Article: The Tarasenko Trade Is Sneaky Clever

[Justin Hein]

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[B1GKappa97]

Leipold is a dummy for proclaiming it would be Christmas. Way to overpromise and under deliver, Craig!! 

The Tarasenko move does make some sense as a one-year stopgap high-reward gamble, but I think I'd have rather seen us add Boeser as a higher-floor option myself. 

[OldDutchChip]

thanks, Justin.

This signing seems to be 100% the last pre-req for Kap signing. He convinced both Bill and Vlady to join and new contract is next logical step. 8 x 15

if that’s the reason - I’m good w it

if the reason is they want Vlady to contribute, I think we need to be ready for second coming of Nyquist 

[SkolWild73]

This article is pretty spot on.  I get how many think we should have done more, but after all the free agents signed with their own teams, there was not much left to choose from.  The players that were involved in sign and trades were Marner, Miller and Dobson.  We did not need Dobson or Miller and Marner had a NMC and wanted to go to Vegas, so no chance at him.  We did try for Paterka and Coyle.  That leaves a pretty weak free agent class.  Would we be better off with Granlund at 3 years and 7M AAV?  Or Boeser at 7 years and $7M AAV.  Signing either of these two and we lose flexibility at the trade deadline and next year.  Dvorak, who's best year is 38 points at one year and $5.4?  The only other decent player out there that is available is Ehlers.  I guess we will wait and see what he signs for but would assume it will be for a few years at a minimum of $7M AAV.  If Rossi signs for around $6-$7M, we will have around 4-$5M in space for the deadline to make some moves.  

[Scalptrash]

Quote

Is he a second-line winger?

No, but it's irrelevant anyway. The owner, management, and even the fans are perfectly content with mediocrity. Keep buying tickets sheeple.

The new Nyquil. Any suggestions for what his nickname will be? Tarastinko?

Edited July 2 by Scalptrash

[WIWild]

Except, given what we've repeatedly seen (eg w NoJo and Nyquist) is that salary seems to get you line placement priority and how will this impact how Oghren and/or Yurov get opportunities this year?

[Imyourhuckleberry]

15 minutes ago, WIWild said:

Except, given what we've repeatedly seen (eg w NoJo and Nyquist) is that salary seems to get you line placement priority and how will this impact how Oghren and/or Yurov get opportunities this year?

NoJo is the bar to clear if you want opportunities this season. He's at $800k. If you work harder on the ice than he does, you'll get opportunities.

It will be interesting to see how they shuffle lines throughout the season, particularly who elevates if someone is out for a few games. It's been a long wait, but some young players should legitimately be ready to take big steps forward in the upcoming season.

[SkolWild73]

19 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

NoJo is the bar to clear if you want opportunities this season. He's at $800k. If you work harder on the ice than he does, you'll get opportunities.

It will be interesting to see how they shuffle lines throughout the season, particularly who elevates if someone is out for a few games. It's been a long wait, but some young players should legitimately be ready to take big steps forward in the upcoming season.

Assuming Rossi is signed, how do you see the lines in game 1.  I was thinking they would do the following.

Ek, Kap, Zucc

Rossi, Boldy, Tarasenko

Yurov, Hartman, Foligno

Sturm, Trenin, Ohgren

[Imyourhuckleberry]

11 minutes ago, SkolWild73 said:

Assuming Rossi is signed, how do you see the lines in game 1.  I was thinking they would do the following.

Ek, Kap, Zucc

Rossi, Boldy, Tarasenko

Yurov, Hartman, Foligno

Sturm, Trenin, Ohgren

Those make a lot of sense to me. Allows them to double-shift Kaprizov in place of Tarasenko in portions of the games, or Boldy up for Zuccarello or Eriksson Ek--he's not at all bad at faceoffs for a wing.

They might try Boldy, Rossi, Kaprizov and Zuccy, JEE, Tarasenko at times.

Hard to say what Hynes will do, but my first guess aligns with yours, with a bit of Russian flavor on all 4 lines.

[OldSchool]

2 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

thanks, Justin.

This signing seems to be 100% the last pre-req for Kap signing. He convinced both Bill and Vlady to join and new contract is next logical step. 8 x 15

if that’s the reason - I’m good w it

if the reason is they want Vlady to contribute, I think we need to be ready for second coming of Nyquist 

Whatever the reason was for getting Tarasenko, one upside of having him is that maybe he can help Yurov settle in here a little quicker, maybe kinda become a mentor to him. Vlad told Russo that he's willing to do all he can in that regard. I realize that Kap will be there for Yurov too but I'm not sure if he's comfortable in that role.

[Lovehockey]

To me this offseason just one more justification that BG doing absolutely nothing. Yes u can discuss each player and find plus and minuses with signings BUT in reality all of these does not make Wild any better. Not even by inch. So they could be done BUT couldn’t not be done absolutely nothing difference. And by the way with Rossi he is doing very similar things what with FIala. 

[Dango]

Maybe Bill has sights on possible  better things the next free agency with more money available to bid .   

[Justin Hein]

21 hours ago, B1GKappa97 said:

Leipold is a dummy for proclaiming it would be Christmas. Way to overpromise and under deliver, Craig!! 

The Tarasenko move does make some sense as a one-year stopgap high-reward gamble, but I think I'd have rather seen us add Boeser as a higher-floor option myself. 

I would've like Boeser too, but he comes with more risk in the form of Cap Flexibility. If neither of Boeser or Tarasenko work out, the Wild are fine, and the Canucks are screwed. 

[Justin Hein]

20 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

thanks, Justin.

This signing seems to be 100% the last pre-req for Kap signing. He convinced both Bill and Vlady to join and new contract is next logical step. 8 x 15

if that’s the reason - I’m good w it

if the reason is they want Vlady to contribute, I think we need to be ready for second coming of Nyquist 

Age is a concern with both of Tarasenko and Nyquist, but Tarasenko at least performed well last season. Nyquist was acquired in the middle of a down year. 

Vlad has also been a better player in his prime, so a better upside swing. 

[Justin Hein]

19 hours ago, Scalptrash said:

No, but it's irrelevant anyway. The owner, management, and even the fans are perfectly content with mediocrity. Keep buying tickets sheeple.

The new Nyquil. Any suggestions for what his nickname will be? Tarastinko?

I think it's reasonable to hope that he can perform like a second-liner in this top 6. Assuming Rossi is back, lots of play drivers and matchup-coverage from Kaprizov. 

As for the nickname, I like Taz but he's going to need to be a psycho to live up to it. 

[Justin Hein]

18 hours ago, OldSchool said:

Whatever the reason was for getting Tarasenko, one upside of having him is that maybe he can help Yurov settle in here a little quicker, maybe kinda become a mentor to him. Vlad told Russo that he's willing to do all he can in that regard. I realize that Kap will be there for Yurov too but I'm not sure if he's comfortable in that role.

Underrated part of this is his experience with injuries. Perhaps he can be a mentor to Kirill in that way -- help him find the line between pushing himself to elite status but taking care of his body enough to stay available. 

[Justin Hein]

16 hours ago, Lovehockey said:

To me this offseason just one more justification that BG doing absolutely nothing. Yes u can discuss each player and find plus and minuses with signings BUT in reality all of these does not make Wild any better. Not even by inch. So they could be done BUT couldn’t not be done absolutely nothing difference. And by the way with Rossi he is doing very similar things what with FIala. 

Would you prefer that the Wild let Rossi walk and overpaid a different winger? It's frustrating to say but the options simply weren't there this summer. 

Tarasenko addresses the hole at 2nd line wing and leaves room to retain Rossi. He also leaves flexibility to go all-in next season, which none of the other A-list signings would have done. 

[Up North Guy]

1 hour ago, Justin Hein said:

Would you prefer that the Wild let Rossi walk and overpaid a different winger? It's frustrating to say but the options simply weren't there this summer. 

Tarasenko addresses the hole at 2nd line wing and leaves room to retain Rossi. He also leaves flexibility to go all-in next season, which none of the other A-list signings would have done. 

Thank you Justin for interacting with this frustrated fanbase. It looks like this year was a bad year to suddenly have money to spend. BG really needs to focus on the trade deadline and next years cap availability. I know it sounds like just another excuse for the team to not be successful but it does seem to be reality.

[B1GKappa97]

1 hour ago, Justin Hein said:

I would've like Boeser too, but he comes with more risk in the form of Cap Flexibility. If neither of Boeser or Tarasenko work out, the Wild are fine, and the Canucks are screwed. 

Yeah, that's a good point. I just had hoped for a younger option that was more in-line with the age of the core group and not another band-aid option after getting that in Johansson the last two years. 

Granted Tarasenko should be an upgrade on Mojo, but he's not likely to be as big of one as Boeser would be. 

Guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed there's better options at the TDL.

[OldDutchChip]

2 hours ago, Justin Hein said:

Age is a concern with both of Tarasenko and Nyquist, but Tarasenko at least performed well last season. Nyquist was acquired in the middle of a down year. 

Vlad has also been a better player in his prime, so a better upside swing. 

Thats true, but watching him live last year (few games - small sample) he was doing a good Vanek / Heater impression (and not of their early years) ….. I hope im wrong and he is rejuvenated 😎

[mnfaninnc]

Ah, Christmas morning. Yeah, maybe you only get a $10 and $50 giftcard, but let's look at it from the loving family that is doing the buying. 

They waited, and waited, and waited until that bonus check came in and when they went to Target, or wherever, the shelves were empty. All the great things were purchased, they even closed the back half of the store since there was nothing there. 

At the last moment, all they could conjure up was the giftcard idea, since they ran out of time. But, on the bright side, they still have plenty of money for your birthday, which is around the beginning of March. 

I commend Guerin for not spending to spend. His spending needs to have specific targets for things we need and don't have. Justin mentioned around $18m next season to sign some people, like a 2nd line. What if 1 of those guys is on an ELC? That certainly changes the equation. 

I think Guerin can get a jump on next season's UFA class by holding onto the money this offseason, and targeting specific TDL candidates in March and perhaps resigning them. 

Did anyone see how much Philly paid for Christian Dvorak? $5.4m! 

[Citizen Strife]

Unless you want 6 or 7 years of Ehlers or Boeser for 7-8.5m, you weren't gonna win out here.

I'm not going to believe some mythical first liner option is waiting at the TDL or free agency next year, but this give Guerin 6 more months to see prospects, but see them in real action too.  If any of them don't cut it, there's evidence to support it 

My biggest concern was cutting bait with Rossi and forcing Hartman back to 2C or anoint Yurov too soon.  There's every chance Yurov is just plain better than Rossi, but I'd like to see the eye test in crunch time first.  Throw years at a Boeser or Ehlers, you're locking things up before a better play "might" be waiting.

[Fezig]

Sometimes when you promise the kids a vacation to Wally World you end up arriving at a Wally World that's under repair. Wally World will open again, and the Wild will have the $$$ to take every security guard on the roller coaster.

[Pewterschmidt]

1 hour ago, Fezig said:

Sometimes when you promise the kids a vacation to Wally World you end up arriving at a Wally World that's under repair. Wally World will open again, and the Wild will have the $$$ to take every security guard on the roller coaster.

But do we trust John Candy to run the show.  See what I did there?

[Pewterschmidt]

2 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Unless you want 6 or 7 years of Ehlers or Boeser for 7-8.5m, you weren't gonna win out here.

I’m not mad that we didn’t chase one of these two. That said, this team is still at least two grown ass top six forwards from being a post season relevant nhl team.  We exchanged Vlad for NoJo in our top six.  That’s a push at best.  Zuccy is another year older.  Rossi is the de facto 2C.  The guy who couldn’t be trusted in last seasons playoffs.  Ok fine.  These things take time.  Is this the TDL that bill brings in some top six talent?   Are we just going to bet on yurov arriving as a top 6’r?   We’re sliding sideways here bill.