Torts' take: Part 4: Boogaard, Gilroy, centers and the Big Picture

Derek Boogaard’s biggest task is conditioning. At the weight he played at last season (288), Tortorella said, “he wasn’t going to get through camp.” Boogaard has slimmed down, and perhaps will settle at 265, around the weight he carried in previous years with the Wild. "We have to get him in the best shape he can be."

Matt Gilroy has put on some upper body muscle and Tortorella said his rookie season was a “development year” for the defenseman. “We think he understands what we’re talking about in being engaged defensively,” said Tortorella. “It’s a tough position.”

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I asked Torts if he was happier with the center position than at this time last season -- and at the end of last season. The answer was half-affirmative, half-uncertain:

“We end up talking a lot about our scoring problems. We were 16th in the league in scoring last year. So we’re middle of the pack. I am happier, because I think Erik Christensen improved. I think he has found himself mentally a little bit here, and wants to improve more. (Tim) Kennedy, I’m not sure what he brings. (Todd) White, he had a great season a couple of years ago, then got banged up -- we’ll see what he brings. You can bounce some other people into that center position. It’s not an easy position to fill. I’m anxious to see who steps up, not just in that position, but offensively. The kid from Norway (Mats Zuccarello Aasen), who knows what to expect? Everyone raves about his talent, but I haven’t seen him play, because I want to wait until camp. There’s a healthier competition this year, at all positions, than last year.”

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Given that he hasn’t watched the players scrimmage, Tortorella took the Fifth when asked if he could define the strength of the team beyond the goaltending. He was definitive on this: “No question, our home record (18-17-6) is a point we have to improve on…We’re going to end up where we were last year if you’re a .500 team at home.”