Minnesota Wild General Discussion - 2023-24

[BagHead]

Yeah, there's more than one way to build a winning team. I don't know how FLA did it, but you have guys like Vanderhaeghe playing like stars and ERod, the guy BUF couldn't wait to dump, playing really well. They have Kulikov still playing a regular shift, and Forsling, their best Dman, was a 5th round, CBH cast off. Even Reinhart, who was a good, but a nothing special player, has turned into a monster. They have something going on there that has everyone elevating their game. Even their coach, Maurice, is, for the 1st time, not losing control of his guys like he seemed to do every year in WPG.

Ekblad was a #1 oa, but a very underwhelming one, partly due to injuries. Barkov, a #2, who is everything you want in a #1C... maybe doesn't have the flash of a McDavid or Mackinnon, but he is a superb two way guy. Maybe he's the secret?

What they're doing appears to be bigger than one guy, or one thing that went right. When every castoff that goes somewhere has their game elevate, it's a full-team thing, maybe also a front office thing. They're a team that doesn't appear to be playing for "just" the Cup, but for each other, and when you see everyone around you playing for you, it makes you want to play for them too, so each new guy gets swept up in it. It's a snowball, and mama, it's rolling.

The Wild had that in 2003, they just didn't have enough talent to make it over every hurdle.

 

[AKL]

What they're doing appears to be bigger than one guy, or one thing that went right. When every castoff that goes somewhere has their game elevate, it's a full-team thing, maybe also a front office thing. They're a team that doesn't appear to be playing for "just" the Cup, but for each other, and when you see everyone around you playing for you, it makes you want to play for them too, so each new guy gets swept up in it. It's a snowball, and mama, it's rolling.

The Wild had that in 2003, they just didn't have enough talent to make it over every hurdle.

I guess that's probably exactly what Guerin is trying to build. Guess we'll find out if he can.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I'm just saying, behind Stutzle, is there anybody from that draft that you'd absolutely/no question put ahead of Faber in a re-draft, as ridiculous as it is to do this early?

I'd argue Lundell is upo there along with Raymond and Jarvis.

Florida is the best team in the league right now IMO.

Florida traded for Tkachuk

And how did they acquire Tkachuk? Hubs was a BIG part of the trade.

and Reinhart

Levi was again a big part of that trade. They could afford to move Levi because they had Knight.

It's not like Florida built their entire team through the the draft. They got one superstar and then made the necessary trades and free agent signings. Out of their entire forward group, two players were drafted by the team. For defense, only one player drafted by the team.

Florida also utilized drafted players in trades; you can't facilitate a trade without having something the other team wants.

Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, and Cole Schwindt were traded for Matthew Tkachuk. Trocheck was traded for Luostarinen.

Granlund -> Fiala -> Faber is probably the best situation where Minnesota utilized a high draft pick to acquire a future player. I honestly can't think of any other trades than the Fiala for Faber trade that Minnesota has made in the past decade. O'Sullivan + 1st for Demitra is another trade. But Minnesota generally a) doesn't trade any of their a or even their b type prospects in deals or b) trade their youngish stars for other stars. Like the Seguin trade Or the Tkachuk trade.

Vegas the year before, who exactly are their draft picks again? They don't stick around long enough to play for the team...

Do you want Minnesota to fold?

BTW, again Vegas used a youngish star in Tuch + a highly rated prospect in Krebs, a 1st round and a 2nd round pick for Eichel.

I can't think of any off the top of my head, but it'd be like trading Boldy + Ohgren + 1st and a 2nd round pick for Eichel. I would do that, I don't know if a lot of other fans would.

 

[NHL1674]

Not sure how much intention or strategy matters, the more important part is getting and/or having those pieces.

I mean for all intents and purposes, it's not even about having a high draft pick, it's just about getting the elite players. Trying to get a high draft pick is only because it makes it easier to get those elite guys.

Kaprizov is obviously a good enough player to lead you to a Cup and he was a 5th round pick. The problem is we need more than just Kaprizov, and we need that talent spread across different positions on the roster, and so far we've been unable to do that where we've been picking.

Wolves got that talent because they got Towns and Edwards at 1oa. Denver got that talent at 41oa and 7oa. It's not the high picks people love, it's what the high picks more often result in.

Edmonton probably didn't have much intention orrai strategy when they were bad and ended up picking Draisaitl and McDavid but no one really cares about that now that they're in the finals and those are two of the best players in the league.

To be fair, how long did the Oilers have McDavid and Drai before they made the finals? They've been horse@#!t for years even with their top picks. Pretty hard to take them seriously.

 

[Minnewildsota]

I'd say that finishing in the final 4 and creating immense interest in the team qualifies as paying off.

Though, the risk that they took is the exact opposite of the rebuilding that people are talking about. Also the NHL-equivalent of the Gobert trade is probably ~3 major moves, not just the one, considering the difference in the sports.

Oh, I don’t disagree but that’s not what being used as the measurement of success. The Wild have made it to the WCF

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Oh, I don’t disagree but that’s not what being used as the measurement of success. The Wild have made it to the WCF

There's nothing that guarantees a Cup. Success is getting in the legit conversation, and then it's just up to injuries, matchups and puck luck.

 

[BagHead]

There's nothing that guarantees a Cup. Success is getting in the legit conversation, and then it's just up to injuries, matchups and puck luck.

No kidding, ask Sharks fans about that.

 

[thestonedkoala]

There's nothing that guarantees a Cup. Success is getting in the legit conversation, and then it's just up to injuries, matchups and puck luck.

Also good cap manipulation aka the Vegas Way. But the Cap is why a lot of teams are going younger and locking up players before they mature e.g Boldy.

 

[Spurgeon]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800903065484267529

Really hoping they backtrack on this. They’re fine as Alts, but I really would hate this. Especially if they change the logo.

 

[MuckOG]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800903065484267529

Really hoping they backtrack on this. They’re fine as Alts, but I really would hate this. Especially if they change the logo.

Love it.

I hate forest green as a color

 

[Spurgeon]

Love it.

I hate forest green as a color

Don’t like the Wild trying to cling to the North Stars. Also really think green & yellow is just an ugly combo in general.

Subway, Waste Management, Packers

 

[MuckOG]

Don’t like the Wild trying to cling to the North Stars. Also really think green & yellow is just an ugly combo in general.

Subway, Waste Management, Packers

Agree to disagree. I think the North Stars logo and colors were among the best in hockey.

Count me in with the many fans of the North Stars who still carry a bitterness against Norm Green not having the decency to leave the franchise history, name and logo when he moved the team to Dallas. Unlike franchises like the Winnipeg Jets, Cleveland Browns, etc.

I was never thrilled with the naming of "Wild" or the colors schemes. I know they will never get the name back, but getting the colors back does provide some consolation.

 

[BagHead]

Agree to disagree. I think the North Stars logo and colors were among the best in hockey.

Count me in with the many fans of the North Stars who still carry a bitterness against Norm Green not having the decency to leave the franchise history, name and logo when he moved the team to Dallas. Unlike franchises like the Winnipeg Jets, Cleveland Browns, etc.

I was never thrilled with the naming of "Wild" or the colors schemes. I know they will never get the name back, but getting the colors back does provide some consolation.

The kelly green and and yellow absolutely pop on the ice. They are beautiful. There's a reason Subway uses the color scheme: it's good.

I don't like the whole "this company uses this scheme therefore it's bad" argument. You can find a company or holiday for probably every single color scheme there is. Just off the top of my head: CBJ and NYR, just copying America, who just copied the Union Jack, who just copied... NJD just copying Marlboro. And how about the Detroit Levi's, the Minnesota Christmas's, and the St. Louis Warner Bros./Visa's/Walmart's. The San Jose Jacksonville Jaguars. I'm absolutely sure I could go on, but it's overkill.

If you want a truly unique scheme, your players better be resigned to looking ridiculous. Every color scheme that is appealing has been used by someone already.

 

[Northerner]

Did the Dallas stars ever used the 78s green?

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

I’m so over Christmas colors, give me the Grinch in Kelly green anyway, fits our MN sports fan base attitude better anyway.

 

[Wasted Talent]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800921132599762963

Can't tell if it's actually false, or they just don't want fans to know that any jerseys currently being sold would be outdated in one year.

 

[57special]

Agree to disagree. I think the North Stars logo and colors were among the best in hockey.

Count me in with the many fans of the North Stars who still carry a bitterness against Norm Green not having the decency to leave the franchise history, name and logo when he moved the team to Dallas. Unlike franchises like the Winnipeg Jets, Cleveland Browns, etc.

I was never thrilled with the naming of "Wild" or the colors schemes. I know they will never get the name back, but getting the colors back does provide some consolation.

It would make me very happy if the Wild adopted both the NS name and colors. Loved those teams. Probably played the most appealing brand of hockey of all the original expansion teams, unless you were a fan of the goonery that PHI indulged in.

 

[AKL]

I don't know if the kelly green and yellow really fit with the Wild brand/logo.

I can't think of another two teams across the major pro sports leagues that would really be as close in name and branding as the North Stars and the Stars, if they were to rebrand back to the North Stars (and I would like if they did). Maybe the Red Sox and White Sox but that's slightly different. Maybe Dallas can rebrand to the South Stars? Or the Lone Stars?

 

[AKL]

Can't tell if it's actually false, or they just don't want fans to know that any jerseys currently being sold would be outdated in one year.

I would probably buy one of the green jerseys tomorrow if they were going to get rid of them. A little conflicted because I wanted a Yurov jersey, don't really want a Fanatics jersey, already have both the white and green RR's, but Yurov didn't make it in time to wear the green adidas jersey, I don't know what number to put on the back.

 

[Puhis]

Absolutely love it! Such a beautiful colour combination, and honestly we could even darken the green to a more forest one. That said, it's a unique colour combination among NHL & is quintessentially Minnesota.

I do think we could modify the current home alts a little, but the away one's are chef's kiss

I would probably buy one of the green jerseys tomorrow if they were going to get rid of them. A little conflicted because I wanted a Yurov jersey, don't really want a Fanatics jersey, already have both the white and green RR's, but Yurov didn't make it in time to wear the green adidas jersey, I don't know what number to put on the back.

I will never buy a Fanatics jersey. Ever. NHL jerseys are overpriced to all hell as is, but combine that with shoddy at best quality and you got a recipe for a money grab. Worst thing is people defending them going "but they're a business, of course they will try to maximize profits" as if it's any of their concern. No, actually that's the second worst thing. Worst thing is people still buy that crap.

 

[AKL]

I will never buy a Fanatics jersey. Ever. NHL jerseys are overpriced to all hell as is, but combine that with shoddy at best quality and you got a recipe for a money grab. Worst thing is people defending them going "but they're a business, of course they will try to maximize profits" as if it's any of their concern. No, actually that's the second worst thing. Worst thing is people still buy that crap.

Yeah I considered buying a blank adidas one now and then just sending it out to Hockey Authentic or something to get it customized when he gets here, I'm just not sure if the materials or style of the numbering/lettering will change in the next year or so

I don't want to support the NHL's decision to switch to Fanatics by buying a Fanatics jersey, but I'm also not sure I'm ready to commit to 10+ years without buying another jersey.

 

[Northerner]

Absolutely love it! Such a beautiful colour combination, and honestly we could even darken the green to a more forest one. That said, it's a unique colour combination among NHL & is quintessentially Minnesota.

I do think we could modify the current home alts a little, but the away one's are chef's kiss



I will never buy a Fanatics jersey. Ever. NHL jerseys are overpriced to all hell as is, but combine that with shoddy at best quality and you got a recipe for a money grab. Worst thing is people defending them going "but they're a business, of course they will try to maximize profits" as if it's any of their concern. No, actually that's the second worst thing. Worst thing is people still buy that crap.

Just buy one from dhgate. I've bought five of them from dhgate now. Roughly $40 (shipping is included in that) and they're stitched and they look really nice.

 

[BagHead]

I don't know if the kelly green and yellow really fit with the Wild brand/logo.

I can't think of another two teams across the major pro sports leagues that would really be as close in name and branding as the North Stars and the Stars, if they were to rebrand back to the North Stars (and I would like if they did). Maybe the Red Sox and White Sox but that's slightly different. Maybe Dallas can rebrand to the South Stars? Or the Lone Stars?

Or the False Stars.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

North Stars was always a weird name, considering there is only 1 of them. Kind of like the Lone Rangers.

 

[MuckOG]

North Stars was always a weird name, considering there is only 1 of them. Kind of like the Lone Rangers.

Keeping in line with just about every other pro franchise at the time. I don't believe there was a team name in the singular before the Avalanche or Lightning, I'm guessing.

EDIT: Forgot about New Orleans/Utah Jazz.