MN Wild 2019-2020 Official Thread

Addison is only 19. I assume he’s a few years away from even sniffing the NHL. So I don’t think it really changes the availability for a wild dman being traded.

Well, the obsession with moving Zucker is finally over.

I like the fact that Gurin got multiple players AND an R1 pick for Zucker rather than the 1 for 1 bad deal the Fentard was trying to do last season for just Kessel. What a disaster that would have been in terms of trading goal production, but losing big time on the age end. As I’ve been saying, the Wild needed to rake payoff-desperate team over the coals and it looks like Gurin held out until the Pens were willing to give up more.

Looking at the commentary, I agree it looks like this trade was about Addison so now is the other skate about to drop with a D-man trade? Looks like all the mentions of “offensive upside” would point to a potential Dumba deal in the works?

Galchenyuk didn’t fit with Pittsburgh, so who knows? Maybe he bonds with the Wild and a good deal looks even better?

In reading commentary on both ends, at least the Wild aren’t being seen as trade chumps with this deal, the Pens got Zucker, but they gave up a lot.

Grouse

Ripjiggen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mplspug wrote:</div>
Addison is only 19. I assume he’s a few years away from even sniffing the NHL. So I don’t think it really changes the availability for a wild dman being traded.

Maybe but I think the wild need to move one of them reguardless to getter better up front.

I think I’d rather see Dumba get moved than Brodin. I know Dumba’s shot is a big asset at the point but his inconsistencies have spilled over into his offense this year even.

Galchenyuk has no future here, he’ll get moved at the deadline for more assets as we can retain his full salary in a trade making him a huge value at the deadline for a top team looking for depth but doesn’t have the cap space.

Addison just stared for Canada at the WJC, he’s a Spurgeon clone with more offensive upside, likely 1-2 years away from the NHL but instantly becomes our #1 D prospect. Our best hope is that the Penguins make the playoffs this year but then get bounced in the 1st round so we pick in the early 20’s in THIS years loaded draft.

I read that this move opens up the possibility of a major move to get a quality center as we now have assets to package together, we’ll see.

I think BillyG made a statement around the league with his first move, the days of taking advantage of the Wild are over…

Well it was bound to happen. Overall Billy G did all right with this deal I think. Zucker has been in a funk most of the season it seems and with Fiala’s play recently it probably made Zucker more expendable. I hope zucker gets new life and really contributes to the Pens game and gets himself a Cup. He was a great guy and a asset to the community.

If Addison turns out to be a Spurgeon clone in more than just stature and can actually play a Spurgeon game in the NHL all the better but we won’t know that for awhile. I wasn’t expecting this to happen quite this soon I thought we’d get closer to the deadline before something happened. Maybe billy has more moves in mind coming soon. By moving Zucker this is a indication of a rebuild not just a tweaking of parts and pieces.

Galchenyuk could play tonight according to Wild.com but as has been stated he was the throw in and has no future here. We have a team loaded with Galchenyuk’s.

Quality center? Do those assets include 1 or all 3 that the wild got for Zucker? I’d hope that by quality center they mean a prospect or young center and not a veteran player to help push for the playoffs.

mplspug wrote:

Quality center? Do those assets include 1 or all 3 that the wild got for Zucker? I’d hope that by quality center they mean a prospect or young center and not a veteran player to help push for the playoffs.

no idea, but if you don’t have a true #1 or #2 center you’re always looking for ways to get one. I would say Addison isn’t in the plans to get rid of but for sure Galchenyuk and the pick would be, but without knowing for sure when the pick is ours would hold off it being dealt until the season is over.

I think you’ll see either Dumba or Brodin or possibly Spurgeon traded now to either Toronto, Carolina or Calgary (I’d put my money on Dumba) and the reason for that is the trade compensation standard has been set by the Zucker trade and Dumba could likely fetch a #1 and possibly another 2nd or 3rd round pick and a top prospect (likely center) I think Brodin could get a #1 and a mid-level prospect because he has a year left on a cap friendly contract.

Spurgeon is a low % wildcard to get traded but I think if the Wild has faith in Dumba turning it around that could make Spurgeon expendable (We have way too much long term $$ tied up in our D)…I think Spurgeon could get a similar (not more) return that Brodin could get because he has so much term left on his new deal…Addison projects to be a very similar player to Spurgeon in 1-2 years so that makes this move more acceptable.

I think BillyG will strike while the iron is hot and get as many assets as possible for this years stacked draft to either select prospects or pool picks & players together and try to get the young #1 center he and this franchise desires…

mplspug wrote:

Root for the penguins to make the playoffs. You get a younger similar player, a top D prospect similar to surgeon and 2 #1 picks this year….unless Fletcher pissed away the first round pick this year?

The Wild still own all of their draft for the next 3 years with the exception of no 3rd Round pick this year, but they just added a 1st rounder this year.
If the Pens miss the playoffs, I think the 1st rounder moves to 2021.
For those questioning whether the Wild won this trade or not, this is how I look at it.
1) Eliminated a hefty contract with $5.5M over the next 3 years. Freeing up lots of options moving forward.
2) We received Pens #1 Prospect to bolster a position of need from a prospect pool and raise other potential options
3) An additional 1st Round pick. Again, more options to bundle the pick to move up in draft, include with other options in trade deals. Win Win

This will work out for Pittsburgh too though because Zucker can help them and will likely blow up with the skill on that roster.

The other way to look at it is Guerin was in a great spot to get max return on this one. The Penguins are decimated with injuries. The player they really wanted for Kessel was Zucker, but he nixed that. So they settle for Galchenyuk and he under performs this year. So I think the Penguins were willing to give up more than they normally would to get the guy they originally wanted and help woth their ailing roster.

It’s unlikely he is going to hold that many cards with trades going forward.

I don’t see them retaining Galchenyuk, he’s in the last year of his contract, right? So they will be getting something for him.

CaptainMusky wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mplspug wrote:</div>
Root for the penguins to make the playoffs. You get a younger similar player, a top D prospect similar to surgeon and 2 #1 picks this year….unless Fletcher pissed away the first round pick this year?

The Wild still own all of their draft for the next 3 years with the exception of no 3rd Round pick this year, but they just added a 1st rounder this year.
If the Pens miss the playoffs, I think the 1st rounder moves to 2021.
For those questioning whether the Wild won this trade or not, this is how I look at it.
1) Eliminated a hefty contract with $5.5M over the next 3 years. Freeing up lots of options moving forward.
2) We received Pens #1 Prospect to bolster a position of need from a prospect pool and raise other potential options
3) An additional 1st Round pick. Again, more options to bundle the pick to move up in draft, include with other options in trade deals. Win Win

This will work out for Pittsburgh too though because Zucker can help them and will likely blow up with the skill on that roster.

Galchenyuk will absolutely get traded by the deadline because we can retain his contract basically making him a free pickup to the top playoff teams with no cap room. He could fetch a possible 2nd round pick (if he heats up for the next 2 weeks for the Wild) but more than likely get us a 3rd though. You’ll see him play top6 minutes and powerplay time for the next 2 weeks in hopes of boosting his value…

This increases the haul we got for Zucker, great trade by BillyG!

I would also fully expect Zucker to sign back with the Wild on a team friendly contract after his time is up in Pittsburgh due to his family’s situation of not being able to move to Pittsburgh with him…

I think it would be a mistake to keep Dumba over Spurgeon. Spurgeon is a proven NHL top defenseman who seems to be able to remain healthy and has a bit of a offensive upside. I would have preferred the Wild let Dumba go to Vegas rather than protect him at the cost of Tuch.

Dumba does not seem to be able to discipline himself to be a defenseman first and a goal scorer second. So he’s struggling at both.

mplspug wrote:

The other way to look at it is Guerin was in a great spot to get max return on this one. The Penguins are decimated with injuries. The player they really wanted for Kessel was Zucker, but he nixed that.

100%! Rutherford is no dummy. Even though I think the Wild in the end win this trade and it could even get better if we move Galchenyuk, the Pens are going to benefit by this as well.
I really like how Guerin handled this whole thing. He has been transparent with his players and the media (unlike Fenton). He was patient and made a deal that was not terribly one-sided taking advantage of anyone. This will prove beneficial as he moves forward with other deals. No one likes someone who really takes advantage of a situation a team may be in and this was noted by all front offices. BG earned a lot of respect with this move.

CaptainMusky wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mplspug wrote:</div>
The other way to look at it is Guerin was in a great spot to get max return on this one. The Penguins are decimated with injuries. The player they really wanted for Kessel was Zucker, but he nixed that.

100%! Rutherford is no dummy. Even though I think the Wild in the end win this trade and it could even get better if we move Galchenyuk, the Pens are going to benefit by this as well.
I really like how Guerin handled this whole thing. He has been transparent with his players and the media (unlike Fenton). He was patient and made a deal that was not terribly one-sided taking advantage of anyone. This will prove beneficial as he moves forward with other deals. No one likes someone who really takes advantage of a situation a team may be in and this was noted by all front offices. BG earned a lot of respect with this move.

for sure the Penguins get better now with this trade, their GM openly said they have a 2-3 year window and will gladly pay the price long-term for a better chance of winning the cup now… I agree that BillyG handled his first trade very well

Ice Cap wrote:

I think it would be a mistake to keep Dumba over Spurgeon. Spurgeon is a proven NHL top defenseman who seems to be able to remain healthy and has a bit of a offensive upside. I would have preferred the Wild let Dumba go to Vegas rather than protect him at the cost of Tuch.

Dumba does not seem to be able to discipline himself to be a defenseman first and a goal scorer second. So he’s struggling at both.

Honestly I think Spurgeon has been pretty invisible this season…not good in year 1 of a 7 year contract….Dumba will always be overvalued due to his goal explosion last year before he got hurt, it showed an elite skillset that only a few defensive players in the NHL have and that comes with a premuim…

Honestly I prefer defensman to be somewhat invisible. If you hear a defenseman’s name mentioned more often than not it’s because they got beat or missed their assignment. Dumba has a heck of a shot and he knows it but too often it works to his detriment because he wants to use that shot first. I’ve noticed him more often letting loose from just inside the blue line only to have it deflect off a skate half way in. More times than not that shot winds up on the opposing players stick going the other way. When he could have pushed it deeper in the zone to get some offensive zone time. He’s pressing to score. He got a taste of it last year and now it’s in his head.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Honestly I think Spurgeon has been pretty invisible this season…not good in year 1 of a 7 year contract….Dumba will always be overvalued due to his goal explosion last year before he got hurt, it showed an elite skillset that only a few defensive players in the NHL have and that comes with a premuim…

Agree. I’d rather ship Spurgeon, especially if Addison is a very similar player.

Good move by Billy. It almost seems like our GM has has a plan. First round pick, a good prospect and a player to move for more goods.

This is the kind of management we’ve been waiting for.

The Pens finally got Zucker. Last summer they were giving up Kessel to get him… Now they ended up giving up Kessel, their #1 prospect, and their #1 2020 (loaded) draft pick. Hope JZ does well there!

So this trade means the Wild are officially rebuilding, right? I mean they flip a top 6 scorer in his prime with 3 years remaining for a pick and prospect – that’s a rebuild. Fenton would have pushed for Zucker <-> Galchenyuk in a straight up hockey trade… then it’s a tweak, not a rebuild.

Worst case: Galchenyuk walks to FA. Addison is Menell 2.0. Pens win the cup, and the 2020 31st overall pick never plays in the NHL.

What probably happens: Galchenyuk is flipped for a 4th-6th rd pick in 2020. Addison becomes a middle pair NHL defenseman in about 4 years. Draft pick is mid-20s and the Wild get a middle 6 forward who hits the NHL in 2023.

Best case: Let’s have some fun here…
Galchenyuk extends with Wild for cheap (because he’s kinda sorta from Wisconsin), moves back to center (because he’s kinda sorta a center), and becomes their elusive #1 center between Kaprizov (I mean he’s kinda sorta Russian in a roundabout way) and Fiala for the next 5 years. Addison is actually Spurgeon 2.0. The Pens go full tank the rest of this year and next year, Wild get their first overall 2021 pick and draft a generational talent.

tswoboda wrote:

The Pens finally got Zucker. Last summer they were giving up Kessel to get him… Now they ended up giving up Kessel, their #1 prospect, and their #1 2020 (loaded) draft pick. Hope JZ does well there!

So this trade means the Wild are officially rebuilding, right? I mean they flip a top 6 scorer in his prime with 3 years remaining for a pick and prospect – that’s a rebuild. Fenton would have pushed for Zucker <-> Galchenyuk in a straight up hockey trade… then it’s a tweak, not a rebuild.

Worst case: Galchenyuk walks to FA. Addison is Menell 2.0. Pens win the cup, and the 2020 31st overall pick never plays in the NHL.

What probably happens: Galchenyuk is flipped for a 4th-6th rd pick in 2020. Addison becomes a middle pair NHL defenseman in about 4 years. Draft pick is mid-20s and the Wild get a middle 6 forward who hits the NHL in 2023.

Best case: Let’s have some fun here…
Galchenyuk extends with Wild for cheap (because he’s kinda sorta from Wisconsin), moves back to center (because he’s kinda sorta a center), and becomes their elusive #1 center between Kaprizov (I mean he’s kinda sorta Russian in a roundabout way) and Fiala for the next 5 years. Addison is actually Spurgeon 2.0. The Pens go full tank the rest of this year and next year, Wild get their first overall 2021 pick and draft a generational talent.

Another scenario is that Zucker stayed on this team the next 3 years and is the same player he’s always been (if healthy, a 20-25 goal scorer and a guy who routinely can’t finish plays) and then where do you put Kaprizov? 3rd line? You only have 4 wing slots in the top 6 and Parise, Zuccarello and Fiala are 3 of those slots and guys you either can’t or won’t trade…

I don’t think the Wild are going to need to go through a lengthy full rebuild, they have some players in their prospect pool who are interesting if they can develop quickly into good players. I think next year could be a tough (losing) learning year for alot of our young players (Kunin/Greenway/Fiala moving towards greater roles on the team, Kaprizov getting acclimated to the NHL, our Goalie prospects moving towards full time starter status, Dumba taking the next step in development (if he’s still on the team) In 1-2 years guys like Boldy, Beckman & Khovanov should be fighting to make the team and hopefully our top pick this draft is in the mix…I think this team can make a major move in the right direction this summer and then being in the legitimate playoff mix in a few years…The anchor dragging them down will be the cap hits of Parise & Suter in the last 3+ years of their deals but that is what it is, no way around it…

Does this potentially change things…??? I just learned that Alex Galchenyuk speaks 3 languages with one of them being…wait for it…RUSSIAN. No joke!
Hmmm what better person to center a line with a Russian phenom who speaks little English?

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Another scenario is that Zucker stayed on this team the next 3 years and is the same player he’s always been (if healthy, a 20-25 goal scorer and a guy who routinely can’t finish plays) and then where do you put Kaprizov? 3rd line? You only have 4 wing slots in the top 6 and Parise, Zuccarello and Fiala are 3 of those slots and guys you either can’t or won’t trade…

Guess I didn’t make this clear, but I like the trade. Just pointing out that it’s 100% a long term “rebuilding” trade. Different than Fenton’s trades last year that all brought in NHL players. (Galchenyuk was merely a cap dump by the Pens)

BG traded from their deepest position and picked up 2 assets that will be coming into their prime 6-7 years from now… after the Parise, Suter, Zuc contracts expire.

Next move is to flip a defenseman for a center… hoping this is more of a summer/draft blockbuster trade involving some big names.

CaptainMusky wrote:

Does this potentially change things…??? I just learned that Alex Galchenyuk speaks 3 languages with one of them being…wait for it…RUSSIAN. No joke!
Hmmm what better person to center a line with a Russian phenom who speaks little English?

LOL see below RE: “Best Case”
Fiala also speaks like 5 languages, although I doubt any of them are Russian.

tswoboda wrote:

Best case: Let’s have some fun here…
Galchenyuk extends with Wild for cheap (because he’s kinda sorta from Wisconsin), moves back to center (because he’s kinda sorta a center), and becomes their elusive #1 center between Kaprizov (I mean he’s kinda sorta Russian in a roundabout way) and Fiala for the next 5 years. Addison is actually Spurgeon 2.0. The Pens go full tank the rest of this year and next year, Wild get their first overall 2021 pick and draft a generational talent.

tswoboda wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
Another scenario is that Zucker stayed on this team the next 3 years and is the same player he’s always been (if healthy, a 20-25 goal scorer and a guy who routinely can’t finish plays) and then where do you put Kaprizov? 3rd line? You only have 4 wing slots in the top 6 and Parise, Zuccarello and Fiala are 3 of those slots and guys you either can’t or won’t trade…

Guess I didn’t make this clear, but I like the trade. Just pointing out that it’s 100% a long term “rebuilding” trade. Different than Fenton’s trades last year that all brought in NHL players. (Galchenyuk was merely a cap dump by the Pens)

BG traded from their deepest position and picked up 2 assets that will be coming into their prime 6-7 years from now… after the Parise, Suter, Zuc contracts expire.

Next move is to flip a defenseman for a center… hoping this is more of a summer/draft blockbuster trade involving some big names.

Agreed, I think he trades one of our D & combination of prospects/picks for a center at the draft. The odds of a team giving up a proven #1 center will be slim, so it might have to be a top tier center prospect…

lindyrig79 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
Honestly I think Spurgeon has been pretty invisible this season…not good in year 1 of a 7 year contract….Dumba will always be overvalued due to his goal explosion last year before he got hurt, it showed an elite skillset that only a few defensive players in the NHL have and that comes with a premuim…

Agree. I’d rather ship Spurgeon, especially if Addison is a very similar player.

Because Addison is similar in size does not mean by a long shot he’s a plug and play replacement for Spurgeon. Spurgeon is pretty much an anomoly given his size and his high level of play consistently at the NHL level and still remain healthy for the most part. I don’t understand this clamoring to move Spurgeon.

We know little to nothing how young Addison is going to pan out if it all.

Ice Cap wrote:

I don’t understand this clamoring to move Spurgeon.

I agree. Clearly some kind of move is going to happen here on D but I don’t necessarily think it has to be a choice between Dumba and Spurgeon. Both of these guys are nearing their prime and it would be a waste to send them packing considering how valuable they are to this team. If any of these guys get move it’s going to be a pretty significant move to make this team better now.

The 2021 NHL expansion draft can also force the Wild’s hand a bit this deadline. Do they trade Dumba or Brodin this year vs next and avoid losing 1 for nothing in the xpac draft?

Yes, I know how things change year to year in the NHL so some names on this list won’t be on the team in 2 summers and whoever we sign in FA will likely require a protected slot.

Here’s are the xpac rules:
Current NHL teams can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goalie, under the following conditions.
* All players with no movement clauses at the time of the draft, and who decline to waive those clauses, must be protected and will be counted toward their team’s applicable protection limits.

* All first- and second-year NHL players, and all unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection (and will not be counted toward protection limits.

so that being said, the Wild would probably select option #1 (7 forwards, 3 Defense, 1 Goalie) those protected players would likely be:
Forward 1) Parise (NTC)
Forward 2) Zuccarello (NTC)
Forward 3) Fiala
Forward 4) Greenway
Forward 5) Kunin
Forward 6) Eriksson Ek
Forward 7) Sturm? or Mayhew?or Donato? (if still on the team)
Defenseman 1) Suter (NTC)
Defenseman 2) Spurgeon (NTC)
Defenseman 3) Dumba or Brodin (Brodin’s contact is up in 2021)
Goalie 1) Kahkonen

I’m not including players like Kaprizov/Khovanov/Addison/Bitten and other prospects because they won’t have 2 years of NHL experience at that time and thus are excluded? Right?

JoeMX1825 wrote:

and one goalie,

Maybe a good reason to hang onto Dubs for the next 2 seasons? He might be a good sacrificial lamb.

biggill wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
and one goalie,

Maybe a good reason to hang onto Dubs for the next 2 seasons? He might be a good sacrificial lamb.

He’ll be a free agent that summer

biggill wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ice Cap wrote:</div>
I don’t understand this clamoring to move Spurgeon.

I agree. Clearly some kind of move is going to happen here on D but I don’t necessarily think it has to be a choice between Dumba and Spurgeon. Both of these guys are nearing their prime and it would be a waste to send them packing considering how valuable they are to this team. If any of these guys get move it’s going to be a pretty significant move to make this team better now.

Spurgeon has a full NMC (yes this year) so I don’t understand why he’s even considered a trade option.

biggill wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
and one goalie,

Maybe a good reason to hang onto Dubs for the next 2 seasons? He might be a good sacrificial lamb.

Stalock’s contract runs through 21-22 so he already is that sacrificial lamb… it was mentioned as a key reason for his contract extension last year.