New GM asks Schultz to get 'up ice'

The stay-at-home defenseman will have to modify his style under the new coach.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: June 16, 2009 - 7:29 AM

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With former offensive defenseman Todd Richards set to become the Wild's next coach, even Nick Schultz -- known more for his defense on the back end -- might have carte blanche to step up in the play.

After a recent meeting with new GM Chuck Fletcher, Schultz was told the handcuffs were coming off.

"I said, 'Can you get your butt up ice?'" Fletcher said, laughing. "I said, 'You don't have to be Brent Burns, but I remember Nick Schultz in junior hockey, and that guy got his butt up ice.'"

Yes, this new rendition of the Wild will look a whole lot different than the Wild of yesteryear.

"Everything I read [Monday] about Todd Richards, everywhere he's been, he's won," Schultz said. "This is very exciting. He's a young guy with a maybe different approach to things than we were used to in the past, which is exciting for players.

"New GM. Now a new coach. These are big changes for our franchise, but I think it's for the best and we're headed in the right direction."

Richards is expected to bring a different mindset to the Wild -- an offensive, attacking one. The question is can the Wild just automatically transition to an up-tempo team after having defense ingrained into their brains for so long?

"I think it'd be a lot harder if we were all offense and had to learn defense," Schultz said. "We've all learned how to play in our own end, which is a lot harder than taking an offensive team and say, 'learn defense.'

"Yeah, it might take a little time to learn how to get more aggressive, but after a training camp, I think we'll get it back pretty quick."

Rookie Cal Clutterbuck can't wait for what surely will be an exciting training camp with Fletcher and Richards now in the fold.

"New sets of eyes to impress," Clutterbuck said. "It's going to be first impressions for almost everybody. It's important we all do what we need to do in order to prepare for that. Personally, I'm excited. It's just fun to be part of this transition for the Wild."

Fletcher fires Tom Lynn

Fletcher made his first significant off-ice change Monday afternoon when he fired assistant GM Tom Lynn, who had another year left on his contract.

Lynn, 41, had been with the Wild since Day 1 and was acting GM for the monthlong GM search after Doug Risebrough's dismissal.

"He told me he wants to change the culture and direction and wanted to give me an opportunity to look for another job, which I appreciate," said Lynn, a St. Paul resident and father of six children.

"It's been a tremendous nine years here, from building the organization from scratch before the expansion draft, being one of the first employees, right up through the playoff runs and division championship and Houston Aeros winning the Calder Cup."

Lynn negotiated virtually every contract in Wild history.

Fletcher was given authority by owner Craig Leipold to create his own hockey operations department, and more changes are expected after the draft and into next month.

It's expected Fletcher will bring in a new right-hand man within the next two to three weeks. One possibility to replace Lynn is Ottawa Senators director of hockey operations Brent Flahr, the former Princeton captain.

He's still under contract with Ottawa but is close with Fletcher after working with him in Florida and Anaheim.

In a release, Fletcher said: "We thank Tom Lynn for all his service and contributions to the Wild organization and wish Tom and his family future success."

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