Management Bill Guerin

[57special]

I am a bit puzzled that Guerin didn't want to keep Duhaime because of his size and toughness. Surely Duhaime is delusional if he thinks that he is going to get more than 2M/yr, on his next contract? I sure don't see anyone in Iowa who plays a similar game. Is the plan to get a 4th line grit guy in FA for less than the 1.5-2M that Duhaime will probably get?

 

[Wabit]

I am a bit puzzled that Guerin didn't want to keep Duhaime because of his size and toughness. Surely Duhaime is delusional if he thinks that he is going to get more than 2M/yr, on his next contract? I sure don't see anyone in Iowa who plays a similar game. Is the plan to get a 4th line grit guy in FA for less than the 1.5-2M that Duhaime will probably get?

GMBG will just trade a late round pick for one next year (Reaves, Maroon) early in the season.

$1.5-$2m is too much for a 4th liner. I like Duhaime, but he's a less than $1m/year player. He's big, and that's the only reason he's in the NHL. If he was 5'10" he'd be an AHL 3rd liner. If Walker had Duhaime's size he'd be a in the NHL top-6 now.

This 1 year deal he's currently on is a prove it deal after his injury problems last year. He's done nothing to say he's worth more than what he's currently making. He was on the PK, but not good at it. He'll drop the gloves and try and be a face puncher, but isn't good at it. He has speed, but not the puck skills to take advantage of it.

 

[BagHead]

I am a bit puzzled that Guerin didn't want to keep Duhaime because of his size and toughness. Surely Duhaime is delusional if he thinks that he is going to get more than 2M/yr, on his next contract? I sure don't see anyone in Iowa who plays a similar game. Is the plan to get a 4th line grit guy in FA for less than the 1.5-2M that Duhaime will probably get?

I think Duhaime is gone because he was the most trade-able guy on the roster, and the Wild wanted to open up a spot or two for prospects to make the team next year. Best to get something like a pick back, rather than nothing, which is what they'd have gotten this summer for the UFA Duhaime.

I believe Guerin wanting size and toughness is overblown on these boards. He re-signed Zuccarello, after all. He traded Duhaime, in part, to make room for 5'9" Khusnutdinov. Guerin may like size, may even love size (most GMs do), but he's not chained to it.

 

[DANOZ28]

Do you mean this season? Cause Mojo’s contract is up after next season.

i may have drank too much yesterday , it was a friends birthday and devils eggs were involved (inside joke)

 

[Wabit]

I think Duhaime is gone because he was the most trade-able guy on the roster, and the Wild wanted to open up a spot or two for prospects to make the team next year. Best to get something like a pick back, rather than nothing, which is what they'd have gotten this summer for the UFA Duhaime.

I believe Guerin wanting size and toughness is overblown on these boards. He re-signed Zuccarello, after all. He traded Duhaime, in part, to make room for 5'9" Khusnutdinov. Guerin may like size, may even love size (most GMs do), but he's not chained to it.

He drafted Rossi and Marat K with his first ever draft picks. Re-signed Spurgeon (gave him the "C") and Zucc. Signed Petan. Traded for Addison, Butcher, and Jost. So he doesn't have a "must be this tall to ride this ride" in front of the lockerroom.

 

[Spurgeon]

His incessant need to have a Reaves or Deslauriers type of player playing on the 4th line typically killed any offensive potential that line could’ve had.

 

[Wabit]

His incessant need to have a Reaves or Deslauriers type of player playing on the 4th line typically killed any offensive potential that line could’ve had.

I just expect a 4th line that chips in a point every 3-5 games and plays even hockey.

5v5 Reaves was at a 1.6 p/60 pace last year; that is the same pace as Boldy. The oIGF/60 was also similar at 2.1 and 2.2 respectively. He's nowhere near the black hole Rossi (last year), Koivu (his last season in MN), and Freddy G (this year) have been.

D-lo is a no o-zone skill player, for sure, but a fine as a Playoff grit add GMs make.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Well, the season is pretty much over with and there are a LOT of questionable things I think we can talk about with Guerin this season including the two investigations. I gotta wonder what Leipold is thinking as he's on the hook for at least two coaches (Evason and Hynes) and this lackluster performance.

 

[MuckOG]

Well, the season is pretty much over with and there are a LOT of questionable things I think we can talk about with Guerin this season including the two investigations. I gotta wonder what Leipold is thinking as he's on the hook for at least two coaches (Evason and Hynes) and this lackluster performance.

IMO, Leipold knew that, because of the buy-outs, that the team would struggle to compete during this stretch....I think where BG will be graded by Leipold is how they emerge from the dead cap hits.

 

[thestonedkoala]

IMO, Leipold knew that, because of the buy-outs, that the team would struggle to compete during this stretch....I think where BG will be graded by Leipold is how they emerge from the dead cap hits.

Leipold also hired Guerin to get to the playoffs. As well, the AHL team is a mess (again they need to fire everyone) and they have over committed to a bunch of old guys that can't seem to stay on the ice.

 

[MuckOG]

Leipold also hired Guerin to get to the playoffs. As well, the AHL team is a mess (again they need to fire everyone) and they have over committed to a bunch of old guys that can't seem to stay on the ice.

All true, but I still don't believe that BGs job will be in jeopardy until 1-2 years after the dead cap hits fall off the books.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

Surely safe for next season, but if prospects like Stramel continue to flatline (a first round stretch is a big bet, no matter what happens the rest of the class) and the team misses the playoffs again, I think Leipold gets twitchy again. I guess I wouldn't want to be the one who gets face to face with Billy to fire him though.

 

[DANOZ28]

we all knew the buyouts were going to be a challenge. last summer i wasn't happy with billy at all. i'll give him credit for not trading the future at the deadline just to save his job. hes on thin ice with me. iowa fans should be upset they don't have a better team.

 

[thestonedkoala]

All true, but I still don't believe that BGs job will be in jeopardy until 1-2 years after the dead cap hits fall off the books.

If he has another season like this season, I can see Leipold pulling the trigger.

 

[Wonderful Tacos]

Guerin just got a pay raise, new title & contract last offseason. His seat isnt the least bit warm

 

[57special]

BG probably has a t least two more years, unless there is another work place incident or two similar to the Heidt one.

 

[MuckOG]

If he has another season like this season, I can see Leipold pulling the trigger.

Next season will probably look a lot like this season, and I think Leipold is prepared for that. Let's face it, not having that $14+ million to spend would be a tough nut to crack for any franchise. I'm not excusing the other BG moves, but I don't see him being on the hot seat...at least not until 2-3 years from now.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Next season will probably look a lot like this season, and I think Leipold is prepared for that. Let's face it, not having that $14+ million to spend would be a tough nut to crack for any franchise. I'm not excusing the other BG moves, but I don't see him being on the hot seat...at least not until 2-3 years from now.

Honestly, after experiencing the shit show that was the end of the Risebrough period and the shit show that was the end of the Fletcher period, I don't want to go through that again with Guerin. He's already showed his cards this season and getting another GM to clean up Guerin's messes (Foligno, Hartman, Iowa) is going to take a bit of time to fix. Getting them in now instead of after Guerin has firmly screwed this team might not be a bad thing. See Fletcher and Risebrough.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

I tend to think Guerin is an average GM. He does some good and some bad. I don’t think he’s terrible by any means, but I question that he can build a winner.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

He's probably tied to Kaprizov's decision. Needed to build a team that Kaprizov would want to be a part of, and not take less money to play elsewhere. If he bolts, probably best for a fresh start. Zuccarello off the books, Foligno, Spurgeon and Hartman I believe with minimal trade protection. Brodin too I think.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

If Kaprizov leaves I would hope they see it as an opportunity to do a proper rebuild. Doubt it, but I can hope.

 

[Wabit]

IMO, Leipold knew that, because of the buy-outs, that the team would struggle to compete during this stretch....I think where BG will be graded by Leipold is how they emerge from the dead cap hits.

I am on the opposite end of this. The buyouts were done so that the team could make the Playoffs every year. If the team was going to be missing the Playoffs then there is no reason not to just tide out those contracts and not have the extra 4 years of dead cap at the end of their contracts.

This year and next cost the team more in cap just to fill those 2 roster spots than it would have cost to keep the players. Last year MN had a ton of unused cap space. The first season there was enough space to just have kept them too (maybe Rask would need to have been dumped?). Goli for Suter (dead cap) was basically a 1 for 1 trade as a cap hit.

 

[AKL]

If Kaprizov leaves I would hope they see it as an opportunity to do a proper rebuild. Doubt it, but I can hope.

I think this is a Leipold thing, so I don't think we're going to see a proper rebuild until he leaves. Plus I think they'll probably look at Boldy, Ek, Rossi, Wallstedt, Yurov, etc and say we don't need a rebuild, and we'll get to re-live the last decade+ again with a lot of good but not great depth and no true superstar players. It's a vicious cycle.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

I think this is a Leipold thing, so I don't think we're going to see a proper rebuild until he leaves. Plus I think they'll probably look at Boldy, Ek, Rossi, Wallstedt, Yurov, etc and say we don't need a rebuild, and we'll get to re-live the last decade+ again with a lot of good but not great depth and no true superstar players. It's a vicious cycle.

Would consider trading teams.

 

[Wabit]

I think this is a Leipold thing, so I don't think we're going to see a proper rebuild until he leaves. Plus I think they'll probably look at Boldy, Ek, Rossi, Wallstedt, Yurov, etc and say we don't need a rebuild, and we'll get to re-live the last decade+ again with a lot of good but not great depth and no true superstar players. It's a vicious cycle.

Even without Kap they have enough of a team that a rebuild is out of the question unless none of the prospects turn into anything.