2022/2023 NHL/Wild Offseason-Season-Postseason Thread

DBL has been rolling for a couple weeks now. I’ve never attended but catch some of their highlight clips on Twitter. Looks like a great time and seems like they really make a it fun for kids.

Ive never been to it but it sure looks like a lot of fun. Where else can you see all these professional beer league players in a tiny venue!

tswoboda wrote:

DBL has been rolling for a couple weeks now.

Thanks, its been a few years for me and the links on their website weren’t coming up so I couldn’t see the schedules.

Bringing my 6yo on the 8th. Never been, but thinking it may be a good time for him.

It’s also interesting to see which Wild players stick around the Twin Cities. Jost, Middelton, and Greenway’s little bro have all been playing.

Kaprizov is in the states!

Best news all summer!

mahtofire14 wrote:

Kaprizov is in the states!

Where did you see this? I can’t find anything newer than about 2 weeks on his status.

Great news.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Where did you see this? I can’t find anything newer than about 2 weeks on his status.

Great news.

Russo tweeted it and has an article on the Athletic already! Be in MN tomorrow.

yup, he’s currently in NYC, flies to Minny tomorrow.. Wheew!

Can you imagine the hype if he joins the Beauty League!

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Can you imagine the hype if he joins the Beauty League!

That would be insane! You wouldnt be able to get inside I am sure.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Where did you see this? I can’t find anything newer than about 2 weeks on his status.

https://twitter.com/mnwild/status/1440498604892770309?s=20&t=uiL2KDR2H4bpg-m608SUoQ

From the man himself!

(yes I know this is a year old but currently very VERY applicable)

The wink does it for me every time.

waiting for the grainy tarmac video from Russo as Kaprizov steps off Craig’s jet this morning….

Per an hour or so ago…. The eagle has landed!

interesting article in the Athletic today regarding ranking all NHL teams in terms of how they allocate contracts (Do they overpay, underpay, etc)

to much surprise the Wild ranked #4 on this list. Yes they addressed the elephant in the room regarding the huge buyouts, but the contracts they do have on the books are all very valueable with a majority of players playing “above” what their contract should equat to…Some obvious examples include Hartman, Brodin, Ek and most importantly Kaprizov, who is producing much more than his $9aav caphit…

Just good to know that outsiders “not homer media” think the Wild is managed well from a cap/contract standpoint..

Kirill, Dumba and Hartman took in a few Canterberry races last night…

Kaprizov has to think PA is nuts if they actually spent some time in the booth. I’m just happy to see he is here!

Never know what to make of these weird Russian blogs, but Khusnutdinov is wearing the C in preseason and sounds like he may keep it. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing

Top 3 pick in next years super draft Matvei Michkov injured today in a preseason game…he took a huge open ice hit, it looked like a major knee injury from the replay I saw but no official word yet…

first preseason games for the KHL today I think? My guess is the veteran player likely to wear it had the game off? but like you said, who knows with the KHL crazyness…funny how Marat was a bench warmer a chunk of last season until he signed his extension and now is a possible captain…He has captained the WJC teams so maybe he does keep it?

It’s also kinda strange that it’s a “C” weren’t all Russian captians always wearing a “K” to indicate they were the captain?

Deep Dive into the Wild’s Defense group and Prospects….

Spurgeon signed for 5 more seasons with full NMC
Brodin signed for 6 more seasons with full NMC
Middleton signed for 3 more seasons
Merril signed for 3 more seasons
Goligoski signed for 2 more seasons with full NMC
Dumba signed for 1 season as a UFA
Kulikov signed for 1 season as a UFA
Addison signed for 1 season as a RFA
Prospects:
Faber most likely signs after the NCAA season burning year 1 of his ELC, likely plays in Iowa for the 2023/2024 season, perhaps called up mid-year..
Hunt signed for 3 ELC seasons plays in Iowa
O’Rourke signed for 3 ELC seasons plays in Iowa
Lambos is forced to play next season in the WHL due to his age, will slide his ELC to start in Iowa 2023/2024 season

Just looking at the group and what pair players would likely slot in, I don’t see how the Wild can re-sign Dumba (I think GMBG really wants to) to more than 2 years without stunting prospect growth…and if you’re Dumba, why would you sign a short term contract?

Faber and Lambos are serious contenders for the Wild’s 2nd pairing slots in 2 years, Hunt and O’Rourke are an ideal 3rd pair in 2 years based on their skillset and
physicality…so in 1-3 years when Dumba/Kulikov/Goligoski/Merrel/Middleton contracts are up, you have immediate replacements ready…

Anybody see it playing out a different way?

Yes and no. Only because I think someone gets moved at some point as a prospect. BG has already been reported in seeing what he could get for Dumba. Unfortunately not much interest this summer.
I still think BG is trying to trade for a forward for next season. Not necessarily involving Dumba.

my thinking is if GMBG was going to trade Dumba, he likely would have already vs trading one of your alternate captains during the season or at the deadline when they are hopefully making a playoff push?? I also find it hard to beleive Dumba’s agent hasn’t already kicked the tires with GMBG numerous times on what they are expecting from an extension, if those numbers/term werent very close that would be another reason to trade him already? Lastly, I think it was Russo who reported that Dumba was building a new house with his fiance in Eden Prarie. Now I know moving away from a home as a multi-millionaire isn’t a big deal, but you would also think they wouldn’t want the time & drama investment that comes with building a new house if they didn’t plan on living in it?

maybe GMBG will do a “reversed goligoski” like agreement with Dumba in that he signs at a much lower caphit for 3 years and then gets a handshake NMC extension afterwards to end his career with the Wild?

There’s no denying that Dumba is the heart and soul of this team, we’ve seen GMBG weigh that much more heavily than talent or production sometimes, I just don’t see how extending him doesn’t throw a wrench into our D prospect development? They can’t play in Iowa forever and an extension would lock in our top 4 for at least the next 3 years before they would need to decide on Middleton….

JoeMX1825 wrote:

maybe GMBG will do a “reversed goligoski” like agreement with Dumba in that he signs at a much lower caphit for 3 years and then gets a handshake NMC extension afterwards to end his career with the Wild?

With Dumbas injury history I doubt his agent would agree to that.

But Dumba does seem to be the glue of this team. I’m sure he’s spending a bunch of time with KK to make him feel like he is at home.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

my thinking is if GMBG was going to trade Dumba, he likely would have already vs trading one of your alternate captains during the season or at the deadline when they are hopefully making a playoff push?? I also find it hard to beleive Dumba’s agent hasn’t already kicked the tires with GMBG numerous times on what they are expecting from an extension, if those numbers/term werent very close that would be another reason to trade him already? Lastly, I think it was Russo who reported that Dumba was building a new house with his fiance in Eden Prarie. Now I know moving away from a home as a multi-millionaire isn’t a big deal, but you would also think they wouldn’t want the time & drama investment that comes with building a new house if they didn’t plan on living in it?

maybe GMBG will do a “reversed goligoski” like agreement with Dumba in that he signs at a much lower caphit for 3 years and then gets a handshake NMC extension afterwards to end his career with the Wild?

There’s no denying that Dumba is the heart and soul of this team, we’ve seen GMBG weigh that much more heavily than talent or production sometimes, I just don’t see how extending him doesn’t throw a wrench into our D prospect development? They can’t play in Iowa forever and an extension would lock in our top 4 for at least the next 3 years before they would need to decide on Middleton….

Hence another reason I think anyone outside of Lambos can and may be used as future trade considerations. I also don’t think Hunt and O’Rourke are sure things so we will let them play that out in Iowa. Merril can easily be moved I think with his cap number. I see Addison in the worst spot as he is stuck in the middle and has nowhere to go at the moment.

wow…TSN just ranked the Wild with the best Right Wing depth in the league…

Have $2m cap space and still need one more forward – I doubt they are penciling Beckman or any other AHL tweener in. Could sign someone cheap or as BG has outright said still look for a trade. Maybe pick off a cap casualty from over the cap teams like Toronto and Edmonton or whoever signs Kadri (Islanders??)

I really doubt Dumba gets moved for nothing unless they can get a really good forward who’s contract is up after this year. He’s a good top 4 D and team leader so my guess is he walks after this season, they’ll need his cap space for Boldy’s next deal and the buyouts increase. Can’t really extend Dumba with all the D prospects coming that would leave only 1 top 4 spot open for the foreseeable future. I think Middelton’s future is a bottom pair guy considering his contract and skill set, but he seems to do just fine on the top pair too. All the D prospects could definitely end up as trade capital but for now I think both Lambos and Faber are the “untouchables” unless someone makes an offer they can’t refuse.

Can’t really consider Addison a prospect in the same group as the others considering how much closer he is but he really is caught in no-man’s-land. How a team that got destroyed on special teams last season can’t find a spot for their best PP quarterback is beyond me. Really hope we see more of Addison this year – loved his game last season, especially the games he was paired with Merrill.

Still baffled by Nico Sturm turning down 5 year x $2.5m extension last year. Now he’s in San Jose on a 3 year x $2m aav. Does he expect a big raise after 3 years in California on what is likely a losing team that doesn’t even sniff the playoffs.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

wow…TSN just ranked the Wild with the best Right Wing depth in the league…

Who are considered the RW’s – Did they throw Kaprizov and Boldy in as RW’s? I would consider them to be Zuccy, Foligno, and then unknown 3rd and 4th liners and pretty sure that’s not the best group in the NHL – not even top 10.