Article: Is 2024 the Ideal Time For the Wild To Trade Their First-Round Pick?

[Tony Abbott]

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[MNCountryLife]

Drafting players is definitely the way to go when building a team.  I'm glad the Wild are no longer giving away their picks.  Now we need to go to IA and make sure the prospects are becoming the best possible players IA can develop them into.  I'm not convinced that they are doing the best job down there to give these young players the best chance of success.  Without that the draft strategy will never get us a SC.

[Citizen Strife]

No

[Will D. Ness]

I don't think we have the cap space for 24-25 to pay anyone we could get for the value of this pick.

[Will D. Ness]

I take that back... we have 6M in cap space.

[Burnt Toast]

Tony… You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers. The 25-26 season isn’t the year to swing for the fences. A more realistic scenario would be starting in 27-28. If you see the stars aligning and younger players hitting their development goals… sure, trade a pick, prospect and maybe even a puck to add a key missing piece. 

[Outskated]

The Wild need to trade up and draft Zeev Buium.  We have a severe lack of depth on the back end in our prospect pool.  Could you imagine a #1 pair of Faber and Buium in 2 years?  Let's git r done Billy G.  

[Dean]

I criticize the heck out of Billy but I must say his end of season presser was good. He seems a little humble and willing to take some blame for lack of depth. This year I agree with everything he was saying. IMO this year he was honest in his assessment of the team. The fact he wasn’t happy with compete level this year is good. He wants to get bigger , stronger , faster. He wants to upgrade forwards through free agency or trade . He wants to upgrade the team. He’s thinking about kappy and proving the wild are serious about winning. 
   Ive also been impressed with Hynes s honesty lately an in presser. He’s talked about guys not showing up for games or disappearing during games. He said in exit interviews players talked about being mentally weak with a whoa  is me mentality.  Something we watched all year long. Both he a Billy talked about addressing this mentality and compete level. I think that’s great an a big part of there problem. 
     This years presser was definitely better than last. They said all the right things . Now it’s what does Billy do? I’m definitely curious now going into the offseason and draft. What is Billy’s idea of upgrading the forwards and adding depth in Iowa  going to be? 
     It seems to me , Billy has grown as a gm from this past year.  Hopefully his ideas work and he’s got something up his sleeve 

[Protec]

2 hours ago, Dean said:

I criticize the heck out of Billy but I must say his end of season presser was good. He seems a little humble and willing to take some blame for lack of depth. This year I agree with everything he was saying. IMO this year he was honest in his assessment of the team. The fact he wasn’t happy with compete level this year is good. He wants to get bigger , stronger , faster. He wants to upgrade forwards through free agency or trade . He wants to upgrade the team. He’s thinking about kappy and proving the wild are serious about winning. 
   Ive also been impressed with Hynes s honesty lately an in presser. He’s talked about guys not showing up for games or disappearing during games. He said in exit interviews players talked about being mentally weak with a whoa  is me mentality.  Something we watched all year long. Both he a Billy talked about addressing this mentality and compete level. I think that’s great an a big part of there problem. 
     This years presser was definitely better than last. They said all the right things . Now it’s what does Billy do? I’m definitely curious now going into the offseason and draft. What is Billy’s idea of upgrading the forwards and adding depth in Iowa  going to be? 
     It seems to me , Billy has grown as a gm from this past year.  Hopefully his ideas work and he’s got something up his sleeve 

If Guerin can admit Johansson was a fail and begin by replacing him, Minnesota could be a better team simply by not having #90. NoJo DID find consistency this year. The lazy, uninspiring kind. The final game costing the team the lead on his tripping penalty and posting zero points was a microcosm for his season. Everyone wondering, what do you do?

He got on the scoresheet 25 times in 78 games. With a minus 15 rating he was a plus player just 17 times. I know he's on an affordable contract but I really hope GMBG will find another way to cultivate 30pts from a player who shows up and doesn't drag the team down from an attitude and morale standpoint. NoJo is the ultimate example of a player that lacked passion or desire on a regular basis. The Wild paid for a 30pt Swedish drift-sock that got wrapped up in the prop and Guerin has gotta try to untangle it while all the other boats cruise by grinning...

Edited April 20 by Protec

[bisopher]

The Wild paid for a 30pt Swedish drift-sock that got wrapped up in the prop and Guerin has gotta try to untangle it while all the other boats cruise by grinning...

As Minnesota an analogy as I've heard in a while...

[TCMooch]

I would be fine if the Wild make a play via trade for a big top 4 dman in their prime. I’m not a size queen but do realize we could use some weighty players on our backend

[Up North Guy]

44 minutes ago, TCMooch said:

I would be fine if the Wild make a play via trade for a big top 4 dman in their prime. I’m not a size queen but do realize we could use some weighty players on our backend

I am trying to picture what "a size queen" is and looks like. The old sailor in me is really curious.

[Pewterschmidt]

12 hours ago, Protec said:

Everyone wondering, what do you do?

[Pewterschmidt]

12 hours ago, Protec said:

Wild paid for a 30pt Swedish drift-sock that got wrapped up in the prop and Guerin has gotta try to untangle it

[mnfaninnc]

I think everything should be on the table. This particular draft seems to have some very good players through pick #14. Players that we could really use.

I think Tony only wrote half the article. Perhaps, this is just part 1? What we don't have are suggestions of what the Wild would be looking to swap #13 for. 

Could David Jiricek be one of those players? Instead of Rossi going over, #13 goes. Jiricek would be much closer to helping the team and carries the physical attributes we would be looking for in a top pairing Dman. 

If we were going for a forward, my hope would be a RHS guy with a lethal shot from Ovechkin's office. For me, a Patrik Laine at $4.375m/yr. for the next 2 years looks like it would work. I'd have to say that a change for him could resurrect his career. Looking at Laine's stat line in Columbus, I'd say just taking him off their roster might be a benefit to them. 

But, what did Tony have in mind? 

[B1GKappa97]

I want to say NO because we have a chance to add a legit top-4 blueliner with size if Yakemchuck falls and I think he'd be a great shoe-in as a bigger Calen Addison kind of prospect. 

There's also a good chance he's gone by #13 though.

I wouldn't mind if they use the #13 to acquire a veteran. A guy in his mid-20s would definitely fit in with the window of the team around Kaprizov. My only question is... who and how? The cap situation is still tight next year. 

Also, if things work out the way the GM likely hopes, this will be the highest the team is drafting for the next several years. Do we want to pass up a chance to add some young, cheap talent to a future Stanley Cup hopeful over cashing it out to try and win-now when we're already up against the cap ceiling? 

At worst we should be able to land somebody like Konsta Helenius at #13, and he'd be an ideal piece in our middle-6 a few years down the line who should come with a pretty high floor. 

[mnfaninnc]

My mind is churning a bit on this. Granted, we have to wait until the ping pong balls settle, but if we are still drafting 13th, I'd like to figure out a way to package this pick and some other assets to go hard after Brady Tkachuk 50% salary retained (at least next season). 

Tkachuk (either one) is exactly what this team needs, a big, mean scorer who is really hard to play against. Tkachuk makes everyone better, and anyone can tell if someone is not working up to Tkachuk's standards. 

Tkachuk is designation free this next season and then has an NMC. Rumors are he is not exactly enamored with Ottawa right now. Ottawa has had a change in ownership, coach and GM since he was signed. 

Plus, Tkachuk is a winner, so this losing has got to be killing him. He would fit in perfect with this locker room, and probably challenge everyone to up their game. Also, at 24, his age fits in perfectly with our window. 

To get, you have to give. It will cost far more than #13 to get Tkachuk. Rossi will likely be in the deal. Probably some $ will go out, and a quantity of prospects. If money is a thing, I'd be willing to part with Spurgeon in a deal. 

Tkachuk doesn't solve all of our problems, but he would be a main pillar in solving the effort issue. One more thing, Tkachuk amassed 134 PIMs last season. I suspect it was a really frustrating year. But this is a guy who plays in the gray.

[Up North Guy]

7 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

My mind is churning a bit on this. Granted, we have to wait until the ping pong balls settle, but if we are still drafting 13th, I'd like to figure out a way to package this pick and some other assets to go hard after Brady Tkachuk 50% salary retained (at least next season). 

Tkachuk (either one) is exactly what this team needs, a big, mean scorer who is really hard to play against. Tkachuk makes everyone better, and anyone can tell if someone is not working up to Tkachuk's standards. 

Tkachuk is designation free this next season and then has an NMC. Rumors are he is not exactly enamored with Ottawa right now. Ottawa has had a change in ownership, coach and GM since he was signed. 

Plus, Tkachuk is a winner, so this losing has got to be killing him. He would fit in perfect with this locker room, and probably challenge everyone to up their game. Also, at 24, his age fits in perfectly with our window. 

To get, you have to give. It will cost far more than #13 to get Tkachuk. Rossi will likely be in the deal. Probably some $ will go out, and a quantity of prospects. If money is a thing, I'd be willing to part with Spurgeon in a deal. 

Tkachuk doesn't solve all of our problems, but he would be a main pillar in solving the effort issue. One more thing, Tkachuk amassed 134 PIMs last season. I suspect it was a really frustrating year. But this is a guy who plays in the gray.

Sometimes you have to push all the chips into the pot.

[Mateo3xm]

In no certain order, here are some players we should target or draft.
A Center with skill and size or a RHD/LHD with skill and size would be fantastic and top of the priority.
There has been talk about catton dropping because he’s short. I think he’s closer to 5’10. We need big players but Catton is exceptionally talented.
Hage would be one of my favorite picks. He’s Extremely talented, skilled and fast and he’s rocketed up the rankings recently.
Yakemchuk would be fantastic but I have a feeling him, Iginla, Catton and probably Eiserman will probably all be taken before it’s our turn.

Tij Iginla C 6ft 185 lbs
http://www.mynhldraft.com/2024-nhl-draft/player-profiles/Tij-Iginla

Cole eiserman Wing 6ft 196 lbs
http://www.mynhldraft.com/2024-nhl-draft/player-profiles/Cole-Eiserman

Carter Yakemchuk RHD 6’3 190lbs
http://www.mynhldraft.com/2024-nhl-draft/player-profiles/Carter-Yakemchuk

Berkley Catton C
http://www.mynhldraft.com/2024-nhl-draft/player-profiles/Berkly-Catton

Michael Hage 6’1-6’2 C 190lbs
http://www.mynhldraft.com/2024-nhl-draft/player-profiles/Michael-Hage

Adam Jiricek. 6’2 RHD 175lbs
http://www.mynhldraft.com/2024-nhl-draft/player-profiles/Adam-Jiricek

Consta Helenius C/RW 5’11 180lbs
http://www.mynhldraft.com/2024-nhl-draft/player-profiles/Konsta-Helenius

Liam Greentree Rw 6’2 188lbs
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/577205/liam-greentree
 

[Mateo3xm]

On 4/19/2024 at 6:55 PM, Dean said:

It seems to me , Billy has grown as a gm from this past year.  Hopefully his ideas work and he’s got something up his sleeve 

Billy has been trying to squeeze this lemon as hard as he can in order to get enough lemonade but there never was or going to be enough. This team does not have what it takes to go far. It’s all smoke and mirrors to try and convince ppl that this is a legitimately competitive team. It just comes off as lying and trying to hide the truth of what this team actually is. That’s how I take it anyways.

sure we were hampered by injuries but even with everyone health and playing at 100% I just do not see them able to hang with the Aves, Jets, Dallas or any other high caliber team.

[Mateo3xm]

On 4/23/2024 at 10:09 AM, mnfaninnc said:

My mind is churning a bit on this. Granted, we have to wait until the ping pong balls settle, but if we are still drafting 13th, I'd like to figure out a way to package this pick and some other assets to go hard after Brady Tkachuk 50% salary retained (at least next season). 

Tkachuk (either one) is exactly what this team needs, a big, mean scorer who is really hard to play against. Tkachuk makes everyone better, and anyone can tell if someone is not working up to Tkachuk's standards. 

Tkachuk is designation free this next season and then has an NMC. Rumors are he is not exactly enamored with Ottawa right now. Ottawa has had a change in ownership, coach and GM since he was signed. 

Plus, Tkachuk is a winner, so this losing has got to be killing him. He would fit in perfect with this locker room, and probably challenge everyone to up their game. Also, at 24, his age fits in perfectly with our window. 

To get, you have to give. It will cost far more than #13 to get Tkachuk. Rossi will likely be in the deal. Probably some $ will go out, and a quantity of prospects. If money is a thing, I'd be willing to part with Spurgeon in a deal. 

Tkachuk doesn't solve all of our problems, but he would be a main pillar in solving the effort issue. One more thing, Tkachuk amassed 134 PIMs last season. I suspect it was a really frustrating year. But this is a guy who plays in the gray.

That rumor about BT was just that, a rumor. I’m pretty sure it started on a small podcast with ppl who claimed to have insider knowledge. There’s just no chance we get him. I would absolutely love it but he’s a really good player and one you absolutely NEED to win in the playoffs. He isn’t going anywhere.

[Protec]

1 hour ago, Mateo3xm said:

That rumor about BT was just that, a rumor. I’m pretty sure it started on a small podcast with ppl who claimed to have insider knowledge. There’s just no chance we get him. I would absolutely love it but he’s a really good player and one you absolutely NEED to win in the playoffs. He isn’t going anywhere.

Brady Tkachuk made some public comments about losing. People have been reading into it. 

He got things going at the end of the last Wild game with Ottawa. MN definitely don't have guys like that. They're asking guys to have more effyoo in their game, but it's half little Euros and elite Swedes. No offense cause they're some good hockey players but it ain't Chris Pronger, Claude Lemieux, Tom Wilson, Owen Nolan, Big Buff kind of guys. Therefore, it's not looking good for the Wild's overall construction. Nobody worries to face NoJo or Rossi, I hate to say. The Wild have Foligno but otherwise Greenway is gone, there's no Marchment, Tkachuk, or a player that gets under the skin by stirring the pot physically or mentally but also chips in some scoring. The guys I mentioned are all ones who didn't just pot a goal here and there like Moose. The Wild need some real grit more than telling players like Merrill or Rossi or NoJo to go blast Jamie Benn or give JT Miller a chop on the back of the legs. 

The Wild don't have the makeup of a playoff winning team at the moment. 

[mnfaninnc]

On 4/24/2024 at 2:29 PM, Mateo3xm said:

That rumor about BT was just that, a rumor. I’m pretty sure it started on a small podcast with ppl who claimed to have insider knowledge. There’s just no chance we get him. I would absolutely love it but he’s a really good player and one you absolutely NEED to win in the playoffs. He isn’t going anywhere.

His brother became disgruntled with Calgary and it was rumored that he wasn't resigning long term. I could see the same thing happening with Brady, especially getting out of Canada. Florida had to give up a lot for Matthew, but look at them now, he has transformed their team.

I think even if it is a sliver of hope, you just keep banging on the door. Maybe you find their GM woke up on the wrong side of the bed and is just fed up with the player? 

Also, as I said in another thread, Cayden Lindstrom has been compared to these brothers in intensity. That might be the one to target moving up in the draft. Even if you don't get there, perhaps after the draft you trade for him.

[Protec]

The free agent pool is good. Don't trade anything unless it's bringing back an important player that fits long term. 

Anybody notice Dumba getting burned left and right in the playoffs? Ouch. MN needs to be thankful that's in the past. 

[Tony Abbott]

Even if the Sens were to trade Tkachuk, they're not retaining $4 million for 4 years.