Backstrom talks in progress

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: February 26, 2009 - 12:31 AM

Goaltender Niklas Backstrom planned to speak with his agent Wednesday night to get an update on his current contract situation with the Wild.

Backstrom said negotiations are being conducted between the Wild and his agent, Don Baizley.

"I haven't talked to Don since last weekend, so I don't know what's going on," Backstrom said. "We play so many games, and I want to stay focused on helping our team win. All I can say is I think they're talking. There's something going on, but I don't know what that means."

Baizley couldn't be reachedas he traveled for today's NHL Players' Association meeting with agents.

Wild assistant GM Tom Lynn said, "We have kept the lines of communication open."

In the last year of his contract, Backstrom can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. If he isn't signed by Wednesday's trade deadline, he's a candidate to be traded because the Wild would risk losing him this summer for no compensation.

"I don't know if you think about that," Backstrom said. "I want to be here. I'm focused on just wanting to be here. We'll see what happens. But for sure, you hope you can stay here at least the rest of the season."

Asked if it had dawned on him that the Wild has no more home games before the trade deadline, Backstrom paused for five seconds.

"That's fair," Backstrom said. "That didn't cross my mind until now. Trades are part of the game, but I hope I'm still here [when the Wild returns to Minnesota from its six-game road trip]."

Nolan back on the ice

Veteran Owen Nolan, who missed Tuesday's game, skated briefly in a warmup suit after practice Wednesday. He seemed to be laboring, but Nolan, who has missed 21 games with various injuries, said he expects to travel with the team to Calgary today.

In 38 games, Nolan leads the Wild with 17 goals and is fifth with 30 points. That's an 82-game pace of 37 goals and 65 points.

Boogaard's folly

Backstrom spent much of his Wednesday jabbing enforcer Derek Boogaard for his third-period hiccup that led to a Derek Armstrong-led 2-on-0 Tuesday. Backstrom bailed out Boogaard with a glove save.

Boogaard said he lifted his head to see where the defensemen were. As he did, he lost the puck.

"Boogey, you forgot something there, something important, like the puck!" Backstrom said, laughing. "You were looking for a breakaway or something."

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