Leipold pursuing marquee events

Star Tribune

Wild owner Craig Leipold.

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune

Last update: November 14, 2009 - 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON — Wild owner Craig Leipold addressed a number of off-ice wishes, including the team's desire to secure a "Winter Classic" outdoor game, an NHL draft, a practice facility and the NHL's inquiry as to whether the Wild would be interested in opening a season in Europe:

On the Winter Classic: "We have had conversations with the league. We have a location that we have pitched to them [all indications are it's TCF Bank Stadium, but Leipold won't say]. We think we have a very compelling presentation to the league about why we would be a great market to have it. They're highly interested."

Is there a preferred opponent? "We want to be the location, and then at that point, there will be conversations about what the compelling opponent from a leaguewide interest level would be."

Does the league feel the Wild's a big enough sell? "The concept is very popular. People love watching it and I think we're compelling because pond hockey is where Minnesota hockey's roots are. To play outdoors and have other outdoor games [statewide] is a storyline that we want to present to the league."

On applying for the 2011 NHL Draft: "We have made a formal presentation and got positive reaction back. This market did so well during the [2004] All-Star Game that everybody has this feel-good about St. Paul. There's no question that we can do it right. So many more kids are being drafted from Minnesota. We believe there's a very high possibility that we will get it. If we don't get that, we'll go for the '12 draft."

Do you want to open next season in Europe even though history says teams typically struggle upon their return?: "I don't know the answer to that. The league is interested in us. We have indicated an interest of going overseas. We haven't had any really strong, direct dialogue with them about this. It raises the big question: Is it good for the team? It'd be a fun thing to do, and interesting for our players, but at the end of the day, we are going to be talking to other teams that were overseas and ask them in hindsight would they do it again. In other words, 'Did it negatively affect the team once you came back?"

What's the status of building a practice facility? "Right now it's dormant. It passed the Legislature and all the governor [Tim Pawlenty] had to do was sign the bill and he vetoed it. It was a very disappointing move on his part. We still think Cleveland Circle, Seven Corners is the perfect location for this. Right now it's still on our radar. We're just trying to figure out the best way to get it done."

A sub for Kobasew

Wild winger Chuck Kobasew is expected to miss a couple of games after aggravating a previous upper-body injury when he was checked into the Lightning bench Thursday.

Houston Aeros leading scorer Robbie Earl (eight points in 15 games) was recalled on emergency conditions and played his 10th NHL game against the Capitals. The speedy Earl played nine games with Toronto, the team that drafted him in the sixth round in 2004 out of Wisconsin, in 2007-08.

"The first time around, you intend to stick, but you don't know at that time when you'll be back," Earl said. "I'm lucky enough to get another opportunity and hopefully it works out."

Defenseman John Scott, who was scratched the previous two games, replaced Shane Hnidy (left foot).

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