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Article: What Does the Wild's 2023-24 Best-Case Scenario Look Like?


Justin Hein
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I hope, like everyone else that this all works out for the better or even best. I'm eyeing the future and if I said I wouldn't be disappointed if the Wild missed the playoffs this season, I would probably be lying too.

The flip side is I could also be talked into having just a good season, on the fringe of the playoffs, be in the games, no long losing streaks, see some young players develop and end up with a legitimate pick in the 16-18 pick range in the end. Maybe move up in the draft from there into the top 10 with our draft capitol and get a #1D. I'm not up for the trade route for a 1C yet, but want to see where we land with what we have.

So my best case scenario is either way it is a win for the future.

 

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So, the Wild’s best-case scenario includes: 

  • A top-line producing 210 points 
  • A second line producing 160 points
  • A shutdown third line with around 115 points

Those are all reasonable scenarios, but not really even best case.

Gaudreau has averaged 41 points the last 2 seasons. Foligno hit 42 points in 74 games not long ago, so if you can get 80 points from those 2, roughly 20 goals and 20 assists each, Rossi might be able to put up 45 points(maybe 12 goals and 33 assists). That would be 125 points from the 3rd line.

Boldy and JEE both cleared 60 points last season, and Johansson had 46 on the year(including time with the Caps), so those 3 totaled 170 points last year. Their best case is definitely North of 160 points. 160 would be disappointing.

The top line of Kaprizov, Hartman, and Zuccarello could hit 240 points in a best case scenario(100, 60, 80). All 3 scored above that pace for the Wild in 21-22.

Not saying that the Wild will hit all of their best case scenarios, only indicating that the best-cases outlined are actually more like reasonably attainable expectations to me, not indicative of everything going right for the Wild.

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Best case this year would be Fleury & Gus being solid.

Defense holding up early and blossoming late.

Forward lines building the chemistry and buying into the team game.

The result should be a team that's near the top of the Central.

More specifically, I'd like to see Shaw make it back. Like to see Boldy have a breakout year. I'd like to see Hartman earn another contract, Ek healthy for the playoffs, and Rossi become an NHL'r.

Last of all, I'd like to see the Wild trade for a forward upgrade or a guy like Beckman or Walker to breakout too. A good kind of splash or bonus during the course of the season that can carry into playoffs.

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1 hour ago, Protec said:

Best case this year would be Fleury & Gus being solid.

Defense holding up early and blossoming late.

Forward lines building the chemistry and buying into the team game.

The result should be a team that's near the top of the Central.

More specifically, I'd like to see Shaw make it back. Like to see Boldy have a breakout year. I'd like to see Hartman earn another contract, Ek healthy for the playoffs, and Rossi become an NHL'r.

Last of all, I'd like to see the Wild trade for a forward upgrade or a guy like Beckman or Walker to breakout too. A good kind of splash or bonus during the course of the season that can carry into playoffs.

Love :classic_love: it ALL until.....No need to trade, it will come from our prospects...save...save...save..the money! 💰💰💰

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I thought in best case scenario, you shoot for the moon!

This seems like optimistic realistic plan to me.

In my best case scenario, some of the kids move up in an earned look and don't give back the positions. The trade deadlines sees us sell to promote, and the team goes on an unbelievable tear with the kids, winning the Stanley Cup and giving the NHL brass a very big middle finger with the unfair cap restrictions and Moose wins the Conn Smythe with 6 GWGs in the playoffs, 4 in OT.

They do all this by coming in as the 3rd seed in the Central, having to win their final 3 games to do it. OCL relishes in the victories and schedules his parade through St. Paul. He justifies his insistence on getting a playoff invitation!

Why would 3rd in the Central be a best case scenario? Because we finally transitioned to the kids who brought us to the promised land. For that to happen, they needed opportunity, and they got it at just the right time.

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14 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I thought in best case scenario, you shoot for the moon!

This seems like optimistic realistic plan to me.

In my best case scenario, some of the kids move up in an earned look and don't give back the positions. The trade deadlines sees us sell to promote, and the team goes on an unbelievable tear with the kids, winning the Stanley Cup and giving the NHL brass a very big middle finger with the unfair cap restrictions and Moose wins the Conn Smythe with 6 GWGs in the playoffs, 4 in OT.

They do all this by coming in as the 3rd seed in the Central, having to win their final 3 games to do it. OCL relishes in the victories and schedules his parade through St. Paul. He justifies his insistence on getting a playoff invitation!

Why would 3rd in the Central be a best case scenario? Because we finally transitioned to the kids who brought us to the promised land. For that to happen, they needed opportunity, and they got it at just the right time.

I want some of what you're drinking 🍺 !!!! :classic_cool:

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17 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I thought in best case scenario, you shoot for the moon!

This seems like optimistic realistic plan to me.

In my best case scenario, some of the kids move up in an earned look and don't give back the positions. The trade deadlines sees us sell to promote, and the team goes on an unbelievable tear with the kids, winning the Stanley Cup and giving the NHL brass a very big middle finger with the unfair cap restrictions and Moose wins the Conn Smythe with 6 GWGs in the playoffs, 4 in OT.

They do all this by coming in as the 3rd seed in the Central, having to win their final 3 games to do it. OCL relishes in the victories and schedules his parade through St. Paul. He justifies his insistence on getting a playoff invitation!

Why would 3rd in the Central be a best case scenario? Because we finally transitioned to the kids who brought us to the promised land. For that to happen, they needed opportunity, and they got it at just the right time.

I like it. We won't see it but I like it.

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Hockey Wilderness Contributor
On 9/15/2023 at 9:12 PM, Imyourhuckleberry said:

So, the Wild’s best-case scenario includes: 

  • A top-line producing 210 points 
  • A second line producing 160 points
  • A shutdown third line with around 115 points

Those are all reasonable scenarios, but not really even best case.

Gaudreau has averaged 41 points the last 2 seasons. Foligno hit 42 points in 74 games not long ago, so if you can get 80 points from those 2, roughly 20 goals and 20 assists each, Rossi might be able to put up 45 points(maybe 12 goals and 33 assists). That would be 125 points from the 3rd line.

Boldy and JEE both cleared 60 points last season, and Johansson had 46 on the year(including time with the Caps), so those 3 totaled 170 points last year. Their best case is definitely North of 160 points. 160 would be disappointing.

The top line of Kaprizov, Hartman, and Zuccarello could hit 240 points in a best case scenario(100, 60, 80). All 3 scored above that pace for the Wild in 21-22.

Not saying that the Wild will hit all of their best case scenarios, only indicating that the best-cases outlined are actually more like reasonably attainable expectations to me, not indicative of everything going right for the Wild.

This is all a fair point, but I didn't account for injuries, so I didn't want to assume a scoring uptick on top of perfect health. I think that makes this a fair middle ground.

If Minnesota hits the numbers you're talking about, they could sniff 110 points but without Fiala drawing defensive attention that may not be feasible. 

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Hockey Wilderness Contributor
On 9/16/2023 at 8:41 AM, Protec said:

Last of all, I'd like to see the Wild trade for a forward upgrade or a guy like Beckman or Walker to breakout too. A good kind of splash or bonus during the course of the season that can carry into playoffs.

Everything here is pretty reasonable, but the Wild would have to shed significant cap in order to make any upgrades via trade. Beckman or Walker hitting another gear would be awesome, but the lineup might just be too crowded due to cap space as well -- even a callup could be more than they can currently afford. 

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19 minutes ago, Justin Hein said:

This is all a fair point, but I didn't account for injuries, so I didn't want to assume a scoring uptick on top of perfect health. I think that makes this a fair middle ground.

If Minnesota hits the numbers you're talking about, they could sniff 110 points but without Fiala drawing defensive attention that may not be feasible. 

Fi WHO?

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