Anybody catch the shootout last night? I believe it went 7 rounds. Sure was exciting, the boys only got one to go through (Donato), the rest were pretty mediocre attempts. Getting a point on the second game of a back to back works for me.
Another loss to Calgary last night. The boys didn’t look to sharp passing the puck and at times had a hard time taking the puck away from Calgary in their defensive zone. Talbot was very sharp and if the Wild did get it past him it would hit a post. Games are becoming pretty important now in terms of making the playoffs. Big game against Vancouver coming up on Saturday. Need to win that one to keep wild card birth real.
Good news is sounds like Zucker is way ahead of where they thought he should be. Could be practicing with the team as early as today.
Good news is sounds like Zucker is way ahead of where they thought he should be. Could be practicing with the team as early as today.
This will get the trade news started. Its going to happen, someone will be traded. I have a feeling it will be him considering his decent cap hit, OK production and term left on deal. He should garner some decent return in draft capital and prospects.
At this point I am honestly considering trading Dumba. Man, he is a mess right now. 11 shots last night hasnt scored in months. I dont want to give up on him, but he is certainly fighting something.
The one thing that I took from watching the game last night is that i’m now sold on Fiala being a real deal player to help build around and even though I think Fenton caved and didn’t get enough in return for Granlund, the trade looks to be a winner for the Wild, especially if they can use the money they saved not resigning Granlund towards getting a stud center for next year.
Dumba is just a mess right now in terms of confidence, but alot of it still could be related to his injury and not fully trusting his body yet. He’s still too much of a high ceiling player to give up on just yet…
I really don’t understand what is gained by trading away Zucker? Where else will we get another 30+ goal scorer for $5.5 million a season? What return could we get that’s more valuable than a goal scorer?
UNLESS BillyG’s roadmap has us rebuilding this and next year and he can somehow get a 1st round pick away from somebody…
I’ve heard some talk around the thinking of moving Zucker opens a slot for Kaprizov next year as you figure our Top 4 wingers (Parise, Fiala, Zuccarello, Zucker) are already set due to contracts, but I disagree, you move people around vs getting rid of a quality goal scorer like Zucker. Another idea is to trim salary from our 4th line (which has got to be the most expensive in the league) which opens up dollars towards a quality center.
I wonder is Billy G has kicked the tires with the Rangers about possibly sending Zuccarello back for one of their many prospects?
IN terms of prospect ranking for 2020, TSN’s Craig Button recent did his “Top 50 prospects not in the NHL” list.
Kaprizov was #4
Khovanov was #27
no Matt Boldy….Cole Caufield was #10
I really don’t understand what is gained by trading away Zucker? Where else will we get another 30+ goal scorer for $5.5 million a season? What return could we get that’s more valuable than a goal scorer?
UNLESS BillyG’s roadmap has us rebuilding this and next year and he can somehow get a 1st round pick away from somebody…I’ve heard some talk around the thinking of moving Zucker opens a slot for Kaprizov next year as you figure our Top 4 wingers (Parise, Fiala, Zuccarello, Zucker) are already set due to contracts, but I disagree, you move people around vs getting rid of a quality goal scorer like Zucker. Another idea is to trim salary from our 4th line (which has got to be the most expensive in the league) which opens up dollars towards a quality center.
I wonder is Billy G has kicked the tires with the Rangers about possibly sending Zuccarello back for one of their many prospects?
I would entertain the Zuccarello idea for sure but honestly I think its going to be Zucker on the move. I think he could bring more back and would be easier to move than Zuccarello with the only possible exception of NYR because he was so popular there.
They HAVE to make space by getting rid of someone in the top 6 and it would need to be a wing unless they slide someone up and get a filler for the bottom 6? Say Koivu isnt back next year, they would have Staal, Ek, Rask (if not bought out) as centers, but have KK, Zucker, Zuccs, Greenway, Kunin, Parise, Fiala all fighting for top 4 wings. Thats awfully crowded.
Fiala is playing unreal right now. Its unfortunate we dont have a more fleet of foot center for him to play with. Actually he would be fun to watch with Granlund. That would be a fun line with say KK on the other side.
no Matt Boldy….Cole Caufield was #10
Did you happen to watch the World Juniors at all? Caufield was terrible and that is being polite. He couldnt stand up to the bigger players. He had one goal a real nice one, but that was in the second to last game.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
no Matt Boldy….Cole Caufield was #10Did you happen to watch the World Juniors at all? Caufield was terrible and that is being polite. He couldnt stand up to the bigger players. He had one goal a real nice one, but that was in the second to last game.
I did, I think it was a product of USA team not playing very well more than anything…in terms of playing against bigger/stronger players, I doubt any World Junior players are bigger or stronger than D1 College players that’s he’s been dominating for the past 2-3 months…more skilled, probably yes, but not bigger/stronger…Boldy wasn’t good enough to even make Team USA…next year could be a different story, but next year is next year…
really don’t understand what is gained by trading away Zucker? Where else will we get another 30+ goal scorer for $5.5 million a season? What return could we get that’s more valuable than a goal scorer?
Exactly the point I was making all through the Fentard’s attempts to trade/give him away. Who are you going to get to replace the offensive production at that level for the same money and who’s not in the last 1-2 years of their productive career?
We don’t need to “make room” for Kaprisov, he’s not here. There will be plenty of time for off-season roster jockeying, why would we make a bad deal just to do a deal we don’t need to do? We have a whole series of question marks after this season that will impact the roster.
A tough couple of games against Calgary, but no comments on the OT win against the Jets? Terrific game, I was on the edge of my seat the whole game, the tension was tremendous at the X, the Wild played very well against a dangerous opponent and had the Jets thoroughly frustrated.
Yes, they lost in OT against the Flames the next day, but IMO just surviving the OT on a back to back OT series makes me give them some credit.
I can see where Bill may want to move some vets and try to really make the team younger, but he seems to be taking a patient approach. There will be bubble teams looking to bolster rosters very soon, we need to start winning trades rather than the Fletcher/Fenton model of always seeming to come out on the short end even when the other team was desperate to make the deal.
Grouse
The team is not that far off from 2nd worst team in the league again (my god are the Redwings ever tanking) with our cap/contract situation, the only way this team moves forward in the near future is to have the opportunity to draft potential top players in this loaded draft, we likely don’t have the cap space to get a top FA center (Backstrom if he even leaves the Capitals) this offseason and outside of Kaprizov, no other top prospects are ready, so how do they get better?
I hope (it’s a long shot with NTC’s and huge cap hits) BillyG can unload some/all of our aging players & contracts (Staal, Koivu, Dubnyk, Pateryn, Rask) and get some return for them before they retire or leave via FA…
How bonkers was the Leafs vs Jets overtime the other night?
Over or Under 2.5 trades before the deadline?
I am going with over once again. 
If you’re talking entire system, you might as well make it something like 4.5.
Its true the Wild wont have to make room for KK this season if they dont make the playoffs because he wouldnt be coming here yet anyway. There would need to be room for him next season and someone is going to have to move. Guerin has admitted it and you can see it by looking at the roster. It makes zero sense to put him in any other role than a top 6 player.
I think a line with him and Fiala on it would be damn fun to watch, perhaps with Ek at center. Yeah, he doesnt score much, but he is so tenacious and frustrates the crap out of everyone.
Kunin, Greenway and Soucy are all RFAs after this season. I would think at least 2 of these 3 are retained, but at this point for sure Soucy.
Koivu is UFA — tough one, for all he has done for this organization over the years but I dont know if they bring him back unless its a Staal type contract.
Projected Cap Space next year is $9MM. No way they can sign those 4 guys and KK without moving someone out or not signing some of the FAs.
The one thing that I took from watching the game last night is that i’m now sold on Fiala being a real deal player to help build around and even though I think Fenton caved and didn’t get enough in return for Granlund, the trade looks to be a winner for the Wild, especially if they can use the money they saved not resigning Granlund towards getting a stud center for next year.
Agree with this.
The Wild are 4-5-1 in their last 10. Hopefully that was rock bottom earlier this year.
If you’re talking entire system, you might as well make it something like 4.5.
2.5 who have been on the Wild roster at any time this season.
Its true the Wild wont have to make room for KK this season if they dont make the playoffs because he wouldnt be coming here yet anyway. There would need to be room for him next season and someone is going to have to move. Guerin has admitted it and you can see it by looking at the roster. It makes zero sense to put him in any other role than a top 6 player.
I think a line with him and Fiala on it would be damn fun to watch, perhaps with Ek at center. Yeah, he doesnt score much, but he is so tenacious and frustrates the crap out of everyone.Kunin, Greenway and Soucy are all RFAs after this season. I would think at least 2 of these 3 are retained, but at this point for sure Soucy.
Koivu is UFA — tough one, for all he has done for this organization over the years but I dont know if they bring him back unless its a Staal type contract.
Projected Cap Space next year is $9MM. No way they can sign those 4 guys and KK without moving someone out or not signing some of the FAs.
What’s in the Wild’s favor is that none of our RFA’s have done anything yet to justify getting a big contract, so you’ll likely see the same type of low cap hit bridge contracts we just signed Ek and Donato to last summer.
I really think the Wild should push hard for signing Nicklaus Backstrom this offseason. He could do wonders for this team and putting him with a shooter like Kaprizov could be magic. The Caps would have to move alot of cap space to be able to resign him or Holtby… I wouldn’t feel scared about signing him to a bit longer contract with his age given the type of game he plays…It’s a long shot because he currently gets to pass to the greatest goal scorer of all time, so hopefully he wants a change of scenery?
Over or Under 2.5 trades before the deadline?
I am going with over once again.
I think BillyG does the following:
1) Koivu traded at the deadline to a contender as a last shot at a cup
2) Pateryn traded at deadline
3) Rask gets traded at the deadline but we will need to eat some of his salary (must be cheaper than his buyout hit this summer)
4) ** Wildcard trade ** I think a good player/prospect gets traded that we’re not thinking about…
Looking through the Wild’s stats today and some positives jumped out, the following players are on career high point pace sofar this season:
Fiala
Suter (yes the old guy)
Brodin
Kunin
Erickson Ek
Foligno
Greenway
Soucy (obviously)
oh and Kaprizov had 2 goals and an assist in a 3-0 win today….
Imagine Backstrom in between Fiala and Kaprisov?! That would be a tough one to match up against for sure.
Stall
Folingo
Wow!! Marchand’s shootout attempt tonight was a thing of beauty!!!
Couldn’t have happened to a better guy! He’ll get chirped about it for the rest of his career… lol
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy…
DT
Marchand the guy everybody loves to hate but would love to have him wearing their teams sweater.
Well the pipe dream of signing backstrom is off the table he resigned, 5yr 46mil.
I am excited I am switching satalite providers and I can start watching local sports again. EAT A D!#& DISH NETWORK!
The only way that Marchand guffaw could have been any better is if somehow he pulled his ground when he whiffed on the puck. What a rat.
Well the pipe dream of signing backstrom is off the table he resigned, 5yr 46mil.
I am excited I am switching satalite providers and I can start watching local sports again. EAT A D!#& DISH NETWORK!
crap, it was just a pipe dream, I suspect Ovi adds a few more years to his contract now…
omg $9.2 million per season…wow that’s way too much imo, they are going to need to make some big cuts this offseason to get under the cap, and they still need to resign Holtby….
omg $9.2 million per season…wow that’s way too much imo
Yeah, definitely not a fan at that price. Comparatively speaking probably worth it, but not for the Wild. By himself I dont think he would add enough to make that worth it here.
Well the pipe dream of signing backstrom is off the table he resigned, 5yr 46mil.
All the hockey analyists were saying he wanted to resign with Washington, but they predicted a “cap friendly” end of career type deal for somewhere between $2-4 mil a year.
How the hell do these teams DO it? Add player after player after player at big salaries and never seem to run out of cap space??? How can you have a lineup full of big name, non-entry contract players like Ove, Backstrom, Kuznetsov, Panik, Oshie, Orlov, etc, etc, and never seem to run out of cap space such that you can afford to resign Backstrom to $9 mill a year?
What are the Wild GMs doing wrong that we struggle to stay under the cap with basically a team of generic players? I mean the Wild couldn’t have added Backstrom for that money and we’re not paying an Ovie or a Kuznetsov…
Grouse
Wow!! Marchand’s shootout attempt tonight was a thing of beauty!!!
Terrific Marchand fail. It’s going to be great to see the fans get on him at the next shootout, hopefully it’s an away game for the Bruins.
I was just shocked the referees got the call right. \If he’d have been quicker to loop back and pick up the puck he might have gotten away with it. The officiating crew seemed really confused.
Grouse
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
