Article: What Are the Wild’s Ideal Defensive Pairings When Brodin Returns?

[mnfaninnc]

12 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Aren't you the guy suggesting that any prospect not in the NHL hasn't shown they can do anything in the NHL, but you now want to immediately pair 2 rookie defensemen together and put Yurov on the top line?

Huck, ODC is changing his mind on some of this stuff. Can't you see the wheels churning? 😉

[OldDutchChip]

6 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I was considering elite as a nation. Anyone on the Swedish national team, I would consider elite in that conversation. So, yeah, Goose would be too. Euros think differently and see the world a bit differently. Playing with their peers, I think, may have more importance to them and we know.

you are being too generous with that definition 🙂

but understood - so we have three swedes to welcome him "home"

[OldDutchChip]

5 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

It looks as productive but the style was very different. Of course, these stats are after he came to us as an UFA which would probably be 4 years older than the current Faber. Suter rarely carried up the ice fully. When he did, he typically dumped it in instead of driving. It's hard to believe he had that many goals!

everyone but MJ dumps the puck. it's a forgotten art now to keep it and carry it in with ease....can we bring fetisov over to teach that to our youth? seeing kuch do that is special

[mnhockeyfan03]

13 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Do you have names to fill in for these players? Pettersson is the main topic here, but who else would you be looking at for Boldy and Rossi?

Go get guys like Tuch, tage Thompson, svechnikov.  There are plenty of guys out there that can be traded for but we have to trade good pieces to get them like Boldy, Rossi, Faber etc.  they won’t just want our junk

[OldDutchChip]

7 minutes ago, SkolWild73 said:

Would not mind getting him either, but with all the contracts that Vancouver already has on defense, Marcus Pettersson through 2030 at 5.5mil, Filip Hronek through 2031 at 7.25 mil and having to resign Quinn Hughes after next year, probably in the 12-13 mil range, I doubt they would trade for Faber.  It would be nice to get him, but if we don't, let me try and ease your mind on what we might already have.

Elias's stat for his age 23 season were 80 games, 32g, 32a, 64 points, +1 rating, 22g and 19 assists in 5 on 5. 

Marco Rossi's age 23 season so far 54 games, 18g, 28a, +14 rating, 13g, 23a in 5 on 5.  Rossi is on pace this year for 27g, 42a, 69 points this year.  Maybe Rossi can make the leap and become the same type of player as Elias next year on smaller contract that would allow us to get someone else.

it's very much unlikely to even be considered by Wild. but just trying to think outside-the-box.  yes we know the script - bring on another over-the-hill - Brock Nelson - one-of-us and repeat. Perhaps even Nick Leddy comes back. Exciting.

[mnfaninnc]

4 minutes ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

Go get guys like Tuch, tage Thompson, svechnikov.  There are plenty of guys out there that can be traded for but we have to trade good pieces to get them like Boldy, Rossi, Faber etc.  they won’t just want our junk

I like these names.

[OldDutchChip]

14 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Huck, ODC is changing his mind on some of this stuff. Can't you see the wheels churning? 😉

don't make me regret it! 

[mnfaninnc]

Just now, OldDutchChip said:

don't make me regret it! 

🍻

[SkolWild73]

2 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

it's very much unlikely to even be considered by Wild. but just trying to think outside-the-box.  yes we know the script - bring on another over-the-hill - Brock Nelson - one-of-us and repeat. Perhaps even Nick Leddy comes back. Exciting.

Vancouver did not get all that much for Miller.  A first-round pick, a 22 defenseman that was picked in the 5th round and has 15 games experience, and a 25-year-old former first round pick whose best season was 2023 with 45 points.  Maybe we could swing a trade in the offseason for a 2026 first rounder and a couple of prospects or even another pick.  I would not want to trade Rossi since I think Ek is better suited as a high end 3C and having Elias and Rossi as 1C and 2C I think would be great.

[OldDutchChip]

2 minutes ago, SkolWild73 said:

Vancouver did not get all that much for Miller.  A first-round pick, a 22 defenseman that was picked in the 5th round and has 15 games experience, and a 25-year-old former first round pick whose best season was 2023 with 45 points.  Maybe we could swing a trade in the offseason for a 2026 first rounder and a couple of prospects or even another pick.  I would not want to trade Rossi since I think Ek is better suited as a high end 3C and having Elias and Rossi as 1C and 2C I think would be great.

yeah that return was nothing exciting....

sure - i'd go for that - if VAN is willing

and also just explore other possibilities - 

dream 1 - would a usual flame out by leafs make them think over Faber for Nylander?

dream 2 - would MTR be willing to trade Demidov for Faber or Rossi (do they even allow Russians to play for canadian teams? cause Minny can help with that and take him!) 

[M_Nels]

1 hour ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

Go get guys like Tuch, tage Thompson, svechnikov.  There are plenty of guys out there that can be traded for but we have to trade good pieces to get them like Boldy, Rossi, Faber etc.  they won’t just want our junk

Out of those 3 give me Thompson. But c'mon man you have to be realistic, there's no way in hell Buffalo is going to give Tage up except for maybe Faber and some picks and he's locked in for 7yrs. Tuch may be able to easier to get but Boldy or Faber tilt the scales Buffalo's way, no thanks. Svech is on an 8yr deal with m-ntc's kicking in next year so he's locked unless they get a hell of a haul.

A lot of people threw a shit fit with all the capital given to Jiri and any of the players people are dangling out there are going to take that or more.

[Kato AK]

This entire thread feels like a standard MN sport fan over reaction. The team gives us hope, something happens and they start losing, hysteria ensues. Throw logic and reason out the window and blow it up.

It seems that most people agree that the Wild need to get bigger/heavier/grittier, to make it hard to play against. All the sudden the solution is EP. He may put up a lot of points, but is notoriously soft. He is the center equivalent of Boldy. 

We look at our prospects and think they are cant miss or better than players on the team currently. Zeev looks promising but think he will be top line from the jump is optimistic. Jiri is 21 and not NHL ready but more valuable than Faber, who put up 47 pts and 20 mins/game at 21. And already putting Yurov in the top 6 when he has to come minnesota and adjust to life/play here.

I think spurg ends up the odd man out this off season. Between his cap hit and availability the last 2 seasons, it doesn't work anymore. Hopefully BG finds a way to move his contract and either trenin or hartman and leaves $30m for FA this summer.

You could target good players with that. Rantanen, Marner, Nelson, boeser, Ehlers.

 

[mnhockeyfan03]

30 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

Out of those 3 give me Thompson. But c'mon man you have to be realistic, there's no way in hell Buffalo is going to give Tage up except for maybe Faber and some picks and he's locked in for 7yrs. Tuch may be able to easier to get but Boldy or Faber tilt the scales Buffalo's way, no thanks. Svech is on an 8yr deal with m-ntc's kicking in next year so he's locked unless they get a hell of a haul.

A lot of people threw a shit fit with all the capital given to Jiri and any of the players people are dangling out there are going to take that or more.

If you could trade Boldy and Faber for Tuch and Thompson I would do that right away.  They are the types of players we are missing 

[OldDutchChip]

59 minutes ago, Kato AK said:

This entire thread feels like a standard MN sport fan over reaction. The team gives us hope, something happens and they start losing, hysteria ensues. Throw logic and reason out the window and blow it up.

It seems that most people agree that the Wild need to get bigger/heavier/grittier, to make it hard to play against. All the sudden the solution is EP. He may put up a lot of points, but is notoriously soft. He is the center equivalent of Boldy. 

We look at our prospects and think they are cant miss or better than players on the team currently. Zeev looks promising but think he will be top line from the jump is optimistic. Jiri is 21 and not NHL ready but more valuable than Faber, who put up 47 pts and 20 mins/game at 21. And already putting Yurov in the top 6 when he has to come minnesota and adjust to life/play here.

I think spurg ends up the odd man out this off season. Between his cap hit and availability the last 2 seasons, it doesn't work anymore. Hopefully BG finds a way to move his contract and either trenin or hartman and leaves $30m for FA this summer.

You could target good players with that. Rantanen, Marner, Nelson, boeser, Ehlers.

 

He may put up a lot of points, but is notoriously soft. 

someone has become very picky! for a team whose centers rarely crack 60 points, to say this as if no biggie is something.....102 and 89 points is no biggie? but whatever, you got your opinion.... but just imagine a center who is a wizard with the puck being paired up with Kaprizov. going from 100 points to 120 for him and Kap is realistic. 

 

[Enforceror]

Hey, at least we got us a new Vinnie!!

Pretty sure that's what we are lacking this year.

[Kato AK]

15 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

He may put up a lot of points, but is notoriously soft. 

someone has become very picky! for a team whose centers rarely crack 60 points, to say this as if no biggie is something.....102 and 89 points is no biggie? but whatever, you got your opinion.... but just imagine a center who is a wizard with the puck being paired up with Kaprizov. going from 100 points to 120 for him and Kap is realistic. 

 

You might have to consider those 2 years an anomaly for EP and take into account 1) who he was playing with and 2) playing for a new contract. because outside of those 2 years, he is the same as Matt Boldy. How badly does a first line of KK, EP, and Rossi/Zucc get pushed around?

If you are only concerned with points, try and get Marner in FA without giving up assets.

[OldDutchChip]

6 minutes ago, Kato AK said:

You might have to consider those 2 years an anomaly for EP and take into account 1) who he was playing with and 2) playing for a new contract. because outside of those 2 years, he is the same as Matt Boldy. How badly does a first line of KK, EP, and Rossi/Zucc get pushed around?

If you are only concerned with points, try and get Marner in FA without giving up assets.

Usually a 100 point represent somewhat of a indicator that player is not an anomaly, however there is Hubedu or whatever his name is - so i trust you. if that's the case - move on.

[Enforceror]

I keep seeing Zegras get dangled. Anyone actually watch him play?

[raithis]

17 hours ago, Enforceror said:

I keep seeing Zegras get dangled. Anyone actually watch him play?

I haven't seen him play much, but I think Zegras is all flash and no substance.  If you don't give him space and body him a bit, he folds like a wet napkin.  Sure, he occasionally shows up on some highlights reel, but there is a reason he is being dangled - Anaheim is hoping someone will overpay for the hype attached to a couple goals.

[Pewterschmidt]

On 2/6/2025 at 1:00 PM, SkolWild73 said:

I think Ek is better suited as a high end 3C

The whispers are beginning with Ek.  He's never been an offensive dynamo, but with his mounting dent & scratches does he become the expendable trade piece this off-season?  I'm no longer predicting Ogz because he's played a grown man game the last couple games and shown he can be effective when playing the right way.  I'm now thinking Ek'r is expendable.  P-Body, how about Boldy?  For the love of god, if you're plan is to surround 97 with a lineup of Trenin and Fraudie's then yes, trade the 2nd best offensive talent in this lineup for some 28 year old mucker.

[Pewterschmidt]

22 hours ago, Kato AK said:

I think spurg ends up the odd man out this off season.

I'd bet we're stuck with this contract until he goes onto permanent LTIR.  No one gives up an asset for this player + his contract.

[Pewterschmidt]

19 hours ago, Enforceror said:

I keep seeing Zegras get dangled. Anyone actually watch him play?

I've got to believe (and hope I'm right) that this is the opposite of the type of player Guerin wants in the locker room.  He's the opposite of McTavish in terms of grit.  But you never know, Guerin pursued Laine.

[Up North Guy]

19 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

But you never know, Guerin pursued Laine.

And I was for it but watching him play against the Wild last week, wowza did we dodge a bullet.

[Kato AK]

46 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

I'd bet we're stuck with this contract until he goes onto permanent LTIR.  No one gives up an asset for this player + his contract.

I mean....there are ways to get teams to take a contract. Add draft picks or a prospect, or even take in the ole future considerations.

But if you free up the cap space and get a good player, could be worth it.

[Kato AK]

46 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

 He's the opposite of McTavish in terms of grit.  But you never know, Guerin pursued Laine.

If contract talks with Rossi go south, I wonder if a Rossi for McTavish is plausible?