Article: How Does Rossi's Contract Fit Into the Wild's Five-Year Plan?

[Tony Abbott]

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[mnfaninnc]

1st, condolences to the victims of the past couple of days in Minneapolis. The news today weighed heavily on my heart.

 

Another nice thing about Rossi's new deal is that instead of waiting completely to the deadline, we can maybe start our shopping in January. That gives us, essentially, 3 months to figure out this team. I imagine that we will also need to give up some salary, but, it puts us in fine shape moving forward. 

Who knows? Maybe all 5 or 6 rookies hit and we don't need to add anywhere? Maybe our adds come from the college ranks after the NCAA tourney? Maybe we finally have positive injury luck? A younger roster typically has a tendency to have better injury luck. 

So, what if we were buyers through selling? Some of our vets would make nice pieces to playoff bound or playoff wannabe teams. Maybe instead of that "big" piece, we get more of an unproven piece somewhere within the '20-23 draft window? A guy on the upswing who hasn't quite had that breakthrough yet. 

It seems to me that Judd probably has a list of guys who either were taken before his chance or that he liked and missed on. Maybe he gets a 2nd swing on one of those guys? 

[1Brotherbill]

The best part of the Rossi contract is he still will have one year of RFA after the deal.  So, a qualifying offer will be in the 6 million range and anyone who wants him will have to pay more than that and give compensation to the Wild if they take him.  Or if Rossi falls of the edge of the table and is a terrible player they Wild can just walk away.  

It is doubtful that Zucarello will come back he already has said that he doesn't want to be a third line or fourth line guy he doesn't think that is his game.  Taresenko will be interesting, if he plays well the FA offers will come from everywhere, if he plays bad he can go away.  Johansson if he comes back will only make less than what he makes now.  Bogo has to go and probably will being that the Defensive rotation for the Wild is going to be the strongest part of the team for a few years.  I'm not talking only about Buium and Jiricek, Iowa has Peart, Spacek, and Lambos.  The Wild also have two or three prospects in the system that could easily fill a Bogo slot.  

Haight, Bankier, Stramel, Random Finn or Sweed and Hiedt are all able to fill spots. The Wild will have a lot of money next season if they play the kids more. 

I also think that spending 7 million plus on Gus would be a mistake.  Love the guy and he is a really good goalie.  However, in a league where good goalies are everywhere why spend top dollar on a position that can be filled by two people in your system or a free agent that is looking for a team.   

[Patrick]

This only makes sense as long as you don't examine how incredibly stupid BG and the Wild have been with Kaprizov. With his injury history and point production he isn't any more valuable than Rantanen or Marner. In fact in a 2015 redraft The Athletic had him FIFTH in that draft. 

Saying nobody will pay more and inflating expectations to a 14 or 15 million dollar deal is INSANE.  He is worth 12 and would have likely signed for 12 or 13 if management hadn't been so stupid.

Yeah. You save 1.5 million on Rossi but throw away 3 on Kaprizov....

Hopefully, they are not that stupid.

 

[Citizen Strife]

Saving 3 mil on Kap?  For whom? What "elite" (top 10 quality, nor Parise/Suter level) free agent in their prime ever decided, "You know, I could go to Florida or LA, but MINNESOTA is where I want to go? Rantanen and Marner chos perennial 2nd/3rd round teams like Carolina, Colorado, and Vegas.

The team needs Kap to even sniff the playoffs, injury risk or not.  If the team as constructed can get anywhere, THEN other high level players might waive clauses or jump here as free agents.

Edited 13 hours ago by Citizen Strife

[Pewterschmidt]

13 hours ago, 1Brotherbill said:

I also think that spending 7 million plus on Gus would be a mistake.  Love the guy and he is a really good goalie.  However, in a league where good goalies are everywhere why spend top dollar on a position that can be filled by two people in your system or a free agent that is looking for a team. 

100% agree.  GUS ranked 7th in league in nhl 26!!!  But it’s a video game P-Polly Pocket…it might be the most impartial goalie ranking out there.  We got GUS off the goalie scrap pile for T-bot (also decent goalie) because bill rage traded him.  If I’m GM I pick up a recycled goalie every couple years to keep the position filled and spend my money on skaters

Edited 10 hours ago by Pewterschmidt

[Tony Abbott]

Goalies are everywhere until you don't have one. Look at the New Jersey Devils. 

[0 Stanley Cups]

If the Wild are looking to get a reasonable deal for a new contract with Gus, it would be wise to get him signed sooner rather than later.  Don't make the same mistake they made with Rossi, since he'll be UFA, he'll hold all the leverage later in the season as long as he's playing decent.  If Gus is bad this year, this season's over.

Let alone if Wally is just average or stumbles a bit this season, which wouldn't be a surprise for a young goalie in his first real NHL season.  If BG waits and Gus has a great year, Gus would probably seek $8M like Oettinger & Swayman, whether with the Wild or elsewhere, and he could probably get it since the cap increases next season.

[Pewterschmidt]

25 minutes ago, 0 Stanley Cups said:

If Gus is bad this year, this season's over.

This is why GM’s make the big bucks.  Which GUS do e we get this year?  Top 7 in league Gus OR train wreck new born Gus.  No one can see the future but bill is GM presumably for his high end hockey IQ.  Dumb as a post in every other aspect of life, but high hockey IQ.  I cannot wait for the season to start

[raithis]

1 hour ago, 0 Stanley Cups said:

Let alone if Wally is just average or stumbles a bit this season, which wouldn't be a surprise for a young goalie in his first real NHL season.

 

 

No, it wouldn't be a surprise, but I believe he will play better with a better defense in front of him, just as Gustavsson has.

And Wallstedt can be average and be just fine as long as Gustavsson plays decent.  Fleury had some moments, but overall he was a fairly average.  Generally the backup goalie is average or slightly below that and about a quarter of the games they play get away from them.  If Wallstedt does the same, it's no different than the norm.

My main concern is not riding Gustavsson so much or for such long stretches.  He looked tired by the end of the season and Wallstedt will need games more often than Fleury was getting in order to keep progressing.

[Citizen Strife]

Sheesh Pewter.  Guerin steal your mail or something?  Bordering on Protec hates Mojo levels there.

[Pewterschmidt]

16 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

Sheesh Pewter.  Guerin steal your mail or something?  Bordering on Protec hates Mojo levels there.

No not a fan.  Been watching the same movie from Guerin for 7 years now, same results.  But P-eterbuilt at least he’s not Fenton…. Carrot top is an improvement over Fenton that’s why he was fired in one year.  At least Fletcher took some swings and didn’t assault the staff.  Yes I guess I’m pining for the Fletcher years.  My fear is that Leo gets wood with the access bill gets in the league to former stars and that alone is enough for us to be talking about bill’s third 5 year plan installment. 

[Patrick]

9 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Saving 3 mil on Kap?  For whom? What "elite" (top 10 quality, nor Parise/Suter level) free agent in their prime ever decided, "You know, I could go to Florida or LA, but MINNESOTA is where I want to go? Rantanen and Marner chos perennial 2nd/3rd round teams like Carolina, Colorado, and Vegas.

The team needs Kap to even sniff the playoffs, injury risk or not.  If the team as constructed can get anywhere, THEN other high level players might waive clauses or jump here as free agents.

Not saving, throwing away. 

Lets stick with facts over speculation.

-Marner and Rantanen are nearly identical comps.  Both signed at 12 million a year.  --With the new collective bargaining agreement only MN can offer 8 years.

- Of the 20 largest NHL contracts 18 of them resigned with their existing teams.  The only exceptions are Rantanen and Marner.

Considering all of the above MN should be in a great position to sign Kaprisov without overpaying by 20%.

Marquee talent is almost never found in free agency.  You have to draft or trade for it.  Three million is the difference between having a Tarasenko or having a Kevin Fiala.