Rookie savors his big payday but laments a lost workday

Saturday night wasn't all gloomy for James Sheppard.

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: October 6, 2007 - 9:53 PM

Saturday night wasn't all gloomy for James Sheppard.

The Wild rookie received his $85,000 signing bonus, the largest check he's ever gotten, and was even given a personal lesson from the press box on taxes and other withholdings by injured defenseman Kurtis Foster.

"This brightens my day up a little bit," Sheppard said, smiling.

Sheppard needed his day brightened because he was sitting in the press box. He was supposed to be on the ice making his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Saturday morning, assistant coach Mario Tremblay informed Sheppard that his U.S. work visa had finally been approved and he'd debut later that night.

However, just an hour before game time, while he was busy taping his sticks, Sheppard was told that a paperwork snafu between the team and the league office would prevent him from playing.

"It's just unfortunate timing," Sheppard said. "Just the timing of everything. It happened, and there's nothing I can do. Sure, it's disappointing, but there's nobody to blame."

Actually, there is.

Assistant GM Tom Lynn admitted, "It's my fault."

Lynn said the team got word from the immigration office Friday that Sheppard had been cleared to begin working. Lynn said that under the old collective bargaining agreement a nonroster player would then automatically be placed back onto the active roster.

Lynn assumed that was still the case, but it isn't. Lynn was supposed to fax formal paperwork to the league office by 4 p.m. Saturday, which he didn't.

"I didn't know. I should have asked [last week]," Lynn said.

So, 10 years from now, when Sheppard's asked what he remembers most about his NHL debut, the 19-year-old rookie joked, he can say, "Which one? I'll look forward to the next game, I guess."

As a teenager living in a St. Paul hotel, Sheppard doesn't yet have a permanent address. As a Canadian in the United States, Sheppard is so far without a Social Security card.

As you can imagine, not having a permanent address and Social Security number has made life challenging.

His to-do list is starting to overflow. He'd like to get a drivers' license. He'd like to buy a car. Heck, he couldn't even get a cell phone Friday.

"There's a lot to do, but I haven't been able to do anything," Sheppard, who will soon move in with a billet family, said before the game. "I just hang out in the hotel right now -- a lot of rest."

In the coming days, Sheppard hopes to get a lot of errands done. He first plans to buy a car because he left his 1991 Honda Accord with 375,000 kilometers (that's 232,500 miles) on it at home.

"I love that car," Sheppard said. "I don't want to go too big. I don't think I'm ready for that. Maybe a little upgrade. Just something to get around in because I'll be awfully busy."

Walz watches

Sheppard was supposed to play because a right knee injury sidelined center Wes Walz.

Walz will undergo further tests today, and the Wild hopes to have a diagnosis and prognosis by Monday.

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com

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