Article: The Johansson Deal Shows That New Freedoms Won't Break Guerin's Old Habits

[1Brotherbill]

As far a forwards go that are free agents the vast majority of them look and smell like Marcus Johansson.  Most are over 30, most make less than or right at 1 million dollars.  Johansson had 34 points last year not a great season but not terrible.  He has been here and we know what we are getting for the money.  Granted that value isn't fantastic but it is better than someone coming in new that is just as terrible. 

[Rutters91]

11 hours ago, TCMooch said:

Billl Guerin is an idiot and I absolutely think he is NOT the guy to turn this team around. I think personality wise based on articles from Russo and the Athletic that he's a piece of shit human. I also think he's a terrible GM that is more interested in signing players "like him" than he is on icing the best talent. His obsession with signing aging vets is problematic.

The fact that signing somebody to a 1-year contact at less than 1 million dollars is going to stir controversy and strong opinions is enough of an indicator that this team is headed in the wrong direction.

Good thing you didn't overreact.  Smh

[RedLake]

I'd rather have Merril. Nojo is a bandy player who was feed liberalism as a child. It shows in his game. If Nojo had a heart in the NHL he'd be a difference maker that threads the needle.

[Need4speed99]

12 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Yes, because all the young guys other than Rossi, Faber, and Boldy have lit the world on fire.

That is all a fair assessment. What could some of those prospects do given the opportunities Freddy or Jojo got? They got 3rd line at best. We know what these aging vets ceilings are, we know NOTHING about the prospects.

[Need4speed99]

14 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

This is all moot if Guerin actually finds a good player that is a no-brainer 1st/2nd line guy, maybe two or three.  It only sucks if Mojo is 2nd line wing by default again.  THAT would be true failure.

A fast moving 30 point player making league minimum is hardly an issue if he's depth only.  Next you're gonna tell me Gaudreau is worthless or something.

I want Ohgren and Yurov to be studs.  But the Ohgren we saw last year was barely as good as Johansson.  He has to find a gear that makes him qualified to be a 2nd or 3rd line guy over a vet.

 

What, over the past 6 years, has shown billy will give the kids a legit shot. What has he, ownership, or coaches have shown other than relying on the vets?

Again, I see liepold as a giant problem. Fans in the stands as long as they make the playoffs. Never a full rebuild, never a contender.

Billy wants a team in his old school image, big bruising vets.

Hynes wants whatever he is told and vets.

What has ANYTHING over the last 6 yrs shows you things will change?

Jojo will be a 2nd or 3rd liner and we will have all the prospects still in Iowa.

I don't get how people can support billy or the organization as a whole.

From Iowa not developing to the Wild not playing them and relying on the same old vets. Just good enough to make the playoffs, never pushing the needle.

[Need4speed99]

17 minutes ago, Need4speed99 said:

That is all a fair assessment. What could some of those prospects do given the opportunities Freddy or Jojo got? They got 3rd line at best. We know what these aging vets ceilings are, we know NOTHING about the prospects.

Unfair assessment*

Won't let me edit.

How is showing kap you want to win rolling back the same team majority year after year then probably trading a young up and comer for prospects or mid 6 players going to make you better.

Most people ( and writers on mn hockey) have realized billy is a joke and the Wild organization has no interest in being a contender. Those still blindly supporting billy, what has he done in 6+ years. He came in with a 5 yr plan... what now?

[Citizen Strife]

SWhat a lot of those guys proved were they weren't good enough to do things we don't see. 

Let's just open the floodgates and let Heidt on the team when he gets zoomed past in open ice during preseason.  Give Ohgren free reign when he has some of the least offensive and defensive impact on the team.

"But Khus was fast.  Didn't matter he couldn't score and he was a defensive liability on a defense focused team.  He wasn't playing with Boldy"

Gaudreau rebounded from his concussion in a big way. Foligno did too.  Writing veterans off to "let kids play" ignores that maybe the kids aren't good enough yet or ever.  Look how long it took Donato to get good?  I'm not waiting a decade on a player to figure out his shit.  

I'm not giving Guerin a pass on stupid trades like Nyquist and what not, but let's not just anoint shiny new toys great without proof. 

 

Edited Wednesday at 11:39 AM by Citizen Strife

[Burnt Toast]

6 hours ago, Need4speed99 said:

big bruising vets

Well…. Florida is becoming the most recent team everyone (nationally) is talking about wanting to copy. That includes the Canes & Toronto. You know at least one thing they want to copy? Yup

[MacGyver]

Everybody wants to emulate the most recent successful team which currently is the Florida Panthers.  Big boy bruising hockey. By the time you build your team into that the new successful model will be small, fast and finesse hockey. You can chase styles and never catch up. 

 

[Need4speed99]

3 hours ago, Burnt Toast said:

Well…. Florida is becoming the most recent team everyone (nationally) is talking about wanting to copy. That includes the Canes & Toronto. You know at least one thing they want to copy? Yup

The panthers are one of the lightest teams in the league. They do play physical but they play fast. The Wild seem to enjoy big and slow.

Florida also has depth and have made great trades and been able to develop players.

[Need4speed99]

4 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

SWhat a lot of those guys proved were they weren't good enough to do things we don't see. 

Let's just open the floodgates and let Heidt on the team when he gets zoomed past in open ice during preseason.  Give Ohgren free reign when he has some of the least offensive and defensive impact on the team.

"But Khus was fast.  Didn't matter he couldn't score and he was a defensive liability on a defense focused team.  He wasn't playing with Boldy"

Gaudreau rebounded from his concussion in a big way. Foligno did too.  Writing veterans off to "let kids play" ignores that maybe the kids aren't good enough yet or ever.  Look how long it took Donato to get good?  I'm not waiting a decade on a player to figure out his shit.  

I'm not giving Guerin a pass on stupid trades like Nyquist and what not, but let's not just anoint shiny new toys great without proof. 

 

The Wild have had the same MO for the last 20 years, what has that gotten them?

They are the definition of mediocre. The prospects are unknown. I'm not saying most will even be great but their ceiling is unknown. If you want to see what you got give them better opportunities. The current model of the last several decades is not working. 

Edited Wednesday at 04:13 PM by Need4speed99

[mnfaninnc]

11 hours ago, Need4speed99 said:

What has ANYTHING over the last 6 yrs shows you things will change?

The prospects are maturing and the handcuffs are off. I believe that OCL's next demand is build me a "contender." We've got a ways to go for that.

[mnfaninnc]

4 hours ago, Burnt Toast said:

Well…. Florida is becoming the most recent team everyone (nationally) is talking about wanting to copy. That includes the Canes & Toronto. You know at least one thing they want to copy? Yup

To my knowledge, there are only 2 Tkachuk brothers out there and FL has 1. There could be some money in cloning here.

[mnfaninnc]

1 hour ago, Need4speed99 said:

Florida also has depth and have made great trades and been able to develop players.

Their AHL affiliate just made the Calder Cup finals.

[mnfaninnc]

59 minutes ago, Need4speed99 said:

They are the definition of mediocre. The prospects are unknown. I'm not saying most will even be great but their ceiling is unknown. If you want to see what you got give them better opportunities. The current model of the last several decades is not working. 

I think you might want to rethink this. Fletcher gave up on the prospect pool and traded them off for TDL magic dust. Guerin has not done that. 

Put another way, Fletcher liked his steaks rare, Guerin likes his well done. 

This is not the same way things have been done for 20 years. The results have been similar, but we've skinned that cat differently each time.

[NoJoSux]

On 6/3/2025 at 1:31 PM, 0 Stanley Cups said:

So we have a first line, two third lines, and an old veteran fourth line.  Stanley Cup here we come!

Too many players in their thirties, even though I like 38, 17, and 36.  But 13, 89 and 90...hard pass.  We don't even use 89 for shootouts anymore, so what does he bring, because it's not speed. 

Pick off some depth players from winning franchises like FLA, VGK, DAL, TBL, quit searching around the dollar store from somebody else's junk.  At least Fenton somewhat blew up our middling roster in an attempt to get better, except VRask😁

Nate Schmidt, Corey Perry, or even Granlund again. Then trade Fred and Chisholm for some other depth guys. If the Wild are truly gonna play some of their young guys. 

Sturm, Nosek, and other bigger centers are available that could be an upgrade over Fred. He's had his moments but I totally agree the Wild are content with some of the most average guys because they're responsible or somehow organizational favorites. It's stupid. NoJo, Fred, and Merrill, are not moving the needle. Of all the expiring deals, Fleury actually had good numbers and I'd take him for one more year over these other blowbags.