2022 MN WILD/NHL THREAD

Fans (myself included) are very passionate about him because he’s a purple unicorn in terms of the type of hockey player this “State of Hockey” hasn’t seen in a very long time…. ALL fans had to go by was the reporting of Russo and the occasional tweet from the inner circle national hockey “analysts” who basically do the bidding of the top agents and GMs in order to stay in their good graces to get the scoops, so it’s understandable we got a little hot under the collar as MN fans are used to “Why can’t we have nice things”
and we’ve seen this movie play out before here…
After many months of limited information alot of us just concluded it’s pointless to speculate and to wait until it’s actually time to worry (start of camp) in the end he won’t miss any camp and is signed for 5 years, so as of right now, all is good in the state of hockey

Ice Cap wrote:

Considering Russo is and has been pretty much “The Source” for anything Wild I think we were all watching his Twitter page and listening to his podcasts. Sure I probably echoed him quite a bit but it just so happened he echoed my own thoughts and I agreed with most of what he said. I still see no reason this came down to the very end like it did.

I’m as happy as anyone KK is here but I would have been fine watching this team without him. I am looking forward to now see him prove it in a full season and more against a full slate of teams.

Btw is there any way to watch the preseason games?

Hey I’m right there with you and many other fans in gobbling up every last article, podcast, and tweet that Russo puts out. He’s the best beat writer in the business and we’re lucky to have him in Minnesota. My point was just that I think his disdain for the agent played a big role in how riled up this fan base got over the past month.

The reason it came down to the wire is because TIME was the only leverage kaprizov had in this negotiation. So they used ever last but of it they could while still getting to training camp on time. How can you really blame the guy for using the only tool he had in the box? In the end it affected nothing but the fans’ emotions.

I have no idea if we’ll be able to watch preseason games. Honestly I was more excited about watching the prospect games… that feels weird to say.

Ripjiggen wrote:

This play in Florida has probably been planned for sometime hoping the wild would give in more.

Operation Florida was so money… cue the Russian spy jokes. I think theofanous has a special forces background so we really shouldn’t be surprised.

KK looked like a dam superhero hopping off that private jet with Billy G last night. We all thought it’d be a couple weeks until he got to camp and then bam… He’s at MSP telling us all he’s back and winking to the camera.

Exactly, this could’ve drug out far longer and if Theofanous was the villain we all thought he was he wouldn’t have taken the time to ensure Kaprizov was ready to start camp. For that he gains points from me.

Hopefully there are lessons learned by BOTH sides and in 4 years if Kirill has turned into everything we HOPED he could be, then his long term extension negotiation is mostly just a formality…

Can’t help but hope the Kaprizov-Ek-Zucc line is a light version of Pasta-Bergeron-Marchand. Obviously at a lower level, but the playing styles match to a tee… shooter-selke-playmaker

tswoboda wrote:

Can’t help but hope the Kaprizov-Ek-Zucc line is a light version of Pasta-Bergeron-Marchand. Obviously at a lower level, but the playing styles match to a tee… shooter-selke-playmaker

The big difference is Bergeron is WAY more offensively talented than Ek is…I just think putting Ek on that line takes him completely OUT of HIS game, he’s not a finesse/creative player, he’s a ground & pound, dump & chase guy…The looks he’ll get on the bench from Kap & Zuc after he carries the puck up the ice on a 3-3 or 3-2 rush and dumps it in expecting them to go forecheck…

I have visions of Kaprizov or Zuc making crazy passes on Ek’s stick but he’s completely not ready for it because his hockey brain isn’t wired that way…Rossi would ABSOLUTELY be the right center for those guys, but it’s tbd if he’s ready or not…

Lets see how that line develops. I wouldnt put it past Ek to develop more offensively. He had a strong game last year and with skilled players around him all he needs to do is finish when given the chance. He certainly is an upgrade over Rask for crying out loud. I would be very interested to see Rossi in that spot, but that is too early for that I think, but we will see. It looks like Boldy, Rossi and Fiala will be a line so watch out for that. They are going to fly up the ice.

for what it’s worth, Eichel failed his physical today and was stripped of the “C”, everyone dodged a bullet there for this season at least…I expect him to eventually make a full recovery and be the player he was before…

All 3 Boston players are much better than the Wild comparable… it’s not just JEEK. Maybe you can make a case for KK vs. Pasta but 100% of non Wild fans take Pasta. I mean, Marchand has been in the Hart conversation for 5 years but you have no problem with me comparing him to Zuccarello?

My point is that the players fill the exact roles. Bergeron’s role on that line is to take all of the defense responsibility off his wingers, win puck battles, and get pucks to the net in the O zone. That allows March and Pasta to be all offense. Eriksson Ek can obviously play that role.

Also since I know you’re just dying to know this stat… Bergeron had 19 primary points at 5v5 last season. JEEK had 21. But I’m sure that’s just because JEEK had better linemates

But when? He won’t be doing anything for his neck until he is traded. His NMC kicks in next season. He will most likely be out all of this season and good chance he may be out time next season. Then it will be over 2 years since he last played. Pretty bad situation for one of the NHL’s star players.

Ripjiggen wrote:

But when? He won’t be doing anything for his neck until he is traded. His NMC kicks in next season. He will most likely be out all of this season and good chance he may be out time next season. Then it will be over 2 years since he last played. Pretty bad situation for one of the NHL’s star players.

I believe he could get the surgery he wants, voiding his Buffalo contract and becoming a FA, he’s then risking he’ll get paid more than the guaranteed $50 million over the next 5 years if he just sits in Buffalo and does nothing…

tswoboda wrote:

All 3 Boston players are much better than the Wild comparable… it’s not just JEEK. Maybe you can make a case for KK vs. Pasta but 100% of non Wild fans take Pasta. I mean, Marchand has been in the Hart conversation for 5 years but you have no problem with me comparing him to Zuccarello?

My point is that the players fill the exact roles. Bergeron’s role on that line is to take all of the defense responsibility off his wingers, win puck battles, and get pucks to the net in the O zone. That allows March and Pasta to be all offense. Eriksson Ek can obviously play that role.

Also since I know you’re just dying to know this stat… Bergeron had 19 primary points at 5v5 last season. JEEK had 21. But I’m sure that’s just because JEEK had better linemates

Bergeron has had 30+ goals like 5-6 seasons sofar in his career, as he’s aged he’s turned more into the primary distributor vs the shooter…his high faceoff % also turns into more offensive chances and he does have 2 perfect complimentary players on his wings…it’s pretty much the perfect NHL line…

That may be the case but it does not sound like that is the plan at this point.

So if Eichel opts for surgery that would void his contract with Buffalo? I hadnt seen that, but I guess it would make sense if its against their recommendations. It just seems odd that a player has really no say in their physical well being and how they get treated. I wonder if that is something that could get hashed out in a lawsuit or arbitrator?
KK, Zucc and Ek is a tremendously better line to start the year than Rask. Who was the other wing to start the season? Parise? Zucc was out a while so it will be great to see him start the season with KK.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

…it’s pretty much the perfect NHL line…

So you do understand the point of my original post? I wasn’t sure after your JEEK obsession took over.

The Wild are trying to mimic that Boston line… only with 1 superstar instead of 3.

Ripjiggen wrote:

But when? He won’t be doing anything for his neck until he is traded. His NMC kicks in next season. He will most likely be out all of this season and good chance he may be out time next season. Then it will be over 2 years since he last played. Pretty bad situation for one of the NHL’s star players.

Eichel situation is a total dumpster fire with no resolution in site.

Ironically 4 of those 30 goal seasons have come in his last six seasons. They also came when he had double digit PP goals. Not saying EK is the next PB at all. Just more so opportunity and line mates have probably played a major role in his point totals vs someone like EK. Yes his talent as well.
His face off percentage is pretty unreal. I hope the wild can find any center that can win just half.
Remember ZP taking draws on PP last year.

So what’s KK’s over/under number on 40 goals this year?

Ice Cap wrote:

So what’s KK’s over/under number on 40 goals this year?

I’d go over, 45+
I think he’ll get shot out like a cannon this year, especially benefitting from the revamped powerplay that will go entirely through him (so expect alot more pp 2nd assists)
I think the biggest factor in Kirill’s success will be the success of the 2nd line…if Fiala can get going, watch out as opposing teams will need to split their defensive focus…

Ice Cap wrote:

So what’s KK’s over/under number on 40 goals this year?

I’m going to take the under on that one & I hope I’m wrong. But, I think teams will figure this team out & be putting their best shutdown lines against him. I will go with over 30 though FWIW.

Yeah I’ll have to take time to look closely at the schedule before I make a call. He feasted quite heavily on the three California teams and Phoenix last year although he put up six on Vegas but they managed to pretty much shut him down in the playoffs but I imagine he also learned from that.

He’s not going to surprise anyone this year but like Joe said if Fiala buries his chances this year that will help KK a lot. Then there’s other factors like is Rask going to center him for the most part or the chance of a dreaded injury.

Interesting question to ponder.

Oof. 40 is a tough number. I am going with under but just slightly.

40 is an 82 game pace of what he did last season. I think he will get close, but I have a feeling it will be slightly under.

Russo tweeted that Rossi is an absolute snipe machine today in practice. This kid is going to make it hard for BG to keep him off the big club, but I still think he starts in Iowa.

CaptainMusky wrote:

40 is an 82 game pace of what he did last season. I think he will get close, but I have a feeling it will be slightly under.

Yes, that’s pretty accurate I think too.

Granted, this season will be against the entire league, and not just against teams in the “special” division like last season. Which I think will actually help because when you play one team 8 times/season they know how to defend you better too.

CaptainMusky wrote:

40 is an 82 game pace of what he did last season. I think he will get close, but I have a feeling it will be slightly under.

Yes and usually less than a handful of guys a year get to 40. I will go with 38.

Tony Abbott has some pretty good takes. Here’s one to ponder.

That’s what I thought of when I initially heard the NTC in the deal, but it doesn’t bother me at all after thinking about it longer…IF Rossi, Boldy, Khusnidinov, Wallstedt, Lambos turn into good players on the team they would take the place of any UFA’s we might sign anyways. I mean there’s only 10 spots in the top 6 forwards/4 defense to play in, if we already have 10 studs in those spots then what’s the point of signing UFA’s? The other point that article doesn’t mention is that if Kaprizov really wants to leave after 5 years, he’ll need to play the best final years of his contract to warrant the HUGE payday he wants, so it’s not like he’s going to take the final 2 years off and walk into a huge UFA deal after playing 2 final lazy seasons…the other thing for Kaprizov to think about is that ONLY the Wild can offer him the max 8 year extension when his 5 year deal is done, so it’s either 8 years at the huge aav for the Wild or 7 years somewhere else and then maybe a vet minimum deal for 1-2 years at the end of his career…

But if the Wild aren’t contenders after 3-4 years then who can blame any player for wanting out…

Not even going to worry about that now. Just going to enjoy the season now.
Lines today. Rask was actually at wing and not center. Rau has to be like well hell I guess Iowa pays better than a 9-5. Poor Fiala.
Kaprizov-Eriksson Ek-Zuccarello
Greenway-Hartman-Foligno
Gaudreau-Rask-Fiala
Duhaime-Sturm-Bjugstad
Rau-Rossi-Boldy

Some of you may have seen this from today already.