Minnesota Wild General Discussion - 2023-24

[57special]

Yeah, that's what I thought. He was just talking out of his ass.

Or, after asking around, BBG found out that Rossi doesn't have the value that he thought.

 

[tyratoku]

The way I interpreted Russo's latest Rossi comments on his podcast weren't so much that Guerin doesn't want to trade Rossi, but that he wants to kick the can down the road. Reading between the lines, I'm thinking it's either at the trade deadline for "now" help, or it's at next year's draft with a pick for some sort of player addition. Could be wrong.

I also disagree with trading Rossi in general, but that's apparently beside the point.

 

[MNRube]

If we trade Rossi, it better be as part of a hockey trade. Kap, JEE, Boldy, Faber, Brodin is the best core this franchise has ever had and a group that has already demonstrated that they are tank-proof.

We are a bounceback year from Spurgeon away from being a very good team.

 

[BagHead]

If we trade Rossi, it better be as part of a hockey trade. Kap, JEE, Boldy, Faber, Brodin is the best core this franchise has ever had and a group that has already demonstrated that they are tank-proof.

We are a bounceback year from Spurgeon away from being a very good team.

It's kind of funny, I'm actually afraid it'll be a "hockey" trade. One where we're getting an older player who's bigger and faster but less effective. Looking at the rumored or speculated Flyers deals: Cutter Gauthier? Sure! Joel Farabee? Hell no.

 

[MNRube]

It's kind of funny, I'm actually afraid it'll be a "hockey" trade. One where we're getting an older player who's bigger and faster but less effective. Looking at the rumored or speculated Flyers deals: Cutter Gauthier? Sure! Joel Farabee? Hell no.

I like Farabee as a 2nd line option but Rossi has a higher ceiling IMO. If he isn’t buoyed by the Iowa guys for the last 1/3rd of the season and stuck with Freddy & Foligno on PP2, the narrative is completely different.

There was a time around midseason when Rossi led the team in 5v5 scoring or was just behind 97. Meanwhile Zucc had like 4 points 5v5 when he wasn’t on the ice with Kaprizov.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

If we trade Rossi, it better be as part of a hockey trade. Kap, JEE, Boldy, Faber, Brodin is the best core this franchise has ever had and a group that has already demonstrated that they are tank-proof.

We are a bounceback year from Spurgeon away from being a very good team.

Probably should put Gustavsson/Fleury in there too.

 

[BagHead]

I like Farabee as a 2nd line option but Rossi has a higher ceiling IMO. If he isn’t buoyed by the Iowa guys for the last 1/3rd of the season and stuck with Freddy & Foligno on PP2, the narrative is completely different.

There was a time around midseason when Rossi led the team in 5v5 scoring or was just behind 97. Meanwhile Zucc had like 4 points 5v5 when he wasn’t on the ice with Kaprizov.

I didn't mean to disrespect Farabee, he's a fine player. My reaction is due to my thoughts that Rossi is already a 2nd line player, IMO, and has been steadily improving. I don't want a decent 2nd liner for a guy who I think can become more than that.

 

[MNRube]

Probably should put Gustavsson/Fleury in there too.

100%. The position is always a coin toss but especially with our guys. They each have their own issues. Gus has been both a Vezina candidate and a complete sieve in his 2 years; Fleury is ancient & streaky and Wallstedt is promising as hell but a complete unknown still. I’ll leave the goaltending projections to the Gods

We basically inherited a 1D last year and saw Rossi prove himself as, at worst, a strong middle 6 C. Those massive developments were obscured by the horrible showings by our goalies and the veteran depth guys like Freddy, Foligno and 5v5 Zucc.

 

[Webster]

100%. The position is always a coin toss but especially with our guys. They each have their own issues. Gus has been both a Vezina candidate and a complete sieve in his 2 years; Fleury is ancient & streaky and Wallstedt is promising as hell but a complete unknown still. I’ll leave the goaltending projections to the Gods

We basically inherited a 1D last year and saw Rossi prove himself as, at worst, a strong middle 6 C. Those massive developments were obscured by the horrible showings by our goalies and the veteran depth guys like Freddy, Foligno and 5v5 Zucc.

Zucc?

Put playmaker Zucc with linemates who can finish, and you know what happens. No problems when he plays with Kaprizov, and in the World Championship Zucc also played great with MBN, who's a true sniper.

Rossi and Johansson couldn't finish Zucc's feeds, and that's why Guerin may hit the market and look for a top 6 guy who can.

 

[Sweetnut]

Contract year Johansson could also produce at a higher level, and Billy G would then hand him the ususal 4x4 NMC.
Or even worse, Billy saw his performance at the World's and hands him the contract before the season even starts, ruining the contract year improvement.
Just let him go, Billy! It's not worth it.

 

[Webster]

Looks like both Johansson and Rossi are having more success on the larger Euro rinks where they can find room. I'd say they're too soft for the NHL, getting knocked off the puck.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Zucc?

Put playmaker Zucc with linemates who can finish, and you know what happens. No problems when he plays with Kaprizov, and in the World Championship Zucc also played great with MBN, who's a true sniper.

Rossi and Johansson couldn't finish Zucc's feeds, and that's why Guerin may hit the market and look for a top 6 guy who can.

I too agree that Zucc is fully dependent on his linemates in order to succeed in any notable way. Good call on that.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Looks like both Johansson and Rossi are having more success on the larger Euro rinks where they can find room. I'd say they're too soft for the NHL, getting knocked off the puck.

Rossi 5v5 points-per-game: 0.402
Zucc 5v5 points-per-game: 0.406

Kaprizov 5v5 time with Rossi: 450:34
Kaprizov 5v5 time with Zucc: 502:55

Zuccarello's NHL stats at Rossi's age: 0 games, 0 goals, 0 points.

But I'm sure you knew this already.

 

[Webster]

I too agree that Zucc is fully dependent on his linemates in order to succeed in any notable way. Good call on that.

Every player needs good linemates, hockey is a team game. Zucc's role is to create plays, and he's damn good at this, but he doesn't shoot much. He leaves it for his linemates to put it in the net, always been like this with him.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Every player needs good linemates, hockey is a team game. Zucc's role is to create plays, and he's damn good at this, but he doesn't shoot much. He leaves it for his linemates to put it in the net, always been like this with him.

As I said, fully dependent.

 

[AKL]

Looks like both Johansson and Rossi are having more success on the larger Euro rinks where they can find room. I'd say they're too soft for the NHL, getting knocked off the puck.

I want to frame this post and hang it on my wall. It's a work of art. The piece de resistance is the artist being completely oblivious to the fact that he's actually describing his guy to a T. Great piece. Art isn't dead when I see stuff like this.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I want to frame this post and hang it on my wall. It's a work of art. The piece de resistance is the artist being completely oblivious to the fact that he's actually describing his guy to a T. Great piece. Art isn't dead when I see stuff like this.

Incoming picture of Chara falling down around Zucc 7-10 years ago.

 

[MNRube]

Every player needs good linemates, hockey is a team game. Zucc's role is to create plays, and he's damn good at this, but he doesn't shoot much. He leaves it for his linemates to put it in the net, always been like this with him.

He’s a PP specialist who has to play with Kaprizov to succeed 5v5. Unfortunately, if we put them together, they give up as much as they get because Zucc is lazy on D and a turnover machine.

 

[Wabit]

He’s a PP specialist who has to play with Kaprizov to succeed 5v5.

This describes Boldy, Zucc, Rossi, and pretty much every other FWD not named Hartman on the team.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Zucc does need a shooter on his line, the problem is finding one of those guys who is also not a black hole in his own end. It’s partly why Hartman was a good fit with him in previous seasons, I don’t know if you return to that or look for outside help, maybe both. Thankfully we do have 3 centers that are very responsible defensively, if Rossi is able to hone his shot more this off-season then maybe he makes sense there, but that is a tiny line and you would need the RW to be the board battler/dirty work at the net kinda guy.

 

[57special]

Zucc does need a shooter on his line, the problem is finding one of those guys who is also not a black hole in his own end. It’s partly why Hartman was a good fit with him in previous seasons, I don’t know if you return to that or look for outside help, maybe both. Thankfully we do have 3 centers that are very responsible defensively, if Rossi is able to hone his shot more this off-season then maybe he makes sense there, but that is a tiny line and you would need the RW to be the board battler/dirty work at the net kinda guy.

Hopefully Ohgren will be that guy, with either Rossi or Hartman in the middle.

 

[MNRube]

This describes Boldy, Zucc, Rossi, and pretty much every other FWD not named Hartman on the team.

JEE, Rossi, Foligno, Boldy all can be effective away from Kaprizov. Even Mojo, occasionally. And none are as bad as Zucc defensively nor do any of them commit as many turnovers

 

[MNRube]

What about:

Kap-Hartman-Boldy
Ohgren-JEE-Zucc
Foligno-Rossi-$5M FA vet
Mojo-Marat-Freddy

Hate to break up the top line but I like this balance a bit more.

Similarly

Middleton-Faber
Brodin-Bogosian
Chisholm-Spurgeon

Finally can roll 3 pairs again. I don’t know if Chisholm-Bogosian will hold up, I think that pair becomes a liability before long

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

What about:

Kap-Hartman-Boldy
Ohgren-JEE-Zucc
Foligno-Rossi-$5M FA vet
Mojo-Marat-Freddy

Hate to break up the top line but I like this balance a bit more.

Similarly

Middleton-Faber
Brodin-Bogosian
Chisholm-Spurgeon

Finally can roll 3 pairs again. I don’t know if Chisholm-Bogosian will hold up, I think that pair becomes a liability before long

I'd like to give Rossi people to play with, even if it handicaps Kaprizov a bit, and especially since an upcoming decision on him is going to be made:

Kaprizov - Ek - Zuccarello
Boldy - Rossi - Hartman

 

[AKL]

I want to see what FA winger they sign first. Going to use Perron as a placeholder for now.

Kaprizov-Rossi-Boldy
Perron/Zuccarello-Ek-Hartman
Ohgren-Khusnutdinov-Foligno/Zuccarello/Perron
Johansson-Gaudreau-Foligno/Zuccarello

I don't see how Zuccarello of last year gets regular top six time on this team if they add a guy like Perron. Maybe he rebounds a little? He's also not really a bottom six style player. Not seeing the vision with the contract extension yet. I'll keep looking.