Wild News

"Marian Gaborik still doesn't know if he wants to sign an extension with the Minnesota Wild or test free agency next July, his agent said Monday. But if Gaborik doesn't want the extension, according to Wild assistant general manager Tom Lynn, the team would have to consider trading its star right winger. "If he were to indicate he wasn't going to sign, then we'd have to make a decision about whether we'd want to play with that distraction," Lynn said. "We would have to weigh the pros and cons, and if that time came and he was not re-signing, then we would have to decide his trade value. But it's not an automatic." Gaborik's agent, Ron Salcer, said the sides have yet to talk contract, but ..."

"While it's still uncertain whether the Wild will be able to work out an extension with its all-time leading scorer, Marian Gaborik's agent said Monday that last week's four-hour dinner meeting between Gaborik and Wild management might pay dividends. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for how they handled that," agent Ron Salcer said of the meeting among Gaborik, General Manager Doug Risebrough and assistant GM Tom Lynn in Slovakia. "I can tell you, after talking to Marian, it made him feel really good the way they shared everything with him about the team and the future. I thought it was a smart move on their behalf. It was a very beneficial thing they did." Salcer said at the very ..."

"Marian Gaborik doesn't need to play in another city to be among the top scorers in the NHL. That was the message Wild management delivered to Gaborik during a four-hour dinner meeting last week in Trencin, Slovakia -- the first step in a journey the Wild hopes ends in a long-term extension to Gaborik's contract before next season. With Gaborik, 26, less than 11 months from becoming an unrestricted free agent, General Manager Doug Risebrough and assistant GM Tom Lynn met with Gaborik on Monday. The two wanted to convince Gaborik, the Wild's all-time leading scorer with 206 goals and 414 points, that Minnesota is the place to be. Gaborik could not be reached to comment, but Lynn called it a ..."

"In most venues, Craig Leipold -- "the Big Babooski" to his friends -- is a gentle giant. The multimillionaire's phone number is listed, he enters the arena through Gate 1 like everyone else, he loves a juicy burger and cold beer. Get used to seeing Leipold roam the Xcel Energy Center corridors in the seasons to come. He permanently resides 350 miles away in Racine, Wis., but he signed a 10-year exclusive lease for the 2,400-square-foot, 14th-floor penthouse at the St. Paul Hotel. This way, the 56-year-old can keep a close eye on his newest toy -- the Wild, which he purchased from Bob Naegele for $260 million last season. "I like the fact I can walk from where I'm living to work, and here, ..."

"The Wild's first step toward signing Marian Gaborik to a contract extension may come this week when general manager Doug Risebrough meets with the star winger in Trencin, Slovakia. No meeting is set, but Risebrough is flying to Gaborik's homeland today to scout an under-18 tournament in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Gaborik, 26, is entering the final year of a three-year extension that will pay him $7.5 million. Risebrough hopes to visit Gaborik in Trencin to discuss the future of the team's leading scorer and last remaining original franchise member. "The player in this case will be a free agent in a year from now, and he should hear what the GM plans for the team and what we're trying ..."

"Doug Risebrough will leave for Slovakia on Sunday for a trip he hopes "kills two birds with one stone." The Wild general manager is flying overseas to scout the Ivan Hlinka tournament, an under-18 tournament with several 2010 draft-eligible players. But Risebrough's real intent, and undoubtedly the most important, is to make a side trip to Trencin, the hometown of Marian Gaborik, for a conversation with the high-scoring right winger. Gaborik, 26, the Wild's all-time leader with 206 goals and 414 points, is a year from unrestricted free agency. In the coming days, the Wild plans to offer Gaborik a groundbreaking extension in hopes of locking him up for four to seven years. But the Wild has ..."

"Wild owner and former Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold said he was "disappointed" to learn William Del Biaggio is in bankruptcy after Leipold loaned the San Jose, Calif., businessman $10 million to complete his purchase of the Predators. Leipold, who bought the Wild for $260 million in January a month after selling the Predators for $176 million, loaned Del Biaggio the money to help complete the sale, according to the Nashville-based Tennessean. The newspaper reported Leipold is among creditors alleging Del Biaggio, who declared bankruptcy in June, defrauded them. The Wild said through a team spokesman Thursday that Leipold declined to comment. The team released a statement that ..."

"The Wild absorbed a loss of more than $5.5 million Wednesday when they bought out the contract of winger Mark Parrish. But they reduced their salary cap hit by nearly $2 million overnight. After Parrish went through unconditional waivers without being claimed, the Wild cut him loose along with the remaining three seasons of his $8.35 million contract. They bought out the contract for $5,566,667, about two-thirds of what he would have received had they kept him. Parrish, 31, now can sign with any team. Most important to the Wild, his deal will count $727,778 against the team's salary cap for the next two seasons, then will count $927,778 for the following four years. With a cap of $56.7 ..."

"According to the Tennessean, former Nashville Predators owner and current Wild owner Craig Leipold lent a California financier accused of fraud in several lawsuits, and the Predators, $20 million to help finalize the sale of the Predators and open the door for Leipold to purchase the Wild. The financier, William (Boots) Del Biaggio, who owns 27 percent of the Predators, filed for bankruptcy in June and faces a federal investigation and a handful of lawsuits claiming he defrauded lenders. Leipold sold the Predators for $176 million a month before his Jan. 10 announcement of the $260 million purchase of the Wild. He and the sports and entertainment giant, AEG, which is owned by Los Angeles ..."

"And then there were zero. The Wild placed veteran forward Mark Parrish on unconditional waivers Tuesday, paving the way for the Bloomington native's imminent departure. Parrish, 31, was simply a victim of the NHL's salary cap, general manager Doug Risebrough said. The last Minnesota native and one of only two former college players on the Wild roster, Parrish scored 35 goals in two seasons with the team, including just 16 in 66 games this past season. It was a far cry from the 30 goals he scored for the New York Islanders in 2001-02. Although Risebrough admitted that if Parrish had bagged 50 goals, the team would have looked elsewhere for changes, he insisted the move was unrelated to ..."

"When hometown kid Mark Parrish signed the longest contract in Wild history two summers ago, he never could have imagined it would end this abruptly, this unceremoniously. The Minnesota native was ecstatic to get the chance to play NHL hockey down the road from where he starred in high school at Bloomington Jefferson. Instead, after signing a five-year, $13.25 million deal, Parrish spent much of two seasons injured and chained to coach Jacques Lemaire's doghouse. Tuesday, he was placed on waivers. Today, his Wild career prematurely will conclude when another team claims him or the Wild buys out the remaining three years of his contract, making him a free agent. "It was a dream of mine ..."

"The Minnesota Wild have waived veteran forward Mark Parrish with three years left on his contract. Minnesota general manager Doug Risebrough says Parrish was simply a victim of the NHL's salary cap. He was paid US$2.5 million last season and would have cost the team a salary cap hit of $2.65 million this season, bringing the Wild about $2.1 million short of the cap. Parrish scored 35 goals in two seasons with Minnesota, including just 16 in 66 games this past season. If he isn't claimed off waivers Wednesday, the Wild will likely buy out the rest of his contract for two-thirds of his salary. If he's picked up on waivers, his new team would take over his salary and the total cap hit."

"The Wild are beginning to look like potential Northwest Division champions again. On the morning after signing wing Pierre-Marc Bouchard to a five-year, $20.4 million contract, general manager Doug Risebrough said Saturday that the Wild have "made changes that I think needed to be made" for a successful season. Bouchard, 24, agreed that Minnesota has the ingredients for playing deeper into the playoffs than just the first round, as the Wild have done the past two seasons. "I'm pretty confident we can do better, with some great acquisitions this summer," Bouchard said from his summer home in Montreal. "And we still have a good core of players." The Wild added forwards Andrew Brunette, Owen ..."

"Pierre-Marc Bouchard's cell phone battery died Friday night because he spent so much time conversing with his agent, Allan Walsh. If Marian Gaborik is smart, he should charge some spare batteries. Now that the ink's dry on Bouchard's five-year, $20.4 million contract, the Wild plans to focus all of its attention on trying to extend Gaborik's contract with the richest, most groundbreaking offer in franchise history. It might be the final piece to the Wild's offseason agenda, but it's the largest and most critical. "Now that Pierre-Marc is done and we know what our team looks like going forward, it's time we start talking to Marian," said Tom Lynn, assistant general manager. In early ..."

"Next order of business: Sign Marian Gaborik. After losing offensive weapons Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra through free agency during the offseason, the Wild made sure that they'd have playmaking whiz Pierre-Marc Bouchard around for the next two seasons at least. The Wild and Bouchard agreed late Friday night to a five-year, $20.4 million contract that includes, according to assistant general manager Tom Lynn, a commitment by general manager Doug Risebrough not to trade Bouchard for at least two years. By reaching an agreement, both sides avoided an arbitration hearing scheduled Monday in Toronto. Bouchard, 24, finished second in team scoring with 63 points and led the Wild with 50 ..."

"The Spin-O-Rama will continue to be displayed at Xcel Energy Center for many years to come. Pierre-Marc Bouchard, the supremely talented Wild winger who used and abused Nikolai Khabibulin and Evgeni Nabokov the past two seasons with a pair of sweet shootout moves, avoided a Monday arbitration hearing by signing a five-year, $20.4 million deal just before midnight Friday night. Bouchard, who ranks second for the Wild in career assists and points, was intrigued by the Wild's late Friday afternoon offer because it included verbal assurance from General Manager Doug Risebrough that he would not be traded for at least two years, assistant GM Tom Lynn said. While the Wild wouldn't put such a ..."

"The Wild will play three of its seven exhibition games at home, the team announced Wednesday. After beginning training camp Sept. 20 in Grand Forks, N.D., the Wild will return home Sept. 23 and host Columbus (Sept. 24), Chicago (Sept. 30) and Buffalo (Oct. 1) in exhibition games. It plays at Chicago on Sept. 26, at Buffalo on Sept. 28 and at Columbus on Oct. 3, and ends the preseason Oct. 4 in Montreal."

"The Wild will open training camp in Grand Forks, N.D., starting on Sept. 20 because the Xcel Energy Center will not be ready for the NHL team after hosting the Republican National Convention Sept. 1-4. This will mark the first time the NHL team, which began play in 2000-01, has opened training camp outside the Twin Cites. "The Wild has had a great relationship with the hockey fans of the greater Grand Forks area for many years and has enjoyed great success in NHL preseason games there," said assistant general manager Tom Lynn. "Ralph Engelstad Arena is one of the finest hockey facilities in the world, and outside of our home in the Twin Cities, we could not imagine a better venue for ..."

"The Wild and Stephane Veilleux agreed Saturday to a one-year deal worth $862,500, avoiding an arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday. Veilleux, 26, had a career-high 11 goals among 18 points last season, when he was one of coach Jacques Lemaire's most-trusted players, working the top checking line and penalty kill. He is due to become an unrestricted free agent next July."

"The Wild re-signed left wing Stephane Veilleux on Saturday night to a one-year deal worth $737,500. That allows the Wild to avoid a Monday arbitration date with Veilleux, who passed through waivers Thursday. Veilleux can become an unrestricted free agent next summer if not re-signed before July 1. Veilleux had a career-high 11 goals last season."

"The Minnesota Wild were dragged into the controversy involving international transfers Friday when the International Ice Hockey Federation announced it was investigating the contract of defenseman Tomas Mojzis. Mojzis, a former NHL player from the Czech Republic, played 28 games last season in the Russian Super League and is among six players whose contracts are being investigated by ice hockey's international governing body."

"The Wild will open the 2008-09 season at home Oct. 11 against Manny Fernandez and the Boston Bruins, then will hit the road for a Southeast Division jaunt, where it will visit Atlanta (Oct. 14), Florida (Oct. 16) and the new-look Tampa Bay Lightning (Oct. 18). Here are a few other schedule highlights:"

"The Wild hopes Stephane Veilleux received a bit of a reality check Thursday when 29 teams passed on the opportunity to snatch up the checking winger for a modest $15,000 waiver fee. Veilleux, a restricted free agent representing himself in negotiations, cleared waivers and remained Wild property with an arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday. Assistant GM Tom Lynn flew to Toronto on Thursday afternoon to get situated for the hearing, but teams and players often figure out a way to avoid what can be an acrimonious process."

"The Wild hopes Stephane Veilleux received a bit of a reality check Thursday when 29 teams passed on the opportunity to snatch up the checking winger for a modest $15,000 waiver fee. Veilleux, a restricted free agent representing himself in negotiations, cleared waivers and remained Wild property with an arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday. Assistant GM Tom Lynn flew to Toronto on Thursday afternoon to get situated for the hearing, but often times teams and players figure out a way to avoid the often acrimonious process. The Wild hopes clearing waivers displays to Veilleux that he's not being reasonable in his contract demands. But Veilleux maintained Thursday that he knows his ..."

"Stephane Veilleux fears he has played his last game with the Minnesota Wild. The team placed him on waivers Wednesday and the left wing said, "I know, at the end of the day, someone will pick me up." The NHL's 29 other teams have until 11 a.m. CDT today to claim Veilleux, who said the Wild's decision "surprised the heck out of me." But in the cutthroat world of the salary cap, the move makes some sense, even if it's a little awkward. The sides were "far apart," Wild assistant general manager Tom Lynn said, and the waiver process might help the sides bridge the gap — if Veilleux goes unclaimed."

"On Monday, Stephane Veilleux said it would be "a couple days before I'm going to be back with the Minnesota Wild." Well, a couple of days have passed, and by 11 a.m. today, Veilleux could be property of another team. In a surprise strategical move, the Wild placed the fifth-year left wing on waivers Wednesday in an attempt to resolve a contract dispute with the restricted free agent. "I talked to [GM Doug Risebrough Wednesday morning], he offered me a contract, and he warned me with the waiver situation," Veilleux said. "I was well aware about it. I still turned down the offer and now I'm on waivers."

"Imagine this scene: Lynn, who went to Yale, has a law degree from Cornell and has negotiated millions of dollars worth of hockey contracts, staring across the desk at ... Veilleux, a 26-year-old winger. Earlier this summer, Veilleux decided it made no sense to continue paying his agent, Paul Corbeil, 4 percent of his salary. So Veilleux, a restricted free agent, fired Corbeil and decided to represent himself in negotiations for a new contract."

"The Minnesota Wild signed five minor leaguers to two-way deals Tuesday, including former University of Minnesota standout Danny Irmen. Irmen, a right wing from Fargo, N.D., had 10 goals among 33 points in 77 games last season with the Wild's American Hockey League affiliate Houston Aeros. Irmen, 23, was a restricted free agent and signed a one-year deal, as did defenseman John Scott, 25, who had a team-high 184 penalty minutes in 66 games for the Aeros last season. Also signing one-year deals were center Corey Locke, whom the Wild acquired from Montreal last week, and center Bryan Lundbohm of Roseau. Defenseman Brandon Rogers signed a two-year contract."

"The Wild signed minor-league centers Corey Locke, Peter Olvecky and Bryan Lundbohm, right wing Danny Irmen and defenseman John Scott to one-year deals Tuesday. The Wild also signed minor-league defenseman Brandon Rogers to a multi-year contract. The Wild is close to re-signing restricted free-agent defenseman Clayton Stoner."

"Tom Lynn is known as a brash, stubborn negotiator. But Stephane Veilleux doesn't find him that way. In fact, the Wild's tightly-wound energy bug has yet to even contemplate body-checking the Wild assistant general manager into an office soda machine. Imagine this scene: Lynn, who went to Yale, has a law degree from Cornell and has negotiated millions of dollars worth of hockey contracts, staring across the desk at ... Veilleux, a 26-year-old winger. Earlier this summer, Veilleux decided it made no sense to continue paying his agent, Paul Corbeil, 4 percent of his salary. So Veilleux, a restricted free agent, fired Corbeil and decided to represent himself in negotiations for a new ..."

"Never let it be said that Kevin Constantine, coach of the Houston Aeros, isn't diplomatic. His players always are given several options. They can do things his way. Or they can do things his way. Or, finally, they can do things his way. Last season, the Aeros opted to do things Constantine's way. As a result, the Minnesota Wild's primary minor league affiliate shed its country club image and became known as a hard-working, developmental team. It wasn't so easy. Constantine remembers standing behind the bench last fall and wondering what the heck he had gotten himself into. "Oh no!" he remembers thinking. "This could be a long year. We were getting outshot by 10 or 15 shots, ..."

"The Wild traded away disappointing blue line prospect Shawn Belle and signed former NHL player Krys Kolanos on Friday. Kolanos has played 115 games with Phoenix and Edmonton but spent last season with Quad City of the American Hockey League, where he had 63 points (30-33—63) and 11 power-play goals in 63 games. The Wild sent Belle, a former first-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, to Montreal for career-minor leaguer Corey Locke, who made his NHL debut last season with the Canadiens — going scoreless in one game. Belle, 23, is a strong skater with a big body who never was able to latch on with the Wild after being included in the deal that sent Willie Mitchell to Dallas ..."

"Petr Kalus became a member of the Wild with some fanfare, the primary piece in the trade last July that sent goaltender Manny Fernandez to Boston. During a call-up with the Bruins the previous spring, Kalus had scored goals on his first three NHL shots. And when he made a serious run at the Wild roster in the fall, it appeared Minnesota had pulled a double steal, dumping the injured Fernandez's big contract and picking up a major prospect. Kalus had the size (6 feet 1, 201 pounds), the scoring touch and, said those who played against him in juniors and in the minors, the mean streak to play in the NHL. But then he dropped off the radar."

"The Wild are happy to see Chris Hickey headed for the University of Wisconsin, where they believe they will get a better idea of what the future holds for the Cretin-Derham Hall graduate. "This year will be a much better test, to see him at a higher tempo on a well-run team," said Tommy Thompson, Wild assistant general manager for player personnel. "We'll see how he does there." Hickey, 19, is participating in his third Minnesota Wild prospects camp this week at the Xcel Energy Center. The St. Paul native spent last season with Tri-City of the U.S. Hockey League, scoring 15 goals among 31 points in 57 games."

"When Geoff Courtnall played tour guide for former St. Louis Blues linemate Pavol Demitra in the spring, he sold the unrestricted free agent forward on Vancouver's culture, cuisine and beauty. Courtnall also sold Demitra on playing for the Canucks..."I told him if the Canucks are one of the teams that comes around July 1 [free agency], you should definitely think of playing there." Demitra has done just that. Not only has the former Minnesota Wild forward stated that the Canucks top his wish list -- a Slovakian newspaper has reported he's close to signing a three-year, $12-million-US deal -- general manager Mike Gillis has acknowledged contract dialogue with his former client."

"The Wild's minor league prospects had to like what they heard from Doug Risebrough as free agency was beginning last week. It was time, the Wild general manager said, to give some young players a chance to win jobs with the big-league club. But then Minnesota kept signing players, and one by one those roster spots were filled. "I really can't control who they sign and who they don't," said winger Cal Clutterbuck, one of a handful of players the Wild think are ready to challenge for a spot in training camp this fall. "I've got two years left here on a contract, and my goal is to be here as soon as possible.""

"For most of his 22 years, Anton Khudobin, a goaltending prospect for the Minnesota Wild, has been sort of a happy passenger on the train of life. When he was a young boy in Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, his father looked at him one day and said: "You will play hockey." "Hockey," young Anton replied. "No, I don't think so." Almost immediately thereafter, Khudobin was playing defense for a local youth team. He played defense for three years. The problem was that he tended to deflect pucks into his own net. That did not make him particularly popular with his teammates. So one day the coach looked at him and said: "Maybe you would like to be a goaltender." "Goaltender," young Anton ..."

"Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison may be gone, Mats Sundin may never come, but the Vancouver Canucks are getting a nibble, at least, from one unrestricted free agent. That would be Minnesota Wild forward Pavol Demitra, who told a city radio station Tuesday that there's "a good chance" he will join the good ship Canuck. "I think there is a good chance," Demitra told CKNW. "[Current Canucks GM Mike Gillis] used to be my agent for a long time. We are very good friends. I am very interested in playing for [the Canucks].""

"If the Wild's James Sheppard had his way, the 2008-09 NHL season would begin tonight. Forget the rest of the summer, forget training camp. Bring on Sheppard's sophomore campaign. He's ready to strap on the skates for real. "I can't even tell you how much I'm raring to go," said Sheppard, in town for the Wild's development camp. "Ever since I started training, I've been feeling strong and I'm just excited to go. "I'm more comfortable, I know what to expect now, and I know I can do more. I want to and know I can take charge out there." And, boy, the Wild will need Sheppard to take charge."

"Minnesota winger Pierre-Marc Bouchard was one of 15 restricted NHL free agents to file for salary arbitration Saturday. The Wild still can negotiate deals with Bouchard and Stephane Veilleux, their other restricted free agent, up to the moment of their arbitration hearings, which the NHL has scheduled for between July 21-Aug. 4. Bouchard, 23, made $2.6 million last season in the third of three straight one-year deals. Because he is due to become an unrestricted free agent next July 1, any arbitration ruling would be limited to a one-year deal. Wild general manager Doug Risebrough said the club will offer Bouchard a long-term deal."

"The bargain basement for professional sports is a disagreeable place, with its mold and standing water. There's a scrap heap in the corner where nocturnal creatures scurry about as general managers dig through the debris, looking for a discarded prize. Terry Ryan and Bill Smith, Ryan's successor as Twins general manager, are experts on this environment. While competitors shop in the glare of TV cameras, Ryan and Smith for years have been grabbing their flashlights and galoshes and heading below ground into the dankness. This is where they have found the likes of Sean Bergman and Butch Huskey, Sidney Ponson and Tony Batista, and Mike Lamb and Adam Everett, to name a few. Smith and ..."

"Three days after General Manager Doug Risebrough all but declared the Wild done in the free-agent market, the Wild snatched up one rugged, gray-haired, battle-scarred veteran. Owen Nolan, the former San Jose Sharks captain who was taken first overall in the 1990 draft by the Quebec Nordiques, signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Wild on Sunday night. Nolan has been a fearless combatant for 16 seasons. While his 40-goal, All-Star-type seasons might be a thing of the past, Nolan, 36, who can play wing and take faceoffs, was a gritty cog for the Calgary Flames last season and plans to bring his distinguished old-school, rough-and-tumble brand of hockey to Minnesota."

"While it s just a formality, Wild restricted free agents Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Stephane Veilleux filed for arbitration Saturday. In one week, both players will have arbitration dates set for some time between July 20-Aug. 4, and in the interim, the Wild can continue to negotiate with the two wingers. Neither is unexpected nor going to change our efforts to sign them, Wild Assistant General Manager Tom Lynn said of Bouchard and Veilleux electing to protect their rights by electing arbitration."

"The Minnesota Wild, general manager Doug Risebrough said, are not cheap. Those who believe otherwise, he said, "I would describe as ill-informed people." The Wild wrapped up their free-agency period Thursday with a relatively inconspicuous move, signing right wing Antti Miettinen to a three-year, $7 million deal. But Risebrough and his staff had a lot of irons in the fire. Most notably, they tried signing Marian Hossa, the top player in this year's free-agent class, to a deal that would have exceeded the $7.4 million he accepted for one season in Detroit. But you don't need to know that to know Minnesota is spending money, Risebrough said. Just look at the numbers."

"Antti Miettinen has an enormous amount of talent, but after being given every opportunity to score goals, he could never make it work in Dallas. Looking for a fresh start, the right winger celebrated his 28th birthday Thursday by cashing in on a three-year, $7 million deal with the Wild. Miettinen, a former Finnish Elite League star with 106 points in 109 games over one two-year stretch, had a career-high 15 goals and 34 points in 69 games last season."

"The Coyotes addressed two key needs on the first day of the NHL free agency period: defense and toughness. The signing of Kurt Sauer from the Colorado Avalanche helped shore up a defensive gap created when the Coyotes traded Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton to the Florida Panthers for center Olli Jokinen. And with left wing Todd Fedoruk, the Coyotes get a physical player who amassed almost 140 penalty minutes last season with the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars. The Coyotes lost two players Tuesday, forwards Radim Vrbata (Tampa Bay) and Craig Weller (Minnesota) but also signed their two first-round draft choices for three years"

"The NHL's free-agent free-for-all officially began Tuesday, but the Wild didn't just dip its toes into the free-agent pool. It dived headfirst into the trade waters and made a splash. Besides bringing home one of the most popular Wild players in history, Andrew Brunette, with a three-year, $7 million contract, the Wild traded prospect Ryan Jones and a second-round pick to the Nashville Predators for offensive defenseman Marek Zidlicky."

"The New Jersey Devils have signed free agent forward Brian Rolston to a four-year, $20.25 million contract. The 34-year-old native of Flint, Mich., scored 31 goals and collected 59 points in 81 games with the Minnesota Wild last season. Rolston, who played three seasons with the Wild, was picked 11th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft."

"The Wild have completed a deal for Nashville defenseman Marek Zidlicky and appear close to signing former Minnesota playoff hero Andrew Brunette to a multiyear deal. Minnesota sent prospect Ryan Jones and a second-round pick in the 2009 entry draft to the Predators for Zidlicky, 31, who averaged nine goals and 35 assists in four seasons with the Predators. He was a minus-5 last season, but was plus-8 in the previous two."