Gillies Makes the Wild

[maple leaf]

As of today Colton is officially a NHLER.

[Trav]

Playing in the NHL as a forth liner or spare when he could be playing first line in the WHL. No NHL team should be allowed to do that to a junior player, either play him on the top three lines or send him back.

[Brandonite]

Even a 3rd liner is retarded when like u said they can come back to junior and excel so much more!! I dont even think Gillies is as good as they think, i think hes over-rated. None the less, best of luck to him but i think you will see him back in saskatoon after his 9 games is up. Luke schenn im not so sure on...

[GBG BLEED BLUE]

Even though the Wild may think that he is ready to make the jump,and say that he has little to nothing to prove in the WHL putting him on the 4th line(most likely) probably will not help his development that much. My fear now is that they might do to him what Columbus did with Gilbert Brule,now I am not saying this will happen,but I would not want it to happen to him. I surely hope that wherever Gillies plays this season that he will be getting the ice time that he needs to grow and develop into a solid future NHLer.

[Some_Arrogant_Jerk]

He made the team, yes...but he could(and should) very well be up the wild only for the first few games. Obviously they are seriously considering the option of keeping him on the Wild, but if he doesnt play like he is 100 percent ready, then he goes back to the blades. Which I doubt.

I still dont see him sticking in the NHL for an entire year yet. Though I dont see one year in the dub turning him into much better of an offensive player in the NHL. It will definitely help his development, as his defensive game could still use a little work ifhe is going to be a 3rd line defensive specialist.

Who knows? They might make him into another Brent Burns type player.

[wango tango]

congratulations to colton!

lemaire is already saying colton will play around 45 games, more depending on injuries.

unless something out of gillies control happens (trades bringing in more forwards, an injury) he isn't coming back after 9 games.

this young man has made the show at 19. as to being over rated or not, i'll trust the opinions of those in the nhl, over those on this board.

[Tidball]

Gillies has made a great impression ever since Minnesota drafted him. He will start our as a 3rd/4th liner energy guy. He he easily good enough for the NHL and he beat out Clutterbuck for the final spot. He has elite Skating and puck handling skills. He throws monster body check and he is everything that you want in a 3rd/4th liner. This isnt stupid, this is smart but the Wild GM. I know that tons of posters have dissed Gillies saying he isnt 1st round material, well guess what, he IS.

I know the Blades would love to have him, but you got to realize that the NHL will do whats good for Gillies, not the Blades.

[PJ-34]

Congrats to Colton.

[howley]

picked up his first career assist tonight on the PP

[armypower]

Was at the game tonight ,was real impressed by your team....Real gritty,
and you got some big guys,even Morrison the goalie!! If you guys get Gillies back, you could do some damage this year..