Gophers Hockey – Page 10 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Cutting ‘Hit Man’ May Fit Vikes’ Plans

Posted on March 12, 2023March 15, 2023 by David Shama

The Vikings are parting with veteran players and the movement could be aimed at more than getting under the NFL salary cap for 2023. The bigger goal in having a restructured roster might be to have a lot of salary cap room going into 2024. Next year the Vikings could be chasing some high-profile free agents and are expected later this year to strike a mega contract extension with superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

The Vikings, who remain several million dollars under the cap, have already released pricey veterans Eric Kendricks (linebacker) and Adam Thielen (wide receiver). Rumors persist that another valued veteran will be gone soon, safety Harrison Smith, “Harry the Hit Man.” His departure would put the Vikings under the cap, saving about $7.3 million, per Overthecap.com. Another option could be Smith taking a pay cut, something it’s believed Thielen wasn’t willing to do.

Some Vikings starters, regardless of whether they’re free agents, are potential targets for release in coming days as general manager Kwesi Odofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell reshape the roster and payroll. They have also released third-year cornerback Cameron Dantzler, often a starter.

The second-year GM is a deep thinker and his moves are difficult to forecast. He seems unlikely to get pigeonholed into predictably and likes having flexibility.

The Vikings have reportedly saved about $16 million in cap room and could gain another $5 million if they part with linebacker Jordan Hicks, a former NFL executive told Sports Headliners. That would move the Vikings close to the NFL salary cap number of $224.8 million.

But the Vikings could certainly create more space for the future. Tight end Irv Smith, an unrestricted free agent, looks expendable after last fall’s acquisition of T.J. Hockenson. “I tend to think he (Smith) could probably get a better deal elsewhere because of the money they’re putting into Hockenson,” said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Dalvin Cook photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Running back Alexander Mattison, a career sub but impressive performer, is another free agent the Vikings must make a deal with or lose. He would be a cheaper option than star Dalvin Cook whose future in Minneapolis has drawn speculation about whether he’s willing to accept a big pay cut. “They’re not going to be able to keep them both,” the authority said.

The Vikings also must deal with the free agency of center Garrett Bradbury. The former NFL GM who spoke to Sports Headliners believes the Vikings might be more interested in Browns free agent Ethan Pocic. “That’s a tricky one (keeping Bradbury). I think they’d probably like to get a little bit more physical type center.”

A free agent the Vikings seem certain to bring back is expensive defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. His current salary is $10,500,000 per Spotrac.com and at 29 he is a valued stopper on the defensive line. Another veteran free agent on defense who seems likely to return is Patrick Peterson who plays cornerback, a position the Vikings are thin at and likely are targeting in the draft or other form of acquisition.

Curiously, linebacker Za’Darius Smith, who earns over $9 million and had an impressive first half of the season in 2022, has asked the Vikings to release him without explanation. Although the Vikings could reportedly save about $12 million against the cap, it’s not believed they want to lose the talented edge rusher.

“That’s a really tough call,” the source said. “It’s going to be determined (by) what the medical people feel his prognosis is. Is this going to be a chronic situation with that knee and his other issues that he’s had with his back? I don’t know. I am just surprised that he has come out publicly saying he wants to be released. That may indicate they’re trying to get him to take a pay cut , too.”

NFL teams have until Wednesday to be under the salary cap, so the immediate hours ahead are sure to bring Vikings news. Teams are allowed to start talking with free agents tomorrow and players can be signed starting Wednesday.

One high profile free agent, quarterback Lamar Jackson, seems unlikely to draw interest from the Vikings. “I would be shocked if that happens,” the Sports Headliners source said. “They wouldn’t want to give up the two first round picks (required). I don’t think they would want to give him $230 million fully guaranteed. And I think one of the problems for Lamar in this whole situation is having missed 11 games the last two years, including the playoff game last year.”

Worth Noting

Such sad news yesterday about the death of Bud Grant. I will write in detail about the legendary Grant later in the week.

The Vikings have five draft slots in the seven round 2023 NFL draft, as of now. They pick at No. 23 in the first round, No. 24 in the third round, No. 17 in the fourth round, No. 25 in the fifth round, and No. 34 in the sixth round.

Among division rivals, the Packers have picks in every round including four in the seventh. The Bears, with the No. 9 first round selection, have choices in every round including three in the second, and two each in the fourth, fifth and seventh. The Lions have no picks in the fourth or seventh rounds but two each in the first, second and sixth rounds among their draft slots.

The Minnesota Football Coaches Association will induct Thielen and former Golden Gophers running back Darrell Thompson, now head of the Bolder Options nonprofit, into their Hall of Fame April 1 at the DoubleTree Hotel Minneapolis Parkplace. Other inductees are Terry Bahlmann, Marshall; Randy Kuchenmeister, Blue Earth; Chuck Ross, Underwood; Doug Ekmark, Park.

Saturday was a hockey lover’s dream with an estimated 40,000-plus total fans attending the two boys’ state tournament championship games in St. Paul, and men’s and women’s Gopher playoff games in Minneapolis.

Ticket tip for next year’s boys’ tournament. Buy tickets for the Class A opening day when a $20 general admission ticket gets you in the lower bowl.

The Big Ten will announce men’s hockey award winners tomorrow. The Gophers have finalists in five major categories including Player of the Year with Matthew Knies; Defensive Player of the Year, Brock Faber; and Goalie of the Year Justen Close. Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud are two of three finalists for Freshman of the year. Bob Motzko is one of three who could win Coach of the Year.

First baseman Christian Lee Encarnacion, among the players the Twins sent to the Reds last August for pitcher Tyler Mahle, is hitting .625 in spring training on 15 hits in 24 at bats!

Word from baseball spring training in the Fort Myers area is be prepared to pay $300 and up for a basic hotel room. And it’s not too soon to book lodging for a 2024 February-March stay in Southwest Florida.

The football Gophers will hold two open and free spring football practices, March 28 and April 4. Both practices are scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m., with locations to be announced. The free annual spring game begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 22 at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Happy Birthday to former Golden Gophers basketball captain Paul Presthus who turns 78 Thursday.

More good news: Mike Wilkinson, author of the Murray Wamath biography The Autumn Warrior, is resting at home after a long bout with pneumonia.

Comments Welcome

Hockey Guru Lauds U, Praises Warroad

Posted on March 7, 2023March 15, 2023 by David Shama

It’s a special week in the State of Hockey with the boys’ state tournament starting Wednesday and the Golden Gophers playing Saturday night in what could be a playoff run to the national championship.

Hockey icon Lou Nanne, 81, talked to Sports Headliners about the preps and Gophers on Monday. He began doing TV color commentary in the state tourney 59 years ago and will be behind a microphone for both Class AA semifinal games Friday and the championship game Saturday.

“I think Warroad could be the best team in the state,” Nanne said. “I think they should win single A and Minnetonka is the favorite in double A. But it’s going to be close. There’s a lot of good teams.”

Warroad’s opening game is Wednesday night against St. Cloud Cathedral, a team the Warriors beat 4-0 last fall. Warroad also owns wins over Class A state tourney rivals Mahtomedi and Orono. The Warriors defeated Wayzata, 3-2, a Class AA team that almost made the state tournament.

“…Everybody tells me they’ve got a phenomenal team,” Nanne said. “You look at their schedule. They beat double A teams as easily as they beat (other) teams.”

Nanne, who spends part of his winters in Florida, was captain of the 1962-1963 Gophers and his heart is in Dinkytown. The No. 1 nationally ranked Gophers, 25-8-1 overall and 19-4-1 in Big Ten games, play Michigan State, 18-17-2 and 10-12-2, at 8 p.m. Saturday night in 3M Arena at Mariucci.

The Gophers are the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan State is No. 5. Minnesota is a favorite not only to win the conference tourney but to go all the way to Tampa and come home with the national championship in the Frozen Four April 6 and 8.

To say Nanne is excited about the Gophers might be understating things. “Yes, I am very hopeful they not only make the Final Four but win it. It’s in Tampa, which I love, so I can just drive over to it. It’s a fabulous team. That first line is the best line…I’ve ever seen…at the U.”

Minnesota has a line for the ages in freshmen Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud, and sophomore Matthew Knies. Enjoy their playmaking while you can because all three could be gone to the pros next season.

The Gophers won the regular season conference championship for the sixth time in 10 years. In the standings they totaled 19 points better than second place Michigan.

Minnesota’s last national title was in 2002. Is this the best Gopher team since then? “Yeah, I think it is,” Nanne said. “This is a terrific team.”

No team wins championships, including a postseason run of success, without outstanding goal keeping. Senior Justen Close, who came to the Gophers from the Canadian Juniors, is one of the best goalies in the country.

“He’s been a great addition to the team,” Nanne said. “He might be even somewhat of a surprise. I don’t know if they knew he was going to play that well.”

Coach Bob Motzko, who took over the program for the 2019-2020 season, was an assistant on Minnesota’s national championship teams in 2002 and 2001. He’s worked hard to build a special team and had to do it in the midst of losing his son Mack in a car accident in 2021.

“Well, he’s done a marvelous job from the first day he’s gone in there, and that’s why I am really hopeful he gets rewarded with an NCAA championship this year,” Nanne said.

Part of the Motzko years have included playing before large numbers of empty seats at home games. But no more as the Gophers have been wildly cheered on by sellout crowds.

“Oh, that’s the best,” Nanne said. “I am just so happy to see that. I am glad the people are realizing what a great product they have over there. It’s just tremendous to see the support, and the student section, the excitement they generate in that building, I think it’s fantastic.”

There are, of course, no guarantees the fans go home happy Saturday night. Minnesota had a bye last weekend and hasn’t played since a week ago last Saturday.

“The biggest problem I worry about is whenever you have a bye, you’re not as sharp coming out of the bye,” Nanne said. “You’re sitting out for a couple weeks and so that’s the thing that concerns me.”

Worth Noting

Nanne was an All-American for the Gophers, an Olympian, and player and executive for the NHL North Stars. He is a member of more than a half dozen halls of fame including induction last week into the Star Tribune Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame.

The St. Thomas basketball team is more than impressive for a program in only its second season of Division I competition. The Tommies advanced to the Summit League tournament title game where they lost last night 70-65 to Oral Roberts in Sioux Falls. The Tommies were 19-14 overall, 9-9 in conference games. Their season is over because the NCAA is making them wait three more years to be eligible for postseason play as part of the agreement the school made to jump from Division III to I.

Minnesota plays a Nebraska team Wednesday night in the Big Ten Tournament that includes Keisei Tominaga, referred to as the “Japanese Steph Curry.” Tominaga wears No. 30 like Curry and is an electric shooter like his hero. The Huskers’ second leading scorer at 12.5 points per game, the 6-foot-2 Tominaga has remaining college eligibility for next season but could play professionally in his native Japan.

The Gophers are heavy with front court returnees and it wouldn’t be surprising if 7-foot Minnesota native Treyton Thompson enters the transfer portal. He averages 11 minutes per game and some games doesn’t play at all.

Best guess is Sonny Gray, 8-5 with a 3.08 ERA a year ago, will be the Twins’ opening day pitcher against the Royals in Kansas City March 30.

Pablo Lopez, who the Twins acquired in the offseason from the Marlins, could be a solid bet, too. His ability to throw strikes is impressive. The son of two doctors, Lopez will pitch for his native Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic that starts tomorrow.

MLB.com singled out Twins shortstop Brooks Lee yesterday as one of 30 prospects among major league teams “who have turned heads this spring.” Less than a year ago he was playing for Cal Poly but he has made an impressive transition to pro baseball after the Twins chose him No. 8 overall in the 2022 amateur draft.

The Athletic’s NBA power rankings out yesterday have the Timberwolves at No. 13 after previously being No. 17. Ex-Wolves coach and deal maker Tom Thibodeau has the Knicks at No. 6 in the ranking of the league’s 30 teams.

Happy birthday to Minnetonka girls’ basketball coach Brian Cosgriff.

Comments Welcome

Wolves Owner: KAT Return Not Imminent

Posted on February 1, 2023 by David Shama

All-NBA Karl-Anthony Towns hasn’t played in a game for the Timberwolves since November 28 because of a severe right calf strain. The Timberwolves have 29 regular season games remaining and are intensely competing for favorable playoff positioning and home court advantage.

Initially there was thought that the Wolves’ forward-center, who was averaging 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in 21 games, could return in January. Team owner Glen Taylor talked with Towns Monday and the 27-year-old veteran implied it will be another couple of weeks before he is ready to play.

Towns was named All-NBA Third team after last season when he averaged 24.6 points and 9.8 rebounds. “It can’t be soon enough for me,” Taylor told Sports Headliners about a KAT return.

Jordan McLaughlin, a key reserve at point guard, hasn’t played in a regular season game since December 9 because of a left calf injury. Taylor spoke to McLaughlin on Monday and the 26-year-old hopes to be back “within a week.”

McLaughlin’s return apparently will be prior to KAT’s. “That’s what my understanding would be,” Taylor said.

The Wolves expect a sellout crowd tonight at Target Center to watch their game against the Warriors. Taylor said both attendance and TV viewership are on the upswing in the New Year as the Wolves play better basketball.

The Wolves, 27-26, are eighth in the Western Conference ultra-competitive positioning for the playoffs that can change nightly. The Warriors, 26-24, are fifth in the standings.

Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez are expected to take over the majority share of ownership in the Wolves and WNBA Lynx in less than 12 months. The two men are on an installment plan to purchase the teams from Taylor.

Although Lore and Rodriguez exercised in writing their option for a second payment in December, Taylor said payment won’t be made until March 28. “They requested that they could delay (from a December 31 payment date)…and I had written them back and said I’ll accept their new date.”

Does Taylor expect the ownership sale for $1.5 billion to eventually take place? “Yes, I do,” he answered.

Remembering Ken Lien of Minnesota Mr. Basketball

The Minnesota basketball community lost a pioneer last week when Ken Lien, 72, passed away from blood cancer after being in hospice since November. The longtime Bloomington resident loved basketball and for 40 years owned and chaired the Minnesota Mr. Basketball program, among the oldest such programs in the country annually recognizing the best prep player in the state.

”Outside of his love for his family, he loved going to a basketball game in any gym in the state and knowing probably half the people in the gym,” his son Jon wrote via email. “He truly had a love and passion for giving players opportunities through coaching, summer programs, and with Mr. Basketball.”

Ken was a fan of this column and a friend for many years. Two weeks ago, I texted this: “Ken, thinking about you and grateful for our friendship. We enjoyed a lot of conversations, storytelling, and exchange of information. The Sid (Hartman) stories were favorites. Those darn Gophers just can’t revive the glory days. Thank you for helping me with my column, my friend!”

Ken would have turned 73 on February 17, a birthday date he shared with wife Mary Kay. He also liked to remind others that the February 17 birthday club included basketball legend Michael Jordan and former Vikings coach Denny Green.

Heartfelt condolences to Mary Kay, sons Eric and Jon, and other family members. A memorial event will be held Monday at the Washburn-McReavy Bloomington Chapel with visitation at 10 a.m., services at 11 a.m. and lunch afterward.

Worth Noting

Wishing the best for Mike Wilkinson, who is battling pneumonia. He is the author of the coach Murray Warmath biography, The Autumn Warrior.

The No. 1 ranked Gopher men’s hockey team has played in front of five consecutive home sellout crowds. Minnesota is second in the nation in attendance, averaging 8,980 per game and is behind only North Dakota’s 11,325.

Among Division I programs, the Gophers were third nationally in home attendance last season averaging 7,913, while trailing North Dakota and Wisconsin.

Two groups that support local sports, the Twin Cities Dunkers and the Capital Club, ironically both have programs next Wednesday. At Interlachen Country Club Dunkers members will hear from University of St. Thomas sports leaders, including athletic director Phil Esten and multiple coaches as the Tommies progress in their second school year of Division I sports.

The Capital Club, meeting at Mendakota Country Club, will hear from five local women sports executives sharing their insights and success stories: Wendy Williams Blackshaw, Minnesota Sports and Events CEO & president; Meka Morris, Minnesota Twins executive vice president and chief revenue officer; Lara Juras, Minnesota Vikings executive vice president and chief people & culture officer; Carin Anderson, Minnesota Wild senior vice president; and Andrea Yoch, president and co-founder of Minnesota Aurora FC.

Happy 54^th birthday today to former Gopher basketball player Walter Bond.

The University of Minnesota announced today that as part of her world tour, Beyoncé will perform July 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Deacon’s Lodge near Brainerd is the choice for Minnesota’s top public golf course on the Men’s Journal list of the best in each of the 50 states. Best Golf Courses in America: The Top Courses in Every State (mensjournal.com)

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