Article: The Wild's Recent Run Confirms That They Are Not Buyers

[Up North Guy]

5 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

This is exactly where we're at. If we sell, it's not for pick gain, it's more for the roster spot because someone internally is coming in to take it. Has OgZ done enough to stay? Has he done enough to overtake Johansson? OgZ is improving, but I don't think he's nudged himself past Johansson on the ladder just yet. 

I disagree. I think Ohgren's play has surpassed NoJo's. Now NoJo is a veteran player and that will garner some extra leeway. But if they go strictly by play, nopety nope. OgZ is taking the body and generating possession. His shooting need to increase and improve but that will come. It's not like NoJo is doing any of these things.

[mnfaninnc]

5 hours ago, Up North Guy said:

I disagree. I think Ohgren's play has surpassed NoJo's. Now NoJo is a veteran player and that will garner some extra leeway. But if they go strictly by play, nopety nope. OgZ is taking the body and generating possession. His shooting need to increase and improve but that will come. It's not like NoJo is doing any of these things.

I'll tell you where I see it. Johansson knows he's an NHL player and has confidence that he can play in this league. From where I see OgZ, he doesn't know this yet and does not have the confidence yet that he belongs. OgZ has improved and done some good things, but until his confidence is there, I don't think he passes Johansson on the depth chart (while Johansson is still employed by the Wild). 

OgZ many times looks very mechanical out on the ice. His lanes look like those on knob hockey games. His feel for the play and anticipation just isn't quite there yet, and if you look at his eyes on the bench, they look a bit bewildered. 

Rossi wasn't physically ready in his 1st stint. I am convinced the myocarditis took out way more than we will ever know from him. He had to have the monster offseason to stick, and when he had enough strength to hold off opponents, even briefly, his confidence grew. This, I think is the main difference in the cases. 

OgZ is physically ready. He still could turn into a beast like Ek. But his confidence just isn't quite there yet. 

Can a coach call mandatory practices for players under a certain amount of experience and under a certain age? We have basically a veteran team, but this will soon change. To me, OgZ needs some basic stick handling drills and acceleration drills. Could a mandatory practice be with Andy Ness? Every practice drill they do should be geared towards building the players' confidence, and many times, the vets don't need these drills. 

One thing our coaching staff is going to have to adapt to is development. We're going to have so many young guys on this roster who are uber talented. They've also got energy to burn. There needs to be both learning and mastering of skills. Right now, it would be attended by maybe 5 or 6 guys. We could have half the team involved next season. This will be interesting to watch. I wonder how up and coming teams do this? Buffalo, Ottawa, NJ, Detroit, Utah. Even teams that are just coming like Chicago, San Jose and Anaheim might have something to offer.

[fikifuka]

12 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

Just out of curiosity, why do you think Rossi would be offersheeted to a point where the Wild would not match? Just because a guy gets offersheeted, doesn't mean he's gone. It was a great negotiating tool for Carolina when Montreal offersheeted Aho. Waddell promptly matched and went on summer vacation.

If you're looking at how St. Louis got 2 players out of Edmonton, then you'd also have to realize that Edmonton could not afford the offersheet. We've got room for a Rossi bridge deal or a longterm deal if Rossi wants to add value. This wouldn't be the right organization to offersheet, you want to offersheet an organization who has to trade out players just to fit in the contract since they only have a week to do so. 

Which gets me to my next thought: Will the agents be at the 4 Nations' Tourney? I'm guessing that Rossi's agent will be and he and Guerin will have plenty to talk about. We are now in the window where an extension could/should be announced. I think Boldy's deal went fairly quickly. What does Rossi want? I could see him asking for a Boldy type of deal, especially since they are so close in points this season. If you get a longterm deal somewhere in the Eriksson Ek neighborhood, that would be a win-win, I think. For me, that would be worth a designation. 

With the cap going up massively the next 3 seasons, at least, and Rossi at 24 in September, going into his 3rd NHL season and evolving to a reliable 1 P/G center, no matter in which line he is thrown in, he will get offers 7+ AAV longterm for sure. It will be on MIN to decide on July 1st plus a week if they match the offer(s) and why not. Assuming the need for 15 AAV for Kaprizov plus a 8 AAV/ 4 year power forward/ proven scorer to become a real contender its going to be a tough decision to make. I don't see a scenario to sign him for a teamfriendly bridge deal - just because he will not need to.

[Up North Guy]

21 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

I'll tell you where I see it. Johansson knows he's an NHL player and has confidence that he can play in this league. From where I see OgZ, he doesn't know this yet and does not have the confidence yet that he belongs. OgZ has improved and done some good things, but until his confidence is there, I don't think he passes Johansson on the depth chart (while Johansson is still employed by the Wild). 

OgZ many times looks very mechanical out on the ice. His lanes look like those on knob hockey games. His feel for the play and anticipation just isn't quite there yet, and if you look at his eyes on the bench, they look a bit bewildered. 

Rossi wasn't physically ready in his 1st stint. I am convinced the myocarditis took out way more than we will ever know from him. He had to have the monster offseason to stick, and when he had enough strength to hold off opponents, even briefly, his confidence grew. This, I think is the main difference in the cases. 

OgZ is physically ready. He still could turn into a beast like Ek. But his confidence just isn't quite there yet. 

Can a coach call mandatory practices for players under a certain amount of experience and under a certain age? We have basically a veteran team, but this will soon change. To me, OgZ needs some basic stick handling drills and acceleration drills. Could a mandatory practice be with Andy Ness? Every practice drill they do should be geared towards building the players' confidence, and many times, the vets don't need these drills. 

One thing our coaching staff is going to have to adapt to is development. We're going to have so many young guys on this roster who are uber talented. They've also got energy to burn. There needs to be both learning and mastering of skills. Right now, it would be attended by maybe 5 or 6 guys. We could have half the team involved next season. This will be interesting to watch. I wonder how up and coming teams do this? Buffalo, Ottawa, NJ, Detroit, Utah. Even teams that are just coming like Chicago, San Jose and Anaheim might have something to offer.

i like the idea of extended coaching and maybe confidence building. Not sure i would want to get any ideas from Chicago or Buffalo. I also think that you are perhaps short siding OgZ. He only has about 20 games in the N and he is just now 21. If he gets a little success his game will explode. We saw that from Rossi. As far as NoJo, you are right, he is a vet and knows his game and what he needs to do. I, for one, am tired of waiting for him to display his game improvement. I just don't see where he provides any upside.

[mnfaninnc]

15 hours ago, Up North Guy said:

I also think that you are perhaps short siding OgZ. He only has about 20 games in the N and he is just now 21.

I'm not saying that OgZ doesn't have the potential to pass Johansson. It's strictly a balance sheet approach that sees Johansson above him on the ladder at this point in time. Even with OgZ's assist last night, and he improved again, I just think that Johansson looks more comfortable out there and is more confident in his game. 

Of course, this could change coming out of the break too. You never know when that lightbulb clicks on in a young gun's head and he actually believes he belongs. As soon as that happens, I'd say Johansson's spot flips. But, last night, you could see that Johansson has spotted OgZ in his rear view mirror and got a bit more physical. Apparently, he needs that threat to put forth better efforts. I frown on this motivational approach (of coasting until a threat comes). 

When OgZ gets it, he will be a player I will like watching far more than Johansson.

[Pewterschmidt]

On 2/7/2025 at 7:36 PM, mnfaninnc said:

OgZ many times looks very mechanical out on the ice. His lanes look like those on knob hockey games.

This is both funny and very accurate.  I see this too.  He skates in straight lines.  I’ve liked his last couple games cause he’s shown some flashes, but I still think he projects as a mid tier Nino, which for me is difficult to get excited about.  Now if he becomes more physical and becomes a Foligno type physical player who can also execute a hockey play playing 3rd line minutes I can get excited about that.  Definitely an important role on any team.  

[Pewterschmidt]

46 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Apparently, he needs that threat to put forth better efforts. I frown on this motivational approach (of coasting until a threat comes). 

I’m afraid that’s what we have in the Russian rag ass. He’s got job security for the first time in his career and is coasting until he gets healthy scratched then he comes back and gives you a couple good games and then revert back to coasting mode. it’s frustrating to watch

[FredJohnson]

Are we buyers again?

[Up North Guy]

2 hours ago, FredJohnson said:

Are we buyers again?

Maybe at the five and dime (showing my age with that one)

[mnfaninnc]

On 2/7/2025 at 10:41 PM, fikifuka said:

With the cap going up massively the next 3 seasons, at least, and Rossi at 24 in September, going into his 3rd NHL season and evolving to a reliable 1 P/G center, no matter in which line he is thrown in, he will get offers 7+ AAV longterm for sure. It will be on MIN to decide on July 1st plus a week if they match the offer(s) and why not. Assuming the need for 15 AAV for Kaprizov plus a 8 AAV/ 4 year power forward/ proven scorer to become a real contender its going to be a tough decision to make. I don't see a scenario to sign him for a teamfriendly bridge deal - just because he will not need to.

Assuming we don't match a $7+m offer, many teams are still cap stretched even with a little cap freedom coming. They have their own players to resign too. So, on this offer, would it be better to have Rossi, or a '26 1st, 2nd & 3rd? 

There are several teams which do not have all 3 of these picks and they have to be their own. To me, it looks like very few teams would even be in a position to make this sort of deal. I believe the Ducks are one team that could. Would Rossi accept an offersheet from the Ducks? Does he want to go anywhere else? 

Also, offersheet compensation is not lottery protected. So, would a team like the Ducks be willing to roll the dice and be better with Rossi, or be better with a top selection in the '26 draft in the 1st 3 rounds? $6.8ishm is the cutoff from a 1st & 3rd, which I believe the Wild would match.

[Dango]

I could see maybe the Hawks if they feel pressure to get  NHL ready talent  to support  Bedard  

[Enforceror]

4 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

Would Rossi accept an offersheet from the Ducks? Does he want to go anywhere else? 

I'm sure we won't know until it's settled but in an interview Rossi did (sorry can't remember source), he talked about really wanting to stay in MN. I guess it's what you're supposed to say but still, he strikes me as a humble, down to earth sort of guy.

He would endear himself to the fans if he took a team friendly contract to help us get a cup. As a professional player, how much does 2mil a year make a difference to you when you're already getting 4mil? Do you make a handshake deal with Guerin to get paid more later, following some locker room chatter that "we need to keep the cap down so we can win a cup" or do you (and/or Agent) just push for the most money you can to get the best pay you can, and to hell with the team...

Probably somewhere in the middle....just my musings.

Carry on 😉