Minnesota Wild General Discussion 2024-25

[Dr Jan Itor]

I think he's been relatively unlucky for a stretch. What I will say, even though Boldy does have good numbers on zone entries is that for my money Boldy plays a lot better when he is paired with another forward who has great speed and can carry the puck through the neutral zone and when Boldy does have the puck push defenses back with speed that Boldy can then fill.

Unfortunately, Johansson is not the player that he was for that stretch whenever that was and there's no Fiala on this roster to be found. I kind of think that the Wild should do:

Kaprizov-Ek-Boldy
____-Rossi-Zucc

I don't think they will do this, and I think the second best option is Rossi/Boldy. If the Wild do make a move, I'd love to see a rental of a player who can fit this mold. We've seen with Nyquist and Johansson in that one year that it doesn't have to be an elite player but it can be a player with certain traits.

Ohgren is worth seeing if he can work. The theory of him does some of these things. That being said, and I haven't seen every game, but Boldy probably hit 5-6 posts in a few game stretch a few weeks back. I think he does have some consistency issues, but really IMO he should have 4-5-6 more goals this season.

Not yet...

 

[Spurgeon]

Better tonight but he is still making wrong decisions with the puck too often. We need Boldy to score goals he is a shooter first and foremost or at least that's my impression of what the team needs. He is deferring when he should take initiative and should defer when he thinks he can stickhandle through 3 guys. Only did it once tonight though so there is an improvement.

What is frustrating me regarding Boldy is that you always have the feeling he could be so much better! The skills and the stretches of great play are clearly there, he is just lacking the consistency still. Not sure if Ohgren is the right fit at the moment but there is nobody else really availbe to play with Rossi and Boldy right now. Johansson might be a good boost for that line. But right now everyone will be a stopgap only. The Wild are still looking for that 6th Top 6 forward.

He’s definitely reminded me of Coyle at times in that regard. He’s absolutely better than Coyle ever was here, but I just get that impression from his game sometimes.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

He always takes the puck to the middle while entering the o-zone. If his linemates read it right, it opens up space for them on the sides. Sometimes it looks like trying to stickhandle through 3 guys.

 

[MrRuin]

He always takes the puck to the middle while entering the o-zone. If his linemates read it right, it opens up space for them on the sides. Sometimes it looks like trying to stickhandle through 3 guys.

which it does because he doesn't actually get the puck to his line mates doing that. Either because he hits a boot with his pass or he holds on to the puck for too long and it gets knocked off. Or he actually does want to stickhandle through three guys because it worked that one time long ago.

Either way I am convinced a more simplified game and not overthinking things always looking for that highlight reel play would do him good. Not trying to force a play because it could be the home run pass (much like Zucc) but move the puck up the ice efficiently. And then move your feet and get back into the play asap.

Anyway I don't want to knock the guy and there is plenty good in Boldy's game. Just wish he wouldn't try to copy Zucc too much.

 

[Spurgeon]

He always takes the puck to the middle while entering the o-zone. If his linemates read it right, it opens up space for them on the sides. Sometimes it looks like trying to stickhandle through 3 guys.

There was a point late on the PP yesterday where he just carried the puck into the zone and attempted to go right through the middle of everyone and turned the puck over. Wasn’t really a big deal given how much time was left, but should be focusing on possession there to get one more decent attempt.

 

[Luceni]

Boldy is the only one on this team who's got that rare extra gear in his game. He can singlehandedly create special moments. I don't want him to lose that aspect of his game if he focuses on posession/safety. Playing forward in the NHL means to take risks.

Because of this rare gift I'm ok if he occasionally tries to stickhandle through 3 guys. He's got the skill that it could work and he is one of the two players on that team who could pull off something like that. But I gotta agree that he needs to find a better balance in his decisionmaking, but he's still young.

I'm much more furious if someone like Zucc/MaJo turn the puck over because they try to do something fancy too or believe they can stickhandle through guys too. Let the gifted guys do the magic, the others gotta play a more safe game. Shoot the damn puck an crash the net, or/and get the puck to Kap/Boldy in the offensive zone. It's as simple as that & good things gonna happen.

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

He always takes the puck to the middle while entering the o-zone. If his linemates read it right, it opens up space for them on the sides. Sometimes it looks like trying to stickhandle through 3 guys.

This is part of the reason he plays best with another winger with speed. He likes to slow it down and a wing with speed and pull the defense down and open up Boldy to hold the puck and find open areas. I actually think he's really good at this. But he is also great when he can then fill that space and load up his shot. I don't think Ek is a good pairing for him. Rossi theoretically is somewhat, but Rossi is more of a connector. Kaprizov is the best we have to pair with him but that's true of everyone.

 

[MuckOG]

Kaprizov surgery and looks to miss about 6 weeks.

Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov misses practice, could be headed for surgery: Sources

If Kaprizov has surgery this week for a lower-body injury that has been ailing him since December, he would miss six weeks, per sources.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Spurgeon]

Kaprizov surgery and looks to miss about 6 weeks.

Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov misses practice, could be headed for surgery: Sources

If Kaprizov has surgery this week for a lower-body injury that has been ailing him since December, he would miss six weeks, per sources.

www.nytimes.com

Schedule his surgery during the 4 Nations tournament and LTIR him until the playoffs.

 

[BagHead]

Schedule his surgery during the 4 Nations tournament and LTIR him until the playoffs.

If it's gotta happen, this is the way it best help.

 

[Luceni]

Schedule his surgery during the 4 Nations tournament and LTIR him until the playoffs.

So bring back the tank thread, I guess? What a horrible season, the injury bug has been sitting on this teams shoulders all year.

 

[sisseton]

Schedule his surgery during the 4 Nations tournament and LTIR him until the playoffs.

 

[MrRuin]

Ok that’s rough news. But something was clearly off

 

[Spurgeon]

So bring back the tank thread, I guess? What a horrible season, the injury bug has been sitting on this teams shoulders all year.

They need to go .500 the rest of the way to make the playoffs. If I’m not mistaken, I believe we have one of the easiest SOS left as well.

We’re in a perfect position to get involved with some cap shenanigans & bring in someone like Boeser/Nelson/Miller.

Just make it a “day-to-day” nagging injury towards the end of the timeline that extends into April. How have all the other teams gotten away with it?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Just make it a “day-to-day” nagging injury towards the end of the timeline that extends into April. How have all the other teams gotten away with it?

I think the idea is that if he's good to go in 6 weeks, they don't want to have to artificially keep him out. If he can play March 15 through the first week of April, we might want/need him to.

I'm pretty sure Vegas/Stone were both fine with it going the rest of the regular season.

 

[AKL]

If it takes 92 points to reach the playoffs, the Wild need 30 points in 32 games.

15-17
14-16-2
13-15-4
12-14-6

A .469 p%, and they've been at .500 in January, .400 in their last 10. They were actually .583 for the month Kaprizov was out.

So we'll see how this goes.

 

[Spurgeon]

I think the idea is that if he's good to go in 6 weeks, they don't want to have to artificially keep him out. If he can play March 15 through the first week of April, we might want/need him to.

I'm pretty sure Vegas/Stone were both fine with it going the rest of the regular season.

I could see that, especially with how slow Kap was to get back up to speed in our last playoff series.

Maybe you give him the one-week conditioning stint in the AHL with “shit” players right before the playoffs start (is that allowed still?).

I just see more pros to letting Kaprizov get fully healthy, even beyond the “normal” timeline. He’s the most important piece to have at 100% for the playoffs.

 

[Dickie Dunn]

I mean….they can’t not sign him but $14m+ is feeling like a big gamble. Two healthy seasons, two not so healthy seasons.

 

[AKL]

Maybe you give him the one-week conditioning stint in the AHL with “shit” players right before the playoffs start (is that allowed still?).

13.8 Conditioning Loan. Unless a Player consents, he shall not be Loaned on a ConditioningLoan to a minor league club. Such Conditioning Loan shall not extend for more than fourteen(14) consecutive days. The Commissioner may take whatever steps he deems necessary toinvestigate the circumstances under which a Player is Loaned on a Conditioning Loan. If theCommissioner has reason to believe or determines that the Club has used the Conditioning Loanto evade Waivers, or otherwise Circumvent any provision of this Agreement, he may take suchdisciplinary action against the Club, as he deems appropriate

 

[Spurgeon]

13.8 Conditioning Loan. Unless a Player consents, he shall not be Loaned on a ConditioningLoan to a minor league club. Such Conditioning Loan shall not extend for more than fourteen(14) consecutive days. The Commissioner may take whatever steps he deems necessary toinvestigate the circumstances under which a Player is Loaned on a Conditioning Loan. If theCommissioner has reason to believe or determines that the Club has used the Conditioning Loanto evade Waivers, or otherwise Circumvent any provision of this Agreement, he may take suchdisciplinary action against the Club, as he deems appropriate

Damn you Bettman

 

[57special]

Well, this is a shit development. Hopefully Kap is not going down the path of Gaborik and his knees.

 

[Webster]

Not so smart to piss him off, he wants to play and get this fixed in the off-season.

Question is if Guerin just made it a lot harder to get him re-signed.

 

[Sota Popinski]

Not so smart to piss him off, he wants to play and get this fixed in the off-season.

Question is if Guerin just made it a lot harder to get him re-signed.

It doesn't say he wants to play through this and get it fixed in the off-season. He already tried that and it isn't getting better. He's not upset at management, he's upset with the situation

 

[AKL]

@Spurgeon

 

[NHL1674]

Not so smart to piss him off, he wants to play and get this fixed in the off-season.

Question is if Guerin just made it a lot harder to get him re-signed.

As another poster just said, he's upset at the situation....not with management. Saying he could "probably" play at just 60% is saying he NEEDS the surgery. He knows it. He is of no help to the team if he's struggling that much to play, and he'd be nearly broken down by the time the playoffs rolled around....that is if we make it. Him avoiding the surgery to play at nearly 50% would be selfish when there is enough time for him to return this season. But again, those comments don't suggest that he's dragging his feet or angry at the team for forcing him to get the surgery.