Wild Discovering What We Knew - Tom Gilbert Is A Workhorse

As the Oilers head into the summer searching for a defenseman who an play in all situations, play 30 minutes a night, a defenseman who can shut down the opposition's best and move the puck out of the zone on his own to fuel the Oilers' forward-heavy attack, a defenseman like Tom Gilbert, it's worth noting how the Wild feel about Gilbert in the short time he's been in Minnesota.

Wild rallies past Blackhawks - Bradenton Herald
Defenseman Tom Gilbert also topped 30 minutes for a fifth consecutive game (a career-high 34:17). On one penalty kill, Gilbert was actually waved back onto the ice by assistant coach Rick Wilson as he attempted to make a line change. "Gibby was lucky he had to get a skate repaired because he probably would have been up to about 37," coach Mike Yeo said.

Gilbert filling need for Wild - StarTribune.com
It was the kind of goal Wild coach Mike Yeo expects to see a lot more of in the future. It was overtime of the Wild's game against Florida on Thursday when defenseman Tom Gilbert skated the puck out of his own zone. He moved to the right, slowed a bit, waiting for the play to develop. Mikko Koivu, just outside the Florida zone, broke out from the wall. Gilbert threaded a perfect tape-to-tape pass that Koivu controlled at the blue line. He split Mike Weaver and Shawn Matthias up the middle and scored. "It was a beautiful play," Yeo said.

Darren Dreger Would Be Squandering His Vezina Vote - Driving Play
Unfortunately, Mr. Dreger seems to have fallen for the same illusion that so many in the mainstream media have before him. Marc-Andre Fleury has no business in a discussion for the Vezina trophy this season, last season, or likely in any season going forward. Good coaching, strong possession metrics and the ability to keep the play as far away from The Flower as possible are what have kept the Penguins afloat amidst their run of injuries.

The "Anatomy" of a Good Hitter - Arctic Ice Hockey
The most-striking suggestions to me are that a.) more-talented players (and thus more-talented hitters) reach the league earlier, and b.) players that hit a lot don't appear to stay in the league as long. In both forward and defence populations, the 30-32 years seem to be problematic; the hitting noticeably decreases, yet the PIMs reach their highest point. I can't seem to get over those figures for 18 to 20 year olds, even despite the small sample - the contrast between that cohort and the next is so stark in regards to checking minors, across the positions...it's funny because the impression we have is that it's rambunctious youth that can cause physical penalties. Or maybe some young gun trying to "prove" themselves.

Edmonton: Desirable Free Agent Destination? - Oil Acumen
It seems strange, but in the future the Oilers will be able to offer a chance to win. And it won't just be a chance to win right now; it will be better than that.

Ryan Lowery Assigned to Stockton - Barons Team Site
The Oklahoma City Barons have returned defenseman Ryan Lowery on loan to the Stockton Thunder of the ECHL, Barons General Manager Bill Scott announced today.

If the Minnesota Wild were to lose their finale, they have a chance to finish 27th.