2021 Season Predictions

[57special]

Hey, if your wingers are really great then you don't need terrific Centers, but our wingers are not really great. Parise used to be, but is running on fumes, Fiala had 1/2 of a really good year, and Kaprizov is unproven.

This team has always been undermanned in the forward department.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

im so frustrated that we had the chance to improve goal tending and pick up a solid center and this team could have been off to the races. many non wild fans are saying talbot is a backup on most teams and well besides the draft we didn't address the center issue. i guess in todays nhl who really needs centers anyway???

An NHL backup goalie is still better than an AHL starter.

Hey, if your wingers are really great then you don't need terrific Centers, but our wingers are not really great. Parise used to be, but is running on fumes, Fiala had 1/2 of a really good year, and Kaprizov is unproven.

This team has always been undermanned in the forward department.

Fiala’s really good season started 8 games in. His elite, all timer season was about a half.

 

[fentonsbrainchild]

im so frustrated that we had the chance to improve goal tending and pick up a solid center and this team could have been off to the races. many non wild fans are saying talbot is a backup on most teams and well besides the draft we didn't address the center issue. i guess in todays nhl who really needs centers anyway???

“A solid center”, who?

 

[GuerinUp]

I mean i see kaprizov as a 50+50 player

 

[DANOZ28]

“A solid center”, who?

really????? staal was a solid #2C and our gm flushed him down the toilet. we have ZERO 20G centers on this team now. do i really need to list all the 20G centers in the nhl? guerin DOWNGRADED our C's for this season and needs to be held accountable for that decision.

 

[AKL]

really????? staal was a solid #2C and our gm flushed him down the toilet. we have ZERO 20G centers on this team now. do i really need to list all the 20G centers in the nhl? guerin DOWNGRADED our C's for this season and needs to be held accountable for that decision.

Yeah, Staal as our top center has really gotten us far these last several seasons, so it doesn't make any sense that he would move him.

 

[GordieGallant]

Guerin wants a team that comes to play every night. His moves make perfect sense to me.

 

[MuckOG]

I can understand most of the moves that Guerin has made thus far, but getting rid of Staal still kinda baffles me. He wasn't going to be part of the long term solution, but that doesn't mean he couldn't be a valuable piece in the short term. I would understand getting rid of him if he were blocking younger and better centers from getting more ice time, or had a terrible contract that we needed to move. But we all know that's not the case here. Maybe Marcus Johansson will prove everyone wrong who says that he's a better winger than center. I hope so, because our center depth (or lack thereof) will surely get tested.

 

[AKL]

I can understand most of the moves that Guerin has made thus far, but getting rid of Staal still kinda baffles me. He wasn't going to be part of the long term solution, but that doesn't mean he couldn't be a valuable piece in the short term. I would understand getting rid of him if he were blocking younger and better centers from getting more ice time, or had a terrible contract that we needed to move. But we all know that's not the case here. Maybe Marcus Johansson will prove everyone wrong who says that he's a better winger than center. I hope so, because our center depth will surely get tested.

1) Eric Staal, in the last year of his career, had proven he had become content to basically just show up every day. He's not getting better. He's not going to elevate his game or those around him. He's here to collect his paycheck and spend time with his family. Marcus Johansson still has a career in front of him and more money/winning to fight for.

2) He has already turned down trades to contenders because he doesn't care about winning, he only cares about spending time with his family. Johansson can not only not decline a trade to a contender at the deadline, but he would likely be eager to be traded to a contender. That's a player who's going to play to raise his stock so better teams want him.

It's really that simple. I have no idea how else to explain it to people who don't understand the Staal trade at this point.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Now the only question that needs to be answered is if a complacent Staal is better or worse than a hungry Johansson.

 

[AKL]

Now the only question that needs to be answered is if a complacent Staal is better or worse than a hungry Johansson.

It's never been about having the best team. It's about building the right culture and being able to move guys at the deadline.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

It's never been about having the best team. It's about building the right culture and being able to move guys at the deadline.

The move-ability point is legit, if that's what the priority is.

 

[MuckOG]

1) Eric Staal, in the last year of his career, had proven he had become content to basically just show up every day. He's not getting better. He's not going to elevate his game or those around him. He's here to collect his paycheck and spend time with his family. Marcus Johansson still has a career in front of him and more money/winning to fight for.

2) He has already turned down trades to contenders because he doesn't care about winning, he only cares about spending time with his family. Johansson can not only not decline a trade to a contender at the deadline, but he would likely be eager to be traded to a contender. That's a player who's going to play to raise his stock so better teams want him.

It's really that simple. I have no idea how else to explain it to people who don't understand the Staal trade at this point.

I get all that and agree with most of it.....but we still need someone that can feed the puck to Fiala and/or Kaprizov now that Staal is gone. E-Ek hasn't yet proven to me that he can play that role. Maybe Rossi comes in and fills that hole, I hope so.

 

[AKL]

I get all that and agree with most of it.....but we still need someone that can feed the puck to Fiala and/or Kaprizov now that Staal is gone. E-Ek hasn't yet proven to me that he can play that role. Maybe Rossi comes in and fills that hole, I hope so.

Johansson, Bonino, Eriksson Ek can all feed the puck to Fiala with as much efficacy as last year's version of Staal could.

 

[MuckOG]

Johansson, Bonino, Eriksson Ek can all feed the puck to Fiala with as much efficacy as last year's version of Staal could.

Ok. You are more confident than I am.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Over/unders:

Fiala +/- 55.5 points

Kaprizov +/- 19.5 goals

Kahkonen +/- 17.5 starts

Rossi +/- 6.5 games

Bonino, Foligno, Johansson +/- 2.5 traded

 

[2Pair]

Over/unders:

Fiala +/- 55.5 points

Kaprizov +/- 19.5 goals

Kahkonen +/- 17.5 starts

Rossi +/- 6.5 games

Bonino, Foligno, Johansson +/- 2.5 traded

Under on all of them

 

[AKL]

Over/unders:

Fiala +/- 55.5 points

Kaprizov +/- 19.5 goals

Kahkonen +/- 17.5 starts

Rossi +/- 6.5 games

Bonino, Foligno, Johansson +/- 2.5 traded

My safe guess is under on all of them.
I think the best bets for the over are Rossi playing 7 games and the UFAs being traded.
I would be completely shocked if Kahkonen hit the over.
Fiala and Kaprizov wouldn't surprise me either way.

 

[57special]

I don't see how 5'9" Rossi comes in and is ready to play in the NHL, when 6'2" Boldy, who is a year older, won't. Both he and the team would probably be better served with him finishing out the year in Europe, then we'll see what's up at next year's camp, in a (hopefully) normal year.

 

[Minnesnota]

Under on all of them

I'm on the other side of the coin. I'd hammer the over on everything but the trade.

Either way this season will be very interesting and we are the true winners. We get to watch from our couches elbow deep in a doritos bag.

 

[Minnesnota]

I don't see how 5'9" Rossi comes in and is ready to play in the NHL, when 6'2" Boldy, who is a year older, won't. Both he and the team would probably be better served with him finishing out the year in Europe, then we'll see what's up at next year's camp, in a (hopefully) normal year.

5'9" Rossi and 6'2" Boldy are the same weight.

This whole height fetish is tiring. Boldy isn't coming this year because he committed to BC for another season, is going to be a Gold medal contender, Bean Pot winner, and will likely win a Natty w/ BC. That experience is invaluable. He'll join the Wild when his season is over.

 

[AKL]

I don't see how 5'9" Rossi comes in and is ready to play in the NHL, when 6'2" Boldy, who is a year older, won't. Both he and the team would probably be better served with him finishing out the year in Europe, then we'll see what's up at next year's camp, in a (hopefully) normal year.

Yeah I don't understand how 5'10 Crosby was the best player in the league and 6'6 Greenway is a third liner still at 23 and 5'11 Kane is the greatest American to ever play the game but Greenway (again, let me remind you he's 6'6) isn't? And we traded 6'4 Staal for 5'11 Johansson? Meanwhile we haven't even given 6'3 Sturm a chance but we let 5'10 Fiala basically run the offense even though he's only 5'10??

I dread the day 5'10 Kaprizov and 5'9 Rossi get here and start taking spots from hard working 6'2 Foligno and 6'4 McBain. Despicable.

If you don't think Rossi can play in the NHL this year because he's only 5'9, highlight the space below for a secret spoiler.

He's not going to be any f***ing taller next year.

 

[57special]

Rossi is 194? Boldy's extra year of development and size means nothing?

If Rossi plays this year for the Wild, he will be the first Wild prospect to do so since Burns(6 pts.). Burns, PMB(who got abused), and Gaborik are the only ones who played in their post draft year, and you can argue that all three were rushed because of the lack of talent on the team. Gaborik was the only one who belonged, with a 36 point season.

Rossi is nowhere near Gaborik in size, strength, and talent at this point. Even PMB is arguable, and the repeated hits to the head that he took lead to him having to retire early due concussion complications. I would argue that rushing Rossi to the NHL this year would do more harm than good. He simply won't be better than a guy like JEE or Bonino. Give him another season to play against men in SWI, then come in healthy, bigger stronger, and smarter, in the fall of 2021. Very few Wild prospects have made an impact even in their D+1 year. Next season will be enough of a challenge for Rossi.

Dumba 13gp 2 pts.
Kunin 19gp 4pts(didn't he get a knee injury?)
JEE 15gp 7pts.
Brodin 45gp 11 pts.
Gillies 45 gp 4 pts.
Sheppard 78 gp 19 pts. (whoa!)
Pouliot 3gp 0 pts.

 

[AKL]

Rossi is 194? Boldy's extra year of development and size means nothing?

If Rossi plays this year for the Wild, he will be the first Wild prospect to do so since Burns(6 pts.). Burns, PMB(who got abused), and Gaborik are the only ones who played in their post draft year, and you can argue that all three were rushed because of the lack of talent on the team. Gaborik was the only one who belonged, with a 36 point season.

Rossi is nowhere near Gaborik in size, strength, and talent at this point. Even PMB is arguable, and the repeated hits to the head that he took lead to him having to retire early due concussion complications. I would argue that rushing Rossi to the NHL this year would do more harm than good. He simply won't be better than a guy like JEE or Bonino. Give him another season to play against men in SWI, then come in healthy, bigger stronger, and smarter, in the fall of 2021. Very few Wild prospects have made an impact even in their D+1 year. Next season will be enough of a challenge for Rossi.

Dumba 13gp 2 pts.
Kunin 19gp 4pts(didn't he get a knee injury?)
JEE 15gp 7pts.
Brodin 45gp 11 pts.
Gillies 45 gp 4 pts.
Sheppard 78 gp 19 pts. (whoa!)
Pouliot 3gp 0 pts.

Can someone have him explain why he believes Rossi isn't can't play in the the NHL without using size or other players as arguments?

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Can someone have him explain why he believes Rossi isn't can't play in the the NHL without using size or other players as arguments?

I can only slam my head into a wall so many times.