Salcer: Agent was banned unfairly

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: December 8, 2008 - 12:24 AM

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WILD NOTES

Up next: at Phoenix • 8 p.m. Thursday • TV: FSN (830-AM)

Ron Salcer, an agent who represents three Wild players including Marian Gaborik, accused the Wild on Sunday night of banning agent Tobin Wright from the event level of Xcel Energy Center as punishment for not testifying in the Willie Mitchell arbitration case.

"This has nothing to do with Marian Gaborik at all," Salcer told the Star Tribune, referring to the contract dispute between the Wild and Gaborik. "This is strictly about Tobin Wright not being willing to testify against a former Minnesota Wild player, namely Willie Mitchell, on behalf of the Minnesota Wild.

"He refused to do that, and as a result, he's being banned and punished from having access to areas he needs to go to be an agent."

In an e-mail to the Star Tribune, assistant GM Tom Lynn said Wright was banned because he "sneaked into off-limits private areas of the arena in the past where he was not allowed to go. Wright has used his Wild visitor access to repeatedly try to recruit players away from other agents, which could cause disruption in the Wild's relationships with those agents.

"Wright's unwillingness to tell the truth in the Mitchell proceeding was only the most recent issue."

Wright declined comment.

Mitchell filed a grievance against the Wild claiming he had a neck injury during the lockout and thus should have been paid his $1.775 million salary. Wright's ban began one day after the record closed in Mitchell's arbitration hearing.

During the lockout, Wright, who works for Salcer and is just breaking into the agent business, skated with NHL players. Mitchell was allegedly one of them.

Salcer said he's hoping the Wild resolves this immediately.

"We are not looking to pursue this with the [NHL Players' Association] and unless we get a call from the PA, we're probably not going to talk to the PA," Salcer said. "We're hoping the Minnesota Wild would resolve this internally and do the right thing here. This is not right."

Day off, finally

With four days off until its next game Thursday in Phoenix, the Wild did not practice Sunday. The day off comes after Saturday's 1-0 loss in Nashville, which capped a stretch of seven games in 10 days.

The day of rest was not only deserved but needed.

"We've played some of the guys 24, 25 minutes [per game]," coach Jacques Lemaire said. "These guys, they gotta get rest. I think it will be good."

In addition to recharging their batteries, the day off also will give players a chance to refocus. After scoring 26 goals in six games from Nov. 24 through Dec. 3, the Wild has scored only once in the past two games.

In the past two first periods, the Wild has only seven shots on goal. Players, though, will not blame the grueling stretch of games for their slippage.

"The schedule is the same for everyone," center Mikko Koivu said." I don't want to have any excuses."

Making the most of it

Goalie Josh Harding made only the 44th appearance of his NHL career when he started Saturday in Nashville. It was his fifth appearance this season, and with a career-high 42 saves he continues to impress.

"The few games that he's played, the team's been satisfied with what he's doing," Lemaire said.

As the backup to Niklas Backstrom, who is 14-8 with a 2.26 goals-against average this season, Harding knows his playing time is limited. But that doesn't alter his mind-set.

"Whenever I get put in there it's all about trying to keep the team in it and give the team a chance to win," he said. "That's all I try and do."

Dealing with prolonged gaps in his playing time is a must. "He has no choice," Lemaire said frankly. "It's like [fourth-liner Derek Boogaard] not playing or playing four minutes. He has to adjust. "

Staff writer Brian Stensaas contributed to this notebook.

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