Article: Three Free Agents Who Would Fit the Wild's Needs

[Bekki Antonelli]

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[FredJohnson]

Burns!

[FredJohnson]

43 minutes ago, FredJohnson said:

Burns!

I wish everyone could hear it the way I hear it in my head: Jacques Lemaire’s voice.

Edited Wednesday at 06:16 PM by FredJohnson
JacqueS

[fanontheroad]

Much rather have Orlov than Burns. He's younger and fairly durable. His like a freight train. 

[MNCountryLife]

Burns is still a very good player.  He would definitely be in our top 4 right away.

[hydguy75]

3 hours ago, MNCountryLife said:

Burns is still a very good player.  He would definitely be in our top 4 right away.

I'm not sure if this is a good thing, or if it's sad.   Leaning towards the latter being that it's "Christmas in July" and he's 40.  

[Up North Guy]

3 hours ago, MNCountryLife said:

Burns is still a very good player.  He would definitely be in our top 4 right away.

Just not sure he is still that good. When i saw him this past year he looked very slow. He just isn't the same player he was a couple years ago. But, he is big. 

[NoJoSux]

4 hours ago, fanontheroad said:

Much rather have Orlov than Burns. He's younger and fairly durable. His like a freight train. 

Orlov was victimized in his last playoff series badly. I would not want him. 

Burns should just retire to man-buns and petting zoos. MN doesn't need any Hurricanes defensemen. 

[BillieGismylover]

I’d be all for Burnsie! Should have never traded him. Still the best Wild draft pick not named Kirill. 

[greg]

Burns signed a one year deal with Avalanche.   So far it's very much like the Twins.  Always an excuse why they can't find or sign big name impactful players.  Same old thing.  Over hype what you have and blame poor play on injuries, bad luck, officiating etc.  Not much has changed with the Wild.  After months of hype and hope about free agency spending they pick up leftovers.  I haven't seen anything yet that makes us better than last season.

[mnfaninnc]

On 7/2/2025 at 3:24 PM, MNCountryLife said:

Burns is still a very good player.  He would definitely be in our top 4 right away.

I disagree. Burns really showed his age in Carolina last season, getting punted from PP1 to not being trusted due to lack of speed. His $1m contract with Colorado shows that he's not really that great anymore, although, this does sort of look like a Corey Perry kind of thing. 

[MNCountryLife]

12 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I disagree. Burns really showed his age in Carolina last season, getting punted from PP1 to not being trusted due to lack of speed. His $1m contract with Colorado shows that he's not really that great anymore, although, this does sort of look like a Corey Perry kind of thing. 

Brodin is out.  Middleton isn't any faster and less skilled than a 40 year old Burns.  Spurgeon and Faber would have him.  But that puts Burns at position #3 firmly in the top 4 of our D core.  With Mids, Jiricek and Buium all below.  Even if we disagree with Mids it still puts Burns in our top 4 without Brodin.

Although irrelevant now.

Edited yesterday at 07:41 PM by MNCountryLife

[Enforceror]

Ehlers to the Canes. They're going to be a tough out this year.

[Pewterschmidt]

31 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

Ehlers to the Canes. They're going to be a tough out this year.

Memo to bill: Notice how the Canes' (see also: DAL, VGK, hell even STL) GM figures out a way to make impactful changes each season??? 

[NoJoSux]

On 7/2/2025 at 9:41 PM, BillieGismylover said:

I’d be all for Burnsie! Should have never traded him. Still the best Wild draft pick not named Kirill. 

It would be fun to see him in a Wild sweater again, but timing isn't sweet.

MN has made their share of mistakes and some decent picks over the years. Trading Burns was a goof. Picking Burns, Brodin, Granlund, Ek, and Boldy have been good but Burns is a unique player.

That's what GMBG hopes he gets from Jiricek, I think.