Minnesota Wild General Discussion - 2023-24

[Jbcraig1883]

They don’t have another back to back for at least a month. Theoretically, the goalie could be McIntyre and Gus plays every game. Gus hasn’t been great though and it would be nice if Wallstedt was given another chance.

Probably Khaira or Fogarty for Dewar.

Who is the third injury?

I think Khaira is still injured down in Iowa. My guess is it will be Lucchini/Petan.

Oops, looks like Russo reported Lucchini was recalled about 20 min ago. Dewar on IR.

 

[Sweetnut]

They don’t have another back to back for at least a month. Theoretically, the goalie could be McIntyre and Gus plays every game. Gus hasn’t been great though and it would be nice if Wallstedt was given another chance.

Probably Khaira or Fogarty for Dewar.

Who is the third injury?

Freddy might be injured too, he didn't play yesterday

 

[MNRube]

Longterm

Kap-Rossi-Yurov
XXX-JEE-Boldy
XXX-XXX-Hartman
Foligno-Freddy-XXX
(Ohgren, Marat, Bankier)


Brodin - Faber
XXX - Spurgeon
Middleton - XXX
(Peart, Hunt, Lambos, ROR)

Wallstedt / Gus

I think you can compete for a Cup with that group if you get a few more difference makers. Middleton, Foligno & Freddy need to be a little further down the depth chart. Boldy has to be more consistent and Wallstedt/Yurov would have to be what we think we they can be.

Lots of projection but I think the future is still bright. I think a few of the XXX’s need to be FA or trade acquisitions plus whoever we grab this summer around Late lottery

 

[f7ben]

Longterm

Kap-Rossi-Yurov
XXX-JEE-Boldy
XXX-XXX-Hartman
Foligno-Freddy-XXX
(Ohgren, Marat, Bankier)


Brodin - Faber
XXX - Spurgeon
Middleton - XXX
(Peart, Hunt, Lambos, ROR)

Wallstedt / Gus

I think you can compete for a Cup with that group if you get a few more difference makers. Middleton, Foligno & Freddy need to be a little further down the depth chart. Boldy has to be more consistent and Wallstedt/Yurov would have to be what we think we they can be.

Lots of projection but I think the future is still bright. I think a few of the XXX’s need to be FA or trade acquisitions plus whoever we grab this summer around Late lottery

To me Middleton has started to look more like a capable second pair guy.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

To me Middleton has started to look more like a capable second pair guy.

A capable 2nd pair guy playing on the 3rd pair is a good problem.

Longterm

Kap-Rossi-Yurov
XXX-JEE-Boldy
XXX-XXX-Hartman
Foligno-Freddy-XXX
(Ohgren, Marat, Bankier)


Brodin - Faber
XXX - Spurgeon
Middleton - XXX
(Peart, Hunt, Lambos, ROR)

Wallstedt / Gus

I think you can compete for a Cup with that group if you get a few more difference makers. Middleton, Foligno & Freddy need to be a little further down the depth chart. Boldy has to be more consistent and Wallstedt/Yurov would have to be what we think we they can be.

Lots of projection but I think the future is still bright. I think a few of the XXX’s need to be FA or trade acquisitions plus whoever we grab this summer around Late lottery

We need some skilled righties in that forward group ASAP.

 

[57special]

They don’t have another back to back for at least a month. Theoretically, the goalie could be McIntyre and Gus plays every game. Gus hasn’t been great though and it would be nice if Wallstedt was given another chance.

Probably Khaira or Fogarty for Dewar.

Who is the third injury?

Gaudreau, Dewar, and Fleury. Two defensive C's.

I am hoping that Milne, Bankier, Walker or Beckman start to show something. the first two just got back from injury, though, and are getting up to speed. Walker is perking up, but Beckman has fought injury, and his game seems to have flatlined.

I get why they have Raska up, He shows fearlessness, speed. At some point, though, you have to realize that there is no upside, even compared to guys like Mason Shaw and Dewar. I see zero offense, he had none in the AHL, and it's not like he is some huge dude who is scaring the other team out there. Some of the other AHL guys have to seize the day, or at least a temporary NHL spot, from him.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

I am hoping that Milne, Bankier, Walker or Beckman start to show something. the first two just got back from injury, though, and are getting up to speed. Walker is perking up, but Beckman has fought injury, and his game seems to have flatlined.

I think Bankier has been showing something but he's just a rookie who definitely has room to fill out physically and just needs time to learn some of the systems. The last few periods I have seen his backchecking improve 100%. He's a much smarter player than I anticipated.

As to the others, I agree.

EDIT: Just saw Shaw is suiting up for Iowa. Really hope he ends up having an NHL career without any more ACL injuries. Hard not to root for that guy.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Alright, so Jesper and Lucchini up. Shaw back for Iowa.

 

[MNRube]

A capable 2nd pair guy playing on the 3rd pair is a good problem.

Middleton is a definitely capable of a Top 4 role. But having 3 solid pairs is such a luxury. Plus I think Silayev, Dickinson or Buium is going to be a Wild prospect in June. I’m on the Buium train for now

Could always go:

Middleton - Faber
Brodin - XXX
XXX - Spurgeon

Same with forwards:

Kap-Yurov-Boldy
XXX-Rossi-XXX
XXX-JEE-Hartman

 

[f7ben]

A capable 2nd pair guy playing on the 3rd pair is a good problem.


We need some skilled righties in that forward group ASAP.

Can’t argue with that , I’ve just been pleasantly surprised with Mids ability to transition out of the zone with something more than a turnover up the boards and he’s showed some skill when jumping up in the play. Good decision making etc. He and Bogo have been surprised to me

 

[57special]

Can’t argue with that , I’ve just been pleasantly surprised with Mids ability to transition out of the zone with something more than a turnover up the boards and he’s showed some skill when jumping up in the play. Good decision making etc. He and Bogo have been surprised to me

Agreed. Middleton has really improved playing with Faber and getting top minutes. Still has limitations, but also has some needed strengths, like toughness and physicality that none of the other Dmen bring...maybe Bogo, a bit. Mid is damn tough when it comes to dropping the gloves, also, even though you don't want your top 4 guys doing it too often. .. he's actually top 3, now that Spurgeon is out. Bit of a late bloomer hitting his prime.

 

[f7ben]

Agreed. Middleton has really improved playing with Faber and getting top minutes. Still has limitations, but also has some needed strengths, like toughness and physicality that none of the other Dmen bring...maybe Bogo, a bit. Mid is damn tough when it comes to dropping the gloves, also, even though you don't want your top 4 guys doing it too often. .. he's actually top 3, now that Spurgeon is out. Bit of a late bloomer hitting his prime.

Doesn’t seem like that long ago I remember thinking there really wasn’t much difference between Merril , Kulikov or Middleton. Late bloomer is right , Mids has made himself a very useful player

 

[63firebird]

Doesn’t seem like that long ago I remember thinking there really wasn’t much difference between Merril , Kulikov or Middleton. Late bloomer is right , Mids has made himself a very useful player

Mids has even inspired some momentum which is sorely needed at times.

 

[Minnesota]

Maroon on the trade block.

Would Maroon getting traded be Guerin officially giving into the tank?

 

[f7ben]

Maroon on the trade block.

Would Maroon getting traded be Guerin officially giving into the tank?

Guerin sits down and thinks to himself

“Self , this year is toast , gotta move players with value….nobody is gonna offer anything for gritless guys like Rossi or Boldy but I’m guessing I can get 2x1sts and a A tier prospect for Maroon”

 

[BagHead]

Maroon on the trade block.

Would Maroon getting traded be Guerin officially giving into the tank?

Giving up his *best player? Probably.
I've also seen some rumblings about MAF being a trade target in the last couple days. They did not claim he is also on the trade block, though.



*In Guerin's mind

 

[NHL1674]

Wonder if Wally will get another chance now with Fleury out.

 

[Wabit]

Maroon on the trade block.

Would Maroon getting traded be Guerin officially giving into the tank?

Maroon is a bottom-6er that doesn't PK, has had 6p, -12 in his last 24 games. Any other year people on here would be offering to drive him to the airport just to get rid of him.

If he's traded it's just another minor move move by a GM that likes to make lots of minor moves.

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

I’m just hoping we don’t win our way out of a top 8 pick

 

[MNNumbers]

I’m just hoping we don’t win our way out of a top 8 pick

This is what I think as well.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Maroon is a bottom-6er that doesn't PK, has had 6p, -12 in his last 24 games. Any other year people on here would be offering to drive him to the airport just to get rid of him.

If he's traded it's just another minor move move by a GM that likes to make lots of minor moves.

This year too. But we also recognize that there are other Guerins in other front offices.

 

[Wabit]

This year too. But we also recognize that there are other Guerins in other front offices.

I'm just saying trading Maroon it doesn't signify embracing a tank by the GM.

Maroon's value for other teams is more Playoff depth and locker room stuff. Similar to Hendricks being traded for pocket lint (or whatever) a few years ago. Maroon isn't Hendricks bad, but he's not a huge improvement either.

 

[Wabit]

I’m just hoping we don’t win our way out of a top 8 pick

It wouldn't surprise me if the did. They just don't have much of anything to sell that will make them worse, while some of the teams ahead of them do.

The schedule is easier the rest of the season. The top of the lineup players are getting healthy. All they need is the goalies to be average or slightly below average and they'll finish .500 for the season.
There is even some cap room to play with now to carry a full roster and maybe add a (better) player or two. I'm not talking a big trade and spending lots of assets. Just saying waivers claims (Kapanen and Tolvanen last year), cap dumps, etc. are all options now.

Spurgeon being LTIR the rest of the season is probably the worst thing that could have happened for those wanting to tank. MN's 5-9-2 record (61.5p pace) with him in the lineup was just terrible this year and they had 0 cap space to do anything. MN has been 14-12-3 (87.7p pace) without him.

 

[57special]

Maroon has value for any playoff team needing some heft, and experience. I think he's been decent, considering his minuscule cap hit. I have to wonder about those running him down... I mean, what do you expect for 800K?

 

[BagHead]

Maroon has value for any playoff team needing some heft, and experience. I think he's been decent, considering his minuscule cap hit. I have to wonder about those running him down... I mean, what do you expect for 800K?

I used him to tease Guerin a bit, but I've loved what he's been doing for his cap price.