Article: The Wild Can Start Filling Out Their Christmas List In April

[Chris Schad]

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[raithis]

I think getting past the first round makes us a more enticing destination for free agents and trade opportunities if the player on.the other end of the deal has a contract clause.

I know that shouldn't be our only goal, but I do think it goes a long way into showing progression.  We'll need the team from the beginning of the season to do it though.  Anything less and we'll fall short.

I said before the season that I thought they could win a round this year and I'm still sticking by that.  It's going to be rough, but I'm going to try and enjoy the ride and hope the good team shows up.

[Kato AK]

It doesn't matter if the Wild get bounced in the first round or make a run. BG needs to be aggressive this summer to put the team over the top. If the Wild go into next year with essentially the same lineup, his seat is going to get hot in a hurry and have very little sympathy from the fanbase.

[RedLake]

1 hour ago, Kato AK said:

It doesn't matter if the Wild get bounced in the first round or make a run. BG needs to be aggressive this summer to put the team over the top. If the Wild go into next year with essentially the same lineup, his seat is going to get hot in a hurry and have very little sympathy from the fanbase.

Marner or Rantanen will be here

[raithis]

6 hours ago, Kato AK said:

It doesn't matter if the Wild get bounced in the first round or make a run. BG needs to be aggressive this summer to put the team over the top. If the Wild go into next year with essentially the same lineup, his seat is going to get hot in a hurry and have very little sympathy from the fanbase.

My point is that it's easier to sign people and trade for people with no move clauses in the Wild show they are capable of winning a round.  Guerin can be aggressive as he wants to be and it won't mean anything if those types of players don't want to come here, or if we give up good assets and they don't want to stay.

Part of the reason we end up with aging players with ties to Minnesota is because we don't have the credibility to compete with the other teams that were after the bigger names.

Winning a round gains us some traction to attract better players.

[Enforceror]

15 minutes ago, raithis said:

My point is that it's easier to sign people and trade for people with no move clauses in the Wild show they are capable of winning a round.  Guerin can be aggressive as he wants to be and it won't mean anything if those types of players don't want to come here, or if we give up good assets and they don't want to stay.

Part of the reason we end up with aging players with ties to Minnesota is because we don't have the credibility to compete with the other teams that were after the bigger names.

Winning a round gains us some traction to attract better players.

At the very least, it doesn't hurt.

[raithis]

5 hours ago, RedLake said:

Marner or Rantanen will be here

How exactly?  Do explain.

Rantanen was signed by Dallas.  And they gave up a lot for him.  Praying him away from Dallas would set us back because of what we'd have to give up.

Marner would be a nice addition, but I don't see him heading to Minnesota.  To reiterate my point, I think we need to win a round.  If Marner chooses to leave Toronto, it's probably not going to be to go to to another team that has trouble making it to the 2nd round.  Our best chance to pick up better players is to show that we are worth considering.

[Up North Guy]

15 hours ago, raithis said:

How exactly?  Do explain.

Rantanen was signed by Dallas.  And they gave up a lot for him.  Praying him away from Dallas would set us back because of what we'd have to give up.

Marner would be a nice addition, but I don't see him heading to Minnesota.  To reiterate my point, I think we need to win a round.  If Marner chooses to leave Toronto, it's probably not going to be to go to to another team that has trouble making it to the 2nd round.  Our best chance to pick up better players is to show that we are worth considering.

All true. Remember when Johnny Hockey signed with Columbus? That surprised the whole hockey community.

[RedLake]

Jamie Benn 2 years. Soild 3rd line center.

[Neutral Zone Dangles]

On 4/11/2025 at 1:00 PM, Kato AK said:

It doesn't matter if the Wild get bounced in the first round or make a run. BG needs to be aggressive this summer to put the team over the top. If the Wild go into next year with essentially the same lineup, his seat is going to get hot in a hurry and have very little sympathy from the fanbase.

Totally agree. However, I have very low hopes for any meaningful change happening. Remember we’re in year 2 of Billy Gs 5 year plan. Fans will be sick of his slow play, but ownership aren’t going to do anything regarding his employment. 

[Trade Deadline Hero]

56 minutes ago, Neutral Zone Dangles said:

Remember we’re in year 2 of Billy Gs 5 year plan. 

I believe you mean year 6 of the 5 year plan. #notourtime #trusttheprocess #therealtradedeadlinehero #nyquistwasagreatdeal

Edited Monday at 09:14 PM by Trade Deadline Hero

[1Brotherbill]

On 4/11/2025 at 2:09 PM, RedLake said:

Marner or Rantanen will be here

Rantanen signed a 8 year 86 million dollar contract March 7th. 

Marner will more than likely be going back to Toronto or he will end up in Pittsburgh with an extreme outside shot at Chicago.  The chances he comes to Minnesota is zero, unless Rossi gets pilfered by an offer sheet.  If that is the case he could be in Minnesota.  

If the Wild sign Rossi to probably an 8.5 million deal.  That leaves around 10 million to sign someone.  If they are lucky and get Nikolaj Ehlers to show up in St. Paul that would be amazing.  Outside of that there really isn't anything available that would be an upgrade on the current roster. 

And No Brock Boeser isn't an upgrade. 

[RedLake]

36 minutes ago, 1Brotherbill said:

Rantanen signed a 8 year 86 million dollar contract March 7th. 

Marner will more than likely be going back to Toronto or he will end up in Pittsburgh with an extreme outside shot at Chicago.  The chances he comes to Minnesota is zero, unless Rossi gets pilfered by an offer sheet.  If that is the case he could be in Minnesota.  

If the Wild sign Rossi to probably an 8.5 million deal.  That leaves around 10 million to sign someone.  If they are lucky and get Nikolaj Ehlers to show up in St. Paul that would be amazing.  Outside of that there really isn't anything available that would be an upgrade on the current roster. 

And No Brock Boeser isn't an upgrade. 

I'd take Ehlers and be seriously impressed Billy got him here.

[1Brotherbill]

1 hour ago, RedLake said:

I'd take Ehlers and be seriously impressed Billy got him here.

For some reason he has been linked to Minnesota for years.  I just don't think Minnesota has the cash to sign him away from somewhere else.  He would have to take a pay cut to come here.  19 other teams have more money to spend than Minnesota.  A lot of them are a lot closer to the Cup than Minnesota. 

[M_Nels]

11 hours ago, 1Brotherbill said:

Rantanen signed a 8 year 86 million dollar contract March 7th. 

Marner will more than likely be going back to Toronto or he will end up in Pittsburgh with an extreme outside shot at Chicago.  The chances he comes to Minnesota is zero, unless Rossi gets pilfered by an offer sheet.  If that is the case he could be in Minnesota.  

If the Wild sign Rossi to probably an 8.5 million deal.  That leaves around 10 million to sign someone.  If they are lucky and get Nikolaj Ehlers to show up in St. Paul that would be amazing.  Outside of that there really isn't anything available that would be an upgrade on the current roster. 

And No Brock Boeser isn't an upgrade. 

It's a hard NO for me on Boeser, don't know why he is seen as some top6 savior by some on here and the not to be mentioned other Wild discussion platform.

Ehlers would be big get IMO. His only knocks are injury history and to an extent that he is yet another lefty wing.

[Kato AK]

On 4/11/2025 at 11:09 AM, RedLake said:

Marner or Rantanen will be here

You are aware that Rantanen signed an extension in Dallas right?

[1Brotherbill]

On 4/15/2025 at 9:08 AM, M_Nels said:

Ehlers would be big get IMO. His only knocks are injury history and to an extent that he is yet another lefty wing.

Can he take a faceoff?  Most of the past cup winners have had multiple faceoff specialists on the roster.  The Wild focus on specific positions instead of what is needed.  You can't score goals if you don't have the puck.  The best way to get a puck is to win a faceoff.  Losing a faceoff with your top line on the ice is a gut punch because they spend most of the shift chasing after the puck and if they finally get it they have to get off the ice. 

[M_Nels]

7 hours ago, 1Brotherbill said:

Can he take a faceoff?  Most of the past cup winners have had multiple faceoff specialists on the roster.  The Wild focus on specific positions instead of what is needed.  You can't score goals if you don't have the puck.  The best way to get a puck is to win a faceoff.  Losing a faceoff with your top line on the ice is a gut punch because they spend most of the shift chasing after the puck and if they finally get it they have to get off the ice. 

All good points, after a quick search found that he is certainly not good in the dot. We're still in desperate need of a reliable center but there's just nothing out there in the FA market unfortunately. All the potential centers in the FA market are still just ~50% in the dot.

Can't find any FO stats for the AHL to see if Bankier or Haight are winning 50+% so probably not gaining much there. Jojo & Nyquist (hopefully) leaving opens up a couple wing spots with one more than likely going to Ohgren. The speedy Jojo role would be taken by Ehlers.

If he could come in on a cheap 2-3yr vet contract I'd say do it, think he would be a better fit than Boeser. His knocks are his injury history and he's a wing obviously.