JiriHrdina
09-17-2004, 06:32 PM
Twin City Times
Big Changes in Twin Cities
2 weeks of inactivity on the part of the Minnesota Wild came to a dramatic hault on Friday, with a series of deals the team make significant changes to its core. The end result is a team with less top end talent, but one that is in a better position to remain competitive for a number of years.
In the first deal of the day, The Wild sent #1 right winger Alexei Kovalev, and veteran defenseman Stephane Quintal to the New York Islanders in exchange for Jamie Langenbrunner and Eric Desjardins. The Wild then immediately shipped struggling center Jozef Stumpel and Jason York to the Canadians in exchange for offensive blueliner Yannick Tremblay, depth defenseman Josef Melichar and winger Jay Pandolfo. And in the final deal of the day the Wild traded Sergei Zubov, Brad May and cash considerations to the Rangers in exchange for dynamic young center Mike Comrie, defenseman Dan McGill and a third rounder.
Farhall commented on the day’s activities:
“We made these deals for a number of reasons. Many people commented that our team had some talent but there was no way we could remain competitive next season because of the salaries involved and the age of the players. These deals are an important step to ensuring the long-term health of the organization. We lost a couple of really talented guys, but in return we gain a more balanced lineup, some youth, and short and long-term salary cap improvement.”
Farhall then made comments regarding each player acquired:
”Langenbrunner is a player we’ve been trying to get for months. We actually thought we had him about 2 months ago but the deal fell through last minute. He is a great all around player that can play all three forward positions – a nice luxury to have. Mike Comrie gives us a young, skilled center that can play for us for many years. He was really the key to all of these deals going down. Pandolfo is a very solid defensive winger that can play on both our third and fourth lines. Desjardins, Tremblay, and McGillis coupled with Mike Rathje give us a very solid top 4 on the blueline. We gave up a great talent in Zubov and that will hurt us, but we feel this group has more balance than our previous top 4.”
The Zubov deal was perhaps the most surprising as rumors persisted throughout the week that the Wild were on the verge of signing the offensive defenseman to a long-term extension. Farhall however denied that the negotiations had any impact on him dealing Zubov.
”We were very close to locking up Sergei long-term when this deal came along. It truly pained us to give him up, but for the future of the club it was necessary. It was critical that we deal him to the East so we will not have to face him. I think he could be the final piece of the Stanley Cup puzzle for the Rangers.”
Big Changes in Twin Cities
2 weeks of inactivity on the part of the Minnesota Wild came to a dramatic hault on Friday, with a series of deals the team make significant changes to its core. The end result is a team with less top end talent, but one that is in a better position to remain competitive for a number of years.
In the first deal of the day, The Wild sent #1 right winger Alexei Kovalev, and veteran defenseman Stephane Quintal to the New York Islanders in exchange for Jamie Langenbrunner and Eric Desjardins. The Wild then immediately shipped struggling center Jozef Stumpel and Jason York to the Canadians in exchange for offensive blueliner Yannick Tremblay, depth defenseman Josef Melichar and winger Jay Pandolfo. And in the final deal of the day the Wild traded Sergei Zubov, Brad May and cash considerations to the Rangers in exchange for dynamic young center Mike Comrie, defenseman Dan McGill and a third rounder.
Farhall commented on the day’s activities:
“We made these deals for a number of reasons. Many people commented that our team had some talent but there was no way we could remain competitive next season because of the salaries involved and the age of the players. These deals are an important step to ensuring the long-term health of the organization. We lost a couple of really talented guys, but in return we gain a more balanced lineup, some youth, and short and long-term salary cap improvement.”
Farhall then made comments regarding each player acquired:
”Langenbrunner is a player we’ve been trying to get for months. We actually thought we had him about 2 months ago but the deal fell through last minute. He is a great all around player that can play all three forward positions – a nice luxury to have. Mike Comrie gives us a young, skilled center that can play for us for many years. He was really the key to all of these deals going down. Pandolfo is a very solid defensive winger that can play on both our third and fourth lines. Desjardins, Tremblay, and McGillis coupled with Mike Rathje give us a very solid top 4 on the blueline. We gave up a great talent in Zubov and that will hurt us, but we feel this group has more balance than our previous top 4.”
The Zubov deal was perhaps the most surprising as rumors persisted throughout the week that the Wild were on the verge of signing the offensive defenseman to a long-term extension. Farhall however denied that the negotiations had any impact on him dealing Zubov.
”We were very close to locking up Sergei long-term when this deal came along. It truly pained us to give him up, but for the future of the club it was necessary. It was critical that we deal him to the East so we will not have to face him. I think he could be the final piece of the Stanley Cup puzzle for the Rangers.”