Article: Zuccarello Broke the Mold By Signing A Team-Friendly Deal

[Justin Hein]

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[vonlonster67]

So I'm all about a fair deal and I'm curious who would have paid him more next year? Maybe a return to NY?

If he took a home town deal, are we talking $5M+ to sign him to 2 years somewhere else? Because that has to be the limitation for years from any team.

Factors that aren't included in the eval are injury concerns which are of greater potential since he has been hit the past few years and not 100% for the playoffs. I'm guessing he was not crazy about leaving KK, an established area for his wife/daughter during the season, and the fact of starting over again with a new team. learning new players, teams and systems. 

So looking at everything I see it as a trade off, less money for WIld, and potential of injury for the Wild. No changes for Zucci and stay with KK until he rides off into the sunset.

Interesting on the Moose breakdown and supports what everyone is feeling. For me if I'm going to buy in it's about leadership and experience like you referenced. I'm warming up to the Zucci contract after a week of shock and awe. The Moose contract I've accepted, but I'm going to be looking pretty hard at it in two years for situational application and possible change.

Edited October 6, 2023 by vonlonster67

[Backwoodsbob]

23 minutes ago, vonlonster67 said:

Interesting on the Moose breakdown and supports what everyone is feeling. For me if I'm going to buy in it's about leadership and experience like you referenced. I'm warming up to the Zucci contract after a week of shock and awe. The Moose contract I've accepted, but I'm going to be looking pretty hard at it in two years for situational application and possible change.

I feel that we may be in the same boat except the acceptance of Moose's contract. I'm still having a hard time justifying the length and dollars 4yrs @ $16m? For that price, we might've been able to keep Dumba here somehow with a team friendly deal with a larger paycheck further down the road, as he signed for $3.9m for 1yr. He was an "A" and a locker room leader.

Here's to hoping a Moose can prove me wrong and make me eat crow!

 

[Protec]

As of now, I would guess Goligoski and Merrill are in their last year. Fleury, if he stayed one more year would be no more expensive that the current hit. Same for Maroon. Gustaffsson and Addison have to prove themselves yet. A bad season would force the question whether either guy sticks around. 

Assuming Hartman is resigned, there should be some left for Dewar if no other trades or changes come. Since the cap is expected to go up, even better chance the Wild can take care of business.

These veteran deals as a package will be okay. One better than another but when you consider the bargain for Ek, fair value for HOF goalie & Gus, the solid value on Kaprizov & Boldy, Minnesota has a pretty decent balance. If Foligno's contract is the worst in the group, compared to the previous Pomminville or Ennis experience, and especially the Parise/Suter behemoth hits, the Wild are in okay shape. I mentioned this in another thread, I'd like to see the MN vets get paid rather than cheapen their deals or send em out for that money to be allocated towards young guys or future unknown players yet to be signed. In some ways it's like a punitive statement towards guys who gave to the organization so new guys can be paid while the cap is tight. 

GM can't be popular with everyone all the time but Guerin has had much better senses on his acquisitions and he hasn't given away too much too often with contracts or picks. That and the Wild pushing for the top of the Central, I'm impressed with the reversal since Fenton & Fletcher. If Rossi begins to become a full-time NHL guy, and the veterans play good, it will be another playoff chance.

[Justin Hein]

On 10/6/2023 at 5:25 PM, vonlonster67 said:

So I'm all about a fair deal and I'm curious who would have paid him more next year? Maybe a return to NY?

If he took a home town deal, are we talking $5M+ to sign him to 2 years somewhere else? Because that has to be the limitation for years from any team.

Off the top of my head, Chicago needs good players in a desperate way and Zuccarello could certainly do for Bedard what he did for Kirill. They won't compete soon, so they could have given him more term and bought out the contract. If it helps develop Bedard, it's easy to justify overpaying Zuccarello. His past two seasons have been enough to bait plenty of teams into a 2-4 year deal at market value.  

[Protec]

^^^

If you just look at the group of players with similar roles and point totals around Zuccarello, it's a pretty nice group. If you looked at the AAVs from that group, you would feel good that GMBG made a fair deal. 

[Velgey]

On 10/6/2023 at 11:19 PM, Protec said:

If Foligno's contract is the worst in the group, compared to the previous Pomminville or Ennis experience, and especially the Parise/Suter behemoth hits, the Wild are in okay shape.

Yes, teams, including the Wild in the past, have certainly tied themselves down with far worse contracts than Foligno's. Doesn't mean fans have to like it, but it seems doubtful Foligno turns into a sufficiently terrible boat anchor to make everyone hate the contract like some previous ones. Remember when Tomas Vanek was trying to play with basically no legs or checking?

[Protec]

52 minutes ago, Velgey said:

Yes, teams, including the Wild in the past, have certainly tied themselves down with far worse contracts than Foligno's. Doesn't mean fans have to like it, but it seems doubtful Foligno turns into a sufficiently terrible boat anchor to make everyone hate the contract like some previous ones. Remember when Tomas Vanek was trying to play with basically no legs or checking?

Yes, and he was bought out. It was a different time and getting Hanzal, Ennis, Vanek, or Staal was the chase during that time with Parise and Suter behind the scenes. Parise's squinty eyes and quick blinks of disbelief were classic as they'd lose playoff series. Those were the days when Cooke, Bergenhiem, Hanzal, Aberg were the mid-season or deadline pickups. Pretty weak.

The Staal deal worked well enough but the Wild's current contracts are more of the core guys and chemistry versus mercenary force. I think Guerin's senses on these things is better than Fletcher for sure. Fenton kinda screwed himself out of getting any record to analyze but generally it wasn't good. The Wild's chemistry and culture now are good.