Article: Why Don't the Wild Think Danila Yurov Is Ready For the NHL?

[Justin Hein]

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[mnfaninnc]

I would prefer to see Yurov head to NA next season. Even if he starts in Iowa, playing 1/2 a season on the big club, or even 24 games should make up for the salary difference. 

I think he's ready for the big club if he has a big offseason strengthening like Rossi did. Remember the video with Kaprizov moving tires? At 180, Yurov needs to be thicker. At 195, he's NHL ready with a 6'1" frame. I'd rather see him at 205, but I'm sure I'll be ridiculed for that!

As for development. If Metallurg doesn't mess around with his TOI because it's only a 1 year deal, I could be fine with that. I also believe the Russian teams to have more emphasis on body building than the Wild currently do. If these things work out, he could come in similar to Kaprizov. 

I do not trust the 6'1" 180 measurement, though. That may have been his developmental camp measurement, I'm pretty sure he's already bigger. There have been no signals so far that there is roster room for Yurov, but I'd have to believe that Yurov and Dino could both beat out Johansson at this point. Do we resign the Deweys? Maybe Dewar to a 1 year deal who could be traded if Yurov/Dino are better centers? We just might have a really good problem to have.

What I most like, though is bringing these guys together on the big team at similar times. The Wall, and maybe Lambos coming in the same year (though by all indications, Lambos still needs work), bringing in Yurov, Dino, Ohgren about the same time (though Ohgren may need a year in the A). And let's not overlook Firstov. Hunt should get a 1 way contract, maybe a 2 year 2-way in year 1 and 1 way in year 2? 

Bringing this core in at the same time is precisely what I found in building a championship team. A group of guys who are around the same age all coming together to form a large team core. They will be loyal to one another. And they are not far removed from Kaprizov and Ek to help them mature. You then have some of the resigned playing a shutdown role on the 4th line. These young guys will bring in a new and exciting skill identity to this team. 

And, it will be cost effective in the final year of the heavy lifting penalties. We need this type of thing! Slow walking players is one thing, but when it's time, it's time, and these new guys need to be able to play with one another because their skill sets mesh.

[Citizen Strife]

I think there's a mixture of things at play.  I doubt any of it has to do with talent nor potential.  Some of it could be on Yurov's or the KHL's side, being a money issue.  It might also be a money issue for the Wild.  I bet they would love having another ELC on their books to counteract things as well.  What I wonder is a potential issue of contract years.  Everyone has that 3 year ELC window.  It could be possible that Guerin doesn't want every single person on the roster coming up all on the same year.  Staggering out contracts bit by bit changes the dynamic in subtle ways, so you don't have to go, "Well, if Faber gets $8m, then I have to sign Rossi to such and such as well, and oh fuck, now I have Khusnutdinov AND Yurov to deal with too?"

Part of his job is to weigh the benefits and costs of having people around at all times.  I don't think Guerin punted this year away signing the extensions, at least initially.  What it was was a premature risk, rather than blocking anyone and everyone ever from ever being a part of the roster, NMC's be damned.  If Khustnutdinov and Yurov are as valuable as potential says, Guerin will find a way to get them here.  Maybe Yurov is thinking money money money, and then playing time, etc.  We don't really know at the end of the day.

I do think trying to drip feed prospects per year is Guerin's strategy.  I've said before that opening the floodgates is probably what people WANT to see, but who knows if for every Rossi and Faber, you get an Addison guy, or even two or three of those?  Does that screw up their development?  Are they a lost cause?  Did they come up too soon?  Rossi took an extra year to figure it out and became a 20-goal scorer (and maybe more).  Faber became the Wild's #1 defenseman in no time.  It's also possible he wants to build year in year out, so that younger people fill in once Kap, Ek, etc. get to age where Hartman, Zuccarello, etc are now.

Edited February 23 by Citizen Strife

[Paul Bunyan is Real]

20 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I would prefer to see Yurov head to NA next season. Even if he starts in Iowa, playing 1/2 a season on the big club, or even 24 games should make up for the salary difference. 

I think he's ready for the big club if he has a big offseason strengthening like Rossi did. Remember the video with Kaprizov moving tires? At 180, Yurov needs to be thicker. At 195, he's NHL ready with a 6'1" frame. I'd rather see him at 205, but I'm sure I'll be ridiculed for that!

As for development. If Metallurg doesn't mess around with his TOI because it's only a 1 year deal, I could be fine with that. I also believe the Russian teams to have more emphasis on body building than the Wild currently do. If these things work out, he could come in similar to Kaprizov. 

I do not trust the 6'1" 180 measurement, though. That may have been his developmental camp measurement, I'm pretty sure he's already bigger. There have been no signals so far that there is roster room for Yurov, but I'd have to believe that Yurov and Dino could both beat out Johansson at this point. Do we resign the Deweys? Maybe Dewar to a 1 year deal who could be traded if Yurov/Dino are better centers? We just might have a really good problem to have.

What I most like, though is bringing these guys together on the big team at similar times. The Wall, and maybe Lambos coming in the same year (though by all indications, Lambos still needs work), bringing in Yurov, Dino, Ohgren about the same time (though Ohgren may need a year in the A). And let's not overlook Firstov. Hunt should get a 1 way contract, maybe a 2 year 2-way in year 1 and 1 way in year 2? 

Bringing this core in at the same time is precisely what I found in building a championship team. A group of guys who are around the same age all coming together to form a large team core. They will be loyal to one another. And they are not far removed from Kaprizov and Ek to help them mature. You then have some of the resigned playing a shutdown role on the 4th line. These young guys will bring in a new and exciting skill identity to this team. 

And, it will be cost effective in the final year of the heavy lifting penalties. We need this type of thing! Slow walking players is one thing, but when it's time, it's time, and these new guys need to be able to play with one another because their skill sets mesh.

It's not a point of coming over. It's Yurov doesn't want to spend one day in Iowa. He negotiated a 1 year deal w his KHL team but hasn't signed it for leverage. He wants a guarantee of no Iowa time. And Billy is telling him he's gotta earn it. Basically it's a who's gonna blink first scenario. 

You'd think after watching how pathetic Mojo and Freddy have been this year. He'd get Yurov over asap.

[Eddy]

I would be curious to hear where you seen BG doesn’t want him in the NHL or said he would be in Iowa…..I definitely seen BG comments that he’s ok with him staying in Russia another year, HOWEVER he has to say that!!! That’s just the message he needs to present to the fans and media otherwise your pointing the finger at a player that wants to stay in the KHL or doesn’t feel he’s ready to be here. Ultimately  if he isn’t ready to join your team even after seeing his name next to hall of fame type players then it’s his choice ….as with KK97 you cannot force Yurov to come over nor can you flat guarantee an NHL spot and tell him there won’t be developmental issues. I have not found an article yet the Wild organization has not wanted Yurov and MK here next season but understanding as a GM and organization you can’t shift blame to that player. It needs to stay targeting the Wild because you control nothing till he’s here with a contract in hand! If you found an article I’m unaware of please share but reading between the lines is important especially with Russian players. This is the reason they drop in the draft you don’t get control till they put the pen to paper. 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

41 minutes ago, Paul Bunyan is Real said:

You'd think after watching how pathetic Mojo and Freddy have been this year. He'd get Yurov over asap.

You'd think after watching Gustavsson, Wallstedt, and the defense, that he'd want Yurov to come in after they've improved things and compete right away with an elite player on a contract paying him around $1M per season. Guerin has been planning to really compete in 25-26 since he took over.

The season prior to Kaprizov joining the Wild, they had a points percentage of .558. The following season with KK97, they jumped up to roughly .670, and it was even better the following season. Adding a bona fide star on an entry level contract is huge, so as long as Yurov is getting strong developmental minutes in the KHL, the Wild will likely be maximizing their future window of contention by letting him play there 1 more year.

[Up North Guy]

54 minutes ago, Paul Bunyan is Real said:

You'd think after watching how pathetic Mojo and Freddy have been this year. He'd get Yurov over asap.

Unfortunately, and I am not into bashing BG, the MoJo and Freddy contracts have stuck him into a bad situation. He did it so he needs too find a way out. Bringing Dino and Yurov over seems to be the best for the team.

[Quebec1648]

The NHL needs to rethink the salary cap, as it rewards teams that are bad at drafting, while punishing teams that are good at drafting. The good teams are forced to get rid of players not because they are bad, but because of the salary cap. The bad teams, can simply wait for such players to become available, and then buy them at a steep discount.

The salary cap doesn't magically make the small market teams more wealthy or even generate new income, it just gives the big market owners an excuse to pocket money. 

Therefore, the salary cap should be waived for resigning players you drafted, or players who played their first NHL game or rookie season with your club. The salary cap would instead be for trades and free agency. If you are over the cap, then you can't acquire anyone via trade or free agency, unless it's a league minimum or veterans minimum salary. This way, teams who draft well, would be able to keep more of the players they draft, without having to worry about how much each guy might get at contract time. The teams who are bad at drafting, would be forced to improve, rather than fleecing teams with cap issues.

[B1GKappa97]

1 hour ago, Citizen Strife said:

  It might also be a money issue for the Wild.  I bet they would love having another ELC on their books to counteract things as well.  What I wonder is a potential issue of contract years.  Everyone has that 3 year ELC window.  It could be possible that Guerin doesn't want every single person on the roster coming up all on the same year. 

I think this is exactly it. By the time Yurov's due for a new deal, the Foligno and Hartman contracts (which conveniently equal $8M) will be off the books. 

If this guy is the real deal, and by all accounts he looks to be, then he'll be commanding around $8M in cap-space anyhow and we'll suddenly have it available on the books for him. 

[Paul Bunyan is Real]

1 hour ago, B1GKappa97 said:

I think this is exactly it. By the time Yurov's due for a new deal, the Foligno and Hartman contracts (which conveniently equal $8M) will be off the books. 

If this guy is the real deal, and by all accounts he looks to be, then he'll be commanding around $8M in cap-space anyhow and we'll suddenly have it available on the books for him. 

I thought the same thing as well. But Guerin was on Kfan Sunday w Russo stating he thought both Khusnutdinov and Yurov are ready. And he wants them over here as soon as possible. 

If Khusnutdinov comes over this year and Yurov the beginning of the season next year. That does space their ELC one year.

[Justin Hein]

3 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

I would prefer to see Yurov head to NA next season. Even if he starts in Iowa, playing 1/2 a season on the big club, or even 24 games should make up for the salary difference. 

Selfishly, I agree with you. I just want to watch him play! But, that seems increasingly unlikely. Next year probably won't be the cup run anyway. 

For now, we'll have to tide ourselves over with Khusnutdinov, who should be fun to watch if he can get NHL games this year! 

[Justin Hein]

3 hours ago, Paul Bunyan is Real said:

It's not a point of coming over. It's Yurov doesn't want to spend one day in Iowa. He negotiated a 1 year deal w his KHL team but hasn't signed it for leverage. He wants a guarantee of no Iowa time. And Billy is telling him he's gotta earn it. Basically it's a who's gonna blink first scenario. 

This is an interesting take and it honestly makes a lot of sense. I'm only speculating of course -- I don't have sources that can prove that one way or another. 

[Justin Hein]

3 hours ago, Eddy said:

I would be curious to hear where you seen BG doesn’t want him in the NHL or said he would be in Iowa…..I definitely seen BG comments that he’s ok with him staying in Russia another year, HOWEVER he has to say that!!! That’s just the message he needs to present to the fans and media otherwise your pointing the finger at a player that wants to stay in the KHL or doesn’t feel he’s ready to be here.

I linked it above but Russo reported what he has heard directly from Guerin in this podcast. He's only reporting what he's told but he was pretty adamant this was a report of what Guerin thinks, not just his opinion of what Russo believes Guerin might be thinking.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/flower-night/id1372613288?i=1000644762096

[Justin Hein]

2 hours ago, Up North Guy said:

Unfortunately, and I am not into bashing BG, the MoJo and Freddy contracts have stuck him into a bad situation. He did it so he needs too find a way out. Bringing Dino and Yurov over seems to be the best for the team.

Freddy's deal is a bit ugly because it's long, but a 2 year $2 MM deal isn't hamstringing this organization. Small deals for middle 6 forwards are good! 

[Justin Hein]

1 hour ago, Quebec1648 said:

The NHL needs to rethink the salary cap, as it rewards teams that are bad at drafting, while punishing teams that are good at drafting. The good teams are forced to get rid of players not because they are bad, but because of the salary cap. The bad teams, can simply wait for such players to become available, and then buy them at a steep discount.

The salary cap doesn't magically make the small market teams more wealthy or even generate new income, it just gives the big market owners an excuse to pocket money. 

Therefore, the salary cap should be waived for resigning players you drafted, or players who played their first NHL game or rookie season with your club. The salary cap would instead be for trades and free agency. If you are over the cap, then you can't acquire anyone via trade or free agency, unless it's a league minimum or veterans minimum salary. This way, teams who draft well, would be able to keep more of the players they draft, without having to worry about how much each guy might get at contract time. The teams who are bad at drafting, would be forced to improve, rather than fleecing teams with cap issues.

This is an interesting idea -- do you know of any other leagues that operate this way? 

[Justin Hein]

3 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

I think there's a mixture of things at play.  I doubt any of it has to do with talent nor potential.  Some of it could be on Yurov's or the KHL's side, being a money issue.  It might also be a money issue for the Wild.  I bet they would love having another ELC on their books to counteract things as well.  What I wonder is a potential issue of contract years.  Everyone has that 3 year ELC window.  It could be possible that Guerin doesn't want every single person on the roster coming up all on the same year. 

I didn't consider this, but it's very conspicuous now that you mention it. 

On the other hand, this wasn't the plan during development camp, when Yurov and the front office both expected him to come to NA in 2024-25. It's probably part of the new plan, but a year ago this idea of staggering ELC's was not on Guerin's mind. 

The Zucc/Foligno/Harment extensions may or may not be part of reason for the new plan too!

[Burnt Toast]

So ELC’s player age 18-21 3 years. 22-23 2 years. 23-1 year. If he wants to be here and the Wild have a spot LET’S GO!! Math isn’t my forte but looks like there’s nothing to lose. I don’t think many people are saying he’s not going to be ready in the fall.

[Lovehockey]

In summer of 2025 Yurov will be 22. Does it mean that per ELC he can sigh 2 years deal and not 3? If yes than all this conversations about spreading out the ELC contract would work in his case. This summer he would sign 3 years deal, next summer 2.

also just wondering why nobody talks about Firstov? He is playing in KHL, he is 6.1/181. His stats 32 points in 59 games. It is much better than Khusnutdinov

  

[bisopher]

3 hours ago, Justin Hein said:

Freddy's deal is a bit ugly because it's long, but a 2 year $2 MM deal isn't hamstringing this organization. Small deals for middle 6 forwards are good! 

...Or at least it would be, if he was still a middle 6 forward.  Right now, he's a 4th liner (at best) being paid 2.5x an entry level salary.

[Up North Guy]

4 hours ago, Justin Hein said:

Freddy's deal is a bit ugly because it's long, but a 2 year $2 MM deal isn't hamstringing this organization. Small deals for middle 6 forwards are good! 

I have a couple problems with it. First, it is the term. 5 yrs is too long. 2nd, i do not think he is a viable middle 6 fwd at this point. Perhaps he is still suffering from his earlier injury. He just is not performing at an acceptable level.

[Eddy]

5 hours ago, Justin Hein said:

I linked it above but Russo reported what he has heard directly from Guerin in this podcast. He's only reporting what he's told but he was pretty adamant this was a report of what Guerin thinks, not just his opinion of what Russo believes Guerin might be thinking.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/flower-night/id1372613288?i=1000644762096

Thx Justin appreciate it I definitely hear what Russo is saying and I see his and your point. I still think the same tho if Yurov says he’ll only sign if he’s guaranteed a roster spot in the NHL then BG has to take the high road, man up, and put it on his and the organizations shoulders ….you can’t lose a talent like that to something little but you also would put this team in a bad spot if he pulls a  yakupov and you guarantee that roster spot with these cap penalties. You would really hurt the flexibility since it will already be tight. I truly can’t see a reason Yurov should worry about a NHL spot after the season he is having so it seems like there has to be more to this story that Russo hasn’t stumbled on yet or hasn’t been said.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

8 hours ago, Lovehockey said:

In summer of 2025 Yurov will be 22. Does it mean that per ELC he can sigh 2 years deal and not 3? If yes than all this conversations about spreading out the ELC contract would work in his case. This summer he would sign 3 years deal, next summer 2.

Danila Yurov just turned 20 in December of 2023. In the summer of 25, he would be 21 years old, or 21.5, if you prefer. He would not be 22 until December of 2025.

Any player younger than 25 as of Sept. 15 during the year of their first contract must sign an entry-level contract, according to CapFriendly. Every entry-level contract is a two-way deal and the maximum salary for a player that is drafted in 2023 is set at $950,000 annually. It's set at $925k for players drafted in 2022, like Yurov or Ohgren.

 

The length of the ELC depends on the age of the player. Here is a breakdown of the contract length:

• 18-21 years of age: 3 years -- Yurov in Summer of 2024 or 2025
• 22-23 years of age: 2 years -- Yurov in Summer of 2026
• 24 years of age: 1 year -- Yurov in Summer of 2027.

[B1GKappa97]

6 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Danila Yurov just turned 20 in December of 2023. In the summer of 25, he would be 21 years old, or 21.5, if you prefer. He would not be 22 until December of 2025.

Any player younger than 25 as of Sept. 15 during the year of their first contract must sign an entry-level contract, according to CapFriendly. Every entry-level contract is a two-way deal and the maximum salary for a player that is drafted in 2023 is set at $950,000 annually. It's set at $925k for players drafted in 2022, like Yurov or Ohgren.

 

The length of the ELC depends on the age of the player. Here is a breakdown of the contract length:

• 18-21 years of age: 3 years -- Yurov in Summer of 2024 or 2025
• 22-23 years of age: 2 years -- Yurov in Summer of 2026
• 24 years of age: 1 year -- Yurov in Summer of 2027.

Thanks for breaking this down! 

I think, looking at that, its pretty obvious why they don't care if he spends a year in the KHL next season. 

If he comes over in the summer of the '25-'26 season, he'll still have a 3-year ELC and won't be due for a new contract until the '28-'29 season. If we keep Kaprizov, his new deal kicks in the '26-'27 season, so we'd then get two years of Yurov on an ELC bargain (assuming he is as advertised) instead of just the one.

That ought to expand the window a bit for loading the team before we have to give out another big contract to a star top-line player. 

[mnfaninnc]

On 2/23/2024 at 8:09 PM, Up North Guy said:

I have a couple problems with it. First, it is the term. 5 yrs is too long. 2nd, i do not think he is a viable middle 6 fwd at this point. Perhaps he is still suffering from his earlier injury. He just is not performing at an acceptable level.

I don't know if it is too long. However, your point about him not being middle 6 is probably a valid one. I see him as a bottom 6 guy who can fill in on the 2nd line if there's an injury. 

But, I maintain that $500k of his salary is based upon preparation for the 3rd slot in a shootout. Last season, he was money there. This season he hasn't really been in the lineup when that was needed. If he's making $1.6m for his ability to center or wing in the bottom 6, I think that will age pretty well. 

Just because we haven't had many shootouts this year, doesn't mean we didn't have to plan for it. He is part of that plan, and had he not been blindsided by Reaves, (and gotten absolutely no push back from anyone), Freddy likely would have been available for the shootouts. It still bothers me that nobody went after a Toronto skilled guy with a heavy, somewhat blind hit. However, Toronto may have that league bias on their side.

[mnfaninnc]

So, quick question for everyone: How would you view a trade of Duhaime and Dewar as a message to Yurov? If his contract is negotiated but not signed, it seems like he's signaling a window for Guerin to sign him.