MY THOUGHTS: 252 hits!!!!! 202 blocked shots!!!!!!! Controversy notwithstanding, this looks like an interesting signing for the Wild. Give credit to Risebrough and company for going after some true grit!

--------------------------
Mike Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports the following NEW information from Russo's Rants:

The Wild signed Hill to a one-year, $475,000 contract with a chance to make up to 850K in bonuses. I talked to him this afternoon and he completely denies using steroids.

The steroid, boldenone, which is mostly used to treat horses and often used by bodybuilders to build muscle mass, was found into his system. He says he’s since taken a lie detector test, which he passed, and had another drug test at an independent lab, which he passed.

I’ll write more later, but other interesting stuff, Risebrough said this move might allow him to trade one of his defensemen.

Couple other things, Wild trainer Mike Vogt is flying to Slovakia Sunday to work on Marian Gaborik’s groins. Also, Tom Lynn told me five different agents called the Wild in the past week to try to get the Wild to sign players to an offer sheet.

Risebrough told me one was Steve Bartlett, Thomas Vanek’s agent. Risebrough said he asked Bartlett why he would do that if they never work. Risebrough would know. He tried to sign Teemu Selanne to an offer sheet years and years ago and that was matched by Winnipeg.


--------------------------------
Wild sign suspended d-man Hill
July 06, 2007
Sportsnet.ca

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild signed free agent defenseman Sean Hill to a one-year deal on Friday.

As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The NHL suspended Hill for 20 games on April 20, 2007 for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. He will miss the first 19 games of the 2007-08 season after serving one game of the suspension in 2006-07, sitting out Game 5 of the Islanders Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against Buffalo.

MINNESOTA WILD STATEMENT ON SEAN HILL'S SUSPENSION
Sean tested positive for the anabolic steroid boldenone during a league screening last season. Sean acknowledges the use of a testosterone booster for which he was issued a therapeutic-use exemption by the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program Committee. We have talked to Sean at length, and he denies knowingly taking any banned performance-enhancing substance. We also researched the situation and the substance Sean tested positive for and found that boldenone can be ingested inadvertently through health supplements and foods. We cannot determine the source of Sean's test failure. However, we believe Sean did not knowingly take any banned performance-enhancing substance.

-------------------------------------------
By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: July 02, 2007 ��" 11:14 PM

Sean Hill won't be able to play the first six weeks or so of next season, but the longtime NHL defenseman is close to coming home.
Multiple sources confirmed Monday night that the Wild is close to signing the 37-year-old Duluth native to a one-year, incentive-laden contract.

Reached at his North Carolina home, Hill said, "We've definitely had talks and we're getting there, but at this point, I don't want to say anything more and jinx it. But things are moving along good and it's been very positive."

In April, Hill, at the end of a strong season for the Islanders, became the first player to be suspended under the NHL's drug policy. He appealed the automatic 20-game suspension, but the suspension was upheld.

Hill has 19 games left to serve. He's adamantly denied using performance-enhancing drugs and said Monday he'd address the suspension at a later time.

According to sources, the Wild has been told Hill's version of events and was comfortable enough to move forward with negotiations.

Hill, a former University of Wisconsin standout, is a rugged, hard-hitting defender with a cannon shot from the point. He was third in the NHL last season with 252 hits and sixth with 202 blocked shots and formed a formidable Islanders duo with Brendan Witt to play against top lines. He was second on the Isles in ice time, averaging 22 minutes, 32 seconds a game.

Hill has played for seven teams over 13 seasons. In 841 career games, he's scored 60 goals and had 289 points with 976 penalty minutes.

---------------------------------
D
Sean Hill
Age: 37
Date of birth: Saturday, February 14, 1970
Place of Birth: Duluth, MN, USA
Country: USA
HT: 6-0 WT: 205
Shoots/Catches: R
Salary: $600,000
NHL Seasons: 14
Drafted by Montreal in 1988 (8/167).
Acquired as a free agent in 2007.

QUICK HITS

GAME BY GAME
SCOUTING REPORT
CAREER HIGHS
CAREER STATS




CURRENT STATUS Off Season
GP G A Pts +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG Shots GP G A Pts
2006-07 81 1 24 25 +6 110 0 0 0 88 4 0 0 0

PLAYOFFS

NOTES 4/21/2007 3/27/2007 3/16/2007 6/18/2006 12/7/2005 11/23/2005 9/29/2005

MOVEMENTS & INJURIES
06-Jul-07 Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Minnesota Wild.

20-Apr-07 Suspended by the NHL for 20 games for violating the league's drug policy.

17-Mar-07 Missed 1 game (groin).

15-Mar-07 Groin, day-to-day.

15-Aug-06 Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the New York Islanders to a one-year contract.

01-Jul-06 Contract bought out by the Florida Panthers.

15-Jun-06 Exercised his player option for the 2006-07 season.

10-Dec-05 Missed 4 games (groin).

03-Dec-05 Groin, day-to-day.


ASSETS: Has an excellent shot and the poise needed to play a role on the power play. When he keeps the game simple, he's very effective and logs a ton of ice time.
FLAWS: Is prone to the occasional mental blunder. Will put himself out of position in search of the big open-ice hit.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top four defenseman.

2006-07 GAME HIGHS

TOTAL OPP DATE LAST SEASON
Goals 1 vs.Pit Nov.24 1

Assists 2 4 times-last:at Atl last:Feb.1 1

Points 2 4 times-last:at Atl last:Feb.1 1

Penalty Minutes 6 2 times-last:vs.Det last:Jan.30 6

Plus/Minus 3 3 times-last:vs.Bos last:Feb.15 3

Power Play Goals 0 - - 1

Power Play Points 1 12 times-last:at Buf last:Mar.30 1

Shorthanded Goals 0 - - 0

Shorthanded Points 0 - - 0

Shots 5 at Wsh Feb.4 6


CAREER HIGHS (SEASON)

TOTAL SEASON
Games 82 2002-03 (Car)

Goals 13 2 times-last: 2003-04 (Car)

Assists 31 1999-00 (Car)

Points 44 1999-00 (Car)

Penalty Minutes 141 2002-03 (Car)

Plus/Minus +9 1998-99 (Car)

Power Play Goals 8 1999-00 (Car)

Short Handed Goals 1 1993-94 (Ana)

Game Winning Goals 2 3 times-last: 2001-02 (StL/Car)

Game Tying Goals 0 -

Shots 228 2003-04 (Car)


AWARDS
1992-93 Stanley Cup (Montreal)

1990-91 NCAA - West Second All-American Team

WCHA - Second All-Star Team

1989-90 WCHA - Second All-Star Team


TRANSACTIONS
06-Jul-07 Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Minnesota Wild.

15-Aug-06 Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the New York Islanders.

15-Jul-04 Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Florida Panthers.

05-Dec-01 Carolina Hurricanes traded Steve Halko and a 4th round selection (later traded to Atlanta - Lane Manson) in 2002 to the St. Louis Blues for Sean Hill.

01-Jul-00 Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the St. Louis Blues.

18-Nov-97 Ottawa Senators traded Sean Hill to the Carolina Hurricanes for Chris Murray.

29-Jun-94 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim traded Sean Hill and 9th round selection (Frederic Cassivi) in 1994 to the Ottawa Senators for 3rd round selection (later traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning - Vadim Epanchintsev) in 1994.

24-Jun-93 Claimed by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim from the Montreal Canadiens in Expansion Draft.

11-Jun-88 Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 8th round (167th overall) in 1988.


CAREER STATS

Year Team Lea GP G A Pts +/- PIM S S% PPG
2006-07 NY Islanders NHL 81 1 24 25 +6 110 88 1.1 0.31

2005-06 Florida NHL 78 2 18 20 +3 80 110 1.8 0.26

2004-05 Did not play - - - - - - - - - -

2003-04 Carolina NHL 80 13 26 39 -2 84 228 5.7 0.49

2002-03 Carolina NHL 82 5 24 29 +4 141 188 2.7 0.35

2001-02 Carolina NHL 49 7 23 30 -1 61 116 6.0 0.61

St. Louis NHL 23 0 3 3 +1 28 29 0.0 0.13

Total StL/Car NHL 72 7 26 33 E 89 145 4.8 0.46

2000-01 St. Louis NHL 48 1 10 11 +5 51 47 2.1 0.23

1999-00 Carolina NHL 62 13 31 44 +3 59 150 8.7 0.71

1998-99 Carolina NHL 54 0 10 10 +9 48 44 0.0 0.19

1997-98 Carolina NHL 42 0 5 5 -2 48 37 0.0 0.12

Ottawa NHL 13 1 1 2 -3 6 16 6.3 0.15

Total Ott/Car NHL 55 1 6 7 -5 54 53 1.9 0.13

1996-97 Ottawa NHL 5 0 0 0 +1 4 9 0.0 0.00

1995-96 Ottawa NHL 80 7 14 21 -26 94 157 4.5 0.26

1994-95 Ottawa NHL 45 1 14 15 -11 30 107 0.9 0.33

1993-94 Anaheim NHL 68 7 20 27 -12 78 165 4.2 0.40

1992-93 Montreal NHL 31 2 6 8 -5 54 37 5.4 0.26

Fredericton AHL 6 1 3 4 +3 10 22 4.6 0.67

1991-92 Montreal NHL - - - - - - - - -

Fredericton AHL 42 7 20 27 - 65 - - 0.64

National Team USA 12 4 3 7 - 16 - - 0.58

Team USA Olympic 8 2 0 2 - 6 - - 0.25

1990-91 Montreal NHL - - - - - - - - -

Fredericton AHL - - - - - - - - -

Wisconsin WCHA 37 19 32 51 - 122 - - 1.38

1989-90 Wisconsin WCHA 42 14 39 53 - 78 - - 1.26

1988-89 Wisconsin WCHA 45 2 23 25 - 69 - - 0.56

1987-88 East Duluth HS 24 10 17 27 - - - - 1.13

TOTAL NHL 841 60 229 289 -30 976 1528 3.9 0.34

AHL 48 8 23 31 - 75 - - 0.65

WCHA 124 35 94 129 - 269 - - 1.04

HS 24 10 17 27 - - - - 1.13



CAREER PLAYOFF STATS

Year Team Lea GP G A Pts +/- PIM S S% PPG
2006-07 NY Islanders NHL 4 0 0 0 -1 0 3 0.0 0.00

2005-06 Florida NHL - - - - - - - - -

2004-05 Did not play - - - - - - - - - -

2003-04 Carolina NHL - - - - - - - - -

2002-03 Carolina NHL - - - - - - - - -

2001-02 Carolina NHL 23 4 4 8 E 20 57 7.0 0.35

2000-01 St. Louis NHL 15 0 1 1 -1 12 16 0.0 0.07

1999-00 Carolina NHL - - - - - - - - -

1998-99 Carolina NHL - - - - - - - - -

1997-98 Carolina NHL - - - - - - - - -

1996-97 Ottawa NHL - - - - - - - - -

1995-96 Ottawa NHL - - - - - - - - -

1994-95 Ottawa NHL - - - - - - - - -

1993-94 Anaheim NHL - - - - - - - - -

1992-93 Montreal NHL 3 0 0 0 +1 4 2 0.0 0.00

Fredericton AHL - - - - - - - - -

1991-92 Montreal NHL 4 1 0 1 - 2 - - 0.25

Fredericton AHL 7 1 3 4 - 6 - - 0.57

1990-91 Montreal NHL 1 0 0 0 - 0 - - 0.00

Fredericton AHL 3 0 2 2 - 2 - - 0.67

Wisconsin WCHA - - - - - - - - -

1989-90 Wisconsin WCHA - - - - - - - - -

1988-89 Wisconsin WCHA - - - - - - - - -

1987-88 East Duluth HS - - - - - - - - -

TOTAL NHL 50 5 5 10 - 38 - - 0.20

AHL 10 1 5 6 - 8 - - 0.60
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