That KHL deal just makes no sense to me. Treat them like garbage to make them stay?? How does that work? These kids are world class hockey players high draft picks, not college girls with daddy issues. How do they not have an agent in their ear saying keep your head down for 6 months and they’ll love you in North America next year. Rather than sign up for 3 more years of the KHL BS.
That KHL deal just makes no sense to me. Treat them like garbage to make them stay?? How does that work? These kids are world class hockey players high draft picks, not college girls with daddy issues. How do they not have an agent in their ear saying keep your head down for 6 months and they’ll love you in North America next year. Rather than sign up for 3 more years of the KHL BS.
um, because its Russia…and there’s probably some disgust being basically a minor league for future NHL players to develop in and then leave for nothing…I’m sure they tell the kids they are not yet ready for the NHL anyways and they’ll just spend time in the AHL anyways, so don’t waste one of the most important development years of your life sitting on the bench, develop in the KHL and make their country proud…KHL will do whatever they can to keep their top players in the league, who knows what pressure (threats) are being put on these young players behind the scenes. Outside of the 4 major teams that are owned by some of the richest oligarchs in the world, the KHL is barely staying afloat… There are a few stories online that tell the true story of what daily life is like for most KHL players NOT on one of those 4 major teams (stuffed cargo train rides accross the country vs airlines, rationing equipment, decrepid facilities, limited support staff, etc)
There’s a reason why pretty much EVERY promotional video ever seen regarding the KHL is shot in the SKA or CSKA markets. They are the premier franchises/cities that have the money and facilities and therefor a solid fanbase that fills arenas and projects the image of a successful league.
That KHL deal just makes no sense to me. Treat them like garbage to make them stay?? How does that work? These kids are world class hockey players high draft picks, not college girls with daddy issues. How do they not have an agent in their ear saying keep your head down for 6 months and they’ll love you in North America next year. Rather than sign up for 3 more years of the KHL BS.
It sure seems counterproductive to me too.
If Dumba made 2-3 bonehead mistakes per game he’d be in the KHL, not playing 25 minutes a night for a good NHL team 
His issue is he makes a mistake every few games that’s so egregious it feels like about 5 mistakes rolled into one. At his worst it seemed like every game but at his best they didn’t happen at all.
Is Dumba injury prone? Absolutely and that sucks. But since the pec injury he’s transformed into a very good defensive defenseman. The most physical on the team and a good penalty killer. The scoring is gone but he’s still a puck mover that can start the offense.
He’s also one of the very few Wild players who consistently elevates his game for the playoffs every year. He was the only bright spot the year Suter broke his ankle and the Jets ragdolled us. Young Dumba was a beast that series. Last year he was near death and still had a relatively good playoffs considering he couldn’t even ice the puck on his forehand.
If Dumba made 2-3 bonehead mistakes per game he’d be in the KHL, not playing 25 minutes a night for a good NHL team
His issue is he makes a mistake every few games that’s so egregious it feels like about 5 mistakes rolled into one. At his worst it seemed like every game but at his best they didn’t happen at all.
Is Dumba injury prone? Absolutely and that sucks. But since the pec injury he’s transformed into a very good defensive defenseman. The most physical on the team and a good penalty killer. The scoring is gone but he’s still a puck mover that can start the offense.
He’s also one of the very few Wild players who consistently elevates his game for the playoffs every year. He was the only bright spot the year Suter broke his ankle and the Jets ragdolled us. Young Dumba was a beast that series. Last year he was near death and still had a relatively good playoffs considering he couldn’t even ice the puck on his forehand.
I’d love to have the young Dumba back…
There are a few stories online that tell the true story of what daily life is like for most KHL players NOT on one of those 4 major teams (stuffed cargo train rides accross the country vs airlines, rationing equipment, decrepid facilities, limited support staff, etc)
So why are first round NHL draft picks sticking around for that?! North American kids are getting agents in like Bantams, so surely there’s a Dan Milstein or Paul Theofanous out there happy to advise these sure bet future NHLers to get the hell out of there if that’s how they’re getting treated.
KHL will do whatever they can to keep their top players in the league, who knows what pressure (threats) are being put on these young players behind the scenes.
This is the kind of stuff I’m wondering about – would love to know what’s actually happening but we never do hear anything. Because the ‘no ice time until you sign’ Russo narrative just doesn’t pass the sniff test on its own. The VAST majority of the KHL horror stories you hear on podcasts or social media are from around 2015 or earlier.
His issue is he makes a mistake every few games that’s so egregious it feels like about 5 mistakes rolled into one. At his worst it seemed like every game but at his best they didn’t happen at all.
This should read “he makes 2-3 bonehead mistakes a game but gets bailed out by team mates/goalie and they don’t always cost the team any damage”
Yes we focus more on the ones that do cost the team, but he makes multiple mental mistakes EVERY GAME and it’s getting progressively worse…
I think the next page of the KHL’s thinking has started with Mitchkov, sign the top kids to long term deals at 15/16 years old, make it more of a family decision at that age, unless they are well off (majority are not) their family won’t turn away the paychecks…this is very similar to how the major EU Soccer clubs operate….
it’s sad, but I don’t think the KHL gives 2 craps about these kids, they just see them as dollar signs to keep their league alfoat… I’d love to chat with Theonafus after he’s had 5-6 beers and hear the truth about what’s going on with US agents and Russian stars. There has to be some behinds the scenes agreement (Russian cut of the future contract proceeds maybe) for why there’s so few agents that seem to get to communicate with Russian stars…
alot of this sounds like it’s straight out of the movies, but I think there’s alot of truth to the stories…
Yes we focus more on the ones that do cost the team, but he makes multiple mental mistakes EVERY GAME and it’s getting progressively worse…
Emotion can make the memory foggy. 2021-22 was Dumba’s lowest giveaway/60 in his career by a long shot. Roughly 50th best in the league among 170+ defensmen that played more than 400 minutes.
it’s sad, but I don’t think the KHL gives 2 craps about these kids, they just see them as dollar signs to keep their league alfoat…
In all fairness do you think the NHL gives a crap about Connor Bedard other than how much money they can make off him?
Totally agree it would be nice to know what truly happens behind the scenes with Russian players and prospects. Just to be a fly on the wall when Kaprizov or Michkov signed those long term extensions.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
it’s sad, but I don’t think the KHL gives 2 craps about these kids, they just see them as dollar signs to keep their league alfoat…In all fairness do you think the NHL gives a crap about Connor Bedard other than how much money they can make off him?
Totally agree it would be nice to know what truly happens behind the scenes with Russian players and prospects. Just to be a fly on the wall when Kaprizov or Michkov signed those long term extensions.
Sorry, I meant short term vs longterm, Russia knows the stars have their 1-2 development years and then they are long gone. I beleive other countries (Canada/USA/Sweden/Finland/etc) think long term with these guys in terms of Promoting the game, National pride/Olympics, etc
Alot of this could just be due to the guy in charge over in Russia…
Yeah no doubt it’s different than the prospects coming up through the SHL or Liiga and other Euro Pro leagues. It’s like those leagues understand and accept their place compared to the KHL wanting to pretend they are equal or close to as good as the NHL. Freakin Russia, man.
First round of cuts today, no surprises as its all of our Junior prospects heading off to their respective training camps EXCEPT for Mike Milne. He’ll get into the game tomorrow, likely a reward for a good camp. He’s already 20 yrs old so they could sign him to Iowa if desired, they have high hopes for a guy who went under the radar at the most recent draft…
is the game tonight televised? I thought I saw somewhere that Ballys has it but I see they have the Twins game tonight…
Nevermind, I just found out it’s on ESPN+ tongiht….
I hate it so much
That KHL deal just makes no sense to me. Treat them like garbage to make them stay?? How does that work?
Here’s how it works. Everything in Russia involves coercion. Any organization that has money behind it also has the Government behind it because it is owned and run by people connected politically with those in power. There are no exceptions. As soon as anyone in Russia builds something to a level where it is even marginally successful, they get the knock on the door.
It is not possible for Americans to understand the acidic levels of coercion that every Russian lives with every day. Russians live in constant state of fear of p!ssing off the wrong person. Ask anyone who has ever done business in Russia or anyone who remembers the bad old days when Russian Rules were applied everywhere in the eastern block. Americans think they would be tough guys and “resist” but that is just stupid bravado. In Russia, when 4 goons show up and have a little conversation with a teenage “next big thing” kid about the way things are, he already knows the way things are. Play along or things go real bad for your mom and dad and your uncle and grandma’s heat gets shut off… Until the kids make enough money to essentially buy their way up the ladder, they play along.
I hate it so much
he’ll always score, but will he score enough to justify $7.85 aav?
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>tswoboda wrote:</div>
That KHL deal just makes no sense to me. Treat them like garbage to make them stay?? How does that work?Here’s how it works. Everything in Russia involves coercion. Any organization that has money behind it also has the Government behind it because it is owned and run by people connected politically with those in power. There are no exceptions. As soon as anyone in Russia builds something to a level where it is even marginally successful, they get the knock on the door.
It is not possible for Americans to understand the acidic levels of coercion that every Russian lives with every day. Russians live in constant state of fear of p!ssing off the wrong person. Ask anyone who has ever done business in Russia or anyone who remembers the bad old days when Russian Rules were applied everywhere in the eastern block. Americans think they would be tough guys and “resist” but that is just stupid bravado. In Russia, when 4 goons show up and have a little conversation with a teenage “next big thing” kid about the way things are, he already knows the way things are. Play along or things go real bad for your mom and dad and your uncle and grandma’s heat gets shut off… Until the kids make enough money to essentially buy their way up the ladder, they play along.
sadly, I think this is extremely accurate…
he’ll always score, but will he score enough to justify $7.85 aav?
I have a feeling that contract will be a bargain. I hope I am wrong, but we didnt have much we could do about it.
Yeah Grouse we agree, that’s the exact kind of behind the scenes Russian tactics I was speculating about. The narrative is young players sign KHL extensions because their ice time gets taken away, but that makes no sense on its own. As you say there has to be other coercion going on that no one sees.
Honestly I don’t care if Fiala signed for $10m and scores 10 goals this season. He was super fun to watch and I’ll miss seeing him in a Wild sweater. I’m not trying to be rational here
I have a feeling that contract will be a bargain. I hope I am wrong, but we didnt have much we could do about it.
BS, don’t let management off the hook with that narrative. They had a choice and they chose depth and Kirill’s 35 yo BFF over Fiala. It was likely (hopefully) the right choice, but it definitely wasn’t the only option.
BS, don’t let management off the hook with that narrative. They had a choice and they chose depth and Kirill’s 35 yo BFF over Fiala. It was likely (hopefully) the right choice, but it definitely wasn’t the only option.
A lot of teams looking for a 35 YO player who could be near decline and NMC with a couple years left? Not so sure about that. Even at that it would only free up 6M so they would have had to find more because Kulikov wouldnt have made it possible either.
No Chance Kirill would be on board with trading Zuccy away, no chance Zuccy would lift his NMC, Their on/off ice relationship will likely gaurentee Zuccy is extended in 2 years to keep Kirill happy. It goes far beyond the Hockey side of things, Zuccy is basically Kirill’s family here in the States until the travel back to Russia issues are resolved…There will always be “if’s” regarding the Fiala situation, what if Fiala turns into a 100 point scorer, what if Boldy and Addison blow up this season and require much larger bridge deals, what if Fiala gets lazy with his big deal and reverts to his old ways, what if the Wild’s next core doesn’t pan out…etc etc
Zuccy has a 10 team NTC, there’s 21 teams be could be traded to or I should say given to for free as a cap dump. They could have made something happen if they wanted to keep Kevin bad enough. Saying there was no other choice is just a cop out. It’s like when I tell my kids “sorry there’s nothing I can do, my hands are tied – I don’t make the rules here.” When I do in fact make the rules – total cop out because I’m scared of a pack of small children.
Billy made a choice, I’ve said a million times it’s probably the right choice. But don’t let him off the hook saying there was no choice to make.
I never said they had no choice, just there wasnt a lot of options to do. Trade Zucc, doubt it. Trade Dumba? Theyve been trying that for what 5 years. BG made a choice and we will see if it pays off. I’d love to have him, but are we even sure he wanted to stay anyway? The writing has been on the wall the last 2 contract negotiations.
Florida just signed Spencer Knight to a 3 year x $4.5aav bridge deal, add that to Bobrovsky’s $10aav x 4 years and that’s $14.5 of capspace spent on goalies starting next season, holy cow! How do they move BoB’s contract without eating $5aav of it…
How do they move BoB’s contract without eating $5aav of it…
That is insane! They have to move him a buyout would be killer to them.
I have a feeling that contract will be a bargain. I hope I am wrong, but we didnt have much we could do about it.
Maybe you literally meant us here on IDO 🤷♂️
Like I said doesn’t need to make sense, I’ll just miss watching him. Made it a little easier with that disappearing act in the playoffs – I think 90% of blame goes to Kevin for that Blues series. But I’ll still miss him.
$0.5m more than Oettinger 😳
Pretty wild bridge deal for a goalie who hasn’t done anything in the NHL yet. Especially when they didn’t have to do it until next summer. They must be planning for him to be the 1A starter and have a big season.
I was about to say Bob at $5m might be a decent deal but then I learned he’s 34 years old. Had no idea he was that old already!
Saying there was no other choice is just a cop out. It’s like when I tell my kids “sorry there’s nothing I can do, my hands are tied – I don’t make the rules here.” When I do in fact make the rules – total cop out because I’m scared of a pack of small children.
That made me actually LOL! 
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His issue is he makes a mistake every few games that’s so egregious it feels like about 5 mistakes rolled into one. At his worst it seemed like every game but at his best they didn’t happen at all.
