Article: 'Nobody Will Offer More Money Than Us': Wild On Re-signing Kaprizov

[Thomas Williams]

View full article

[FredJohnson]

Will money be enough?

[Imyourhuckleberry]

Surprised this isn't the top article. Confirms the Wild commitment. Lots of competition, but hopefully they have a season where they are competing near the top of the conference again like they had the 2 seasons before last.

A strong playoff performance would give the Wild really nice momentum as they move forward with Buium, Yurov, and a free agent to be named later.

[Paul Bunyan is Real]

1 hour ago, FredJohnson said:

Will money be enough?

During the whole interview, Leipold also stated next July 1st will be like Xmas. They'll have $20M to spend and Billy already has a list of targeted free agents for next year. Then you add Yurov and Buium to the mix as well. Next year is the prove it year. 

[M_Nels]

5 minutes ago, Paul Bunyan is Real said:

During the whole interview, Leipold also stated next July 1st will be like Xmas. They'll have $20M to spend and Billy already has a list of targeted free agents for next year. Then you add Yurov and Buium to the mix as well. Next year is the prove it year. 

Leipold was coy about who's on the list of targets but Russo hinted at some names that will potentially come available. Honestly don't have all that high of hopes for this season (maybe WC spot) but if they don't take it to the next level in 25-26 then BG's seat should be scorching hot and his tenure will be regarded as a failure.

[Dean]

Craig is selling b.s to get momentum for taxpayers to pay for and give tax breaks to his hobby of grifting of Minnesota fans. Sounds like the twins. Taxpayers paying for billionaires to charge them more money for below average product. 
   The only thing the wild can offer that other teams can’t is one more year. However players of kappys talent do better with shorter contracts so they get more opportunities for new contracts at higher values Craig’s money argument is b.s, kappy is going to get paid wherever he is. Craig’s made up list of free agents he’s going to get with money he doesn’t have is funny. No good free agent has ever wanted to come to minny unless you pay them Zach / Ryan money.  Broken P laine proved that by not wanting to play for minny. So my guess is Craig’s list is a bunch of ahlers . Plus he has no roster spots for his new ahlers. 
   The obvious way to keep kappy is by winning. Craig has proven he can’t put a front office or team together to get past the 1st round. They are drafting mediocre prospects and don’t have a franchise real players want to come play for. So there’s no way they will ever surround kappy with enough talent to truly compete for a cup. Kappy is gone
    Craig is just selling sh_t for free money .obviously they are worried by the huge drop in fan support for there grifting. You hear it all over wild media. Just excuse after excuse. When do the excuses stop ?  My guess is not until new ownership or maybe a simple gm change. Until then it’s more selling of  the same sh_t and calling it something different.  Billy made a comment about how he changed the culture. Billy hasn’t change anything. The lazy clowns didn’t show up last year. Other GMs have gotten this team  further. . Billy just makes up history 

[WheelSnipeCelly]

Side note: The Athletic having been releasing their NHL Season Previews over the past couple of days. Not sure how much weight these hold, but they have the Wild ranked slightly lower than the middle of the pack at 18th. The Senators are ranked below them at 19th with 89.8 points and a 35% chance of making the playoffs.

I don't necessarily disagree with their ranking, but what's interesting is that the 15th, 16th, and 17th ranked teams are all Western Conference teams, so it seems like they're predicting that it will be a coin toss for the final 2 Wild Card spots:

• 18th: Wild
  • Points: 91.6
  • Playoffs: 47%
  • Stanley Cup: 1%
• 17th: Utah
  • Points: 92.3
  • Playoffs: 51%
  • Stanley Cup: 1%
• 16th: Kings
  • Points: 92.7
  • Playoffs: 55%
  • Stanley Cup: 1%
• 15th: Golden Knights
  • Points: 95.9
  • Playoffs: 70%
  • Stanley Cup: 2%

The Western Conference teams ranked lower than the Wild are: Sharks, Ducks, Blackhawks, Flames, Blues and Kraken. So essentially that's 5 teams that they're guessing have less than a 10% chance making the playoffs, 1 team at 27% (Kraken), 3 teams hovering around 50% (Wild, Utah, Kings), and 7 teams at 70% or higher (Knights, Preds, Jets, Canucks, Avs, Stars, and Oilers). Should be an interesting season and one that sounds like it might be a fight to the end for the final Wild Card spot — which sounds about right.

[Protec]

1 hour ago, Dean said:

Craig is selling b.s to get momentum for taxpayers to pay for and give tax breaks to his hobby of grifting of Minnesota fans. Sounds like the twins. Taxpayers paying for billionaires to charge them more money for below average product. 
   The only thing the wild can offer that other teams can’t is one more year. However players of kappys talent do better with shorter contracts so they get more opportunities for new contracts at higher values Craig’s money argument is b.s, kappy is going to get paid wherever he is. Craig’s made up list of free agents he’s going to get with money he doesn’t have is funny. No good free agent has ever wanted to come to minny unless you pay them Zach / Ryan money.  Broken P laine proved that by not wanting to play for minny. So my guess is Craig’s list is a bunch of ahlers . Plus he has no roster spots for his new ahlers. 
   The obvious way to keep kappy is by winning. Craig has proven he can’t put a front office or team together to get past the 1st round. They are drafting mediocre prospects and don’t have a franchise real players want to come play for. So there’s no way they will ever surround kappy with enough talent to truly compete for a cup. Kappy is gone
    Craig is just selling sh_t for free money .obviously they are worried by the huge drop in fan support for there grifting. You hear it all over wild media. Just excuse after excuse. When do the excuses stop ?  My guess is not until new ownership or maybe a simple gm change. Until then it’s more selling of  the same sh_t and calling it something different.  Billy made a comment about how he changed the culture. Billy hasn’t change anything. The lazy clowns didn’t show up last year. Other GMs have gotten this team  further. . Billy just makes up history 

Some good points I'd agree with. I don't see the Wild's future as bleak either. There's a lot of talent and potential. There's no guarantee the next team will win either. Hopefully Kaprizov will stay with MN. 

[FredJohnson]

1 hour ago, WheelSnipeCelly said:

Side note: The Athletic having been releasing their NHL Season Previews over the past couple of days. Not sure how much weight these hold, but they have the Wild ranked slightly lower than the middle of the pack at 18th. The Senators are ranked below them at 19th with 89.8 points and a 35% chance of making the playoffs.

I don't necessarily disagree with their ranking, but what's interesting is that the 15th, 16th, and 17th ranked teams are all Western Conference teams, so it seems like they're predicting that it will be a coin toss for the final 2 Wild Card spots:

• 18th: Wild
  • Points: 91.6
  • Playoffs: 47%
  • Stanley Cup: 1%
• 17th: Utah
  • Points: 92.3
  • Playoffs: 51%
  • Stanley Cup: 1%
• 16th: Kings
  • Points: 92.7
  • Playoffs: 55%
  • Stanley Cup: 1%
• 15th: Golden Knights
  • Points: 95.9
  • Playoffs: 70%
  • Stanley Cup: 2%

The Western Conference teams ranked lower than the Wild are: Sharks, Ducks, Blackhawks, Flames, Blues and Kraken. So essentially that's 5 teams that they're guessing have less than a 10% chance making the playoffs, 1 team at 27% (Kraken), 3 teams hovering around 50% (Wild, Utah, Kings), and 7 teams at 70% or higher (Knights, Preds, Jets, Canucks, Avs, Stars, and Oilers). Should be an interesting season and one that sounds like it might be a fight to the end for the final Wild Card spot — which sounds about right.

Move the Kings down if Doughty misses a couple months.

[Dango]

3 hours ago, Dean said:

Craig is selling b.s to get momentum for taxpayers to pay for and give tax breaks to his hobby of grifting of Minnesota fans. Sounds like the twins. Taxpayers paying for billionaires to charge them more money for below average product. 
   The only thing the wild can offer that other teams can’t is one more year. However players of kappys talent do better with shorter contracts so they get more opportunities for new contracts at higher values Craig’s money argument is b.s, kappy is going to get paid wherever he is. Craig’s made up list of free agents he’s going to get with money he doesn’t have is funny. No good free agent has ever wanted to come to minny unless you pay them Zach / Ryan money.  Broken P laine proved that by not wanting to play for minny. So my guess is Craig’s list is a bunch of ahlers . Plus he has no roster spots for his new ahlers. 
   The obvious way to keep kappy is by winning. Craig has proven he can’t put a front office or team together to get past the 1st round. They are drafting mediocre prospects and don’t have a franchise real players want to come play for. So there’s no way they will ever surround kappy with enough talent to truly compete for a cup. Kappy is gone
    Craig is just selling sh_t for free money .obviously they are worried by the huge drop in fan support for there grifting. You hear it all over wild media. Just excuse after excuse. When do the excuses stop ?  My guess is not until new ownership or maybe a simple gm change. Until then it’s more selling of  the same sh_t and calling it something different.  Billy made a comment about how he changed the culture. Billy hasn’t change anything. The lazy clowns didn’t show up last year. Other GMs have gotten this team  further. . Billy just makes up history 

The Twins tried getting a new stadium for many years but were unsuccessful  so they and i think the Expose  were going to fold their teams  but the guy running Paul Welstones political campaign " i think his name was Seresi or something like that "  sued the league and blocked the Twins from folding  so whatever the Twins do is on legal attorneys  

[MacGyver]

Well unfortunately for the Wild a boat load of money is not what floats Kirills boat. A Stanley Cup full of Russian cognac and his name on it is what does.  Don't think Leipold and Billy have that in their back pocket just yet. 

[Protec]

The Wild with Yurov and Buium instead of NoJo and Merrill. 

[Mateo3xm]

Per Jessi Pierce, Leipold essentially said that they have to show Kaprizov (and other free agents) that the Wild are committed to winning and consistently in the playoffs.

He said he wants to win. Is this team not hearing what he’s saying? Does this team think he’s stupid and doesn’t know what’s going on? This team has been run the same since its inception and the same outcome will happen year after year because the greedy owner won’t let it rebuild. You think Kap can’t see that? You think Kap is ok with busting his ass year after year playing with a bunch of journeyman, to be booted out of the first round? 

I’m even more sure we’re going to lose Kap now. A small part of me even wants it to happen as a FU to this owner for basically only caring about money and not a thing about winning a Stanley cup.

[Mateo3xm]

12 hours ago, FredJohnson said:

Will money be enough?

Nope. Not at all in my opinion.

[Mateo3xm]

12 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Surprised this isn't the top article. Confirms the Wild commitment. Lots of competition, but hopefully they have a season where they are competing near the top of the conference again like they had the 2 seasons before last.

A strong playoff performance would give the Wild really nice momentum as they move forward with Buium, Yurov, and a free agent to be named later.

Their “commitment” is all smoke and mirrors and you fell for it. This owner doesn’t care about winning a cup. It only cares about putting a decent team on the ice so it can turn a profit.

[Mateo3xm]

8 hours ago, Dean said:

Craig is selling b.s to get momentum for taxpayers to pay for and give tax breaks to his hobby of grifting of Minnesota fans. Sounds like the twins. Taxpayers paying for billionaires to charge them more money for below average product. 
   The only thing the wild can offer that other teams can’t is one more year. However players of kappys talent do better with shorter contracts so they get more opportunities for new contracts at higher values Craig’s money argument is b.s, kappy is going to get paid wherever he is. Craig’s made up list of free agents he’s going to get with money he doesn’t have is funny. No good free agent has ever wanted to come to minny unless you pay them Zach / Ryan money.  Broken P laine proved that by not wanting to play for minny. So my guess is Craig’s list is a bunch of ahlers . Plus he has no roster spots for his new ahlers. 
   The obvious way to keep kappy is by winning. Craig has proven he can’t put a front office or team together to get past the 1st round. They are drafting mediocre prospects and don’t have a franchise real players want to come play for. So there’s no way they will ever surround kappy with enough talent to truly compete for a cup. Kappy is gone
    Craig is just selling sh_t for free money .obviously they are worried by the huge drop in fan support for there grifting. You hear it all over wild media. Just excuse after excuse. When do the excuses stop ?  My guess is not until new ownership or maybe a simple gm change. Until then it’s more selling of  the same sh_t and calling it something different.  Billy made a comment about how he changed the culture. Billy hasn’t change anything. The lazy clowns didn’t show up last year. Other GMs have gotten this team  further. . Billy just makes up history 

I’m glad ppl are waking up and realizing this. Leo is lying pos and he obviously thinks all us fans are morons

[raithis]

13 hours ago, Mateo3xm said:

This team has been run the same since its inception

This is completely false and has been pointed out why on multiple occasions.  If you think that the team has been run the same and can't see differences between Risebrough, Fletcher, Fenton, and Guerin, then I don't know what to tell you.  

[Enforceror]

As with any profession, there is more going on behind the scenes that we don't get to see or know about.

Why is the road taking two months to repair when its only a 50ft stretch? Seems like something easily achievable but in reality, your suppliers had a shortage of materials, the excavator struck undocumented utilities, your foreman broke his leg on a pogo stick, etc. etc.

I'm sure BG and company have made some sub-par decisions (haven't we all) but I can't imagine that these guys don't care about winning a cup. Probably juggling a multitude of issues to try and make things work out. Not really trying to defend Guerin in particular, just pointing out that we only get a fraction of the whole picture.

[Enforceror]

Glad I'm not a Sabres fan...

Team	Last appearance in post-season	Post-season drought
Buffalo Sabres	2010–11	13 seasons
Detroit Red Wings	2015–16	8 seasons
Ottawa Senators	2016–17	7 seasons
Anaheim Ducks	2017–18	6 seasons
San Jose Sharks	2018–19	5 seasons
Arizona Coyotes	2019–20	4 seasons
Chicago Blackhawks	2019–20	4 seasons
Columbus Blue Jackets	2019–20	4 seasons
Philadelphia Flyers	2019–20	4 seasons
Montreal Canadiens	2020–21	3 seasons
Calgary Flames	2021–22	2 seasons
Pittsburgh Penguins	2021–22	2 seasons
St. Louis Blues	2021–22	2 seasons
Minnesota Wild	2022–23	1 season
New Jersey Devils	2022–23	1 season
Seattle Kraken	2022–23	1 season

[M_Nels]

1 hour ago, Enforceror said:

I'm sure BG and company have made some sub-par decisions (haven't we all) but I can't imagine that these guys don't care about winning a cup.

Right? Guerin is highly competitive and even if CL was content (don't for a minute believe he is) with being a middling team Guerin isn't. Dude won the cup 2x, you can't tell me he doesn't want the team he controls to win one. Like your roadwork analogy BTW.

Edit: 2x as a player, 2x as asst. GM

Edited October 3 by M_Nels
Further clarification

[Protec]

There's a lot of really nice moves GMBG has pulled off. He rewarded vets with fair contracts and signed players for value-deals to offset poor-value returns while drafting well. 

MN might not be a powerhouse team this very moment but last year they beat FL, Boston, Carolina, and looked good for stretches. If MN gets upgrades we think they'll get from players we're watching now, it could be a top 10 team. Yurov and Buium both make MN somewhere Kaprizov would have very few reasons to leave from a hockey perspective. 

If he wants to pay less tax or go to a State with sunshine, beaches, or different politics, we've seen players do that before. Americans wanted out of Canada in the cases of Tkachuk and Gaudreau. If that kind of motive exists for FL or the bigger markets who get NHL butt-kisses like CHI, NY, LA, or Vegas then it's beyond owner-statements and dollars.

I think Kaprizov wants to see MN make an actual playoff run. Who doesn't? The best thing to happen would be that, plus other teams looking equally unsure like the Wild. If FL falls off or Vegas falls apart somehow, that would be great. Maybe Nashville and NY too. Wishful thinking but hey MN needs all the breaks they can get.

 

[mnfaninnc]

Last year, we got sunk with injuries + cap penalties. Both were related. The 2 years prior, we were a better than average healthy team. Last year we had trouble keeping the puck out of the net and got some pretty bad bounces. Years prior, we were above average there.

Things this random can give you success or failure if you're playing it too close. Did we make errors? Yes, I think the biggest error was being too close to the salary cap ceiling so that when you needed callups, the best were not available. 

The stuff that can't be controlled tend to run in cycles. Sometimes even 3-5 year cycles. We had rock bottom luck last season. Could we get a luck bounce this season or was that used up in the prior 2? I have no answer to this, but I am looking forward to better injury luck this season. I do feel like the team is better prepared with depth if it happens again. 

[Mateo3xm]

On 10/3/2024 at 12:15 PM, raithis said:

This is completely false and has been pointed out why on multiple occasions.  If you think that the team has been run the same and can't see differences between Risebrough, Fletcher, Fenton, and Guerin, then I don't know what to tell you.  

I think you’re misinterpreting what I’m saying. What I should have said is the plan for this team has been the same since its inception. It goes without saying that there were differences between how the our GMs managed this team. The plan has always been the same though. That plan is to either “retool” by trading players who are relatively the same value or trade our draft picks for areas of need.

Let me ask you a question. Has this team ever gone through a real rebuild where they sold off assets to get extra picks and allowed the team to get multiple high draft pick in a row in order to get high caliber picks such as McD, Draisdle, Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Toews, Kane, Hedman, Doughty, Barkov, etc? You can't count their first year in the league because they didn't have a choice.

If this rebuild happened, then when?

When you have a team that isn’t exactly a desirable destination, has high taxes, has good but not elite drafting, average at best management and has never done a true rebuild, how do you expect the Mn Wild to acquire the pertinent pieces to win in the playoffs and win a Cup?

The point I’m trying to make is they’re doing the same thing year after year and we are getting the same results. 

[RedLake]

Why would any NHL hockey player want to play in the highest income taxed state in this once great country?

[WheelSnipeCelly]

 

On 10/6/2024 at 7:50 PM, RedLake said:

Why would any NHL hockey player want to play in the highest income taxed state in this once great country?

California, New York, and New Jersey are all higher (as are the Canadian teams). We've seen a few US players either request a trade or leave Canadian teams for Free Agency. I think California, New York, and New Jersey have the appeal of the coasts and being close to the two largest US cities (NYC + LA). Unfortunately, for Minnesota there's not much of an appeal besides a knowledgeable fanbase (similar to Canadian markets), 4 seasons (if players want that), and relatively enjoyable summers (but players can really live anywhere during their summers). I guess team culture or "grit"? Otherwise...not sure!