Core values

By Jamie MacDonald | Wild.com | July 6, 2008 | 2:41 p.m. EDT It seems somehow appropriate that the start of the free agent signing period every NHL offseason coincides with the Independence Day holiday, with its attendant "Life, Liberty, and the purfuit of Happinefs" underpinnings. There are even fireworks. And much like those snaps, crackles and pops, though seemingly random, there has developed over the past few years a sense of rhythm to the frenzy. True to recent form, the 2008 period blasted out of the gates and continued into the weekend. "There's always a rush over the first three days," said Wild Assistant General Manager/Hockey Operations Tom Lynn. "On the fourth day, there's a little bit of shaking out, and then, over the past three years since the new CBA, there have been relatively few signings after that. The... [read full story]