Minnesota Wild General Discussion - 2023-24

[Wonderful Tacos]

Addison wasn’t going to work as a 5/6 and seeing as Faber / Spurgeon had the Top 4 spots locked down

I think that even if the Wild didnt have Spurgeon or Faber, Addison would still be gone. Spurgeon has been gone basically all year - there was a spot available in the top 4 if Addison were able to claim it.

But nobody thinks that way about him. San Jose gave him a chance when he first got there but now they're doing the same with him that the Wild did - heavily sheltering him in an opportunistic 3rd pairing offensive defenseman role. His role in the NHL, if he's going to stick, is to be something like what Colorado does with Samuel Girard - altho that's maybe a bad example bc girard has been elevated to 2nd pair bc byram is struggling.

Idk why Addison would succeed in a far more exposed top 4 role when he couldnt in a sheltered bottom pairing role + PP time that was specifically designed to cater to his strengths. Doesnt make any sense.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

I disagree and think Faber coming in with instant success made it all but inevitable that Addison was gone. Addison was already on thin ice prior to Faber coming in. Faber coming in right away as a top pairing caliber player was the nail in the coffin that left BG no longer feeling the need to try to salvage a player out of him.

JMO

Addison was already on the outs before Faber ever played for the Wild. Remember, Addison was benched for the end of last season? Faber wasn’t here for that. Benched in favor of Klingberg. Traded this season in favor of Bogosian/Mermis. Addison was never going to play top 4. Spurgeon was injured pretty much the whole season and he couldn’t steal that spot. It had NOTHING to do with Faber taking Dumba’s spot. It had everything to do with Addison not being a good enough offensive player to make up for his defensive deficiencies.

I think you and Rube are reaching. He was goner regardless because BG didn’t like him as a player.

 

[MuckOG]

 

[Wasted Talent]

I would have assumed Kaprizov would have been rookie of the month too.

Then again, it was a shortened season with less months and all.

 

[MNRube]

Idk why Addison would succeed in a far more exposed top 4 role when he couldnt in a sheltered bottom pairing role + PP time that was specifically designed to cater to his strengths. Doesnt make any sense.

Given how small the Top 4 was with Brodin, Spurgeon, the FO wanted some size on the bottom pair. The only way he could’ve made it work was if he showed enough to force the FO’s hand - which he never did. Keep in mind Vegas won the cup with a massive blueline and it’s a copycat league.

DGB said Faber had nothing to do with Addison’s departure, but that’s through his lens which had Faber on par with our other mediocre D prospects. The FO never viewed Faber in that light and rightfully so. They knew he was going to slide into a prominent role right away.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

DGB said Faber had nothing to do with Addison’s departure, but that’s through his lens which had Faber on par with our other mediocre D prospects. The FO never viewed Faber in that light and rightfully so. They knew he was going to slide into a prominent role right away.

Faber could not exist at all and Addison would still have been traded. Why you continue to bitch about my opinions from the summer is simply amusing at this point.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

I think that even if the Wild didnt have Spurgeon or Faber, Addison would still be gone. Spurgeon has been gone basically all year - there was a spot available in the top 4 if Addison were able to claim it.

But nobody thinks that way about him. San Jose gave him a chance when he first got there but now they're doing the same with him that the Wild did - heavily sheltering him in an opportunistic 3rd pairing offensive defenseman role. His role in the NHL, if he's going to stick, is to be something like what Colorado does with Samuel Girard - altho that's maybe a bad example bc girard has been elevated to 2nd pair bc byram is struggling.

Idk why Addison would succeed in a far more exposed top 4 role when he couldnt in a sheltered bottom pairing role + PP time that was specifically designed to cater to his strengths. Doesnt make any sense.

You nailed it 100%.

 

[f7ben]

Guerin didn’t like Addison , neither did Evason. Why not trade him when he was pacing 45pts and had value instead of making him healthy scratch? I didn’t care about the player , I care about asset management and Guerin is more prone to wild knee jerks and emotional outbursts than properly managing a team.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Guerin didn’t like Addison , neither did Evason. Why not trade him when he was pacing 45pts and had value instead of making him healthy scratch? I didn’t care about the player , I care about asset management and Guerin is more prone to wild knee jerks and emotional outbursts than properly managing a team.

BG traded for Addison…

If BG traded Addison when you wanted him to, and Addison continued to be that player, you’d be pissed he traded him away.

 

[Wonderful Tacos]

BG traded for Addison…

If BG traded Addison when you wanted him to, and Addison continued to be that player, you’d be pissed he teased him away.

Also addison was still a huge defensive liability when he was having that bit of statistical success. Its not like other teams didnt know that about him.

Maybe there was a moment where they could have gotten a 2nd back but like over the course of addisons development it seems like the league has been progressively moving further away from the idea of small, puck moving defensemen anyway.

I think after Makar came into the league there was a lot of willingness from teams to compromise on size to get some of that mobility and high end skating into their back end. I think the Wild traded for addison bc they themselves were caught up in that trend. But the game has moved more toward big defensemen that are smart and skate well enough so there just arent as many places buying what addison is selling.

(Pls dont point out makar isnt small. I know that. The reason makar was a divergence from the norm was bc of his elite skating and intelligence not his size is the point)

 

[Spurgeon]

Also addison was still a huge defensive liability when he was having that bit of statistical success. Its not like other teams didnt know that about him.

Maybe there was a moment where they could have gotten a 2nd back but like over the course of addisons development it seems like the league has been progressively moving further away from the idea of small, puck moving defensemen anyway.

I think after Makar came into the league there was a lot of willingness from teams to compromise on size to get some of that mobility and high end skating into their back end. I think the Wild traded for addison bc they themselves were caught up in that trend. But the game has moved more toward big defensemen that are smart and skate well enough so there just arent as many places buying what addison is selling.

(Pls dont point out makar isnt small. I know that. The reason makar was a divergence from the norm was bc of his elite skating and intelligence not his size is the point)

Makar isn’t small. He’s 6 foot and 190 lbs

 

[DANOZ28]

for all you addison h8trs he is on one of the 3 worst teams in the league. they have like zero goal scorers he can setup!

 

[DigitalBoldy]

for all you addison h8trs he is on one of the 3 worst teams in the league. they have like zero goal scorers he can setup!

Dude was literally benched during the home stretch to make the playoffs and in the playoffs. The only way he gets major minutes is on a terrible team. What are you even on about?

 

[BagHead]

for all you addison h8trs he is on one of the 3 worst teams in the league. they have like zero goal scorers he can setup!

How is his ending up a sheltered 3rd pairing powerplay specialist somehow the fault of the scorers on his team? I don't hate Addison, btw, I just see that he's a one dimensional player and is of limited use because of it.

Dude was literally benched during the home stretch to make the playoffs and in the playoffs. The only way he gets major minutes is on a terrible team. What are you even on about?

Not even there, as it turns out.

 

[f7ben]

Addison had his chance to prioritize improving his defensive game. He clearly chose not to. He will not be a long term nhler because of that choice.

 

[Wonderful Tacos]

An underrated benefit of finishing with a bad record is not just picking early in the 1st but also the 2nd where you can still find interesting players that arent necessarily long shots to make it.

One guy who the Wild could get with the 2nd that interests me is Will Skahan - 6'4" 212lb defensive defenseman playing for the USNTDP. Seems like he could be a Jake Middleton replacement as a 2nd/3rd pair guy who's game could similarly play up when paired with a more skilled defenseman.

A few unserious/ flavor text reasons why the Wild + Bill Guerin would be interested in him too:
Shattuck St Mary's kid, USNTDP, Boston College commit

Much more of a safe pick tho as opposed to taking high clg/ high risk guys in the 2nd as theyve done in the past (Khusnutdinov, Haight, Heidt).

Skahan might also just simply not be there. Defenseman always fly up the boards from where they were projected. I think Tom Willander was considered a late 1st/ early 2nd for most of last year for example.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

An underrated benefit of finishing with a bad record is not just picking early in the 1st but also the 2nd where you can still find interesting players that arent necessarily long shots to make it.

One guy who the Wild could get with the 2nd that interests me is Will Skahan - 6'4" 212lb defensive defenseman playing for the USNTDP. Seems like he could be a Jake Middleton replacement as a 2nd/3rd pair guy who's game could similarly play up when paired with a more skilled defenseman.

A few unserious/ flavor text reasons why the Wild + Bill Guerin would be interested in him too:
Shattuck St Mary's kid, USNTDP, Boston College commit

Much more of a safe pick tho as opposed to taking high clg/ high risk guys in the 2nd as theyve done in the past (Khusnutdinov, Haight, Heidt).

Skahan might also just simply not be there. Defenseman always fly up the boards from where they were projected. I think Tom Willander was considered a late 1st/ early 2nd for most of last year for example.

Take him with a second 2nd round pick that we get at the TDL. Aim higher with the early 2nd.

 

[Wabit]

Take him with a second 2nd round pick that we get at the TDL. Aim higher with the early 2nd.

From who and for what? Retention for the rest of the season was only worth a 4th or 5th last year.

Teams with a +.500 record (at AS break).
2024 2nd: NYR*, CAR (x2)*, PHI*, DET**, PIT, NYI, DAL*, WIN (MTL's 2nd)*, VGK*, EDM*, STL (x2)**, NSH (x3), SEA, AZ (x3). (7 Playoff, 2 WC, 5 no spot)
no 2024 2nd: TB*, BOS*, FL*, TOR**, NDJ, WSH, COL*, VAN*, LA**. (5 Playoff, 2 WC, 2 no spot)

*=top 3 in Division
**= WC spot

13 teams possible. WIN has a very early 2nd and AZ (only 2p ahead of MN) is setup to be a seller (lots of UFAs), so I take them out. That makes 11 possible teams.

 

[NHL1674]

Why?

 

[thestonedkoala]

Why?

Because the NHL hates the Wild

 

[57special]

I'm just going to assume that Brodin has a bug...i just got over one. Not worried.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Beckman called up. Which could be his last shot with the Wild imo, but what do I know.

 

[AKL]

Beckman called up. Which could be his last shot with the Wild imo, but what do I know.

The last year of his ELC, I think it's to see where he's at in terms of getting a new contract and what it would look like. If he looks like he has the last couple of times he's been up, he'll be gone by the the end of the draft, I think.

Wouldn't be surprised if Guerin's thought process is something like using him as a mid-late draft pick, trading him for someone who won't move the needle, but it'll make Guerin and some others feel like he's trying in the last stretch of the season. Would also not be surprised if it was for a guy who's maybe more established as a bottom sixer/grinder/tough guy with some form of team control going into the next couple seasons, a la a Kahkonen for Middleton, Sturm for Jost, change of scenery/better fit type of deal.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

The last year of his ELC, I think it's to see where he's at in terms of getting a new contract and what it would look like. If he looks like he has the last couple of times he's been up, he'll be gone by the the end of the draft, I think.

Wouldn't be surprised if Guerin's thought process is something like using him as a mid-late draft pick, trading him for someone who won't move the needle, but it'll make Guerin and some others feel like he's trying in the last stretch of the season. Would also not be surprised if it was for a guy who's maybe more established as a bottom sixer/grinder/tough guy with some form of team control going into the next couple seasons, a la a Kahkonen for Middleton, Sturm for Jost, change of scenery/better fit type of deal.

Yea, I have thought that BG may flip him at TDL for another prospect of similar age/potential for change of scenery. Before they claimed the D, I thought Beckman may be a chip to get an older veteran for the rest of the year, but that isn't necessary anymore.

 

[Soldier13Fox]

Beckman called up. Which could be his last shot with the Wild imo, but what do I know.

You're probably right. Have been hoping for more from him theblast couple years, feels like it's just not there and he's an AHL lifer unfortunately