Speculation: 2023-24 Armchair GM thread

[thestonedkoala]

0 NHL games
15 NHL games (3 points)
0 NHL games
10 NHL games
Good on Moser for playing a full season already for a team that is in a position to push young players into the lineup.

Stankoven - WHL player of the year, dominated the CHL playoffs, three time gold winner in the WJC, plus a host of other awards. It's something to build on.

Zellweger - Two time best defenseman of the year and CHL defenseman of the year

What has Lambos won? What has Lambos done in his development?

Yes, Stankoven and Zellweger could end up being busts - but they are showing that they have the talent and the dominance in the CHL to move to the next level and build on that. If either one of them were drafted by the Wild, wouldn't we be gushing over how good they are and what the next steps are for their career? Dallas is absolutely giddy they got Johnston and Stankoven in the same draft. Stankoven almost made it to the team this year.

I have a lot of concerns over the lack of - well anything coming from Lambos' camp. For a guy that should have gone in the top 10, Lambos has not silenced any of his doubters in the WHL over his development and all the warts he had are becoming a lot more magnified. You hoped that Lambos would develop like Zellweger in the CHL, especially given his size and his skating ability, but Lambos seems like a guy you'd take in the mid to late 2nd round.

 

[57special]

Actually that goaltender is already making an impact, but that's an exception.

It's not that Lambos didn't make the cut, it's the fact that he had a disappointing WJC and didn't even make it this year. His development has been really uneven and his points have stalled for Winnipeg. He was a boom or bust pick and he's closer to a bust than a boom for the Wild, especially given their depth.

Novak has cancer, so no problem there. Hunt is struggling with injuries. O'Rourke has been a disappointment. He got some development in during the shorten season, but doesn't seem to have progressed. He'll be a steady depth defenseman at best, but he didn't have the impact needed in the AHL this year.

They traded Pillar already, we'll see what Bankier and Masters can do. Who the hell is Benoit?

Yurov is getting bounced around. Haight only took off when he got paired with Misa, so questions are is Haight a product of Misa or did he actually take a step forward? Outside of that, there is literally no buzz around him or the other second round pick in Lorenz. Milne was decent in the AHL, but he and Spacek are overagers. We'll see if Spacek actually has an impact in the AHL this year. Healey is? Petrovsky is my favorite dark horse, but like Beckman I feel like there is going to be a lot of numbers in the juniors and a steep curve in the AHL.

Wha?
Huh?

Bankier and Masters had GREAT junior seasons, by any measure.

You just seem to be blurting out negativity, with out any reasoning or intelligence to back up your opinions.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Here's a sobering fact:
Greenway (2015) is the last 2nd round pick to make the Wild and before that was Zucker (2010). They have had only (1) draft pick in the past 5 years make it to the NHL (Dewar) from the 2nd round and below that has made any sort of impact. Before that Duhaime, Shaw and Kaprizov are from 6+ years ago.

Here’s another sobering fact, from 2014 through 2018 the Wild only had ONE 2nd round pick. Jordan Greenway.

Players from those drafts would be 23-27 years old. Not having those draft picks is 100% impacting the team now. No mistake about it.

 

[57special]

Here’s another sobering fact, from 2014 through 2018 the Wild only had ONE 2nd round pick. Jordan Greenway.

Players from those drafts would be 23-27 years old. Not having those draft picks is 100% impacting the team now. No mistake about it.

One thing i am liking about the present GM is that he seems to treasure draft picks, and has done his best to rebuild our prospect pool.

 

[BagHead]

In regard to Brackett, I like to look more at his Vancouver days than his Minnesota days, since those have had more time to pan out, or not. He had 5 drafts to work with, and the most recent one should be starting to show some small impact. Looking only at the first two rounds (for the sake of my time) these were his picks:

15: Brock Boeser
16: Olli Juolevi
17: Elias Pettersson, Kole Lind, Jonah Gadjovich
18: Quinn Hughes, Jett Woo
19: Vasili Podkolzin, Nils Hoglander

So, the hits were Boeser, Pettersson, Hughes and maybe Nils Hoglander, if you ignore his downward trend. I suppose there's still some time for Podkolzin, but he doesn't look great. The rest were various degrees of misses. I, to this day, don't know why Brackett has the sterling reputation that he does.

 

[AKL]

In regard to Brackett, I like to look more at his Vancouver days than his Minnesota days, since those have had more time to pan out, or not. He had 5 drafts to work with, and the most recent one should be starting to show some small impact. Looking only at the first two rounds (for the sake of my time) these were his picks:

15: Brock Boeser
16: Olli Juolevi
17: Elias Pettersson, Kole Lind, Jonah Gadjovich
18: Quinn Hughes, Jett Woo
19: Vasili Podkolzin, Nils Hoglander

So, the hits were Boeser, Pettersson, Hughes and maybe Nils Hoglander, if you ignore his downward trend. I suppose there's still some time for Podkolzin, but he doesn't look great. The rest were various degrees of misses. I, to this day, don't know why Brackett has the sterling reputation that he does.

The tricky thing about Vancouver is he didn't have as much autonomy as he does here. Not all of these were "his guys".

 

[BagHead]

The tricky thing about Vancouver is he didn't have as much autonomy as he does here. Not all of these were "his guys".

If that's true that definitely affects the results. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how his guys here pan out.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

One thing i am liking about the present GM is that he seems to treasure draft picks, and has done his best to rebuild our prospect pool.

Same here. Fletcher was that way too when he first took over as well. I’d like for Guerin to stick to not trading 1st or 2nd round picks unless you get back a player that will contribute for 3+ years.

I will say, if Edstrom is available in the 2nd round, I hope that we package one of our 2nds with something else to move up and snag him.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Wha?
Huh?

Bankier and Masters had GREAT junior seasons, by any measure.

You just seem to be blurting out negativity, with out any reasoning or intelligence to back up your opinions.

Bankier and Masters did have great junior seasons. I want to see how they translate, but outside of Petrovsky, I like Bankier and want to see what he can do. Masters got seriously hurt (taken off on a stretcher), which is unfortunate.

But like I said, I want to see what Bankier and Masters can do in the AHL because Minnesota has not had a good track record on guys tearing it up in the CHL and then going to the AHL.

Also Masters may not be available at the start of next season or he'll need to work himself back into the lineup. They are estimating a 3 month time table for him.

 

[P10p]

Bankier and Masters did have great junior seasons. I want to see how they translate, but outside of Petrovsky, I like Bankier and want to see what he can do. Masters got seriously hurt (taken off on a stretcher), which is unfortunate.

But like I said, I want to see what Bankier and Masters can do in the AHL because Minnesota has not had a good track record on guys tearing it up in the CHL and then going to the AHL.

Also Masters may not be available at the start of next season or he'll need to work himself back into the lineup. They are estimating a 3 month time table for him.

So Dallas guys do good in Juniors and its "look how bad Minnesota is, they should have that!". But when Minnesota guys are doing good in Junior its "Yeah but we'll see how they translate, they haven't accomplished anything yet"...... ok.

 

[57special]

Same here. Fletcher was that way too when he first took over as well. I’d like for Guerin to stick to not trading 1st or 2nd round picks unless you get back a player that will contribute for 3+ years.

I will say, if Edstrom is available in the 2nd round, I hope that we package one of our 2nds with something else to move up and snag him.

100%. I will be interested to see how far Edstrom has climbed up in the ranks when Mackenzies list comes out. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the late teens/early 20's.

 

[AKL]

Same here. Fletcher was that way too when he first took over as well. I’d like for Guerin to stick to not trading 1st or 2nd round picks unless you get back a player that will contribute for 3+ years.

I will say, if Edstrom is available in the 2nd round, I hope that we package one of our 2nds with something else to move up and snag him.

100%. I will be interested to see how far Edstrom has climbed up in the ranks when Mackenzies list comes out. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the late teens/early 20's.

Would you guys take Edstrom at 21 if we somehow managed to land a pick in the 10-15 range as well?

 

[57special]

If that's true that definitely affects the results. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how his guys here pan out.

That's why he left. Power struggle with Benning.

 

[Spurgeon]

Here’s another sobering fact, from 2014 through 2018 the Wild only had ONE 2nd round pick. Jordan Greenway.

Players from those drafts would be 23-27 years old. Not having those draft picks is 100% impacting the team now. No mistake about it.

And Roope Hintz was taken one pick before Greenway unfortunately. Dallas really has found some absolute gems with their late 1sts and 2nds. They’ve also had some absolute busts of drafts.

2015 - Hintz (49)
2017 - Oettinger (26), Robertson (39)
2021 - Johnston (23), Stankoven (47)

I’d say the Wild have been relatively average in their drafts during that same period. Definitely haven’t found the high-end guys like Dallas has (with the exception of Kaprizov), but we’ve been able to hit on some players with our limited selections.

2015 - Ek (20), Greenway (50), Kaprizov (135)
2016 - Duhaime (106)
2017 - Shaw (97)
2018 - McBain (63), Dewar (92)

Since 2015 though, we’ve only drafted one bonafide Top 6 player (Boldy). 7 drafts and only one impact player from any of them so far.

 

[BagHead]

That's why he left. Power struggle with Benning.

I do remember something about that now that my memory was jogged by AKL. I still don't know why he has the reputation though. If anything, that power struggle should only get him off the hook. I'd love to know why people think he's a genius at talent evaluation. Maybe there's a great reason, but I've never heard it.

 

[AKL]

I do remember something about that now that my memory was jogged by AKL. I still don't know why he has the reputation though. If anything, that power struggle should only get him off the hook. I'd love to know why people think he's a genius at talent evaluation. Maybe there's a great reason, but I've never heard it.

I don't actually know the details of why he's so highly regarded, I just know that Vancouver fans were pissed that he was let go, so I think that's what's fueling most of it. Like I think collectively we were so ready to have some good scouting and drafting for once, that Vancouver fans liking him was enough for us to run with it.

Kinda like how some of us are willing to overpay for centers like Lindholm or Dubois, who aren't really 1C's, because we're so desperate for good centers. Or how Edmonton thought Nurse was a 1D because they were so deprived of good defense that the minute they got a guy who wasn't terrible, they started overrating what he actually was. Such is the human condition.

I think when it's weaponized, that same concept is actually a war crime.

 

[57special]

Would you guys take Edstrom at 21 if we somehow managed to land a pick in the 10-15 range as well?

Probably. I regard Edstrom/Ritchie/Danielson as a safe, two way pick with limited offensive upside, whereas a guy like Yager or Heidt would be a riskier pick(lack of size, defense) with offensive upside. I would like one of each.

The other option is to pick Edstrom as a JEE clone, then pick an offensively talented C with flaws like Whitelaw or Brindley in the 2nd round.

I am really curious to see how Bankier develops. If he pans out it would solve a lot of problems.

 

[MNRube]

peart > lambos, hunt, ROR. I think he walks right into the NHL next year similar to Faber this spring. Puck skills & processing ability are NHL quality already IMO

i do think this next year will be big for Brackett. Our prospects can get rated as the best year after year but eventually we need to see some real life contributions.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Stankoven - WHL player of the year, dominated the CHL playoffs, three time gold winner in the WJC, plus a host of other awards. It's something to build on.

Zellweger - Two time best defenseman of the year and CHL defenseman of the year

What has Lambos won? What has Lambos done in his development?

Yes, Stankoven and Zellweger could end up being busts - but they are showing that they have the talent and the dominance in the CHL to move to the next level and build on that. If either one of them were drafted by the Wild, wouldn't we be gushing over how good they are and what the next steps are for their career? Dallas is absolutely giddy they got Johnston and Stankoven in the same draft. Stankoven almost made it to the team this year.

I have a lot of concerns over the lack of - well anything coming from Lambos' camp. For a guy that should have gone in the top 10, Lambos has not silenced any of his doubters in the WHL over his development and all the warts he had are becoming a lot more magnified. You hoped that Lambos would develop like Zellweger in the CHL, especially given his size and his skating ability, but Lambos seems like a guy you'd take in the mid to late 2nd round.

Yes, they can.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I don't actually know the details of why he's so highly regarded, I just know that Vancouver fans were pissed that he was let go, so I think that's what's fueling most of it. Like I think collectively we were so ready to have some good scouting and drafting for once, that Vancouver fans liking him was enough for us to run with it.

Kinda like how some of us are willing to overpay for centers like Lindholm or Dubois, who aren't really 1C's, because we're so desperate for good centers. Or how Edmonton thought Nurse was a 1D because they were so deprived of good defense that the minute they got a guy who wasn't terrible, they started overrating what he actually was. Such is the human condition.

I think when it's weaponized, that same concept is actually a war crime.

Or just pay.

 

[57special]

peart > lambos, hunt, ROR. I think he walks right into the NHL next year similar to Faber this spring. Puck skills & processing ability are NHL quality already IMO

i do think this next year will be big for Brackett. Our prospects can get rated as the best year after year but eventually we need to see some real life contributions.

I like Peart, too, but it's too early to judge for any of them. I could be wrong, but I think Peart grew a bit last year, which is kind of exciting. Once/if he fills out he will be solid. Between Spacek, ROR, Hunt, Peart, Lambos, and even Masters we have a lot of D prospects that have some decent skills. I mean, a guy like ROR might not have Peart's wheels, but he is a good skater, and has good breakout skills. None of those D are plodders, though i haven't seen much of Masters.

 

[thestonedkoala]

So Dallas guys do good in Juniors and its "look how bad Minnesota is, they should have that!". But when Minnesota guys are doing good in Junior its "Yeah but we'll see how they translate, they haven't accomplished anything yet"...... ok.

Dallas also has the track record; but having a leg up doesn't hurt.

 

[Wabit]

I don't put much weight on the lack d-man scoring from the AHL team from last year's team. Iowa wasn't very good overall and ended up near the bottom in total goals scored.
211g (total)
51g (PP)
9g (SH)
6g (OT)
4g (SO win)
13g (EN)

So that leaves, at most, 128g for 5v5 play in their 72 games. From my viewings the d-man prospects didn't get much special teams time. It's mostly on the FWDs to score the goals and the d-men get their points off assists.

AHL stats are still very basic and I haven't found a decent (free) adv stats site to glean anything other than raw numbers and the eye test.

 

[57special]

I don't put much weight on the lack d-man scoring from the AHL team from last year's team. Iowa wasn't very good overall and ended up near the bottom in total goals scored.
211g (total)
51g (PP)
9g (SH)
6g (OT)
4g (SO win)
13g (EN)

So that leaves, at most, 128g for 5v5 play in their 72 games. From my viewings the d-man prospects didn't get much special teams time. It's mostly on the FWDs to score the goals and the d-men get their points off assists.

AHL stats are still very basic and I haven't found a decent (free) adv stats site to glean anything other than raw numbers and the eye test.

Army also didn't play any of the young Dmen on the PP- maybe Hunt a bit at the end. Hicketts was glued there, then Mermis on the 2nd unit. I wonder if that's one of the reasons he was fired. I mean, they left ROR back in Junior specifically so he could work on his offense, then when they brought him up they never played him on the PP point, even though he is known for having a strong shot.

Hunt and SJO definitely could play on the PP, and i would mind seeing ROR get a tryout there, too. The Iowa team, for the most part, seemed to not encourage their young D to rush the puck.

Iowa had a lot of injuries last year to some of their top forwards, as well as the inevitable callups of the best guys(Rossi, Walker, Petan). I guess all AHL teams have to deal with the latter. I also thought that they took a lot of unnecessary penalties, which put them in bad spots. A bad mix of not being very tough, AND taking penalties.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Would you guys take Edstrom at 21 if we somehow managed to land a pick in the 10-15 range as well?

Who do we take in the 10-15 range?