Speculation: Trade and Free Agency Talk - 2022-23 Edition - Postseason Success can't be a Myth!

[AKL]

He talks a good game, but ultimately, once he decided to buy out Parise and Suter, and trade Fiala, it became pretty clear that he was moving the team's window of contention forward a few years. That's part of the reason he wanted to sign Kap for longer than 5 years.

The talk about "winning" is just to satisfy sponsors, STH, fans in general, and the players.

I know the talk about winning is just lip service, but that's why I say it's perplexing to move a 2nd for Fleury, keep Dumba, etc. I have no problems with going through a smaller rebuild, I would welcome that. But his actions don't line up with that either. He's just shooting straight down the middle between trying to win and trying to rebuild.

As far as MN not being a destination in FA? I'd have to disagree. It's not the most popular place to go, but certainly ahead of many others. The hockey culture, city, facilities, and overall professional way the team is run is an attraction to many, as is the lack of pressure that you might have in some markets. Sort of a Goldilocks locale. A lot of players are from the country, or suburbs....MN suits them just fine. Taxes are higher than in some places, but less than others. COL is reasonable.

I think Minnesota is still a good spot for guys like Gaudreau, Steel, etc who don't have many other options. Or guys like Goligoski who are essentially retiring to their homes. I don't think we're a hot destination for a guy like Trochek who is still looking to win.

 

[Wabit]

So he's either incompetent or he's not trying all that hard, which makes it extremely perplexing that we have rumors about him trying to get a top six forward now. And making moves like keeping Dumba. And making moves like trading a 2nd and 3rd for Fleury and Deslauriers.

It's like he's trying to just tread water, which is the most frustrating thing to watch because it's what we've been watching for 20 years.

I think he's doing the things he learned from his time in the PIT front office. Make mostly bottom of the roster moves because the top of the roster will carry you to the Playoffs every year. Having the best 1C, 2C, and top-10 players at 1D/1G in the league makes the regular season a formality. It also makes it easier to attract UFAs.

 

[Wabit]

As far as MN not being a destination in FA? I'd have to disagree. It's not the most popular place to go, but certainly ahead of many others. The hockey culture, city, facilities, and overall professional way the team is run is an attraction to many, as is the lack of pressure that you might have in some markets. Sort of a Goldilocks locale. A lot of players are from the country, or suburbs....MN suits them just fine. Taxes are higher than in some places, but less than others. COL is reasonable.

It's the work environment I'm talking about. Players talk and the world of sports agents is small and they all talk. Dumping Staal to BUF, buyouts of Parise/Suter, Fiala's treatment, Talbot treatment, dumping Kulikov, hanging the dirty laundry out for the press. Not getting drafted players (Lindberg/McBain) to sign. Not getting guys he traded for (Bonino/Cole) to re-sign. Even MAF was a late re-signing. Sturm turning down a fair/good contract.

Living in MN in the fall though the spring isn't a great selling point. They get colored leaves, then cold and snow, and then mud for the time they are at work. Even then they are living in a hotel over 1/3 of the time. Once the hockey season is done they go away (vacation, home country/state, etc.) and aren't in MN.

 

[AKL]

Living in MN in the fall though the spring isn't a great selling point. They get colored leaves, then cold and snow, and then mud for the time they are at work. Even then they are living in a hotel over 1/3 of the time. Once the hockey season is done they go away (vacation, home country/state, etc.) and aren't in MN.

As someone who has lived in other places, there's nothing "special" about Minnesota. Some people will like it for whatever reasons, and that's fine, some people will hate it for whatever reasons, and that's fine. But there's nothing about Minnesota that stands out as a selling point. It's a pretty average place to live. There are tens to dozens of other major cities that would provide pretty much the same experience. Most of the people that want to come here are from here.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

As someone who has lived in other places, there's nothing "special" about Minnesota. Some people will like it for whatever reasons, and that's fine, some people will hate it for whatever reasons, and that's fine. But there's nothing about Minnesota that stands out as a selling point. It's a pretty average place to live. There are tens to dozens of other major cities that would provide pretty much the same experience. Most of the people that want to come here are from here.

As someone who has lived in other places I will go the exact opposite sentiment as you, though you also referred to MN and “other major cities” so maybe you are just talking about Minneapolis and St. Paul which I would be more inclined to agree with you on. The suburbs are a whole different animal than much of the rest of the country though. The quality of life indicators all show MN as a very desirable location. For a professional athlete, the state income tax rate is more important than the average Joe though, and MN is a bit above average there, still better than all of Canada and with COL in play it likely works out about the same over time if the player remains living here after they retire.

 

[AKL]

As someone who has lived in other places I will go the exact opposite sentiment as you, though you also referred to MN and “other major cities” so maybe you are just talking about Minneapolis and St. Paul which I would be more inclined to agree with you on. The suburbs are a whole different animal than much of the rest of the country though. The quality of life indicators all show MN as a very desirable location. For a professional athlete, the state income tax rate is more important than the average Joe though, and MN is a bit above average there, still better than all of Canada and with COL in play it likely works out about the same over time if the player remains living here after they retire.

I'm not trying to say Minnesota is a bad place to live, it's just average, is my point. There is nothing about Minnesota that these guys can't find elsewhere.

Quality of life is one aspect, but most of these guys are millionaires, they're not subject to the same quality of life factors as the average person. They're going to be living well above average regardless of where they go. All big metro areas have rich suburbs. They're going to get top of the line healthcare. They have the money to send their kids to the best private or charter schools. They don't need to worry about public transportation. They don't need to worry about the general job market. They're living a completely different life than the average person.

But I'm speaking to metro areas because that's where these guys are living and working. The major city and all its suburbs.

 

[Wabit]

As someone who has lived in other places, there's nothing "special" about Minnesota. Some people will like it for whatever reasons, and that's fine, some people will hate it for whatever reasons, and that's fine. But there's nothing about Minnesota that stands out as a selling point. It's a pretty average place to live. There are tens to dozens of other major cities that would provide pretty much the same experience. Most of the people that want to come here are from here.

There are plenty of things special about MN...
-They are confused by the word casserole.
-They call a goose a grey duck.
-SKOL is a word/phrase that has common use.
-There is a really big mall.
-They have more college hockey teams than Utah has bars (that I've been in).
-It's like living in Canada but without the universal healthcare and Tim Hortons.

Really it's like most anywhere else. The location will appeal to some people and not appeal to others. It also won't be a make or break contracts for most players.

 

[AKL]

Really it's like most anywhere else. The location will appeal to some people and not appeal to others. It also won't be a make or break contracts for most players.

This is what I'm getting at in a lot less words than I'm using.

If I'm an NHL free agent with a 5x5 contract on the table, Minnesota/St. Paul isn't sticking out to me as necessarily any better or worse than at least 10-15 other NHL cities. It's going to be personal preference based on the much smaller differences in each.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Toews and Money are somewhat interesting to me. I'm not sold on either and have no clue on the cost to get them.

The list of centers is much longer than that. Money, Eichel, Granny, Giroux, Bennett, etc.

Who is Money? Monahan?

 

[BagHead]

Who is Money? Monahan?

Bazeek.

Or maybe GopherState. He did have that GDT that was only him talking to himself, which was pretty rad. Really put on a clinic. GDT's aren't about likes, aren't about discourse, aren't about learning. You're there to observe the game, make a record of it, that nobody wants to go back and read because it was just one game out of 82. It's thankless work, and GopherState was a real grinder!

 

[Bazeek]

Bazeek.

Or maybe GopherState. He did have that GDT that was only him talking to himself, which was pretty rad. Really put on a clinic. GDT's aren't about likes, aren't about discourse, aren't about learning. You're there to observe the game, make a record of it, that nobody wants to go back and read because it was just one game out of 82. It's thankless work, and GopherState was a real grinder!

 

[Wabit]

Who is Money? Monahan?

Correct

 

[DANOZ28]

next season what would you think of adding 2 ufa's tarasenko & barbashev (if available). i want us to score like we did last year!

 

[AKL]

next season what would you think of adding 2 ufa's tarasenko & barbashev (if available). i want us to score like we did last year!

If we didn't sign the 25 year old Fiala to a long term deal, I have no interest in signing the 31 year old Tarasenko to that deal.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

next season what would you think of adding 2 ufa's tarasenko & barbashev (if available). i want us to score like we did last year!

 

[DANOZ28]

well fiala wasn't happy with his arbitration and one year contract so theres that. tarasenko has been unhappy not being named captain so i think he'll move. not sure if barbashev will but if hes friends with tarasenko maybe dreams come true!

 

[Digitalbooya]

Tuning into the canucks game to see how Boeser looks.

 

[Digitalbooya]

What are people’s thoughts on a Middleton for Kupari trade?

 

[DANOZ28]

another couple possible players we should consider kuzmenko if he tests free agency and d man gavrikov (trade w blowjackets).

 

[AKL]

Eeli Tolvanen is on waivers, I wouldn't expect much out of him but I wouldn't mind picking him up if he somehow reached us

 

[Wabit]

Eeli Tolvanen is on waivers, I wouldn't expect much out of him but I wouldn't mind picking him up if he somehow reached us

So a choice between Walker and Tolvanen in the lineup?

I'm guessing he'll be gone before MN would get a chance to get him.

 

[thestonedkoala]

So a choice between Walker and Tolvanen in the lineup?

I'm guessing he'll be gone before MN would get a chance to get him.

Love to try out Tolvanen. Fenton would have been all over him.

 

[Wabit]

Love to try out Tolvanen. Fenton would have been all over him.

I don't know. He had Tolvanen in the AHL, sure.

I got a lot of MKE AHL tickets cheap for a few years. Whenever I saw Tolvanen live he was mostly unimpressive. The skill was there but it was like he was missing something from his game. Not quite an "all the tools, no toolbox" thing, more of a "where's the rest of it" (like getting a big mac but not the fries)?

 

[57special]

I don't know. He had Tolvanen in the AHL, sure.

I got a lot of MKE AHL tickets cheap for a few years. Whenever I saw Tolvanen live he was mostly unimpressive. The skill was there but it was like he was missing something from his game. Not quite an "all the tools, no toolbox" thing, more of a "where's the rest of it" (like getting a big mac but not the fries)?

Sort of like Alex Nylander?

 

[Wabit]

Sort of like Alex Nylander?

I don't recall watching Nylander in the AHL. I remember him in the NHL and I all I thought was he's not his brother.

I'd almost go with Drouin in the NHL. He has all the tools, puts up decent numbers, but just is missing something. It's similar to what I thought of Tolvanen in the AHL.

I guess it's the opposite feeling for me of watching Mitts in the USHL or Arvidsson in the AHL. I dunno how else to explain it.