Wheeler Becomes NHL Free Agent

does this mean he can go back to school if he does not sign?
May 30 2008, 4:59 pm by

He had to sign something and send it to the team, plus he has an agent now. I highly doubt there is any way he can go back now. Maybe he is headed to the Wild, I've heard they're not exactly brimming with young talent down in Houston. Good luck either way.
May 30 2008, 5:28 pm by JM, Minny

Boy, I think it is a risky move on Blake's part. But he knows what is best for him. He had a decent season, but not an outstanding season that would make him a desireable player to sign. Best of luck to him because it is too late to go back to Minny.
May 30 2008, 10:47 pm by JonB Seattle

Blake will be fine.
May 30 2008, 11:19 pm by Title Town, GF ND

Speaks volumes for that free Gopher education he's gotten.
Jun 1 2008, 8:57 pm by Ben, Dover DE

head is bigger than talent
Jun 3 2008, 10:05 am by

Snubbed by the Coyotes, clearly this was a sign, he was drafted WAY too high in '04. Or maybe he figured he couldn't beat out WI Freshman Turris for a roster spot. Does Sally's bar or Big Ten have any spots available in their bar hockey league? Go Sioux!
Jun 3 2008, 11:27 am by MH, Grand Forks

Blake is an idiot. I really hope the WILD do not get him. I hope he is forced to play in overseas. What a loser. However, If I played hockey for the Gophers I would want out as soon as possible too. Go SIOUX
Jun 4 2008, 11:17 am by Paul, Moorhead, MN

The wild should sign him cause they are in terrible need of a big sized goal scorer. i guess if i was a sioux fan i would hate him too. Must of been that game winner he scored against you guys in 2007. There is a reason why kids from grand forks go to the gophers. To win national championships not regional championships. Go gophers
Jun 4 2008, 5:32 pm by Chris, Fargo

Chris from Fargo, I couldn't agree with you more. That comment that you made obout winning national chamionships is right on. UND has been to the frozen four, what the last three or four times and has never came home with the national title. At least when The U made the Frozen Four, two of the three times they brought the national title home.
Jun 5 2008, 6:58 am by Mike-Minn

Wheeler is NOT a blockbuster free agent. He didn't have a great college career and looked HORRIBLE in the tournament. He isn't going to get the $ he thinks he is. He is looking for franchise $ and isn't going to get it. Its a sad to know guys like Wheeler & Gilroy (BU) can sign for more money than Crosby, Maklin, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Ovechkin, Backstrom, etc. This is why hockey is all messed up.
Jun 5 2008, 7:45 am by J, Boston

Oh Christ, give me a break! I love how rodent fans think that they are so superior because of 2 championships from '02 & '03. The last championship for the rodents prior to that was in 1979! Wow, great dominance! Furthermore, at least the Sioux can make it to the big dance! Rodents can't even make it out of the first round and they're lucky that they got there in the first place! Lastly, Fighting Sioux 7 NC's, Rodents 5 NC's, so tell me again, which team is more dominant?
Jun 5 2008, 9:25 am by D-Man, Denver

yeah wheeler could of signed for more money with phoenix but he turned down there offer. he know has to sign a contract in the new collective baraging agreement. so yes he will get the same money they got when they signed there pro contract. so obviously you don't know what your talking about boston fan. hey d man was gona start calling you the buffalo bills of college hockey but the bills at least got to the championship. and yes i know you got more national championships. but you guys got the same problem we had doug woog, know you guys aka Dave (woog) hakstal. We should be closing the gap in the next couple of years since we got the wall.
Jun 5 2008, 4:34 pm by Chris, Fargo

Lol, great analogy to the Bills, but as long as we're on that note, here is my analogous take to the '07 - '08 rodent team. Much like the hometown favorite Vikings, a lot of promise at the beginning of the year but ultimately ended up pissing the season away! The same rhetoric you hear from all Vikings fans, "Next year will be different" can now be applied to the other sh!t team in Minny, gophs hockey!
Jun 5 2008, 6:17 pm by D-Man, Denver

One question for the Siouxzie fans, why did you send your women's team to the tourney this year? O'well, at least Oshie can drink his way out of the NHL since he's got his ring.... oppps, no ring.
Jun 5 2008, 10:57 pm by BADGER FAN, Madison

d man your goalie is gona be a freshman and just because kangas was the man doesn't mean yours is gona be any good. shows the confidence in the guy you got coming in when you try to sign patterson but sorry he went to the gophers. to back up a winner. good luck with your goalies. go gophers
Jun 6 2008, 12:42 am by Chris, Fargo

Hey d-man! Our right the gophers had a off season. Finished 7th. Und finished 2nd. Big deal. If I remember right the gophers made the chamionship game in the final five and made the NCAA tourney. IF I remember right und lost in the semifinals in the final five. For a team that finished 7th in the league and then do what they did I think that they shoud be proud of what they did last season. As for und, I would be embarrassed for all the fans and the alumni. Also the gophers lost in the first round of the NCAA's, but we didn't get beat as bad as you guys did by Boston College.
Jun 6 2008, 7:36 am by Mike-Minn

Mike-Minn and Chris, Fargo you both are stupid. Yes the Sioux lost bad to BC in the Frozen four, at least they were there. Where was your team? So the Gophers made the championship game at the final 5, but finished 7th overall all season, that to me isn't a good year. They won a few big games, but sucked ass in many games. However, the biggest loser comment is form BADGER FAN. How can you even talk about us sending a women's team to the frozen four, that same "women's team" beat you on your own ice, not to mention you had no right even being in the tournament. The one thing we all need to get out of this is the Blake Wheeler is a tool should have went back to school or at least signed with PHX. Now he will make less money and he will be disrespected in the NHL. I really hope he gets hurt right away and never plays a game in the NHL, he is an idiot.
Jun 6 2008, 12:13 pm by Paul, Moorhead, MN

yeah we gave bc a game and you got embarresed on national tv wow that must of been fun getting your ass kicked. Get use to it cause a bad year for us is getting a three seed in the tourney. you guys will be luckey to make the final five next year. good luck with your freshman or rebounding giving walski.n go gophers
Jun 6 2008, 12:21 pm by Chris, Fargo

Chris from Fargo you ever consider try last comic standing? I bet u would have a good chance, or at least a better chance then Wheeler does having a good NHL career. Anyway lets talk freshman, you seem to have your lips wrapped around Kragnes's stick and he was a freshman last season and may have been the only bright spot on the team. Also, looking back a few years when Oshie, Toews, Duncan, Chorney, and Lee and others were all freshman, that year ended with a trip to the frozen four. We still have Hobey Baker award winner Duncan coming back with the likes of Vander Velde, Genoway, Kozak, Trupp, and possibly Finely. Along with the talent coming in we will be just fine. So you can argue how much of an impact a freshman can make all you want, but before you do that you may want to remove your hand from Kragnes's %#$@.
Jun 6 2008, 12:30 pm by Paul, Moorhead, MN

Listening to Gopher fans trying to poke fun at the Sioux for losing in the frozen four is kinda like listening to Tampa Bay Lightning fans making fun of the Dallas Stars for losing to Detroit. Just doesn't make sence. Unless you had a better season, why would you even try to down grade another teams? It basically slapping your team back in the face for doing even worse. Best of luck gopher fans, keep your eyes open its crop season and you better watch out for those trackers.
Jun 6 2008, 12:48 pm by Paul, Moorhead, MN

Paul, I couldn't agree with you more! Its comical how rodent fans try to justify the piss poor season they had to the Sioux losing out in the F4. Even though the Sioux are losing a few weapons, we still have a formidable arsenal of players and those coming in are good enough to jump right in. It happens every year to every team. I mean if we're going to play that game, then tell me who your sh!tball freshman will be to come in and replace Oksposo and Wheeler? And since you obviously don't read up on any of the latest news in College Hockey, our freshman goalie (Eidsness) is drawing comparisons from many analysts to be next years Richard Bachman (CC). So finish up the HJ you're giving Kangas because I'm sure he'll turn into more of a Frazee than the JP Lamoreaux you're hoping for!
Jun 6 2008, 1:55 pm by D-Man, Denver

Blake Wheeler was not even a good college hockey player. I hope he has a good time playing in the ECHL along with his flakely teammate, Frazee.
Jun 6 2008, 2:13 pm by

Maybe if Oshie sobers up Wheeler will throw him a bone and Oshie can carry Wheeler’s sticks and sharpen his skates for him. Well, he did go to UND, maybe he should stay away from sharp objects. Rumor has it UND has moved away from crayons and coloring paper and has graduated to pencils and big boy paper now. Maybe in a few years they’ll let you use pens. Good luck w/ all that.
Jun 6 2008, 4:06 pm by BADGER FAN, Madison

Still reeling about the a$$ whooping we handed down to you in the F4 tourney, huh Badger fan. Suck it up because it's not going to be the last time that'll happen! Oshie carrying Wheelers sticks huh, yeah that's a good one! Need I remind you who's signed a pro contract and who hasn't! Oh and that rumor you heard, it came from the same circle that's also spreading one about your mother giving Bucky a reach around at the Kohl. SIOUX YEAH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!
Jun 6 2008, 5:05 pm by D-Man, Denver

First of all D-Man, don’t get me wrong, we love Oshie here in WI. He alone was one of our biggest supporters w/ all of the Miller products he’s purchased during the past few years, and we hope he’s able to last at least a few years in the NHL so he can continue to support our products at a very high level (more $$ = more product). But lets be honest, we’re going to see him playing in a bar league in three years (sponsored by Miller Lite because we want to say thanks for the patronage of course) because he doesn’t quite have it all put together upstairs where it counts. Great hockey player, no doubt, just likes the sauce a little too much for the NHL.
Jun 6 2008, 6:00 pm by BADGER FAN, Madison

All you sioux fans are the same. You did make the frozen four, but what did you get from it? Nothing. I'm sorry but the goal for every college hockey team is to win the national title. The last four times that you went you came home with nothing. I would rather not make the frozen four than making it and then getting embarrassed in the frozen four. That is what it was for you, EMBARRASSING!! The best goalie in the nation last year and then he gets his butt kicked by Boston College. What a joke.
Jun 6 2008, 6:01 pm by

Wheeler on the other hand is a solid player with his head on his shoulders. Tough player to compete against at the college level and from what I hear he’ll be just fine at the next level because of his work ethic on and off the ice. I think he turned down a great offer because of how deep the Coyotes are right now and would rather go down a path where he will most likely end up in the Show a lot sooner. Maybe the AV’s can pick him up and you can be the Pres of his fan club since Oshie won’t be with the Blue’s for too long, you already bought an Oshie jersey didn’t you, that’s cute. Maybe you can get your $$ back.
Jun 6 2008, 6:03 pm by BADGER FAN, Madison

As far as the a$$ kickin you’re talking about…. I think the rest of the WCHA can’t wait to see what kind of white trash antics the Siouxzies perform next year. I wish I could have seen “Dave” flick the refs off. UND always has been and always will be Bush League, and maybe that’s why you’re sooo upset all the time, no matter how many trophies you bring back, UND still manages to be a bush league program. And you did get smoked by BC, by a lot.
Jun 6 2008, 6:06 pm by BADGER FAN, Madison

There, you feel better now man! Looks like you had a lot on your mind badgerfan about how badly the Sioux suck, but yet no acknowledgment about the half assed season the Badgers put together. By the way, what is it that you do for Wheeler any way? Pitcher or catcher? C'mon now, you know what I mean! One common theme that I noticed from all of these posts is that everyone that is knocking on the Sioux have had their teams' asses handed to them by the Sioux this season. Like I said before, get over it you whiny *****es, you're just going to get your cheerios pissed in again next year! Have fun beating off to your Blake Wheeler photos this weekend, I'm out of here! Yeah SIOUX SIOUX!!!!!!!!!
Jun 6 2008, 6:47 pm by D-Man, Denver

I hope Wheeler and Oshie do well in the NHL. They are both Minnesota boys who were faithful to their respective colleges. Go Gophers!
Jun 6 2008, 8:29 pm by jonb seattle

paul wasn't talking about freshman forwards or d. i am talking about the most important position goalie. good luck trying to win games with walski or your freshman.
Jun 7 2008, 8:31 pm by Chris, Fargo

d man good thing you had jp cause your proble would of won a national championship. biggest choker in college hockey history.
Jun 7 2008, 8:34 pm by Chris, Fargo