The killer clause

The 'no trade clause' (ntc) or 'no movement clause' (nmc) language in a players contract can be a huge windfall for the player but on the other end, be a such a burdensome and hand-tying clause to the team that happens to ink that player. While I cannot site the origins of these clauses, the player agent that happened to persuade the first deal with this in it was a genius. It not only gives the player security within a certain franchise and organization, but it also grants that same player the upper-hand should a team want to move in a different direction that did not include said player. And if a player wanted out of a certain city or team, this contract clause, depending on the terms, makes it more likely that an agreeable destination will be the final landing spot. We all witnessed the fiasco that occurred this off-season with disgruntled Ottawa Senators forward Dany Heatley, who wanted out of Ottawa. At the time it was reported that the Senators and the Edmonton Oilers had a solid deal in place, but the one individual on the players side who had the power of veto exercised it, and the deal fell through. One has to wonder whether or not our own Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher is cursing ex-gm Doug Risebrough for allowing a veto clause into the contract of Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom.

Backstrom has been a franchise goaltender and his numbers speak for themselves. Before signing a new four-year, $24 million contract last March, one that reportedly contains a ntc or nmc, he was the sole goaltender in the league that ranked in the top 5 in the five major goaltending categories (gaa, w, sv% & so). He ended the season in the same fashion, finishing near the top in all five statistical categories. And for his career, Backstrom is the Wild's all-time leader in wins (115), was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season, and has career 2.34 gaa to go along with a .919 sv%. And to think he was originally signed as a free-agent before the 2006 season.

These are all top-notch qualities that should not be overlooked. However, he is three days shy of turning 32 and it seems his best days are at present. That considered however, he is still a player that would garner top value and could be a piece that re-fills the prospect and draft choice void left by Risebrough. The fact is that this team is in no position to make a series run at the Stanley Cup in the near future and now is the time to get the team younger. While they have been playing solid as of late, they are still on the outside of the Western Conference playoff window looking in. And you can bet that things will not dramatically improve before next season. Trading Backstrom should not be considered a sell-out to the season either, as the Wild have a backup in Josh Harding who is more than capable of playing as the #1 guy. In fact, although he is currently injured, he has earned more starts...starts that will undoubtedly give him more confidence and hopefully elevate his game to a new level. Backstrom's ntc or nmc is a problem and could prove to be a tricky situation, if that route is sought by Minnesota. But I believe that Fletcher would be negligent in trying to improve this franchise if he were to ignore the possibilities of dealing our franchise goaltender.

Minnesota on the road...again

It is finally official. The Wild will open next season on the road, as in on the road overseas. Minnesota will open the 2010-2011 season in Helsinki Finland in a two game 'home & away' series with the Carolina Hurricanes. It was also reported that the team will partake in an exhibition game against Mikko Kiovu's former team, Turuk TPS, a team in which he is part owner of. I am sure that there was much celebration from Kiovu and fellow Finnish players Niklas Backstrom and Antti Miettinen when the announcement was made. But for some players, I wonder if secretly this was looked at as undo burden. With the way the Wild are situated in the league's Western Conference, time-zone travel is at its worst and this just adds to that pile. I am all for exposure for the NHL, even globally, but this is another example of how this league misses the mark. The league has attendance issues and lagging franchises in terms of revenue, and a 'North American' type tour may be a more appropriate way of exposing the NHL in areas that could really make a difference.

In terms of hitting the road overseas, this will be a first-time experience for the Wild but will mark the third time an NHL team from Minnesota crossed the ocean. The Minnesota North Stars embarked on a round-robin exhibition series with the Washington Capitals in Sweden in 1980. That tournament, which included Swedish club teams AIK and Djurgarden, was sponsored by a Swedish newspaper, which ponied up a $28,000 prize for the winner. And more recently in 1990, the North Stars traveled to the Soviet Union with the Montreal Canadiens, where the two teams played a combined 8-game exhibition schedule against Soviet national league teams.

In-sync suspensions

Just a follow-up...Two Wild prospects were disciplined this week for actions stemming from illegal hits that occured on the same night. Val-d’Or Foreurs defenseman Marco Scandella was suspended 15 games by the QMJHL for his 'hit to the head' and Houston Aeros forward Colon Gillies was given a major and game misconduct for boarding, which resulted in a 2-game suspension from the AHL. Both games were played on February 3rd.