[Lefty Noob]

According to the May 30 Minneapolis Star Tribune, "Steve Bartlett, the agent for Wild left winger Brian Rolston, will travel to Minnesota this weekend to meet with his client, and then the Wild. Rolston, 35, who topped the 30-goal mark in each of his three seasons with the Wild, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1." Think he will stay in Minnesota or test the free agent waters?

Wild and Rolston's agent slated to begin negotiations

[blueandwhite]

let's see if Rolston has some Sundin/Yzerman/ovechkin/Sakic blood in him and decides to show some allegiance, decides to be dedicated to the team he's become associated with. Minnesota was exciting this year and I know they want him to stay, and I think he might like being a superstar there.

[Oli Jokinen!]

Nah... They might get rid of him.

[Bryan88]

anything new on this?

[blueandwhite]

I can't find anything yet - they have to July 1.
Oli, he is their star - he will sign and they will thank him for it.

[blueandwhite]

and hey sort of along the same lines I ran across this on the minnesota star-tribune site:
Winger Branko Radivojevic, who spent the past two seasons with the Wild, has signed a two-year deal to play with Spartak in the Russian Premiere League.
Radivojevic came to the Wild from Philadelphia as a free agent before the 2006-07 season. In two seasons in Minnesota he totaled 18 goals and 41 points, becoming one of the team's most reliable checking forwards.
He is recovering from reconstructive surgery on his right knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained in Game 2 of the Wild's first-round playoff series with Colorado. The expected recovery time for his postseason surgery -- one that may have limited his options in the NHL free-agent market -- was expected to be four to six months.
In seven NHL seasons spent with Phoenix, Philadelphia and Minnesota, Radivojevic has 120 points in 393 games.
I guess he'll heal slowly over there and come back here? or did he just get homesick?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

According to the May 30 Minneapolis Star Tribune, "Steve Bartlett, the agent for Wild left winger Brian Rolston, will travel to Minnesota this weekend to meet with his client, and then the Wild. Rolston, 35, who topped the 30-goal mark in each of his three seasons with the Wild, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1." Think he will stay in Minnesota or test the free agent waters?

Wild and Rolston's agent slated to begin negotiations

I like Rolston, saw him play for Team USA back in the early 90's here in Orlando... against Team Russia...always liked him...now if he walks over to the Blue Jackets I would not mind.

[Bryan88]

An update of sorts

Wild, Rolston inching closer to contract deal

The Wild planned to make another contract proposal to Brian Rolston on Friday afternoon in hopes of signing the veteran left winger.

Sounding optimistic that the Wild is closing in on an agreement, General Manager Doug Risebrough wants to know by Friday's draft whether the team will be able to sign the Wild sniper.

"We're near the end," Risebrough said.

Risebrough wants a conclusion by the draft because, hypothetically, if he knows that the Wild is losing Rolston as a free agent July 1, Risebrough could potentially react at the draft with a significant trade.

[Bryan88]

also of interest

Risebrough essentially said both Rolston and Pavol Demitra cannot be back together because he wants the flexibility to do other things when free agency begins.

Risebrough said his intent is to offer Pierre-Marc Bouchard a multi-year deal after July 1 and the only way Bouchard will get a one-year deal is if he opts to go to arbitration. However, I am being told at the very least Risebrough is gauging Bouchard’s trade value in case it gets to that point.

Risebrough reiterated he’s not going to deal with Marian Gaborik’s situation until later this summer because he’s not allowed to sign him to an extension until after July 1 anyway.

[Bryan88]

Another Rolston update.


Rolston, Wild still seek a deal

Brian Rolston made one thing crystal clear Wednesday night: While the three-time Wild 30-goal scorer still thinks he can get a deal done to finish his career in Minnesota, Rolston is not going to give the Wild a hometown discount because he wants to play in Minnesota.

"They made me a decent offer [Friday], but we're not there yet," Rolston, 35, said in a phone interview. "I'm looking for my market value. What is my market value? I don't want to state it, but I think we have a good understanding of what it is.

"We're real confident if things do fall through that other teams out there will look highly on me. I don't think the age issue will be such an issue.

"This is an exciting time. This will probably be my last contract for me and my family. ... I know we get paid a lot of money as athletes. Whatever offers are out there, it's crazy money, no question about it. The average person looks at this like, 'Oh my God,' and I understand that, trust me. But at the same time, this is relative to hockey, and whatever the market is, that's what I'm going to be paid.

"So right now, I'm just getting prepared for next season so I'm on top of my game for wherever I end up."

It's believed Rolston is seeking $4 million to $5 million per season, although he won't say for sure. Rolston, who arguably played under his market value the past three years at $2.432 million annually, can become a free agent July 1 if the Wild doesn't sign him.

He says he's "still optimistic we can get something done and that's what we're hoping for."

"I don't think we're far apart, but we've come a long way and July 1 is right around the corner here, so it may get done, it may not get done," Rolston said. "I don't know if another offer is coming back."