Article: The Buffalo Sabres Won't Be the Wild's Savior At Center

[Mateo3xm]

47 minutes ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

Very well stated.  Your last sentence says it all.  Carolina is very LIGHT on both the front and back end.  They are getting manhandled by Florida.  They played NJ in the first round who limped in with no Hughes and are also a small team.  Second round played the Caps who were overated and not a fast team.  The Caps speed could get around them.  They will never get by FL with their size.  Bennett is never going to be a free agent.  They will find a way to resign him.  A guy like Ekblad is what we need.  Big and mean and can clear front of net.  One of Faber, Spurg, or Brodin will need to be traded this summer to make the Wild better along with Rossi.  If they were really series as well Zucc would go as well. To get a 1C Faber or Zeev has to be in the trade.  

Carolinas defense didn’t necessarily need to be big, it definitely helps though.

“In the 2024-25 NHL season, the Carolina Hurricanes were ranked 1st in goals against per game with a rate of 2.09. This indicates that they allowed an average of 2.09 goals per game, making them the most defensively strong team in terms of goals”

 

“They had an 85.0% penalty kill, the third-highest in the league.”

Florida is just a better team overall, that’s why they are 2-0 against Carolina.

[mnfaninnc]

34 minutes ago, 0 Stanley Cups said:

Teams that may have to make moves this offseason whether it's due to cap constraints, locker room issues, or having to rebuild would be NYR, NYI, NJD, BOS, NAS, or VAN.  Teams like BUF, DET, or OTT are not going to deplete their roster by moving top end talent.

I like your list, but disagree on a couple of them. NJD was simply not the same when they lost Hughes. I think him coming back makes them dangerous again.

Detroit isn't trading their top talent, but I do think that the clock is ticking hard here. I think we can get a decent player in the '21-23 drafts from them for Spurgy, a guy they could really use. 

Ottawa has a very low rated prospect pool. Pretty much, they've got what they've got. Buffalo has a ton of good prospects too. They also could use a Spurgeon, especially with getting to the playoffs. I don't think they'd give up much on their current roster, but maybe someone pretty good in the '22-24 drafts? 

If we're getting anything for Spurgy,  it's pretty much going to be futures, but I'd stay away from picks and try to hit on someone around the '22 draft. 

For me, I think I'd target Danielson on Detroit, or Helenius or Wahlberg on Buffalo. These guys would help later, but could also be important pieces in another trade. I loved Danielson in the '23 draft. 

What then? Jiricek backfills Spurgy and is that top 10 defender everyone else has. It also allows us to change captains which I believe is necessary. 

[mnfaninnc]

26 minutes ago, Mateo3xm said:

Carolinas defense didn’t necessarily need to be big, it definitely helps though.

“In the 2024-25 NHL season, the Carolina Hurricanes were ranked 1st in goals against per game with a rate of 2.09. This indicates that they allowed an average of 2.09 goals per game, making them the most defensively strong team in terms of goals”

 

“They had an 85.0% penalty kill, the third-highest in the league.”

Florida is just a better team overall, that’s why they are 2-0 against Carolina.

I think what you are listing here is regular season stats. Over the long haul, the Canes were great. I think if you look at the goaltending on the season, their defense probably was better than 2.09 in expected goals against. They ran through a streak where they heavily outshot teams yet lost due to mainly Andersen being hurt. 

But playoffs are different, and you have to beat the team you are matched up against. I think Carolina had a good chance against any team in the East not named Florida. It's a terrible matchup for them, and unless Bob gives it away, they're in big trouble. Plus, Maurice coached a long time in Carolina, you know beating them has got to be sweet.

[raithis]

18 hours ago, Burnt Toast said:

There’s almost always a deal that can happen. We’ve witnessed some this Trade Deadline with Aves Canes Stars. Make it worth it value wise for both teams. 

Yes, but those only happened because of players who needed to be re-signed and the teams involved were unable to come to terms with the player that they could agree on.

Under the same conditions the Wild might pry a Necas or Rantanen-type player away, but those players also have to want to re-sign there or we end up in the same boat as Carolina.

Deals can happen, yes, but their has to be the right conditions for them to occur, especially when star players are involved.  That's why a lot of the trade suggestions here are so far-fetched.  The article spends a fair bit of time explaining why those sorts of trades are unrealistic and then people immediately start going off into fantasy land.

If any trade for a star center, winger, etc is going to be made, it's going to be for a player that a team can't afford to keep in order to sign someone else or it'll be a team in a re-build/re-tool that isn't going to be relevant for a few years.  Buffalo is still perpetually in that re-build, but, like the article takes time to explain, they likely see the players we would want as cornerstones of that re-build that finally helps them crawl out of the cellar rather than trade chips.  They aren't going to trade them unless they can get someone who is better and still in their prime - which they aren't likely to get because, as others pointed out, those better players likely have no-trade lists that include Buffalo.  I honestly do not see a trade for Thompson unless we are also trading Kaprizov or Boldy.  Faber, Buium, and/or Rossi would not be enough.  If we are willing to take Cozens's contract off their hands, then they may consider something, but I still doubt it.

[raithis]

6 hours ago, MacGyver said:

Thompson has a 5 team no go list.

It would be hilarious if all 5 were Buffalo.

[TCMooch]

I would literally overpay in Rossi and blue chips prospects for Tage Thompson. He helps is win now on a great tan friendly contact.

Rossi, Wallstedt, Jurieck, and Yurov for Thompson.

Edited Friday at 07:26 PM by TCMooch

[Citizen Strife]

You know, I'd kinda like to have young depth before our 5-6 30+ players age out...

Forgive me if I think the Wild are more than one center from Stanley Cup contention.

 

Edited Friday at 09:05 PM by Citizen Strife

[hydguy75]

According to Elite Prospects for this past season, the Wild are 1) ranked 32/32 for height (shortest at 6'-1" / 184.3cm)  2) ranked 28/32 for weight (196 lbs)   3) ranked 3/ 32 for age at 29.74 years old.  (however it remains unclear if this site has all data from all rostered players, or only select players).

Starting from Goalies out, and this could take up to 3 years to fulfill...

GT/D:  If we are going to hitch our wagons to the duo of Gus and Walls...then we definitely need to find not 1 but 2 Brute defenders that can sweep the danger zone.  Keep 1 of these (Spurgeon, Faber, Brodin), and the rest are on the market.  We do not know if Gus has the stamina to carry the full season, and with the Wild's strange use of Wally, I cannot get a good read on him.  If our GT is above good, but not great, we do need a couple of big ass blueliners to clear rebounds and boost our PK.  A couple D's that could be or emulate Heiskanen of Dallas.

Offense:  Of course ink the big deal with KK.  Then go shopping for size, speed, skill.  Everyone is on the market except 97, 14, 12, 17, 38.  

And if the perpetual early out continues to happen, well them I'm convinced that OCL is a closet Pohlad.  

[Tony Abbott]

On 5/22/2025 at 4:20 PM, mnhockeyfan03 said:

Buffalo needs a top 4 RHD badely.  Trade Faber, Rossi, Ohgren, height and 2026 1st for Thompson, Tuch or Peterka and Samuelson.

 

Stop with these articles saying it can’t happen.  It can happen but Faber has to to part of it.  We need a number 1 center way way more than we need Faber.  This league is won with forwards now.  No good team has a ton of money tied into D anymore.  

 

 

"No good team has a ton of money tied into D anymore."

Then where's the appetite to tie up a combined $28 million dollars in adding Faber to the Dahlin ($11M) and Power (8.35M) core?

If you're Buffalo, you don't really need that RHD, puck-moving D Faber is because you have one of Dahlin/Power/Byram always on the ice to touch the puck.

[mnhockeyfan03]

2 hours ago, Tony Abbott said:

"No good team has a ton of money tied into D anymore."

Then where's the appetite to tie up a combined $28 million dollars in adding Faber to the Dahlin ($11M) and Power (8.35M) core?

If you're Buffalo, you don't really need that RHD, puck-moving D Faber is because you have one of Dahlin/Power/Byram always on the ice to touch the puck.

Just saying there has been many articles out by their team people saying they need a solid top 4 RHD.  Faber will get their attention for Thompson.  Without it I don’t think we have a chance.  That’s why in my post i said we would take Samuelson back which offsets cap of 4.25 for him and he can play the right side and is 6’4 225.  Throw in lambos in the deal as well if we need to.  Faber or Spurgeon needs to be offloaded this summer for cap space and to increase the size of our D.  We need big D.  

[Tony Abbott]

4 hours ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

Just saying there has been many articles out by their team people saying they need a solid top 4 RHD.  Faber will get their attention for Thompson.  Without it I don’t think we have a chance.  That’s why in my post i said we would take Samuelson back which offsets cap of 4.25 for him and he can play the right side and is 6’4 225.  Throw in lambos in the deal as well if we need to.  Faber or Spurgeon needs to be offloaded this summer for cap space and to increase the size of our D.  We need big D.  

So they need RHD but would give up a RHD in your trade?

That doesn't make sense, to me. 

[Citizen Strife]

The Wild need Top 4 D with size?  Maybe they should trade with Columbus for David Jiricek.  He might have good experience in a couple more years by the time Spurgeon's contract is done.

[mnhockeyfan03]

6 hours ago, Tony Abbott said:

So they need RHD but would give up a RHD in your trade?

That doesn't make sense, to me. 

Samuelson is left handed….. but he can play the right side.  They need a true right handed shot top 4 D

[mnhockeyfan03]

1 hour ago, Citizen Strife said:

The Wild need Top 4 D with size?  Maybe they should trade with Columbus for David Jiricek.  He might have good experience in a couple more years by the time Spurgeon's contract is done.

Jiricek is a good start but he can’t play the whole game.  Need more guys like him and less small guys like Spurgeon and Faber 

[mnhockeyfan03]

Matt Barzal now probably coming available.  Barzal and anders Lee would look sporty with the wild and Brock Nelson as well.  

[Citizen Strife]

Lee might be ok in a short term sort of way like Nelson is.  Barzal not so much.  I am not keen on adding more injury riddled players to a team somehow WORSE injury luck than every other team.

[FredJohnson]

Billy showed his cards before the flop. He ain’t getting much for Rossi.

[mnfaninnc]

16 hours ago, Tony Abbott said:

So they need RHD but would give up a RHD in your trade?

That doesn't make sense, to me.

Samuelsson is a lefty that can play the right side.

Sorry, MNH03 covered this. But they do really need a righty who has offense.

Edited 10 hours ago by mnfaninnc

[mnfaninnc]

8 hours ago, mnhockeyfan03 said:

Matt Barzal now probably coming available.

I think Barzal would be an excellent add. Same draft year as Kaprizov & Ek. Plays in a structured system where he's been a ppg producer. Coming off a down, injured year. He's an RHS shot who can hit a target, and pass. A nice piece for the back door on the PP (Zuccy's spot). 

Cap hit is $9.15m, 22 team M-NTC. 6'1" 190 with speed. He's also signed for 5 more seasons at that number.

If NYI is going full rebuild, which they probably need to do, perhaps some quality/quantity prospects could be included in a deal that doesn't hurt the big club too much. Their defense, I think, is pretty young and strong. For me, this would be a similar move to the Panthers acquiring Reinhart. 

I could see a Barzal-Ek-Kaprizov top line with a Boldy-Yurov-other player 2nd line assuming Rossi is in this trade. If he's not, Rossi gets kicked out to wing on this line. Come back with a Hartsy-Nelson-Moose 3rd line, and I think we have a pretty good lineup on paper. Maybe even switch out Hartsy for OgZ?

Zuccy and Gaudreau likely need to be subtracted from the roster in a scenario like this. Would Trenin have to go too? Would we need a low budget 4th line? If the money was there, I could see a Trenin-Hartzy-Bankier 4th line.

 

[mnfaninnc]

2 hours ago, FredJohnson said:

Billy showed his cards before the flop. He ain’t getting much for Rossi.

Then bridge him and hold on to him. Unless the Wild initiates a deal, there's not much leverage for Rossi even though his agent may try to swing a deal. Rossi's only leverage is an offersheet, which can immediately be matched. 

[mnfaninnc]

Looking up the NTC teams, it doesn't appear that MN is really on those lists. Sure, we've had some guys turn down coming here, but it appears as if the Canadian teams, Buffalo, Carolina, Columbus, NJD seem to be on those lists. 

Others have mentioned the NY, CA teams, because of taxes. I think Carolina is odd since their taxes have really come down the past few years and are targeted to be lower still. St. Louis was mentioned. 

For me, it seems like most players get a 10 team M-NTC, and when that stipulation is on, the Wild don't tend to be on that list. Where do we fit? I don't know, but from what I read, we were simply not mentioned. 

Now, on this, I do think the older UFAs would think about the MN area, mainly due to schools, privacy, ruralness. However, since things have gone crazy in the Dayton/Walz eras, I'm not exactly sure how this stands now, and since I haven't visited in....yikes...about 10 years, I don't have a good handle on the area, just memories of a bygone era. 

Minneapolis still comes up nationally as a real mess, and it wasn't so good when I visited 25 years ago. St. Paul, as I remember it still seemed to be reasonable. I guess what I'm saying here is I just don't know if my assumptions of a nice place to raise a family are still valid. 

I also don't mean to make this sound political, it isn't, it's more cultural and the direction the state leans in this area. What it's values are? What it cares about? What it's attitudes are like? What it's morals are? How many people are trying to move back or trying to get out of the state?