At 11 a.m. yesterday, the NHL free agency scramble was on.

Recently, this time of the year hasn't inspired much hope in Minnesota fans since none of our professional sports teams (except the Vikings and maybe the Twins with Joe Crede) have shown much gumption to go out and get anyone of quality. 

But Minnesota hockey fans perhaps had a little more invested in this year's free agency with the inevitable departure of franchise winger Marion Gaborik and a new leadership team at the helm. Gaborik in due course yesterday signed a five-year, $37.5 million deal with the New York Rangers and just like that Minnesota's last connection to its original 2000 team is gone.

Truth be told, I'm not that sad to see him go. Yes, when he was on, he could score goals. He scored many a game-winner for the Wild and was an explosive player who could change the Wild's usually slow, defensive-minded games in a hurry. But looking back, it seems he spent half his career on the injury list with that infamous groin of his. He was injured a lot, he rubbed the wrong way with former coach Lemaire and he seemed to have that "I'll play when I want to play" attitude that some great stars fall into. (Then, again, these are the observations of a bitter fan, who would sure like to see the Wild go a little deeper in the playoffs.)

He is a great player. But he's not enough for the Wild. They have a new, young brood of talent that just needs a push to get over the hump and win Minnesota's its first Stanley Cup. Hopefully, the new coach Todd Richards and GM Chuck Fletcher will give the team what it needs.

Thankfully (sigh) the Wild signed another injury-prone player with star qualities - Martin Havalt. I don't know much about him, other than he's coming from the rival Blackhawks. But let's hope he spends a little less time in the hot tub and more time on the ice scoring goals than his predessor. Havalt signed a six-year, $30 million deal with the Wild Wednesday.

The Wild also signed defenseman Greg Zanon and are still talking to Saku Koivu, the older borther of Wild center Mikko Koivu.

Other hot news on the first-day of free agency:

*Marian Hossa signed with the Chicago Blackhawks for a 12-year, $62.8 million deal

*The Sedin twins are staying in Vancouver, signing identical contracts with their team shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday

*Winger Mike Cammalleri, who was on the Wild's short list, signed with the Montreal Canadians for five years, $30 million.

*Former Wild goalie Dwayne Roloson signed with the New York Islanders, so his home team the Edmonton Oilers turned around and signed aging Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin

The recent chilly streak has me in mind that hockey season is only three months away. I hope by then Wild management will inspire a little more confidence in me that this upcoming season won't be a wash like (sorry to say it) the Timberwolves next three years. Let's get on the right track now and if that means saying goodbye to the first piece of Wild history, so be it.