I feel like this trade was made in hopes of a trade for a center…which means Billy g is prepared to get rid of a young winger whether it b Greenway or whomever as part of a package deal for a centerman….at least one can hope thats the case anyways
I think BillyG has shown he has the chops to hang with the bigtime GMs in the league
Just giving you a hard time Joe.
So far he traded away an asset and got good return. How that return shakes out is the second part of his job.
Bjugstad-sure pens might be up against the cap but if they thought he would be a top 3 center they would have moved money elsewhere.
Stall for Johansson-I hope there is more to this puzzle to come.
I think most fans saw this trade and wondered why we traded “our” #1 center for a wing? The fact that Staal was our #1 center should tell you enough…Staal showed all the signs of a steep physical decline this past season and now with a likely longer gap until next season due to Covid, he’ll just be older and slower. Sabres have been a perennial mess of a franchise, but I think even they’ll hate this trade come training camp…
I am aware of Stalls age and the regression he will probably have. Not sad to see him go as far as a player.
Good guy I am sure he would have like to have stayed in MN as I think he comes back here when his career is over which I would suspect be after next season. I am sure it didn’t come as a surprise.
So far his trades have been for finding a diamond in the rough so to speak. Kind of career resurrections projects.
Trade makes sense for Buffalo they are trying to win now before Jack says this place really sucks. There 2 number two centers are very young. Gives them a 2/3 center with a little more consistency then there two young centers until they can progress.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>JoeMX1825 wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ripjiggen wrote:</div>
You confuse me sometimes Joe.How so?
The wild gave up cap space to trade a top 6 center for a bottom 6 wing. Friendly reminder that they already had too many wings and not enough centers. If no other pieces move, then this is a terrible trade.
Agree. Staal at center was way better than no center. There have to be other moves coming for this to make sense.
Grouse
I think most fans saw this trade and wondered why we traded “our” #1 center for a wing? The fact that Staal was our #1 center should tell you enough…Staal showed all the signs of a steep physical decline this past season and now with a likely longer gap until next season due to Covid, he’ll just be older and slower. Sabres have been a perennial mess of a franchise, but I think even they’ll hate this trade come training camp…
Is Staal better?
Is Staal cheaper?
Does Staal play center?
Does MJo play wing?
If the answers are yes, then this was a terrible trade. If the answers are no, you’re delusional.
Salary difference is only $750k, for a single season that’s nothing…
Is Staal better? That depends on which Staal you’re talking about? The one who scored all those goals 2 years ago or the current one who can’t keep up with the play and is a liability on the ice?
Does he play center? MJo can and has played center in the NHL, sure it’s not his preferred position though. Do you keep somebody on your team just because he plays a certain position even if he can’t play it anymore?
When MJo played for Washington and Boston he was an impactful player, like every other player not named Eichel, his game died in Buffalo…
Maybe Staal finds the fountain of youth this offseason, but players not named Coffey or Marleau typically get slower and slower as they get older and last season had all the warning signs of him physically being done…
Stall had more points in a shortened season than Johansson has had in all but one of his seasons. Which happend to be five years ago. 
Stall had more points in a shortened season than Johansson has had in all but one of his seasons. Which happend to be five years ago.
Give Johanson Staal’s minutes, Powerplay time and linemates and i’d bet that gap closes and I’m not saying Staal wasn’t a good player, I’m saying this past season he lost a step and next season it will probably a step and a half…at this point in their careers I can see why they would rather have Johanson on this team…
all this could be moot as maybe BillyG already has another trade lined up and Johanson is part of it…he’s a solid player teams would want.
Sure but there is a reason he doesn’t have Stalls minutes in the first place. Sounds like that is a little bit of a reach saying well if he had more minutes there numbers are closer.
I think there’s a difference playing with Parise & Fiala vs Johan Larson and whomever else Buffalo had on their 2nd line? Their #2 PP unit is also laughable vs what the Wild puts out on their #1 unit…
Stars vs Bolts for the cup
That Bolts/Islanders series was awesome! Hedman is just an unreal talent and Kucherov looks to be playing hurt yet still produces, hopefully the Wild players are watching and seeing what it takes to get to this level!
Hi
FB_IMG_1600399318386.jpg
Congrats Pug. Should be a good final.
I think there’s a difference playing with Parise & Fiala vs Johan Larson and whomever else Buffalo had on their 2nd line? Their #2 PP unit is also laughable vs what the Wild puts out on their #1 unit…
That’s my point if Buffalo is so bad and he can’t be on the first line second line or 1 PP doesn’t that tell you something.
I guess we will see and I am not even in favor of keeping staal but also don’t think the trade was a very good one for the wild. As I think MJ is 2nd 3rd line wing who the wild have plenty of those. I am sure they plan on putting him at center. Just does not get me real excited about there centers at the moment.
I fully agree that right now our center situation is dire BUT I dont think BillyG trades Staal without knowing he has a deal in place to replace him and if Marco Rossi or Anton Lundell slip to us in the draft most scouts think they are NHL ready now (Lundell for sure) and would likely fill a #3 or possibly #2 center role as a rookie. So our center situation could vastly improve quickly.
Hi
Well, Pug, the Bolts managed to get it together in the playoffs. Great series with the Islanders, kind of a shame as I don’t think the Finals are going to be as interesting.
Lightning in 5.
Grouse
Pug, love the new Avatar. 
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mplspug wrote:</div>
HiWell, Pug, the Bolts managed to get it together in the playoffs. Great series with the Islanders, kind of a shame as I don’t think the Finals are going to be as interesting.
Lightning in 5.
Grouse
I wish I was as confident as you. I think it’s going 7. I don’t see much difference between the Isles and the Stars. And the Isles were tough.
I’ll be Capt Obvious and say Points health is key.
I don’t care what anyone thinks of Mikko, it’s a somber day for the Wild. He’ll be the face of the franchise for some time even going forward.
Yes, a sad way for the captain to go.
In other news, the Jets have according to multiple sources offered Nik Elhers for Dumba straight swap.
You make the call. Yes or no?
IMO he could well continue to be a 25 goal guy with the wild. Bad news is he’s yet another flipping winger…
I say pass. Dumba is by far the hottest actively marketed defenseman on the market right now. There has to be a trade out there for a center.
Grouse
Hard pass on Elhers…he’s fast, but i’m tired of small wingers who lose pucks in the corners…Dumba needs to be dealt for some type of center, I would prefer an established young center (like Cerelli or Domi) or a top prospect who’s no more than a year away from the NHL. I have zero expectations for this team next year, I see it as more of a “see what you have and plan accordingly moving forward” type of season before big $$ decisions need to be made about Fiala and Kaprizov that will shape our team for the next 5-7 years…
I would put my Dumba trade partner guess to be the LA Kings. They have the cap space to take on his contract while only giving back prospects (Few teams can do this) If we can’t get their #2 pick (That would likely take Dumba + our top Wing prospect (Boldy) + more (Donato/Greenway) then their prospect pool is loaded with top center prospects we would want.
So you guys that had dinner with Guerin was there any mention of getting a goaltender? Or will we flash back to the WHL days of outscoring everybody?
so dinner last night was wonderful, BillyG ate the entire “The Old ’96er” so we all ate for free!
as far as the goalie discussion, the only way the Wild take Askarov is if all of the top Center/Wing prospects are taken ahead of them in the draft and he would technically be the best player available by a long shot. I think the Kaprizov drama the past 5 years has put a bad taste in the Wild brass’s mouths when drafting top Russian Prospects already playing in the KHL.
I really think they ride out this next season with who they already have, play Kaapo alot more, expose Stalock in the xpansion draft, Dubnyk comes off the books and if they aren’t comfortable after seeing a full season with Kaapo, they sign a FA goalie longer term in the offseason. Recent history has shown that you don’t need a “superstar” goalie to win in the playoffs, they just need to rise to the challenge.
Game 6 tonight, I think the Bolts wrap this thing up… THEN it’s all about the draft next week.
The more I read/watch about him, IF Rossi/Perfetti/Raymond are all gone at pick #9 (and BillyG doesn’t trade up) I think the Wild should take Yaroslav Askarov (Goalie CSKA) because he’s by far the best player available and fills a huge need (besides obvious #1 Center) this franchise has never had before (a True franchise goalie) The ONLY thing that worries me is the KHL factor AFTER his current 2 year contract is up (he’s going to need those 2 years to develop anyways) He could turn into another Kaprizov (best player not in the NHL) who we wait on and on and on for. He’s only 18 years old, is a big sized goalie with unreal athleticism and has been dominating the KHL and every tourney he’s been in (besides a so-so wjc last year)
I know I’ve preached Anton Lundell over and over because he was the best center likely still available at #9, but we would be settling for him because of need vs picking the top talent available… What do you guys think?
You pick the best talent. Most of theses guys drafted will not be on the team for 2-5 years. Who knows what this team will need then.
Oh and there were a few Jack Eichel on the trade block rumors this morning that were quickly denied by Eichel’s agent and the Sabres, but that didn’t stop fans from putting together potential trade package ideas. The one I saw was Montreal offering Max Domi, Brett Kulak and 3 #1 picks…
Knowing how hard it is to find a superstar #1 center and one who’s only 23 years old, if you were BillyG what would you be willing to give up to get him on the Wild? What are some crazy offers that could possibly get it done?
How about Dumba, Ek, Greenway and our 3 x 1st round picks this and next year? I know it’s alot, but Eichel is a known special talent you build the franchise around vs draft picks that might not work out…
it’s fun to dream….
If JEEK is Koivu 2.0 then is Lundell JEEK 2.0 or Koivu 3.0?
Seriously though I’d be happy with Lundell at #9. Yes he’s the typical Wild high floor/low ceiling draft pick – BUT he’s also the highest rated pure center after Byfield. He’s spent the last 2 years playing big minutes as a 17-18 year old against men and this year he’s a captain as a 19 year old – as close to NHL ready as they come without being a lottery pick. I think he’s overshadowed by a lot of dynamic offensive talent in this draft and would be top 5 other years. Everything I see on him points to a can’t miss top 6 center, just doesn’t have the offensive upside to be a future Hart winner.
Still hoping that Perfetti or preferably Rossi fall to the Wild but that’s a very long shot.
Goalies are voodoo so if they’re spending a top 10 pick on a Russian goalie he better be a no doubter.
The Wild need way more than one Jack Eichel to go anywhere. To get a player like that you’d have to give away all the picks and other players that you need to get the well-rounded team that really makes it happen.
My guess is if Gurin wants to move up, it has to be part of a deal for Dumba.
something like Dumba + our R1 pick for a player + a higher R1 position.
The idea of blowing our R1 9 OA pick on a Russian goalie with a KHL contract that puts him out of reach for years, I just can’t see it. A #9 OA pick is a really big deal for the Wild, we haven’t had an R1 position this high for a decade. There are too many other needs to blow it on a player that is out of reach for years and will have limited short term trade value for that reason.
Does Haula end up back in a Wild sweater for next season? Seems like a very reasonable move to me.
Grouse
Every scout opinion on him says he’s an elite can’t miss goalie prospect and better than Price and Fleury at his age. He has another season on his KHL contract and then could come over to the states, its not like he we be with the Wild or Iowa this or next season anyways.
at #9 the best players likely left would be Lundell or Sandstrom and Askarov is rated much higher than both but gets the goalie hit for draft placement.
I can see them taking Lundell because our center depth is so dire, but I would fine if they decided to select Askarov…
Congrats Pug…Hedman was a beast. Weird seeing the guys celebrate with the cup with no fans.
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