Minnesota Wild General Discussion 2024-25

[Wabit]

It makes sense for them to try out old lines that once contained a spark to see if they'll reignite. That's exactly the kind of thing that the preseason is for.

The bottom-6 is really just 2 x young (1st/2nd year) players, 2 x new to the team players, a player that was injured, and the worst FWD from last year's team. They need the preseason time more than any of the top-6 (except maybe MarJo).

 

[Circulartheory]

Yes its annoying to see Rossi sandwiched between Foligno-Trenin but if that's the makeup, I can see a scenario where Ohgren ends up a Rossi partner over the course of the season. Possibly push out Trenin.

Ohgren has a similar playstyle but also has an outstanding shooting trait to match with a young playmaker. And it'll fall in line with Wild's tendency to not give a rookie (Ohgren) an immediate top-6 role. And it would make a nice 3rd line that can add offense.

 

[MNRube]

Rossi playing with Moose on the 3rd line is frustrating but might help with cap flexibility down the line. He likely won’t get much PP1 time either. Hard to envision the usage he would need to command a huge extension.

 

[Waiver Draft]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837187606519447919

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837188639383585171

 

[DANOZ28]

just a thought but what if the plan is hartman on 1st line to pump up the value and at deadline trade him? i really don't like rossi 3rd C.

 

[AKL]

just a thought but what if the plan is hartman on 1st line to pump up the value and at deadline trade him? i really don't like rossi 3rd C.

Not sure. This is just the 1st year of his 3 year extension, so I don't anticipate them trading him, but hey, it's possible. E: scratch that, he does have a NMC this season so it's really not even that possible.

I think they're just looking for depth scoring and they're not creative enough to try something that isn't a re-tread.

 

[MNRube]

just a thought but what if the plan is hartman on 1st line to pump up the value and at deadline trade him? i really don't like rossi 3rd C.

Hartman is a very nice depth piece. We are a soft team full of pass-first LHS. He is a gritty, shoot-first RHS on a good contract. He’s very low on my list of guys to trade.

 

[DANOZ28]

i think foligno / hartman / trenin makes a good new greef line

 

[Saga of the Elk]

i think foligno / hartman / trenin makes a good new greef line

three players with upside for sure... I do think they'll miss having Duhaime as insurance for (the inevitable) Foligno injury.

Rossi has to earn his way up the lineup.. I think obviously the hope for everyone is he pushes his way to the top o-zone-starting line. We'll see when and if he gets there (and if Hynes is willing to load up Kap-Boldy-Rossi and let JEE drag Zucc-Johansson-Ohgren? around).

 

[Sweetnut]

I'm just hoping he's not gonna do his usual boneheaded stuff that he tends to do sometimes.
And please put Zuke on the third line. Cut down his TOI and keep hem fresh for the PP.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Hartman is a very nice depth piece. We are a soft team full of pass-first LHS. He is a gritty, shoot-first RHS on a good contract. He’s very low on my list of guys to trade.

Agreed 100%. Hartman can play any role we need him to and that’s extremely valuable.

I expect our grit level to go up with guys like Johansson expiring after this year and prospects like Ohgren likely replacing them.

When looking through our roster on PuckPedia, Chisholm has potential to be a Group 6 UFA. Looks like he needs to play in 47 games this year to maintain RFA status. So if we want to get value out of him before Zeev takes his place, we either need to trade him at the deadline or play him enough to keep his player rights.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

three players with upside for sure... I do think they'll miss having Duhaime as insurance for (the inevitable) Foligno injury.

Rossi has to earn his way up the lineup.. I think obviously the hope for everyone is he pushes his way to the top o-zone-starting line. We'll see when and if he gets there (and if Hynes is willing to load up Kap-Boldy-Rossi and let JEE drag Zucc-Johansson-Ohgren? around).

Well, he was pretty clearly one of the 6 best forwards on the team last year, so one could argue that he's done that.

 

[Circulartheory]

I'm just hoping he's not gonna do his usual boneheaded stuff that he tends to do sometimes.
And please put Zuke on the third line. Cut down his TOI and keep hem fresh for the PP.

Exactly. Stat wise and play wise, Hartman was good! But he had tendency to get bad penalties and in the context of one of the worst PKing teams in the league.

 

[BagHead]

Agreed 100%. Hartman can play any role we need him to and that’s extremely valuable.

I expect our grit level to go up with guys like Johansson expiring after this year and prospects like Ohgren likely replacing them.

When looking through our roster on PuckPedia, Chisholm has potential to be a Group 6 UFA. Looks like he needs to play in 47 games this year to maintain RFA status. So if we want to get value out of him before Zeev takes his place, we either need to trade him at the deadline or play him enough to keep his player rights.

In Chisholm's case, he's sort of at a point where if he's growing, he'll get the games, and if he's not he won't. If he gets 47 games it will be because he was good enough to. If he isn't good enough to, we probably would not get much value for him anyway. Unless he gets injured or another pandemic happens, I don't think it's too much of a problem.

 

[Digitalbooya]

In Chisholm's case, he's sort of at a point where if he's growing, he'll get the games, and if he's not he won't. If he gets 47 games it will be because he was good enough to. If he isn't good enough to, we probably would not get much value for him anyway. Unless he gets injured or another pandemic happens, I don't think it's too much of a problem.

Well it’s something to also keep in mind if/when people call for Hunt/Lambos/Peart/etc to get NHL games.

 

[AKL]

Well, he was pretty clearly one of the 6 best forwards on the team last year, so one could argue that he's done that.

Especially when you consider that Johansson well and clearly earned his way out of the top six, and now he's back there, for however long it takes for him to earn his way down again.

I still would have started with this (understanding that this is the very beginning of camp and they could still start the season with something similar).

Kaprizov-Ek-Zuccarello
Boldy-Rossi-Hartman

I understand they want the center depth of Eriksson Ek-Hartman-Rossi-etc, but I would be pretty certain that having Rossi playing with Foligno and Johansson on the second line nullifies whatever advantage you'd gain by that center depth.

 

[Circulartheory]

Especially when you consider that Johansson well and clearly earned his way out of the top six, and now he's back there, for however long it takes for him to earn his way down again.

I still would have started with this (understanding that this is the very beginning of camp and they could still start the season with something similar).

Kaprizov-Ek-Zuccarello
Boldy-Rossi-Hartman

I understand they want the center depth of Eriksson Ek-Hartman-Rossi-etc, but I would be pretty certain that having Rossi playing with Foligno and Johansson on the second line nullifies whatever advantage you'd gain by that center depth.

What would your thoughts be about an Ohgren-Rossi-Foligno line? Some size on the wings, with a shooter/playmaker duo to carry the offense.

 

[AKL]

What would your thoughts be about an Ohgren-Rossi-Foligno line? Some size on the wings, with a shooter/playmaker duo to carry the offense.

I don't know how Ohgren will play this year, it's not really any different than Foligno-Rossi-Trenin at this point. I still have an issue with Foligno playing with Rossi either way. Rossi is a top six forward on this roster, Foligno is not.

But like I said the other day, I think they're going to make a concerted effort to keep Rossi's production lower than it could be so they can keep his extension cheaper.

 

[57special]

I mean, if we go by last year, Gaudreau shouldn't even be on the team. Also, while a bit more AHL time won't hurt Ohgren, is Lauko really any better than him?

If Ohgren is going to have a hard time making the team, then it's hard to imagine Heidt making the team.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Well, he was pretty clearly one of the 6 best forwards on the team last year, so one could argue that he's done that.

Rossi would be a slam dunk top 6 player if he was capable/given the opportunity to play wing. He’s not better than Ek or Hartman as a center currently and that’s why he will likely start at 3C. IMO, he will need to learn to play wing if he wants to be an impact top 6 player here long term. The same thing could be said for a lot of our forward prospects.

Kap-XXXX-Boldy
XXXX-Ek-XXXX
XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

Fill in the spots with Rossi/Yurov/Ohgren/Heidt/Khusnutdinov. There are also veteran players in the mix too (Hartman/Foligno/Trenin/etc). I know some people have doubts that Yurov can be the 1C, but I feel more confident in him earning that spot than Rossi or Heidt.

 

[f7ben]

Rossi would be a slam dunk top 6 player if he was capable/given the opportunity to play wing. He’s not better than Ek or Hartman as a center currently and that’s why he will likely start at 3C. IMO, he will need to learn to play wing if he wants to be an impact top 6 player here long term. The same thing could be said for a lot of our forward prospects.

Kap-XXXX-Boldy
XXXX-Ek-XXXX
XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

Fill in the spots with Rossi/Yurov/Ohgren/Heidt/Khusnutdinov. There are also veteran players in the mix too (Hartman/Foligno/Trenin/etc). I know some people have doubts that Yurov can be the 1C, but I feel more confident in him earning that spot than Rossi or Heidt.

This is just so stupid , Hartman is a wing who’s done an admirable job being forced into center. He has no upside there beyond what we’ve seen. Rossi is a young developing center who’s already as good as Hartman or close and has significantly more upside if he’s given an opportunity to develop and succeed. Playing Rossi with plugs in a grinder role is criminal and should be fireable.

 

[57special]

This is just so stupid , Hartman is a wing who’s done an admirable job being forced into center. He has no upside there beyond what we’ve seen. Rossi is a young developing center who’s already as good as Hartman or close and has significantly more upside if he’s given an opportunity to develop and succeed. Playing Rossi with plugs in a grinder role is criminal and should be fireable.

Agree with most of what you said. The bolded shows that even though it's early in training camp for most, you are in mid season form.

Rossi was drafted as an offensive force. Sticking him with two checking wingers is effectively neutering him, and hindering his development. Hopefully Hynes comes to his senses and sticks him with either Boldy or Kaprizov, pronto. Would even like to see ohgren with some time with him.

I like Hartman, but he is not a top 6 C. His one vg year was because he was being carried by Kap, as is everyone who plays with him. Hartman, to me is a 3C, worst guy on a 2nd line, or a #3RW. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Some short memories in here, does anyone remember how Hartman got elevated to the Kap line? It was by playing on the third line and scoring like crazy while being allegedly handcuffed by Foligno. Hartman earned his promotion by showing that he was capable of driving his own transition offense, he is strong enough defensively to force turnovers even on top line guys, and his shot developed enough to be a legitimate ranged threat which gives Kap and others more space and options.

Rossi was not at that level yet last season IMO, but he was not too far off, he said he focused a lot on his shot this off-season, hopefully he starts displaying that and if he does, he can definitely force his way up.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Some short memories in here, does anyone remember how Hartman got elevated to the Kap line? It was by playing on the third line and scoring like crazy while being allegedly handcuffed by Foligno. Hartman earned his promotion by showing that he was capable of driving his own transition offense, he is strong enough defensively to force turnovers even on top line guys, and his shot developed enough to be a legitimate ranged threat which gives Kap and others more space and options.

Rossi was not at that level yet last season IMO, but he was not too far off, he said he focused a lot on his shot this off-season, hopefully he starts displaying that and if he does, he can definitely force his way up.

It was 9 goals, 4 assists in 18 games prior to Kaprizov/Hartman/Zuccarello. Some of that was definitely with the dregs of the roster (Foligno, Duhaime, Greenway, PItlick). But Fiala/Hartman/Zuccarello was a thing for a bit in between as well.

Rossi was 6 goals, 5 assists in the first 18 games last year. Seems like he started playing with talent around game 10 or 11 though.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Hartman is a wing who’s done an admirable job being forced into center. He has no upside there beyond what we’ve seen. Rossi is a young developing center who’s already as good as Hartman or close and has significantly more upside if he’s given an opportunity to develop and succeed. Playing Rossi with plugs in a grinder role is criminal and should be fireable.

Hartman had a higher 5v5 p/60 rate than Rossi last year while playing way less minutes with Kaprizov than Rossi with Kaprizov. I think it's perfectly fine to start Rossi at 3C and if he outperforms Hartman, then you move him up the lineup.

I think people need to realize that Rossi is closer to a grinder playstyle (think Parise) than to a high skill top line forward (like Kap/Boldy). Ek is the same way, but he has size, better faceoffs, and elite level defense. There's a reason the GREEF line was so effective. There's also a reason that Foligno-Rossi was effective to start last year. Case in point:

Rossi was 6 goals, 5 assists in the first 18 games last year. Seems like he started playing with talent around game 10 or 11 though.