer and the sport loses visibility like it did in '05, they will be back to square one.

You would think that both sides would realize that a couple hundred million dollars isn't worth losing a whole season over, but Fehr couldn't care less about the sport and Bettman seams like he's the type that would dig in to prove a point.

[archerystud]

I doubt Bouchard will be resigned and Cullen is probably highly unlikely based on their incoming talent.

The good news is that between those 2, Backstrom and the Cam Barker buyout it frees up 14M next year.

If the season were canceled this year I believe that the contract are done as well. Does anyone know for sure?

[OnAFly]

As long as a lockout is in place, the NHL players do not get paid.

Bouchard get's paid his normal salary until he is deemed NHL ready. Something about being on IR is a loophole for the lockout apparently.

Oct 15th is when the players would have received their first paychecks. This is when they will start hurting. Though, they just got their escrow payments back from last year, so they have a little cushion.

[solbes]

Wow did the wild get good fast, now we just need a season.

Agree, but man is this lockout depressing. I watched Melrose broadcasting a KHL league game last night for 20 minutes or so. Fail.

Come on players. Make some concessions and get back out on the ice.

[BartmanMN]

As long as a lockout is in place, the NHL players do not get paid.

Bouchard get's paid his normal salary until he is deemed NHL ready. Something about being on IR is a loophole for the lockout apparently.

Oct 15th is when the players would have received their first paychecks. This is when they will start hurting. Though, they just got their escrow payments back from last year, so they have a little cushion.

I'm guessing the NHLers don't have possi's (SP?) like the NBA and NFL players do, so they will be just fine for awhile I'm sure.

[Musky Buck]

No doubt Bartman, isn't that just crazy why like Plaxico Burress why is he carrying the gun ? Why was Nate Newton driving the motherload, Bam Morris, Rae Carruth, and then some. Boy I could use some hockey in the diet to chew on. Just looked at our family pictures etc. and 1 guy easily stood out in our album, Derek Boogaard, not family but talking with him, him messin with my son etc. etc. he got a slot in our book, man I miss him in action or even the camera shots on the bench, rip big guy.