The Wild apparently are not wild over Kristofer Westblom.The Kelowna Rockets goaltender told the Daily Courier Newspaper that he will likely become a free agent June 1st.
The Minnesota Wild, who drafted Westblom in the 3rd round in 2005 are not interested in signing the 20 year-old netminder to a deal.
Westblom was told by his agent Monday that the chances of the Wild offering him a contract are slim to none.
What does this mean for Westblom's future?
He'll battle for a starting spot with the Rockets this season as an overage, before either he or Torrie Jung pack their bags and head elsewhere.
While it would be ideal to have two quality goaltenders next season, both would fetch some decent talent if the Rockets were able to make a trade for an upgrade in one specific area.
That said, Rockets General Manager Bruce Hamilton may be a little gun shy this time around after dealing away Derek Yeomans for defenseman Clayton Barthel who failed to meet expectations.
This picture of Westblom in a Wild uniform may be as close as he'll ever get to suiting up for the franchise that drafted him in 2005.
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It's not often that a WHL team declares who the captain will be at the end of the season, but the Vancouver Giants did just that.
Head Coach Don Hay is quoted as saying Milan Lucic will be the Giants captain next season.
I am not questioning the selection, but giving Lucic the 'C' following the conclusion of the WHL season for the Memorial Cup champions is unprecedented.
In Kelowna the players select the leader of the hockey club. I guess in Vancouver the coach gets the pleasure of declaring who he sees fit as being the best leader.
That said, I am sure if it came down to a players vote, Lucic would get the nod.
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The Everett Silvertips have a press conference for 2 pm this afternoon where they will name a replacement for Kevin Constantine.Constantine resigned Tuesday to take over the coaching reins with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League.
While Tips fans are sad to see him go, it was time for a coach who has nothing to prove in junior. He is a tremendous motivator and in the franchises early years was able to get the most out of a marginal talent pool.
As the Tips built through the bantam draft the talent got better and Constantine was able to mold the team into a well balanced combination of skill and defensive minded-systematic hockey.
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It's an exciting time to be a WHL assistant coach.
Those who have paid their dues have to be licking their chops at the number of coaching jobs that are available out there.
All four WHL teams that have a vacancy would be ideal for a first year coach with Moose Jaw and Prince Albert leading the way with the least amount of pressure.
The expansion Edmonton Oil Kings have to be looking for a veteran guy, while the Tips job may come with the most pressure considering filling Constantine's big shoes are almost impossible.
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Not everyone is giving the Memorial Cup tournament in Vancouver rave reviews.
The Junior Hockey Junkies is one group that has rated the last 10 Memorial Cups and made it clear that Vancouver isn't even in the top 5.
"Away from the arena, there's nothing. Nothing," Kim Thomas, the big-bearded co-founder of the Junior Hockey Junkies, said at the Pacific Coliseum.
"You don't see banners, that kind of stuff. You tell people you're here for the Memorial Cup. People say, 'What's that?'".
A few banners lined the nearby street, but otherwise the tournament seemed lacking any large public profile in the big West Coast city.
The Junior Hockey Junkies still rate the 2005 Memorial Cup in London as the best in the last 10 years.
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"Some of us were meant to score, others were meant to play goal. And others were meant to do what I do. I tick people off and I don't get danger pay."
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