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Article: Minnesota's Fourth Line Has Developed An Identity


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Khusnutdinov struggled with Lauko out with injury.  I think the Wild should keep Lauko if he's willing to take a decent contract and all the other dominoes fall properly.  I think the team runs better when there is chemistry in places: Kap with Zuccarello, Boldy with Ek, Rossi with...everybody, and Khus and Lauko.  

I wouldn't say Lauko will be a priority with so many other things the Wild need to focus on this summer.  But keeping him might be a blessing in disguise.

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27 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

...and Marat is still only 22. 

https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nhl/teams-physical-stats/2024-2025

I decided to look up the averages for teams (via Elite Prospects), and while Minnesota is #4 with 29.08.  The thing is that if you take out the bottom half and getting (mostly) playoff teams, you're only dropping about 1 year off the average.  The huge outliers and rebuilding teams are way down, but I don't know if "age" is some crazy thing to worry about in a vacuum.

Funny enough, from what I'm seeing in height and weight, Minnesota is DEFINITELY lowest in overall height and weight.  But only until you get to 200-205 do you see a discrepancy.  I'm also not seeing the "West is bigger" thing (10 of the top 15 are Eastern teams).

So...I'm starting to think it's been what it's always been: skill issue.  Imagine that.  A team down $15m can't rely on pure skill.

Edited by Citizen Strife
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19 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/nhl/teams-physical-stats/2024-2025

I decided to look up the averages for teams (via Elite Prospects), and while Minnesota is #4 with 29.08.  The thing is that if you take out the bottom half and getting (mostly) playoff teams, you're only dropping about 1 year off the average.  The huge outliers and rebuilding teams are way down, but I don't know if "age" is some crazy thing to worry about in a vacuum.

Funny enough, from what I'm seeing in height and weight, Minnesota is DEFINITELY lowest in overall height and weight.  But only until you get to 200-205 do you see a discrepancy.  I'm also not seeing the "West is bigger" thing (10 of the top 15 are Eastern teams).

So...I'm starting to think it's been what it's always been: skill issue.  Imagine that.  A team down $15m can't rely on pure skill.

Funny how that works. Thanks for looking that up.

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"Gearing up for a playoff run". After the Twins debacle, and what I'm seeing now with a lifeless offense, I don't expect the squad to make the playoffs. I'm not in panic mode, either. I didn't see a playoff run going into the season and I think they've become what I thought they were going to be. We just go lucky as fans to see a surprisingly nice start.

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Agreeing with Fezig here.  Given the inconsistent play, injuries, and unaddressed special teams performance, the Wild should focus on recovery and regrouping.  They don't have much to offer for acquiring before TDL.  Figure out who your team is going to be for 25-26 and beyond, and leverage whoever is not on that roster for future picks, opening up some incremental cap space in the process.  

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On 2/4/2025 at 11:17 AM, Citizen Strife said:

I think the Wild should keep Lauko if he's willing to take a decent contract and all the other dominoes fall properly. 

Why wouldn't Lauko take a decent contract. He's fast and checks, but he has converted on very little offense. He's not going to be worth much more than minimum, <$1m. Just like Chisholm. 

Finding useful guys in that pay range is nice. MaRat isn't going to get much of a contract, maybe 2 x  $1m? But finding a 3rd guy who's got some grit and speed should be what Guerin is looking for. Could Milne be that guy? 

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4 hours ago, hydguy75 said:

Figure out who your team is going to be for 25-26 and beyond,

This part is important, and I believe we should be debuting plenty of kids. I'm not so sure that selling off the other guys yet is the right play, these kids likely still need some development. But, they should be getting their taste at a minimum. 

It's a hard line to walk as a GM. We're almost there but just not quite yet. 

I do expect us to make the playoffs as a WC team, and exit after the 1st round. But, I also believe that this is the final year of that. I can see the commissioner taking out his key to our handcuffs. Hopefully that is invested properly. And by that, I am, of course, not opposed to an offersheet!

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