Article: Will Rossi and Faber Extensions Lead the Wild Back into Cap Hell?

[Justin Hein]

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[Citizen Strife]

I'm grateful for articles like this.  I've been saying this year is pretty much dead in the water, but there is a lot of open spots to fill that seem forgotten.

Guerin may have jumped the gun on Boldy (a bit).  However, he still has 25-30 goal scorer potential if he can find that consistency.  Faber is pretty much a lock for years, which balances out and replaces a Spurgeon contract eventually.

I think Rossi is still a wild card.  More than capable as a scorer and even a playmaker when on 3rd lines, but I don't feel he yet has that "it" factor Faber innately possesses.  Guerin waiting out Rossi seems like a prudent move.  There's no telling if Yurov or Khusnutdinov take to that higher end scoring role better than Rossi so, so weighing their options is nice.

Besides, EEK being in a $5.25m contract cap hit still boggles my mind. We have avoided the PLD debacle and have a better player for so much less.  Sometimes it pays to be shrewd.

 

 

Edited February 10 by Citizen Strife

[Imyourhuckleberry]

57 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

Guerin may have jumped the gun on Boldy (a bit).  However, he still has 25-30 goal scorer potential if he can find that consistency.

He scored 31 last season and he's on pace for essentially the same goal/point total, if he played 80 games. His potential could be 40+ goals if he puts in an offseason of work like Rossi or Eriksson Ek.

[Pewterschmidt]

I think we’ve got enough tape on hynzy to give him a first semester grade.  He gets a C- from this fan.  
 

grade is based less on X’s & O’s and exclusively on how the team responds and shows up each night.  Apathy is growing with this current group and Hynzy needs to be the hockey whisperer to get as much blood out of these turnips as possible.  Results so far are not even middling IMO.  His hot start was more about soft schedule and players motivated by their own shame.  Well that has now passed, and we’re squeaking by CHI.  Pewter prediction: Hynzy gets privilege of guiding the garbage can this team is thru next 1+ seasons only to be replaced by veteran coach

 how can Hynzy keep his job?  Tune up the special teams and show marked improvement

[Willy the poor boy]

3 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

I think we’ve got enough tape on hynzy to give him a first semester grade.  He gets a C- from this fan.  
 

grade is based less on X’s & O’s and exclusively on how the team responds and shows up each night.  Apathy is growing with this current group and Hynzy needs to be the hockey whisperer to get as much blood out of these turnips as possible.  Results so far are not even middling IMO.  His hot start was more about soft schedule and players motivated by their own shame.  Well that has now passed, and we’re squeaking by CHI.  Pewter prediction: Hynzy gets privilege of guiding the garbage can this team is thru next 1+ seasons only to be replaced by veteran coach

 how can Hynzy keep his job?  Tune up the special teams and show marked improvement

I'll use this post to tout Deano's attributes yet again. Deano got the most out of his players Freddie who takes a lot of shit from the fans is a prime example. Deano got the best out of him. He put the players in positions to succeed. I haven't watched the Kings at all, but Fiala isn't doing as well as he had with the Wild with a better team. Hartman was never the player he was until Deano coached him up, just to name a few.

Hynes to this point in a small sample size and no offseason to work with the players has fallen short IMO.

[MacGyver]

3 hours ago, Willy the poor boy said:

I'll use this post to tout Deano's attributes yet again. Deano got the most out of his players Freddie who takes a lot of shit from the fans is a prime example. Deano got the best out of him. He put the players in positions to succeed. I haven't watched the Kings at all, but Fiala isn't doing as well as he had with the Wild with a better team. Hartman was never the player he was until Deano coached him up, just to name a few.

Hynes to this point in a small sample size and no offseason to work with the players has fallen short IMO.

Fiala has tapered off at 43 points in 48 games but as we know he can go on a tear at anytime. The Kings really set this team back by trading Vilardi, Iafallo, and Kupari to get Pierre Luc Dubious. That guy has done nothing but under achieve wherever he's been I can't imagine what the King's front office was drinking when they made that deal! Dubious is sitting at 20 points in 48 games. I don't know if the Kings are that much better than the Wild right now.

They could still turn it around but I think the chemistry went bad after that trade and I doubt things are very comfortable in that locker room for Dubious.  Which in turn gives the entire locker room a bad smell.

Edited February 10 by MacGyver

[Citizen Strife]

Didn't Doughty throw a shit fit a couple weeks ago about some players being selfish, empty players without passion and team chemistry?  I want to bet he was zeroing in on PLD with that.

[MacGyver]

20 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

Didn't Doughty throw a shit fit a couple weeks ago about some players being selfish, empty players without passion and team chemistry?  I want to bet he was zeroing in on PLD with that.

Yes and yes...

[mnfaninnc]

22 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

I think we’ve got enough tape on hynzy to give him a first semester grade.  He gets a C- from this fan.  
 

grade is based less on X’s & O’s and exclusively on how the team responds and shows up each night.  Apathy is growing with this current group and Hynzy needs to be the hockey whisperer to get as much blood out of these turnips as possible.  Results so far are not even middling IMO.  His hot start was more about soft schedule and players motivated by their own shame.  Well that has now passed, and we’re squeaking by CHI.  Pewter prediction: Hynzy gets privilege of guiding the garbage can this team is thru next 1+ seasons only to be replaced by veteran coach

 how can Hynzy keep his job?  Tune up the special teams and show marked improvement

Heinzy (spelling on purpose) needs to show his 57 flavors. Xs and Os, I think, have not fully been able to be implemented because we are in season. These things will be changed coming into camp next year. 

I don't disagree with the C- grade, however, but putting Faber on the #1 PP and getting Boldy going from a scoring standpoint have been 2 pluses in his column. Having to play AHL players in depth positions most of the year, however, has had a negative affect and really isn't his fault. 

Tune up special teams is a must! If I were Heinzy, I'd be bangin' the table for Dino, Yurov and maybe even Firstov to come home from mother Russia. These guys are needed to have a true top 6! 

As for the future speculation, I still believe that on the top of Guerin's list is Mike Sullivan. I believe he comes into the organization as soon as Pittsburgh let's him go. Somewhere in the 1st or 2nd side drawer of Guerin's desk is an already printed out contract for Sully just awaiting signatures, I believe. Rumor has it that Sully will be tapped 4 nations and Olympic coach of USA. And, the relationship builds.

If Heinzy wants to stay, first order of business: playoffs. Second order of business: get out of the 1st round. But, there's a big, invisible fathead overlooking the Wild bench with Sully's picture on it!

[mnfaninnc]

On the extensions, and perhaps Mr. Cheatachu can chime in.

I believe a fair deal is an 8 year extension at $62m for Faber. It would be broken down like 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 10, 10, 10. Perhaps this includes a hometown discount a bit, but, he's a rookie this season, and I think we would get some bridge years in the deal. I'd also like to see a little bit of performance incentives for him which would include strength/weight measurements and some defensive categories, not necessarily points. I don't know how that could be written in, but I'd suggest $500k within the 1st 4 years of the deal.

For Rossi, he is also just a rookie this season and he needed a really big offseason to get to this point. I have no reason to believe he won't do this again this following offseason, but it needs to happen again. I'm seeing him strong against bigger defenders, but still getting knocked around a little more right now. 

I like a 2 year low budget deal for Rossi and we'll deal with his worth after that. To me he just hasn't proven that he's worth $4m yet. I see him more in the Haula comparable with his bridge deal + cap inflation. Here, too, I think there needs to be bonuses based upon performance and body chemistry. He is undersized as stated above, but is clearly north of 182. I think 10 more lbs. of strength, maybe even 15 is needed, minimum, 5 LB, and 5 UB. Seeing what he did this past summer added so much to his compete level, explosion, and confidence. He needs more strength in the dot, and more strength crashing the net. I do believe there is another level he can gain with his edges too. 

Some may say I'm lowballing the player here. I don't think so. 2 years in the minors to develop when he should have been ready coming out of jrs. 2 years to recover from myocarditis. 2 years before he could put on the necessary strength. I'm sure much of that was the healing of his mind to believe everything was ok. But, I'd still be cautious. Plus, he's probably going to have a lot of competition with Dino, Yurov. I'd rather him play hungry than worry about playing up to a contract. If he's successful, he'll get rewarded and he can trust Guerin on that (see Freddie, Hartsy, Foligno, and Zuccarello). 

We're going to have to be a little more careful with the extensions going forward and make sure we don't make overspending errors. I think we're safe with Faber getting the longterm extension as we don't seem to have anyone taking his place coming up. However, there is that chance with the forwards, let them fight it out for playing time and contracts. Remember, durability and availability are abilities. 

[Up North Guy]

20 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Heinzy (spelling on purpose) needs to show his 57 flavors. Xs and Os, I think, have not fully been able to be implemented because we are in season. These things will be changed coming into camp next year. 

I don't disagree with the C- grade, however, but putting Faber on the #1 PP and getting Boldy going from a scoring standpoint have been 2 pluses in his column. Having to play AHL players in depth positions most of the year, however, has had a negative affect and really isn't his fault. 

Tune up special teams is a must! If I were Heinzy, I'd be bangin' the table for Dino, Yurov and maybe even Firstov to come home from mother Russia. These guys are needed to have a true top 6! 

As for the future speculation, I still believe that on the top of Guerin's list is Mike Sullivan. I believe he comes into the organization as soon as Pittsburgh let's him go. Somewhere in the 1st or 2nd side drawer of Guerin's desk is an already printed out contract for Sully just awaiting signatures, I believe. Rumor has it that Sully will be tapped 4 nations and Olympic coach of USA. And, the relationship builds.

If Heinzy wants to stay, first order of business: playoffs. Second order of business: get out of the 1st round. But, there's a big, invisible fathead overlooking the Wild bench with Sully's picture on it!

I think you may be right but timing will have a big say in the decision too. If Sully is let go before Hynes has had a fair shake it would be a pretty bad look. Hynes is a friend of BG's too. Also, how many coach changes will OCL give BG? There usually is a finite number and it is less than two which BG is already at.

[mnfaninnc]

22 minutes ago, Up North Guy said:

I think you may be right but timing will have a big say in the decision too. If Sully is let go before Hynes has had a fair shake it would be a pretty bad look. Hynes is a friend of BG's too. Also, how many coach changes will OCL give BG? There usually is a finite number and it is less than two which BG is already at.

This is a great question. And this is where I think that Shooter's relationships will matter. I am not so sure that Sully takes over immediately for Heinzy, but I do think he comes to the organization. It's just a gut feeling, but one of these guys, likely Heinzy, will become part of the FO and the other will be coaching. I think Sully will be the better coach in this scenario. 

Yes, they are friends. And, this is probably a good thing. Is Heinzy the cap guru we need? No, but I think he brings a lot of hockey knowledge to the table. I'm certain there is a longterm place in the organization for him. So, Sully coming over would probably mean that Heinzy is promoted. I could see him as the AGM in charge of Iowa.

[Up North Guy]

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

This is a great question. And this is where I think that Shooter's relationships will matter. I am not so sure that Sully takes over immediately for Heinzy, but I do think he comes to the organization. It's just a gut feeling, but one of these guys, likely Heinzy, will become part of the FO and the other will be coaching. I think Sully will be the better coach in this scenario. 

Yes, they are friends. And, this is probably a good thing. Is Heinzy the cap guru we need? No, but I think he brings a lot of hockey knowledge to the table. I'm certain there is a longterm place in the organization for him. So, Sully coming over would probably mean that Heinzy is promoted. I could see him as the AGM in charge of Iowa.

I am trying to think of any players/coaches (other than our former #1 center) that BG has promoted from within the team. He has brought on former players and coaches from other organizations quite prolifically however. I can see bringing Sully in as a consultant/AGM (coach in waiting) but I also think Sully will be well sought after if he was available.

[mnfaninnc]

20 hours ago, Up North Guy said:

I am trying to think of any players/coaches (other than our former #1 center) that BG has promoted from within the team. He has brought on former players and coaches from other organizations quite prolifically however. I can see bringing Sully in as a consultant/AGM (coach in waiting) but I also think Sully will be well sought after if he was available.

This is correct. However, when he brings these guys over, doesn't it make sense that when they are done with their current role, they may get a new one? So, here we take Heinzy, Guerin brings him into the fold, and a better coach comes available in Sully. Guerin brings Sully in and at the end of the season, or a season, Guerin switches roles with the guys. 

Heinzy doesn't get relieved of his duties, like so many, and it isn't that he failed or his message wore out. He gets promoted to the front office. He will help Guerin in a different capacity, and seems to be a good hockey man from what others have said. 

I think you can look at Barry Trotz as an example here. He coached and coached, but wanted to move into a front office position after his last coaching stint. Nashville brought him home to learn a bit under Poile, and then handed over the reigns to him. I'm not saying that Heinz will take Guerin's spot, but it is clear there is a whole where an AGM once was and someone Guerin could trust with ideas. 

Our FO is understaffed right now, and we could use a few extra personnel. Perhaps this is one way to build the FO team?

[MNCountryLife]

On 2/10/2024 at 2:22 PM, Willy the poor boy said:

I'll use this post to tout Deano's attributes yet again. Deano got the most out of his players Freddie who takes a lot of shit from the fans is a prime example. Deano got the best out of him. He put the players in positions to succeed. I haven't watched the Kings at all, but Fiala isn't doing as well as he had with the Wild with a better team. Hartman was never the player he was until Deano coached him up, just to name a few.

DE's complete lack of understanding of Special Teams was why he got fired.  You cannot win in this league with an atrocious PP/PK.  The majority of the blame as to why the PP/PK were bad lands on DE.  He tried to fix it over 2 years and failed. 

Hynes immediately made it better for both PP/PK with just a few minor changes.   So I am glad for coaching change.  It does seem that Hynes struggles to put players in a position to succeed in 5v5...something Dean was very good at.  

[Will D. Ness]

I don't like Heinzes lines either but with all the injuries and inconsistent play it hard to judge.  Also, the Iowa call ups haven't really stepped up either, or at least stepped up consistently.  

I'm going to give the guy a break until next season.

[FredJohnson]

On 2/10/2024 at 2:22 PM, Willy the poor boy said:

Deano got the most out of his players Freddie who takes a lot of shit from the fans is a prime example.

^^^ When your best just isn't good enough...

[FredJohnson]

Will Rossi and Faber Extensions Lead the Wild Back into Cap Hell?

I don't think paying good, young players that are actually on the roster is "Cap Hell". 

[Up North Guy]

2 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

This is correct. However, when he brings these guys over, doesn't it make sense that when they are done with their current role, they may get a new one? So, here we take Heinzy, Guerin brings him into the fold, and a better coach comes available in Sully. Guerin brings Sully in and at the end of the season, or a season, Guerin switches roles with the guys. 

Heinzy doesn't get relieved of his duties, like so many, and it isn't that he failed or his message wore out. He gets promoted to the front office. He will help Guerin in a different capacity, and seems to be a good hockey man from what others have said. 

I think you can look at Barry Trotz as an example here. He coached and coached, but wanted to move into a front office position after his last coaching stint. Nashville brought him home to learn a bit under Poile, and then handed over the reigns to him. I'm not saying that Heinz will take Guerin's spot, but it is clear there is a whole where an AGM once was and someone Guerin could trust with ideas. 

Our FO is understaffed right now, and we could use a few extra personnel. Perhaps this is one way to build the FO team?

I can see it. I do think it would be a weird situation for a while and would require a lot of personal conversations. NHL coaches are seemingly required to have a goodly sized ego. Gotta believe there would need to be a lot of ego massaging.

[mnfaninnc]

23 hours ago, Up North Guy said:

I can see it. I do think it would be a weird situation for a while and would require a lot of personal conversations. NHL coaches are seemingly required to have a goodly sized ego. Gotta believe there would need to be a lot of ego massaging.

What if they had that conversation before Guerin brought Heinzy in?