Martin Havlat a good start for Wild; now if Saku Koivu signs...

Greg Zanon #5 of the Nashville Predators skates during the pergame warm ups against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 7, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[G-Man]

Let's see...Skoula played for $1.7 million, and we signed Zanon to a deal averaging $1.93 million. How is Zanon going to "get the job done for less money."?

Math is hard for sportswriters.

[ALL THE ANSWERS]

Looks like my pep talks worked.

[blasphemer]

Why not Leopold?

[Ron]

See you later Gaboooorick. With a set of hips like a 90 year old granny, and a personality like a hunk of cardboard, he won't be missed as much as you might think. Based off the number of games he's played the last few years, he made about a hundred million a year with the wild. Don't let the door his you on your a** on the way out!!

[Big Laker]

I am so glad that I never had my jersey personalized with Mr. Glass Groin's name and number.

Dosvidanya Mary Ann.

[Another Gabby]

A lot of hypocrites here today.......due your
research about Mr. Havlat.....I hear he's
injury prone as well.

Just another Gabby we signed!

[Really]

You really think he's another Gabby? He played in 81 games last season. Yes, he had an injured past before last season but I would rather have a guy coming off playing a full season than a guy that continually misses more games each season. Gaborik had a nagging injury, we can assume that this is not the case with Havlat. Sign Koivu and Leopold and this will look like the best free agent season in Wild history.

[BillB St Paul]

Gabby is a fool, as long as he signed here he could be on the bench or re hab and we loved him. Any other team when he gets his " hurt" out he goes on the trading block. The guy is more like a flash bulb than a steady bright light. His agent grabbed what he could for the max right now but will burn out fast. Here he was a big fish in a small pond, now he is shark bait.

[Scott in Orlando]

I wonder how long it will take to make a decision on Koivu's brother? If, as the article states, signing him would give us two credible scoring lines - well, then the Wild are in much better shape than this past season. At any rate, I think the post-Gaborik/Lemaire era is shaping up just fine. Not to denigrate either of those two, it's just that sometimes it is necessary to gain a fresh perspective.

[XD40 Fan]

What can Havlat do that Gaborik will never be able to do? Easy! Grow a playoff beard! Welcome Martin. Adios Sugar T*t.

[Tom]

XD40 - you can add a couple more to the list:

2.play defense AND score goals
3. stick up for himself without hiding behind Boogs
4. HIT an opponent or two along the boards
5. create plays by hitting opponents ANYWHERE on the ice
6. Apparently not afraid to hit bigger opponents where it counts......
7. and not skate and hide behind boogs

[johns6797]

G-Man wrote:

Let's see...Skoula played for $1.7 million, and we signed Zanon to a deal averaging $1.93 million. How is Zanon going to "get the job done for less money."?
Math is hard for sportswriters.

Skoula will be paid more than Zanon's $1.93 million, that's how. The good part about having Zanon instead of Skoula is that Zanon actually has a personality.

[Skoula Sucks]

"The good part about having Zanon instead of Skoula is that Zanon actually has a personality."

I could care less about his personality but the big differences are that Zanon blocks shots and has a good feel on where to position himself on the ice. Lemaire was a great coach to start up the franchise but his obsession with Skoula really hindered this team the last two seasons. Skoula wouldn't even be successful in the WCHA. He's a big, slow, bumbling idiot.

[johns6797]

Skoula Sucks wrote:

"The good part about having Zanon instead of Skoula is that Zanon actually has a personality."
I could care less about his personality but the big differences are that Zanon blocks shots and has a good feel on where to position himself on the ice. Lemaire was a great coach to start up the franchise but his obsession with Skoula really hindered this team the last two seasons. Skoula wouldn't even be successful in the WCHA. He's a big, slow, bumbling idiot.

Point was that if everything else is equal, as it kind of is when you compare Zanon to Skoula, I'd rather have the guy who can at least do an interview and actually look like he's enjoying it and it's not causing him pain.

Every team needs its grunts and Zanon is a grunt. But he'll be a happy grunt who doesn't have the periodic brain farts that Skoula would have from time to time.

Skoula played a lot better last season but he was/is one of Lemaire's guys and might not fit in real well in the new system.

[Mr M]

We need a center and Saku fits the bill. He can lead a team and has proven it many times. He has bounced back from some rought injuries and came back strong. Bring him to Minnesota! Besides is there a pond that can contain 2 Koivus and Havlat I hope to find out...

[RiverRat]

I agree w/ T.P. We're not done yet. Havlat a great addition, when healthy, but it'll take another FA signing to fill void of #10, when healthy. Doesn't have to be huge numbers guy, just somebody who'll be in the lineup so Mikko can have some space. Get Boogy to learn Havlat not to kick {unless its Ruutu}, Saku signs, we're ready! As for Gabs: you want money and bright lights? You got it. You want Cup? You blew it! Get ready Gabs! New Yorkers know how to boooo!

[Mr M]

Zanon makes sense and has hockey sense. SKoula was over paid, and for what a few years of "where the bleap was Skoula on that play.. OH there he is Knitting a sweater when he should have been blocking shots!!!"

[RiverRat]

Agree w/ Zanon over Skoula. Won't miss Marty's patented "Soft 2nd Into The Corner" move! Where'd he get that anyway? Some issue of Cosmopolitan on "How to drive the RiverRat Crazy"?

[sak77]

I'm going to miss the the classic "Let's Go Skoula" chants when he would be kicking the puck between his feet... I always love that one!

[kecker]

SKOULA SUCKS

Good riddance to Skoula and Gaborik, my two least favorite players are gone. YEAH!!!

Zanon is definitely a better replacement for Skoula. Then again any high school defenseman could be Skoula's replacement.