Wild still looking for #1 center?
http://www.twincities.com/wild/ci_6932020
Lemaire seeks missing piece
Coach looking for a center for No. 1 line
BY JOHN SHIPLEY
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 09/19/2007 12:19:07 AM CDT
Wild coach Jacques Lemaire has a lot of plans for his team’s top three lines, but for those plans to work, he needs to find one more piece.
Preferably a center.
When Eric Belanger signed a three-year deal this summer, it was presumed he would play between high-scoring wings Pavol Demitra and Marian Gaborik on the Wild’s top line.
Now, maybe not.
“Maybe I’m wrong here,” Lemaire said Tuesday night, “but what I’ve seen so far of Eric with them, I don’t know if he’s going to fit there.”
So far, Lemaire likes Belanger as a center between Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Brian Rolston, which does, indeed, sound like a good line. Next, he likes Mikko Koivu centering Mark Parrish and Branko Radivojevic, which also sounds reasonable.
But first he needs to find the third piece for the top line.
“I would love to get a center,” Lemaire said after the Wild’s 6-1 loss to Detroit in their exhibition opener at the Xcel Energy Center. “That’s what I’m looking for first – get a center and put (Demitra) on the wing.”
Problem is, it appears his only legitimate possibility at center is James Sheppard, a 19-year-old, unsigned draft pick who has not played beyond juniors. Sheppard is a sharp kid who can skate, and he’s 6 feet 1, 205 pounds. But that’s a long leap. He didn’t play Tuesday against the Red Wings but might play Thursday night in Detroit.
When asked about his progress, Lemaire said Sheppard has been “OK.”
More realistic might be finding a winger, probably Benoit
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Pouliot or Petr Kalus. But moving Demitra and his 25 goals to center won’t be easy.
“If he’s going to play center,” Lemaire said, “I want a wing who will score.”
with the Wild so deep at center, I’m guessing there would be a trade involved instead of a FA signing…