Article: Wilderness Walk: Why Wild Swapped Addison For Bogosian

[Thomas Williams]

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[Protec]

When Guerin says "heaviness" or "intangibles" and "hungry to play" that tells me he believes Bogosian is gonna do something Addison can never do in three ways. 

Nobody can say Addison didn't have the environment, support, or mentor to follow Spurgeon proof of concept success. 

The time passed for it to happen in MN. Wish Addison well but he just didn't develop into the player MN needed. I like that GMBG moved him to a team who will use him and he can become an NHL guy. Guerin didn't bury him or hold him up any longer and I think that is honorable.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

1 hour ago, Protec said:

When Guerin says "heaviness" or "intangibles" and "hungry to play" that tells me he believes Bogosian is gonna do something Addison can never do in three ways. 

Yeah, Guerin doesn't always choose it, but he does seem to prefer guys who are hard to play against. Addison wasn't likely to become that type of player, and the Wild have other skilled defensemen in Iowa that should be ready soon.

[Greenbean]

32 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Yeah, Guerin doesn't always choose it, but he does seem to prefer guys who are hard to play against. Addison wasn't likely to become that type of player, and the Wild have other skilled defensemen in Iowa that should be ready soon.

Until BG finds some over the hill vet on a bargain and a NMC locking the D core into the same type of mess he's created for the forwards. A bunch of declining players that can't be moved. At least we will be able to read articles about how awesome the prospect pool is.....

[Pewterschmidt]

23 minutes ago, Greenbean said:

At least we will be able to read articles about how awesome the prospect pool is.....

Are you trying to get me started Greenbean.  Because I'll go there...I will go there.

[Pewterschmidt]

25 minutes ago, Greenbean said:

Until BG finds some over the hill vet on a bargain and a NMC locking the D core into the same type of mess he's created for the forwards. A bunch of declining players that can't be moved.

This is an emerging pattern, that cannot be ignored. And 5 yrs from now the IBGIT crowd will be wondering how they got so drunk on the BG Kool Aid.  

We can all group hug it out to the fact that Guerin did not bring back Reaves.  Reavo is getting exposed as the cinder block skating relic from 1992 hockey, who now doesn't even step into the ring when it's necessary (see Marchand trolling entire TOR bench after can opening TOR D-man into the boards, with nothing from Reaves)

The Reaves TOR contract is one that makes me a little more comfortable with Foligno's term/AAV.  Foligno at least is willing to keep the boards and glass in line.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

56 minutes ago, Greenbean said:

At least we will be able to read articles about how awesome the prospect pool is.....

Addison was an undersized late 2nd round defenseman that didn't develop into a guy Guerin wanted for the future.

Lambos, Hunt, O'Rourke, Spacek, Masters. They bring more of what the Wild want and will start getting looks in the not too distant future. Hunt already is.

Maybe we can read about how good the prospect pool is and watch winning hockey?

[Will D. Ness]

Yeah, I think it's time for all of those who got fixated on Addison to find a new prospect that might actually have talent.  There are many to choose from and his departure has created opportunity not diminished it.  

[Greenbean]

1 hour ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Maybe we can read about how good the prospect pool is and watch winning hockey?

That would be awesome if it was actually happening. Winning in the regular season is cool and all, but have the wild tried it in the playoffs? I've heard it's much better.

[Greenbean]

35 minutes ago, Will D. Ness said:

Yeah, I think it's time for all of those who got fixated on Addison to find a new prospect that might actually have talent.  There are many to choose from and his departure has created opportunity not diminished it.  

I think what is upsetting over this is the fact that Merrill is not good on offense at all, he's terrible on defense, and his ceiling is about 4" off his floor. At least Addison had some potential upside on offense, and is still young enough to get better on defense. 

[M_Nels]

30 minutes ago, Greenbean said:

I think what is upsetting over this is the fact that Merrill is not good on offense at all, he's terrible on defense, and his ceiling is about 4" off his floor. At least Addison had some potential upside on offense, and is still young enough to get better on defense. 

How long were we willing to kick the can down the road on Addison? I think he was close to what his ceiling as an NHLer is going to be and that’s ok. Sometimes players don’t work out. Sounded like he had a bit of an Addytude problem anyway and Spuregons quote of Addison not saying anything and not working after practice is telling enough for me.
 

His d-zone work was improved a bit this year but a 1yr lateral move to bring in Bogo isn’t as big of deal folks are making it out to be. Hunt, Lambos, and Spacek are in the pipeline so dumping Addy doesn’t move the needle one way or the other for me. 

[Tony Abbott]

1 hour ago, Will D. Ness said:

Yeah, I think it's time for all of those who got fixated on Addison to find a new prospect that might actually have talent. 

Fifth in points per hour among his draft class and fourth in SPAR per hour... above Noah Dobson, Rasmus Sandin, K'Andre Miller...

[Tony Abbott]

No choice but to move on, but damn, this looks like a bad decision.

[Citizen Strife]

The thing is, there is more than enough time to give new guys chances to displace any of Brodin/Faber, Middleton/Spurgeon, etc. before any of them (likely Middleton) have to be moved.  Faber gets a good contract increase someday, but Spurgeon/Brodin probably balances it out by taking a final contract paycut.  The Wild have 2 years to look at Hunt, Lambos, Spacek, O'Rourke, and god knows what else.  Guerin is probably being patient and letting someone prove they deserve a cut of the $15 mil before taking someone else on and getting a Nurse or Jones boat anchor.

Edited November 9, 2023 by Citizen Strife
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[M_Nels]

3 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

Fifth in points per hour among his draft class and fourth in SPAR per hour... above Noah Dobson, Rasmus Sandin, K'Andre Miller...

Give me K'Andre Miller ANY day of the week over Addison regardless of what that stat shows.

[Tony Abbott]

2 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

Give me K'Andre Miller ANY day of the week over Addison regardless of what that stat shows.

Probably agree, but still, there's more to Addison than we got to see. 

[Pewterschmidt]

11 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

Probably agree, but still, there's more to Addison than we got to see. 

Hindsight 20/20 but this may be a case of BG again leaving some money on the table.  Showcase Addy’s PP prowess to get more in  return than a worn out puck bag

#PPPROWESS

[Up North Guy]

16 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

Probably agree, but still, there's more to Addison than we got to see. 

You are probably right Tony. But the lack of defensive improvement showed he also may not have any more to display. The trend in recent years was to put total faith in offensive puck moving defensemen throughout the NHL. Perhaps we are seeing a trend reversal as actual defense is more valuable. Just spitballing.

[mnfaninnc]

24 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

No choice but to move on, but damn, this looks like a bad decision.

I think it was fairly obvious that Tony and I would disagree here. And, as most will note, Bogosian is 6'3" 231 lbs. of meanness. 

The year we acquired Middleton, it was easy to see that our defense was too small, specifically on the right side. I commented that year that the one thing our D lacked was size. We needed 2 large defenders and specifically 1 that was an RSD. Shooter was only able to acquire Middleton that year, but I warned that we needed 2.

What Bogosian likely brings is a very heavy 3rd pairing minute. We don't even need Merrill back there anymore, and I'd love to see a Hunt-Bogosian 3rd pairing and ride with that.

Previously on the right side, Dumba was the heaviest hitter, but went into the body shop hitting a heavyweight. Spurgeon played bigger than his weight, but even that merely got him to a middleweight. Addison played defense like he was a peewee. 

Bogosian immediately will help the penalty kill and will be a goalie's best friend. He is mean and nasty and every opposing forward will have their head up when he's on the ice. He will help this team win.

Addison was too small. He was more like Ryan Murphy. He was abused in his own end and didn't particularly like being there. Look at his facial expressions, he wasn't enjoying his role. We are better having him gone. However, coming into this season, he did look like he tried to improve a little defensively. He actually got in the way several times (an improvement), but in the end, it just wasn't consistent. Where it looked like he lacked was in the gym. While Rossi put on 15 lbs., Addison looked about the same.

Where Bogosian likely helps the most is in the playoffs. His rugged style will be needed. I love the swap and look forward to what he brings this year. 

[mnfaninnc]

32 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

Probably agree, but still, there's more to Addison than we got to see. 

Not really, pretty sure we saw what we needed. Too small, not enough compete, doesn't even like to defend, out of position defensively, and, oh yeah, made a couple of passes on the PP.

[Will D. Ness]

1 minute ago, mnfaninnc said:

oh yeah, made a couple of passes on the PP.

That is the crux of it really.  He wasn't that good offensively.  Klingberg is a prime example of where he needed to be and Klingberg exposed him by outplaying him on both ends.

Addison on a cup contending team needed to be a Klingberg in his prime and it's pretty clear he wasn't going to get there.

Will he ever get there?  San Jose certainly won't mind his learning curve.

[MercuryMack]

42 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

Guerin is probably being patient and letting someone prove they deserve a cut of the $15 mil before taking someone else on and getting a Nurse or Jones boat anchor.

I don't think Guerin is being patient or has demonstrated any patience as the GM. He definitely wasn't with the 3 extension signed before the season. Those could have waited to see how the season started and possibly used those player in trades.

The Addison trade didn't have to happen one month into the season either he might have been able to get more value closer to the deadline. Nobody was jumping to trade for Bogo so why make the move now. Addison has been playing better this season, why not give him 20+ more games to see if it all comes together for him.

[raithis]

12 minutes ago, MercuryMack said:

I don't think Guerin is being patient or has demonstrated any patience as the GM. He definitely wasn't with the 3 extension signed before the season. Those could have waited to see how the season started and possibly used those player in trades.

The Addison trade didn't have to happen one month into the season either he might have been able to get more value closer to the deadline. Nobody was jumping to trade for Bogo so why make the move now. Addison has been playing better this season, why not give him 20+ more games to see if it all comes together for him.

Regardless if it does, he's not really what we need.  Spurgeon and Faber make good choices jumping into the offense, but we only have one defenseman who can really body anyone and throw a hit that will disrupt the other team's offense.  Our defense is too small.

Maybe Addison does figure it out.  I hope he does.  But he isn't going to grow 4-5 inches and gain 30lbs of muscle.  I also just don't see him improving enough to warrant keeping him, so might as well move on and shore up a deficiency in size a bit.

[Pewterschmidt]

39 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

And, as most will note, Bogosian is 6'3" 231 lbs. of meanness. 

Given fact that we're getting him for league minimum my expectations are managed.  I'm thinking Reaves, but better at skating backwards.  Hope to be wrong.  Maybe he's the guy who gets to break his fingers punching other guys helmets, which free's up Foligno to throw himself against the glass more. 

[mnfaninnc]

5 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Given fact that we're getting him for league minimum my expectations are managed.  I'm thinking Reaves, but better at skating backwards.  Hope to be wrong.  Maybe he's the guy who gets to break his fingers punching other guys helmets, which free's up Foligno to throw himself against the glass more. 

He's much more than that, he's mean. He'll play in the gray areas. He'll clear the crease. And, I'm sure everyone remembers his hit on PMD that was pretty cheap.