Article: The Wild Must Get Cap-Savvy and Bring Brock Boeser Home

[OldDutchChip]

1 hour ago, Citizen Strife said:

What I meant by swinging back to Evason was a couple years ago when they had some crazy high offense, but zip for defense.  They would come from behind in nearly every game.  It didn't end up helping at all in the playoffs...because yeah.  Getting offense for the sake of crippling our defense too early doesn't sound too smart.  Spurgeon has shown he still has a lot left to give.

But worry about the playoffs all you want like you always seem to.  I like having teams play well to get there first.

some crazy high offense....here again you are selling Ranty a bit short. Yes, we had Fiala then. But if you suggest that Fiala has the same impact as Ranty, i will disagree. Fiala is also a finesse player, while Ranty is 6-4 all around superstar. That's a whole different level of offense. You put that with Kaprizov and sprinkle in our young core AND zeev....well you don't need to defend that much. We will own offensive end. that what took EDM to the SC. 

But worry about the playoffs all you want like you always seem to.  I like having teams play well to get there first.  why wouldn't we be concerned with PO? that's the overall goal right? Not to field a competitive team. We done that for 30 years. i want a cup. 

[1Brotherbill]

So, Ohgren for Boeser.  Is this what I saw in the article?  Are you nuts?

Why would you send someone who has shown that he is going to be pretty good in this league for someone who has shown that he isn't going to be very good going forward. 

[hydguy75]

13 hours ago, SkolWild73 said:

The Wall is signed for $2.2M, leaving us with $19,551,668.  Assuming we have 13 forwards and 7 defensemen, we need to sign 3 more forwards and 2 D.  

In terms of cap space for reserve needs next year, I'm not hearing anyone mention net minders.  We don't know if Wally's A stats this year are a poor team, poor goaltending, or a team left with holes due to the callups needed this season.  Are we really that confident in GT heading into the next few seasons?  Call me a pessimist, but I think we need to reconsider our goaltending a little deeper, esp if we are relying on a lot of ELC Defense next few seasons.  

Edited February 25 by hydguy75

[Burnt Toast]

13 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

alphabetical order - 

ODC’s new book “The ABC’s of a Hockey GM”. A must read!! Hitting NYTs best seller list. Pick up at any local Holiday. Seriously the D core is looking pretty spiffy. Nice. 

[M_Nels]

3 hours ago, hydguy75 said:

In terms of cap space for reserve needs next year, I'm not hearing anyone mention net minders.  We don't know if Wally's A stats this year are a poor team, poor goaltending, or a team left with holes due to the callups needed this season.  Are we really that confident in GT heading into the next few seasons?  Call me a pessimist, but I think we need to reconsider our goaltending a little deeper, esp if we are relying on a lot of ELC Defense next few seasons.  

I think the Wall is going to be fine as a backup for next season. His last 4 games he's at a .909% with a horrendous Iowa team in front of him. Hlavaj isn't looking bad either if the Wall struggles mightily. 

[mnfaninnc]

13 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

And how do you solve "depth" when you're front loading top lines?  Tell me how that worked out for Toronto.  You don't outscore shitty defense.  You want Spurgeon gone to take a shot at Rantanen, well enjoy a lot of lost games 6-4, 5-3.  We saw how helpful Spurgeon still is when nearly all the defense was in shambles about a month ago.

I understand the concern here. The difference is that Toronto could never backfill with defenders internally. We can. Buium, Jiricek, Lambos and Spacek are all good prospects, and way better than Toronto could bring. Like it or not, Spurgeon is gone soon, whether it be next season or in a couple. We've got to have a plan to replace him, and I think Jiricek is that plan. 

What we don't have are really great forwards. We've got a lot of 200' game forwards, but not the huge scorers like a Ranty can bring....with size. While ODC is optimistic we can land him, I am very pessimistic about this and think he'll resign with the Canes. 

If this happens, let's remember the lesson of Martin Havlat, don't just go and throw money at another guy who's injury prone. If your guy isn't there, keep the money for when your guy becomes available or an internal option fills that hole. 

[mnfaninnc]

14 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

I'd just as soon have a Boeser or Nelson.  are you seriously going to say that you'll take one of Brocks over Ranty? You realize both of them will cost around 6MM (older) 8MM (younger) at least ....you can absorb Ranty's larger contract with influx of youth and existing budget contracts.

There's one other thing to consider here. Do 2 Brocks block a roster spot for a younger guy? With Ranty you get 1 roster spot used, and can then use the 2nd roster spot on a young guy who's ready. At some point, we've got to transition into these younger guys!

I don't think Nelson is worth $6m/yr. and I don't think Boeser is worth $8m/yr. They may actually get that, but let someone else make those mistakes, not us.

[mnfaninnc]

13 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

Ranty will want to come in to a successful situation. He has won before and i think he'll go to a team that at least made it to R2.

I agree with this, but, if you look at Carolina, they have already consistently made it out of round 1. They have another good roster but are weak in goal. This is why I think he stays + having Aho there.

[Citizen Strife]

Hence the Nashville thing I like bringing up.  The Preds may bounce back next year, but the damage is already kinda done with one down season making them panic.

[mnfaninnc]

4 hours ago, hydguy75 said:

In terms of cap space for reserve needs next year, I'm not hearing anyone mention net minders.  We don't know if Wally's A stats this year are a poor team, poor goaltending, or a team left with holes due to the callups needed this season.  Are we really that confident in GT heading into the next few seasons?  Call me a pessimist, but I think we need to reconsider our goaltending a little deeper, esp if we are relying on a lot of ELC Defense next few seasons.  

I am fine with the goaltending issue. I think the rug getting pulled out from under The Wall at the beginning of the season shattered his confidence. He really needs a reset and probably going home in Sweden is the best way. The Wall was ready for NHL shots and he needs that for his development. There will be a transition time for him where he'll miss on some amazing moves, but that's part of the process which should have started this season. 

We'll be in good hands with him backing up and let's hope that Goose isn't an every other year 'tender. I do believe that a good defense helps out these goalies, and I think the big Wild will have a very good and young defense. 

If we install the kids this next year, I would expect to see some streakiness in the team's results. But, I also foresee a real gelling of the team around mid February where they start marching towards (March) the playoffs as a much better team than was assembled in October. This is different. For the last 5 seasons, we've tried to enter the playoffs as a banged up ship. This time, I see us really rolling. Results usually lag, but I really believe momentum will be building. 

[OldDutchChip]

19 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I agree with this, but, if you look at Carolina, they have already consistently made it out of round 1. They have another good roster but are weak in goal. This is why I think he stays + having Aho there.

sure it's an option. but i think he waits it out. it's not like Aho is his best childhood friend. he is from the same country - and that's it. it's like saying Trenin and Marat are here, so no worries - Kap will resign! That doesn't work out all the time. But yes, they are the lead runners to get him. 

[OldDutchChip]

12 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

Hence the Nashville thing I like bringing up.  The Preds may bounce back next year, but the damage is already kinda done with one down season making them panic.

not sure they will be able to recover for years.....unless they find a sucker to take old man stamkos (please Bill don't be that sucker!). otherwise, preds are penguins of the west. yuck. 

[mnfaninnc]

22 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

it's not like Aho is his best childhood friend. he is from the same country - and that's it.

This is not what I read, they are best buds. They are from the same draft (curiously the Kaprizov/Ek draft) and likely made that friendship playing on their national team in WJCs and so on. Which likely means they were on the same national team for quite a few years.

[OldDutchChip]

7 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

This is not what I read, they are best buds. They are from the same draft (curiously the Kaprizov/Ek draft) and likely made that friendship playing on their national team in WJCs and so on. Which likely means they were on the same national team for quite a few years.

hmm 🤔

 

[SkolWild73]

6 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

There's one other thing to consider here. Do 2 Brocks block a roster spot for a younger guy? With Ranty you get 1 roster spot used, and can then use the 2nd roster spot on a young guy who's ready. At some point, we've got to transition into these younger guys!

I don't think Nelson is worth $6m/yr. and I don't think Boeser is worth $8m/yr. They may actually get that, but let someone else make those mistakes, not us.

Roster spots are already an issue without bringing someone else on.  Signed for next year are Kap, Boldy, Ek, Zucc, Hartman, Foligno, Trenin, Freddy, Vinny, and Ohgren.  Thats ten.  You ad Rossi, Khus and Yurov, someone is already sitting.  If we resign Lauko, that’s 14.  Some will have to go, my money is Lauko and Hartman with Trenin being next if we bring just one in.

[mnfaninnc]

20 minutes ago, SkolWild73 said:

Some will have to go, my money is Lauko and Hartman with Trenin being next if we bring just one in.

I'm with you here. Hartman has a 15 team M-NTC starting July 1st. I think he'll be one of them. 

[Need4speed99]

I would hope nojo, Hartman and hopefully freddy are gone. Need to bring in some bigger plamakers or have room for them(prospects) also put marat 3rd line and see what he could actually do. 

Put olgrehn on a higher line rather than the 4th and see what he translates to. Bringing in boeser is a move the wild have always done. Solid player not elite than paying more to keep him signed to a contract when he would be in the mid 30s. 

IF they did that it's just following the wild MO. they need star talent not a bunch of mid tier guys, unless you are getting them cheap. Just seems this is what ownership wants, no rebuild as long as the fans are in the stands. Stay in the middle. 

As I've said before even after the bad contracts come off the books they won't have NEAR what people think to spend. But being competitive and making the playoffs is all liepold really cares about. 

They get brock boeser they give up too much and end up with another parise anchor. Very good player(not elite) at a high dollar for way to long a term. We have had this for the last 20 yrs, it hasn't worked.

[GuntChuck]

It is really refreshing to come to this page and see level headed people saying no to acquiring Boeser, or Nelson for that matter. Boeser is 28, has one plus 30 goal season to this point and is, this year, a -18 player (only a + player in 2 seasons). Read anything from Canucks fan pages or websites similar to what this is for Wild and they will say, he is not a great skater, he doesn't drive offense and is non existent defensively. Sure, he will come in, maybe scores some big goals on the PP (35% of his total goals are on the PP) but he is a total passenger, reliant on the players around him to feed him the puck. He is not Ovi and does not score enough to only be good at scoring goals. He is an absolute black hole of a contract that would screw this team at a time when they need people who work and produce like Kap (not necessarily produce numbers like him). Jared McCann would be an example. He has scored 40 goals in a year and he can absolutely fly and lay the body. There are so many better options than an aging center, or a guy close to 30 who is not that good and certainly only going to get worse at this point in his career. a 5-6 mil a year contract for 3 years for Boeser would be fine and we would most likely get value but 8x8, that will never be a contract you will ever get remotely close to value back and probably unmovable by year 4. We need guys that hate to lose, and someone who does not put in effort to be a more complete player in whatever way they can, does not hate to lose.

[Enforceror]

On 2/25/2025 at 7:11 PM, Need4speed99 said:

I would hope nojo, Hartman and hopefully freddy are gone.

Nojo for sure, Hartman...I think his contract $ would be nice to have to get an upgrade on line 2 but I do think he holds value for this team.

Now Freddy. I'm going to say it out loud. I think Freddy G is a good contract for us. I'll admit I don't spend much time focusing on him but I don't feel like I see him make mistakes. With this thought, I did a little digging:

Gadreau has only 42 career penalty minutes in 387 NHL games.

He averages 12 goals and 30 points per 82 games despite playing third and fourth line minutes almost exclusively. 

Currently has the highest faceoff win % by anyone on the team while leading the team in faceoffs won.

4th in TOI among forwards

More blocked shots than any other forward.

2nd in takeaways for forwards

Has been a plus +/- for every year except last (which I think we all agree was due to an injury). Currently +1 but +12 overall career which includes the -23 from last year.

31-year old R shot Center. 6ft 183lbs. 

2.1m cap hit.

I'll admit I cherrie-picked some stats here but nothing stood as as bad. Would like to see what Tony's chart pulls up on him.

Until we get a prospect on an ELC that can cover what Freddy covers, I can't see how we'd get a better value anywhere else. Probably a hot take but I'll hunker down for the blowback 😉

[Pewterschmidt]

18 hours ago, Enforceror said:

Nojo for sure, Hartman...I think his contract $ would be nice to have to get an upgrade on line 2 but I do think he holds value for this team.

Now Freddy. I'm going to say it out loud. I think Freddy G is a good contract for us. I'll admit I don't spend much time focusing on him but I don't feel like I see him make mistakes. With this thought, I did a little digging:

Gadreau has only 42 career penalty minutes in 387 NHL games.

He averages 12 goals and 30 points per 82 games despite playing third and fourth line minutes almost exclusively. 

Currently has the highest faceoff win % by anyone on the team while leading the team in faceoffs won.

4th in TOI among forwards

More blocked shots than any other forward.

2nd in takeaways for forwards

Has been a plus +/- for every year except last (which I think we all agree was due to an injury). Currently +1 but +12 overall career which includes the -23 from last year.

31-year old R shot Center. 6ft 183lbs. 

2.1m cap hit.

I'll admit I cherrie-picked some stats here but nothing stood as as bad. Would like to see what Tony's chart pulls up on him.

Until we get a prospect on an ELC that can cover what Freddy covers, I can't see how we'd get a better value anywhere else. Probably a hot take but I'll hunker down for the blowback 😉

Very good hot take imo.  As I watched 89 play against avs i had exact same thought (w/o stats to support it, so thanks).  Fred isn’t going to bring much on terms of offense but he is a consistent and responsible (read: defensive) player.  
Don’t like the term, but the AAV is ok. 

[Need4speed99]

On 2/28/2025 at 5:03 PM, Enforceror said:

Nojo for sure, Hartman...I think his contract $ would be nice to have to get an upgrade on line 2 but I do think he holds value for this team.

Now Freddy. I'm going to say it out loud. I think Freddy G is a good contract for us. I'll admit I don't spend much time focusing on him but I don't feel like I see him make mistakes. With this thought, I did a little digging:

Gadreau has only 42 career penalty minutes in 387 NHL games.

He averages 12 goals and 30 points per 82 games despite playing third and fourth line minutes almost exclusively. 

Currently has the highest faceoff win % by anyone on the team while leading the team in faceoffs won.

4th in TOI among forwards

More blocked shots than any other forward.

2nd in takeaways for forwards

Has been a plus +/- for every year except last (which I think we all agree was due to an injury). Currently +1 but +12 overall career which includes the -23 from last year.

31-year old R shot Center. 6ft 183lbs. 

2.1m cap hit.

I'll admit I cherrie-picked some stats here but nothing stood as as bad. Would like to see what Tony's chart pulls up on him.

Until we get a prospect on an ELC that can cover what Freddy covers, I can't see how we'd get a better value anywhere else. Probably a hot take but I'll hunker down for the blowback 😉

 

[Need4speed99]

On 2/28/2025 at 5:03 PM, Enforceror said:

Nojo for sure, Hartman...I think his contract $ would be nice to have to get an upgrade on line 2 but I do think he holds value for this team.

Now Freddy. I'm going to say it out loud. I think Freddy G is a good contract for us. I'll admit I don't spend much time focusing on him but I don't feel like I see him make mistakes. With this thought, I did a little digging:

Gadreau has only 42 career penalty minutes in 387 NHL games.

He averages 12 goals and 30 points per 82 games despite playing third and fourth line minutes almost exclusively. 

Currently has the highest faceoff win % by anyone on the team while leading the team in faceoffs won.

4th in TOI among forwards

More blocked shots than any other forward.

2nd in takeaways for forwards

Has been a plus +/- for every year except last (which I think we all agree was due to an injury). Currently +1 but +12 overall career which includes the -23 from last year.

31-year old R shot Center. 6ft 183lbs. 

2.1m cap hit.

I'll admit I cherrie-picked some stats here but nothing stood as as bad. Would like to see what Tony's chart pulls up on him.

Until we get a prospect on an ELC that can cover what Freddy covers, I can't see how we'd get a better value anywhere else. Probably a hot take but I'll hunker down for the blowback 😉

How much more could a prospect provide? We live in a ziepold and guerin world. What could they do, if actually given a chance? We don't KNOW. We know what freddy is, not much. I think it's stupid to change the goalposts, either find 2nd scoring or not.

Freddy has pp chances on his list. He gets EVERY CHANCE. He's a 4th liner at best. Get the people that make changes. You want to win? MAKE FUCKING CHANGES!

[Enforceror]

1 hour ago, Need4speed99 said:

How much more could a prospect provide? We live in a ziepold and guerin world. What could they do, if actually given a chance? We don't KNOW. We know what freddy is, not much. I think it's stupid to change the goalposts, either find 2nd scoring or not.

Freddy has pp chances on his list. He gets EVERY CHANCE. He's a 4th liner at best. Get the people that make changes. You want to win? MAKE FUCKING CHANGES!

I agree. But until our prospects can cover what FG does for 2.1m or less, were not going to find anyone who can do this for less. I'm more sceptical about our development. We'll need a prospect to cover the stats I've listed to make this happen. Who? Ohgren? Nope. Stramel? Not this year. Heist? Not this year. Gadreau is doing what he needs to do on the cheap. We DO NOT have a prospect that can provide Gadreau contribution right now. I want more too but it is what it is

[RedLake]

Wish he still had Sam Steel and McBain was in a Mild jersey.

[Pewterschmidt]

8 hours ago, Enforceror said:

I'm more sceptical about our development.

I’m more skeptical about Brackett and Guerin’s ability to assess talent.