They put him on the third line so he is not expected to be “the man” there like he was in Minnesota. Far less pressure.
Boston seems to be finding their game now. They stumbled out of the gate in the round robin against the big boys but they are looking more like the team that won the Presidents Trophy last winter now. I’m not quite sold on Halak though. He’s 35 and a number of games in short period of time could wear him out. They have a nobody as a backup goalie too.
I thought Tampa got themselves behind the 8 ball with a sloppy start. Poor passes, soft passes, pucks rolling off their sticks. They definitely got their game gong a little into the second period. ⚡
I thought Tampa got themselves behind the 8 ball with a sloppy start. Poor passes, soft passes, pucks rolling off their sticks. They definitely got their game gong a little into the second period. ⚡
The absence of Stamkos, especially on the power play with his right handed shot, is quite obvious.
No doubt, and I don’t think he is coming back any time soon, if at all. They absolutely need to figure out that PP without Stammer.
Has Stamkos EVER made it through the season to actually play in the postseason? Seems like he’s always off the ice when they make it to the dance.
Not the last couple of years. What is frustrating is this injury I think came before covid camp. So he was healthy and ready to play.
Will probably be one of the better series in all of the playoffs. A little edge to the the game last night which was nice to see.
lol, Penguins turn around and trade that #15 pick & decent center prospect for Kapanen and several trash prospects…a few key injuries next year and the Wild could get an extra lottery pick…
lol, Penguins turn around and trade that #15 pick & decent center prospect for Kapanen and several trash prospects…a few key injuries next year and the Wild could get an extra lottery pick…
Don’t forget about Pontus Aberg. Is Paul Fenton working for the Penguins now?
Toronto obviously clearing capspace to take on a big D contract…could the Wild be on call list for Toronto? What about trading Dumba or Brodin to Toronto for that #15 draft pick, Center Alex Kerfoot and another top prospect? The idea of any team trading the Wild their #1 center is a pipe dream, Kerfoot is a decent #2/#3 center option signed to a good contract the next 3 seasons…he’s a heck of alot better than resigning Gelchenyuk as an option…
Phew!
Toronto obviously clearing capspace to take on a big D contract…could the Wild be on call list for Toronto? What about trading Dumba or Brodin to Toronto for that #15 draft pick, Center Alex Kerfoot and another top prospect? The idea of any team trading the Wild their #1 center is a pipe dream, Kerfoot is a decent #2/#3 center option signed to a good contract the next 3 seasons…he’s a heck of alot better than resigning Gelchenyuk as an option…
I am far from a Dumba fan but trading away a team’s one true PP threat scares me a little. We’ve seen how stale the PP is when he is not on the ice.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
Toronto obviously clearing capspace to take on a big D contract…could the Wild be on call list for Toronto? What about trading Dumba or Brodin to Toronto for that #15 draft pick, Center Alex Kerfoot and another top prospect? The idea of any team trading the Wild their #1 center is a pipe dream, Kerfoot is a decent #2/#3 center option signed to a good contract the next 3 seasons…he’s a heck of alot better than resigning Gelchenyuk as an option…I am far from a Dumba fan but trading away a team’s one true PP threat scares me a little. We’ve seen how stale the PP is when he is not on the ice.
because he’s the #1 threat, he’s basically taken out of the play whenever the powerplay gets setup in the zone and the defenders cheat to his side, they were always forcing Koivu or Zucherello to be the shooters from the side boards (rightfully so). If Kaprizov is the real deal and can duplicate what he did in the KHL then we have dueling shooting threats now from the strong side boards with him and Fiala. I really only include Dumba in trade speculation because he would get the biggest return in a trade as he’s a right-shot all teams seem to need. If BillyG can get us anything close to a #1 center you make the trade and never look back.
Phew!
Thought you might have to consider waiving your no-trade clause there, did you?
As far as trades, there has to be a point coming soon where Gurin intends to stop selling and start buying. We heard a lot of talk about freeing up cap space, and now Koivu’s contract is done as well. When do we start buying and stop swapping parts?
If you trade Dumba or Brodin for a centerman, then you’ve just created ANOTHER empty seat on the bus. We can’t keep going on like this forever where we pull a plug out of one leak and use it to plug another. I don’t think Dumba is going to get us a top 2 centerman, so now we have given away a heavy shot d-man and the only real power play big blast threat we have for a big fat ? centerman.
I’m really hoping for a strong draft performance. There has to be some potential free agent signings out there as well.
I’m afraid that if Kaprisov is expected to be a one man band, he’ll end up Gaboriking it where he just fizzles under the pressure. We need other pieces to start coming in.
And also we need players like Kunin and Greenway to start paying off. Something is wrong on the talent development end at the Wild.
Grouse
There has to be some potential free agent signings out there as well.
It’s not good when Galchenyuk is listed as one of the best available Centers via FA this year…
This team needs to take a swing at drafting a top center prospect otherwise we just spin our wheels year after year…
This is our best year (or next year with 2 x 1st round picks) to do this with the draft capital we have to use. I’m sure BillyG is making calls to see what it takes to move upto #2 for Byfield or #5 for Rossi or Perfetti. These types of moves will likely require our #9 pick and at least an established young roster player like (Kunin or Greenway) for the #5 pick or likely Dumba or Brodin for the #2 pick.
or stick with #9 and see if Anton Lundell slips and at least you have a potential future franchise #2 center…
either way, this franchise has a HUGE need for center prospects, it’s about time we take a shot at drafting a stud.
It’s not good when Galchenyuk is listed as one of the best available Centers via FA this year…
Yes, I didn’t mention him as a player who won’t be returning because I actually think he WILL be back with the Wild because there are just NO other better options available.
I would not be totally shocked to see Koivu sign a 1 year deal either, to be honest. I don’t think it’s likely, but not impossible given the outlook on the FA market.
I’m afraid that our desperation to move up in the draft will mean teams know they can totally rake the Wild over the coals, so I doubt any of these teams would settle for the D-Man + 9 OA pick. They’re going to demand more.
I would agree, if you could move up into the Top 5, that would be the thing to do, but not if it means giving up more than 1 pick in ANY round. We got into this mess because of p!ssing away too many R!-2 picks. We should have learned by now, anything can happen with an R1 pick, so putting all the chips down on one prospect working out is a bad bet.
Grouse
I don’t think this team re-signs players just to fill positions (Koivu/Galchenyuk) UNLESS they come very very cheap….
I think BillyG has the go ahead from the owner to go more with a youth movement and build up young players vs resign older ones… I think Kerfoot could be had on the cheap from Toronto and there’s a few other #3 borderline #2 Centers we could get from some teams in cap hell this offseason. I don’t want BillyG to overpay, but I don’t think we can afford the low % pick of a late round player hopefully turning into a #1 center…We’ll need to either overpay to move up in this draft and take a Byfeild/Rossi/Perfetti (the higher % prospects) or stink it up next year and get a top 3 pick in a center heavy draft…
Again, I’m just spit-balling here, I think the safe play is the Wild getting Anton Lundell at #9 (he’s a Koivu clone) who can be a solid #2 center moving forward. and hopefully the new former Canuck draft guru we got can work his late round magic.
I think BillyG gets aggressive and makes a trade in the next few weeks to get ahead of other teams and targets somebody he wants…
They already have a koivu clone in EK. No need for another one.
They already have a koivu clone in EK. No need for another one.
Koivu was a really good nhl player, he just took advantage of the Gaborik contract/FA blunder and was then heavily overpaid for most of his career…I think any team would be ecstatic to draft a player with the career Koivu had though. Ek has very little offensive talent, he’s a good 3rd/4th line shutdown center, but thats all he’ll ever be…
The more I look at mock drafts, the Wild should feel good about drafting Lundell at #9, I don’t think Rossi or Perfetti are that much better to justify the cost to move up…Byfield though would be due to his size and skillset…
Ek was one of the best defense centers by the numbers this season in the nhl. If he played first line minutes and was on the power play I am sure he could average 13 goals a season like Koivu. I’m not saying EK is great by any means but another Koivu is not what this team needs. Thinking Koivu was a number one center for all these years and being paid like one is what has held them back in the first place.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
It’s not good when Galchenyuk is listed as one of the best available Centers via FA this year…Yes, I didn’t mention him as a player who won’t be returning because I actually think he WILL be back with the Wild because there are just NO other better options available.
I would not be totally shocked to see Koivu sign a 1 year deal either, to be honest. I don’t think it’s likely, but not impossible given the outlook on the FA market.
I’m afraid that our desperation to move up in the draft will mean teams know they can totally rake the Wild over the coals, so I doubt any of these teams would settle for the D-Man + 9 OA pick. They’re going to demand more.
I would agree, if you could move up into the Top 5, that would be the thing to do, but not if it means giving up more than 1 pick in ANY round. We got into this mess because of p!ssing away too many R!-2 picks. We should have learned by now, anything can happen with an R1 pick, so putting all the chips down on one prospect working out is a bad bet.
Grouse
X2! Stop giving the farm away for trying to win now. Tit for tat at minimum or better, and work through the mess we are in.
MK is a struggle for me. Liked the guy and have always seen him for what he is, nothing exciting. He took advantage, just like RS/ZP. All solid players, but none of them hall of fame’er’s imo.
We got KK, build a team around him and see where it goes. If KK brings a competitive edge and drive to win, some younger players could learn and feed of that. It could also energize some vets as well. Don’t think he can do everything, but am looking forward to what he can do and the team can do with what seems like the first actual “good” gm and scoring threat we’ve had in a long time. No need to win now! If they can realize that and build a team, pretty optimistic for the first time in a while as a fan in the state of hockey.
I’d trade Dumba. He’s going to be a distraction in the locker room for at least the immediate future.
Kaprizov wont be effective unless he plays with a center who can get him the puck and create scoring opportunities. We currently have ZERO players who can do that (maybe Zuccerrello as a pass first winger) but thats a perfect example of how desperate we are. None of these talked about moves are for a win now mentality, these high pick draft prospects will take a year or two at least. My point is this or next year are really our only chances to move up in the draft and finally get a top prospect because we have the draft ammo to do it without paying through the roof.
Wild aquire centerman and former Gopher standout Nick Bjugstad from the Pens.
From what I’ve read it looks like the Wild really took the cap desperate Pens to the cleaners ion this one. Pens retain half Bjugs salary and nothing else changes hands unless he plays in 70 games or scores 35 points in which case the pens get a 7th round MN pick.
Do the Wild finally have a management brain trust that will stop us from being the laughing stock of the NHL when it comes to trades? Dare we hope…
Grouse
Bjugstad is coming off back surgery this summer so only time will tell…he really has not lived up to his potential IMO….but he will better than Koivu in a 3rd or 4th line roll.
No risk – medium potential reward move by Guerin. Helps with the lack of center depth and makes it easier to either buy out Rask and/or not bring Galchenyuk back.
Have to believe the Pens were going to buy Bjugstad out and this was a slightly cheaper option.
That makes two cap dump moves between the Pens/Wild now. Would be nice to see a deal where Guerin takes on a cap dump + asset like Marleau and a first last off season.
Wild aquire centerman and former Gopher standout Nick Bjugstad from the Pens.
From what I’ve read it looks like the Wild really took the cap desperate Pens to the cleaners ion this one. Pens retain half Bjugs salary and nothing else changes hands unless he plays in 70 games or scores 35 points in which case the pens get a 7th round MN pick.
Do the Wild finally have a management brain trust that will stop us from being the laughing stock of the NHL when it comes to trades? Dare we hope…
Grouse
Not sure it’s taking someone to the cleaners by getting a guy that is basically on a tryout and who will most likely not be in the league much longer if he doesn’t get healthy.
BUT, if you can get a good sized center for $2 million and will only cost you a 7th round draft pick NEXT year IF he plays 70 games or scores 35+ points (which would probably be a career high for any of our previous 3rd/4th line centers) it’s an absolute steal…if he doesn’t meet those games/points, it costs us nothing but his salary…go find another deal like that in the NHL…
in terms of his health, ANY player can get hurt in their first game so it’s kind of pointless to put too much stock in his previous health. Parise had the same surgery Nick had he’s been healthy ever since…He’s healthy now and that’s all that counts…he’ll also be a little more motivated playing in front of his home crowd vs playing somewhere else..
I think it was a heck of a deal by BillyG…Penguins GM is pushing all of his chips in the middle for next season, he’s all in, if they don’t win the cup he’ll be gone anyways…
“IF” my sister had a penis she would be my brother.
All that positivity is great Joe it is low risk move for the Wild so not much loss. Just replacing one big slow moving center with another. Just don’t see it as making the team any better. I guess it just shows how little they have down the middle.
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