Minnesota Wild General Discussion 2024-25

[Prior]

Hockey PDOcast did a piece on Boldy a couple days ago. Worth a listen where you listen to your podcasts or just viewing on YouTube.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

So Rossi is also gonna be more expensive than some of us thought...legitimately wondering the chances of us Fiala-ing him (trading him because we "can't afford him" without trading a couple other bottom six players (you know who you are)).

Luckily we do still have the one more year before Kaprizov's 17M AAV extension kicks in.

Can still bridge him to keep it down for a couple years.

 

[Nsjohnson]

So I didn't peg Middleton having 9 points in 14 games to start the season.

Weird but I'll take it.

 

[Sota Popinski]

We finally find a center who works well with Kap, and we decide to move him. That would make so much sense for this club.

You're the people Russo is using to fluff up his articles with this crap. He floats it, people repeat it, he uses that to keep bringing it up because people email him about it. Enjoy the season.

 

[DANOZ28]

Who had 10-2-2 on their Bingo cards raise your hands

not me, goaltending has been awesome (except LA) and kaprizov is playing his best hockey. amazing record when we're getting nothing from mojo; trenin & a few others.

 

[Dakota Sioux]

 

[Digitalbooya]

So Rossi is also gonna be more expensive than some of us thought...legitimately wondering the chances of us Fiala-ing him (trading him because we "can't afford him" without trading a couple other bottom six players (you know who you are)).

Luckily we do still have the one more year before Kaprizov's 17M AAV extension kicks in.

I just hope they sign Kap long term before Rossi. If that means bridging Rossi, then so be it.

If we bridge Rossi for 2-3 years, then we can use Hartman and/or Foligno coming off the books to pay him more on a long term deal. Similar to how Zucc’s $4M will go to Kap.

 

[BagHead]

So I didn't peg Middleton having 9 points in 14 games to start the season.

Weird but I'll take it.

I'm going to reserve my judgement. Last year he had 8 points in 12 games to start the year. I have liked his play so far, though.

 

[Digitalbooya]

So I didn't peg Middleton having 9 points in 14 games to start the season.

Weird but I'll take it.

Gordie Middleton

 

[kfan22]

Does the Season Kaprizov is having increase the chances he stays with Wild or does it increase the chances he leaves?? or doesnt have an impact at all?

 

[Digitalbooya]

Does the Season Kaprizov is having increase the chances he stays with Wild or does it increase the chances he leaves?? or doesnt have an impact at all?

No impact. From all accounts heard, he cares more about winning than personal accolades or money. The Wild winning increases his chances of staying IMO.

 

[Webster]

Looking at those three who got an extension, all making 4M.

Zuccarello: 13 points in 14 games
Foligno: 5 points in 14 games
Hartman: 4 points in 9 games, -3

Are the last two worth their contracts?...weeeell gotta love Guerin.

Does the Season Kaprizov is having increase the chances he stays with Wild or does it increase the chances he leaves?? or doesnt have an impact at all?

Kaprizov stays, and he'll buy Zuccarello's house

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Looking at those three who got an extension, all making 4M.

Zuccarello: 13 points in 14 games
Foligno: 5 points in 14 games
Hartman: 4 points in 9 games, -3

Are the last two worth their contracts?...weeeell gotta love Guerin.

They've all been fine for what they're being asked to do.

None of the bottom 6 was scoring early on, but that has come around recently. As long as Foligno can stay away from the antics, he's tolerable. Hartman is fine.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Looking at those three who got an extension, all making 4M.

Zuccarello: 13 points in 14 games
Foligno: 5 points in 14 games
Hartman: 4 points in 9 games, -3

Are the last two worth their contracts?...weeeell gotta love Guerin.

All 3 play different roles. There is a better argument that Zucc’s offensive production is a steal at $4M than Foligno/Hartman are overpaid.

 

[57special]

I think that Foligno is finally starting to turn the corner, and is playing well. wins puck battles, makes good decisions, has a bit of offense, and adds a bit of menace. I thought he was crap early on.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

All 3 play different roles. There is a better argument that Zucc’s offensive production is a steal at $4M than Foligno/Hartman are overpaid.

There is also the argument that 13 points in 14 games might actually be underachieving for a veteran offensive player that plays 91% of their 5v5 time and 55 power play minutes with somebody that has 27 points in 14 games. At the very least, it's probably the base minimum expectation.

 

[Webster]

There is also the argument that 13 points in 14 games might actually be underachieving for a veteran offensive player that plays 91% of their 5v5 time and 55 power play minutes with somebody that has 27 points in 14 games. At the very least, it's probably the base minimum expectation.

You should be satisfied if Zuccarello has 40 points this season, based on his salary. But as usual, Zucc has been involved in 50% of Kap's production.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

You should be satisfied if Zuccarello has 40 points this season, based on his salary. But as usual, Zucc has been involved in 50% of Kap's production.

No, I shouldn't, when he's playing in the role that he is. If he has 40 points playing top line + #1 PP with a 100+ point player, that's a bad season for him, I don't care if he was making league minimum.

If Kaprizov has 27 in 14, Rossi has 13 in 14 and Zuccarello has 7 in 14 (40 point pace), he would be the obvious weak link and hindrance on that line, and an obvious candidate to be moved off of it for somebody that would do better.

If Foligno or Hartman had their numbers playing 91% of their 5v5 time and 55 minutes of PP time with Kaprizov, I'd have a different opinion of them than I do now.

 

[Webster]

No, I shouldn't, when he's playing in the role that he is. If he has 40 points playing top line + #1 PP with a 100+ point player, that's a bad season for him, I don't care if he was making league minimum.

If Kaprizov has 27 in 14, Rossi has 13 in 14 and Zuccarello has 7 in 14 (40 point pace), he would be the obvious weak link and hindrance on that line, and an obvious candidate to be moved off of it for somebody that would do better.

If Foligno or Hartman had their numbers playing 91% of their 5v5 time and 55 minutes of PP time with Kaprizov, I'd have a different opinion of them than I do now.

You're funny though, I'll give you that. Foligno with Kaprizov

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

You're funny though, I'll give you that. Foligno with Kaprizov

Yeah, because that was the point...

So you're saying that Rossi could play with Kaprizov for the rest of the year, never score another point, and his season is fine because he only makes $900k a year and he already has 13 points? Because that is the exact logic you are trying to apply here.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

You should be satisfied if Zuccarello has 40 points this season, based on his salary. But as usual, Zucc has been involved in 50% of Kap's production.

44% actually.

Kaprizov has been involved in 92% of Zuccarello's, by the way (12 out of the 13).

 

[Webster]

Something else that's very interesting this season...

Gaudreau has 8 points, Eriksson Ek also has 8 points. Freddy is obviously good news, bottom six contribution is part of the success. Ek I guess is okay, but maybe we could expect more from him.

The Wild also struggle a bit at home, but very good on the road. They need to figure out why.

 

[Arturia Pendragon]

Something else that's very interesting this season...

Gaudreau has 8 points, Eriksson Ek also has 8 points. Freddy is obviously good news, bottom six contribution is part of the success. Ek I guess is okay, but maybe we could expect more from him.

The Wild also struggle a bit at home, but very good on the road. They need to figure out why.

14 games

 

[AKL]

Rossi has taken the second most faceoffs on the team at 154 through 14 games, and he's won 50.7% of them. That's slightly better than Eriksson Ek's peak that he finished with last season. Third on the team with 13 points in 14 games. Has points in 11 out of 14 games.

From a guy who looked like he might not be a top six player two seasons ago, he's made massive strides to get where he is now, and he clearly looks like he belongs there. Should still be a lot of room to grow with him.

Point is, there are a lot of guys having a great start to the season, but don't think it can be overstated just how much Rossi's great start is contributing to some of the others. Kaprizov has never had a center like Rossi, even when he played with Eriksson Ek and Boldy last season, Rossi brings a much different profile to the offensive side of the game.

Really like what we have in this guy right now, and I think even if Yurov comes over and they want to keep him as a center, the guy you move down to the third line should be Eriksson Ek. Not necessarily because he's the worst, but because his style meshes more with the third line style this team has historically had, whereas Rossi and [potentially] Yurov would mesh better with the offensive games of Kaprizov and Boldy.

 

[GordieGallant]

Rossi has taken the second most faceoffs on the team at 154 through 14 games, and he's won 50.7% of them. That's slightly better than Eriksson Ek's peak that he finished with last season. Third on the team with 13 points in 14 games. Has points in 11 out of 14 games.

From a guy who looked like he might not be a top six player two seasons ago, he's made massive strides to get where he is now, and he clearly looks like he belongs there. Should still be a lot of room to grow with him.

Point is, there are a lot of guys having a great start to the season, but don't think it can be overstated just how much Rossi's great start is contributing to some of the others. Kaprizov has never had a center like Rossi, even when he played with Eriksson Ek and Boldy last season, Rossi brings a much different profile to the offensive side of the game.

Really like what we have in this guy right now, and I think even if Yurov comes over and they want to keep him as a center, the guy you move down to the third line should be Eriksson Ek. Not necessarily because he's the worst, but because his style meshes more with the third line style this team has historically had, whereas Rossi and [potentially] Yurov would mesh better with the offensive games of Kaprizov and Boldy.

No way in hell Ek should play in the bottom six.