Bombardir finds unexpected return to ice

By Kent Youngblood, Star Tribune

Last update: April 3, 2007 - 11:50 PM

Brad Bombardir is the Wild director of community partnerships. But on recent game days, he's also been a part of the team's training staff.

A former Wild defenseman, Bombardir last played in the NHL in 2004. But lately, on game days, he has gotten up early to don skates and help goalie Manny Fernandez's rehab from a sprained knee. Bombardir spends about a half-hour taking shots on Fernandez.

"Part of it is my just trying to get back in shape," joked Bombardir, who said he has rarely been on the ice since his retirement. "I think [athletic therapist] Don Fuller asked me. On game days, it's hard to ask a player to come in early and do that.

"It's fun. It's great to get out there, just to shoot again. I enjoy it. It's been a long time."

Bombardir said he hasn't missed hockey much in the past two seasons. But lately, that has changed.

"This time of year you start to miss it," he said. "The stakes are so high, you know the opportunity is there to do great things in the playoffs. Any former player looking in from the outside, they remember what it's like to play on a team that goes into the playoffs. That's what you miss."

The 2002-03 Wild team went from the sixth seed all the way into the Western Conference finals. Bombardir said this year's team is far superior to that one. "This team is better skilled, it's deeper and the goaltending is just as good," he said. "And they're experienced."

As a player, Bombardir was known more as a stay-at-home defenseman -- he scored only eight goals in 356 career NHL games. Does having him take shots on Fernandez mean the team is trying to bring Fernandez along slowly?

"Is it a joke if it's true, too?" Bombardir said, laughing.

Gilbert shines

The final month of the season has been tough for Edmonton. Injury-riddled and out of the playoff chase, the Oilers had won once in 17 games entering Tuesday's game at Xcel Energy Center.

But here's a bright spot: the play of rookie Tom Gilbert. The Bloomington native didn't figure to be a part of Edmonton's plans this season, but that was before injuries claimed one defenseman after another.

Gilbert was called up Feb. 19. A few games later, in Columbus, he suffered a concussion that knocked him out for 13 games. But in his first six games since his return, he has four points and is getting significant ice time; he played nearly half of the Oilers' game at Chicago on Sunday and saw 22 minutes Tuesday in a 3-0 loss to the Wild.

"He has come here and taken advantage of all the injuries we had in the back end," coach Craig MacTavish said. "He's put himself ahead of the development curve we had for him. He should be ready for next year."

That is pretty fast moving for the 6-3, 210-pound Gilbert, who played at Wisconsin for four seasons and was part of the Badgers' NCAA championship team last spring.

"If I hadn't had the concussion, I would have gotten even more experience," said Gilbert, who gives the Oilers a defenseman who can move the puck and jump into offensive play. "But I was fortunate to be able to come back [for the end of the season]. I've been playing, getting a lot of ice time."

Etc.

• Wild defenseman Petteri Nummelin played for the first time since missing seven games because of a groin pull. He replaced Kim Johnsson, the latest member of the organization to get sick. Other scratches were Fernandez and forwards Wyatt Smith and Adam Hall.

• Mark Parrish, who missed one game because of illness, returned to the lineup.

Kent Youngblood • kyoungblood@startribune.com

Recent Minnesota Wild stories

'Good probability' Ovechkin will return Tuesday after 6-game absence for Capitals vs Rangers - April 3, 2007

'Good probability' Ovechkin will return Tuesday after 6-game absence for Capitals vs Rangers - Two-time reigning league MVP Alex Ovechkin appears set to return from his injury layoff when the Washington Capitals visit the New York Rangers on Tuesday night. More