Wild fails to make Fritsche offer, making him free agent

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Dan Fritsche

The acquisition of similar center Kyle Brodziak from Edmonton on Saturday made Dan Fritsche expendable.

By MARK WOLLEMANN, Star Tribune

Last update: June 30, 2009 - 5:32 AM

Dan Fritsche's Wild career was short, only 34 games. His time ended officially Monday, when the team failed to make him a qualifying offer, setting him free a little more than a day before NHL free agency starts at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

But it's probably more accurate to say his time with the Wild ended Saturday morning, when Wild GM Chuck Fletcher acquired center Kyle Brodziak from the Edmonton Oilers during the second day of the NHL draft.

Brodziak, another restricted free agent who possesses many of the same qualities as Fritsche, received a qualifying offer Monday as did goalie Josh Harding, forward Benoit Pouliot and minor leaguers Danny Irmen, Robbie Earl and Clayton Stoner.

"We've acquired Brodziak, and we're hopeful [Petr] Kalus will rejoin the team next fall," Fletcher said in explaining why Fritsche and fellow forward Peter Olvecky were not extended offers. Kalus, the former Bruin acquired two years ago in the Manny Fernandez deal, is expected to be at the Wild's development camp July 6 in hopes of rejoining the team he left after he was sent to the minors last fall.

Fletcher, in a conference call with local reporters, said he didn't qualify Olvecky because he was worried the 2004 third-round pick, who appeared in 31 NHL games last year, might have gotten a one-way contract in arbitration. Fletcher said he is holding out hope the team can come to agreement with Olvecky on a two-way contract after July 1.

"A player like Olvecky, we had some concern if we made a qualifying offer he'd be eligible for a one-way contract," Fletcher said. "We wanted to keep that option open, to have a two-way offer."

Pouliot, who has bounced between the Wild and its minor league affiliate in Houston, will get another shot to make the big team in training camp. Fletcher acknowledged that Pouliot has some baggage.

"I certainly know he's been a player that has lacked consistency in terms of production and work ethic," Fletcher said. "But any time you see a player that's 6-3 who skates well and has terrific hands ... we're looking at it as an opportunity to show that Benoit is a regular NHL player. Who knows what will play out next fall [in training camp]?"

Etc.

• In discussing his expectations for free agency, Fletcher said: "We'll make a lot of phone calls right away and try to determine what players are looking for and how quickly they want to proceed. The important thing is to have communication immediately with players you have interest in ... find out what players are thinking. We intend to do that."

• In response to a question about talks regarding a new contract for pending free agent Marian Gaborik, Fletcher was quick with a "no comment."

• Minor leaguers Riler Emmerson and Paul Albers also did not receive qualifying offers.

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