2024/2025 NHL/WILD Offseason-Season-Postseason Thread

Ovi with the hat trick today, 13 away from breaking the Great One….

29 goals in 41 games this season!!!

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Ovi with the hat trick today, 13 away from breaking the Great One….

29 goals in 41 games this season!!!

When he broke his leg I thought for sure the record would stand until next year but now it looks like he is just on a mission to get it done this year. Good lord I think he had a 4 plus minute shift the other night! He can break the record but he’s still no Dwayne Jetski. Unreal the Caps could win the President’s trophy this year. Which of course is usually followed by a first round exit so maybe better to let the Jets have it. Chyckrun is a beast for the Caps I always wanted Billy to take a run at getting him while he was wasting time in Arizona. Young, big D man with some offensive prowess and at the time on a cheap contract. He will be up for a payday now.

Ice Cap wrote:

He can break the record but he’s still no Dwayne Jetski

From a goal scorers perspective, Hard to keep that argument when you look at the teammates Gretzky had for his career vs who Ovi had…

In my mind, there’s no question Ovi is the greatest goal scorer to ever live, his record will NEVER be broken…

The Capitals this season are a model for the argument that rebuilds aren’t necessary when you can develop average prospects into good ones and make a few good decisions in trades & free agency…

They also have 3-4 really good prospects that are 1-2 years away that will make them even better, including Ryan Leonard who will sign once BC’s season is over and step right into their top6…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

In my mind, there’s no question Ovi is the greatest goal scorer to ever live, his record will NEVER be broken…

I agree, but if Matthews can stay healthy I think he may have a shot. He has only played 600 games and has 389. That is over 800 games less than Ovi is at right now. It would be close I think, but I dont know if he can do it so I agree. It will be fun to see how close he gets, again, I hope he stays healthy. Imagine if Ovi gets the record this year and the Caps win the Cup. After all that what would Ovi have to prove?

CaptainMusky wrote:

but if Matthews can stay healthy

That’s the reason why nobody will break it…Ovi’s health over his career has been unreal…He already has his cup, so from a sports writers perspective, his career is complete…IF he breaks it this year and the Caps make a deep playoff run, I could see him coming back and playing out the final season of his contract as the Caps will likely only get stronger with those prospects I mentioned likely making the jump to the pros…

If he breaks it and they get knocked out in the 1st round, I could see him seriously consider retiring and moving back to Russia and goofing around in the KHL for a year or two…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

That’s the reason why nobody will break it…Ovi’s health over his career has been unreal…

No doubt. He doesnt even seem to take that good of care of himself LOL

CaptainMusky wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
That’s the reason why nobody will break it…Ovi’s health over his career has been unreal…

No doubt. He doesnt even seem to take that good of care of himself LOL

nope, he’s just a physical freak…Russian Tank…and to add ontop of it all, he’s always been an extremely physical player his entire career and still stayed healthy…he’s a purple unicorn for sure…its been alot of fun to watch his career…

Chris Chelios was part of the TNT crew yesterday and they asked him what it was like playing against Ovi and he just shook his head, called him a Russian Tank and said he was immovable…

TSN now has Mikko Rantanen as the #1 trade target and listed Vegas as one of the teams interested… of course they are… I still think he goes back to Colorado in the offseason, but Vegas getting him at the deadline sounds to be on par…

His caphit could get down to $2.3 million if Carolina retains 50% so that opens up pretty much all playoff teams being able to afford him…

God I hope the wild do something.
I am getting worried about KK.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

The Capitals this season are a model for the argument that rebuilds aren’t necessary when you can develop average prospects into good ones and make a few good decisions in trades & free agency…

They also have 3-4 really good prospects that are 1-2 years away that will make them even better, including Ryan Leonard who will sign once BC’s season is over and step right into their top6…

I don’t think anyone thought the Caps would be atop the NHL standings at any point this season. Most thought they were a fringe playoff team at best. Definitely not in a rebuilding mode of any kind.

Ripjiggen wrote:

God I hope the wild do something.

I just don’t see any way how (for a meaningful player) UNLESS Kirill or somebody else is on LTIR until the playoffs or they involve (and pay with draft assets) multiple teams to retain upto 75% of a top players caphit (just using Boesser as an example, we’d need 1 team to retain 50% to get him down to $3.325 and then another at 50% to get him down to $1.66) that would work financially for the Wild…it would also likely cost you a 3rd or 4rd and 6th round draft pick just for the retentions, then add on what Boesser himself is worth and it gets pricey…

I think doing a mutually agreed contract termination with Jojo (freeing up $2 million) will be the telling card if they plan on doing a bigger deal as that will likely take place 3-4 days BEFORE the trade deadline as there are time requirements for clearing waivers and such…I think sending Merrill to Iowa and freeing up around $1 million is the only other option Billy realistically has to get capspace back…either of these moves would reduce the cap retention needed in a move like this, thus saving on draft pick capital.

Ripjiggen wrote:

God I hope the wild do something.
I am getting worried about KK.

Right there with you brother. I missed the multiple comments from BG over the past week and just saw them today. Doesnt sound good. If he is out the rest of the season, I certainly dont like our chances, but this team just keeps plugging along without him. 5 out of 7 recently without him I think since he just went out and last time before he came back for 3 games they were over 500 too, but cant recall exactly.

Is Kaprizov the guy holding the guitar in the beginning of the Crown Royal Deluxe Midnight Rider commercial?

They have like a 99 percent chance to make the playoffs right now. I get they could hit the skids and maybe not make it. 10 points up on Calgary and they have 25 games left realistically KK is out at least two more weeks if not longer. Is it work bringing him back for like 10 games or making some kind of move probably not a rental.
Just getting kind of tired of standing pat.
Man the wild are in a pickle and not sure they will get enough clarity before the deadline with KK.
We have enough prospects at this point that giving up draft capital is not as big of a deal considering they should be drafting late first round in the near future.

What if they do nothing and KK only comes back for like 3-5 games. Will they be kicking themselves for not doing something.

in regards to Kirill’s injury return, 4 weeks was the bare minimum timeline originally given (probably a mistake by GMBG to say that) I think that 4 week date is this Friday? Looking up sports hernia surgery, recovery time is typically 6-8 weeks for normal adults, I’d say professional athletes with daily access to top rehab specialists and equipment is more likely closer 5-6, so if he’s not at least close to skating in a week then i’ll get worried…Russo’s inside source (likely the team doctors) told him the surgery went fine and they didn’t find anything unusual about the injury when they cut him open) so this might just be BillyG throwing stuff out publicly to throw off teams on what his plans are for the trade deadline?

OR the Wild doctors are quacks and nobody knows anything…

at least we haven’t heard of Kirill getting an infection yet….

Hartman suspension reduced to 8 games…

Well that’s surprising, but good news at least. Guessing Bettman thought an independent arbitrator would reduce the 10 games and wanted to get in front of it.

JEREMY wrote:

Is Kaprizov the guy holding the guitar in the beginning of the Crown Royal Deluxe Midnight Rider commercial?

lol

JoeMX1825 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ripjiggen wrote:</div>
God I hope the wild do something.

I just don’t see any way how (for a meaningful player) UNLESS Kirill or somebody else is on LTIR until the playoffs or they involve (and pay with draft assets) multiple teams to retain upto 75% of a top players caphit (just using Boesser as an example, we’d need 1 team to retain 50% to get him down to $3.325 and then another at 50% to get him down to $1.66) that would work financially for the Wild…it would also likely cost you a 3rd or 4rd and 6th round draft pick just for the retentions, then add on what Boesser himself is worth and it gets pricey…

I think doing a mutually agreed contract termination with Jojo (freeing up $2 million) will be the telling card if they plan on doing a bigger deal as that will likely take place 3-4 days BEFORE the trade deadline as there are time requirements for clearing waivers and such…I think sending Merrill to Iowa and freeing up around $1 million is the only other option Billy realistically has to get capspace back…either of these moves would reduce the cap retention needed in a move like this, thus saving on draft pick capital.

I forgot to mention what would likely be going back to Vancouver in a possible Boesser deadline deal…
Vancouver will obviously ask for Rossi or Yurov and BillyG would laugh and hang up, but a combination of Ohgren + Iowa Wild Defenseman + a mid round draft pick could get it done… That would also send $900k in capspace back to Vancouver making it a bit easier to fit Boesser’s $6.65 under the cap…

There’s alot more smoke around Boesser to the Wild vs Nelson….

The only thing that would make me pause on making a bigger deal that requires giving up a good prospect or high draft picks is that we still have the big question mark of Kirill re-signing this offseason…Does GMBG want to give up good assets and then find out Kirill doesn’t want to sign an extension, those assets will be needed to somehow rebuild what Kirill provided when he leaves…He most likely knows by now so maybe its not a big deal…The other things is that if you wait to sign Boesser as a UFA this offseason he can then only sign a 7 year max extension vs 8 year, that saves you from paying the high aav season when he’s 36 years old and likely sunsetting his career…

Welp, here the saga continues. Ek injured yesterday in practice. Already put in Injured reserve and out longer than the required timeframe per Russo. We cannot have nice things.

CaptainMusky wrote:

Welp, here the saga continues. Ek injured yesterday in practice. Already put in Injured reserve and out longer than the required timeframe per Russo. We cannot have nice things.

maybe this is our opportunity to use the LTIR card, Ek has been banged up ALL SEASON, just friggin sit him until the playoffs (I know the initial timeline is only 4 games, but we know how that goes, just figure out a way to keep him out and get healed up) use the LTIR money to sign Boesser…get it done GMBG!

This injury will make Hartman relevant again this season as he’ll be needed to move up in the lineup now…

And what do you think Brocks new contract looks like for a wing who has 1 30+ goal season and 1 60 point season on his resume.

Ripjiggen wrote:

And what do you think Brocks new contract looks like for a wing who has 1 30+ goal season and 1 60 point season on his resume.

7 or 8 years at $7.5 ish aav based on the cap projections the next 3 years…Yes, he’s been somewhat inconsistent, but so have the Canucks over the years…You always have to overpay a bit for UFAs and he checks all of the boxes the Wild needs (RH Shooter who can provide secondary scoring) He also has good career playoff numbers 23 points in 29 games (11 goals)

love the 1 30+ goal and 60 point season barbs, why not say 1 40 goal & 70+ point season? 40 goal season is a nice bullet to have on your NHL resume…

He comes with some slight injury worries, but a few of those injuries were strange ones…The blood clot one a year ago was worrisome…

love the 1 30+ goal season note, why not say 1 40 goal season? 40 goal season is a nice bullet to have on your NHL resume…

It is but he has never reached even 30 a second time. So he’s a 25 and 25 guy outside of one season. Sorry but that is what he has been.

Would you refer to Hartman as a 30 goal scorer?

Ripjiggen wrote:

It is but he has never reached even 30 a second time. So he’s a 25 and 25 guy outside of one season.

yeah, I guess we’ll find out what teams are willing to pay this summer…My guess is his agent will say he’s in the prime of his career and he’ll get more opportunity to score on the Wild’s roster as Kirill’s triggerman…I think you’re going to see several contracts signed this offseason that raise an eye brow a bit, but that’s likely due to agents arguing about the huge cap rise the next few years… a $7aav contract player signed this summer will likely be a $8-$9aav player in 3 years, it’s always the top6 guys that benefit the most from the rising cap….

Ripjiggen wrote:

Would you refer to Hartman as a 30 goal scorer?

Absolutely not, but his agent will, I just wouldn’t say he has 2 x 20+ goal seasons… that’s the difference between Agent and GM speak, Agent is going to frame his client in the best possible way “Brock is a 40 goal scorer in the NHL” GM will counter, yeah, but he’s also only been a 20+ something career average goal scorer, that’s who i’m paying for…they typically meet in the middle…

If I said he had 1 40 goal season wouldn’t most think he had other 30 goal seasons?

You say he has been inconsistent. I actually think he has been very consistent and had 1 monster year.

It’s not as if he has a bunch of slouches as linemates. I get KK is like no other, but he has played with 80-100 pt players pretty consistently no?

Boeser will always be polarizing. He had a really good rookie year, then some pretty average seasons, a tough season or two, and then a dynamite first half last year. He actually had his first 30 goal season before the all-star break last year, then back to his career average of 10 goals in 32 games down the stretch.

I’ve always been a Boeser hater, but I was pretty quiet about last year – now I’m back at it lol. Don’t doubt someone will pay him big $$$, just hope it’s not the Wild. And if it is the Wild, I’ll become the #1 Brock Boeser Fan

It’s his birthday today

Doo you think our views and Joes are different if he was not from MN? Serious question?