Next GM, Injury News

The question now after Craig Leipold "didn't renew" Doug Risebrough's contract is: Who will be the Minnesota Wild's general manager? Michael Russo threw out some names which includes Pat Quinn, Doug MacLean, Jay Feaster, Rick Dudley, Neil Smith, Pierre McGuire, Chuck Fletcher, Ron Hextall and Peter Chiarelli. And...uh...Jacques Lemaire has already told Russo that he's not intereseted in being the GM. Whoever it is will have to make a lot of major decisions this offseason, and they'll be important ones, starting with who will be the next head coach.

News on other fronts:
From Russo's article:

Backstrom said Thursday he might need surgery.

"I saw a doctor today, and the team doctors, and we have to decide now in a couple days if I need surgery," Backstrom said. "I need to get other opinions, and also from back home in Finland. It's tough for me because everything's in English, so I need someone to translate to me so I know exactly what's going on."

Backstrom said he hoped to talk to Gaborik so he can see his hip specialist, Marc Philippon of the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo. Backstrom said the recovery from surgery "is speculated, but in my mind, I'll be ready by the start of the season."

Isn't that just great :( ... Andrew Brunette had successful reconstructive right knee surgery, and Derek Boogaard will have surgery on his right shoulder on Tuesday.