Article: The Justin Brazeau Trade Was A Step In the Wrong Direction

[Tony Abbott]

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[M_Nels]

Lateral step, no movement forward or back IMO. Maybe Braz will thrive? Stay tuned!

[Enforceror]

Let's see what he's got. Definitely an interesting player. I'm not thrilled by any means but he seems to be an odds defier. Maybe that fits in with our team perfectly.

[Sam]

Yes I agree with this article, I thought there was a lot of potential in Khus and was showing that he’s fast and creative with the puck. I hope this trade works out anyway. 

[Dango]

Maybe he can fill the ovi office on the power play .  

[Burnt Toast]

I like the trade. It gives us a better chance at winning some games in the playoffs. He checks some boxes as a net front, right shot BIG forward. He has the potential to be a difference maker, something MK wasn’t able to do. I like the idea of getting our younger guys playoff experience. Not to mention KK. If Gus gets hot as he did in game one of the Dallas series anything can happen. I hope MK & JL get lots of minutes in the Boston rebuild too. 

[1Brotherbill]

Going to miss Marat, his speed and style I liked.  But he was never going to be on the top two lines consistently.  His speed more than made up for his size on the third and fourth line roles.  But size is always better of speed in that situation.  So, a lateral move which switched out one type of tools for a different type of tools.  

I'm Ok with it.  Have mixed feelings about the possibility that Marat could play over a thousand games in Boston like Clutterbuck did in New York.  I would be happy for him but hate that he didn't do it in Minnesota. 

[Will D. Ness]

1 game in and Brazeau made Trenin look fast.

[RedLake]

If Yurov doesn't hit say bye bye to Kaprizov.

[RedLake]

Looks like someone hit Hynes lol. Locker room lost down the stretch. Bet Hartman did it lmfao.

[Patrick]

Head scratcher of a deal. Boston beat writer said they were expecting a late round pick and nothing else for Brazeau.  Marat will play 10 years in the NHL with his speed and defensive game. He may even develop into a decent scoring option too.  Boston is desperate for offense and Brazeau was getting healthy scratched....

 

[mnfaninnc]

I think we're just considering the parts of this trade without looking at the full organization. Could MaRat have played in the NHL for a long time? Yes he can. Was he likely to be passed on our depth chart? I think again the answer is yes, and it would likely happen soon. 

I don't think Devon Shore is the guy to do it, but one of the younger guys like Bankier. MaRat wasn't producing points, and constantly button hooked when reaching the offensive zone. Part of that was many weren't keeping up with him so he waited for his teammates. Part of it was an unwillingness to drive the net and get a shot off. My guess here is that he was asked to do that and he didn't. In my mind, MaRat was not a good fit as a 4th line C. He should have been with higher quality wings. 

So, what didn't we have? We had nobody the size of this guy in St. Paul or Des Moines. And, this type of guy is someone who is needed going forward. He made Trenin look fast? Maybe, but it's his 1st game in a new system with 13 hours of travel time that day and no practice. I'd say he was going to look slow. If we resign him for 2 years, and let Andy Ness work with him on the skating, could he improve? I think he can and I believe he's a late bloomer due to his size. 

But, giving up the full Grape Knuts pairing was difficult and likely an overpayment. But, if Breezers is still improving and provides something we don't have that will help us be harder to play against, this is probably a good move. He certainly knows how to bang home rebounds and screen goalies. I do think this move has long term implications assuming we resign him. The long term part is that someone better than MaRat is going to center the 4th line next season (maybe a lineup shift down). 

When we were at our best, we had Fiala and most people point to him as the difference. However, we also had 2 big bottom 6 lines that wore teams down. I think losing Sturm was a lot more of a loss than we recognize. The speedy 4th line just couldn't get it done, so Guerin is going back to a large bottom 6. My hope is that Breezers can be faster than Reaves. Breezers also makes the rink smaller on his side of the ice. 

[MacGyver]

From what I seen last night he's a flat footed Sasquatch. He would be a big project for Andy Ness even. When you are big and slow your foot speed offsets part of your ability to use your size. Guys know you are big and slow and they know where you are on the ice and therefore know how to avoid getting crushed by you. If he was 22 or 23 it might be different but he's closer to 30 that he is 23 even. 

It's not like other teams he was with didn't have skating coaches. After digesting this trade I've believe it was one of those well we have to do something before the dead line right? If it's a trade just to make a trade then we lost. We would have been better off seeing if Marat comes to life next season with some new blood on the team. I think Breezers is who is now and not much more ceiling. 

[Pewterschmidt]

12 hours ago, Will D. Ness said:

1 game in and Brazeau made Trenin look fast.

While this is depressing I did notice a willingness to make contact with the opponent which is encouraging.  Trenin continues to play Fred gudreau’s games with 1/2 The skill and’s 1/10 The heart.    
ill assume brazzers was signed to replace Trenin while he gets sent away this summer.  Otherwise this move makes no sense at all. 

[Pewterschmidt]

46 minutes ago, MacGyver said:

We would have been better off seeing if Marat comes to life next season with some new blood on the team.

Agree vs bringing in Wal-Mart Pat Maroon.   
 

make it make sense bill. 

[Protec]

Knudi had a shot. He is another timid player in many ways. Positively Euro-esque. He can skate and make passes but lacks the things MN needs now and next season. Brazeaul has the size MN lacks and with guys like Heidt, Haight, Yurov, Buium, and Ritchie in the fold, there's more utility from the hard to move big guy. Especially for this year's playoff against Dallas or Colorado. 

This was the price to be paid for this season's playoff readiness. Still hard to imagine MN getting far but not a huge blunder IMO. 

[Pewterschmidt]

24 minutes ago, Protec said:

Knudi had a shot. He is another timid player in many ways. Positively Euro-esque. He can skate and make passes but lacks the things MN needs now and next season. Brazeaul has the size MN lacks and with guys like Heidt, Haight, Yurov, Buium, and Ritchie in the fold, there's more utility from the hard to move big guy. Especially for this year's playoff against Dallas or Colorado. 

This was the price to be paid for this season's playoff readiness. Still hard to imagine MN getting far but not a huge blunder IMO. 

Pains me to agree with this take because khuz showed a lot of promise early (winning face offs, speed, seemed gritty) but then he went sideways for 57 games.  I wish we’d given him another season before cutting bait, but bro isn’t getting bigger and is clearly allergic to offense.  Does he become sam steel 2.0 in 5 years.  Maybe but I guess I’m not interested in waiting to find out

Edited March 8 by Pewterschmidt

[SkolWild73]

I think having Khus long term would have been nice, but also need to look at next years team.  We already have nine forwards under contact, and assuming Rossi resigns and Yurov and Ohgren make the team we would already be at 12, plus the assumed signing of at least one FA.  Would we want to sign Khus this off-season to have him play in the A or be a scratch?  Really wasn’t room for him or Lauko.

[Will D. Ness]

1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

While this is depressing I did notice a willingness to make contact with the opponent which is encouraging.  Trenin continues to play Fred gudreau’s games with 1/2 The skill and’s 1/10 The heart.    
ill assume brazzers was signed to replace Trenin while he gets sent away this summer.  Otherwise this move makes no sense at all. 

It's 100% and totally unfair for me to judge this guy on one game but he looked like he might be the worst skater in the league.  Reavo could skate circles around him.

I get it that we want a different dynamic for the 4th line, and I agree we could use some more big heavies... but I don't know about this guy.

[OldDutchChip]

1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

While this is depressing I did notice a willingness to make contact with the opponent which is encouraging.  Trenin continues to play Fred gudreau’s games with 1/2 The skill and’s 1/10 The heart.    
ill assume brazzers was signed to replace Trenin while he gets sent away this summer.  Otherwise this move makes no sense at all. 

if you replace trenin then what's next for him? are we going to buy out trenin and maybe harty too? ....  and then cry for another three years "oh that unfortunate cap penalty of 8MM (harty plus trenin salary i think) is hand-cuffing us from signing someone for 8MM.....so one we are done with cap penalty 2.0 we are going to be in great shape - be patience everybody"

nope Billy - trenin is on you! no more buy-outs! figure it out, send trenin and MJ thru waivers to start (if allowed)......at least Billy hasn't yet inked Nyquil to a few more years....

[OldDutchChip]

1 hour ago, Protec said:

Knudi had a shot. He is another timid player in many ways. Positively Euro-esque. He can skate and make passes but lacks the things MN needs now and next season. Brazeaul has the size MN lacks and with guys like Heidt, Haight, Yurov, Buium, and Ritchie in the fold, there's more utility from the hard to move big guy. Especially for this year's playoff against Dallas or Colorado. 

This was the price to be paid for this season's playoff readiness. Still hard to imagine MN getting far but not a huge blunder IMO. 

i dunno, i feel like Marat played how he was asked to play and maybe some of that "responsible" nature from KHL carried over a bit much and he was a bit timid and didn't fully trust the all-star line he was on so he didn't cheat.

what MN needed was not a boost to the 4th line - it was a boost to top 6 with influx of physicality. instead we have a slow ass bottom six that you CAN'T play in the playoffs cause it will be horribly outplayed and what's worse - our top 6 is still the same - and WILL take punishment just like before (Kap is getting excited!)

 This was the price to be paid for this season's playoff readiness. define playoff readiness? time and time again we infused our bottom 6 with overly physical slow buffoons, without any results that matter. they did not deter violence against top 6 (for they are on the bench when that happens) and they can't be counted on to help shut down the top dogs of opponents. so unless our readiness equals one and gone.....in addition to a few more injuries - i have no idea why we brought in both Braz and Nyquist. 

[Protec]

10 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

i dunno, i feel like Marat played how he was asked to play and maybe some of that "responsible" nature from KHL carried over a bit much and he was a bit timid and didn't fully trust the all-star line he was on so he didn't cheat.

what MN needed was not a boost to the 4th line - it was a boost to top 6 with influx of physicality. instead we have a slow ass bottom six that you CAN'T play in the playoffs cause it will be horribly outplayed and what's worse - our top 6 is still the same - and WILL take punishment just like before (Kap is getting excited!)

 This was the price to be paid for this season's playoff readiness. define playoff readiness? time and time again we infused our bottom 6 with overly physical slow buffoons, without any results that matter. they did not deter violence against top 6 (for they are on the bench when that happens) and they can't be counted on to help shut down the top dogs of opponents. so unless our readiness equals one and gone.....in addition to a few more injuries - i have no idea why we brought in both Braz and Nyquist. 

Cause that's what MN could afford to add scoring, size, and experience. Playoff readiness is a subjective term. If MN got healthy again and had a couple top guys return, the pieces would slot in okay and there's still some depth. Other teams will have injury-risk too. The Wild will be as ready as they can be. Lauko and Knudi were likable players. Potential sure, but not really perfect right now. 

[OldDutchChip]

2 minutes ago, Protec said:

Cause that's what MN could afford to add scoring, size, and experience. Playoff readiness is a subjective term. If MN got healthy again and had a couple top guys return, the pieces would slot in okay and there's still some depth. Other teams will have injury-risk too. The Wild will be as ready as they can be. Lauko and Knudi were likable players. Potential sure, but not really perfect right now. 

nah i don't buy that. you have Ek who could be shut down and use his money. to say that the best they could do was Braz....nope not acceptable

If MN got healthy again and had a couple top guys return, the pieces would slot in okay and there's still some depth. MN will be healthy enough for Playoffs. These trades are thus meaningless but they do cost (a) picks and (b) young players on the cheap. it is very reassuring to a young player that battled the entire year and is traded for a guy that really hasn't even played much on an average boston team. 

Other teams will have injury-risk too. The Wild will be as ready as they can be. 

they could be better prepped. as Dallas and Colorado proved - you either play for the cup or for PO. they were not afraid to deal even at the cost of some interesting youth or proven scorers. we seems to be constantly dealing with left-overs and our aim is much lower than other contending central teams.

Lauko and Knudi were likable players. Potential sure, but not really perfect right now.  plenty of other "not really perfect" players on the team, why didn't we move them? 

WHO will be scared of this bottom 6? 😱 the only one that can skate on bottom 6 is MJ.....the addition of braz removed any speed we had to at least try to play with .... let's say vegas. they are laughing at our line up right now. they can destroy kap and rossi with their monster top 9 and won't get touched by our bottom 6 players. 

• freddy foligno trenin
• braz jones mj

[Protec]

2 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

nah i don't buy that. you have Ek who could be shut down and use his money. to say that the best they could do was Braz....nope not acceptable

If MN got healthy again and had a couple top guys return, the pieces would slot in okay and there's still some depth. MN will be healthy enough for Playoffs. These trades are thus meaningless but they do cost (a) picks and (b) young players on the cheap. it is very reassuring to a young player that battled the entire year and is traded for a guy that really hasn't even played much on an average boston team. 

Other teams will have injury-risk too. The Wild will be as ready as they can be. 

they could be better prepped. as Dallas and Colorado proved - you either play for the cup or for PO. they were not afraid to deal even at the cost of some interesting youth or proven scorers. we seems to be constantly dealing with left-overs and our aim is much lower than other contending central teams.

Lauko and Knudi were likable players. Potential sure, but not really perfect right now.  plenty of other "not really perfect" players on the team, why didn't we move them? 

WHO will be scared of this bottom 6? 😱 the only one that can skate on bottom 6 is MJ.....the addition of braz removed any speed we had to at least try to play with .... let's say vegas. they are laughing at our line up right now. they can destroy kap and rossi with their monster top 9 and won't get touched by our bottom 6 players. 

• freddy foligno trenin
• braz jones mj

I know you're not impressed but in the real-world scenario, Guerin's plan involved lean times until the cap penalties end. Lauko was barely playing all season due to injury. It was a kick at the can and Knudi also had a chance to prove what kind of player he was. Neither guy was really moving the needle and perhaps Brazo won't either but it's another attempt to get value from what the Wild can afford. 

I'm over the buyouts and not interested in re-hashing that debate years later. Knudi came as part of the Kunin trade and also amounts to another kick at the can. That's been Billy's m.o. since this started and he's had some good success with Fred, Gus, Chisholm, and players who he hasn't paid much to acquire or retain. Good serviceable guys or better. 

Brazo is not a core player but hasn't been injured or devoid of scoring. He almost tipped a puck or two last night at the net-front. He's an imposing body even if slow. So the debate is really over a small-speedster with one facet or a big-man with a North American style game. Either way you're looking at complimentary guys or role guys. Guerin is not dumping blue-chip prospects for nuthin, he's reshaping a group within the big-picture plan with another can-kick to hit jackpot. 

I thought Trenin played a more complete game last night and MN still has three little guys in Zuccy, Rossi, and Spurge. The size Brazo brings is needed cause the other small guys have secure spots. It's no big splash but it certainly isn't a massive failure. 

My point is that MN is handicapped and limited. Is Guerin totally idle, no. Is he swinging for the fences, no. To me, it appears he's doing what he can without derailing the overall plan set forth years ago. I think it's a good thing GMBG isn't waiting around for too long on players. Plenty of 20-22yo guys have shown more at the NHL level than Knudi or Lauko. So do you wait and wait or does a 27yo big guy get a chance for a fresh start and opportunity? We can all see these aren't primary moves with long-term implications. I would venture to guess Knudi is not the next M. St.Louis, Jason Blake, or Marco Rossi. If he does become that kind of player, the timing doesn't fit. It's history now anyway.  

[OldDutchChip]

3 hours ago, Protec said:

I know you're not impressed but in the real-world scenario, Guerin's plan involved lean times until the cap penalties end. Lauko was barely playing all season due to injury. It was a kick at the can and Knudi also had a chance to prove what kind of player he was. Neither guy was really moving the needle and perhaps Brazo won't either but it's another attempt to get value from what the Wild can afford. 

I'm over the buyouts and not interested in re-hashing that debate years later. Knudi came as part of the Kunin trade and also amounts to another kick at the can. That's been Billy's m.o. since this started and he's had some good success with Fred, Gus, Chisholm, and players who he hasn't paid much to acquire or retain. Good serviceable guys or better. 

Brazo is not a core player but hasn't been injured or devoid of scoring. He almost tipped a puck or two last night at the net-front. He's an imposing body even if slow. So the debate is really over a small-speedster with one facet or a big-man with a North American style game. Either way you're looking at complimentary guys or role guys. Guerin is not dumping blue-chip prospects for nuthin, he's reshaping a group within the big-picture plan with another can-kick to hit jackpot. 

I thought Trenin played a more complete game last night and MN still has three little guys in Zuccy, Rossi, and Spurge. The size Brazo brings is needed cause the other small guys have secure spots. It's no big splash but it certainly isn't a massive failure. 

My point is that MN is handicapped and limited. Is Guerin totally idle, no. Is he swinging for the fences, no. To me, it appears he's doing what he can without derailing the overall plan set forth years ago. I think it's a good thing GMBG isn't waiting around for too long on players. Plenty of 20-22yo guys have shown more at the NHL level than Knudi or Lauko. So do you wait and wait or does a 27yo big guy get a chance for a fresh start and opportunity? We can all see these aren't primary moves with long-term implications. I would venture to guess Knudi is not the next M. St.Louis, Jason Blake, or Marco Rossi. If he does become that kind of player, the timing doesn't fit. It's history now anyway.  

I know you're not impressed but in the real-world scenario, Guerin's plan involved lean times until the cap penalties end.

no one made him hand out deal to MJ, Hartman nor Trenin, nor trade for 36 year old Nyquist anda 27 rookie who can't skate and toss away majority of worthy picks in the next couple of years

Lauko was barely playing all season due to injury. It was a kick at the can and Knudi also had a chance to prove what kind of player he was. 

so what that Lauko was injured? do we trade Ek and Kap for being injured? Marat played fine for his first time in NHL and was given a very tough 4th line assignments with constantly-changing lineup - that no doubt didn't help to get him in sync. so we send BOTH plus a pick for who exactly? what impact will Braz have besides being yet another slow behemoth on our irrelevant bottom 6?

Neither guy was really moving the needle and perhaps Brazo won't either but it's another attempt to get value from what the Wild can afford. 

what is the value here with Brazo? he will not deter ANYONE - because we have seen that with Reaves - if you are not IN THE TOP 6 - it does NOT matter - and our skilled guys will pay

I'm over the buyouts and not interested in re-hashing that debate years later. Knudi came as part of the Kunin trade and also amounts to another kick at the can.

it does not matter about buy outs or where Marat came from. he was still  developing, had skill and motor and heart. and if you look at his KHL tape -it will show plenty of untapped potential. perhaps he was holding back and just doing what was asked - i hope he excels with boston. 

That's been Billy's m.o. since this started and he's had some good success with Fred, Gus, Chisholm, and players who he hasn't paid much to acquire or retain. Good serviceable guys or better. 

what MO? he has not made it past round 1. that is what matters. the rest is noise. 

Brazo is not a core player but hasn't been injured or devoid of scoring. He almost tipped a puck or two last night at the net-front.

we are celebrating near wins now? the dude was a healthy scratch for a not-so-good boston team. do we really needed to improve our bottom 6 that much? maybe there would be a bit more need up top? like Kap and Zuccy and Rossi so that they don't get bull dozed?

He's an imposing body even if slow.

if you are not in the play when it matters, it is irrelevant. and that is what Braz, just like Delaurier and Reaves before him

So the debate is really over a small-speedster with one facet or a big-man with a North American style game.

what's your obsession with north american style? you realize hockey can be unique to the point where people offer a unique skill that (irrelevant of their cultural and geographic background), if added together, can make a greater whole piece. your constant devalue of european style of play is just silly. go look at 1981 dominance of soviets against canada. detroit didn't seem to mind it. neither did tampa. hockey is a world game - not a US only game.

Either way you're looking at complimentary guys or role guys. Guerin is not dumping blue-chip prospects for nuthin, he's reshaping a group within the big-picture plan with another can-kick to hit jackpot. 

what jackpot?

I thought Trenin played a more complete game last night and MN still has three little guys in Zuccy, Rossi, and Spurge. The size Brazo brings is needed cause the other small guys have secure spots. It's no big splash but it certainly isn't a massive failure. 

what is the purpose of trenin and brazo in relation to Spurge, Zuccy and Rossi? really what is his purpose? he is not a pair on Spurge D nor is he a top 6 winger. he is a slow version of Reaves. and Reaves did NOTHING to deter the violence that will no doubt come onto our top 6. 

My point is that MN is handicapped and limited. Is Guerin totally idle, no. Is he swinging for the fences, no. To me, it appears he's doing what he can without derailing the overall plan set forth years ago.

6 years of no PO success? is that the plan?

I think it's a good thing GMBG isn't waiting around for too long on players. Plenty of 20-22yo guys have shown more at the NHL level than Knudi or Lauko. So do you wait and wait or does a 27yo big guy get a chance for a fresh start and opportunity?

you throw away a good value piece with potential PLUS a pick (not the first pick this year he threw away that won't pay dividends until whoknowswhen) for a guy who is what exactly? tall and big but can't skate and will likely MAYBE play on 4th line in PO? how many bruisers and big guys does a team need? we have Foligno and Trenin, do we need yet another slow ass?

We can all see these aren't primary moves with long-term implications. I would venture to guess Knudi is not the next M. St.Louis, Jason Blake, or Marco Rossi. If he does become that kind of player, the timing doesn't fit. It's history now anyway.  

wake me up when a  primary move is made

Edited March 9 by OldDutchChip