Patience Is A Virtue

I wanted to wait until after the first day of Free Agency and be able to include my adventures at the Draft in one post.  Sure looks like my patience paid off. 

Check out Through The Lens tab for pictures from the draft!  

2011 NHL Draft - Just The Facts
With the 10th pick in the First Round the Minnesota Wild select: Jonas Brodin, defenseman. 

With the first trade of the 2011 NHL Draft Chuck Fletcher lowered the boom as Gary Bettman announced: "Minnesota Wild trade to the San Jose Sharks Brent Burns"...and the air was completely sucked out of the Xcel Arena as an incredibly large contingent of Wild fans gasped, waiting to hear the payoff.  The Wild received in return: Devin Setoguchi, Charile Coyle (stud college power forward, to use Russo's words) and Zack Phillips.  Finally the Wild fans let out their breath in the form a cheer loud enough to qualify for the goal horn, myself included.  That's not to say there weren't some boos, there were.  There are those folks who will always feel that you shouldn't trade any player of worth for something better.

Day Two of the Draft saw Minnesota trading picks with Vancouver to select Mario Lucia - left wing (yes, that Lucia, U of M Coach).  The team also picked Nick Seeler -defense, another hometown boy and followed up by selecting Stephen Michalek - goalie and finally Tyler Graovac - center. 

Free Agency and Trades 
Prior to July 1st the Wild did trade a 2013 third round pick for Darroll Powe, a forward on the Flyers.  Friday, July 1st, was the first day of free agency for the NHL and it was 'all quiet on the western front' for the Wild but then I didn't expect anything front-page-newsworthy now that Burns has been traded. 

• We re-signed Josh Harding to a one year contract.  
• Jose Theodore found a home with the Florida Panthers.  I wish the very best for Jose and I'll be checking in on the Panthers to see how he's doing. 
• Cam Barker's Gone!  I could do a whole song and dance about this but the guy's not worth the time or energy - kind of like the lack of time and energy he gave the Wild.
• Andrew Brunette is in Chicago with his former coach from the Avs and I've asked Vance to take good care of Bruno for us until he's ready to come back home for a tv or radio Wild gig.
• Antti Mietinen hasn't been signed by any NHL team as of Sunday afternoon...*crickets chirping...sorry Mikko
• John Madden hasn't been signed by any NHL team as of Sunday afternoon.    

July 2nd came and went, still nothing and again I'm not surprised at all.  

And on the 3rd day of July Check Fletcher lowered the boom again and made an 'even-up' trade with San Jose: Marty Havlat in return for Dany Heatly. 
I was stunned and disappointed - not that we lost Prima Dona Part Timer Havlat - for that I'm eternally grateful.  What I'm so truly disgusted with is that we went for someone who's clearly a Cancer in the locker room, has fitness issues, is injury prone, fails to show up in the playoffs and pouted his way out of two teams (Ottawa and Atlanta) before going to San Jose.  He's 30, has declining production issues since the 2006-2007 season - which of course is being blamed on injuries he "bravely" played through.  Yeah, right.  Now he's our festering blister to deal with.  Some may call him an elite scorer in the league, kinda like Havlat was supposed to be, until his attitude got in the way.  Now it's up to Chuck and more importantly, Mike Yeo, to prove me wrong in my assessment.       

2011 NHL Draft - I'm In Heaven Notes! 
I have to start out by saying how utterly disappointed I was that Vicki wouldn't be my partner for this event.  It was absolutely crushing that we wouldn't be spending this once in a lifetime event together.  Seriously Vicki, will we ever be okay at a hockey game or event without each other? 
I attended the Fan Fest at the Crown Plaza and chose to sit in on the Coaching Legends to hear Scotty Bowman speak.  Turns out he not only speaks but he meets-n-greets.  What a great pleasure to shake hands with him and offer my humble thanks to a man who's represented the best in hockey over the years.  
I was on a break between the Fan Fest and the start of the Draft when I happened to stumble into free lower level tickets as opposed to the club level tickets we were originally assigned.  Due to the late notice of these tickets I was unable to lure anyone away from their plans but as it turns out fate was working it's usual magic as you'll read in a moment. 
I got to the X, entering via gate 1 along with a group of RABID Sabres fans, and made my way up to the club seats to see what angle I'd have of the event.  On the way back through the arena I came across the newly minted Winnipeg Jets fans who couldn't have been more excited.  I remember that feeling and couldn't help but be excited for them.  Who else did I run into...oh yeah, Wes Walz, cuz it's not a Wild event without Wes.  I now have my Round One ticket signed by him.  I also got some great pics of the Stanley Cup, the replica I'm sure.

I grabbed a soda and settled into my seat in 104.  I looked to my right and was thrilled to realize that I was sitting next to the draftees and their families!  There are some nice pictures of these boys as they are being hugged by their folks and making their way down to the stage after having their names called.  I was chatting with the Penguins fans behind me when the text came in from Tim L, wondering if I was at my home away home.   
**Sidenote: I started to look around for Tim and realized that Wes Walz was standing at the rail at the top of my section.  We exchanged head nods and smiles.  I waited until he turned his head to talk to someone else before snapping a picture of him, but c'mon - who's stalking who at this point?? 
Anyway, Tim just happened to be sitting with his friendsTad and Shadd in the section directly above me.  I think it took them 5 seconds to leave their seats and join me in 104.  We had a blast talking about hockey, the Wild, the Draft and life in general.  All three of them were working their smartphones looking up stats for our draftees as well as other team fans around us.  I think Tim's battery died at one point and one of his friends actually pulled out a second phone just to keep up!  Tim was even kind enough to babysit my camera so that I could use the little girl's room during the evening - which I was VERY grateful for...that large soda kills me every time.  I have to say that Tim, Tad and Shadd really went a long ways towards making up for not being with Vicki during the draft.  Thanks, Guys!!

Notables from the Draft    

• Gary Bettman was booed every time he spoke - which kinda got old but I still laughed.
• Vancouver Canucks got booed every time they selected or were mentioned in a trade, and it was funny every time.  
• The Rangers acknowledged the loss of Derek Boogaard and had Aaron Boogaard on hand to receive the standing ovation in Derek's memory as well as announce their first round draft pick.  It was an awesome moment.
• The Winnipeg Jets fans were rocking the joint during their first round pick and it sent chills up my spine remembering how I felt during our first draft.  It is truly something special to be a part of something from the beginning. 
• Most other teams in the league think the Wild play in the city or state of Minneapolis...idiots.  
• Got to chat with Craig Leipold about the Burns trade, the draft events and the Wild's future look.  

Time to close up the laptop and spend one last Fourth of July watching the city's fireworks from the deck while enjoying a glass of tequila and ginger ale.