Minnesota Wild General Discussion XIX

[57special]

In my opinion, he took a meaningful step forward starting last season from my recollection.

Point production aside Brodin’s ability to handle the puck and make offensive players that impact the transition game and the Wild breaking the puck out is much better than earlier in his career.

I thought Brodin took a step forward when Scott Stevens was the D coach, all too briefly.
Brodin has always been Brodin. He is just stronger and more filled out now. He is a defensive artiste, with superb skating and slightly above average puck skills. If he had finishing in his toolkit he'd be a Norris candidate, IMO. He is getting more attention now because he is no longer in the shadow of one of the best defensive Dmen in the league, Suter, as well as a pretty darn good one in Spurgeon.

Brodin has played the thankless hard minutes for years, and has very few PP minutes because that has been what is best for the team.

Dumba...I like Dumba. He has become a much better defensive Dman, and has cut down on his mistakes a lot. He still has offensive game, but is nowhere near elite, like he was thought to be trending towards when he was given his contract. Still quite valuable, though. I think he will be offered something like 6 X 6M, to keep him in line with his buddy, Brodin. I don't think he is worth as much as Brodin, but we are talking over a year from now, when prices will have gone up, and at this point we can probably consider Brodin underpaid, with the crazy contracts given out in the past year.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

I think Dumba would be willing to take a pay cut to come back

 

[57special]

I think Dumba would be willing to take a pay cut to come back

If he comes back at 6M, the same amount he signed for 5 years ago, then he probably will consider it a pay cut. Prices for Dmen have gone up since then.

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

I thought Brodin took a step forward back when Scott Stevens was the D coach, all too briefly.
Brodin has always been Brodin. He is just stronger and more filled out now. He is a defensive artiste, with superb skating and slightly above average puck skills. If he had finishing in his toolkit he'd be a Norris candidate, IMO. He is getting more attention now because he is no longer in the shadow of one of the best defensive Dmen in the league, Suter, as well as a pretty darn good one in Spurgeon.

Brodin has played the thankless hard minutes for years, and has very few PP minutes because that has been what is best for the team.

Dumba...I like Dumba. He has become a much better defensive Dman, and has cut down on his mistakes a lot. He still has offensive game, but is nowhere near elite, like he was thought to be trending towards when he was given his contract. Still quite valuable, though. I think he will be offered something like 6 X 6M, to keep him in line with his buddy, Brodin. I don't think he is worth as much as Brodin, but we are talking over a year from now, when prices will have gone up, and at this point we can probably consider Brodin underpaid, with the crazy contracts given out in the past year.

I think it's a discredit to Brodin to not acknowledge the work he's done to become a better puck-handler/puck-mover even if in typical Brodin fashion a lot of it goes beneath the radar. I may be off on the year he took a step forward but if you watch Brodin with the puck now he consistently can maintain puck possession against forecheckers or defenders when skating with the puck in a way that leads to additional possession or eventual passing lanes in an impressive way (though he's not Makar).

 

[thestonedkoala]

Honestly does everyone remember how bad the defense was when Dumba was out with an injury?

 

[63firebird]

Brodin clears the zone so effortlessly and sidesteps checks. Dumba is the more noticeable player due to his style. Especially open ice hits like on Rantanen. Seems like the Dumba big slapper isn’t as effective as it once was.
Pretty sure GMBG values his leadership. There is a definite void when he’s injured.

 

[57special]

Brodin clears the zone so effortlessly and sidesteps checks. Dumba is the more noticeable player due to his style. Especially open ice hits like on Rantanen. Seems like the Dumba big slapper isn’t as effective as it once was.
Pretty sure GMBG values his leadership. There is a definite void when he’s injured.

Not to me, but i used to play and coach defense. What Brodin does is extraordinary, to me, and rarer than what Dumba does. Put another way, I'd rather have four Brodins than four Dumbas making up my D.

 

[63firebird]

Not to me, but i used to play and coach defense. What Brodin does is extraordinary, to me, and rarer than what Dumba does. Put another way, I'd rather have four Brodins than four Dumbas making up my D.

Brodin is my favourite player absolutely. I’d take 6 of him. He’s the only D man with enough speed to spin and move the puck up ice. Dumba is noticeable by the big hits that excites the X. Hard to foget all Dumbas giveaways and risky plays from previous seasons.

 

[thestonedkoala]

If we move Gaudreau, Kulikov, and Talbot that clears 7.05 million in cap space. Gives Minnesota roughly 16 million to work with:

Kaprizov - Hartman - Zuccs
??? - Jost - Boldy
Greenway - JEE - Foligno
Duhaime - ??? - ???

Brodin - Dumba
??? - Spurgeon
Merrill -

???
???

Sign back Fleury to a 3 million contract, sign Middleton back for 3.00 million and sign Fiala for 7 million = 13.00 million with 3 million to fill out the rest of the spots.

Kaprizov - Hartman - Zuccs
Fiala - Jost - Boldy
Greenway - JEE - Foligno
Dewar (900k) - Shaw - Duhaime

Brodin - Dumba
Middleton - Spurgeon
Merrill - Addison (795K)

Fleury
FA (1.5 K)

We'd be sitting at 17.695...so we'd need to wrangle up roughly 2 million in cap space.

 

[MuckOG]

If we move Gaudreau, Kulikov, and Talbot that clears 7.05 million in cap space. Gives Minnesota roughly 16 million to work with:

Kaprizov - Hartman - Zuccs
??? - Jost - Boldy
Greenway - JEE - Foligno
Duhaime - ??? - ???

Brodin - Dumba
??? - Spurgeon
Merrill -

???
???

Sign back Fleury to a 3 million contract, sign Middleton back for 3.00 million and sign Fiala for 7 million = 13.00 million with 3 million to fill out the rest of the spots.

Kaprizov - Hartman - Zuccs
Fiala - Jost - Boldy
Greenway - JEE - Foligno
Dewar (900k) - Shaw - Duhaime

Brodin - Dumba
Middleton - Spurgeon
Merrill - Addison (795K)

Fleury
FA (1.5 K)

We'd be sitting at 17.695...so we'd need to wrangle up roughly 2 million in cap space.

You don't expect Rossi to make the roster next season?

 

[thestonedkoala]

You don't expect Rossi to make the roster next season?

Not as a 4th liner. I think like Boldy he'll make it difficult but with his slump this season, and Guerin hinting at Rossi needs work I don't see him initially making the lineup.

 

[Wabit]

You don't expect Rossi to make the roster next season?

After the Jost trade I've been thinking GMBG plans on MN running a Rossi/Jost (Freddy G)/Boldy 3rd line to start the season. It'll ease Rossi into the NHL as a wing and fills the hole Fiala will leave.

 

[Spurgeon]

Not as a 4th liner. I think like Boldy he'll make it difficult but with his slump this season, and Guerin hinting at Rossi needs work I don't see him initially making the lineup.

I’d say Rossi is almost a lock to play on Boldy’s line opening day. He’s going to have a full offseason to train & it’s not like he’s even performing poorly in the AHL. Near a PPG after 18 months away from hockey is a strong showing to me.

Jost/Hartman can shift into the 4th line (or into a Top 6 wing role if Fiala isn’t re-signed)

 

[MNNumbers]

I’d say Rossi is almost a lock to play on Boldy’s line opening day. He’s going to have a full offseason to train & it’s not like he’s even performing poorly in the AHL. Near a PPG after 18 months away from hockey is a strong showing to me.

Jost/Hartman can shift into the 4th line (or into a Top 6 wing role if Fiala isn’t re-signed)

Whose playing on Kap/Zucc? Are you saying Jost and Hartman share that? Not that I'm arguing, mind you. I'm just asking to follow the thought. Thanks.

 

[Spurgeon]

Whose playing on Kap/Zucc? Are you saying Jost and Hartman share that? Not that I'm arguing, mind you. I'm just asking to follow the thought. Thanks.

I would think it’s Hartman since there’s no reason to fix what isn’t broken, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Jost get a better opportunity than the 4th line next season. He’s shown some skill & he’s a tenacious forechecker (drawing that penalty yesterday was huge).

I don’t think Gaudreau is getting traded, so this is what I imagine the lines will be w/ & w/o Fiala:

Zucc - Hartman/Jost - Kap
Boldy - Rossi - Fiala
GREEF
Duhaime - Gaudreau - Hartman/Jost

(I like having Hartman as a 4RW just because he’s a righty & I think that’s a really solid “4th line”. That’s not a typical line that gets <7 mins)
———————————————

Zucc - Hartman - Kap
Boldy - Rossi - Jost
GREEF
Duhaime - Gaudreau - Dewar

The top lineup is so much stronger though & is why I’m really hoping BG makes the right decision on Fiala.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Randomly stumbled upon this but this site has us as the second most likely tan to win the Cup, after Calgary, with roughly 10% chance

NHL Playoff Odds -MoneyPuck 2025 Playoff & Cup Odds

NHL Playoff Odds updated many times a day. Stanley Cup Odds, Playoff seeding, and Draft Lottery Odds

moneypuck.com

 

[Spurgeon]

Randomly stumbled upon this but this site has us as the second most likely tan to win the Cup, after Calgary, with roughly 10% chance

NHL Playoff Odds -MoneyPuck 2025 Playoff & Cup Odds

NHL Playoff Odds updated many times a day. Stanley Cup Odds, Playoff seeding, and Draft Lottery Odds

moneypuck.com

This site always loves us for some reason. Also, very good site for live sports betting

 

[Coachcorner]

How long does y'all think golikoski gon be out?

 

[DeagleJenkins]

How long does y'all think golikoski gon be out?

one game. they will keep rotating people out for rest.

 

[Jesus comma Brodin]

This site always loves us for some reason. Also, very good site for live sports betting

The live betting angle sure is great at MP. I use it all the time for player, line, and D-Pairing statistics within a single game. Good resource, even though the UI and UX looks like it was done by an 11 year old.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I’d say Rossi is almost a lock to play on Boldy’s line opening day. He’s going to have a full offseason to train & it’s not like he’s even performing poorly in the AHL. Near a PPG after 18 months away from hockey is a strong showing to me.

Jost/Hartman can shift into the 4th line (or into a Top 6 wing role if Fiala isn’t re-signed)

We also thought that Boldy would be a lock; an injury moved him down to the AHL. And while his numbers indicate a strong showing, remember Guerin made the comment about Rossi even after he was above a point per game. Guerin and co. may not like a few things about Rossi's game that isn't on the scoreboard. I just don't see Rossi being moved up immediately.

 

[Coachcorner]

one game. they will keep rotating people out for rest.

I'm bout that money sire

 

[Webster]

Did you listen to Russo's podcast the other day? Said he's been talking to people inside the organization, and he basically confirmed that Fiala will be traded in the offseason. Also said he wouldn't go public with this if he wasn't sure.

He thinks Fleury will be re-signed, if Fleury wants to do it. Then Talbot will be traded, and they'll sign a 1,5M backup.

 

[Joseph Nathan]

Did you listen to Russo's podcast the other day? Said he's been talking to people inside the organization, and he basically confirmed that Fiala will be traded in the offseason. Also said he wouldn't go public with this if he wasn't sure.

He thinks Fleury will be re-signed, if Fleury wants to do it. Then Talbot will be traded, and they'll sign a 1,5M backup.

May I please ask if you can show me please?

 

[57special]

one game. they will keep rotating people out for rest.

This would be a good game to rest someone like Spurgeon or Brodin