Article: 3 Key Takeaways From Wild's Season-Ending Game 6 Loss to Golden Knights

[Aimlessone]

I just don't know what a penalty is or isn't anymore. It's not just the Wild and Vegas series, either. It's every game I have watched. The no call trip on Johansson and the no interference call on Boldy in the last two minutes are beyond perplexing. 

I just want some consistency as it makes it feel like there's direction from the top down to favor teams and it makes it really hard to watch as well as feel the outcomes of series are legitimate. 

Basically, I feel like I am being lied to. That this isn't a sport but a production and it makes me like the game far less. 

[MNCountryLife]

I was impressed with the majority of the team's ability to lock down a style of play and be competitive.  IMO: Our 3rd pairing of D are a weak spot.  But that should be dramatically better next year with Buium and Jiricek both expected up next year and taking over for Merrill and Bogo. Bogo will be 7.  Give them plenty of ice time and they will be fine 20 games in.

Offensively I have a bit of concern on Ek.  He is focusing too much on the extracurricular and needs to keep his focus on the puck.  Hartman.. same advice.  That guy can flat out play when not screwing around. 

A few guys need to go.  Freddy, Nojo, Vinnie, Nyquist.   Yurov, Ogren take 2 spots and 2 spots for snipers that we desperately need.  Should leave us plenty of cash for a trade deadline pickup.

[Pewterschmidt]

1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Very well said Protec sir.  Agree 100% on all.

The Rossi take is the spiciest and will get the most push back.

Your move Wild bill.  Don't be dumb this off-season. 

My apologies to ODC.  Credit where credit is due.  While Protec is a gentleman and a scholar I'm still down with ODC Yah You Know Me.  

[WildNotMild]

I am not as harsh on Rossi as some.  And no, I don’t think he deserves 8.5M or more a year.  I do agree that he had a better first playoffs than other current good players (JEE and Boldy).

I think it was about half way through the 3rd period in Game 3 where the camera was focused on the Wild bench.  I am not an expert lip reader and there was obviously no audio, but Foligno leaned over to Rossi and appeared to say “hang in there” and gave him a fist bump on the shoulder.  Immediately after, Gaudreau leaned over to Rossi and appeared to ask “how does it feel” with Rossi replying “it’s okay”.  My point is injuries and necessary surgery information will start to trickle out now.  Maybe Rossi was completely healthy, but I don’t think he was.  And yes, I understand that lots of players are dealing with something in the playoffs.

I have said something similar before, but the best teams usually have an abundance of centers with multiple on several lines.  This helps tremendously with being able to “cheat” on faceoffs as well as having players that are sound two way and 200 foot players.  I think it will be a mistake to get rid of Rossi.  He is a dedicated player, just look at his last two off seasons and year over year improvement.  Since the Wild are always starved for center depth, I am hoping they will start to accumulate centers.  Trading Rossi and other top prospects for an older and more expensive center won’t help us in the long run with building out our center depth, but seems to be the way GMBG is leaning.  Trading Rossi and other top prospects for an older and more expensive winger seems foolish to me, so GMBG will probably do exactly that.

No where in this post did I say Rossi is the best, is more important than Kaprizov or should be paid 8.5M or more a year.

[SkolWild73]

Now that the season is over, it will be interesting to see what direction this team goes this offseason and into next year.  Will we make some trades to bring in a few new players?  Will we resign any of our free agents, thus taking away some spots from our younger players?  Will we bring in a couple of free agents?  Will Kap get extended?   Lots of questions to get answered in the next few months.

It is amazing how a playoff series can change the view of some of the players.  Not too long ago, everyone wanted us to get rid of Hartman in the offseason, some even sooner.  Then he goes out and is our third best player in the playoffs.  Many have wanted Spurg to be gone.  Some for his contract size, some for his age, others because they thought he would be a liability in the playoffs, yet he was probably our best defenseman in the playoffs.  Before this year's playoffs there were many that thought Boldy was not a playoff performer based off his two previous playoff performances.  I think he silenced most doubters. Will our management look at the entire season's work, the playoff performances or a combination of the two to decide who fits and who doesn't?  

That leads to Rossi.  He had a nice improvement this year, then quieted off down the stretch.  Some people were happy with his production in the playoffs in his limited minutes (tied for 5th in points in the postseason), others were not.  I don't know what management will decide with him.  If they sign him to a beneficial contract for both sides great.  If he gets moved for a better piece, also good.  My personal feelings, whether you thought he was good or bad these playoffs, is to not judge a player on one series, especially his first and only.  Had management done that with Boldy, he would have been gone too.

Can't wait to see what happens.  

 

[WildNotMild]

GMBG is always talking about fair deals and relationships with other teams.  Columbus is really trying to change the culture there.  I would like to see us try to leverage Evanston’s knowledge and relationships with the Wild and the players to trade out a couple of pieces that don’t fit the next level the Wild are trying to get to, but that could still help Columbus improve since it is still a tier below us.  This could truly be a “win-win” situation.

[hydguy75]

1 hour ago, Aimlessone said:

Basically, I feel like I am being lied to. That this isn't a sport but a production and it makes me like the game far less. 

During the NFL "deflate-gate" is when it really donned on me... this is entertainment, this is marketing, and this is something for Vegas (gambling industry) to bet on.  Already had given up on the Twins by this point, and the deflate-gate made me recover my Sundays.  Since returning from Iraq in Oct 2006, I focused on following The Wild.  C'mon, State of Hockey, Miracle on Ice, MN finally gets a pro hockey team back again.  We've got to be a shoe-in for a Cup soon. 

And now waiting... and waiting...and waiting.  

So a part of me has this alter-thought if sports is fixed.  "They" already have their idea of winners for the given season.  However, exciting plays generate more attraction, awareness, and following.  So my theory is a "fix" could be in for a given team, but if they grind it out and overcome insurmountable odds, it makes for great awareness and increases the following, sells more merch.  If this theory is true, then the Wild will only see a Cup if they defeat the contenders, but also defeat "the fix".  

[FredJohnson]

2 hours ago, IllicitFive said:

Totally understand that, now we get to play the fun game of wait and see. For how well MJ played down the stretch and in the PO, I hope he's not coming back, its time to start bringing in the kids and see if any of them can stick and contribute as well and seeing if there are any upgrades available in FA or trades. We have seen the MJ end of year run during a contract year before, "Fool me once, shame on... shame on you. ' Fool me—you can't get fooled again"

[Imyourhuckleberry]

2 hours ago, Will D. Ness said:

Brazo was a joke IMO.  He is an instant PP for Vegas after 30 seconds in the D zone.  The guy couldn't challenge a puck to save his life.  I think Gus basically bailed out the 4th line at least 10 times.

Brazeau finished with 2 assists and +1 in the series. He was doing his job as a 4th liner. Rossi obviously helped the 4th line tally some points. Unclear if Gaudreau could do the same, but we may find out next season. I don't think Gaudreau will play above the 4th line when the Wild are healthy next year.

I could see Hinostroza sticking around as the 13th forward. Minimum contract guys that can plug in on any line have value and I imagine he'd like to stick around even if Ohgren and Yurov are playing ahead of him.

In search of a significant upgrade, it's possible that Ohgren might be packaged with Rossi and a pick to get a veteran sniper. Guerin has done a solid job accumulating assets and talent given where the team was when he took control. With the majority of cap constraints falling away, he can assemble the type of team he's been envisioning. Hopefully many Wild fans will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Aimlessone]

37 minutes ago, hydguy75 said:

So a part of me has this alter-thought if sports is fixed.  "They" already have their idea of winners for the given season.  However, exciting plays generate more attraction, awareness, and following.  So my theory is a "fix" could be in for a given team, but if they grind it out and overcome insurmountable odds, it makes for great awareness and increases the following, sells more merch.  If this theory is true, then the Wild will only see a Cup if they defeat the contenders, but also defeat "the fix".  

I just have a hard time believing that if sports are fixed, we haven't had any whistle blowers at this point. But then again, I watch what happened last night and it's hard to argue against it. 

I mean, the ref was so close to Johansson that he had to move out of the way of his sliding body after he was tripped. 

Regardless of all of that, the Wild had many opportunities to bury an open net goal this series that they fanned on, they have nobody but themselves to blame. 

[Scalptrash]

20 seconds from missing the playoffs and they won two more games than I expected. I would attribute that to Hill's early shakiness more than the Wild dominating.

It just feels good to get that 800 pound gorilla of cap hell off their back. Cautiously optimistic to see exactly what Guerin's 4-5 year plan is now that the shackles are off. I really try not to be a pessimist, but am a firm realist, and I have not been mildly impressed thus far. I do not believe that Guerin and/or Hynes will ever lead this team to the promised land. A coaching change should be made right now, IMO. Hynes did admirably with what he was given, but he isn't a winner when it matters. This team deserves a coach with SC experience and pedigree. Pretty sure Kaprizov will never be engraved on Lord Stanley's Cup, unless it's with another team.

[Beast]

Geurin’s trade deadline was a huge issue.  He gave away a second for a guy who cost them a game, and maybe the series, while providing almost nothing positive.

I’ve had it with Geurin.  Nothing will change with the buyouts going away.  Having a little extra money only means more bad contracts.

This franchise is turning into the Twins.  Always looking to future.  Always a highly touted prospect coming that they’re scared to turn loose (first Rossi, now Buium).  Always shrink in the biggest moments.  Awful personnel decisions, particularly with aging players.  Historic  incompetence.

[Protec]

4 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

Higher chance MJ is back then Rossi 🤣

Please don't even joke around. Perhaps the universe will equalize and recognize the need for him to disappear to Swedish Spritzer-League never to be heard of again. 30pts can be found from a variety of places, no doubt neck-beard omission achieves the greatest good. 

[BeanPole Harvester]

1 hour ago, Scalptrash said:

20 seconds from missing the playoffs and they won two more games than I expected. I would attribute that to Hill's early shakiness more than the Wild dominating.

It just feels good to get that 800 pound gorilla of cap hell off their back. Cautiously optimistic to see exactly what Guerin's 4-5 year plan is now that the shackles are off. I really try not to be a pessimist, but am a firm realist, and I have not been mildly impressed thus far. I do not believe that Guerin and/or Hynes will ever lead this team to the promised land. A coaching change should be made right now, IMO. Hynes did admirably with what he was given, but he isn't a winner when it matters. This team deserves a coach with SC experience and pedigree. Pretty sure Kaprizov will never be engraved on Lord Stanley's Cup, unless it's with another team.

Finding coaches with SC appearances would take a little work but there are a few unemployed right now with their names on the cup.

Joel Quenneville

Darryl Sutter

Dan Bylsma

Peter Laviolette

Randy Carlyle

Marc Crawford

John Tortorella

Bob Hartley (Currently with Omsk in KHL)

Mike Babcock

 

[Protec]

4 hours ago, Aimlessone said:

I just don't know what a penalty is or isn't anymore. It's not just the Wild and Vegas series, either. It's every game I have watched. The no call trip on Johansson and the no interference call on Boldy in the last two minutes are beyond perplexing. 

I just want some consistency as it makes it feel like there's direction from the top down to favor teams and it makes it really hard to watch as well as feel the outcomes of series are legitimate. 

Basically, I feel like I am being lied to. That this isn't a sport but a production and it makes me like the game far less. 

100%. Goalie interference all year was very tight and they didn't allow goals if the guy was in the paint, yet Karlsson did that exact thing with his skates both in the blue and backed up into Gus's pads so he was not able to get them flat on the Stone one-timer. 

Hartzy gets cross-checked in the face game one, and Hauge immediately looks at the Ref. No call. The exact same thing happened when MN played Vegas four years ago.

It's crazy to think it's all coincidence. The kicking-motion from Hartman's goal was another example of strange because the puck was already going in. The NHL rules and reviews are intentionally there to allow Toronto to inject influence and dictate outcomes. 

Offsides review has become a technicality that no longer adheres to the intent of the rule and has created a path to negate good goals over meaningless inches of metal to blue-ice contact. Ask yourself how many blatant offsides are missed VS. how many great goals get taken off the board based on full-speed fractions of an inch. All other levels of hockey play the way the game was intended where offsides is to keep teams from floating a guy in or cheating on purpose. 

That play in particular, Nyquist has the majority of his body along the line. It came about due to some egregious missed-calls, but now it's become a cheat for teams who just choked one away. If the goal-scorer himself is offside by 3ft nobody would whine. If you compiled all the beauty goals where some schmoe accidentally misses the timing by a hair away from the play it would be a lot more than the mega-obvious offsides where players try to sneak in ahead of the puck on purpose. They literally stop the video and look for a sliver of white to take em away. I can't be the only guy who sees this as the cure being worse than the sickness. 

When you say production, I say damn right. 

[Mateo3xm]

To put things into perspective.

 

This is Rossi’s 2nd year and his first playoff series. He had 3pts in 6 games, plus minus 0, 22.2% shooting percentage and was 48.9% on face offs and had an average toi of 11:08 min…

Let’s compare to some other notable Wild players…

Boldy’s first series(21-22)he scored 1pt in 6 games, was -1 and played an average toi of 13:19 min and 75% on face offs with 7.7% shooting percentage. His second playoff series (22-23) he had 3pts in 6 games, was -5 and had an average toi of 20:53 min with 45.9% on face offs and 0.0% on shooting. Third series you are all aware of. He had 7pts in 6 games, +/- of 0, 25:01 min of TOI, 20% on face offs

 

JEE had the same amount of pts in 6 games as Rossi in this series, had an average toi of 22:00 min, 53.6% on face offs and a 0% shooting percentage.

In his first 25 playoff games over 5 playoff series he had a total of 9pts.. He was also never higher than 47.5% on face offs. It took him his 5th series to get to 47.5% on face offs.

Kaprizov first playoffs series (20-21) 3pts in 7 games, -3, 18:52 min of average time on ice, 20% shooting percentage.

 

The reason I post this stuff is so people understand realistic expectations. Now, I’m not saying Rossi is flawless by any stretch of the imagination, he’s small and does get knocked around because of it. But he does a lot of things this team needs. He’s in his 2nd year ffs. There’s obviously things he could do better but I think a lot of that will come with time. Look at how long it took Boldy in the playoffs, look how long it took JEE in the playoffs, it even took Kaprizov his second playoff series to do much and Rossi had 8-15 min less a game to do it.

[Lovehockey]

23 hours ago, Protec said:

Let me tell ya who didn't do squat when it really mattered. 

Fred, NoJo, Rossi, Nyquist, Zuccarello, the PP, and even Kaprizov wasn't himself this series. 

What do you notice about the playoffs? Big players step up. Happy to see Boldy, Hartman, Foligno, and the NA guys like Faber and even Spurgeon didn't get dummied out there. 

I don't care who thinks I'm racist against Euros, they're not the answer. 

Fire Judd the Euro-lover and ask why Johnston plays for the Stars and where's Wallstedt. Oh, poor guy got slighted because HOF'er MAF got another kick at the can, who gives a crud, what's Wally done? Feel bad for himself? Classic Euro...

I'm so sick and tired of the Wild's Owner and Twin Cities propaganda, it's not even funny. Carter, you need to go solo and admit the Wild need gutsy players like you were and quit kissing asses of who's payin ya. 

The Wild need to shift towards the teams who whip your ass each and every time. North American hockey players who get the job done when it matters. The ones who can win when the Refs put their whistles away or eff you over. 

That's all.

What a stupid comment 

[Protec]

9 hours ago, Lovehockey said:

What a stupid comment 

Haha, why don't you elaborate and let me know which parts are untrue. 

MN is out again. Teams made up of predominately bigger NA guys are still playing. The whole rest of the Central in fact.