Off Season Move(s) Thread

[57special]

I know we speculate all the time in other threads, but thought it might be appropriate to gather all our thoughts for the 2025 off season here.

The more I look at it, the less movement I see. Some players can't be moved, others will be hard to move because of NTC's. The D group is pretty easy;

Brodin - Faber
Mid - Spurgeon
Buium - Jiri

Bogo

Spacek/Lambos

You can move players around, but that's our crew, unless Guerin is blown away with an offer for Spurgeon, Brodin, or the like. I would assume that Merrill and Chisholm are gone.

The forwards makeup is a tad more interesting. Really interesting if Rossi is traded for picks/prospects(which i think unlikely). Still, surprisingly little room for movement as things stand.

Kap - Jee - Boldy
Yurov - Rossi/Rossi replacement - Zucc
Ohgren - Hartman/FA - FA/Hartman
Trenin - Gaudreau - Foligno

FA/Haight/Heidt/ Hinnestroza

-It's possible Brazeau and/or Mojo are re-signed, but i wouldn't bet on it.

-Mojo is ok as a bottom sixer. His skating is still excellent, and zone entries are second only to Kap's on the team. It's all about the cap number he wants.

-I can see a grindy, tough guy being signed to be a 4th liner over Brazeau.

-Zucc's play might fall off due to age, and cause him to fall down the lineup. Don't see a role for him on the team if he isn't in the top 9, but that's ok, for one more year.

-There is a slight possibility that Kap is traded.

-It's also possible that one of Ohgren/Yurov aren't good enough to play a role on the team, or that Ohgren is traded.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

As much as I like to imagine big moves like a Marner signing, Larkin/Pettersson trades or even Bennett, I think the simplest answer is the most likely.

What did Guerin identify in his conference? A center to help out Eriksson Ek and scoring winger.
What's the first thing you need for a free agent to sign with you? Them wanting to be there.
What's the second thing? Fitting the salaries in.

What can a 56 point center that played 19 minutes per game and won 52% of his face-offs be sold as? A center that'll help out Eriksson Ek.

What can somebody that has averaged 29 goals and 61 points over the last 4 years be sold as? A scoring winger.

Do both Nelson and Boeser want to be here? Suspectedly so.

Can we fit both under the cap? Yes, assuming I'm not way off with what I think they're going to ask for (~$6M for Nelson and ~$7M for Boeser).

Nelson and Boeser signings on July 1, Rossi trade to Utah for picks on July 3rd. It's the simplest answer.

Kaprizov - JEEK - Hartman
Boldy - Nelson - Boeser
Foligno - Yurov - Zuccarello
Ohgren - Gaudreau - Trenin
Hinostrozza

(maybe rotate guys like Hartman, Ohgren, Foligno and Zuccarello around)

Middleton - Faber
Buium - Spurgeon
Brodin - Jiricek/Bogosian

 

[KaprizovSaveUs]

The way I see it, unless this Brock Nelson/FA Center thing is all smoke, there aren't many spots readily available on the team, and we have a lot of cap space to spend. Let's lay out what we assume we have, simply a depth chart not line combos.

Boldy-Ek-Kaprizov
XXX-XXX-Zuccarello
Foligno-Hartman-Ohgren
Trenin-Gaudreau-XXX
XXX

Brodin-Faber
Middleton-Spurgeon
Buium-Jiricek
Booger

Gus
Wall

You have to assume Yurov is on this team, so that takes away one of the forward spots, whereever you think it may be, and then either Rossi is back, we trade Rossi for a center (e.g., Pinto, Sillinger), or we sign an FA like Brock Nelson...

Before any of those moves happen, we have in the are of 19M to fill out the rest of the roster, but there's not that many spots available. It all really boils down to what we do with Rossi. To me, it doesn't make sense to bring in an equivalent center, unless you really want to take a swing at Marner. More likely, I think they'll try to turn him into a scoring winger that they can then pair with Nelson, and if they can't do that they'll go the futures route and sign Boeser or something.

 

[Minnewildsota]

As much as I like to imagine big moves like a Marner signing, Larkin/Pettersson trades or even Bennett, I think the simplest answer is the most likely.

What did Guerin identify in his conference? A center to help out Eriksson Ek and scoring winger.
What's the first thing you need for a free agent to sign with you? Them wanting to be there.
What's the second thing? Fitting the salaries in.

What can a 56 point center that played 19 minutes per game and won 52% of his face-offs be sold as? A center that'll help out Eriksson Ek.

What can somebody that has averaged 29 goals and 61 points over the last 4 years be sold as? A scoring winger.

Do both Nelson and Boeser want to be here? Suspectedly so.

Can we fit both under the cap? Yes, assuming I'm not way off with what I think they're going to ask for (~$6M for Nelson and ~$7M for Boeser).

Nelson and Boeser signings on July 1, Rossi trade to Utah for picks on July 3rd. It's the simplest answer.

Kaprizov - JEEK - Hartman
Boldy - Nelson - Boeser
Foligno - Yurov - Zuccarello
Ohgren - Gaudreau - Trenin
Hinostrozza

(maybe rotate guys like Hartman, Ohgren, Foligno and Zuccarelo around)

Middleton - Faber
Buium - Spurgeon
Brodin - Jiricek/Bogosian

Occam's Razor

 

[DigitalBoldy]

If they go into next season with 3 or all of the same 4 centers from this past season (Ek, Rossi, Hartman, Gaudreau), I’m gonna lose my shit. That center group sucks compared to real contenders.

 

[kfan22]

If Boeser and Nelson werent from MN would they even be targeted? Is Billy Taking the easy route and saying these are MN kids and they likely want to come home?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Occam's Razor

Pretty much.

 

[AKL]

If Boeser and Nelson werent from MN would they even be targeted? Is Billy Taking the easy route and saying these are MN kids and they likely want to come home?

No, if they weren't from MN, they wouldn't be targets.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

If Boeser and Nelson werent from MN would they even be targeted? Is Billy Taking the easy route and saying these are MN kids and they likely want to come home?

Probably to an extent. They're still top 10-12 names in the UFA class, and they'll move up the list if guys like Tavares, Bennett, maybe Duchene re-sign.

 

[north21]

I think nelson will be an ok depth guy but like 3rd line center depth guy.

 

[NHL1674]

If they go into next season with 3 or all of the same 4 centers from this past season (Ek, Rossi, Hartman, Gaudreau), I’m gonna lose my shit. That center group sucks compared to real contenders.

I'll change my name to ILuvTkachuk if they go into the season with the same 4 centers. There is absolutely freaking way that happens. BG even said they need help there. Nelson will most likely replace Rossi.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

I'll change my name to ILuvTkachuk if they go into the season with the same 4 centers. There is absolutely freaking way that happens. BG even said they need help there. Nelson will most likely replace Rossi.

They need to change at least 2 of the centers out for other players. Put Hartman and Gaudreau back at wing.

 

[f7ben]

This is the most depressing thread I’ve ever read here. We have suffered through cap hell and are going into the summer where things are supposed to turn around.

What do we have?

Every single person expecting nothing , the team will be no better unless unproven prospects outperform.

Our big gets during our summer of big game hunting are to ……swap Rossi for Nelson and add Boeser????? Puke

What we really have is a bunch of aging vets who are overpaid and can’t be moved and who have failed to perform when it matters.

Guerins country club

 

[57special]

As much as I like to imagine big moves like a Marner signing, Larkin/Pettersson trades or even Bennett, I think the simplest answer is the most likely.

What did Guerin identify in his conference? A center to help out Eriksson Ek and scoring winger.
What's the first thing you need for a free agent to sign with you? Them wanting to be there.
What's the second thing? Fitting the salaries in.

What can a 56 point center that played 19 minutes per game and won 52% of his face-offs be sold as? A center that'll help out Eriksson Ek.

What can somebody that has averaged 29 goals and 61 points over the last 4 years be sold as? A scoring winger.

Do both Nelson and Boeser want to be here? Suspectedly so.

Can we fit both under the cap? Yes, assuming I'm not way off with what I think they're going to ask for (~$6M for Nelson and ~$7M for Boeser).

Nelson and Boeser signings on July 1, Rossi trade to Utah for picks on July 3rd. It's the simplest answer.

Kaprizov - JEEK - Hartman
Boldy - Nelson - Boeser
Foligno - Yurov - Zuccarello
Ohgren - Gaudreau - Trenin
Hinostrozza

(maybe rotate guys like Hartman, Ohgren, Foligno and Zuccarello around)

Middleton - Faber
Buium - Spurgeon
Brodin - Jiricek/Bogosian

If that happens, it would have to be for a 2026 1st and 2nd(Utah has 3 2nds that year), at least, IMO. UTAH is a decent club, so their pick will be in the mid late teens.... not exactly a haul for a 23 yo 60 pt. C. A mid round 1st usually takes at least three years to hit, meaning it wouldn't be ready till 2029. Can't see Guerin/Leipold being that patient. His job will be on the line well before that if this team doesn't make a playoff run.

There is always the possibility that he trades Rossi to them for a lesser player that can help immediately and a pick. McBain?

 

[57special]

If Boeser and Nelson werent from MN would they even be targeted? Is Billy Taking the easy route and saying these are MN kids and they likely want to come home?

First off, I've not heard anything about Boeser, just Nelson. Secondly, to answer your question...yeah, pretty much. Retirement contract, like Goligoski, Cullen, etc.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

If that happens, it would have to be for a 2026 1st and 2nd(Utah has 3 2nds that year), at least, IMO. UTAH is e decent club, so their pick will be in the mid late teens.... not exactly a haul for a 23 yo 60 pt. C. A mid round 1st usually takes at least three years to hit, meaning it wouldn't be ready till 2029. Can't see Guerin/Leipold being that patient. His job will be on the line well before that if this team doesn't make a playoff run.

There is always the possibility that he trades Rossi to them for a lesser player that can help immediately and a pick. McBain?

There is no room for a player that can help immediately if they use all of their cap in UFA.

And it doesn't exactly sound like they value Rossi enough to need to get a "haul".

 

[DANOZ28]

i still think riley heidt is going to impress in iowa and force his way into the lineup.

 

[57special]

i still think riley heidt is going to impress in iowa and force his way into the lineup.

Not strong or fast enough, yet. Haight would be a better bet, in the short term. I am a Heidt fan, but want him to go through the development steps - at least 1 year in the AHL, if not two.

There is a definite chance that he ends up as a tweener.

 

[KaprizovSaveUs]

If Boeser and Nelson werent from MN would they even be targeted? Is Billy Taking the easy route and saying these are MN kids and they likely want to come home?

Nelson yes Boeser probably not

 

[KaprizovSaveUs]

i still think riley heidt is going to impress in iowa and force his way into the lineup.

The writing is on the wall that Hedit is not a part of the future here. He’ll he used in a trade of some sort. The only forward prospects I think they have in the plans as of right now are Yurov, Ohgren, Stramel and maybe Haight.

 

[BagHead]

The writing is on the wall that Hedit is not a part of the future here. He’ll he used in a trade of some sort. The only forward prospects I think they have in the plans as of right now are Yurov, Ohgren, Stramel and maybe Haight.

How is the writing on the wall about Heidt? I'm not doubting you, I just haven't seen it and am hoping to learn.

 

[Spurgeon]

This is the most depressing thread I’ve ever read here. We have suffered through cap hell and are going into the summer where things are supposed to turn around.

What do we have?

Every single person expecting nothing , the team will be no better unless unproven prospects outperform.

Our big gets during our summer of big game hunting are to ……swap Rossi for Nelson and add Boeser????? Puke

What we really have is a bunch of aging vets who are overpaid and can’t be moved and who have failed to perform when it matters.

Guerins country club

We will have cap in each of the next 3 offseasons to continuously improve the team. We have a wealth of prospects that we can use for rental trades & other upgrades.

This team is in the best position it has ever been in the history of this franchise.

Nelson yes Boeser probably not

Team needs a Top 6 RW & RH PP threat, Boeser & Marner are the only ones that fit that mold.

Still think Hayton + Marner are the perfect targets that fit Guerin’s proposed offseason plans. If he can’t get Marner though, Boeser is realistically the only other RW that I could see improving our Top 6 & PP.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Not strong or fast enough, yet. Haight would be a better bet, in the short term. I am a Heidt fan, but want him to go through the development steps - at least 1 year in the AHL, if not two.

There is a definite chance that he ends up as a tweener.

I agree with this 100%.

 

[AKL]

The writing is on the wall that Hedit is not a part of the future here. He’ll he used in a trade of some sort. The only forward prospects I think they have in the plans as of right now are Yurov, Ohgren, Stramel and maybe Haight.

I don't really agree with this. Heidt has always been a guy that's going to move to wing at the NHL level, in my opinion, and I think we have plenty of openings for a guy like him in a couple years.

 

[KaprizovSaveUs]

I don't really agree with this. Heidt has always been a guy that's going to move to wing at the NHL level, in my opinion, and I think we have plenty of openings for a guy like him in a couple years.

He’s not Guerin’s style tho