Article: Brock Faber's Contract Extension Set the Stage For Next Summer

[Justin Wiggins]

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[Citizen Strife]

Guerin told Russo flat out he wasn't worried about the cap space.  He got Faber set for life. The main domino is Kaprizov.  If he isn't going to sign for $12.5-$13m (accounting for extra desperation cost for the team), he's gonna leave, and already made his mind up.  Guerin has until the February or March of 26 to make that happen.

Thing is, even at $13m, you can finagle around the ELCs and bridges if Yurov, Buium, etc, come as advertised.

Guerin's walked a tightrope of making Leipold happy while keeping a competitive roster in sight. Even better was keeping chips in the cupboard somehow.

There's every chance this doesn't work.  But signing some fancy free agents to a new team is just as risky (PLD, Seth Jones). Guerin said no to that risk.

 

Edited August 16 by Citizen Strife

[mnfaninnc]

I haven't yet adjusted to capflation, but I think some of Justin's numbers are off. If Dino has a decent season, my comparable would be how they brought Haula along. He is still a rookie, so giving him a 1-way deal with a low salary is probably the solution. I'm thinking a $1.2m X 2 year deal. If Dino plays more on the 3rd line this season, it might be closer to $1.5m. I like to do in house comps, as that best considers what the club typically does. To my knowledge, Dino would not be arbitration eligible or offersheet eligible. 

Rossi at $3.75m is probably likely. However, if Rossi comes into camp as advertised somewhere in the 195-200 lb. area and shows the explosion even greater than he had last season, my bet is Guerin goes longterm. I'd expect that deal to be done somewhere around February, and be somewhere close, but south of Eriksson Ek. 

As for the defense, Chisholm will be the X factor. He showed some good instincts and skills, however, it was evident that his defense needed work and he needed strength/weight to handle the larger half of NHL forwards. Again, if he put in the offseason work, I expect him in the top 6, but having a spirited battle with Hunt. I expect Bogosian to be #6 and a 3rd pairing right side battler. However, if Buium or Lambos are ready, I expect Bogosian to move to 7th D, Merrill moved out or to Iowa, and us possibly having 2 ELC defenders. Personally, I believe this is for 2025, but I'm expecting Lambos to come in ripped and have a much better year. I believe he was personally embarrassed by last year's results and will work hard to rectify that. I do think he may be an injury callup this year, but mostly will be a top pairing defender in Des Moines. 

I also expect Buium to make a long tournament run again in the NCAAs and probably follow the Faber method coming in very late to a playoff bound Wild. 

Next comes goaltending where I believe Justin is way off. Just because Knight got a great deal from the Panthers doesn't mean the Wild need to make the same mistake. Again, I look internally at Kahkonen's deal coming off his ELC. I thought Goose was overpaid coming out of his with 1 season (though dominant) to his record. Last season we saw a different Goose, one who should have been compensated in the $2m range. I actually warned about that before the extension, that a low #1's salary might put too much pressure on the young goalie at that time. I think it did, especially with the extensions. So, something more similar to Kahkonen with the appropriate capflation is the right way to go with The Wall. He's still a rookie this year, with a goalie, he will have a small sample size even if he plays half the games.

 

[WildRam]

I know our goalies were bad last year but our defense was without Brodin and Spurgeon merely held together by Faber. Literally Faber with Middleton, Bogosian, Chisholm, Goligoski, Merrill, Hunt, Mermis. (Honestly impressive the Wild sniffed a playoff spot last year).

Gus was never a great goalie two years ago, never stood on his head because he never had to, he is a great positional goalie, always in the right spot and square, but when defense falls apart he rarely makes the exceptional save. Two years ago the entire offense in front of him and flower had career years with a very strong defense. Gus needs to better sure, but if our defense can stay healthy this year he will be better. With better defense Fleury will be better too but Fleury is an exceptional talent and does make those out of box saves, just can't stop rebound after rebound. 

[OldDutchChip]

the stage is set to start planning if this trade deadline will include Kaprizov or not. this silly talk of us maybe spicing things up by going 12 mil or 13 is irrelevant! can someone just forget about the extra million here and there! its not the driving force here! he has enough money with legacy coin and advertising, that he is set. and he'll likely get that money from many many other suitors - why???? cause he is GOOD. not just "boldy" good, but like very very good - top 5 player elite good.  now does he want to stay for the lake life or does he want to win and lead and have his name added to the list of best ever??? yeah i think i know where his head is at!

its really tough to say that wild have done well in building up their case for either "win" or "lead" case. he is still viewed as an after thought after Spurge (C) and Faber and and silly willy rookies like Zeev and bunch of other hyped up fools that will amount to no better than 2nd line fillers or 2nd pair Ds....that will no doubt rock NHL world soon enough....yeah yeah. 

so let's be realistic about this for a second - Kap will not sign here, and Billy made sure of that! Kap won't obviously come out to say it, but you would be a moron (which i guess Billy is) to go and just let Kap test the market?!?

so that is your stage for this winter (don't have to wait for next summer). start the bidding war for Kap. start it early to get more leverage and assets in exchance and celebrate you fools, cause there are can't miss prospects just waiting to break in! 

[Burnt Toast]

22 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

so let's be realistic about this for a second

Ok…. What teams that are in a better position than the Wild to get better the next handful of years are going to have the “Kap Space” to entice our best player elsewhere? Not a long list. There’s a very good chance right here, well in MN, he resigns.

[OldDutchChip]

5 minutes ago, Burnt Toast said:

Ok…. What teams that are in a better position than the Wild to get better the next handful of years are going to have the “Kap Space” to entice our best player elsewhere? Not a long list. There’s a very good chance right here, well in MN, he resigns.

thats why they have cap guys to work this out ahead of time on competent teams. and we have idiots running the team.

maybe canucks work a trade out with us to send us a beloved minnesotan boeser ("one of us slogan" will be sang from roof tops) and likely a pick - maybe even a first (20th range?) oh joy. and you know Kap may think - why not play with Hughes and Pettersen on a team? 

or maybe Devils will welcome him or Tampa? or Perhaps Black hawks or Red Wings? or maybe another 20-30 teams that wouldn't mind a chance at a top 5 player. you think Red Wings won't throw in Raymond and some other pieces to make it work? or Hawks throw in another low pick that will will no doubt cam barker is into a gem? 

There are plenty of options. and only one sucker -> Billy.

[Burnt Toast]

1 minute ago, OldDutchChip said:

There are plenty of options. and only one sucker -> Billy.

I think you are underestimating Wild Management. I Guerintee you that resigning KK has been at the forefront of their $ decisions as well as drafting ( see Yurov). I think fielding a competitive team hasn’t hurt either. I guess we’ll see. I do believe Tampa is setting up to take a run at KK after this year’s decision to let some key players leave. As I once heard a very smart man say, shortly before meeting him in Chicago.. “ I consider the odds 50 50.” Can you at least give me that? 

[Citizen Strife]

Again, romanticizing a player like some god or immovable object is foolish.  It is way easier to win with them sure, but never, ever, ever confuse emotional impact for business transactions.

If Kap leaves, he leaves, and 1-2 guys take his place.  Either that or Guerin moves that money to another Wild prospect if they hit.

I have enjoyed anyone who has put on a Wild sweater.  Kap has reason to say he's been the best.

So what?  Guerin isn't dumb enough to do any or all moves without prioritizing keeping him.  He probably has several contingencies in mind, depending how the next season and a half goes.

 

 

 

[OldDutchChip]

1 hour ago, Burnt Toast said:

I think you are underestimating Wild Management. I Guerintee you that resigning KK has been at the forefront of their $ decisions as well as drafting ( see Yurov). I think fielding a competitive team hasn’t hurt either. I guess we’ll see. I do believe Tampa is setting up to take a run at KK after this year’s decision to let some key players leave. As I once heard a very smart man say, shortly before meeting him in Chicago.. “ I consider the odds 50 50.” Can you at least give me that? 

well i hope it goes without saying that any competent management should do what it must to ensure their number one player stays. i just do not believe that wild's brass did anything of the kind. Billy has a vision and a way to navigate there....this vision is a bit challenging to make out, with the brain dead choices he has often made. 

i'll give you 50-50 odds, as i am generous after a beer, but i see many teams that are pro-actively planning and have a lot better outlook then us in 2025-26. say - would Kap like to partner up with Matthews and become the duo that lead Canada back to SC glory over McD and D? or perhaps join Panarin in NY? or maybe the other NY team? or Chicago and line up with Bedard to become the magnet for all future free agents? and yes - tampa too. 

For all the talk about Wild flexibility and vision - those teams teams have a much better outlook then us. 

[Pewterschmidt]

I think mnfan will co-sign this post when I say faber better show up to camp Brock hard after the big contract extensh

[WildRam]

Sometimes you just have to Brock out with your Jock out

[Mateo3xm]

20 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

well i hope it goes without saying that any competent management should do what it must to ensure their number one player stays. i just do not believe that wild's brass did anything of the kind. Billy has a vision and a way to navigate there....this vision is a bit challenging to make out, with the brain dead choices he has often made. 

i'll give you 50-50 odds, as i am generous after a beer, but i see many teams that are pro-actively planning and have a lot better outlook then us in 2025-26. say - would Kap like to partner up with Matthews and become the duo that lead Canada back to SC glory over McD and D? or perhaps join Panarin in NY? or maybe the other NY team? or Chicago and line up with Bedard to become the magnet for all future free agents? and yes - tampa too. 

For all the talk about Wild flexibility and vision - those teams teams have a much better outlook then us. 

The only enjoyable things about seeing Kap leave is seeing you implode when it happens 😂  and the possibility of getting a future first line center, wing or big #1 defender prospect.

[OldDutchChip]

1 hour ago, Mateo3xm said:

The only enjoyable things about seeing Kap leave is seeing you implode when it happens 😂  and the possibility of getting a future first line center, wing or big #1 defender prospect.

charlie stramel, benoit pouliet, jimmy sheppard and tyler cuma - that be a haul for Kap! 

when you trade a superstar - its hard to come out on top and even harder when your management are morons and have billy calling the shots (likely Kap gone to first good / honest offer - maybe for Leine, pick and prospect? ouch)

 

 

[FredJohnson]

Blues have offer sheets on Broberg and Holloway...we better get our young guys signed next offseason.