JiriHrdina
07-29-2004, 04:29 PM
Twin City Times
July 29, 2004
Geriatric Wild Get Even Older
The Minnesota Wild continue to overhaul their team in a latest deal that sees 37 year old veteran scorer John Leclair join the team in exchange for versatile forward Erik Rasmussen, and prospects Ari Ahonen and Eric Johansson.
“John is a proven scorer in this league and even at his age is one of the best forwards that were available to us. We were able to get the Devils to cover 4 million dollars of his salary so we were able to add a top 6 forward and still stay under our cap, without giving up anyone critical on our current team”.
Farhall did admit though he was giving up some valuable youth.
“Erik is a valuable player. He can play all three forward positions, and is a good all around guy to have on your third and fourth lines. Ahonen is a kid that just needs a shot to prove he can play net at the CPHL level. But with the acquisition of Michael Leighton we weren’t sure that was going to happen. We are happy to deal him to a team where he’ll get an opportunity.”
With the acquisition speculation is that the Wild will now move Rod Brindamour to centre giving them a potential top two lines of:
Leclair-Yashin-Dvorak
Kapanen-Brindamour-Knuble
Speculation is that the Wild is in the market for a solid #2/#3 blueliner to take off some of the pressure for minute-muncher Sergei Zubov.
Any comments from other GMs, good or bad would be welcome.
July 29, 2004
Geriatric Wild Get Even Older
The Minnesota Wild continue to overhaul their team in a latest deal that sees 37 year old veteran scorer John Leclair join the team in exchange for versatile forward Erik Rasmussen, and prospects Ari Ahonen and Eric Johansson.
“John is a proven scorer in this league and even at his age is one of the best forwards that were available to us. We were able to get the Devils to cover 4 million dollars of his salary so we were able to add a top 6 forward and still stay under our cap, without giving up anyone critical on our current team”.
Farhall did admit though he was giving up some valuable youth.
“Erik is a valuable player. He can play all three forward positions, and is a good all around guy to have on your third and fourth lines. Ahonen is a kid that just needs a shot to prove he can play net at the CPHL level. But with the acquisition of Michael Leighton we weren’t sure that was going to happen. We are happy to deal him to a team where he’ll get an opportunity.”
With the acquisition speculation is that the Wild will now move Rod Brindamour to centre giving them a potential top two lines of:
Leclair-Yashin-Dvorak
Kapanen-Brindamour-Knuble
Speculation is that the Wild is in the market for a solid #2/#3 blueliner to take off some of the pressure for minute-muncher Sergei Zubov.
Any comments from other GMs, good or bad would be welcome.