Trade and Free Agency - 2024-25

[Webster]

Let's get Jonathan Toews on this team. That's a real leader. We can jettison fake-never-won-anything-in-his-career-leader Zuccarello. Rossi can learn a lot, and I'll get to wear my Toews Sioux jersey again.

Maybe you should call out Captain Spurgeon?

Zuccarello hasn't won a Cup despite playing in this league for 15 years, true, but he's been really close a couple of times with the Rangers and Stars. He's happy with the Extra Effort Award he won three years in a row, voted by NYR fans. At least they still love him.

That's pretty much Kaprizov too.

You think Kaprizov is soft?

 

[Sota Popinski]

Marner at 10M...maybe, ok, even though I think the money is better spent on a C. Marner at the 13M or so he's gonna want? No thanks. He is a winger with zero physicality and mediocre defense.

Malkin is near done. If we can get him for 6-7M x1, sure, but he won't leave PIT for us at that wage bill.

I am sad seeing the forwards we are trotting out there game after game. Also wondering just how high of a draft pick we gave away in 2025, for a guy they refuse to play over Bogosian, Chisholm, and Merrill.

Marner came in 3rd in Selke voting two years ago and has been in the top 20 in 5 out of the past 6 years. He's probably better than mediocre

 

[Minnewildsota]

Maybe you should call out Captain Spurgeon?

Zuccarello hasn't won a Cup despite playing in this league for 15 years, true, but he's been really close a couple of times with the Rangers and Stars. He's happy with the Extra Effort Award he won three years in a row, voted by NYR fans. At least they still love him.


You think Kaprizov is soft?

Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

And he never said Kap is soft.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Russo speculated in his most recent podcast that he expects the Wild to make a huge trade in the offseason and brought up the name JJ Peterka with Ohgren (+) as a player he could see them moving. Would love if that happened but not really sure we have the pieces Buffalo would be looking. Buffalo fans are pretty adamant that they need win now pieces more than futures.

 

[AKL]

Buffalo fans are pretty adamant that they need win now pieces more than futures.

Columbus fans were adamant that they needed a top prospect or better to move Jiricek too.

I think Peterka would be a great target, depends on what we'd have to give up. Öhgren+ would be fine with me.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Maybe semantics, but I wouldn't qualify Ohgren+ for Peterka as "huge".

I'd consider Rossi, Boldy, Ek, Brodin or Spurgeon as huge. As well as that other guy.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Columbus fans were adamant that they needed a top prospect or better to move Jiricek too.

I think Peterka would be a great target, depends on what we'd have to give up. Öhgren+ would be fine with me.

I think the issue is that Ohgren would the lesser piece.

Maybe semantics, but I wouldn't qualify Ohgren+ for Peterka as "huge".

I'd consider Rossi, Boldy, Ek, Brodin or Spurgeon as huge. As well as that other guy.

I mean “huge” as in Minnesota acquiring a top 6 forward because we desperately need one.

 

[NHL1674]

What scares me is how we like to overpay in trades.

 

[DANOZ28]

the 1st two years billy seemed to be calm, cool & calculated, now he seems to fly by the seat of his pants. i don't understand the change. CL are you paying attention? ps im frustrated i don't see the plan and all of you should be to.

 

[MNRube]

What scares me is how we like to overpay in trades.

We got clear wins in our trades for Middleton, Gus, Faber. Moving up for Zeev looks like a smart move.

Some slight overpays for rentals, including Nyquist. Sturm for Jost was pretty bad. Could argue the Zucker trade was an L.

Jiricek and Marat trades are way too early to say, even if the latter feels like it will be a bad move.

I think his trading record is clearly a net positive. I take more issue with his generosity in handing out NMCs and term to vets. And the Suter buyout was a bad move, IMO.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

We got clear wins in our trades for Middleton, Gus, Faber. Moving up for Zeev looks like a smart move.

Some slight overpays for rentals, including Nyquist. Sturm for Jost was pretty bad. Could argue the Zucker trade was an L.

Jiricek and Marat trades are way too early to say, even if the latter feels like it will be a bad move.

I think his trading record is clearly a net positive. I take more issue with his generosity in handing out NMCs and term to vets. And the Suter buyout was a bad move, IMO.

Value was great, just bad assessments of Addison and Lambos.

 

[MNRube]

Russo speculated in his most recent podcast that he expects the Wild to make a huge trade in the offseason and brought up the name JJ Peterka with Ohgren (+) as a player he could see them moving. Would love if that happened but not really sure we have the pieces Buffalo would be looking. Buffalo fans are pretty adamant that they need win now pieces more than futures.

Peterka’s #s are a lot better than I thought they would be. I don’t see Buffalo moving him, and certainly not for a futures package. They need a RHD and two-way vets. Spurgeon would never waive to go there. I think Buffalo would rightfully ask for Rossi.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Peterka’s #s are a lot better than I thought they would be. I don’t see Buffalo moving him, and certainly not for a futures package. They need a RHD and two-way vets. Spurgeon would never waive to go there. I think Buffalo would rightfully ask for Rossi.

I could see Guerin doing that…

 

[57special]

I could see Guerin doing that…

Losing a top 6C on a team that is short of them for a wing would be a bad move. Peterka is taller, but he is no more physical than Rossi.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Losing a top 6C on a team that is short of them for a wing would be a bad move. Peterka is taller, but he is no more physical than Rossi.

I feel like not many Wild fans are ready to hear this, but our winger situation is so much worse than our center situation.

Not advocating to trade Rossi either. We know there’s a number that Guerin isn’t willing to go over for Rossi. If it reaches an impasse, I could see this being the swap and then plugging Yurov/Hartman in at center.

I wonder if Guerin would trade Ek for a young scoring winger like Peterka.

 

[MNRube]

I feel like not many Wild fans are ready to hear this, but our winger situation is so much worse than our center situation.

Not advocating to trade Rossi either. We know there’s a number that Guerin isn’t willing to go over for Rossi. If it reaches an impasse, I could see this being the swap and then plugging Yurov/Hartman in at center.

I wonder if Guerin would trade Ek for a young scoring winger like Peterka.

Id much rather move Rossi than Ek. Even in a down year offensively, I think he’s a more impactful player.

I think Yurov starts on the wing and Freddy/Hartman compete for 3C. Unless Guerin finds a way to add a legit Top 6 C, like Barzal. But that’s a pipe dream still.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Id much rather move Rossi than Ek. Even in a down year offensively, I think he’s a more impactful player.

I think Yurov starts on the wing and Freddy/Hartman compete for 3C. Unless Guerin finds a way to add a legit Top 6 C, like Barzal. But that’s a pipe dream still.

Ek is also proving to be a little injury prone, likely because of his play style. His sweetheart deal makes him more valuable than Rossi IMO.

I don’t care what Guerin does in the offseason as long as it results in an upgrade to the team without sacrificing too many future assets. We desperately need goal scoring wingers more than anything else.

Would be great if Ohgren could get his game to translate to the NHL. Since he was sent down he has 5 points in 4 games for Iowa.

 

[MNRube]

Ek is also proving to be a little injury prone, likely because of his play style. His sweetheart deal makes him more valuable than Rossi IMO.

I don’t care what Guerin does in the offseason as long as it results in an upgrade to the team without sacrificing too many future assets. We desperately need goal scoring wingers more than anything else.

Would be great if Ohgren could get his game to translate to the NHL. Since he was sent down he has 5 points in 4 games for Iowa.

I think we really just need one or two serious difference makers in the Top 9. We have enough positional versatility from Hartman, Gaudreau, Yurov to be flexible. I’m not sold on Boeser, but would rather have him with a bit too much term than a Nyquist or Hinostroza type band-aid.

Ek, Rossi, Kap, Boldy, Zucc, Foligno, Gaudreau, Hartman, Yurov, Ohgren, Trenin should all be locks barring an unforeseen trade. Thats 11 guys. The 12th guy needs to a guy that can produce 60+ points.

It’s hard to be rational about things because we’ve been so devastated by injuries this year. But I’m still feeling positive about our chances next year. We have a lot of guys who are good role players that just happen to be overextended this year

 

[57special]

Ek is also proving to be a little injury prone, likely because of his play style. His sweetheart deal makes him more valuable than Rossi IMO.

I don’t care what Guerin does in the offseason as long as it results in an upgrade to the team without sacrificing too many future assets. We desperately need goal scoring wingers more than anything else.

Would be great if Ohgren could get his game to translate to the NHL. Since he was sent down he has 5 points in 4 games for Iowa.

Very much this. He is still very young, so there is hope that he becomes a top 6 winger. I don't why his game doesn't translate to the NHL- he seemed pretty much invisible when he played up here.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

In theory, Guerin could do something like Rossi for Pinto+, and then have money available to make a run at Ehlers (probably need at least $9M).

Kaprizov - Ek - Zucc
Ehlers - Yurov - Boldy
Ohgren/Foligno - Pinto - Hartman

That's a pretty bad downgrade if you can't get somebody in free agency though.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

I think we really just need one or two serious difference makers in the Top 9. We have enough positional versatility from Hartman, Gaudreau, Yurov to be flexible. I’m not sold on Boeser, but would rather have him with a bit too much term than a Nyquist or Hinostroza type band-aid.

Ek, Rossi, Kap, Boldy, Zucc, Foligno, Gaudreau, Hartman, Yurov, Ohgren, Trenin should all be locks barring an unforeseen trade. Thats 11 guys. The 12th guy needs to a guy that can produce 60+ points.

It’s hard to be rational about things because we’ve been so devastated by injuries this year. But I’m still feeling positive about our chances next year. We have a lot of guys who are good role players that just happen to be overextended this year

We need two top 6 wingers IMO:

Kaprizov-Rossi-XXXX
Boldy-Eriksson Ek-XXXX
Ohgren-Yurov-Zuccarello
Foligno-Gaudreau-Trenin/Hinostroza

Hartman is gone. I think the team is just done with him.

If we get Nelson, then slide Yurov to wing and bump him or Zucc up a line.

 

[MNRube]

We need two top 6 wingers IMO:

Kaprizov-Rossi-XXXX
Boldy-Eriksson Ek-XXXX
Ohgren-Yurov-Zuccarello
Foligno-Gaudreau-Trenin/Hinostroza

Hartman is gone. I think the team is just done with him.

If we get Nelson, then slide Yurov to wing and bump him or Zucc up a line.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Hartman moved. But I like his versatility and that lineup has precisely 1 RHS and he’s still an NHL tweener, albeit a good one.

 

[NHL1674]

Hartman is one more stupid mistake away from sitting for a long time. He has to go.

 

[Puhis]

We need two top 6 wingers IMO:

Kaprizov-Rossi-XXXX
Boldy-Eriksson Ek-XXXX
Ohgren-Yurov-Zuccarello
Foligno-Gaudreau-Trenin/Hinostroza

Hartman is gone. I think the team is just done with him.

If we get Nelson, then slide Yurov to wing and bump him or Zucc up a line.

I can't help but think Mikael Granlund would be a lovely fit next to Boldy and Ek on that 2nd line, but that ship has probably sailed.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Yurov there, or even 1st line wing. They might give Zucc another shot with Kaprizov though, which I don't entirely hate even if he's getting up there in years, as long as we've got more depth in offense.

Given what we have, and barring any FA signings we don't know about:

Kaprizov - Rossi - Zuccarello
Boldy - Eriksson Ek - Yurov
Öhgren - Hartman - Hinostroza
Foligno - Gaudreau - Trenin
Who & Ever

1st line tries to recapture the magic, and especially Rossi might just take yet another step forward. Let's hope so anyway. Bondy and Eriksson Ek form a solid duo on the second line, plus they should free up some space for Yurov on the wing. Boldy likes that patient game, let those two find each other. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Not a total loss. If Yurov works better as a C, cool beans, slide Ekker down a line.

I like the idea of Öhgren - Hartman - Hinostroza. Virus has shown all the right things. Yeah, he's limited offensively and as a player but I like the idea of having him with some speedy players. Hartman is on a short leash, but this is given what we have now. He's still got some speed and that north-south game, much like Öhgren who in turn gets to utilise his wheels while receiving more consistent ice time - should he earn it, naturally.

Fourth line is fourth line. As far as bottom lines go, this one is extremely solid. I don't love having Trenin there, but that contract isn't likely to get offloaded any time soon, and he's shown very occasional, very limited flashes of not making me want to punch kittens. It's... something.

 

[Luceni]

I've got a feeling that there will be a deal this offseason which will include Ohgren. Maybe Ohgren & Hartman + for ???

I just hope a deal like this is gonna improve the team. I hate giving up on Öhgren, he's gonna be a serviceable NHLer for years to come. Patience is the key.