Article: The Wild Shouldn't Trade Frederick Gaudreau This Offseason

[Robert Brent]

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[Pewterschmidt]

We'll agree to disagree.

[Dean]

Ridiculous 

[Enforceror]

We really need to see what Yurov can do as well as close the Rossi saga. With injuries always looming, shipping Freddy off with no return in the center position would be a mistake. Yeah he's not a big bruiser or a superstar scoring forward but he is a useful utility player.

[mnfaninnc]

Freddy is another one of these players that is a wing and can play center. We've got 2 of those. I would suggest that the 17th ranking in center depth is generous. Think about this for a second, likely every playoff team had more center depth than the Wild. That's a huge disadvantage in the playoffs.

Next up, I've been a supporter of Freddy and his contract. However, let's be perfectly honest here. If we're complaining about Rossi being small, Freddy is more undersized than Rossi is, and less likely to take the body. He is not built for a playoff run, and this is the reason I cannot agree with Robert on this one. As Kalisha pointed out, Dvorak would be an upgrade at 4th line C, and as soon as we sign him (if we do) we can trade out Freddy. 

There's another guy out there I wouldn't mind taking over the 4th line and that's Nico Sturm. He also can win faceoffs and is a bigger body down the middle. He doesn't score much, but he has in the past, for secondary scoring. But, both of those guys would be an upgrade over Freddy.

Robert's article points out that Freddy is a useful player. But he's a useful player on a WC team. He can play center, but he's not a real center. He is undersized. He's played many roles, but sometimes you have to move on. We need centers, not wings who can also play center.  We've got that same problem with Hartzy. I say ship him out. I would also bet that Bankier could fill that role, maybe even better with a larger frame.

[nomlandjon]

Fred isn’t a playoff guy. If we are trying to replicate panther hockey in the postseason, he isn’t a part of that. Would love to see them get out of the final three years of his deal. Islanders trying to shed cap space. Paguea at 5 mil for one year is an upgrade to our bottom 6. 40 points and nearly 60% in the dot. Not to mention pretty solid on the PK. 

try a Freddy and Spacek for JGP and see what happens.

also would like to see Zucc go. Another good contract for his production sure, but if we are trading Rossi due to his size, then why is Mats still on the roster? Sorry he is Kap’s buddy. He was also invisible in the playoffs. If that pisses off Kap, to the point of no extension, then save the 15 mil and get two 7 million dollar players for him next offseason or in a trade. Time for a serious shake up is now

[Scalptrash]

Yes, trade Freddy, keep Rossi. I don’t care if the new center isn’t any better, just someone different. 

[Citizen Strife]

Peterka to Utah (5y/7.7m AAV) for Kesselring and Doan.

So...there's more comp now.  Peterka got 2nd pair/3rd line quality back, and money in line with 2nd line guys.  Who COULDA guessed $7m was the going rate?

Edited 7 hours ago by Citizen Strife

[Fezig]

If Freddy ain't six foot tall we gotta get rid of him. Package him with Rossi and find a bantam or pee wee league to send them for the tallest projected kids.

[0 Stanley Cups]

Freddie and JoJo have been serviceable, but they're not going to help get us past the first round.  They're terrific people, solid pro's, but at some point we need to upgrade!  At least we're not talking about bringing back Merrill (even though he was adequate last season).  If BG wants size/physical, there's two spots that aren't it.  Rossi's not big but he doesn't shy away from the front of the net.

[MrCheatachu]

I was listning to the latest Russo/Pants podcast this AM, and they had a bit of a discussion around the FA market this season.

While it seems there's no big ticket FA's available, they brought up that there's a glut of 3rd/4th line centers that are likely an upgrade from FreddyG who will be available...  Mikey Eyssimont, Colin Blackwell, Nico Sturm, Radek Fafska, Sean Kuraly...hell, even Kunin or Bjugstad are available.

Upgrading Rossi in free agency is going to be difficult/impossible.  Upgrading FreddyG in free agency there's going to be a lot of options...

[TCMooch]

3 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Peterka to Utah (5y/7.7m AAV) for Kesselring and Doan.

So...there's more comp now.  Peterka got 2nd pair/3rd line quality back, and money in line with 2nd line guys.  Who COULDA guessed $7m was the going rate?

Kind of interesting seeing Sabre fans shit on JJ Peterka. From their perspective he is very one-dimensional and only wants to play in the offense end and has no or little interest in playing defense.

Honestly, with the cap seeing to be increasing year-over-year I think we should lock up Rossi at $7 million for a lot of years if he is interested in that. I think it would be good cost control for a young center that is willing to put in the work and play 2-way hockey and score in the dirty areas on the ice.

[Scalptrash]

4 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Peterka to Utah (5y/7.7m AAV) for Kesselring and Doan.

So...there's more comp now.  Peterka got 2nd pair/3rd line quality back, and money in line with 2nd line guys.  Who COULDA guessed $7m was the going rate?

Damn, I was hopeful the Wild would go after him. It would have been a nice consolation if they don't resign Rossi. Yes, I know he's not a center, but valuable top six players are going fast. Peterka and Rossi on the same line would have been very entertaining.

[Pewterschmidt]

25 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

Nico Sturm, Radek Fafska, Sean Kuraly...hell, even Kunin or Bjugstad are available.

I heard this too.  If the choices are to keep Fred or recycle an old Wild passenger, I'd vote to keep Fred.  Vanilla is Vanilla is Vanilla.

[Pewterschmidt]

24 minutes ago, TCMooch said:

JJ Peterka. From their perspective he is very one-dimensional and only wants to play in the offense end and has no or little interest in playing defense.

The offensive only aspect to JJ's game is probably why bill didn't get it done.  I believe that's why bill has soured on Rossi.  Because he can't trust him to hold his own defensively.

[Scalptrash]

42 minutes ago, TCMooch said:

he is very one-dimensional and only wants to play in the offense end and has no or little interest in playing defense.

Sore losers. He put up 68 points in 77 games and was a -1. I'd take that in a heartbeat. The Wild have better D and better goaltending.

[Scalptrash]

25 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

I heard this too.  If the choices are to keep Fred or recycle an old Wild passenger, I'd vote to keep Fred.  Vanilla is Vanilla is Vanilla.

I'd take Sturm over Gaudreau any day. Well, maybe not, I just don't like Freddy, never have.

Edited 3 hours ago by Scalptrash

[0 Stanley Cups]

Freddie to SEA for a fourth round pick!!

[Pewterschmidt]

Is Tavares coming for Christmas?

[Will D. Ness]

Just now, 0 Stanley Cups said:

Freddie to SEA for a fourth round pick!!

I think this probably means we have something pretty solid in the works?  I wouldn't think we move Freddy at this time otherwise.

[Scalptrash]

55 minutes ago, Will D. Ness said:

I think this probably means we have something pretty solid in the works?  I wouldn't think we move Freddy at this time otherwise.

Agreed, opening a spot and cap space. Bad timing for this article, sorry Robert!

[mnfaninnc]

1 hour ago, 0 Stanley Cups said:

Freddie to SEA for a fourth round pick!!

I feel vindicated. Interestingly, we got a little more for Freddy than the Oilers got for Kane.

[MrCheatachu]

3 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

I heard this too.  If the choices are to keep Fred or recycle an old Wild passenger, I'd vote to keep Fred.  Vanilla is Vanilla is Vanilla.

But P-Dagger, I thought you were the founding member of the she-man-freddy-haters-club?

I like FreddyG for what he brings to the club, but I'm not going to waste much breath arguing that this FA class there are opportunities to find a better player at a Trenin-esque contract level.