Speculation: Trade and Free Agency - 2024-25

[BagHead]

Nobody said it was a sky is falling situation. The idea is to get another difference making piece. We can't exactly get that with Zucc, Hartman, Foligno, Trenin, etc. Think Huberdeau for Tkachuk type deal (and no, Boldy is not Tkachuk in that instance).

He was a difference maker 3 years ago when they played together... That's what I said. I also said no to trading for Fiala currently.

Fair enough, I just think you're undervaluing what Boldy is, and may be overvaluing what other guys are. Brady Tkachuk may be better than Boldy, but it's close enough that I'm not sure, and I certainly wouldn't trade the guy who is on a fair contract for many years to come for a guy who will be a UFA in a year and a half.

Kings fans would take Boldy in a heartbeat. He has NOT been a favorite over there.

He is gone. He needs to stay gone. It's over and done with already.

Exactly, but nobody who is pining after Fiala still is going to believe a Wild fan about that. They need to hear it from the other side as well.

I just don’t understand how you can go from looking like Rantanen to looking like you need to be sent down every single year. When he falls off it is all the way off the cliff. There is nothing more frustrating.

Yet, you're the one pining for Fiala who had that exact issue his entire time here.

 

[f7ben]

Fair enough, I just think you're undervaluing what Boldy is, and may be overvaluing what other guys are. Brady Tkachuk may be better than Boldy, but it's close enough that I'm not sure, and I certainly wouldn't trade the guy who is on a fair contract for many years to come for a guy who will be a UFA in a year and a half.


Exactly, but nobody who is pining after Fiala still is going to believe a Wild fan about that. They need to hear it from the other side as well.


Yet, you're the one pining for Fiala who had that exact issue his entire time here.

That is full revisionist history. Fiala never got the deployment that Boldy has. Not even close. Also he was still more productive driving offense himself on an island than Boldy has been regardless of getting treated like a star since he’s been here.

Also I would not trade Boldy for Fiala currently , I’m simply saying Fiala has been and continues to be the better player.

 

[AKL]

I just don’t understand how you can go from looking like Rantanen to looking like you need to be sent down every single year. When he falls off it is all the way off the cliff. There is nothing more frustrating.

Because there's no support on this roster. There is no one else to pick up slack. You have Kaprizov, who is a special, special player, among the best in the world.

After that, there's Boldy and Rossi who can really impact play in a positive manner, but can't do it by themselves. There are very few that can.

For the record, all these "difference makers" that keep getting brought up, they all have tremendous supporting casts with them, and most of them are not the primary guy. Both Tkachuk's are being supported by other players who are better than they are, and they have deeper secondary scoring to pick up slack when they go cold. Mikko Rantanen is closer to a Kaprizov level player, but even he is the third best player on his team.

Most players in this league need help to produce offensively. You can't just put them on a line with Marcus Johansson, Frederick Gaudreau, and Ryan Hartman and expect them to produce night in and night out.

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

So we’re at that point if the Boldy discourse again. Even if he’s a steaky 70 point player, you take that all day in his deal. Everyone needs to relax.

 

[AKL]

That is full revisionist history. Fiala never got the deployment that Boldy has. Not even close. Also he was still more productive driving offense himself on an island than Boldy has been regardless of getting treated like a star since he’s been here.

In what way? Fiala still played PP1, he anchored his own line, same as Boldy usually does when everyone is healthy. The only time he plays with Kaprizov is when Zuccarello is injured or on the PP. Maybe Fiala didn't play much with Kaprizov when Zuccarello was injured? But we're talking about a minority of the time here. When healthy they're getting the same deployment.

 

[f7ben]

Because there's no support on this roster. There is no one else to pick up slack. You have Kaprizov, who is a special, special player, among the best in the world.

After that, there's Boldy and Rossi who can really impact play in a positive manner, but can't do it by themselves. There are very few that can.

For the record, all these "difference makers" that keep getting brought up, they all have tremendous supporting casts with them, and most of them are not the primary guy. Both Tkachuk's are being supported by other players who are better than they are, and they have deeper secondary scoring to pick up slack when they go cold. Mikko Rantanen is closer to a Kaprizov level player, but even he is the third best player on his team.

Most players in this league need help to produce offensively. You can't just put them on a line with Marcus Johansson, Frederick Gaudreau, and Ryan Hartman and expect them to produce night in and night out.

Except Fiala was routinely played with pylons just like you mentioned above and out produced Boldy who has been treated like a top line player since he got here. One of them is routinely lambasted and the other is given 49 miles of slack. That’s all I’m saying. I like Boldy but if he doesn’t figure out a way not to completely disappear like he’s done for damn near the last month then he doesn’t even have the value we are currently paying him. Also the lazy penalties every single game are becoming very tiresome. Especially when you have the worst pk in the history of hockey lol

So we’re at that point if the Boldy discourse again. Even if he’s a steaky 70 point player, you take that all day in his deal. Everyone needs to relax.

Idk , a streaky 70pt complimentary winger is disappointing if that’s what we get for 6 more years.

 

[AKL]

Except Fiala was routinely played with pylons just like you mentioned above and out produced Boldy who has been treated like a top line player since he got here. One of them is routinely lambasted and the other is given 49 miles of slack. That’s all I’m saying. I like Boldy but if he doesn’t figure out a way not to completely disappear like he’s done for damn near the last month then he doesn’t even have the value we are currently paying him. Also the lazy penalties every single game are becoming very tiresome. Especially when you have the worst pk in the history of hockey lol


Idk , a streaky 70pt complimentary winger is disappointing if that’s what we get for 6 more years.

Fiala was a streaky 70 point winger prior to playing with Boldy. In the 145 games prior to Boldy joining the team he had a per 82 game pace of 65 points.

And I was saying the same thing about him that I am about Boldy. They both need better supporting casts to be more consistent scorers.

Boldy doesn't get a "pass" from me any more than Fiala did because I'm not going to hold it against them when their production drops because they're playing with third liners.

Because like I said, very few players in this league can maintain a high level of production without good support, so I judge them based on how they do in the role that's suited for them, with linemates who are also suited to their own roles.

 

[f7ben]

In what way? Fiala still played PP1, he anchored his own line, same as Boldy usually does when everyone is healthy. The only time he plays with Kaprizov is when Zuccarello is injured or on the PP. Maybe Fiala didn't play much with Kaprizov when Zuccarello was injured? But we're talking about a minority of the time here. When healthy they're getting the same deployment.

So Kap Ek Boldy ain’t a thing eh????

 

[NHL1674]

Except Fiala was routinely played with pylons just like you mentioned above and out produced Boldy who has been treated like a top line player since he got here. One of them is routinely lambasted and the other is given 49 miles of slack. That’s all I’m saying. I like Boldy but if he doesn’t figure out a way not to completely disappear like he’s done for damn near the last month then he doesn’t even have the value we are currently paying him. Also the lazy penalties every single game are becoming very tiresome. Especially when you have the worst pk in the history of hockey lol


Idk , a streaky 70pt complimentary winger is disappointing if that’s what we get for 6 more years.

Interesting considering that Fiala has been a streaky 70pt player since he landed in California. Didn't you once say that he would become a 100pt player once he got on a team that treated him better?

 

[AKL]

So Kap Ek Boldy ain’t a thing eh????

Last year, sure? And Boldy produced better than Fiala when that was happening.

 

[AKL]

Interesting considering that Fiala has been a streaky 70pt player since he landed in California. Didn't you once say that he would become a 100pt player once he got on a team that treated him better?

He's on pace for 50 points this year lol. I was one of the bigger Fiala fans when he was here, but even I'm starting to get tired of the deifying. Very skilled, very talented, very flawed player. Same as Boldy now. If they weren't very flawed players they'd be making 12-13M, not 7-8M. Some people are expecting way too much out of the player Boldy is, some people are severely overhyping Fiala, not necessarily all the same people.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Unrelated to Boldy, Marchenko would have been an excellent target last offseason. I believe @Dr Jan Itor mentioned him at least a couple times.

Yes. Love the idea of getting Marchenko. Just can't come up with a good reason for Columbus to get rid of him.

I would've been ~9 times happier if the package we sent to Columbus was for Marchenko instead of Jiricek.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Yeah, I know, you want to trade Boldy++ for Brady Tkachuk who has 3 more points than Boldy playing with guys like Stutzle and Batherson all year, and who was outscored by Boldy at the WC's. He's not the difference maker you think he is.

1. It was one (+), meaning I would prefer straight up but if it took an extra mid pick or prospect to get the deal done then that is fine.
2. Boldy has 214 5v5 minutes with Kaprizov. Tkachuk has 274 minutes 5v5 with Stutzle and 144 minutes 5v5 with Batherson.

Using the WC as a reason is such a joke. I guess Marcus Johansson is better than Eriksson Ek, Hischier, Tavares, Raymond, Pinto, Bedard, and Caufield in your book?

Boldy's best pace (75 points last year) is the equivalent to Tkachuk's third best year (74 points in 81 games).

 

[AKL]

2. Boldy has 214 5v5 minutes with Kaprizov. Tkachuk has 274 minutes 5v5 with Stutzle

So in other words, Tkachuk plays about 2 more minutes per game with their best player and that translates to about 0.09 more points per game.

That's the difference between a passenger and a difference maker to you?

1. It was one (+), meaning I would prefer straight up but if it took an extra mid pick or prospect to get the deal done then that is fine.

I mean, what's even the purpose of making the move at this point? You just don't like Boldy?

 

[NHL1674]

He's on pace for 50 points this year lol. I was one of the bigger Fiala fans when he was here, but even I'm starting to get tired of the deifying. Very skilled, very talented, very flawed player. Same as Boldy now. If they weren't very flawed players they'd be making 12-13M, not 7-8M. Some people are expecting way too much out of the player Boldy is, some people are severely overhyping Fiala, not necessarily all the same people.

I had nothing against Fiala, and wanted the Wild to keep him too. But as his time with the Kings has shown, he isn't a superstar who would have led us to the promise land. He is streaky as heck and takes a lot of bad penalties. He's been benched, and responded to it by skipping a team meeting.

To suggest he's better than Boldy is hilarious at this point. But everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

 

[AKL]

To suggest he's better than Boldy is hilarious at this point. But everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

Too many people focusing way too hard on Boldy's worst 10-15 game stretch of any season, and not the 82 game season as a whole.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Fair enough, I just think you're undervaluing what Boldy is, and may be overvaluing what other guys are. Brady Tkachuk may be better than Boldy, but it's close enough that I'm not sure, and I certainly wouldn't trade the guy who is on a fair contract for many years to come for a guy who will be a UFA in a year and a half.

I think people are overvaluing what Boldy is.

Tkachuk has three more years on his deal after this one... UFA in 2028.

 

[BagHead]

I think people are overvaluing what Boldy is.

Tkachuk has three more years on his deal after this one... UFA in 2028.

You're right, it's more time than I thought it was. Cough syrup mind is killing me today. That's more palatable, then.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

So in other words, Tkachuk plays about 2 more minutes per game with their best player and that translates to about 0.09 more points per game.

That's the difference between a passenger and a difference maker to you?



I mean, what's even the purpose of making the move at this point? You just don't like Boldy?

Not at all. Boldy plays 1 minute more per game than Brady does overall. All strengths Brady has a higher goals/60 (1.49 vs 1.1), assists/60 (1.68 vs 1.53), points/60 (3.17 vs 2.63), and shots/60 (13.43 vs 10.02).

The difference to me is that Brady's game will translate to the playoffs.

People need to stop with the part I don't like Boldy. I like him, but he is the only piece that would bring back a piece we actually need. If it was Caufield instead, I would be saying the same thing.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Tkachuk would bring a different game than Boldy, that's for sure, but I'm not sure we're getting much more (if any) production from him unless he plays with Kaprizov. Which brings us back to what is being held against Boldy.

Maybe Tkachuk finds chemistry with Eriksson Ek playing a grinding physical style, but that's also not much different than what Boldy has done.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

You're right, it's more time than I thought it was. Cough syrup mind is killing me today. That's more palatable, then.

Cold/Flu seems to be going around. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[AKL]

Not at all. Boldy plays 1 minute more per game than Brady does overall. All strengths Brady has a higher goals/60 (1.49 vs 1.1), assists/60 (1.68 vs 1.53), points/60 (3.17 vs 2.63), and shots/60 (13.43 vs 10.02).

The difference to me is that Brady's game will translate to the playoffs.

People need to stop with the part I don't like Boldy. I like him, but he is the only piece that would bring back a piece we actually need. If it was Caufield instead, I would be saying the same thing.

Super interesting that you chose to use all strengths. I wonder why that is.

Would it have anything to do with the fact that Boldy's even strength points/60 is 2.25 and Tkachuk's even strength points/60 is 2.3?

At the same time, this is the same stat that says Zuccarello is a better player than Stutzle, so perhaps trying to use per 60 stats to prove your point isn't the best method, and maybe linemates do have something to do with differences in production.

Or maybe the difference in production is that Ottawa's PP is much better and Tkachuk has 14 points on the PP to Boldy's 9.

Either way, I think we've seen enough to know that any advantage Tkachuk has offensively is negligible at best, and we don't actually know how his game will translate to the playoffs, because he's never been there.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I think Boldy/Eriksson Ek/Konecny would've been a pretty awesome line.

 

[AKL]

I think Boldy/Eriksson Ek/Konecny would've been a pretty awesome line.

What would it have taken to get Konecny? Wasn't the rumor that it would involve Rossi?

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Super interesting that you chose to use all strengths. I wonder why that is.

Would it have anything to do with the fact that Boldy's even strength points/60 is 2.25 and Tkachuk's even strength points/60 is 2.3?

At the same time, this is the same stat that says Zuccarello is a better player than Stutzle, so perhaps trying to use per 60 stats to prove your point isn't the best method, and maybe linemates do have something to do with differences in production.

Did you just use a stat that says Brady is better as a gotcha against me? Uhhh, thank you I guess?

It's interesting that when Boldy's time with Kaprizov on the power play is included, the gap widens between the two in favor of Tkachuk. You'd think it would be the opposite of that.