Article: The Wild Must Think Bigger Than Brock Nelson

[Tony Abbott]

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[Citizen Strife]

And here we go again.  Marco small and average, Nelson big and fast.

I feel like one of those underpants gnomes in South Park.  Step 1: Get rid of asset.  Step 2: ??? Step 3: Profit?

I'm still more hopeful the Wild go after Ehlers or Peterka.  They need to solve winger depth behind Kap and Boldy too.

Marner's a pipedream.  Same money offer everywhere, and he'd come HERE?  Not gonna buy it.

 

Edited 23 hours ago by Citizen Strife

[Citizen Strife]

A couple people on Reddit wondered what it would take for a Horvat or Larkin trade, but again, doesn't sound plausible.

[0 Stanley Cups]

Absolutely agree, if we're parting ways with Rossi, we need Brock Nelson or Boeser four years ago.  JT Miller, Trocheck, Barzal, or Dylan Larkin would be terrific, Elias P absolutely not, he's soft.  Rossi and Ohgren are likely trade fodder this offseason.  I would sell high on Freddie G after this season too, if we seek playoff performers, then he ain't it and we don't even use him for shootouts anymore.

[Enforceror]

How about Trochek?

[Pewterschmidt]

Sam Bennett would be a major win for bill, but sounds like he'd be very expensive.

Looks more and more like Do You Smell What the Brock is Cookin' (34 yr old)

Will he move the needle?  I'm thinking he'll be Ek 2.0 but better at draws.  Maybe a little more offense too. 

We all pray that Yurov arrives and plays bottom six C thru 41 games and then gets promoted to top 6 C, pushing Hartmann to bottom six.

I'm guessing the splash will be a grown ass top 6 winger added to the mix with Peter Brock-lington. 

[Pewterschmidt]

Just now, Enforceror said:

How about Trochek?

Too good to be true.  But I'd vote yes.

[Enforceror]

2 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Too good to be true.  But I'd vote yes.

Yeah you're probably right but it is the time of year we start bickering about who to pick up. I wonder what it would take to get him.

[Pewterschmidt]

2 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

Yeah you're probably right but it is the time of year we start bickering about who to pick up. I wonder what it would take to get him.

I'd guess Rossi + Ogzy wouldn't get it done.  Add Harty and/or Foligno and maybe they'd listen.  But pray that bill doesn't start dealing 2026/7 1st, 2nd and 3rd's.  If so, we can call this the beginning of his Fletcher era.

If we could offload some of Beckett's dead wood defensive prospects along with any/all the names above I'd vote yes.

[WildNotMild]

This will never happen, but if the Wild are looking to get rid of a smaller player in the top 6 (or top 9), I would be in favor of moving Zuccy.  He is older, isn’t suited for the 3rd line, etc.  He is best at being a distributor on the PP.  I think the top 4 wingers will be Kaprizov, Boldy, Ohgren (based on Hynes and GMBG’s comments this week) and hopefully an upgrade over Zuccy.  And yes, I know he is Kaprizov’s buddy.  Many hate on Rossi because of his size (and I really think he will be gone this summer), but I would much rather keep him based on his position, age, etc. than Zuccy if the Wild are trying to improve the top 6 (or top 9).

If GMBG is stupid and stubborn enough to sign Brock Nelson, I at least hope it is for 3 years or less, no protection and no more than 7M per year.  Unfortunately, a player at his age is likely looking at his last bigger contract and will want security (protection clauses), more term and probably more money (might be his last big contract).

Also, if players 5 years younger than Kaprizov don’t fit into his window, why would players 5 years older?

[IllicitFive]

17 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Sam Bennett would be a major win for bill, but sounds like he'd be very expensive.

Looks more and more like Do You Smell What the Brock is Cookin' (34 yr old)

Will he move the needle?  I'm thinking he'll be Ek 2.0 but better at draws.  Maybe a little more offense too. 

We all pray that Yurov arrives and plays bottom six C thru 41 games and then gets promoted to top 6 C, pushing Hartmann to bottom six.

I'm guessing the splash will be a grown ass top 6 winger added to the mix with Peter Brock-lington. 

Sam would be my ideal grab for center, his antics against the leafs aside. Can the Wild please try to make a better play than Brock, just look how he preformed with the Avs, not worth it. From the little I have seen from Yurov's game, he should slot in top 6, and keep Hartman, Moose, and TBD (maybe Ohgren if his end of year AHL surge translates to next year NHL levels) together on line 3. Top 6 of Ek, Boldy, Kap, Yurov, Zucc and maybe a signed center or wing depending where you want to slot in Yurov.

Looking more at who is probably going to be on the team and where, Rossi might be a moveable piece. I know betting on Yurov or another young player stepping up is not great but, maybe I am starting to talk myself into him leaving or moving to wing? 

[IllicitFive]

So just trying to have some fun figuring out what the wild have for lines for next year and what possible fits. So here is what I see as locks, or as close to locks as we can have, lines tbd but doing my best.

Kap - Ek - Boldy

(X) - Yurov - Zucc (Yurov shown as C and RW so I figured C was best fit)

Moose - Hartman - Ohgren

Trenin - Freddy - (X) (Might be Vinnie as he has another year left)

 

Brodin - Faber

Middleton - Spurge

Zeev - Jiri

Gus

Wall

I think Chisholm's time is done, lost favor towards the end of the year. Bogo maybe 7th D/Pross Box. Maybe an AHL player will surprise and show themselves ready knocking him off. For offense, guys like Haight, Heidt, Bankier or who knows may pop as well. Rossi may be signed and slide in somewhere. Perhaps they are able to package Freddy and prospects, picks, or another player to open up room and cap space to get a higher impact player back or open up space for a bigger FA move. If Rossi is also included that add that much more oomph to a trade possibility. With age of roster I think its time to invest younger who may be long term fits versus just recycling shorter term/aging rentals like Brock unless they are 1 year cheap deals because nobody else seems ready to grab a spot.

[raithis]

47 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

How about Trochek?

Based on the rumor mill, it seems like the Rangers might more likely to want to move Zibanejad than Trocheck.

[raithis]

I could be okay with Bennett or Nelson as long as we aren't overpaying to get either one.  We can't get reckless with spending money on free agents just because most of the cap penalties are going away.  Out of the two I think Bennett would be the better choice, but if Nelson really wants to play here and will take a team-friendly deal to make it happen, that's still a win.

If we do get one of those two, I could also be okay with packaging Rossi in a trade for a star winger. 

Hartman can play center well enough.  And if Yurov does live up to the hype and pushes up the depth chart, then all the better.

If Rossi is traded, I'd love to get Pastrnak, but I don't see that happening without also trading Boldy, Yurov, or both AND picks - and I think it would be stupid for the Wild to get rid of more than one of those three given that they will need them to fill out their team like Dallas has done with their younger players.  That's why they are in the position they are, and presenting it that way gives Kaprizov a huge reason to re-sign.

Bennett or Nelson could help, but neither moves the needle a lot without another scoring winger to help too.  Marner would be nice, but I don't see that happening.  I also don't see Bennett happening either.  Nelson is likely who we end up with, and we won't get enough to make the inevitable Rossi trade a good one.  I'm hoping I'm wrong, but I'm not optimistic.  Had the cap stayed flat another year, I'd be thrilled since we could make moves that a lot of other teams would struggle to, but we won't get that advantage.

[OldDutchChip]

Agree that it cannot be Nelson and needs to be in the upper tier 

I think you need to be willing to dangle not only Rossi 

Rossi won’t get you Elias or any other top line players

It will need to be either Zeev or Faber (Yurov is a mystery at this point, while Zeev is a #2 ranked prospect and has been on everyone’s radar for some time) 

Remember - to get something, you need to pay (Rossi, Ohgren, Lambos - won’t be enough)

would including Zeev or Faber in a package get you a Tkachuk? Probably

In theory you can ship out Faber and Trenin for Tkachuk and still have $ for Marner 

Bam

tkachuk marner kap

ek Boldy Yurov Rossi (who’d be a fool not to bet on himself and not take bridge deal)

Edited 21 hours ago by OldDutchChip

[mnhockeyfan03]

I just saw Kyrou might be available.  I’m would go after him very hard. I would give up Faber for Kyrou.  Go after Larkin as well. I would sign Brock Nelson as a third line center at 3x5.  Get rid of Faber, Spurgeon and Zucc, Rossi,  Ohgren and this can happen.  These lines are a cup winning lines

boldy Larkin kap

yurov Ek Kyrou

Foligno Nelson Hartman

Trenin Freddie Braz

 

https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2025/05/nhl-trade-rumors-blues-star-jordan.html

[Imyourhuckleberry]

1 hour ago, WildNotMild said:

If GMBG is stupid and stubborn enough to sign Brock Nelson, I at least hope it is for 3 years or less, no protection and no more than 7M per year.  Unfortunately, a player at his age is likely looking at his last bigger contract and will want security (protection clauses), more term and probably more money (might be his last big contract).

If they sign Brock Nelson, it should easily be for less than $7M, more in the $5M range, but I think that might be possible for the home-town discount. He's definitely not going to be the player he was 2-4 years ago.

I believe they may trade Rossi for a high-end wing rather than a C. Centers in the Wild organization include, JEE, Hartman, Rossi, Gaudreau, Yurov, Heidt, Bankier, Haight, Stramel, Kumpulainen. If they sign Brock Nelson, they may still be without top end centers, but will not be struggling for C depth.

Obviously, you always want more, but what if Yurov is instantly a capable 2nd line C, with Zuccarello setting up him and the other wing?

Trade Rossi for the high-end Johansson replacement and the Wild suddenly have 2 scoring lines. Maybe Brock Nelson plays between Foligno and Trenin? If not, maybe Yurov plays there.  Gaudreau can play in his 4th line C position, possibly with Hinostroza and any other low cost options that make the team.

 

[Beast]

Its hard to see how they get materially better with the money they’ll have left after signing Kaprisov and the names I’m hearing thrown around.  They’ll still be weighed down by guys like Zucc and Hartman.  Spurgeon and Brodin aren’t getting any younger or healthier.  Middleton just isn’t a top pairing d man.  Ek and Kaprisov can’t seem to stay on the ice.

I think they’ll have to bring in a goalie.  Gustavsson seems to play well every other year and Wallstadt doesn’t appear to be ready at the moment.  They can’t possibly go into the season with only those two options.

It'll come down to some ELC guys taking a huge leap. If multiple of Ohgren, Yurov, Buium, Wallstadt don’t contribute in a big way, it’ll just be more of what we’ve seen.  Pretty good regular season team that doesn’t have the juice to get over the playoff hump.  Bringing in a Boeser, Nelson, etc. will just be another deadweight contract in a couple of years when the team should really be hitting their stride.

Im not against making some moves and attempting to bring in some solid scoring depth.  But not if it means having another Zuccarelo type player eating top 6 minutes and a good percentage of the cap two or three years from now.

The most logical thing in my mind is trading some of the prospect capital.  Not sure a guy like Kyrou is the answer, but I’d rather turn some of these prospects (that almost never turn out like you would hope) into a proven commodity.  That includes Ohgren, Buium, Yurov, Jiricek, Wallstadt, Heidt, etc.  If they’re not willing to part with 2 or 3 of them, in addition to draft capital for a bonafide to center, we’re stuck in a holding pattern.  I’m fine with that, if that’s the case, but they need to commit to that.  Don’t go sign Boeser or Nelson to a multi year deal.

 

 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

27 minutes ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

Get rid of Faber, Spurgeon

Are you moving Bogosian to 1st defensive pair there?

[Enforceror]

14 minutes ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

I just saw Kyrou might be available.  I’m would go after him very hard. I would give up Faber for Kyrou.  Go after Larkin as well. I would sign Brock Nelson as a third line center at 3x5.  Get rid of Faber, Spurgeon and Zucc, Rossi,  Ohgren and this can happen.  These lines are a cup winning lines

boldy Larkin kap

yurov Ek Kyrou

Foligno Nelson Hartman

Trenin Freddie Braz

Kyrou would be a good get. Wonder if we could pull it off without totally decimating the lineup though. 

[WildNotMild]

5 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

If they sign Brock Nelson, it should easily be for less than $7M, more in the $5M range, but I think that might be possible for the home-town discount. He's definitely not going to be the player he was 2-4 years ago.

I believe they may trade Rossi for a high-end wing rather than a C. Centers in the Wild organization include, JEE, Hartman, Rossi, Gaudreau, Yurov, Heidt, Bankier, Haight, Stramel, Kumpulainen. If they sign Brock Nelson, they may still be without top end centers, but will not be struggling for C depth.

Obviously, you always want more, but what if Yurov is instantly a capable 2nd line C, with Zuccarello setting up him and the other wing?

Trade Rossi for the high-end Johansson replacement and the Wild suddenly have 2 scoring lines. Maybe Brock Nelson plays between Foligno and Trenin? If not, maybe Yurov plays there.  Gaudreau can play in his 4th line C position, possibly with Hinostroza and any other low cost options that make the team.

 

With the cap rising, it will be interesting to see what some of the FA deals are.  7M might be too much, but I would be surprised if he signs for 5M unless it is a longer term and clauses.

The centers you listed are just center potential since most have never played in the NHL.  I am okay with trading Rossi, but in your proposal, the Wild would only have potentially 5 centers, including Gaudreau (not likely a center on a true contender), Hartman (who is probably a better winger) and that is counting on a major contribution from Yorov.

[mnhockeyfan03]

20 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Are you moving Bogosian to 1st defensive pair there?

With the lineup I listed and brodin, Middleton, jiricek, Zeev left as D and Gus and Wally as goalies that puts us at $80mm and then dead cap of $2mm.  So $82mm.  If salary cap is $95mm we then have $13mm more to go get the remaining D.  A guy like Rasmus Anderson would be a good fit.  Then find another.  This all is possible Billy just has to think outside the box.  Our biggest trade chip is Faber.  We need forwards way more than D.  We need 3 new top 6 type guys. 

[mnhockeyfan03]

32 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

Kyrou would be a good get. Wonder if we could pull it off without totally decimating the lineup though. 

We could get him by dealing Faber and prospect. 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

25 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

Kyrou would be a good get. Wonder if we could pull it off without totally decimating the lineup though.

Seriously doubt the Blues would trade him to the Wild without decimating the Wild lineup--they'll want to come out far ahead in a trade inside the division. Larkin would probably be more likely, but he could easily cost more than Kyrou in assets--both have averaged over 70 points in the last 4 seasons. I imagine Detroit is going to be pushing to get into the playoffs, not reset--they have $21M in cap space, so they might try to land a key FA addition or two.

[WildNotMild]

Did anyone else get a laugh from Tony’s title for this article?  All I could think is that it is a play on words while calling Nelson too small, as in Rossi is too small, so Nelson isn’t big enough.