Minnesota Wild General Discussion - 2023-24

[JiricekSaveUs]

Has he actually played center, or is this just more of the Boldy-like wishful thinking?

He’s been playing center the last few games forsure

 

[Wasted Talent]

He’s been playing center the last few games forsure

28.9 FOW%? He'll fit right in.

 

[Webster]

Very interesting indeed. Let's just hope he'll figure it out...

 

[Wasted Talent]

Very interesting indeed. Let's just hope he'll figure it out...

It's not just Kaprizov though.

I looked at most our forwards and the only ones I could find beating the league average OZ% were Rossi and Duhaime.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Not to bring up old wounds, however with the defense so thin (and bad) - I started thinking about the Suter buyout. It's always bugged me there was never a public reason (other than rumors) for the buyout - I never heard any concrete information from the media.

Now it bugs me even more seeing Suter played 82 games last year with an average TOI around 20 minutes (+/- = 0), and still averaging the same this year (yes - it is 2nd pair minutes). At the same time, his replacement player (pick whoever) costs Suter's salary plus his own. Seems like a waste of cap space.

Anyway, I don't post much and will probably be ridiculed - It seems the media kind of glosses over this instead of holding BG's feet to the fire.

Suter sucks.

 

[Webster]

New kid makes the big team for the first time, Daemon Hunt called up.
He'll probably replace Merrill.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Holy smokes, a player people might actually want to see!

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

Holy smokes, a player people might actually want to see!

Let's go! A chance at something better than bad!

Remember, players like Soucy came up similarly ranked if not ranked lower than Hunt and was really good (what you'd actually want from a #4 with a good #3 or a great #5).

 

[Circulartheory]

I'm actually pretty excited. Yes, he's a boring type of defenseman but with the rotating chairs of defensively questionable 3rd pairing dmen for the last 12 months (Merrill, Goligoski, Addison, Klingberg, Mermis to an extent), it would be really nice to see someone who could possibly stablize it.

And any reason to start seeing our invested draft picks finally show up in the NHL. You can only draft prospects for so long. We need to see some results.

And like others said, would love for a Scandella/Soucy type as a #5 and while not 6'3-4 like those guys, I always found his stick length longer than average (don't even start!) while also being a good skater and competitor. Also thought he had a strong camp/preseason with us.

He's a quote about Hunt during this offseason.

Wild prospect deep dive: Taking stock of the NHL pipeline with the latest progress reports and ETAs

The Wild's much-hyped farm system is getting closer to putting its top prospects into the NHL, and it showed at development camp last week.

theathletic.com

Murray: “It was unfortunate the way the season started for him. He was coming off an injury he suffered in world junior training camp. He was playing a bit of catchup during NHL training camp. But once he kind of got caught up to speed with everybody else, he continued to progress throughout the year and just continued to make positive strides, which as a rookie playing in the AHL was very impressive. He could handle the physical grind of playing professional hockey and just continued to get better every game, really.

“We love his mobility. He moves really well. The way he battles too. If there’s a 50-50 puck, he’s going to come out with it more often than not. And it might not be clean right away, but he’s going to keep his nose in the battle and he’s going to make sure he comes out. And if he ever gets himself in trouble, he’s able to battle through it, come out with the puck and make the play.”

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Let's go! A chance at something better than bad!

Remember, players like Soucy came up similarly ranked if not ranked lower than Hunt and was really good (what you'd actually want from a #4 with a good #3 or a great #5).

Losing Soucy was a kick to the nads after buying out Suter. Here’s to hoping Hunt is the next Soucy!

 

[BagHead]

I'm actually pretty excited. Yes, he's a boring type of defenseman but with the rotating chairs of defensively questionable 3rd pairing dmen for the last 12 months (Merrill, Goligoski, Addison, Klingberg, Mermis to an extent), it would be really nice to see someone who could possibly stablize it.

And any reason to start seeing our invested draft picks finally show up in the NHL. You can only draft prospects for so long. We need to see some results.

And like others said, would love for a Scandella/Soucy type as a #5 and while not 6'3-4 like those guys, I always found his stick length longer than average (don't even start!) while also being a good skater and competitor. Also thought he had a strong camp/preseason with us.

He's a quote about Hunt during this offseason.

Wild prospect deep dive: Taking stock of the NHL pipeline with the latest progress reports and ETAs

The Wild's much-hyped farm system is getting closer to putting its top prospects into the NHL, and it showed at development camp last week.

theathletic.com

Pierre? Is that you?

 

[Arturia Pendragon]

Pierre? Is that you?

Can’t be, wasn’t in reference to Crosby.

 

[Wabit]

Not to bring up old wounds, however with the defense so thin (and bad) - I started thinking about the Suter buyout. It's always bugged me there was never a public reason (other than rumors) for the buyout - I never heard any concrete information from the media.

Now it bugs me even more seeing Suter played 82 games last year with an average TOI around 20 minutes (+/- = 0), and still averaging the same this year (yes - it is 2nd pair minutes). At the same time, his replacement player (pick whoever) costs Suter's salary plus his own. Seems like a waste of cap space.

Anyway, I don't post much and will probably be ridiculed - It seems the media kind of glosses over this instead of holding BG's feet to the fire.

The only media that could say anything is Russo, and he's been one of the guys leading the GMBG cheer squad.

The buyout was a bad move when it happened and has aged like goat milk left out in the sun.

 

[Nstar to Wild]

Suter sucks.

Thanks for the reply - I actually felt somewhat the same way during his final year here as being on the 1st pair and the amount of PP time he was getting. However, I feel as many it was probably time for him to be on the 2nd pair and 2nd pp unit (people get old). Maybe he didn't accept this role and why he was moved? This was kind of the basis of my question - I would still take him over our 2nd pair at this point especially with the cap impact.

 

[GordieGallant]

The 13 year contracts to Parise and Suter were beyond f***ing stupid. That’s the owner. Remember Russo was hiding in the bushes on Independence Day to get the scoop. What a loser.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Thanks for the reply - I actually felt somewhat the same way during his final year here as being on the 1st pair and the amount of PP time he was getting. However, I feel as many it was probably time for him to be on the 2nd pair and 2nd pp unit (people get old). Maybe he didn't accept this role and why he was moved? This was kind of the basis of my question - I would still take him over our 2nd pair at this point especially with the cap impact.

The problem is that Guerin went and signed Merrill and Goligoski to deals for at least one year too long, if not two. There's no spots left for our LD prospects that should be pushing the NHL (Hunt, O'Rourke, Lambos). That was the mistake.

 

[AKL]

We're having fun now. Hopefully he actually plays.

 

[f7ben]

Great Hockey Wilderness article , bravo Tom Shreier or whatever the authors name was

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

The problem is that Guerin went and signed Merrill and Goligoski to deals for at least one year too long, if not two. There's no spots left for our LD prospects that should be pushing the NHL (Hunt, O'Rourke, Lambos). That was the mistake.

Do you think any of those three are actually pushing the NHL right now though and wouldn’t all benefit from additional development time? Based on preseason and camp it didn’t look like any of the three were really ready to me.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

Thanks for the reply - I actually felt somewhat the same way during his final year here as being on the 1st pair and the amount of PP time he was getting. However, I feel as many it was probably time for him to be on the 2nd pair and 2nd pp unit (people get old). Maybe he didn't accept this role and why he was moved? This was kind of the basis of my question - I would still take him over our 2nd pair at this point especially with the cap impact.

Not many will come right out and slander him in the media but there were enough indications that he needed to go and the organization needed to be done with that era. His ability to play 20min a night didn't, apparently, outweigh BG's need to be rid of him.

 

[57special]

Not many will come right out and slander him in the media but there were enough indications that he needed to go and the organization needed to be done with that era. His ability to play 20min a night didn't, apparently, outweigh BG's need to be rid of him.

Yes, but this is the same organization that "needed" to re sign Goligoski, and Foligno. What is in question here is BG's judgement.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

Yes, but this is the same organization that "needed" to re sign Goligoski, and Foligno. What is in question here is BG's judgement.

100%

 

[Webster]

Merrill said he's good to go tonight.

Evason said Hunt is just insurance, no plans to play him unless there's an injury.
Oh Dean...how about some fresh looks on the blueline?

Gus in net...no surprise there.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

While he hasn't been putting up many points, how has Rossi's overall game been?

 

[AKL]

While he hasn't been putting up many points, how has Rossi's overall game been?

Very good. He's been generating a lot of chances for himself and his linemates. He's actually carrying the puck on his stick way more often, and successfully too. Looks stronger and faster this year, looks way more confident too.

A lot of us are at the point where we're ready to see him moved up the lineup to play with either Boldy (when he comes back) or Kaprizov. He'd probably score more points on those lines too, as opposed to with Foligno and Gaudreau.