Speculation: 2023-24 Armchair GM thread

[DANOZ28]

if i was gus i'd sign a 2 yr deal for possible big payday yr 3.

 

[Muuri]

Thoughts on bringing Haula back?
Minnesota is probably his prefered destination if the Devils don't re-sign him.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Thoughts on bringing Haula back?
Minnesota is probably his prefered destination if the Devils don't re-sign him.

I have always liked him, but don’t think we can afford him very easily.

 

[57special]

Thoughts on bringing Haula back?
Minnesota is probably his prefered destination if the Devils don't re-sign him.

Why would he prefer MN over other destinations? His time here was a long time ago.

Other than that, i can see MN being interested in him at 2M or so, because of his ability to play C and win FO's. He would be our best FO man. Still don't see that he adds all that much to the team that Gaudreau and Hartman don't already do, and next year will be one where Rossi will be given a chance to play.

I mean, Haula is better than Dewar, but Dewar is 7 or 8 years younger, and makes half as much.
What little money we have is better spent somewhere else. And i say this as a guy who really liked Haula when he was here, and thought he got shafted by the "braintrust" we had in place at the time.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Why would he prefer MN over other destinations? His time here was a long time ago.

Other than that, i can see MN being interested in him at 2M or so, because of his ability to play C and win FO's. He would be our best FO man. Still don't see that he adds all that much to the team that Gaudreau and Hartman don't already do, and next year will be one where Rossi will be given a chance to play.

I mean, Haula is better than Dewar, but Dewar is 7 or 8 years younger, and makes half as much.
What little money we have is better spent somewhere else. And i say this as a guy who really liked Haula when he was here, and thought he got shafted by the "braintrust" we had in place at the time.

You just said exactly what he would add to the team that they don’t.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Why would he prefer MN over other destinations? His time here was a long time ago.

Other than that, i can see MN being interested in him at 2M or so, because of his ability to play C and win FO's. He would be our best FO man. Still don't see that he adds all that much to the team that Gaudreau and Hartman don't already do, and next year will be one where Rossi will be given a chance to play.

I mean, Haula is better than Dewar, but Dewar is 7 or 8 years younger, and makes half as much.
What little money we have is better spent somewhere else. And i say this as a guy who really liked Haula when he was here, and thought he got shafted by the "braintrust" we had in place at the time.

Having him as 1C with faceoff winning ability and more speed with a shoot first mentatlity would fit nicely on the pass happy line.

 

[57special]

Having him as 1C with faceoff winning ability and more speed with a shoot first mentatlity would fit nicely on the pass happy line.

Haula is not the speedster that he used to be pre kneecap injury. I also wonder if Haula would pass the "good for the dressing room" test that Guerin values so highly. He has played for 6 teams in 7 years... I don't know if that's coincidence, if he has an annoying personality, or if teams simply don't value him that much.
Regardless, he is yet another bottom six C on a team that has three of them(Hartman, Gaudreau, Dewar). Unless someone is proposing that we trade Dewar and put Haula in his place as a #4C/FO specialist, which i don't see for reasons listed in previous post, where is he going to play?

If we were going to be a contending team next year, AND had all of our cap space, then sure....FO's are important. But we aren't, and we don't.

 

[Muuri]

Why would he prefer MN over other destinations? His time here was a long time ago.

Other than that, i can see MN being interested in him at 2M or so, because of his ability to play C and win FO's. He would be our best FO man. Still don't see that he adds all that much to the team that Gaudreau and Hartman don't already do, and next year will be one where Rossi will be given a chance to play.

I mean, Haula is better than Dewar, but Dewar is 7 or 8 years younger, and makes half as much.
What little money we have is better spent somewhere else. And i say this as a guy who really liked Haula when he was here, and thought he got shafted by the "braintrust" we had in place at the time.

Haula has said in interviews that he doesn't like moving to a new city every year.
He lived in Minnesota 2011-2017...Lets not forget he played NCAA in Minnesota also.
Most important thing...his wife is from Minnesota.
If the Devils don't sign Haula, Minnesota would be a good bet.

 

[57special]

Haula has said in interviews that he doesn't like moving to a new city every year.
He lived in Minnesota 2011-2017...Lets not forget he played NCAA in Minnesota also.
Most important thing...his wife is from Minnesota.
If the Devils don't sign Haula, Minnesota would be a good bet.

Like i said, he was my second fav player when he was here, and i despised the way Yeo under used him. I just don't see him being a priority for this team, given where they are cap, and team, wise. He's a player you sign for a specific role when your window is immediate. We are not in that situation.

In any event, sounds like NJD want to re-sign him. We certainly cannot compete with them, $$ wise, and NJD are a team that is really close, right now. Having Hughes play a full season, and probably Nemec should improve their D, and they are full of young, talented players.

 

[Spurgeon]

If he’ll sign for <$3M, then I think you’ve got to bring him in. This team desperately needs a player that can win faceoffs on the PK and PP.

Might be better to wait until 24-25 when they can bring in a true impact player with the $17-$19M they’ll have to fill 4 roster spots.

 

[MNRube]

if i was gus i'd sign a 2 yr deal for possible big payday yr 3.

I’d get as much as I could guaranteed. Goalies are mercurial

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Haula is not the speedster that he used to be pre kneecap injury. I also wonder if Haula would pass the "good for the dressing room" test that Guerin values so highly. He has played for 6 teams in 7 years... I don't know if that's coincidence, if he has an annoying personality, or if teams simply don't value him that much.
Regardless, he is yet another bottom six C on a team that has three of them(Hartman, Gaudreau, Dewar). Unless someone is proposing that we trade Dewar and put Haula in his place as a #4C/FO specialist, which i don't see for reasons listed in previous post, where is he going to play?

If we were going to be a contending team next year, AND had all of our cap space, then sure....FO's are important. But we aren't, and we don't.

I’d happily put him in Hartmans spot and slide Hartman to 3rw where he belongs.

 

[Sweetnut]

Blow the whole team up. Get rid of almost everyone and tank 2 years in a row, until cap hell is over. Do what ever it takes to get these guys together.

I present to you the new Wild team.

In the Nick of time:

Front:

Nick Ritchie - Nick Bäckström - Nick Schmaltz
$2,500,000 - $9,200,000 - 5,850,000

Nick Paul - Nico Hischier - Nick Roy
$3,150,000 - 7,250,000 - $3,000,000

Nick Bonino - Nick Suzuki - Nick Foligno
$1,025,000 - $7,875,000 - $3,800,000

Nick Cousins - Nico Sturm - Nick Swaney
$1,100,000 - $2,000,000 - $750,000

Nick Abruzzese - Nick Petan
$850,000 - $762,500

Back:

Nick Leddy $4,000,000 - Nick Jensen $ 2,500,000

Nick Hague $2,294,150 - Nick Blankenburg $825,000

Nick Holden $1,300,000 - Nick Seeler $775,000

Nick DeSimone $762,500

Goal:

Nick Daws $850,833

Mick Hutchinson $750,000

That would make a cap hit of $63,169,983
+ cap penalty $14,743,588
for a total of $77,913,571
and $5,586,429 left to spare.

Let´s do it!

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Blow the whole team up. Get rid of almost everyone and tank 2 years in a row, until cap hell is over. Do what ever it takes to get these guys together.

I present to you the new Wild team.

In the Nick of time:

Front:

Nick Ritchie - Nick Bäckström - Nick Schmaltz
$2,500,000 - $9,200,000 - 5,850,000

Nick Paul - Nico Hischier - Nick Roy
$3,150,000 - 7,250,000 - $3,000,000

Nick Bonino - Nick Suzuki - Nick Foligno
$1,025,000 - $7,875,000 - $3,800,000

Nick Cousins - Nico Sturm - Nick Swaney
$1,100,000 - $2,000,000 - $750,000

Nick Abruzzese - Nick Petan
$850,000 - $762,500

Back:

Nick Leddy $4,000,000 - Nick Jensen $ 2,500,000

Nick Hague $2,294,150 - Nick Blankenburg $825,000

Nick Holden $1,300,000 - Nick Seeler $775,000

Nick DeSimone $762,500

Goal:

Nick Daws $850,833

Mick Hutchinson $750,000

That would make a cap hit of $63,169,983
+ cap penalty $14,743,588
for a total of $77,913,571
and $5,586,429 left to spare.

Let´s do it!

This is impressive, and I can't tell if I hate it or love it. LOL.

Top tier off-season post!

 

[TaLoN]

Blow the whole team up. Get rid of almost everyone and tank 2 years in a row, until cap hell is over. Do what ever it takes to get these guys together.

I present to you the new Wild team.

In the Nick of time:

Front:

Nick Ritchie - Nick Bäckström - Nick Schmaltz
$2,500,000 - $9,200,000 - 5,850,000

Nick Paul - Nico Hischier - Nick Roy
$3,150,000 - 7,250,000 - $3,000,000

Nick Bonino - Nick Suzuki - Nick Foligno
$1,025,000 - $7,875,000 - $3,800,000

Nick Cousins - Nico Sturm - Nick Swaney
$1,100,000 - $2,000,000 - $750,000

Nick Abruzzese - Nick Petan
$850,000 - $762,500

Back:

Nick Leddy $4,000,000 - Nick Jensen $ 2,500,000

Nick Hague $2,294,150 - Nick Blankenburg $825,000

Nick Holden $1,300,000 - Nick Seeler $775,000

Nick DeSimone $762,500

Goal:

Nick Daws $850,833

Mick Hutchinson $750,000

That would make a cap hit of $63,169,983
+ cap penalty $14,743,588
for a total of $77,913,571
and $5,586,429 left to spare.

Let´s do it!

So.... tank for 2 years just to tank for longer... got it.

 

[AKL]

Why exclude Nikita Kucherov?

 

[Spurgeon]

Why exclude Nikita Kucherov?

Clearly not talented enough to crack that roster

 

[57special]

So, would Addison get a late 1st, early 2nd? I am not crazy about trading him, as I think he will be very inexpensive to keep, and is an asset on the PP. Trading him and Goli would make our D thin, though I do think that some combo of Mermis and Hunt would be a low cost alternative. I can even see ROR/SJo being ready for a bit of NHL time.

Goligoski would have to be more or less given away. Something like a 5th, if no salary is coming back.

If the other two go, then Merrill would stay, even though I am less than thrilled about his play. He sure is a big step down from Soucy as a #5.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

So, would Addison get a late 1st, early 2nd? I am not crazy about trading him, as I think he will be very inexpensive to keep, and is an asset on the PP. Trading him and Goli would make our D thin, though I do think that some combo of Mermis and Hunt would be a low cost alternative. I can even see ROR/SJo being ready for a bit of NHL time.

Goligoski would have to be more or less given away. Something like a 5th, if no salary is coming back.

If the other two go, then Merrill would stay, even though I am less than thrilled about his play. He sure is a big step down from Soucy as a #5.

Highly doubt it.

 

[Sweetnut]

Дмитро Тимашов says there is some interest from the NHL and he feels more ready now than he was before. He played for Brynäs in the SHL and was their scoring leader. I could see him get a 2-way contract for 7-800K but would he fit in the Wild squad? He was drafted in the 5th round by Toronto and played 45 NHL games. Spent most time in AHL, 225 games 118 points.

 

[AKL]

Дмитро Тимашов says there is some interest from the NHL and he feels more ready now than he was before. He played for Brynäs in the SHL and was their scoring leader. I could see him get a 2-way contract for 7-800K but would he fit in the Wild squad? He was drafted in the 5th round by Toronto and played 45 NHL games. Spent most time in AHL, 225 games 118 points.

The way Dean coaches? I doubt it. But in theory there should be two top six wing spots he can compete for.

 

[Spurgeon]

From the Athletic Mailbag w/ Russo & Smith:

Special teams have killed the Wild the past two postseasons. Do you see a move being made with the assistant coaches, like Brett McLean or Bob Woods? I know that McLean is a Guerin hire, but Woods is a holdover from the previous regime. Do you think they’ll move on from either of those two?

Guerin said on our pod that he watched every penalty kill with Evason, so that says to us that Evason went to bat for Woods. Evason is loyal to his assistants; remember he didn’t sign his three-year extension in December 2021, which takes him through the 2024-25 season, until his staff was taken care of. Guerin seems to have been swayed, because on our pod he echoed Filip Gustavsson’s assertion that the Wild needed more saves and made clear he believes Eriksson Ek and Mason Shaw’s injuries as the big culprits. It still always comes down to the players executing. They have to win more draws, and top killers like Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodinmust be better. McLean’s the interesting one. He’s a top candidate to be Iowa’s next head coach, so if he were to land that job, that would open an assistant coaching position. He ran the Wild’s power play.

Absolutely insane they think it’s acceptable to retain the same assistants.

 

[NHL1674]

From the Athletic Mailbag w/ Russo & Smith:


Absolutely insane they think it’s acceptable to retain the same assistants.

Lather, rinse, repeat. Put it on the towels.

Honestly, based on these latest comments along with his postseason presser, it's obvious that he's waving the white flag until those dead contracts are gone. He's not even gonna try. I'm sure Kaprizov will appreciate it.

 

[Sweetnut]

Replace him with the Walrus, Paul MacLean.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

Get Nick Lidstrom out of retirement or I am out on the Nick's.