Nanne was asked about the possibility of NHL players participating in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.  Participation means stopping the NHL season for about  two weeks and the challenges that brings including having to compact the schedule and the stresses that go with it for players and teams.  This year’s Olympics were played in Vancouver with a much friendlier time zone to the United States compared with Russia.

Nanne thinks NHL ownership will use the 2014 Olympics as a bargaining chip to gain possible financial concessions from the players like a lower salary cap.  The players, unlike the owners, are in favor of participation, a chance to represent their countries or if not chosen, to enjoy a vacation.

“So really there are a lot of negatives to it (continuing NHL participation),” Nanne said. “The big positive to it is that it’s the best hockey to watch in the world and you’re not going to be able to see it unless you want to stay up in the middle of the night.”

Nanne would be one of the few who probably would watch at 3 a.m., or even be in attendance.  His passion for hockey lives on even though he has no desire to go back into that business.

Nanne, who wore No. 23 as a player, told a visitor it’s no coincidence that his downtown Minneapolis offices are on the 23^rd floor of the Fifth Street Towers.  Maybe that’s an omen Nanne is right where he should be, just like the several hours he will spend this week watching his grandson and the other players in the state tournament.

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Joe Mauer’s agent, Ron Shapiro, flew into Fort Myers earlier this week to meet with Twins general manager Billy Smith, according to Mauer’s grandfather. Jake Mauer told Sports Headliners he expects agreement soon on a new deal for the Twins superstar.

The older Mauer said the Twins want to sign the All-Star catcher to a five year contract.  Previous reports have been that the Twins and Mauer had agreed on 10 years but that financial incentives were holding up completion of the contract.  Jake Mauer said he didn’t know all the details of what issues are yet to be resolved.

A five year deal, perhaps at $20 to $25 million per season, plus possible incentives for achievements like batting titles and Gold Glove awards, carries much less financial risk for the Twins who as a small market franchise find it considerably more challenging to pay the staggering salaries baseball’s superstars can earn.  It’s believed that the Boston Red Sox covet Mauer and would be willing to offer money and guaranteed years far greater than the Twins.

Mauer’s four year contract for $33 million expires after this season when he will become a free agent.  He will be 27 on May 7 and presumably the three-time American League batting champion still has his prime years ahead of him.  Baseball’s richest contracts include Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees who reportedly has a 10 year contract worth $275 million.

Mauer’s career injuries include last year when a bad back had him walking around spring training looking like an old man.  He wasn’t able to play for the Twins until early May.  The injuries and the punishment any catcher takes in playing the position could be reasons the Twins want a five year deal.  Also, even with a new ballpark the franchise can’t be certain about long term revenues and having an expensive player payroll.

Meanwhile, Jake Mauer has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will have surgery today in Florida.  Jake said a tumor will be removed and that doctors are optimistic the cancer can be contained.  He will be hospitalized for about five days.

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The March 8 issue of ESPN The Magazine rates the top 100 baseball players and Mauer is No. 13.  The next Twin is first baseman Justin Morneau at No. 51.  First baseman Albert Pujols of St. Louis is No. 1.

Boston outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, whose name was rumored in trade talks with the Twins a few years ago, is No. 18.  The world champion Yankees have four players in the top 25.

It was a long time ago, but the Twins never drew more than 1,483,547 playing outdoor baseball at Met Stadium from 1961-1981.  In this era, two million or more fans per season is routine for big league teams.

Seldom did the Twins play a night home game at Met Stadium in the early weeks of the season.  Among the Twins’ nine April home games at Target Field, three are scheduled at night.

Star Tribune writers Patrick Reusse and Dennis Brackin offer a comprehensive and fun to read decade by decade history of the Twins in the new book, Minnesota Twins: The Complete Illustrated History.  The book includes a detailed description of how this area tried for years without success to secure major league baseball.  What many Twins fans may not appreciate and know is that it was Minneapolis leadership and money that made a franchise here possible.  The city, which flirted with moves by the Cleveland Indians and New York Giants before the Senators relocated from Washington, D.C., doesn’t receive enough credit for attracting major league sports including baseball.

The Wild will play its 400^th game at Xcel Energy Center on Sunday when it hosts the Calgary Flames. The franchise is expected to extend its sellouts to 400 consecutive games, the longest current streak in the NHL and third longest recorded streak in league history.

Wild communications executive Bill Robertson said players will pay tribute to the fans on Sunday and fans who have purchased season tickets since the franchise’s inception will announce the ceremonial “Let’s play hockey!”  The Wild will ask each of its five players who played in the Winter Olympics to bring their medals and be recognized on Sunday.  Niklas Backstrom, Mikko Koivu and Antti Miettinen played for Finland, while Martin Havlat and Marek Zidlicky were with the Czech Republic.

The Wild are selling Olympic jerseys and t-shirts that are replicas of those worn by the Olympians.  Robertson said in Minnesota Cal Clutterbuck’s Wild jersey is the top seller among Wild players.  No. 2, 3 and 4 are Koivu, Derek Boogaard and Backstrom.  Clutterbuck is active in the community and a fan favorite.

The late Herb Brooks won three national championships coaching the Gophers.  You wonder what Brooks would think if he looked at this week’s USCHO.com ranking of top 20 teams.  St. Cloud State, a program he helped start, is No. 4.  Yale is No. 6 and Bemidji State No. 8.  Ferris State is 13^th and Nebraska-Omaha is 20^th but Minnesota is unranked. https://www.uscho.com/rankings/.

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