Minnesota Wild General Discussion 2024-25

[BagHead]

I think if Rossi has a good season on this line they might try and sell high on him

I don't understand why Guerin has been (rumored to be) in a hurry to move Rossi, when all Rossi has done is heeded the advice he's received, improved every single year without fail, plays a very important position, and, if he continues to progress this year, does it at a level that is quite good.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Hopefully the Rossi stuff is just noise.

 

[NHL1674]

Hopefully the Rossi stuff is just noise.

It better be, or else I hope it backfires spectacularly for Billy.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

It better be, or else I hope it backfires spectacularly for Billy.

They just need to understand that having one of Eriksson Ek, Rossi or (prospectively) Yurov as the 3rd line center would be a great strength.

 

[ctmagic]

Love what we are seeing from Rossi with his development. That being said, a package with him and pick/prospect (not Yurov) for a truly elite level scoring winger with some size… sign me up.

 

[kfan22]

It better be, or else I hope it backfires spectacularly for Billy.

Any Billy Blunders in next couple years could signal the end of Kaprizov, so careful what you wish for.

 

[Soldier13Fox]

I think if Rossi has a good season on this line they might try and sell high on him

I mean, if the return is high enough anyone and everyone should be fair game for a trade. That said, I think Billy is a fool to trade Rossi for anything less than a slam dunk W trade. I think Rossi is just getting better and better..

 

[Minnewildsota]

Even Gretzky was traded

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Even Gretzky was traded

Obviously if there's a trade out there that makes us better (not that the Gretzky trade made Edmonton better), then by all means. But if he trades him because he's 5'9" and it allows him to bring in another Trenin or two, I would find it to be a high probability of a mistake.

 

[P10p]

Off topic but looks like Iowa is off to another abysmal start. Hope they can get a W tonight.

 

[57special]

Even Gretzky was traded

He was trade in a pre cap era, when his owner had huge money problems.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Obviously if there's a trade out there that makes us better (not that the Gretzky trade made Edmonton better), then by all means. But if he trades him because he's 5'9" and it allows him to bring in another Trenin or two, I would find it to be a high probability of a mistake.

Has he done this at all?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Has he done this at all?

I don't think so. Just using it as an example of how a Rossi trade could be displeasing to me. Let's not pretend that he doesn't have an affinity for those types of players. Just loosely piecing that together with all of the Rossi trade smoke from last year (which I am mostly hoping is just smoke).

And to be clear, I wasn't saying 'trading Rossi for a Trenin-type'. But more of a 'not paying Rossi ~$5M+ on his next contract so he can go get another Trenin-type in UFA' (aka limited-skilled depth forward).

Now, if he uses Rossi to get a good 24 year old RD to play with Buium for the next 10 years, the equation changes a bit.

 

[MNRube]

Rossi is too good to trade. Kid is becoming a conscientious defender and looks like a lock to be a 50+ pt producer. He’s not going to command more than $5M longterm unless he explodes. And even then, you happily pay him. Heidt & Yurov likely never become that good. Foolish to bet on that

 

[thestonedkoala]

Off topic but looks like Iowa is off to another abysmal start. Hope they can get a W tonight.

At some point you have to look at Guerin at how bad Iowa is and how it's affecting the prospects.

 

[Digitalbooya]

I don't think so. Just using it as an example of how a Rossi trade could be displeasing to me. Let's not pretend that he doesn't have an affinity for those types of players. Just loosely piecing that together with all of the Rossi trade smoke from last year (which I am mostly hoping is just smoke).

And to be clear, I wasn't saying 'trading Rossi for a Trenin-type'. But more of a 'not paying Rossi ~$5M+ on his next contract so he can go get another Trenin-type in UFA' (aka limited-skilled depth forward).

Now, if he uses Rossi to get a good 24 year old RD to play with Buium for the next 10 years, the equation changes a bit.

Gotcha. I was wondering if you were targeting trading Fiala as the comparable while Foligno/Hartman both received mid sized contracts (Zucc too, but he produces).

Don't think there is anything terrible with having Trenin or Foligno type players on the team. The bottom 6 is much improved as compared to last year. If a trade were to happen, the return is what is important. An ELC player+pick and then signing a $3M forward to improve depth wouldn't be the end of the world. Rossi should be kept though.

 

[Digitalbooya]

At some point you have to look at Guerin at how bad Iowa is and how it's affecting the prospects.

It's hard to be good when all of your top prospects just go right to the NHL. It also could be that the defensive prospects are not that good. That would fall on the draft team in my books.

Do Judd Brackett scouting teams pick quality defenders?

For Vancouver

2016: Juolevi, Candella
2017: Rathbone, Gunnarsson, Brassard
2018: Q. Hughes, Woo, Utunen
2019: no defenders picked

For Minnesota

2020: O'Rourke, Hunt
2021: Lambos, Peart, Masters, Benoit
2022: Healey, Spacek
2023: Pionk, Parker
2024: Z. Buium, Kiviharju, Soini, Leskovar

Not particularly great.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Off topic but looks like Iowa is off to another abysmal start. Hope they can get a W tonight.

They still have a lot to improve upon but it's been night and day compared to last year in all honesty. Still not sure that Brett McLean is the guy but it's been better.

In regards to the Rossi chatter, I missed most of it but I'm not sure why the Wild would trade him unless he prices himself out of his value. For a team that has lacked centers for most of its existence, you would have him and JEE which would probably be the best two youngish centers we've had at one time. Then you hope that Bankier, Yurov, Haight, etc. can prove to be top 9 center with Khus and that's not bad.

Rossi has done everything asked of him, been a role model for other prospects in terms of sacrifice and discipline, has looked great thus far (is ppg and don't see a reason for him not to be able to be .7-.9 PPG player), and hasn't complained, been entitled, been lazy on the ice, etc. It's actually pretty interesting to me at this point because I understood two years ago - unsure if a small center is going to be able to play...but then he comes back and is one of the better rookies last year and has clearly improved since last year. Soon as you trade him, then we are bitching about not having centers that can put up 60-80 points.

IF Wild make the playoffs and he completely looks out of place due to the physicality, OK, I can see an argument being made, although with this kid's drive, he'd probably come back next year and show that he can handle it. Thus far, all he has done is work hard and improved.

 

[MK9]

Would love to have Fiala back again as I think he’s still got a lot of good years ahead of him. having 3 players that can drive lines on their own would be nice. Kaprizov-Rossi, Boldy-Ek, Fiala-Yurov would seem to suffice as 3 scoring lines. Foligno-anyone-Trenin would be a legitimate 4th line. Problem is I can’t make the math work.

Uhm, I think moreso the majority of the problem, is the GM that traded him is still the teams current GM. And based on what we all saw over the last few years Fiala was here, sure as hell appeared he didn't want him and for sure isn't going to bring the guy back. I'd also be fairly surprised if Fiala would even come back.

Sorry, but that's an idea likely has a microscopic chance to ever happen and honestly, needs to be let go.

 

[P10p]

The bad: wallstedt allows 7 goals on 25 shots

The good: Haight hattrick

 

[thestonedkoala]

It's hard to be good when all of your top prospects just go right to the NHL.

Honestly, this is a cop out. Rossi was there for a bit, but if ALL of your good prospects are only first round draft picks, then something is wrong with your organization. You look at Dallas; Stankoven was a 2nd round pick that spent a year and a half developing. Jason Robertson spent a year in the AHL and is another 2nd round pick.

Good teams find guys after the 1st round and let them develop; not to mention weren't fans high on Bankier? Haight? Peart? Spacek? Wallstedt?

It also could be that the defensive prospects are not that good. That would fall on the draft team in my books.

It's not just the defensive prospects;
Beckman didn't develop

Duhaime, Shaw and Dewar couldn't beat out Foligno, Trenin, Gaudreau, or whoever else is on the bottom 6 of this team

Name me one forward that Minnesota has successfully developed in Iowa outside the first round that has stuck around for more than 3 seasons? Name me one forward that Minnesota has successfully developed into a top 6 forward outside the first round from Iowa?

Do Judd Brackett scouting teams pick quality defenders?

For Vancouver

2016: Juolevi, Candella
2017: Rathbone, Gunnarsson, Brassard
2018: Q. Hughes, Woo, Utunen
2019: no defenders picked

For Minnesota

2020: O'Rourke, Hunt
2021: Lambos, Peart, Masters, Benoit
2022: Healey, Spacek
2023: Pionk, Parker
2024: Z. Buium, Kiviharju, Soini, Leskovar

Not particularly great.

His forwards aren't looking good outside of the first round:

2020: Khusnutdinov, Novak
2021: Bankier, Pillar
2022: Ohgren, Yurov, Haight, Lorenz, Milne, Petrovsky
2023: Stramel, Kumpulainen, Heidt, Clark
2024: Ritchie

I think Ohgren has middle six upside, Yurov has top 6 (he has struggled this year), but most aren't guys like Stankoven or even Jagger Firkus. I have hopes for Haight as he seems to be the only guy doing okay in the AHL, but the team will probably break him.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Name me one forward that Minnesota has successfully developed in Iowa outside the first round that has stuck around for more than 3 seasons?

Zucker.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Zucker.

Fair point, but I'll add that was 12 years ago and a totally different GM group.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Honestly, this is a cop out. Rossi was there for a bit, but if ALL of your good prospects are only first round draft picks, then something is wrong with your organization. You look at Dallas; Stankoven was a 2nd round pick that spent a year and a half developing. Jason Robertson spent a year in the AHL and is another 2nd round pick.

Good teams find guys after the 1st round and let them develop; not to mention weren't fans high on Bankier? Haight? Peart? Spacek? Wallstedt?

Is it Guerin's fault that Yurov/Buium/Ohgren/Khusnutdinov/Heidt/Kumpulainen/Stramel/Lorenz/etc either can't or chose not to play for Iowa? Serious question.

Daemon Hunt looks NHL ready, but he's blocked at the NHL level.

Haight is on Iowa. He's their leading goal scorer and one of a select few that have a positive +/- on that dumpster fire.

Are you not high on Wallstedt? Seems like a poor choice if you are.

It's not just the defensive prospects;
Beckman didn't develop

Duhaime, Shaw and Dewar couldn't beat out Foligno, Trenin, Gaudreau, or whoever else is on the bottom 6 of this team

Name me one forward that Minnesota has successfully developed in Iowa outside the first round that has stuck around for more than 3 seasons? Name me one forward that Minnesota has successfully developed into a top 6 forward outside the first round from Iowa?

You realize the percentage chance for non 1st or 2nd round picks to make the NHL is extremely low, right? Beckman was mediocre.

The issue you seem to be having is that the organization isn't forcing their prospects to play for Iowa. Stankoven didn't magically develop because he played half a season for the Texas Stars. He was blowing up the WHL and was NHL ready. It very likely could be the same path that Heidt follows (might even skip the 40 AHL games too).

I don't understand why you care that players need to go through Iowa. Most of the guys from the Brackett era are playing in their junior league, college or a league overseas still.

We have some nice 2nd round picks coming. Khusnutdinov is here. Lorenz is still playing in college. Heidt cannot play for Iowa otherwise he would be there. Kumpulainen will be in Iowa soon. Ritchie looks solid, but very green.

I, personally, don't care if any of our prospects play for Iowa or not. I care whether or not they end up being NHL players.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Is it Guerin's fault that Yurov/Buium/Ohgren/Khusnutdinov/Heidt/Kumpulainen/Stramel/Lorenz/etc either can't or chose not to play for Iowa? Serious question.

Ohgren and Khus yes. They could be getting more minutes and developing in the AHL. Kump could depend if you think the SHL is a better league.

Daemon Hunt looks NHL ready, but he's blocked at the NHL level.

He's getting blocked by Jon Merrill and Bogosian. That says a lot of what Guerin thinks.

Haight is on Iowa. He's their leading goal scorer and one of a select few that have a positive +/- on that dumpster fire.

Right now. Again your words not mine as fans were told last year that Iowa should be better this year with better players coming in and the rookies and young players taking a step forward.

Are you not high on Wallstedt? Seems like a poor choice if you are.

I'm concerned that Wallstedt is going to bust because of the dumpster fire of teams in front of him. I'm surprised he's not shell shocked by now.

You realize the percentage chance for non 1st or 2nd round picks to make the NHL is extremely low, right? Beckman was mediocre.

I hate this because it's not about any given year but overall. Teams get contributions from first and second round picks all the time. That's the depth teams generally develop. They aren't all going to be top 6 players but contributing to the overall depth of the team.

The issue you seem to be having is that the organization isn't forcing their prospects to play for Iowa. Stankoven didn't magically develop because he played half a season for the Texas Stars. He was blowing up the WHL and was NHL ready. It very likely could be the same path that Heidt follows (might even skip the 40 AHL games too).

Ohgren and Khus should be taking the Stankoven method. But Stankoven did develop in the AHL and was ready because they put him in a place to succeed first. He was a smaller prospect and they took their time with him instead of just gifting him a spot in the NHL so he could succeed.

We have some nice 2nd round picks coming. Khusnutdinov is here. Lorenz is still playing in college. Heidt cannot play for Iowa otherwise he would be there. Kumpulainen will be in Iowa soon. Ritchie looks solid, but very green.

I, personally, don't care if any of our prospects play for Iowa or not. I care whether or not they end up being NHL players.

Ever year we hear this same bullshit. Bankier is coming. Spacek is coming. Haight is coming. The team is going to get better. The team will start winning. Look at the thread on the AHL last year. The prospect thread. Oh look posters keep saying the team will get better because the prospects have a year under their belt. That better veterans are going to come in. And yet the team is a disaster.

My issue is we keep hearing how the team will get better next year and yet here we are. Start of the year and Wally let in 12 goals in 2 games because the team is a mess.