Article: The Wild Need A Malkin And Letang To Truly Contend

[Tom Schreier]

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[Pewterschmidt]

Just a couple hall of famer’s.  No big whoop.  At a minimum they need two legit top 6 forwards added to this lineup.  When Foligno, NoJo, senko, and Ogz are your best top 6 options you know what you are. Everything will fix itself when 48 yr old slap Nutz returns to our top 6.  
But P-goblin it’s only been 2 games….its the identical one and done core that’s now past its prime + rinse-senko + a wave of prospects getting their feet wet.  

[Pewterschmidt]

And if the Guerin regime throws any more assets away on defensemen, we need an intervention

[0 Stanley Cups]

Malkin would be nice, but there's little chance of that happening, what would we have to give up?  Letang, absolutely not!  BG plays hardball with Rossi, then reclaims Tarasenko, sure he can still fire the puck, but has been otherwise invisible.  Yes, it would've helped to have Zuccy on our second line, but he's 38, his absence from our lineup shouldn't be this critical.  I'm willing to wait and see with Tarasenko for about 20 games, but it's not looking good.

2nd line: Ek, RW-Hartman, LW-Hinostroza. 3rd line: C-Haight, Foligno, Tarasenko.  4th line: C-Yurov, Trenin, JoJo.  Keep rotating Yurov and Ohgren until one of them shows up.

Jiricek should've played against his former team over Bogo, it's the second game of the season, he would've been absolutely motivated against CBJ.

[Citizen Strife]

What I've seen from Buium has given me hope that he has something special, even this early.

The first line and Power Play are buzzing.  Hartman "could" be the temp option for the 2nd line, but that is presuming you want Trenin or Yurov there instead.  Couldn't hurt to try.  Foligno isn't the answer, Yurov and Ohgren weren't, and I doubt some 1st/2nd liner in a trade comes cheap.

I get the inclination to separate Kap and Boldy to create better balance, but that first line is too good to fuck with.  Find a different solution.

 

Edited October 13 by Citizen Strife

[Pewterschmidt]

32 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

I get the inclination to separate Kap and Boldy to create better balance, but that first line is too good to fuck with.

This group currently has one top tier 1st line, two middling? third lines, and a 4th energy line.  
hear me out: would it be crazy to put yurov with 97 and move Boldy to second.  97 makes everyone better and this might be the training wheels to unlock yurov as an nhl’r.  Boldy on 2 creates a competent 2nd line.  And remaining spare parts make bottom 6.  This group shouldn’t be trying to steal 5 more games this season.  This group should be on boarding its prospects as we head into the third 5 yr plan

[Citizen Strife]

Yurov and Ohgren are both kinda "there" on whatever line and whatever role they are doing.  This isn't a Rossi on the 3rd line situation where he were so successful with Foligno, Rossi got called to play in the Top 6 pretty much all the time since 

Hartman is a scorer to a certain extent, and can probably fit that line better than Foligno, Mojo, etc.  If Ohgren or Yurov show offensive skills or solid defense in say games 5, 10, 20, sure.  But in the first few games, they are pretty much where their skills have shown them to be.

The team doesn't have the luxury of maybes. I hope games like Columbus aren't the norm.  LA and Dallas won't make it easy.

Edited October 13 by Citizen Strife

[mnfaninnc]

I think Tom is right that you need 4-5 guys like he's talking about. But I disagree with the underlying thought of the way you build this is by tanking. For the record, I don't think any of the above listed teams actually tanked, Chicago was perpetually bad, Pittsburgh had aged out and needed a rebuild and just happened to be bad at a great time, and Tampa had a couple of bad years with a talented team that had injury prone seasons.

I do think Boldy will be our Malkin. The big issue here is that both are wings, whereas Crosby and Malkin are centers. And, while we have some capable centers now, they are still growing. 

As for our defense, I think we've got much better depth at that spot than any of the other teams listed. Same with goaltending, The Wall and Gus should be an elite tandem. Having those 4-5 guys tends to make a team very top heavy. I would hope we don't necessarily go that route. 

As for Saturday, how did we get dismantled for 7 goals against? I was busy actually attending the Canes game. $45 for parking in an unpaved lot. That got my attention. There are 2 things I'm just not used to: 1) the prices 2) cashless payments. 

[FredJohnson]

How about a NoJo?

[Burnt Toast]

11 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

At a minimum they need

…..a new defensive system. It’s catching fire in Europe. The P-Trap system. Is that yours? Jk 

[Burnt Toast]

5 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

how did we get dismantled for 7 goals against?

I’m guessing expected goals against was about 2-3 goals less than what Columbus netted for starters. Lots of weird caroms, bounces and odd/shots situations. 

[1Brotherbill]

Some think tank a few years ago analyzed the past 25 Stanley Cup winners and they came up with a few things that they noticed that were common for a cup winner.  

1. An elite center most of the teams had that.

2. An elite forward

3. An elite defender

4. Legitimate number one goalie

Then it broke down into a strong second line and such.  When you look at what Chicago had in their cup days that was the template for most of the past cup winners.  Toews the elite center, Kane the elite forward, Crawford the goalie, and pick a defender of that team for the elite defender.  If you look at other cup winners before and after that dynasty they all have similar players.  

Minnesota has an Elite forward, another top forward, a number one goalie, and solid defenders not elite but good enough.  What they lack and it is what will more than likely limit their chances is an elite center.   

[Scalptrash]

Where are all of the Tarasenko defenders saying he was way better than Johansson?

Ha, ha, he’s worse! At least Johansson is noticeable when making bad plays (turnover machine), Tarasenko is just plain invisible.

[Dango]

25 minutes ago, Scalptrash said:

Where are all of the Tarasenko defenders saying he was way better than Johansson?

Ha, ha, he’s worse! At least Johansson is noticeable when making bad plays (turnover machine), Tarasenko is just plain invisible.

Im hoping that his size can be of value for the style they play .

[Beast]

It’s not a Malkin and Letang they need.  They just need serviceable middle six guys.

I mean, they’re currently playing the rotting corpses of Tarasenko and Mojo around Ek.

if you are icing both Tarasenko and Mojo on any line at this point in their careers…you’re not even in the same universe as contenders.

[M_Nels]

10 hours ago, Beast said:

It’s not a Malkin and Letang they need.  They just need serviceable middle six guys.

I mean, they’re currently playing the rotting corpses of Tarasenko and Mojo around Ek.

if you are icing both Tarasenko and Mojo on any line at this point in their careers…you’re not even in the same universe as contenders.

If/when Sturm & Zucc come back this would be my forward lineup at least to start.

Kap-Rossi-Boldy

Hartman-Ek-Zucc

Trenin-Sturm-Foglino

Tarasenko-Yurov-Vinny

Edited October 15 by M_Nels

[Pewterschmidt]

48 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

If/when Sturm & Zucc come back this would be my forward lineup at least to start.

Kap-Rossi-Boldy

Hartman-Ek-Zucc

Trenin-Sturm-Foglino

Tarasenko-Yurov-Vinny

At first i was going to say that Rinsed-senko becomes even more useless on 4th line.  But you may be on to something.  He'd get much fewer minutes, and he'd be with a couple players who can set him up for his half wall one timer.  the current over/under is 14 goals for senko.  And this is if he stays on PP1 and 2nd line all season which has a zero % probability at this point.  At least Nojo can skate the puck thru the neutral zone.  What exactly does Rinsed-senko do well anymore?  bill loves to bail out OTHER GM's by taking their garbage out for them.

[Pewterschmidt]

Way too early predictions:

1) it won’t be long before Yurov is promoted to a center line higher than the fourth.  He, Haight and Z Boo are the bright spots this season.  Inevitable injuries will get them into the lineup (because Hynzy won't proactively do it) sooner rather than later.  Hartman had some flashes of Bad Hartman last night, so a suspension probably isn't far off.

2) Speaking of Hynzy: I am a fan of how this team started last season strong and I give Hynze most of the credit for setting the team up for that success.  This season looks different.  It's the same old past their prime one-and-done core but there is pure chaos when it comes to the lineup, and line combo's.  But P-Saravelli the INJURIES waaaaaa.....if this group is one 53 yr old Slap Nutz from winning this season will be veeeerry long.  What concerns me this season is that Hynzy is coaching to keep his job (remember Dean-o?), not coaching to win AND develop.  This fanbase won't have patience for this after all the 5 yr plans.  Time is now Hynzy.  I was thinking Brackett would be the first of bill's sacrificial lambs.  I now think it's Hynzy.  But P-Buccigrass, it's only been 4 games.  A drubbing by CBJ and another by DAL are proof that a team with a 1st line and three third lines doesn't stand a chance.  

3) Bill will have no choice, but to make an early trade this season and I guarantee Ogren is part of the package.  He is just not good at ice hockey.

4) Keep the F-ART-T line together.  Give Foligno and Trenin broomball sticks for all i care, just send them out there to hit and create loose pucks.  Gives the first line a breather and isn't a defensive liability so keep it together Hynzy.

 

[mnfaninnc]

On 10/14/2025 at 3:04 AM, 1Brotherbill said:

Minnesota has an Elite forward, another top forward, a number one goalie, and solid defenders not elite but good enough.  What they lack and it is what will more than likely limit their chances is an elite center.

What is the criteria for an elite center? For instance, was Bergeron an elite center and what made him elite? How about Kopitar? O'Reilly? 

If our center corps is not elite at point getting, but elite in a 200' game, would that count? How much improvement must Rossi make to get to that level? I already think that Eriksson Ek has reached his potential, but it is obvious that you and many others do not consider him elite. 

At some point, the same needs to happen with Yurov, though he is too young to put on this list. 

If we were going to trade for a center, something many are clamoring for, I would suggest that our identity lies in a 200' game. Who are the most eligible 200' centers that could fulfill that? I would guess that Crosby has evolved into that as he has paid attention to his own end over the past 7 years. Would that be our best target? How much time would we get with him? 

Are there any others to be considered? I know I'd rather have some youth legs on that list.

[Pewterschmidt]

23 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

How much improvement must Rossi make to get to that level?

I know we’re still in good vibes beginning of season mode but little Marco is demonstrating why there were no offer sheets this offseason. But P-Nut Brittle the first line is killing it so far….97 and 12 are making the plays, and Marco is just trying to keep up.  But Marco scored….rinsed-senko has 3 assists too and I couldn’t tell you when they happened.  

[mnfaninnc]

2 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

But Marco scored….rinsed-senko has 3 assists too and I couldn’t tell you when they happened.

Rinsed-Senko probably got them on the PP as a secondary assist, and one of Hartzy's goals

Edited October 15 by mnfaninnc

[Pewterschmidt]

1 minute ago, mnfaninnc said:

Rinsed-Senko probably got them on the PP as a secondary assist, and one of Hartzy's goals

Yup.  Get enough 2nd line and pp1 toi and law of averages proves you’ll get points…unless you’re NoJo. 

Edited October 15 by Pewterschmidt

[mnfaninnc]

17 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Yup.  Get enough 2nd line and pp1 toi and law of averages proves you’ll get points…unless you’re NoJo.

I'd really like to see Senko taking Kaprizov's spot on PP2. I think he can fire from that spot pretty well. Perhaps this happens when Zuccy gets back?

[1Brotherbill]

10 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

What is the criteria for an elite center? For instance, was Bergeron an elite center and what made him elite? How about Kopitar? O'Reilly? 

Faceoff % is pretty much what will decide the course of the Wild's centers.   Ek has shown he is below average.  Rossi has shown so far he is below average.  Yurov small sample size is also below average.  

Does little good if you are a 200 foot center when you are chasing for half to three quarters of your shift.  The centers you listed above have a fantastic faceoff percentage.  

The thing with the elite center is that they don't come along often and when they do they are seldom traded.  

[mnfaninnc]

14 hours ago, 1Brotherbill said:

The thing with the elite center is that they don't come along often and when they do they are seldom traded.

How do you propose we acquire one then? I totally agree that we need help in the dot, and I'm not opposed to a wing who is good at faceoffs taking the draws. For instance, on the top line, if Boldy is a faceoff beast, just have him take the draws.