Article: Why I'm Afraid Of the Minnesota Wild's "Christmas Morning"

[Tony Abbott]

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[Citizen Strife]

If the "Christmas Morning" consists of Kaprizov and Rossi extensions, and one impactful signing, I'll be happy with it.  If it's a trade deadline thing, it better fucking work, and that guy must re-sign (though I'd rather that be plan B).  Any other option (Nashville haul) or Kap leaves is just an abject failure.

[M_Nels]

Didn’t realize Ehlers was coming up as a UFA. He’d be a solid pickup (bonus points he’s Danish!), although I think he’s been a little injury prone. 
 

Rantanen, Marner and ODC’s boy Tkachuk are pipe dreams with their contracts and what they’ll command. Boeser would be a good add too. Going to be fun/interesting/stressful to see where the Wild are in a month-ish to see if there’s something big on the horizon before the TDL. 

[Patrick]

Rantanen playing on a line with Ek would be so amazing to watch!

[Citizen Strife]

Sure would be, if you like watching a Top line being paid $30m.  Would love to know where the rest of that cap goes.

Edited December 25, 2024 by Citizen Strife

[Quebec1648]

I would love to see the Wild get Elias Petterson, but that is not likely. Going after a top 50 player would be ok, provided it's a deal that ends at the players age 35 season. Make a trade for a top tier player if Marner won`t sign here, such as getting the other Tkachuck brother from Ottowa. 

We need Kaprizov to sign a long term deal, or else we might as well rebuild. Getting a big name player would help.

[RedLake]

Wonder what the return would be for a Kaprizov trade? 

[Citizen Strife]

I'd rather not think about it, but multiple 1st-3rds, a prospect or two, and then expiring contracts to make the money work.  I highly doubt they are going to pull off a Huberdeau/Tkachuk kinda thing. That's why the sooner July 1st hits and they sign the extension, the sooner the doom and gloom can die down.

Edited December 26, 2024 by Citizen Strife

[Burnt Toast]

OCL mentioned a 5 year plan. I’m hoping that means giving the Wild top prospects time to make a difference with at least a couple still on ELCs. As Citizen Kane, I mean Strife mentioned I’d be ok with a reasonable trade for the best top six they can afford with an eye to resigning our top talent down the road. I need to see a lot more from the $4M club before going all in or else as Toni clearly layed out we might get “Nashvilled”. 

[Burnt Toast]

3 hours ago, RedLake said:

Wonder what the return would be for a Kaprizov trade? 

Not enough. It would mean resetting the timer for any kind of SC window back half a decade minimum. He’s an awesome player to build a championship team around. If he really wants to walk we won’t get equal value. I’m beginning to wonder if not resigning Rossi is a $ panic button to make sure $ is DEFINITELY 100% not going to be an issue. Not to mention the majority of the buyout $ is gonzo. Kinda nice that not many teams are positioned to “bust a Kap.”

[FredJohnson]

Why I'm Afraid Of the Minnesota Wild's "Christmas Morning"

Time to burn it all down and rebuild. (Sarcasm)

[MNCountryLife]

Kap has moved up a level this year.  He is a must sign.  I would like a few guys to step up and for BG to let a few guys walk.  Let the lineup be something like: 

Kirill, Rossi, Boldy, Ogren, Ek, Yurov, Foligno, Freddy, Hartman,Trenin, Knut, Heidt

Brodin, Zeev, Faber, Mid, Jiricek, Chisholm

Gus, Wall

I would think that is a lineup we can afford and leave us something for the trade deadline if needed.

[Citizen Strife]

Got to meet Eric Staal at the Hockey Lodge today. Said the name and number and put it together it was Eric.  Pretty chill dude.  Last line before he left was, "I heard the new #12 is good too."

[Need4speed99]

Watching the patterns with this team I'm worried they will go out and overpay for a good but aging vet.

They need to find a way to unload some of the bad contracts. Trenin, Hartman, freddy and even foligno should be moved if the opportunity arises. 

Bring up your top playing prospects and actually give them a shot( not stick them on the 4th line)to see where they are at and what roles they can fill. 

The other thing will be how much money will they really have to spend when you factor in having to resign players and extensions kicking in. 

[Citizen Strife]

Trenin, Foligno, and Freddy are only bad contracts if you care about "OOH GOALS!" and little else.  Hartman is the only one right now not providing much because he has the track record of being a streaky scorer.

[raithis]

On 12/27/2024 at 10:14 AM, Citizen Strife said:

Trenin, Foligno, and Freddy are only bad contracts if you care about "OOH GOALS!" and little else.  Hartman is the only one right now not providing much because he has the track record of being a streaky scorer.

Yeah, they are a part of why our team defense is so good this year.  Defense isn't just played by defenseman.  Hartman is definitely an issue.  And it's not just streaky scoring.  His overall play has just sucked in general for a while now.  Usually when he gets like this his composure starts to crack a bit and he becomes far less disciplined, taking a ton of penalties.  I'm glad he's keeping it together, though Boldy has been taking those penalties instead unfortunately.

[raithis]

Quote

Don't get me wrong, I'm writing to Santa about a long-term extension for Kirill Kaprizov to arrive on exactly that date. Whether it's for $13, $14, or, heck, $20 million per year, I don't care as long as it's eight years.

I'd love if Kap re-signs, but if it's going to take $20M to keep him here, then we should make other plans.  We'd be signing ourselves up for the same type of salary cap limitations as we've been dealing with for the past few years with the recapture penalties.

I kind of feel like he's already made his decision, though I don't know what that decision is.  He either likes the trajectory or he has a preference for a different location (or maybe his girlfriend has a preference) and there is absolutely nothing we can do to change his mind. 

The worst thing we can do is try accelerate that trajectory prematurely by dumping all our prospects.  A few for surgical improvements to the roster I'm fine with as the best rosters are grown and the gaps are filled here and there with someone who fits that gap, but you need those prospects to backfill or you crash hard against the salary cap.  You trade away too much of those prospects and you are quickly getting on a train to Fletcher's style of management that ages poorly.

If you try and tip the scales too far too fast, you swing and miss and fall flat on your face.  People keep saying we need to go all in now are fools.  We don't have the depth for that.  You do that and Kap heading out the door is a certainty because we will swing and miss and then will have nothing behind it for years.

The teams that are contend for the cup and win it typically are the teams that are set up to make multiple swings.  We're getting there.  I truly like the methodical approach and the depth we are gaining.  Yes, I'm impatient and want guys in the AHL to be more ready than they are, but I remind myself most of them are young and still developing.  It seems like COVID really did slow a lot of players down by a year or two.