Article: The Wild Have Gotten Weird

[Tom Schreier]

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[FredJohnson]

 

[Dis-allowed display name]

"However, the Wild could have doubled down on it by bottoming out to get better picks. Instead, they’ve tried to win while in cap hell and recently traded a second-round pick for a player in his mid-30s. Furthermore, they’ve prioritized veteran experience over young players with upside."

 

Lots of good stuff in this article but nothing better than the above snip.  While I think most of the GM's in town have prioritized on keeping seats full for mediocre teams so they can make money in the short term and sacrifice long term success, made wild swings in philosophy, or just been pig headed and stupid, the Wild have done all three.   But the worst in my opinion was trying to keep beating their head against the wall with the same aging team at the expensive of a top-of-the-draft pick.  

If you look at what one superstar can do for a lousy team (Kaprisov) and then be so close to a top pick like we were mid season a year or two ago, and just take on a bunch of old rentals to get in the playoffs and struggle to score just a few goals and embarrass themselves, and then extend fading glue guys.  If at midseason, I look up a say I have got a shot at "sneaking" into the playoffs, I look at what I can sell to build a better future.  We have been buyers at the NHL garage sale year after year and it has cost us.

Edited 2 hours ago by Dis-allowed display name

[SkolWild73]

36 minutes ago, Dis-allowed display name said:

"However, the Wild could have doubled down on it by bottoming out to get better picks. Instead, they’ve tried to win while in cap hell and recently traded a second-round pick for a player in his mid-30s. Furthermore, they’ve prioritized veteran experience over young players with upside."

 

Lots of good stuff in this article but nothing better than the above snip.  While I think most of the GM's in town have prioritized on keeping seats full for mediocre teams so they can make money in the short term and sacrifice long term success, made wild swings in philosophy, or just been pig headed and stupid, the Wild have done all three.   But the worst in my opinion was trying to keep beating their head against the wall with the same aging team at the expensive of a top-of-the-draft pick.  

If you look at what one superstar can do for a lousy team (Kaprisov) and then be so close to a top pick like we were mid season a year or two ago, and just take on a bunch of old rentals to get in the playoffs and struggle to score just a few goals and embarrass themselves, and then extend fading glue guys.  If at midseason, I look up a say I have got a shot at "sneaking" into the playoffs, I look at what I can sell to build a better future.  We have been buyers at the NHL garage sale year after year and it has cost us.

That has worked wonders for Buffalo, Chicago, San Jose, etc.  People are worried about Kap resigning with us with what we have done. So a tank would have been better? 

[SkolWild73]

First off, I would like to thank Tom for another article with a link to our "bad aging contracts".  I missed it in the other articles he has wrote.

Now to comment on some stuff from the article, specifically for those of us that see many of the good things that this team has done and maybe to help those that don't view it as good to see it better.

Minnesota also would have benefitted from extending Rossi after his All-Rookie season last year:  

Hindsight is 20/20, but if I recall a majority of fans did not want this to be done.  They wanted to see it for more than part of a year, which he has done.  Even still, some are not sold on resigning him.

They traded a second-round pick for 35-year-old Gustav Nyquist in what’s likely a lost season. That’s weird. 

A lost season?  8th best points percentage.  Also, compared to what some teams are giving up for other players, (Nico Sturm aside), it doesn't look that bad.

the Wild have a strange approach to player development

So, Rossi scores one point in 19 games, gets sent down to work on things.  Comes back the next year and scores 40 in 82 and has 51 in 62 this year.  I would say that is what you do to develop a player.  Isn't that what Iowa is for?  Boldy played a total of 24 games in Iowa and then came up and has played great since.  It's not like the we kept him there forever.

Minnesota was competing with the Winnipeg Jets for the Central Division at Thanksgiving. Three months later, they’re battling to stay out of a Wild Card spot and made a desperate trade for a 35-year-old former player. 

Below is how many points teams have gained on us since Thanksgiving (40 games)

• Colorado- 4
• Vegas-5
• Oilers-6
• Jets-8
• Start-10

The following teams we have gained points on

• Flames-5
• Canucks-2
• Kings-same

Since Christmas, or since Kap went down, we have gained points on Calgary and Vancouver and held the same or lost 2 or less points to everyone but Dallas and Winnipeg.  Not too bad without your best players and some of the injuries on top of that.

 Furthermore, they’ve prioritized veteran experience over young players with upside.

So, what young players would have helped us?  Ohgren and Khus played a combined 80 games to the tune of 3G and 8A and a -13.  I am glad we had some vets, so we were able to send them down, like we did Rossi, and hope they learn some things and come back better next year.  It sucked to send them down when we got Nyquist, but would we rather roll with one of those two instead of Nyquist in the playoffs?

[Dean]

Great article. Pretty spot on. Minnesota is not a destination for free agents or where top talent in the league want / consider going to.  Let’s not kid ourselves . Marner or Rantanen  wouldn’t sign here this summer.  Boeser maybe but that’s only because he’s from Minnesota. Imo that’s not smart to be paying him , Boldy  an if they can sign kappy 8 million plus each and still no center depth . I’m really curious what big game free agents the wild think they can land this summer? IMO it will be very underwhelming. 
     Due to the fact we are not a destination an a mid market team. Billy needs to gm differently than Vegas /florida . He needs to be better at  player evaluation, asset management, contract valuation,  an having flexibility so when an opportunity arises you can take it. No clauses unless your name is kappy .  The wild have to build through draft to have the high end talent to buy what they need . They won’t be getting freebies in free agency .  
      He spent all his draft picks this year for the future. His team is broken with injuries yet he thinks wasting a 2nd in a good draft year for another 35 yr old left winger is going to do anything for this team is a joke . Reading Russo saying we’re going to extend shore a few years is another joke .  The fact the people covering wild think there’s a chance Hartman gets bought out this summer is crazy. It’s crazy he got that contract . Billy needs to fold on this year and not do anything stupid like trade your prospects and picks for Nelson or hand out his dumb extensions. Go into the summer and try to clean house on bad contracts and see what you get in free agency. 
    What did the last few playoff runs get you. Embarrassment and nothing else. What could those assets wasted at deadline or the ones you could have gained by selling got you ? Idk but it would be better than where we sit now . You have to beat other teams to win cup so if your team isn’t good enough then Why keep wasting assets on it? The goal is the cup not making the playoffs ! 
    IMO Billy is a middle of the road gm in a medium market doing mediocre things.  No big swings when you need them but big swings on things you don’t need like overpaid clause laden contacts for guys with no value.   
    

[Enforceror]

I've posted this before but felt like maybe we need to take perspective again.

Years without making the playoffs:

Buffalo Sabres	2010–11	13 seasons
Detroit Red Wings	2015–16	8 seasons
Ottawa Senators	2016–17	7 seasons
Anaheim Ducks	2017–18	6 seasons
San Jose Sharks	2018–19	5 seasons
Arizona Coyotes	2019–20	4 seasons1
Chicago Blackhawks	2019–20	4 seasons
Columbus Blue Jackets	2019–20	4 seasons
Philadelphia Flyers	2019–20	4 seasons
Montreal Canadiens	2020–21	3 seasons
Calgary Flames	2021–22	2 seasons
Pittsburgh Penguins	2021–22	2 seasons
St. Louis Blues	2021–22	2 seasons
Minnesota Wild	2022–23	1 season
New Jersey Devils	2022–23	1 season
Seattle Kraken	2022–23	1 season