Article: The Minnesota Wild Are Finally Headed Into the Unknown

[Tony Abbott]

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[Citizen Strife]

That's why I enjoy it so much.  Like we saw yesterday, the Wild got 4 goals on 11-12 shots, or Hartman getting two goals.  No one probably saw that coming.  You just don't "know" what a team does.  Just gotta keep on winning 

[Fezig]

I'm not one to be optimistic. Of watching over 200 professional seasons of the four major MN sports (yay 87 & 91) I've been trained to set my expectations low. 

This season, for some reason, actually has my expectations high. I love the blend of veteran leadership and (talented) youth.

Strong goaltending, 1.5 superstars, quality blueline and extra money in the coffers if needed. I'm not setting my sights on making the playoffs. I truly expect a strong, strong run at the Cup. 

[Pablo]

No other team has had to go thru cap hell like this team and we have drafted/traded well enough. The young guns are going to NEED to step up and do their part. This will be an epic rookie class because they have talent and great coaching.  They will be a freight train in years to come!

[TCMooch]

Ryan Hartman on pace for 164 goals a game!!!!! STANLEY CUP BABY!!!!!

[MNCountryLife]

What a great game.  A few mistakes by the rookies... but I thought they made more good plays than bad.  Our vets played well.  Even Nojo had a good game and played hard.   Our 4th line of Haight, Ohgren and Vinnie struggled the most....which is to be expected.. but they played hard and didn't give up a goal.

[MNCountryLife]

Bogo seemed to enjoy playing with Jiricek.  Two big guys making some hits and clearing the nets.  I like that 3rd pairing.  

[M_Nels]

44 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

Bogo seemed to enjoy playing with Jiricek.  Two big guys making some hits and clearing the nets.  I like that 3rd pairing.  

You can definitely tell Jiri has some strength. I'm afraid he's going to be the casualty when Brods comes back unless they're planning on rotating him and Bogo. Don't think it's necessarily because Bogo outplays him but simply because Bogo does play a lot on the PK.

Ideal d-pairs for me once Brods comes back:

Brodin-Faber

Buium-Spurgeon

Mids-Bogo (Jiricek)

[Citizen Strife]

If the Wild want to rotate in Yurov or Ohgren, I don't have a problem with them rotating Bogo and Jiricek in (or even Hunt if it comes to it).  He has some good parts to his game (even defensively), but those warts are more pronounced that Buium, and Buium has too much skill to even leave out of the lineup.

That doesn't mean Jiricek is a problem.  I just think he has a little Dumba in him where he wants to be an offensive force rather than even a two-way defenseman.

I forget who it was on Wild on 7th (Carter or O'Donnell I think) that said the same. "He tries too hard to be a forward.'. I saw less of that last night, so he is definitely coachable.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

19 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

"He tries too hard to be a forward.'. I saw less of that last night, so he is definitely coachable.

On one of the goals against in the preseason, he was trying to fly into the offensive zone with the forwards and when a turnover happened, he and all of the forwards were immediately behind the play, so we've seen it.

That one turned into 3 against 1, I think, and a goal against. Those are the habits he needs to leave behind. Play defense first and the offensive opportunities will come simply by having puck possession. I think Jiricek has a bright future ahead with his skillset and size, just needs a bit of refinement.

[Lovehockey]

It was a very good game BUT I have few concerns:

- you cannot win much of the games when opposing team spend most of the time in your zone

- first line - they will definitely score a lot of goals skills is there BUT they need to have much more possession in the opponent zone. 
- second line - too slow, does not create much, hard to say if this combination is good (I know this is just one game)

- third line - great night

- fourth line - nothing to remember, the only thing is they skate hard

Defense:

Spurgeon - Buium - too small. It was very visible how easy they got separated from puck and overpowered 

JIricek - good game especially at the second half, he is strong and actually completely opposite from the second line. Maybe pairing him and Spurgeon will be better 

Gustavsson - great game

 

 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

1 hour ago, Lovehockey said:

JIricek - good game especially at the second half, he is strong and actually completely opposite from the second line. Maybe pairing him and Spurgeon will be better 

With Jiricek and Spurgeon both being RHD, I think Brodin is Jiricek's more natural linemate. Not sure if that's a pairing they will use, but their skillsets should complement one another fairly well if they do.

Buium/Spurgeon will likely improve, but I understand the size concerns. Middleton and Spurgeon had been pretty solid together, so wouldn't mind seeing that. I'm not sure Hynes will want to put Faber/Buium together yet, even if that is the long-term top pair. The game could have been closer if things bounced differently, but the Wild seemed to have the better chances overall.

I know Bogosian has a right handed stick as well, but he has experience playing both sides in his career.  Thinking long-term, I'm not sure they want to setup Spurgeon or anyone else doing that regularly--likely not the young guys.  Bogo is seen by me as the 7th D, so that versatility is nice to have in that spot.

[MNCountryLife]

3 hours ago, M_Nels said:

Ideal d-pairs for me once Brods comes back:

Brodin-Faber

Buium-Spurgeon

Mids-Bogo (Jiricek)

I like the pairing.  7 D that can all be relied upon.  Hynes may want to consider just resting players when they appear fatigued or banged up a bit.  Give them a bit more healing time.  Good problem to have.  

[1Brotherbill]

13 hours ago, Pablo said:

No other team has had to go thru cap hell like this team and we have drafted/traded well enough. The young guns are going to NEED to step up and do their part. This will be an epic rookie class because they have talent and great coaching.  They will be a freight train in years to come!

The thing about the cap hell is that if they didn't buyout the contracts the penalties would have been two to three times as bad.  Because Parise retired before his contract term was over.  

[1Brotherbill]

10 hours ago, M_Nels said:

You can definitely tell Jiri has some strength. I'm afraid he's going to be the casualty when Brods comes back unless they're planning on rotating him and Bogo. Don't think it's necessarily because Bogo outplays him but simply because Bogo does play a lot on the PK.

 

I think Jiricek plays the entire year baring injury.  He has a shot that goalies fear.  That alone will keep him in the lineup.  Playing him along side Brodin will be a very strong pair.  Brodin with Bogo is an average pairing. 

[1Brotherbill]

7 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

With Jiricek and Spurgeon both being RHD, I think Brodin is Jiricek's more natural linemate. Not sure if that's a pairing they will use, but their skillsets should complement one another fairly well if they do.

Agreed Spurgeon and Buium are a good mix.  Spurgeon has a better defensive game than Buium.  Buium has buckets of offensive talent over Spurgeon and a decent defensive game.

Middleton and Faber work so well together I doubt that they will be broken up anytime soon.  

Brodin and Jiricek would be a very strong defensive pairing.  Brodin has a strong defensive game and a above average offensive game.  Jiricek has an above average offensive game and a decent defensive game.  

Bogo is an option for filling in but he isn't better than the top six.  The only thing he has is experience.  If you need that on the ice the season is pretty much over anyway.  

Hunt well he is Hunt and that is about all you need to say about that.  

[Pablo]

2 hours ago, 1Brotherbill said:

The thing about the cap hell is that if they didn't buyout the contracts the penalties would have been two to three times as bad.  Because Parise retired before his contract term was over.  

It was definitely worth it to buy out both. It was just an unprecedented type of rebuild and seasons of moving parts and getting to this point.  Now we can win and sign more talent thru capflation.  The best part is that we have some great young developing talent that is controllable.

[1Brotherbill]

On 10/10/2025 at 11:07 PM, Pablo said:

Now we can win and sign more talent thru capflation.  The best part is that we have some great young developing talent that is controllable.

The Free Agent class for next year is even worse than what it was this past summer.  Don't expect a big signing next summer there really isn't anyone available to sign and the one or two elite players are probably going to sign with their current clubs being that everyone has money again. 

Free agents available that would really make a difference, Artemi Panarin, Cale Makar, Jason Robertson (RFA), Martin Necas (RFA), Trevor Zegaras.  The list has a lot of people north of thirty some by a decade.  

Best thing the Wild could do is develop the prospect pool 

[Pablo]

On 10/14/2025 at 9:44 PM, 1Brotherbill said:

The Free Agent class for next year is even worse than what it was this past summer.  Don't expect a big signing next summer there really isn't anyone available to sign and the one or two elite players are probably going to sign with their current clubs being that everyone has money again. 

Free agents available that would really make a difference, Artemi Panarin, Cale Makar, Jason Robertson (RFA), Martin Necas (RFA), Trevor Zegaras.  The list has a lot of people north of thirty some by a decade.  

Best thing the Wild could do is develop the prospect pool 

Nothing beats internal development. One possible FA signing would jump start our window to be a legit perennial playoff team.