Wild's Pouliot was unaware of vote of confidence

Benoit Pouliot hasn't checked out the Internet in some time, so the 21-year-old Wild center says he had no clue General Manager Doug Risebrough all but cemented him onto next season's team. After signing wingers Owen Nolan and Antti Miettinen last week, Risebrough was asked about the glaring fact the Wild had only three centers on the roster -- Mikko Koivu, Eric Belanger and James Sheppard. Risebrough said, "The [fourth] spot is Pouliot's. I feel it's more prudent right now just to give Pouliot an opportunity and see what he can do." Pouliot's reaction when told of Risebrough's decree? "I didn't know he said that actually," said Pouliot, the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft. "If he said that, it's a bonus for me to even push harder in the summer and show up ready. The experience I had at the end of last year, I think I... [read full story]