2021 MN Wild/NHL Thread

Talk of adjusting the divisions. Dear God, I have patiently waited out 2020. Please keep the wild in the tampa division. I want to see Karill play a few games.

The reason I think Foligno won’t be captain is because he’s in the last year of his deal and I don’t see the Wild extending him. He’s making almost $3 million per year right now and will want a decent raise to sign long term, he’s not worth that cap hit for a borderline 3rd/4th line player…especially when Wings like Boldy and Beckman are likely looking for roster spots next year…

Spurgeon is locked up long term and seems to be very outgoing to teammates behind the scenes and in the locker room. How many times have you heard of prospects like Kaprizov and Rossi talk about Spurgeon being the 1st player from the Wild reaching out to them, he’s a model citizen and has an impeccable work ethic)

It’s been fun watching all of our Boston College prospects (we have 4) flourish sofar this season. Boldy has looked unstoppable and Nakita Nesterenko has looked really good on the top line as a freshman!

Well, hits keep coming for the Wild. Stalock apparently has an upper body injury so they have signed Hammond. I’m thinking this injury must be somewhat significant since they aren’t just going roll with Kahkonen.

mplspug wrote:

Talk of adjusting the divisions.

I believe the primary driver of this is because Canada still has a quarantine on foreign travelers, which includes athletes. So they’re planning to put all 7 of the Canadian teams into one division.

mplspug wrote:

Talk of adjusting the divisions. Dear God, I have patiently waited out 2020. Please keep the wild in the tampa division. I want to see Karill play a few games.

Where does this stand right now? First the Wild were in the Central and then I heard they got switched with Dallas and put into the Pacific? No matter how they get split up, there’s really no good place to put Dallas and MN.

tswoboda wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mplspug wrote:</div>
Talk of adjusting the divisions. Dear God, I have patiently waited out 2020. Please keep the wild in the tampa division. I want to see Karill play a few games.

Where does this stand right now? First the Wild were in the Central and then I heard they got switched with Dallas and put into the Pacific? No matter how they get split up, there’s really no good place to put Dallas and MN.

We’re in the West, so 1/2 the games likely start at 9:30pm…i’d stay up forever this year just to watch hockey so it’s all good!

I’m so confused with this Hammond signing.. His numbers aren’t very good at all except for maybe one year, five years ago.. Why wouldn’t they call up Kappo!?

IceNEyes1986 wrote:

I’m so confused with this Hammond signing.. His numbers aren’t very good at all except for maybe one year, five years ago.. Why wouldn’t they call up Kappo!?

Russo is thinking the rosters will be allowed 3 goalies due to Covid. He expects Kahkonen to back up and Hammond to be #3, with Jones and the other kid in Iowa.

gim wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mplspug wrote:</div>
Talk of adjusting the divisions.

I believe the primary driver of this is because Canada still has a quarantine on foreign travelers, which includes athletes. So they’re planning to put all 7 of the Canadian teams into one division.

Yeah I got that part, I was talking about the readjusting the first planned alignment to accommodate Canada, because initially the Wild were in the same division as Tampa.

CaptainMusky wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>IceNEyes1986 wrote:</div>
I’m so confused with this Hammond signing.. His numbers aren’t very good at all except for maybe one year, five years ago.. Why wouldn’t they call up Kappo!?

Russo is thinking the rosters will be allowed 3 goalies due to Covid. He expects Kahkonen to back up and Hammond to be #3, with Jones and the other kid in Iowa.

AHL depth as well. If Kaapo is with the big club that leaves 20 year old ShutoutsJones as basically the lone option in Iowa which he probably is not ready for. I’m pretty sure Robson isn’t in the organization anymore and Baribeau has spent most of his time in the ECHL.

tswoboda wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>CaptainMusky wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>IceNEyes1986 wrote:</div>
I’m so confused with this Hammond signing.. His numbers aren’t very good at all except for maybe one year, five years ago.. Why wouldn’t they call up Kappo!?

Russo is thinking the rosters will be allowed 3 goalies due to Covid. He expects Kahkonen to back up and Hammond to be #3, with Jones and the other kid in Iowa.

AHL depth as well. If Kaapo is with the big club that leaves 20 year old ShutoutsJones as basically the lone option in Iowa which he probably is not ready for. I’m pretty sure Robson isn’t in the organization anymore and Baribeau has spent most of his time in the ECHL.

That makes sense, didn’t realize those kids were so young yet.

On another note, who is carrying FSN now a days?

Directv carries FSN.

Regarding the divisions, nothing is set in stone yet and there could be significant changes yet because Canada has essentially said they are not going to allow free travel amongst Provinces. This could mean the Canadian teams actually play in the US. If that happens I would almost guess the alignment goes back to “normal” or they are completely reworked again to fit in the Canadian teams. Lots to hammer out yet as they shoot for Jan 13th start. Things better get rolling quick.

Looks like a lot of late games this season. But hey, at least there is going to be a season.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Looks like a lot of late games this season. But hey, at least there is going to be a season.

And we finally finally finally get to see Kaprisov on the ice although it’s a bit of a bummer that he won’t get to play his first game for Minnesota in front of a crowd.

I already turned off the score widget on my phone because I am going to be watching a lot of recorded 2nd and 3rd periods of games.

As you say at least there’s going to be a season. It’ll also be interesting to see what kind of moves Gurin makes as the season progresses.

Grouse

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
Looks like a lot of late games this season. But hey, at least there is going to be a season.

And we finally finally finally get to see Kaprisov on the ice although it’s a bit of a bummer that he won’t get to play his first game for Minnesota in front of a crowd.

I already turned off the score widget on my phone because I am going to be watching a lot of recorded 2nd and 3rd periods of games.

As you say at least there’s going to be a season. It’ll also be interesting to see what kind of moves Gurin makes as the season progresses.

Grouse

I kept thinking about the scenario of Kaprisov after all the Russian contract situations, trying to get him over here, FINALLY getting him here, then Covid happens. Can you imagine if we didn’t figure out a way to play this season and he could’t play and says F it, I’m staying in Russia?

Thank god we have a season!

so excited to FINALLY see him on the ice in a Wild uniform in a regular season game! can’t wait!

it sounds like the Lightening might be able to prolong their cap issue deadline because Kucherov will likely go on LTIR to start the season…I wonder if this is a legitimate injury or a “Lower Body Injury” kind of excuse to give them more time to get their RFA’s signed???

What are you “experts” predicting for how the season goes?

I’m no great hockey mind, but I feel like they will be a fringe playoff team again. IF Kaprisov can be as good as advertised as a rookie and some of the FA play well (and fast) I think they can go as far as the goaltending takes them. Which is still questionable.

My guess is that they would need to play well above expectations to even grab the 8th seed this season…I honestly think BillyG’s prime goal this year is to get as much info on Fiala and Kaprizov as he can to make a smart informed decision on offering them longterm deals this offseason and setting his core to build around for the next 6-8 years. I’d bet he has a 3 year plan to turn the roster over to his liking, so this year will be unloading expiring contracts and if possible finding another top center. Next year they start to contend…This might force Parise and/or Suter to rethink lifting their NTC if they want a legit chance at the cup the next 1-3 years….

Gurin can’t call it a rebuilding year because in pro sports you can never admit that each and every year isn’t THE year. However… It’s a rebuilding year.

Sure, anything could happen, but this team isn’t positioned well and a LOT of other teams are. There are too many question marks, young players still developing, and too many missing pieces for the Wild.

I can see a lot of younger players getting ice time to see what gels and what the future holds. Rossi will almost certainly play for the big club, I can’t see any sense in sending him back.

Gurin will shop Dumba and Parise hard. I think Parise moves at the deadline, he wants a deep run playoff shot and who can blame him?

I think the Wild finish out of playoff contention and that’s fine. We have Pittsburgh’s R1 pick and an additional R3 pick. I’d like to have an R1 top 10 pick of our own as well. What a draft this could be for the Wild. Totally worth a missed playoff in another covid season.

Grouse

JoeMX1825 wrote:

My guess is that they would need to play well above expectations to even grab the 8th seed this season…

I guess that depends on who’s expectations. Top 4 in each division make the playoffs, right? The top 3 in the MID-WECIFIC are pretty set and that leaves the Wild to duke it out with the Coyotes and the Cali trifecta… bad teams. I mean maybe the LA youth movement comes out firing this year or San Jose bounces back with all the big contracts names on their roster. Arizona wasn’t good last year and got worse. This year the Wild are an average team in a crappy division instead of an average team in the deepest division.

My jaw drops every time I look at their offensive depth chart. The wild forward group is bad, BUT they’ve been well below average for like 4 years. If they’ve proven anything, it’s that having a solid D core will keep you in the playoff hunt every year – and they still have one of the best top 4 in the league. Goaltending will obviously be improved, and that’s what kept them out of the playoffs the last 2 seasons.

I hope to see a bounce back season from Dumba and then they flip him when his stock is booming. It’ll be interesting what Billy can get for all the expiring UFAs during the season. I hope he isn’t scared to deal them even if the Wild are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. I’m thinking it’s more likely there just won’t be much of a market for any of them. Maybe mid round picks for MoJo, Bonino, and Foligno?

The turnover on that roster in the last 2 seasons still blows me away.

My point being they are a fringe playoff team, maybe can squeak in if they play well, but then its a quick playoff exit. BillyG knows this and with no ticket sales this shortened season anyways, stink it up for a year, reload with draft picks and start to make a push next year…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

My point being they are a fringe playoff team, maybe can squeak in if they play well, but then its a quick playoff exit. BillyG knows this and with no ticket sales this shortened season anyways, stink it up for a year, reload with draft picks and start to make a push next year…

Right on Joe, totally agree.

World Juniors start in a few days, i’m excited to watch Team USA and Russia to see our picks play, especially Rossi, Boldy and Marat K!

Rossi is on NHL network tonight at 5pm, Boldy at 8:30pm

Not sure if its the white uniforms or if everybody else on the ice is HUGE, but Marco Rossi does NOT look small at all out there…his team is bad so you might only get a few games to see him play before Austria is eliminated.

I tuned in at the start of the second for the US game and what an exciting 1:30 to open the period.

Boldy looked awesome last night, he’s the focal point of that team in all situations, while I still wanted the Wild to draft Caufield (who scored 2 goals) I’m liking Boldy more and more…he’s going to be a good NHL power forward…Caufield is a pure sniper though and we needed goal scorers in the prospect pool…

Rossi showed his skill and body control throughout the 1st period, but after he got his 10 minutes misconduct for boarding, he appeared out of it for the rest of the game…you can tell the lack of skill of his teammates slows him down though….

I’m excited to watch Marat K tonight against the top competition for his age in team Canada…

mahtofire14 wrote:

I kept thinking about the scenario of Kaprisov after all the Russian contract situations, trying to get him over here, FINALLY getting him here, then Covid happens.

I think there might be a silver lining in the way Kaprisov is starting out in MN. I hope this is a season where the pressure and expectations are at a level he can handle and he doesn’t feel like his role is to carry the whole team.

The last thing I want to see is another Gaborik situation. Gaborik was a great player, but some players want to be THE guy. Gaborik didn’t. Multiple sources close to Gaborik have pointed out that the pressure to carry MN made him want to leave.

I don’t want Kaprisov to be under the same pressure so I think this reduced season that, frankly, will always have an * by it, has limited expectations and that’s a very good thing when starting out a player like Kaprisov.

Grouse

If a player doesn’t want to be “the guy” they are usually not the guy. The true super stars HOF type of players all want to be “the guy”. If you can’t handle the pressure then that player most likely isn’t the guy in the first place. Excited to see him play.