Bad Minnesota Joke of the Day

My dad today:

Hey, Maureen! Did you hear? NPR says Franzen is going to the Senators! 

Me: Ok that makes zero sense...

My dad: Oh wait, I misheard. They said Franken is going to the Senate.

*groan*

*update*

My father thinks his "NPR Hockey Updates" are so funny.

Hey Maureen! They say Havlat's going to the Oilers! Oh wait, they said HAZMAT is going to the oil spill...

Free Agency MADNESS!

Ok I'll update this throughout the day. I've already slept in too late, it's a crazy morning already!

-Wild have signed former Preds defenseman Greg Zanon for 3 years, 5.8 mil 

-Marty Havlat signed to 30 mil 6 yr contract.

-Saku Koivu sleeping on decision to sign with Wild.

-Wild talking to Nik Antropov

-Ron Salcer might be the most out of touch agent in the league. According to Michael Russo, a source says Salcer is asking 10 yrs, 7.5 mil for Gaby. Remember, Hossa just got 12 yrs at 5.2 mil a year and he doesn't have the injury issues Gaby does...

-SEDINS have re-signed with Vancouver, so that means Canucks have that much less room for Gabby...He's not staying here, though, so where will he go? Probably Kings, Rangers, or Canadiens. 

-Heatley still trying to sort out the Oilers mess. If you fell off the face of the earth last night, here's a recap: Oilers/Sens trade was made for Heatley in exchange for Cogliano, Smid and Penner. Some sources said trade was complete, others said it wasn't. Many speculating that Heatley was refusing to waive his no-movement clause in his contract. Finally his agent came out and said Dany was going to "sleep on it."Welcome to this morning, where AGAIN some reports are saying the deal is done, but I'm skeptical. Not gonna write that as confirmed yet.

-Blackhawks sign Hossa to 12 year deal, 5.2 million per season. They will NOT be able to keep Kane and Toews next year. I wonder how either of them feel about playing here ;)

-Havlat and Fedotenko NOT re-signing with Blackhawks and Pens respectively. Be careful of rumors of Havlat to L.A. His agent lives there, so he has been meeting him there, and Kings do have the cap space but that's as far as the evidence goes. He has expressed interest in MN if things didn't work out in Chi-town, which, they didn't. 

-As it is way past the deadline and I haven't heard any word on them being signed, I think we can assume that Bergeron, Veilleux and Foster are gone. Bergeron doesn't matter to me, but we lost a great D man in Foster and a feisty winger in Veilleux. Here's to hoping we sign some top free agents to make up for the hard working guys we just lost.

-According to Michael Russo's blog and Twitter (link below) Wild are talking to Scuderi. Stars and Rangers are also on Scuderi's list but the Wild are considered "high" on that list. Sources say if we signed him it would be for around a 2-4 year contract in the 3 or 4 million dollars per year range.

-Wild in talks with Saku Koivu. Ducks and Devils also in the mix.

-Apparently MN in on Havlat along with CBJ. I wish I'd hear less "talk" and more signings!

-Check Oilers off the list of teams interested in Harding. They just signed Khabibulin. 

-Oilers worried we're going to outdo them in Heatley sweeps. But will he throw a tantrum over MN as well?

-Mike Cammalleri has signed with Montreal, 5 years, 30 mil. 

-In non-free agency news, Minnesota has named hockey the state sport officially today.

Links: www.twitter.com/MaureenMcKamey, www.twitter.com/Russostrib, http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/wildblog/