Spurgeon is a key one.
For me, this will define my opinion about Guerin for a long time to come. Fenton has already missed the top opportunities to do something. Now all the leverage is in Spurgeons court contract wise. He’s going to end up getting much more than he would have if they did something before the draft.
For me, this will define my opinion about Guerin for a long time to come. Fenton has already missed the top opportunities to do something. Now all the leverage is in Spurgeons court contract wise. He’s going to end up getting much more than he would have if they did something before the draft.
100% correct. I love Spurgeon on this team, but at the cost likely in excess of Trouba? Hmm, I would have to think long and hard about that one. Trouba is terrible, granted he has size, but Spurgeon has proven to be very effective while being on the smaller side.
My only worries about signing Spurgeon are can his smaller body frame handle the beating as he gets older and just how much $$ they would have locked into the Defensive corps and could that money be better used for a scorer? Suter at $7.5 million for 6 more years, Dumba at $6 million for 4 more years before he likely gets a substantial raise if he keeps progressing, Brodin has 2 more years at $4+…Do you then give Spurgeon the $8 million per he’ll likely demand over the next 6-7 seasons? We also don’t have any defensive prospects that could contribute on a rookie contract, so that will be a pricey defensive corps for a team that can’t score goals…
I’m not suggesting we sign him or that we trade him. He just needs to do something. Fenton did nothing and will cost this team come April. I hope Guerin can swing this debacle back in our favor.
We have a year to sign him, I say use him for 3/4 of the season and see where this team is at around the trade deadline. If we’re out of it, then deal him for a top prospect and picks, then use his salary on a FA scorer or elite passer (Backstrom) over the summer…
We have a year to sign him, I say use him for 3/4 of the season and see where this team is at around the trade deadline. If we’re out of it, then deal him for a top prospect and picks, then use his salary on a FA scorer or elite passer (Backstrom) over the summer…
Agree.
He’s good, but I’d have no problem dealing him. I’d prefer to see our top paid defense-men be able to hit people and score. Oh, and ship Suter as soon as you can also.
I would be in no hurry to ship Suter out because how much $$ will you need to pay to replace him and who could the Wild actually get? Suter’s play style can allow him to be a very effective player towards the end of his contract as he has the ability to avoid unnecessary contact, he’s very similar (other than powerplay scoring) to Nicklas Lindstrom of the Red Wings, you never saw him get hit hard. Parise would be the one I would be shopping if he would agree to lift his NTC..I just don’t see his body holding up for the next 3 let alone 6 more years.
Suter is very underappreciated imo and an easy target for judgement because he’s not overly physical on defense…and other than a fluke ankle injury, he’s been extremely healthy for the amount of minutes he plays a game against the other teams top forwards…
If its going to cost North of $8MM to keep Spurgeon I say we have to deal him. I would like to keep him, but at a figure lower than that because there are other glaring needs littered throughout this team, it might be a bit of a hit on the back end to lose him, but what we get in return could really make a difference on the front in means of draft picks, prospects or FA signings with more Cap money.
I would be in no hurry to ship Suter out because how much $$ will you need to pay to replace him and who could the Wild actually get? Suter’s play style can allow him to be a very effective player towards the end of his contract as he has the ability to avoid unnecessary contact, he’s very similar (other than powerplay scoring) to Nicklas Lindstrom of the Red Wings, you never saw him get hit hard. Parise would be the one I would be shopping if he would agree to lift his NTC..I just don’t see his body holding up for the next 3 let alone 6 more years.
Suter is very underappreciated imo and an easy target for judgement because he’s not overly physical on defense…and other than a fluke ankle injury, he’s been extremely healthy for the amount of minutes he plays a game against the other teams top forwards…
Agreed on all accounts. There is no way we could replace Suter for the money he making right now with someone as good or better IMO. When it comes to the end of his career his salary will likely be a steal seeing where things are going. He rarely gets hurt and plays a lot of minutes (though I would like to see this cut by a couple minutes per game especially PP1 time).
My point was, according to just a few earlier posts that said ”The writers thought Suter’s deal could be easily moved with the Wild not having to retain any of his salary”
I’d say go for it. ASAP. Use that money elsewhere.
My point was, according to just a few earlier posts that said ”The writers thought Suter’s deal could be easily moved with the Wild not having to retain any of his salary”
I’d say go for it. ASAP. Use that money elsewhere.
No, I get what you are saying. I tend to somewhat agree with you, but between he and Zach I have a feeling he is going to be much more stubborn about waiving a NTC. Just a hunch.
I hear Paul Allen (PA) is announcing Wild games on the radio this season. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER PLAYED A SECOND OF HOCKEY ANNOUNCE A GAME?
I hear Paul Allen (PA) is announcing Wild games on the radio this season. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER PLAYED A SECOND OF HOCKEY ANNOUNCE A GAME?
No need to yell. Take a deep breath. Kurtz is only shortening his road schedule. My guess is due to some health problems. PA and Jim Erickson will fill in for him.
Doc Emrick never played hockey…..just saying….
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>31lifer wrote:</div>
I hear Paul Allen (PA) is announcing Wild games on the radio this season. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER PLAYED A SECOND OF HOCKEY ANNOUNCE A GAME?No need to yell. Take a deep breath. Kurtz is only shortening his road schedule. My guess is due to some health problems. PA and Jim Erickson will fill in for him.
Also, I think that’s actually pretty common for play-by-play announcers. That’s why they are paired with a color commentator that has a background in the sport.
Apparently the Wild have offered Fiala what they are calling a “fair” contract. No details have been released on numbers or years from what I seen. Fiala is considering it. Guerin says it’s a fair contract and hopes Fiala accepts it and shows up for training camp.
This may be a sign that the days of long lucrative contracts for players not yet proven are over. That is a good sign. I don’t think moving Suter or Parise is even a consideration for the Wild brain trust. Other teams see what we see in both. Parise’s play style catching up with him in the latter part of his career and becoming injury prone. Suter has absorbed too many playing time minutes. He clearly lost a step or two by the end of last season and was getting skated around frequently. However I would much sooner see Suter go if it means we keep Spurgeon. Spurgeon is the best two way player on the team and would be on a lot of other teams as well.
Dumba is a complete question mark as to what we see out of him this year. He’s proven he can be a real defensive liability in the past. Hopefully he doesn’t feel pressure to pick up offensively where he left off and lapse back into committing awful defensive gaffes. The scoring problems this team has does not need to be compounded by a risk taking defense.
I think we pretty much got the team we are going to the dance with this season right now. Another year of anxiety wondering if we are going to make the playoffs or not await us.
PA announcing Wild games? Please say it ain’t so! I’ll have to listen to the opponents broadcast I guess.
Guerin will make changes this season, Fenton’s direction (or lack there of) was a complete disaster, Guerin will try to right the ship in the direction he wants it to start going in…if the Wild struggle this season, I suspect he’ll clean house at the trade deadline and start building the team he wants in next years draft and free agency…
Fiala has ZERO leverage to get a big deal…he’s proven NOTHING, unlike the other RFA’s who have proven the are team leaders and can be game changers. Rumors are he’s been offered a “Prove it” 2 year contract at around $3 million per season…I suspect he’ll take it today and then try to rush to make the start of camp but his work visa application will hold him up…
in other news the Hurricanes are shopping Justin Faulk, he’d be nice in a Wild sweater and add a bit of size and grit to our backline, plus he has a heck of a shot on the powerplay…Would you swap Faulk (27 years old) for Spurgeon (29 years old) if it meant you might also save a few million more in cap space after their deals get done? I would…
Not sure what Fiala is thinking, but he doesnt have a leg to stand on. He probably will not make the start of camp even if he were to sign today because he has to get his Visa in order.
Boudreau pretty much slammed him when he was on KFAN with Russo on Labor Day at the Fair. It was pretty funny.
It was something like “yeah, I mean, he did score 7 pts for us last year in around 20 of games”. Russo could hardly contain himself.
No way I would swap Spurgeon for Faulk even to gain a couple million in cap space. Spurgeon has proven to be a player who actually thrives playing on this Wild team. Others don’t start living up to any potential until they are moved. Looking at you Charlie Coyle.
Faulk didn’t show much while he was here. I must be in the minority but I view Spurgeon in the elite category particularly in the context of this team. He’s durable playing 82 games last year with 43 points and a minus 1. I keep him.
Agreed on all accounts. There is no way we could replace Suter for the money he making right now with someone as good or better IMO. When it comes to the end of his career his salary will likely be a steal seeing where things are going. He rarely gets hurt and plays a lot of minutes (though I would like to see this cut by a couple minutes per game especially PP1 time).
You have summed up perfectly what the TMSF will never grasp.
1. Suter is a terrific defenseman by ALL standards. All the TMSF knows about hockey defensemen is that they don’t score enough goals.
2. If you trade a top-end defenseman like Suter, who, exactly, are you going to get to fill the huge, gaping hole left in your defense?
In the minds of the casual hockey fan, you can just spend whatever it takes. In RealityLand, the salary cap still applies and salaries have gone way, way, way up since Suter signed this deal that every casual fan seems to think was so “bad” but can’t explain exactly how. Even if you could somehow upgrade, it would come at an ENORMOUS cost in terms of both $$$ and contract length. A top 10 defensemen in the league is not going to sign a 2 year deal for peanuts.
Fiala. Totally agree with Bruce. Who cares? He can play or not. Another Fenton Fail, I’m not sure what he’s thinking holding out like this. Fenton must have blown so much sunshine up his breezers that he thinks he’s the second coming of Gretzky. Honestly, I’m not sure he’s worth ANY contract at this point.
Grouse
best Wild news in a long time, FSN announced that Mike Greenlay is having his color analyst role reduced this season for more appearances by Walz, Carter and Lou Nanne!
Fiala. Totally agree with Bruce. Who cares? He can play or not. Another Fenton Fail, I’m not sure what he’s thinking holding out like this. Fenton must have blown so much sunshine up his breezers that he thinks he’s the second coming of Gretzky. Honestly, I’m not sure he’s worth ANY contract at this point.
Grouse
When I read the news about Fiala yesterday I wondered out loud “who is his agent? Then I remembered, Paul Fenton” LOL
Guerin will try to right the ship in the direction he wants it to start going in…
Any direction will be better than where Fenton was going.
and Lou Nanne!
Just what we needed. I’m sure we’ll hear about it every time an Edina kid his the ice. 
best Wild news in a long time, FSN announced that Mike Greenlay is having his color analyst role reduced this season for more appearances by Walz, Carter and Lou Nanne!
I really like the addition of Nanne and Carter. Carter is sneaky good. He does these little impromtu interviews with players, etc and they are quite good. He is very good at what he does, but man, seeing him on TV its going to be hard not to stare at his busted up nose LOL.
Faulk didn’t show much while he was here.
Wrong Justin Falk.
Have to agree with Grouse…. I just can’t stand the TMSF. Makes me sick to my stomach 
Hopefully we can keep this year’s discussion civil.. my best guess is that it will be another bumpy year. Hopefully under the leadership of Guerin, they can turn things around sooner than later and restore a good locker room culture.
Fiala has agreed to 2 years, $6 million (2.5 mil 1st yr, 3.5 mil 2nd yr).
after Fiala just signed, the Wild are $5 million UNDER the cap right now. GMs like to have some free space for roster flexibility, but that added room allows us to take on significant additional salary in a trade should it happen…will be interesting to see what Guerin does, could he be waiting to vulcher a good player teams will need to cut/trade to get their remaining high priced RFA’s under the cap?
after Fiala just signed, the Wild are $5 million UNDER the cap right now. GMs like to have some free space for roster flexibility, but that added room allows us to take on significant additional salary in a trade should it happen…will be interesting to see what Guerin does, could he be waiting to vulcher a good player teams will need to cut/trade to get their remaining high priced RFA’s under the cap?
Maybe do something crazy like sign one of the best 2 way puck moving defensemen in the NHL.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
after Fiala just signed, the Wild are $5 million UNDER the cap right now. GMs like to have some free space for roster flexibility, but that added room allows us to take on significant additional salary in a trade should it happen…will be interesting to see what Guerin does, could he be waiting to vulcher a good player teams will need to cut/trade to get their remaining high priced RFA’s under the cap?Maybe do something crazy like sign one of the best 2 way puck moving defensemen in the NHL.
Which will do nothing with the $5MM Cap Space THIS year, but otherwise I agree with you.
I cannot believe that Marner turned down $11MM, he is a Toronto kid no less. What on Earth can he be thinking. I read he turned it down because the way it was structured it was less AAV than Mathews, but longer term.
Strange.
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