SID's JOTTINGS
• With the announcement that Rod Carew is going to be at TwinsFest, Twins President Dave St. Peter gave an update on the Hall of Famer's health after he suffered a heart attack in September. "He is again very thankful for the doctors and medical team that advise him," St. Peter said. "He knows he has a journey ahead of him, which includes the potential for a heart transplant. He is hopeful of being in Minnesota for TwinsFest. He is hopeful to be in Fort Myers for spring training. We'll now more in the very near future, but he's doing well, getting stronger back home in Orange County and he's keenly focused on what's going on with the Twins."
• Glen Taylor, owner of the Timberwolves as well as the Star Tribune, said the deal where Steve Kaplan buys a minority stake in the team won't be announced until after the season.
• The Vikings will pick 23rd in the NFL draft this year and if they get a player as good as Sharrif Floyd, whom they got with that pick in the 2013 draft, General Manager Rick Spielman will be very happy. Former Viking Antoine Winfield, who played nine good seasons with the Vikings, was selected 23rd overall by Buffalo in 1999.
• Teddy Bridgewater tied the Vikings record for victories by a quarterback in his first two seasons here with 17. But the other two QBs were veterans, Warren Moon and Brett Favre. And Bridgewater accomplished the feat in fewer starts at 28.
• Former Minnesota Duluth standout Matt Niskanen of Virginia, Minn., is second in scoring among Capitals defensemen with 21 points (two goals, 19 assists) in 46 games. Niskanen is in his ninth NHL season and second in Washington. Former Gophers defenseman Nate Schmidt has two goals and nine assists in 41 games for the Capitals.
