Management Bill Guerin

[AKL]

Boldy might score 40 points this year, and it might be more impressive than what he just did.

I've done some thinking about this. I have a theory. We'll see how it turns out. But one of Boldy's biggest strengths has always been his versatility and his ability to play with pretty much anyone. It's almost like he learns their game and adjust his play style to enhance his linemates games. I don't think he'll get 80-90 points, but I wouldn't be surprised to see 60ish even without Fiala. I had to go back to his roots to see it, but his strengths have always been hockey IQ and versatility.

If my theory is correct, we've got a really good one on our hands, but it also means we need to put him with Kaprizov ASAP because that could be magical.

 

[Wabit]

GMBG needs Boldy to be good, not great next season. He needs Boldy to sign a cheap 2 year bridge deal after next season. That's why Boldy won't get put on a line with Kap.

 

[AKL]

GMBG needs Boldy to be good, not great next season. He needs Boldy to sign a cheap 2 year bridge deal after next season. That's why Boldy won't get put on a line with Kap.

It's about f***ing winning

 

[Wabit]

It's about f***ing winning

The Playoffs is about winning. The regular season is character.

 

[AKL]

The Playoffs is about winning. The regular season is character.

I think they showed us this year that it's quite the opposite, actually

 

[Webster]

GMBG needs Boldy to be good, not great next season. He needs Boldy to sign a cheap 2 year bridge deal after next season. That's why Boldy won't get put on a line with Kap.

And he certainly won't replace Zuccarello, people should be a little realistic here.

 

[TaLoN]

And he certainly won't replace Zuccarello, people should be a little realistic here.

Zucc, without Kap, is a career 60pt player. He's replaceable.

Kap's points per game went UP this year without Zucc.

 

[Wabit]

You wouldn't believe what he's asking for his used Shrekmobile.

 

[Spurgeon]

GMBG needs Boldy to be good, not great next season. He needs Boldy to sign a cheap 2 year bridge deal after next season. That's why Boldy won't get put on a line with Kap.

Could always get ahead of things and offer him an extension this off-season.

 

[Wabit]

Could always get ahead of things and offer him an extension this off-season.

He could. I don't see much reason for Boldy to accept the offer.

 

[Spurgeon]

He could. I don't see much reason for Boldy to accept the offer.

If Fiala is for sure gone, I wouldn’t mind Guerin taking a gamble and trying to lock Boldy down on a longer term deal at a $5-6M AAV or something in that ballpark. Not sure if he’d go for that, but the guaranteed money has to be somewhat enticing to a 21 year old with 1 season of experience.

 

[Wabit]

If Fiala is for sure gone, I wouldn’t mind Guerin taking a gamble and trying to lock Boldy down on a longer term deal at a $5-6M AAV or something in that ballpark. Not sure if he’d go for that, but the guaranteed money has to be somewhat enticing to a 21 year old with 1 season of experience.

I don't think that is a contract GMBG can really offer with the way the cap is for the Wild.

 

[Spurgeon]

I don't think that is a contract GMBG can really offer with the way the cap is for the Wild.

I’d have to look at things a little more closely to see how viable of a strategy it could be, but if one of Zucc/Dumba are likely to be moved next offseason then I think it might make some sense. Could be really beneficial to have Boldy on a discount for several years after the dead cap expires.

 

[Uberdachen]

The buttholes are so worn down that they're round, but it's still roomy enough to get Fiala and his bags to the airport.

 

[Wabit]

The buttholes are so worn down that they're round, but it's still roomy enough to get Fiala and his bags to the airport.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Zucc, without Kap, is a career 60pt player. He's replaceable.

Kap's points per game went UP this year without Zucc.

Making good points that don't reflect well on Zuccarello to Webster. Might as well be talking to a wall.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I’d have to look at things a little more closely to see how viable of a strategy it could be, but if one of Zucc/Dumba are likely to be moved next offseason then I think it might make some sense. Could be really beneficial to have Boldy on a discount for several years after the dead cap expires.

Lots of moving pieces at the moment, but it’s probably possible. But I doubt moving those guys for that plan would be in cards if it’s not in the cards for keeping Fiala around.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Maybe we should wait to see how Boldy performs next year without Fiala before we hand out a long term contract.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Maybe we should wait to see how Boldy performs next year without Fiala before we hand out a long term contract.

I think the idea is not seeing it and getting him at $5-$6 long term vs. seeing it and now needing $7-$8 long term or a bridge.

I think a bridge is probably the right move for both sides anyway.

 

[Digitalbooya]

I think the idea is not seeing it and getting him at $5-$6 long term vs. seeing it and now needing $7-$8 long term or a bridge.

I think a bridge is probably the right move for both sides anyway.

I’m not sure taking a point per game player away from him will improve his numbers to warrant $7-8M per year.

 

[Spurgeon]

I’m not sure taking a point per game player away from him will improve his numbers to warrant $7-8M per year.

He probably wouldn’t produce at a level to warrant a contract like that, but if you offer him something like 7 years @ $5.5M this off-season, does he consider that? Eats up 2 UFA years, but his contract will expire when he’s 29 so he’ll still have the ability to sign a prime UFA contract afterwards. Getting him on a MacKinnon level contract could be huge for our cap after 24-25.

I think it’s something both sides should consider since this team will have a lot of guys on ELCs or cheaper contracts in 23-24 & 24-25 (Rossi, Khusnutdinov, Wallstedt, Lambos, O’Rourke, Hunt, Peart). There should be money to overpay Boldy if Fiala isn’t re-signed.

 

[TaLoN]

I’m not sure taking a point per game player away from him will improve his numbers to warrant $7-8M per year.

It will if he gets put on the same line as his ppg+ teammate.

 

[Idlerlee]

Zucc, without Kap, is a career 60pt player. He's replaceable.

Kap's points per game went UP this year without Zucc.

This is an argument that Zucc is a problem on the 1st line and should be moved.

Its also more than a little bit dishonest. Zucc is a playmaker above anything else, not a goalscorer. This was the case throughout his entire NYR career. The first year he plays on a line with a bonafide star of the game he suddenly racks up record level assists. That is a surprise to no one. If NYR had scorers, his career average would still be in the 80-90s. Instead Zucc was the team leading point producer in New York 3 of his last 4 seasons there, simply because the team had no goalscorers that could even dream of touching 40 goals on the season.

The entire point of Zuccarello is his elite vision and ability to thread the puck to Kaprizov. Thats where the points come from. Its such a shame Minnesota fans dont want that.

 

[AKL]

This is an argument that Zucc is a problem on the 1st line and should be moved.

Its also more than a little bit dishonest. Zucc is a playmaker above anything else, not a goalscorer. This was the case throughout his entire NYR career. The first year he plays on a line with a bonafide star of the game he suddenly racks up record level assists. That is a surprise to no one. If NYR had scorers, his career average would still be in the 80-90s. Instead Zucc was the team leading point producer in New York 3 of his last 4 seasons there, simply because the team had no goalscorers that could even dream of touching 40 goals on the season.

The entire point of Zuccarello is his elite vision and ability to thread the puck to Kaprizov. Thats where the points come from. Its such a shame Minnesota fans dont want that.

But nothing you've said here changes the fact that Kaprizov doesn't need Zuccarello on his line or even his team to be a great player. You've only explained why Zuccarello needs Kaprizov.

What's dishonest is insisting that Kaprizov needs to play with Zuccarello. The stats don't support that, the eye test doesn't support that, and common sense doesn't support that.

You can argue either way whether we should make line adjustments while he (Zuccarello) finishes his contract, trade him, or somewhere in between, and that's a different argument, but pretending Zuccarello is irreplaceable on Kaprizov's line is what's dishonest. Kaprizov is going to have a pretty long career after Zuccarello is no longer a part of it. He'll be fine.

 

[Webster]

@AKL it's not that simple, you totally forget about the human aspect here. The relationship between Zucc & Kap, and their chemistry on and OFF the ice, is something special. Kap loves him, Zucc's experience and mentor role has helped him a lot. And nobody on this team can feed the puck to Kap like Zucc can do.

It's hard to say how Kaprizov will react if Zucc leaves this team now, it wouldn't surprise me if Kap's production drops. But he's young and has many years ahead of him in this league, he should get over it at some point. Maybe not with the Wild though.

Those bonds are very strong, don't ignore this. A perfect example is Henrik Lundqvist who broke down and never recovered when Zucc had to leave New York.