Minnesota Wild General Discussion - 2022-23

[Wabit]

They would have had that $15M in cap either way.

Almost all of the contracts signed by Guerin have been good to fantastic. Kap, Eriksson Ek, Hartman, Gaudreau, Foligno, Brodin, Middleton, Merrill, MAF, etc. The rest are ELCs. The only controversial one is Spurgeon and maybe Brodin.

It completely took away the option of trades, and that $15m is less than their buyout + the cost to replace them.

 

[Digitalbooya]

It completely took away the option of trades, and that $15m is less than their buyout + the cost to replace them.

It also completely negated any chance of recapture. It also removed what management determined to be locker problem(s), well at least Suter was for sure a problem based on player reports about his personality and Russo's reports. Parise was more of a distraction, but I kinda wish this team still had him.

These moves also handed the keys over to our younger and faster players.

 

[AKL]

Maybe through a pessimistic lens it’s not. That’s just prospects we have

You presented a lineup with virtually all 10 of our top 10 prospects hitting their realistic upside in just 2-3 years. It doesn't take a pessimistic lens to see the odds of that happening are slim to none.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

You presented a lineup with virtually all 10 of our top 10 prospects hitting their realistic upside in just 2-3 years. It doesn't take a pessimistic lens to see the odds of that happening are slim to none.

Yeah, I think more realistically, it's:

Kaprizov - X - Boldy
X - Rossi/Khus - Yurov
Ohgren - Eriksson Ek - X/Walker
4th line

Lambos - Spurgeon (2A pairing)
Brodin - Faber (2B pairing)
Hunt/ROR - Addison

Wallstedt

 

[Digitalbooya]

You presented a lineup with virtually all 10 of our top 10 prospects hitting their realistic upside in just 2-3 years. It doesn't take a pessimistic lens to see the odds of that happening are slim to none.

You also left out this part when you quoted me:

Maybe through a pessimistic lens it’s not. That’s just prospects we have and doesn’t include trades or potential signings.

We will have a boatload of cap, prospect to deal for future Fiala situations, and some useful players we either re-signed or traded for more value.

For forwards, I do expect Khusnutdinov to have a smoother transition to the NHL than Rossi, given that he will be older and played in the KHL for years at that point. Rossi should be some form of top 6 center or he’s a bust. Yurov, this might be my biggest question mark. He was supposed to be a top 10 prospect. Fell because of politics. Has dominated lower ranks in Russia. Gets almost zero time in the KHL. He should be in Iowa next year. That gives him 2-3 years to develop and have call ups/stints with the MN Wild. Ohgren, he might take longer to marinate but I see him being a nice middle 6 guy. He can definitely be replaced in my lineup by Walker, with Duhaime sliding up, or Foligno being re-signed to a cheap contract.

Defense, I have a lot of faith in Lambos-Faber being the “new” Brodin-Dumba. Hunt is probably already NHL ready, but is blocked by three vets vying for two lineup spots.

If they go big game hunting for Rantanen or Draisaitl, everyone slides down a peg and we are sitting pretty.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Yeah, I think more realistically, it's:

Kaprizov - X - Boldy
X - Rossi/Khus - Yurov
Ohgren - Eriksson Ek - X/Walker
4th line

Lambos - Spurgeon (2A pairing)
Brodin - Faber (2B pairing)
Hunt/ROR - Addison

Wallstedt

Yurov with Kap so it’s easier for him to transition to North America (Russian with Russian) was my reasoning for my 1st line.

I do like the idea of Eriksson Ek getting to play with more offensively inclined played. We are paying him to be a 2C while he plays on the 3rd line currently with top PP and PK minutes. I’d like to see his role expand and possibly try him with Kap again.

 

[AKL]

You also left out this part when you quoted me:

Yeah because it wasn't relevant to the part where you posted a lineup with 10 of our top prospects all hitting their realistic upside within 2-3 years?

I'm not denying that we could sign free agents or make trades during that window. I'm telling you that your initial post featuring the lineup with 10 of our top prospects all hitting their realistic upside in 2-3 years does not need a pessimistic lens to see it's not likely. The fact that you quickly audibled to "well we could make trades or sign these free agents" shows me you know that, so at this point you're just moving goalposts for the sake of arguing.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Yeah because it wasn't relevant to the part where you posted a lineup with 10 of our top prospects all hitting their realistic upside within 2-3 years?

I'm not denying that we could sign free agents or make trades during that window. I'm telling you that your initial post featuring the lineup with 10 of our top prospects all hitting their realistic upside in 2-3 years does not need a pessimistic lens to see it's not likely. The fact that you quickly audibled to "well we could make trades or sign these free agents" shows me you know that, so at this point you're just moving goalposts for the sake of arguing.

Whatever dude. I’m excited for the prospects and I laid out my exact thoughts on if/why I think they will be ready in the post you quoted (which you conveniently deleted off again when quoting me).

Half of our prospects in that lineup are already “NHL ready.” Rossi is ppg in the AHL and should be pushing the NHL. Hunt is being blocked out by 3 vets vying for 2 spots. Faber is expected to be inserted into the NHL lineup the second he is signed at the end of the college season. If Khusnutdinov was in Iowa, he’d be in a dog fight for first center call up with Rossi. Walker is already pushing the NHL.

The question marks:
Yurov - see my previous post
Ohgren - I acknowledged he might take longer, see previous post.
Milne - meh, I think he has the speed for the NHL and could morph into a nice bottom 6 wing
Lambos - We shall see how he does. He’s got plenty of time to mature and he has the skill.
Wallstedt - I love this guy. He will be on the NHL roster when MAF’s contract is gone.

I didn’t move the goal posts. If you actually read my post, I said

In 2-3 years this team will be opening a massive Cup window with hopefully a lot of prospects starting to make an impact at the NHL level.

Emphasis on “hopefully.” And at the end:

The potential is there for them to be really good.

Key word being potential.

A little reading comprehension can go a long ways.

 

[kfan22]

Gus needs to play more until proven otherwise. He wasnt tested much tonight but the numbers show he should be starting

 

[ThatGuy22]

Gus needs to play more until proven otherwise. He wasnt tested much tonight but the numbers show he should be starting

Trying to figure out when it's the right time to start making fun of the Sens for trading their goalie of the future....

 

[Webster]

Sounds like Greenway is done here, according to Russo. Remember the other day Greenway "wasn't available" and Evason mad about it? He wasn't allowed to play because he showed up late, and it isn't the first time. Guerin's had enough.

So Dumba and Greenway trade coming up?

 

[BagHead]

Trying to figure out when it's the right time to start making fun of the Sens for trading their goalie of the future....

After he retires. Until then I'll assume we get burned by any gloating.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Hah! Called the Greenway issues. Guy could be a beast.

 

[AKL]

Hah! Called the Greenway issues. Guy could be a beast.

Didn't exactly go out on a limb with that one.

 

[Bdub]

You can tell Greenway didnt grow up with a blue collar family. He could of been buff 2.0 but that will never happen.

 

[57special]

This is an above average team that has next to no chance of winning a Cup.

 

[MK9]

This is an above average team that has next to no chance of winning a Cup.

Been the M.O. of this team for about half of it's existence.

 

[ThatGuy22]

You can tell Greenway didnt grow up with a blue collar family. He could of been buff 2.0 but that will never happen.

Yep... grew up in the privilege of a single mom household....never knew hard times...

 

[Digitalbooya]

This is an above average team that has next to no chance of winning a Cup.

Weirdly enough, I see this as the year we win round 1. Because it makes no sense at all and therefore it will happen.

 

[Prior]

It’s certainly “interesting” how Greenway gets much of the backlash but Foligno escapes any criticism for being the worst player on his line most nights.

 

[AKL]

It’s certainly “interesting” how Greenway gets much of the backlash but Foligno escapes any criticism for being the worst player on his line most nights.

Greenway has been this way for his entire time here and he has no good grace left.

Foligno gets the benefit of the doubt from most because he's coming off of two really great years.

Greenway's problems are also very much top of mind because of the recently reported fiasco of being late to a meeting and being benched over it.

But you are right, Foligno has been dreadful for most of the year and deserves criticism for it. He does get a fair amount sometimes. At least I know I and a couple others have talked about it in GDT's recently (and then he scored shortly after so I looked like an idiot in the moment).

 

[Digitalbooya]

Part of me wonders if we should dismantle the GREEF line. Trade Greenway and Foligno. Trade for/sign Bo Horvat. Re-sign Freddy.

Kap-Horvat-Zucc
Boldy-Eriksson Ek-Hartman/Walker
Duhaime-Gaudreau-Walker/Hartman
Shaw-Dewar-XXXX

At least we’d have some semblance of a legit 1st and 2nd line

 

[Prior]

Part of me wonders if we should dismantle the GREEF line. Trade Greenway and Foligno. Trade for/sign Bo Horvat. Re-sign Freddy.

Kap-Horvat-Zucc
Boldy-Eriksson Ek-Hartman/Walker
Duhaime-Gaudreau-Walker/Hartman
Shaw-Dewar-XXXX

At least we’d have some semblance of a legit 1st and 2nd line

That’s close what I would like to see but would prefer Larkin if it could be done.

Also not certain you could bring back Gaudreau nor do I think you would want to. I think Guerin is more or less guaranteed to do it though.

 

[Wabit]

I'm somewhat hoping Freddy G chases the biggest payday he can get and prices himself out of MN, or he just decides to leave.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Part of me wonders if we should dismantle the GREEF line. Trade Greenway and Foligno. Trade for/sign Bo Horvat. Re-sign Freddy.

Kap-Horvat-Zucc
Boldy-Eriksson Ek-Hartman/Walker
Duhaime-Gaudreau-Walker/Hartman
Shaw-Dewar-XXXX

At least we’d have some semblance of a legit 1st and 2nd line

Ick. Get rid of Greenway but losing Foligno would be a huge blow to this team.