Minnesota Wild General Discussion - 2023-24

[MuckOG]

In Russo's recent Athletic column, he made it sound like there is still a chance Yurov doesn't sign his KHL extension and still comes over to play next season....and Guerin is quoted as saying he wants him to come over immediately. For some reason, I thought it was all but a done deal that he was extending in the KHL.

Also said that if Marat doesn't make the NHL roster next season, the Wild would consider loaning him out to the KHL.

 

[57special]

In Russo's recent Athletic column, he made it sound like there is still a chance Yurov doesn't sign his KHL extension and still comes over to play next season....and Guerin is quoted as saying he wants him to come over immediately. For some reason, I thought it was all but a done deal that he was extending in the KHL.

Also said that if Marat doesn't make the NHL roster next season, the Wild would consider loaning him out to the KHL.

Change of tune from Guerin, who earlier made it seem like it didn't matter to him one way or another.

I hate that KHL provision, because it takes away the possibility of a call up from the AHL. It's a PITA, and one reason that dealing with Russian prospects can be annoying, i.e. Firstov.
I mean, Boldy, and Rossi, among many, many others, have been called up and sent down during the course of a season. Does Marat think that he is better than them, and deserves a NHL spot right away, and forever?

 

[MuckOG]

Change of tune from Guerin, who earlier made it seem like it didn't matter to him one way or another.

I hate that KHL provision, because it takes away the possibility of a call up from the AHL. It's a PITA, and one reason that dealing with Russian prospects can be annoying, i.e. Firstov.
I mean, Boldy, and Rossi, among many, many others, have been called up and sent down during the course of a season. Does Marat think that he is better than them, and deserves a NHL spot right away, and forever?

He didn't say it was a certainty, only something they might consider.

 

[AKL]

If Marat isn't ready for the NHL team next year I'd have no problem with him going back to Russia, even though it might be nice for us to have him in Iowa. If he's on that cusp, chances are he's not going to improve enough over the course of the season to make an impact, and having him as a callup or not won't make or break anything. Same with Yurov, same with Ohgren even.

The only thing is, obviously it would be nice if Iowa wasn't a complete dumpster fire, but I'm not sure Khusnutdinov is enough to make a difference there.

Yurov coming over next year would be a treat, and combined with drafting Tij Iginla this summer, is the only thing keeping me going this season.

 

[AKL]

Also, this season kinda sucks overall, but seeing/reading Kaprizov give an interview in English about how excited he is to meet Khusnutdinov and help him in his transition is definitely a bright spot, takes away some of the gloominess of the season.

 

[Webster]

So interesting day at practice. Same lines as last night, but Hynes said it's not necessarily the lineup against the Blues -"there are some decisions to be made".

Guerin was also there watching, but he was on the phone all the time. Something is cooking.

And Bettman's police called Zuccarello..."You've been fined $2.000 for unsportsmanlike conduct". He got involved in a scrum from the bench

 

[Wabit]

It’s annoying that we are seemingly slow-cooking all of our prospects. It’s been bad enough dealing with the buyouts for 5 years. It may work out eventually but man it can be aggravating

Kap (if he counts) was straight to the NHL (plus a burned ELC year).

Boldy was going to make the team out of his first camp but got injured (14 AHL games). Then he got injured again after a few AHL games (10 more AHL games).

Faber was straight to the NHL.

Rossi had his shot after a single AHL season. He was lost in the NHL and sent back down after ~20 games.

Addison, it turned out, has some major flaws in his game.

Wallstedt is the only other prospect of note that they've had control over the last few years, but goalies are a different breed. Maybe he's ready, maybe he's not?

Marat K is yet to be seen, but from reports he's straight to the NHL.

Dewar, Duhaime, and Shaw were long shots to be in the NHL to begin with.

I don't see much slow cooking of prospects. The good/ready ones made it to the very quickly.

 

[AKL]

Boldy was going to make the team out of his first camp but got injured (14 AHL games). Then he got injured again after a few AHL games (10 more AHL games).

Boldy was put in the AHL after his sophomore year at BC ended, much to everyone's disappointment, he played 14 games at the end of their season. Then the following year he was probably going to make the team out of camp, but got injured and missed a big part of the start of the season, he had a 10 game "conditioning stint" in Iowa, was called up in the winter, and never went back.

 

[MNRube]

Kap (if he counts) was straight to the NHL (plus a burned ELC year).

Boldy was going to make the team out of his first camp but got injured (14 AHL games). Then he got injured again after a few AHL games (10 more AHL games).

Faber was straight to the NHL.

Rossi had his shot after a single AHL season. He was lost in the NHL and sent back down after ~20 games.

Addison, it turned out, has some major flaws in his game.

Wallstedt is the only other prospect of note that they've had control over the last few years, but goalies are a different breed. Maybe he's ready, maybe he's not?

Marat K is yet to be seen, but from reports he's straight to the NHL.

Dewar, Duhaime, and Shaw were long shots to be in the NHL to begin with.

I don't see much slow cooking of prospects. The good/ready ones made it to the very quickly.

Boldy should’ve played in the Vegas series. He was ready and the series was winnable.

Faber was already better than Dumba the second he put on a jersey and still got sheltered.

Rossi gets crap linemates most of the year and never sniffed PP1 despite being our best 5v5 scorer. Now he’s sucking hind-titty with a pair of AHLers while our unimpressive veterans get every advantage with regards to deployment and linemates.

Then we sign every veteran with a pulse to longterm player-friendly deals with NMCs, further inhibiting the opportunity for these young guys to fill the roles and limiting our ability to use the post-buyout $ to sign a big fish.

Thats saying nothing of Beckman, Bankier, Lambos, Wallstedt, ROR & Hunt who are languishing in a putrid AHL environment.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Boldy should’ve played in the Vegas series. He was ready and the series was winnable.

Faber was already better than Dumba the second he put on a jersey and still got sheltered.

Rossi gets crap linemates most of the year and never sniffed PP1 despite being our best 5v5 scorer. Now he’s sucking hind-titty with a pair of AHLers while our unimpressive veterans get every advantage with regards to deployment and linemates.

Then we sign every veteran with a pulse to longterm player-friendly deals with NMCs, further inhibiting the opportunity for these young guys to fill the roles and limiting our ability to use the post-buyout $ to sign a big fish.

Thats saying nothing of Beckman, Bankier, Lambos, Wallstedt, ROR & Hunt who are languishing in a putrid AHL environment.

Speculation, you don't know that. Nobody knows that as it never happened.

 

[DANOZ28]

In Russo's recent Athletic column, he made it sound like there is still a chance Yurov doesn't sign his KHL extension and still comes over to play next season....and Guerin is quoted as saying he wants him to come over immediately. For some reason, I thought it was all but a done deal that he was extending in the KHL.

Also said that if Marat doesn't make the NHL roster next season, the Wild would consider loaning him out to the KHL.

i mentioned this in post 2535 but hey thx 4 the update.

 

[Wabit]

Boldy should’ve played in the Vegas series. He was ready and the series was winnable.

Faber was already better than Dumba the second he put on a jersey and still got sheltered.

Rossi gets crap linemates most of the year and never sniffed PP1 despite being our best 5v5 scorer. Now he’s sucking hind-titty with a pair of AHLers while our unimpressive veterans get every advantage with regards to deployment and linemates.

Then we sign every veteran with a pulse to longterm player-friendly deals with NMCs, further inhibiting the opportunity for these young guys to fill the roles and limiting our ability to use the post-buyout $ to sign a big fish.

Thats saying nothing of Beckman, Bankier, Lambos, Wallstedt, ROR & Hunt who are languishing in a putrid AHL environment.

So they aren't overcooking anyone. Those ready are already in the NHL lineup quickly. Those that aren't stay and develop more. Nobody on the roster is blocking anyone from Iowa (maybe Wallstedt?) this year. Mermis would still be the best LD in Iowa and Shaw would be the best FWD. The L boys are better than the FWDs in Iowa too.

I agree Boldy should have gotten a couple of NHL games and maybe the Playoffs his 1st season. But after watching him be a complete non-factor the last 2 Playoffs I don't think him being on the team would have made a difference against Vegas.

Rossi gets crap linemates because, outside of Kap and Boldy, the wings are all varying degrees of crap (seriously Foligno might be the 3rd best winger on the team 5v5). He's been tried with almost every winger on the team at some point this season and none of the lines have worked well. The only way to get him on a good line would be as a winger with JEE/Boldy or JEE/Kap.

 

[Wabit]

Boldy was put in the AHL after his sophomore year at BC ended, much to everyone's disappointment, he played 14 games at the end of their season. Then the following year he was probably going to make the team out of camp, but got injured and missed a big part of the start of the season, he had a 10 game "conditioning stint" in Iowa, was called up in the winter, and never went back.

It was actually turned out to be like a 4 game stint, different injury, and then a 6 game conditioning stint IIRC. To me the condition stint in Iowa was the correct place for him to be for where he was in his career.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Sorry if you guys already discussed this but the Shaw signing....makes no sense to have him up and not play to me. His presence was extremely noticeable for Iowa, maybe not always winning, but many guys were showing more effort and a little more confidence. Additionally, and maybe more importantly, the guy needs game experience to get back in shape and feel comfortable on the knee. They call him up and then....just practice/skate?

And last, it's not like there aren't guys that should be scratched. I know the media was saying how he got his legs back - I am not sure I believe that, so not sure why not just let him keep playing in Iowa until you're actually going to play him.

If I am missing some deadline to sign him to a contract for the year, which means you have to call him up for X time, then I will admit I am an idiot, haha.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Sorry if you guys already discussed this but the Shaw signing....makes no sense to have him up and not play to me. His presence was extremely noticeable for Iowa, maybe not always winning, but many guys were showing more effort and a little more confidence. Additionally, and maybe more importantly, the guy needs game experience to get back in shape and feel comfortable on the knee. They call him up and then....just practice/skate?

And last, it's not like there aren't guys that should be scratched. I know the media was saying how he got his legs back - I am not sure I believe that, so not sure why not just let him keep playing in Iowa until you're actually going to play him.

If I am missing some deadline to sign him to a contract for the year, which means you have to call him up for X time, then I will admit I am an idiot, haha.

It could be them trying to get him an NHL wage vs an AHL wage.

 

[Wabit]

Sorry if you guys already discussed this but the Shaw signing....makes no sense to have him up and not play to me. His presence was extremely noticeable for Iowa, maybe not always winning, but many guys were showing more effort and a little more confidence. Additionally, and maybe more importantly, the guy needs game experience to get back in shape and feel comfortable on the knee. They call him up and then....just practice/skate?

And last, it's not like there aren't guys that should be scratched. I know the media was saying how he got his legs back - I am not sure I believe that, so not sure why not just let him keep playing in Iowa until you're actually going to play him.

If I am missing some deadline to sign him to a contract for the year, which means you have to call him up for X time, then I will admit I am an idiot, haha.

There could be some behinds the scenes stuff we don't know about. Other teams could have been sniffing around about him for their NHL team and MN didn't want to lose him?

There could have been a handshake deal between him and the GM to get signed to the NHL team once he proved he was healthy because he was non-QOed last offseason (cap/LTIR reasons).

I think if Evason was still the coach he'd be in the lineup already. Maybe Haynes doesn't think he's ready, or he trusts the guys he's had in the lineup more?

 

[Jbcraig1883]

It could be them trying to get him an NHL wage vs an AHL wage.

There could have been a handshake deal between him and the GM to get signed to the NHL team once he proved he was healthy because he was non-QOed last offseason (cap/LTIR reasons).

These two seem pretty realistic to me.

 

[Sweetnut]

This month we got Blues x3, Ducks x2, Yotes x2, Sharks x2 and then Preds & Kings. All of those games seems winnable. Then we got Avs & Vegas. We won 5-3 in Vegas.
3 games left before TDL.
If I know Billy G right, he's looking to buy.

 

[Wabit]

This month we got Blues x3, Ducks x2, Yotes x2, Sharks x2 and then Preds & Kings. All of those games seems winnable. Then we got Avs & Vegas. We won 5-3 in Vegas.
3 games left before TDL.
If I know Billy G right, he's looking to buy.

I don't count any games vs the Blues as winnable. They just seem to have MN's number.

 

[Sweetnut]

I don't count any games vs the Blues as winnable. They just seem to have MN's number.

You're no fun. Let's just send MAF over to fight Binnington and then Freddy scores a hat trick. That'll teach 'em.

 

[MNRube]

Rossi gets crap linemates because, outside of Kap and Boldy, the wings are all varying degrees of crap (seriously Foligno might be the 3rd best winger on the team 5v5). He's been tried with almost every winger on the team at some point this season and none of the lines have worked well. The only way to get him on a good line would be as a winger with JEE/Boldy or JEE/Kap.

How is he scoring so many even strength points if none of the lines are working? That makes zero sense

 

[MNRube]

Speculation, you don't know that. Nobody knows that as it never happened.

Well yeah, we never really know anything about prospects until they play. But it feels like a pretty safe bet he would’ve been more effective than Bjugstad and Rask.

 

[Wabit]

How is he scoring so many even strength points if none of the lines are working? That makes zero sense

Points are nice, but it doesn't mean the lines are good. Steel and Rask both had a bunch of points it doesn't mean that they were meaningful parts of a line.

I'll flip it around. What line was good that Rossi was a part of? There hasn't been any instance where I can think of where I questioned why a line he was on was broken up. There hasn't been a Nino/Pommer/Haula, Kap/Zucc, Boldy/Fiala, GREEF, etc. type of combo he's been a part of that I can think of.

The crying on here that Rossi needs better linemates starts and ends with Boldy and Kap. Every other winger is a "it might work out?" situation. So what line should (without Kap or Boldy) Rossi be on so that he's treated with the properly?

 

[MNRube]

Points are nice, but it doesn't mean the lines are good. Steel and Rask both had a bunch of points it doesn't mean that they were meaningful parts of a line.

I'll flip it around. What line was good that Rossi was a part of? There hasn't been any instance where I can think of where I questioned why a line he was on was broken up. There hasn't been a Nino/Pommer/Haula, Kap/Zucc, Boldy/Fiala, GREEF, etc. type of combo he's been a part of that I can think of.

The crying on here that Rossi needs better linemates starts and ends with Boldy and Kap. Every other winger is a "it might work out?" situation. So what line should (without Kap or Boldy) Rossi be on so that he's treated with the properly?

He’s been fine defensively. There hasn’t been a good line all season besides the top line during February. He was leading the team in ES scoring until that line went nuclear. That doesn’t happen by accident

And you’re grossly exaggerating what Rask and Steel accomplished. Not to mention they were veterans. Not bluechip prospects

 

[NHL1674]

Why would Billy G buy? It's pretty obvious we need a 2nd line and 5 n 6 d-man to even think about making the playoffs!

And goaltending. Both have been up and down and sideways. Poor Wallstedt needs to be kept away from this mess until those damn Parise and Suter contracts are off the books. Of course by then, we'll probably be sitting on new dead cap space after buying out Foligno.

Good times.