Afternoon from the X, where the Wild's practicing in advance of its game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It'll be a tough one: Lightning is darn good and the first game back from a long road trip is often a tough one.
Jared Spurgeon is again practicing today and could return. Mikko Koivu is not practicing, is out Tuesday and I'd say doubtful for Thursday. The big question is whether he partakes in the Olympics. As I wrote here, GM Chuck Fletcher doesn't want him playing if he's still injured. Fletcher said he will see the doctors again this week.
Justin Fontaine is the lone guy not practicing today. I saw him limping after the game at Colorado on Thursday, so maybe this is related. Update after practice.
Thomas Vanek reportedly turned down a contract extension with the Islanders and will be traded before the March 5 deadline. Shocker.
Again, my guess has always been the Wild waits until free agency to pursue Vanek. The price for him as a rental will be huge, so why give up a boatload of assets for Vanek when you can sign him as a free agent? Again, the Wild, if it makes the playoffs, is all but locked to get a wildcard spot (Wild's unlikely to catch St. Louis, Chicago or Colorado), meaning it's all but locked to play St. Louis or Anaheim in the first round. Would you want the Wild to trade a first-round pick and a prospect or two for Vanek when your fate is a first round with those teams and he almost certainly will be available four months from now anyway?
Doesn't make a ton of sense to me.
I don't doubt the Wild would like add a rental winger/scorer before the deadline, but the price for Vanek will be high. I'd think L.A. is a possibility. The Kings cannot score. They must add a scorer before the deadline.
Zach Parise was named the NHL's First Star of the Week. He had eight points in three games, including a 3- and 4-point game against Anaheim (winning goal) and Colorado, respectively.
