Minnesota Wild General Discussion XIX

[BagHead]

Rask has nothing to do with it, and was only a factor for a few games. I mean, if Rossi can't outshine Rask, that says it all, but it's not really the case.
Rossi looks like an above average AHL player....a first line AHL player, but by no means the best in the AHL. He has scored a lot of points, but is 36 th in total scoring. Players like Jack Quinn are outproducing him at a far greater rate. He also is below average in strength, even for the AHL. His skating is good, but straight line speed is slightly above average for the AHL. FO's are mediocre.
Rossi might do better with the puck on his stick than Gaudreau, but I wouldn't bet on it. Gaudreau is much faster, and can skate out of trouble, whole Rossi would get caught from behind. Rossi is significantly weaker than Gaudreau, a worse defensive player, and worse on the dot. Rossi has a better shot, but can he get to scoring areas in the NHL to use that shot, or will he get outmuscled and outquicked there, a la Teemu Pulkkinen?

Have I told you that I appreciate that you watch Rossi actually play and then tell us how he's doing? If not, I appreciate it.

 

[north21]

Fiala is 12th in scoring among LW's over the past three years. One behind Landeskog, and ahead of Forsberg, Ehlers, and Laine. He is quite clearly a #1 LW. He just happens to be overshadowed by another LW, who is probably the best player, and certainly the best forward, that MN has ever had.
Bottom line is that we will regret letting Fiala go. Players like him don't come along often. Guerin is making the mistake of thinking that he is replaceable.

Completely agree, we are signing all our depth players to ok contracts instead of signing a core offensive talent we should be building around. The only upside is if we make a great trade that sets us up for the future but you never know how those are going to work out.

 

[Bazeek]

Completely agree, we are signing all our depth players to ok contracts instead of signing a core offensive talent we should be building around. The only upside is if we make a great trade that sets us up for the future but you never know how those are going to work out.

I think part of the bigger picture here is that the buyouts prevent this team from really competing during Fiala's best years. Committing big money to him while knowing that you wont be able to fill out the rest of the team properly isn't ideal.

(You could say the same thing about Kaprizov but I think he fits squarely in the Franchise Player mold while Fiala, as good as he is, doesn't. I'm still curious as to how exactly that'll play out beyond his current deal.)

To me this entire season looks like a fighting retreat that's gone better than expected. Most of the team's recent moves have been smaller, shorter term signings (Greenway, Merrill, Goligoski, Gaudreau, Kulikov, etc.) or very long term ones (Eriksson-Ek and what they attempted to sign Kaprizov to). The best value years on Fiala's next contract will be the ones where this team probably doesn't plan to seriously compete, whatever it says to the public. So he gets liquidated for high trade value instead of being retained as a core player.

 

[Slotski]

I think part of the bigger picture here is that the buyouts prevent this team from really competing during Fiala's best years. Committing big money to him while knowing that you wont be able to fill out the rest of the team properly isn't ideal.

(You could say the same thing about Kaprizov but I think he fits squarely in the Franchise Player mold while Fiala, as good as he is, doesn't. I'm still curious as to how exactly that'll play out beyond his current deal.)

To me this entire season looks like a fighting retreat that's gone better than expected. Most of the team's recent moves have been smaller, shorter term signings (Greenway, Merrill, Goligoski, Gaudreau, Kulikov, etc.) or very long term ones (Eriksson-Ek and what they attempted to sign Kaprizov to). The best value years on Fiala's next contract will be the ones where this team probably doesn't plan to seriously compete, whatever it says to the public. So he gets liquidated for high trade value instead of being retained as a core player.

Interesting take on Fiala’s peak years.
IMO, the next focal point after this season, has to be year 5 of #97’s deal. Fiala would only be 29, still within his prime.
That said, if Fiala nets a top 10 pick and a high end prospect, that could bode equally well for 2025-26

 

[Bazeek]

Interesting take on Fiala’s peak years.
IMO, the next focal point after this season, has to be year 5 of #97’s deal. Fiala would only be 29, still within his prime.
That said, if Fiala nets a top 10 pick and a high end prospect, that could bode equally well for 2025-26

I agree. This season has been a pretty cool last hurrah, but there's not much you can do to manage your way around $12m - $14m in dead cap space. To me it looks like sights are really set on 2025-26. The years in between are about reloading for when the buyouts lift and trying to maintain some sort of continuity and stability until then (i.e. make sure this is a team that you can actually feed young players onto and not one that will ruin them). Trading Fiala helps the former without really hurting the latter.

 

[DANOZ28]

in rossi's defense i don't think lundell is fast yet is having a terrific season mainly because hes surrounded by decent players. i like gaudreau's speed but i rarely see him create scoring chances which i think rossi can do.

 

[Slotski]

I agree. This season has been a pretty cool last hurrah, but there's not much you can do to manage your way around $12m - $14m in dead cap space. To me it looks like sights are really set on 2025-26. The years in between are about reloading for when the buyouts lift and trying to maintain some sort of continuity and stability until then (i.e. make sure this is a team that you can actually feed young players onto and not one that will ruin them). Trading Fiala helps the former without really hurting the latter.

Rather than the Fiala and/or Dumba must go to meet the cap scenario, I would prefer moving Zucc ( age reason only). I know, I know, it would take a whole lot to convince #97 to move his BFF. Zucc’s NMC becomes a 10 team no move next year. Probably would have to eat 1M per or so.
OR, get real creative and move multiple combinations of Talbot, Kulikov, Hartman, Jost etc. Replacing those 4 with 1M dollar contracts would save 5M or so. Add that to 8M left, would still be tight, but MAYBE doable. That all said, Boldy’s next deal in 23-24 looms large.

 

[57special]

Rather than the Fiala and/or Dumba must go to meet the cap scenario, I would prefer moving Zucc ( age reason only). I know, I know, it would take a whole lot to convince #97 to move his BFF. Zucc’s NMC becomes a 10 team no move next year. Probably would have to eat 1M per or so.
OR, get real creative and move multiple combinations of Talbot, Kulikov, Hartman, Jost etc. Replacing those 4 with 1M dollar contracts would save 5M or so. Add that to 8M left, would still be tight, but MAYBE doable. That all said, Boldy’s next deal in 23-24 looms large.

It makes sense on paper, but lizard has been ridiculously good, and it's obvious that he and our franchise player are a perfect match, both on and off the ice. Moving him would be really hard. The silver lining in moving Fiala over Zucc would be that Fiala should bring more back in trade- still cold comfort.

If it was up to me I would be dumping Greenway, Jost, and one of Goligoski(oops!)/ Kulikov, plus a goalie, and replace the skaters with ELC's such as Dewar, Addison, Chaffee/Rossi before I would be moving Dumba, Fiala or lizard. I believe that the $$ will work, then, especially with the cap going up 1.5M.

Guerin obviously thinks differently. The Goligoski re up has shocked me, especially the 2nd year.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Guerin obviously thinks differently. The Goligoski re up has shocked me, especially the 2nd year.

The NMC was a major head scratcher.

 

[Spurgeon]

Glad to know the refreshing issue still isn’t fixed on mobile… feels like such a waste of time to even attempt to write long messages on here. I’m gonna have to start writing in shorthand.

Goli bad 2 yr Boldy ext

 

[TaLoN]

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

Based on skill sets I think Fiala and Gaborik are similar, though I think Gaborik had the better scoring instincts. I’d say Gaborik is the better player, but Fiala hasn’t had the same opportunities (for long stretches atleast) to be the go-to guy that Gaborik had. And when has has, he’s been around a point per game for us.

 

[57special]

I think part of the bigger picture here is that the buyouts prevent this team from really competing during Fiala's best years. Committing big money to him while knowing that you wont be able to fill out the rest of the team properly isn't ideal.

(You could say the same thing about Kaprizov but I think he fits squarely in the Franchise Player mold while Fiala, as good as he is, doesn't. I'm still curious as to how exactly that'll play out beyond his current deal.)

To me this entire season looks like a fighting retreat that's gone better than expected. Most of the team's recent moves have been smaller, shorter term signings (Greenway, Merrill, Goligoski, Gaudreau, Kulikov, etc.) or very long term ones (Eriksson-Ek and what they attempted to sign Kaprizov to). The best value years on Fiala's next contract will be the ones where this team probably doesn't plan to seriously compete, whatever it says to the public. So he gets liquidated for high trade value instead of being retained as a core player.

I feel that you really wanted to say "rearguard action", but thought it would be OTT.

 

[TaLoN]

Based on skill sets I think Fiala and Gaborik are similar, though I think Gaborik had the better scoring instincts. I’d say Gaborik is the better player, but Fiala hasn’t had the same opportunities (for long stretches atleast) to be the go-to guy that Gaborik had. And when has has, he’s been around a point per game for us.

I think that assessment looks pretty spot on.

 

[north21]

I think part of the bigger picture here is that the buyouts prevent this team from really competing during Fiala's best years.

I think the 13 year signings did more of that then the buyouts, those cap hit were with us no matter what. They don't just go away if we didn't buy them out.

 

[TaLoN]

BTW - Update on KFAN on my ride in to work, they said Boldy WILL travel on the road trip.

 

[Bazeek]

I think the 13 year signings did more of that then the buyouts, those cap hit were with us no matter what. They don't just go away if we didn't buy them out.

It wasn't intended as a commentary on the wisdom of the buyouts. I personally don't really have a problem with them. Doesn't change the reality we're facing, though.

 

[north21]

The reality was there either way.

 

[Wild11MN]

After giving up four goals a game for what felt like two months, the Wild have only given up a total of 16 goals in the past ten games. 9-0-1.

 

[MuckOG]

Winning these next two games against NSH and STL can go a long way towards locking up home ice in the 1st round.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Winning these next two games against NSH and STL can go a long way towards locking up home ice in the 1st round.

Both games are win-win. If we win, we're closer to locking up home ice.

IF we lose, Vegas has a better chance of missing the playoffs

 

[BagHead]

Both games are win-win. If we win, we're closer to locking up home ice.

IF we lose, Vegas has a better chance of missing the playoffs

Great, now I don't know which outcome to cheer for.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Great, now I don't know which outcome to cheer for.

Home ice, Vegas is playing terrible.

 

[BagHead]

Home ice, Vegas is playing terrible.

I was being a bit tongue in cheek. I never really cheer against the Wild, even when it's in their best interest.

I'd prefer Vegas miss the playoffs the natural way.

 

[Northerner]

Man some of the posts back around the slump (the middle of this thread) didn't age very well.