Series Talk: R1 (2025): Vegas (1st Pacific) vs Wild (WC1) | VGK Wins 4-2

[Dr Jan Itor]

The Marner math is just hard to make work imo.

Can't do all of Marner, Rossi and Granlund.

Can do Marner + Rossi (bridge) or Granlund, but probably requires a Spurgeon or Brodin trade for no cap coming back.

 

[AKL]

I really don’t think Pettersson is a Billy Guerin type of guy

I don't think Barzal is either

 

[Spurgeon]

Can't all of Marner, Rossi and Granlund.

Can do Marner + Rossi (bridge) or Granlund, but probably requires a Spurgeon or Brodin trade for no cap coming back.

I think they need another year of both Brodin & Spurgeon before I’d feel comfortable with Buium/Jiricek taking over their minutes. I think people really take for granted the defensive structure we’ve had in place for over a decade now.

I’d be fine with trading one of them this offseason as long as they have a cheaper vet UFA signing. At that point though, the cap savings are similar to just moving someone like Trenin.

 

[f7ben]

The Marner math is just hard to make work imo.

Trade Spurg or Brodin

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I think they need another year of both Brodin & Spurgeon before I’d feel comfortable with Buium/Jiricek taking over their minutes. I think people really take for granted the defensive structure we’ve had in place for over a decade now.

I’d be fine with trading one of them this offseason as long as they have a cheaper vet UFA signing. At that point though, the cap savings are similar to just moving someone like Trenin.

I was open, perhaps even favoring, a Spurgeon trade before I looked at the 2025 crop of UFA defensemen. It goes bad very quickly.

I still think Brodin is an asset against the McDavids and MacKinnons of the league, his playoff performances being questionable or not.

 

[AKL]

If (big if) you were to trade one of Spurgeon or Brodin, which one is better to move?

On one hand, Jiricek is a higher profile prospect than what we'd be filling in on the left side (this is me assuming Buium is already a lock for the roster). Faber-Jiricek-Bogosian could be passable if Jiricek takes a step or two next season.

On the other hand, we may have more options to fill on the left side, both from prospects and free agency, including @DigitalBoldy's guy Gavrikov. Middleton showed he could be a passable top 4 guy for most of the last two seasons.

If you trade Brodin, Buium could play with either Faber or Spurgeon, and Middleton has shown well with both of them too. If you trade Spurgeon, you'd pretty much have to put Buium with Faber and Brodin with Jiricek.

I tend to think trading Brodin would lead to a better overall defense than if you traded Spurgeon. Trading Brodin leaves you with more options to insulate guys like Jiricek and Buium if necessary.

 

[Spurgeon]

If (big if) you were to trade one of Spurgeon or Brodin, which one is better to move?

On one hand, Jiricek is a higher profile prospect than what we'd be filling in on the left side (this is me assuming Buium is already a lock for the roster). Faber-Jiricek-Bogosian could be passable if Jiricek takes a step or two next season.

On the other hand, we may have more options to fill on the left side, both from prospects and free agency, including @DigitalBoldy's guy Gavrikov. Middleton showed he could be a passable top 4 guy for most of the last two seasons.

If you trade Brodin, Buium could play with either Faber or Spurgeon, and Middleton has shown well with both of them too. If you trade Spurgeon, you'd pretty much have to put Buium with Faber and Brodin with Jiricek.

I tend to think trading Brodin would lead to a better overall defense than if you traded Spurgeon. Trading Brodin leaves you with more options to insulate guys like Jiricek and Buium if necessary.

Pretty much exactly my take on our D situation.

If Buium was a righty, I’d be completely fine with moving Spurgeon this offseason. I just don’t have enough confidence in Jiricek yet to move him. Brodin would be my preference to keep over Spurgeon due to his contract/age/size, but I just can’t trust Jiricek in a Top 4 role until he’s got more experience.

Unless Kap is saying “I won’t re-sign if we don’t bring in Marner/Ehlers”, then I think there’s a more positive impact in the long-term from keeping both around for 1 more season. The one constant these Wild teams have had for a decade is a solid defensive structure & I believe there’s a much better chance of that continuing if our rookies get to learn from them.

There will be a Marner/Ehlers level of player available in UFA in the following offseason.

 

[KaprizovSaveUs]

I don't think Barzal is either

Idk, I think Guerin values guys that can really skate. Obviously he’s not physically imposing, but he can skate and competes hard, both of which are cited as issues for Pettersson, at least this season.

 

[KaprizovSaveUs]

Can't do all of Marner, Rossi and Granlund.

Can do Marner + Rossi (bridge) or Granlund, but probably requires a Spurgeon or Brodin trade for no cap coming back.

Trade Spurg or Brodin

It’s not so much for me that we can’t make it work, it’s just more so I don’t think it’s sustainable to invest what will be close to 30% of the salary cap in 2 wingers. Obviously the cap is going up, I just don’t see that build being sustainable really.

 

[f7ben]

Do we think that Granny would even be interested in coming back??? What would that look like. Something like 4 years at 5 million? Term is long , money is a little light but he’d be coming in to a situation where he’s basically guaranteed top 6 time at the wing position playing with potentially elevate players.

 

[KaprizovSaveUs]

With that being said, and I know it’s contradictory, but when you have a chance to get an elite player you should do it and figure the rest out later. So, I’m pro Marner, I just really doubt we’re in on him.

 

[KaprizovSaveUs]

Do we think that Granny would even be interested in coming back??? What would that look like. Something like 4 years at 5 million? Term is long , money is a little light but he’d be coming in to a situation where he’s basically guaranteed top 6 time at the wing position playing with potentially elevate players.

I think he would get more money but maybe not that term.

 

[AKL]

Idk, I think Guerin values guys that can really skate. Obviously he’s not physically imposing, but he can skate and competes hard, both of which are cited as issues for Pettersson, at least this season.

I'm sure that's a trait he values to an extent, but I think it's definitely more than that. He's brought in a lot of guys who are decent, good, but not great skaters. I think if there was one trait he values above all else, it's guys who can handle and play through the physical game. Whether it's being a good enough skater to evade a lot of it like Johansson, or being rugged enough to take a hit and keep the puck like Boldy, or whether it's just being an aggressive physical player like Foligno.

I guess Barzal might fit into the Johansson category, but I'm not sure if it's something Guerin wants to spend 9M and a bunch of assets to acquire. Who knows.

It’s not so much for me that we can’t make it work, it’s just more so I don’t think it’s sustainable to invest what will be close to 30% of the salary cap in 2 wingers. Obviously the cap is going up, I just don’t see that build being sustainable really.

So does that mean you're putting Barzal back at center in this scenario? He won't take up as much of the cap as Marner but it would still be Kaprizov, Barzal, Boldy taking up a healthy chunk of it.

 

[f7ben]

With that being said, and I know it’s contradictory, but when you have a chance to get an elite player you should do it and figure the rest out later. So, I’m pro Marner, I just really doubt we’re in on him.

I think you can’t just look at it as “two wingers” …..Kap is likely a top 5 player in the league at any position when he’s fully healthy and Marner isn’t far behind him. Having both of them on the same team is a level of star power and fire power we’ve never even dreamed of having. If that opportunity comes you take it and make the rest work.

 

[f7ben]

I think he would get more money but maybe not that term.

He’s looked literally at his best in his whole career since getting out of Nash/Pitt ….id have no issue offering him 4 years if he takes it at 5 million. He’s a great player

 

[KaprizovSaveUs]

I'm sure that's a trait he values to an extent, but I think it's definitely more than that. He's brought in a lot of guys who are decent, good, but not great skaters. I think if there was one trait he values above all else, it's guys who can handle and play through the physical game. Whether it's being a good enough skater to evade a lot of it like Johansson, or being rugged enough to take a hit and keep the puck like Boldy, or whether it's just being an aggressive physical player like Foligno.

I guess Barzal might fit into the Johansson category, but I'm not sure if it's something Guerin wants to spend 9M and a bunch of assets to acquire. Who knows.



So does that mean you're putting Barzal back at center in this scenario? He won't take up as much of the cap as Marner but it would still be Kaprizov, Barzal, Boldy taking up a healthy chunk of it.

Yeah projecting Barzal as a center and to take up about 5M per less.

 

[KaprizovSaveUs]

I think you can’t just look at it as “two wingers” …..Kap is likely a top 5 player in the league at any position when he’s fully healthy and Marner isn’t far behind him. Having both of them on the same team is a level of star power and fire power we’ve never even dreamed of having. If that opportunity comes you take it and make the rest work.

You’re probably right about that. I would be ok with it the more I think about it

 

[AKL]

Having Kaprizov, Marner and Boldy as your wings means you can probably get by without a true 1C.

Boston won the Cup in 2011 with Krejci and Bergeron scoring 62 and 57 respectively. Obviously Bergeron is elite defensively, but Eriksson Ek can fill that role. Rossi can score 62 points. Now we only need Gus or Wallstedt to go Tim Thomas Mode.

 

[f7ben]

You’re probably right about that. I would be ok with it the more I think about it

On top of that you could use them as incentive to land the other. That’s a the carrot for Kap to stay if you’re able to bring in a Marner and having a Kap is a big reason for a Marner level player to come. You need susperstars

 

[AKL]

On top of that you could use them as incentive to land the other. That’s a the carrot for Kap to stay if you’re able to bring in a Marner and having a Kap is a big reason for a Marner level player to come. You need susperstars

You're really doing a good job selling Marner, I'm fully in

 

[f7ben]

Having Kaprizov, Marner and Boldy as your wings means you can probably get by without a true 1C.

Boston won the Cup in 2011 with Krejci and Bergeron scoring 62 and 57 respectively. Obviously Bergeron is elite defensively, but Eriksson Ek can fill that role. Rossi can score 62 points. Now we only need Gus or Wallstedt to go Tim Thomas Mode.

Absolutely

 

[f7ben]

You're really doing a good job selling Marner, I'm fully in

It’s just exciting being able to actually consider we might be able to go big game hunting for the first time since Parise/Suter. I like Marner as a player and I think he’d thrive in MN as opposed to the idiocy surrounding them in Toronto non stop.

 

[NHL1674]

It’s just exciting being able to actually consider we might be able to go big game hunting for the first time since Parise/Suter. I like Marner as a player and I think he’d thrive in MN as opposed to the idiocy surrounding them in Toronto non stop.

I just can't see BG going after him. That's the problem. I know I'm beating a dead horse, but I just can't help but think his mind is made up of getting Nelson/Boeser.

I really, really hope I'm wrong.

 

[f7ben]

I just can't see BG going after him. That's the problem. I know I'm beating a dead horse, but I just can't help but think his mind is made up of getting Nelson/Boeser.

I really, really hope I'm wrong.

I think Guerin is an idiot but I don’t think he’s that big of an idiot. I think he’d kill to be able to land Marner. I think the real issue is Marner likely has zero interest in coming here

 

[Mnsportsfan22]

Kap Rossi-5.5 marner-13.5
Boldy- ek-zuc
Ohgren-yurov-hartman
Hinistroza-freddy-foligno

Middleton-faber
Zeev-spurge
Brodin-jiracek

Gus
Wally
This lineup if I calculated right has a million left over with no 7d and 13th fwd. So if you can get those 2 at that price range or even a little less it is doable but barely