Article: What Should the Wild Do To Optimize Their Second Line?

[Cray McCally]

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[MNCountryLife]

Hopeful Lineup to start the season?

1)  Kirill, Rossi, Boldy.  2)  Tara, Ek, Ohgren

3)  Foligno, Yurov, Hartman  4)  Vinnie, Trenin, Haight

Spurge/Buium, Mids/Faber, Jiricek/Bogo

==>> Once healthy

Zuc, Sturm and Brodin in.  Haight,Vinnie, Bogo out.

1)  Kirill, Rossi, Boldy.  2)  Tara, Ek, Zuc

3)  Ohgren, Trenin, Hartman  4)  Foligno, Sturm, Yurov

Spurge/Buium, Brodin/Faber, Jiricek/Mids

[MNCountryLife]

Is it too late to say a prayer that Nojo doesn't make the starting lineup on Oct 9th?  Puckpedia only shows 12 healthy forwards and Nojo is included in that list.  Ughh..  At the very least I hope he plays on the 4th line and only gets 8 minutes or less.

[Scalptrash]

Quote

the Wild decided to keep its free agent spending to a minimum and retain that money in-house. 

I wouldn't consider only having $5M left "spending to a minimum". In order to make a big move, they will have to part ways with a starter. Probably Rossi because that is exactly why his contract was structured the way it is. Trade bait. Billy ain't done with the Rossi saga yet, just watch.

Like I said earlier, trade him, a prospect, and some picks for Thompson. Basically whatever it takes, IMO. And do it now, don't wait for the deadline. Kirill needs a new toy to play with, Zuccy is broken.

[0 Stanley Cups]

Hartman has been looking great, wouldn't mind seeing him get a shot at second line in between Tarasenko and Ohgren.  

[FredJohnson]

What Should the Wild Do To Optimize Their Second Line?

 

NO PLAYERS WITH NECK BEARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Edited October 2 by FredJohnson
Grammer

[M_Nels]

6 minutes ago, Scalptrash said:

I wouldn't consider only having $5M left "spending to a minimum". In order to make a big move, they will have to part ways with a starter. Probably Rossi because that is exactly why his contract was structured the way it is. Trade bait. Billy ain't done with the Rossi saga yet, just watch.

Like I said earlier, trade him, a prospect, and some picks for Thompson. Basically whatever it takes, IMO. And do it now, don't wait for the deadline. Kirill needs a new toy to play with, Zuccy is broken.

Oh boy here we go...Rossi trade train departing early from the station this year.

Why on earth would Buffalo trade Thompson early in the season?

[FredJohnson]

5 minutes ago, 0 Stanley Cups said:

Hartman has been looking great, wouldn't mind seeing him get a shot at second line in between Tarasenko and Ohgren.  

I'd like to see this. IF Rossi gets kicked down to 2C, I'd put Foligno on his wing. They had some wicked (good) Corsi numbers last year and it wasn't a small sample size.

[FredJohnson]

48 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

Is it too late to say a prayer that Nojo doesn't make the starting lineup on Oct 9th?

It's never too soon to wish that NoJo was gone.

[FredJohnson]

18 minutes ago, Scalptrash said:

Probably Rossi because that is exactly why his contract was structured the way it is. Trade bait. Billy ain't done with the Rossi saga yet, just watch.

Billy got Rossi into a reasonable contract because other teams didn't want him. (Remember the 0 offer sheet thingy?) Would they want him now? The offer sheet price would have been one 1st-round pick and one 3rd-round pick. 
 

Rossi for 2 picks (2026 first and third)

vs

Rossi + Prospect + 2 Picks for Thompson

👍?

👎?

[BeanPole Harvester]

1 hour ago, MNCountryLife said:

Hopeful Lineup to start the season?

1)  Kirill, Rossi, Boldy.  2)  Tara, Ek, Ohgren

3)  Foligno, Yurov, Hartman  4)  Vinnie, Trenin, Haight

Spurge/Buium, Mids/Faber, Jiricek/Bogo

==>> Once healthy

Zuc, Sturm and Brodin in.  Haight,Vinnie, Bogo out.

1)  Kirill, Rossi, Boldy.  2)  Tara, Ek, Zuc

3)  Ohgren, Trenin, Hartman  4)  Foligno, Sturm, Yurov

Spurge/Buium, Brodin/Faber, Jiricek/Mids

Overall I like this but having Trenin centering the 3rd line kind of scares me.

The nice thing about both Boldy and Zuccarello is that they can both play either wing which provides a lot of flexibility. For the 3rd line I would like to have Yurov there with Hartman and Ohgren. Still a lot to be seen frmo the rookies but Ohgren and Hartman are more shooter than playmaker and i believe Yurov will be more playmaker than shooter.

[M_Nels]

8 minutes ago, BeanPole Harvester said:

For the 3rd line I would like to have Yurov there with Hartman and Ohgren.

Think you've got too much youth/inexperience on that line IMO.

If I was Hynes here's how I would roll opening night.

Boldy-Rossi-Kap

Tarasenko-Ek-Yurov (chemistry from last game)

Foglino-Hartman-Ohgren

Trenin-Haight (Sturm?)-Vinnie (probably MOJO but please!!) 

[Kato AK]

3 hours ago, MNCountryLife said:

==>> Once healthy

Zuc, Sturm and Brodin in.  Haight,Vinnie, Bogo out.

1)  Kirill, Rossi, Boldy.  2)  Tara, Ek, Zuc

3)  Ohgren, Trenin, Hartman  4)  Foligno, Sturm, Yurov

Spurge/Buium, Brodin/Faber, Jiricek/Mids

I would try the russian development magic 2.0

Zucc, hartman, yurov. It worked once, try it a second time.

2nd Line - Ogre, EK, Tank

Dont forget that Hynes likes to run a traditional checking line.

I could see Foligno, Sturm, Trenin being that line and not fun to play against.

[Patrick]

Zucc is cooked. He was slow and feeble last year. One of the best minds in the game but the body is failing. Best case scenario is 3rd line and PP. 12,13 minutes a night.

[1Brotherbill]

4 hours ago, Scalptrash said:

I wouldn't consider only having $5M left "spending to a minimum". In order to make a big move, they will have to part ways with a starter. Probably Rossi because that is exactly why his contract was structured the way it is. Trade bait. Billy ain't done with the Rossi saga yet, just watch.

Like I said earlier, trade him, a prospect, and some picks for Thompson. Basically whatever it takes, IMO. And do it now, don't wait for the deadline. Kirill needs a new toy to play with, Zuccy is broken.

Rossi can't be traded until next summer. 

[1Brotherbill]

I'm pretty sure the first line is going to be Boldy, Rossi, Kaprizov.  When every national media covering the NHL links those three as the top line in the league you probably are going to see that as the top line.  

Second line I would personally like to see Ohgren, Ek, Taresenko.  Gives you size and grit and veteran leadership for Ohgren.

Third line Hartman, Yurov, Foglino.  Just go out there and cause some destruction.

Fourth line have Trenin and Sturm with someone else not named Marcus Johansson.  Just go out and win a faceoff.  

Everyone is what about Zucarello. Well he is hurt and by the time he gets back he might have a problem fitting in on one of the top six roles, we all hope that is the case.  If Ohgren and Yurov are playing well I don't see them moving them so Zucarello can get ice time.  Maybe a platoon with two of them or all three.  Regardless Zucarello is not a third line guy and nobody in the world would say that he is a fourth line guy.    

If this team is healthy and they have to use Johansson on the top six because he is the better option.  The Wild might be in the running for the 1st overall pick. 

[Scalptrash]

5 hours ago, M_Nels said:

Oh boy here we go...Rossi trade train departing early from the station this year.

Why on earth would Buffalo trade Thompson early in the season?

Keep thinking small and enjoy mediocrity. Buffalo may or may not trade Thompson, ever. They have more of a history, than any other team in recent years, of trading their best players. They would trade him now if they get something they value more in return. Of course that isn't just Rossi, it'd be a lot more than that.

Kirill is signed and wants to win, time to make some big moves. Now is the time, not starting next year or the year after that, now.

[Scalptrash]

1 hour ago, 1Brotherbill said:

Rossi can't be traded until next summer. 

Why not? He has zero trade protection.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/marco-rossi-trade-rumors-spark-171904848.html

[AKwildkraken]

2 hours ago, Scalptrash said:

Why not? He has zero trade protection.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/marco-rossi-trade-rumors-spark-171904848.html

I think there is a trade clause with an offer sheet, but since there wasn't an offer sheet, no protection.  

I think this might be where the can't be traded until summer idea came from.

[M_Nels]

10 hours ago, Scalptrash said:

They would trade him now if they get something they value more in return. Of course that isn't just Rossi, it'd be a lot more than that.

How much would you be willing to give up without considering it an overpay? Why would Buffalo trade a star player that's in year 3 of a 7yr deal not even remotely close to the TDL? Why would they value Rossi+picks+2 prospects more than Thompson before they're out of contention?

Fun fact, Rossi has a better faceoff percentage than Thompson.

[Scalptrash]

59 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

How much would you be willing to give up without considering it an overpay? Why would Buffalo trade a star player that's in year 3 of a 7yr deal not even remotely close to the TDL? Why would they value Rossi+picks+2 prospects more than Thompson before they're out of contention?

Fun fact, Rossi has a better faceoff percentage than Thompson.

What has been the Wild's biggest need, since forever? A true 1C. You give up whatever it takes because there isn't one in the system, they will never be able to draft one, and they don't grow on trees. Now is the time. They have been building assets for years just for this time (although Billy has squandered many of them).

What is your plan? Just keep doing the same thing over and over again, even though it hasn't worked? You know what that is the definition for, right?

[SkolWild73]

Now that most of the offseason drama is over, it is refreshing to start looking forward to the new season.  I know a lot will depend on injuries, but listening to Hynes the other day, I would not be surprised to see a second line of Yurov, Ek and Tarasenko.

I see trade ideas getting put out there already, but I doubt anything will get done until later in the year.  We as well as other teams need to see what they have before making any big moves.  Things I am most looking forward to this year:

1.  If Rossi can continue to build on his last two seasons.  I hear some wanting to trade him, but if he improves in the small areas, he will have one of the best contracts in the game.

2.  What a relatively healthy team can do.  Injuries happen, but if we can get 75+ games from Kap and Ek, I think we can weather other injuries.

3.  The young guys.  Not really expecting 60-point players from this group yet this year but am looking forward to the progression that each makes in the first half of the year.  Also, really hoping the Wall proves himself as a possible number 1.  Could go a long way in determining whether or not they decide to extend Gus and for how much.

Lots to be excited about.  

[Dis-allowed display name]

I realize this might sound peculiar, but if I were coach I would ask Kap and Boldy who they want as their center and wingman, and who seems to compliment their play style, at least just to know what they think.

It is one thing if they both want Ek, or they both want Rossi, but what if Kap wants Rossi and Boldy likes Ek?  That pretty much makes the decision easy.  Same with wing.

Some guys you just feel like you click with and if your star players want to play with specific teammates, well then, that is how I would roll, until it fails and you need to try something new.

 

[PNW Wild]

13 hours ago, Scalptrash said:

Why not? He has zero trade protection.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/marco-rossi-trade-rumors-spark-171904848.html

I believe this is the correct take. I am guessing that the Rossi can't be traded until next summer is due to the fact that IF the team had matched an offer sheet he could not be traded for a year. 

[FredJohnson]

2 hours ago, PNW Wild said:

I believe this is the correct take. I am guessing that the Rossi can't be traded until next summer is due to the fact that IF the team had matched an offer sheet he could not be traded for a year. 

Right, there were no offer sheets signed by Rossi, therefore that no trade rule is not in effect.