Article: The Wild Don't Have Many Options For A Roster Shakeup

[mnfaninnc]

On 11/5/2025 at 10:41 AM, Pewterschmidt said:

There’s a separate scouting team for current nhl’rs?

Typically there is. One group focuses on amateurs for draft or even FA signings (like in Russia where some guys fall through the cracks).

Another group focuses on professional players, I believe these guys are in charge of the N and A, and possibly the S. We haven't really had anyone scouring the K, but that should also happen.

To me, the scouting team looks fairly light. I do think we need more eyes in the field, not just looking at analytics. We need interviews and face to face meetings. The analytics should merely suggest an eye test, not the other way around where you pick players based on analytics. 

[mnfaninnc]

23 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

you'd move Zeev, Rossi and Ohgren out (keep Yurov) and a first. the below will get you in the contender status. and closer to TDL you can look to upgrade bottom six. then MJ and Vlady fall off next year and you could dump either Foligno or Trenin and sign Panarin. Crazy - but all of our ideas are - until they are not 🍺

That gives you - (that second line will be impossible to defend and allows Kap to go against an inferior opposing line)

While the idea of getting Pasta sounds like a huge win, there is still something missing in this: At least $4m in more cap space. We would need to give up a player making about $3.5-4m. Those guys are Foligno, Hartman and Trenin and an injured Zuccy. I doubt Zuccy will waive the NMC for Boston, Foligno might, I'll bet Boston is not on Hartzy's list and Trenin has no protection. 

On defense, Brodin has no protection, and Spurge likely doesn't have Boston on his list. 

I'm not really liking the Zuccy-Hartman-Kaprizov line, and didn't really like it when it was together the 1st time. But this is a lot of turnover. It also leaves us, even with the $4m salary going out with little to no TDL room to improve the bottom 6. So, we would then be looking at Iowa filling that hole. 

I really think that gaining Pasta means Spurgy's got to go. Spurgy for Danielson would help. That would mean moving Jiricek up to top 4, and right now the game looks too fast for him. But pairing him with Brodin could work out. 

23 hours ago, MNCountryLife said:

Edmonton is a tough comparison for the Wild.  McDavid and Draisaitl are both ranked top 3.  Kirill and Pastrnak are both around 10.  Still fantastic... but the difference is noticeable and definitely impactful in the playoffs.

Let's not forget that we have to get past Edmonton.

A lineup with Kaprizov, Boldy, and Pastrnak could cancel out McDavid and Draisaitl in scoring, but I still think the Wild would have the edge in defense and goaltending. If we're short Zeev and Spurgy on D, we've still got some shut down guys who have to perform. Trades like this would also jettison the plan to build around the '20-22 drafts. 

I guess where I'd start is still sending Spurgy to Detroit for Danielson who is playing in the A. That would be the shock factor trade for the whole room. If that doesn't really work, I think then we look at something like this, though, giving up a 1st has to be lottery protected this year.

[Pewterschmidt]

29 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Spurgy for Danielson would help

Help me understand why Detroit would trade a ninth overall 20 yr old C top prospect for a 42 yr old teeny d-man on his last go ‘round.  

[mnfaninnc]

2 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Help me understand why Detroit would trade a ninth overall 20 yr old C top prospect for a 42 yr old teeny d-man on his last go ‘round.

The eye test says Spurgy's got game still. I think he was victimized by some of Buium's rushes and some EN goals going the other way for his stats. Detroit has been in playoff drought for several years. The last couple of years they've been in contention and faded the last 20 games. They have cap space, but during the offseason they were looking for a top 4 RHS defender and they haven't filled that appropriately. Spurgeon has lead the Wild to playoff appearances in 4/5 of the last years. The year missed, he played 16 games. I feel there has been a lot of grumbling among the Detroit fanbase for playoff hockey, and to get there, Yzerman may have to sacrifice one of his young forwards or centers that aren't ready yet. 

In their system, they have a couple of really good defenders who also aren't ready yet, so Spurgeon helps fill that void for the rest of this year and another year. Detroit, last I looked was in 1st or 2nd place in their division. Sealing the deal this time around should be real important to them. We take advantage of that by trading an older player for a just about ready forward (center).

Spurgeon would be a significant upgrade from Homalic. 

[MNCountryLife]

9 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

A lineup with Kaprizov, Boldy, and Pastrnak could cancel out McDavid and Draisaitl in scoring, but I still think the Wild would have the edge in defense and goaltending. If we're short Zeev and Spurgy on D, we've still got some shut down guys who have to perform. Trades like this would also jettison the plan to build around the '20-22 drafts. 

I guess where I'd start is still sending Spurgy to Detroit for Danielson who is playing in the A. That would be the shock factor trade for the whole room. If that doesn't really work, I think then we look at something like this, though, giving up a 1st has to be lottery protected this year.

Never an easy decision with players.  As a coach or player you have to think that the only year that matters is the current year.  Yet as a GM the goal is to create a team that can take multiple runs at the cup over a period of years.  The only way to accomplish that is to create a core that is playoff capable.

Who are the core players that we plan to hang our hat on for now and the next 5 years to make a run?

My Answer: Trenin, Kirill, Ek, Boldy, Brodin, Faber, Zeev, Yurov, Jiricek and Rossi.

If one of those players is traded BG needs to replace them with equal or better skill than what that player provided today... not future skill.

[Pewterschmidt]

3 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

The eye test says Spurgy's got game still. I think he was victimized by some of Buium's rushes and some EN goals going the other way for his stats. Detroit has been in playoff drought for several years. The last couple of years they've been in contention and faded the last 20 games. They have cap space, but during the offseason they were looking for a top 4 RHS defender and they haven't filled that appropriately. Spurgeon has lead the Wild to playoff appearances in 4/5 of the last years. The year missed, he played 16 games. I feel there has been a lot of grumbling among the Detroit fanbase for playoff hockey, and to get there, Yzerman may have to sacrifice one of his young forwards or centers that aren't ready yet. 

In their system, they have a couple of really good defenders who also aren't ready yet, so Spurgeon helps fill that void for the rest of this year and another year. Detroit, last I looked was in 1st or 2nd place in their division. Sealing the deal this time around should be real important to them. We take advantage of that by trading an older player for a just about ready forward (center).

Spurgeon would be a significant upgrade from Homalic. 

Ok thanks.  I don’t think this trade would get executed in a video game between a couple teenagers, but this is a fan page after all

[OldDutchChip]

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

While the idea of getting Pasta sounds like a huge win, there is still something missing in this: At least $4m in more cap space. We would need to give up a player making about $3.5-4m. Those guys are Foligno, Hartman and Trenin and an injured Zuccy. I doubt Zuccy will waive the NMC for Boston, Foligno might, I'll bet Boston is not on Hartzy's list and Trenin has no protection. 

On defense, Brodin has no protection, and Spurge likely doesn't have Boston on his list. 

I'm not really liking the Zuccy-Hartman-Kaprizov line, and didn't really like it when it was together the 1st time. But this is a lot of turnover. It also leaves us, even with the $4m salary going out with little to no TDL room to improve the bottom 6. So, we would then be looking at Iowa filling that hole. 

I really think that gaining Pasta means Spurgy's got to go. Spurgy for Danielson would help. That would mean moving Jiricek up to top 4, and right now the game looks too fast for him. But pairing him with Brodin could work out. 

A lineup with Kaprizov, Boldy, and Pastrnak could cancel out McDavid and Draisaitl in scoring, but I still think the Wild would have the edge in defense and goaltending. If we're short Zeev and Spurgy on D, we've still got some shut down guys who have to perform. Trades like this would also jettison the plan to build around the '20-22 drafts. 

I guess where I'd start is still sending Spurgy to Detroit for Danielson who is playing in the A. That would be the shock factor trade for the whole room. If that doesn't really work, I think then we look at something like this, though, giving up a 1st has to be lottery protected this year.

to make the $ work - couldn't we ask Boston (politely) to retain some? there are ways to keep the bottom core mostly in tact.

A lineup with Kaprizov, Boldy, and Pastrnak could cancel out McDavid and Draisaitl in scoring not sure why you say "could" - it will definitely outperform that duo (Kap and Pasta vs McD and Draisaitl are almost identical (if you consider Kap's trajectory last year before the injury). plug in pasta and production for both kap and boldy will skyrocket. boldy will likely be closer to 90. 

Pasta averaged 110 pts the last three years. Kap was on track to meet that goal (likely exceed, but let's say he meets it).

• Kap/Pasta = 220
• Drai/McD = 120 (adj for time missed) + 130 (generously adjusted for time missed) = 250
• That's not a ton to make up for Kap/Pasta (so adding Boldy tips it in our favor heavily)
• Additionally - by playing together - Kap and Pasta likely boost their point total by at least another 10/20 pts - so i say production wise they will be neck-and-neck - hence addition of a player like Boldy - makes our would-be situation unheard off. crazy dominance on offense and that will cascade down to D and G workload. 

my thought here is this - if you can maximize high level players - you do that and plug in the rest (other players will want to join on the cheap if given the chance to win - we won't be an after thought).

that will give the wild a higher ceiling - sure you can max out at SC final looser - but that ain't too bad for a team with no success of that kind in 25 years. l

ook at florida - without their top level duo - they are just average. in fact - below average (last place right now). so having the luxury of adding top players - lessens the burden on lesser players. is Bennett, Reinhart, Lundell, Varhaeghe or Marchy helping them win? nah they are just hanging on - so the group is nothing special. they are special when they join the two superstart. 

now imagine pasta, boldy and kap occupying your top 6. that is 2.5 superstars (i'll give boldy a half!) - well slide harty and johy and vlady and trenin and foligno down and they will dominate any opposing line, just like florida did before the injuries. they won't go against top lines, or even second best. it'll be 3/4th liners and 3rd D pairs. and i do think they will feast on that. right now they are forced to play against an opponent top 2 lines, but that's hard. you have them match up against lesser competition - then they'll show up. 

lastly - no way i'd play jiricek in the top 4. he is not progressing (eye test) and i think needs to be sent to iowa - he is just clumsy and needs a good babysitter on his side to save him, that's not what you want. hunt or another prospect can get their feet wet. jiri is Bill's Cam Barker.

 

[Pewterschmidt]

10 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

jiri is Bill's Cam Barker.

Too early to tell whether jiri is too stubborn or too stupid.  

[Pewterschmidt]

Kyrou healthy scratched tonight…would fit nicely with Wild…trade announcement coming???

[mnfaninnc]

8 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

lastly - no way i'd play jiricek in the top 4. he is not progressing (eye test) and i think needs to be sent to iowa - he is just clumsy and needs a good babysitter on his side to save him, that's not what you want. hunt or another prospect can get their feet wet. jiri is Bill's Cam Barker.

I don't think Jiricek is ready for the top 4, but he's not going to learn what he needs to in the A. They're just not fast enough. I agree with the clumsey and would add stiff to it, but he's got to get minutes and he's got to get the game to slow down for him. He's only 21, and still needs skating help. I see wide turns, and definitely more speed going forward than backward. He also tends to hang around deep in the offensive zone too much. That's where the coaching comes in, actually dissecting every shift.

The thing is, you get Jiricek for $1.975m cap, and you get Spurgy who's best days are behind him for $7.5m cap. I'm taking Jiricek with Brodin and see if that can work. You should probably try the pairing together before burning the ships, though.

[mnfaninnc]

1 minute ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Too early to tell whether jiri is too stubborn or too stupid.

Young, big player. Sometimes you have to break the bad habits before installing the good ones. The key thing here is that he will get away with his deficiencies in the A but not in the N which is why he needs TOI.

If I were Guerin and spent all that draft capital on him, I would definitely be suggesting he gets plenty of ice time to Hynes.

[OldDutchChip]

12 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Too early to tell whether jiri is too stubborn or too stupid.  

could be both

[OldDutchChip]

12 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I don't think Jiricek is ready for the top 4, but he's not going to learn what he needs to in the A. They're just not fast enough. I agree with the clumsey and would add stiff to it, but he's got to get minutes and he's got to get the game to slow down for him. He's only 21, and still needs skating help. I see wide turns, and definitely more speed going forward than backward. He also tends to hang around deep in the offensive zone too much. That's where the coaching comes in, actually dissecting every shift.

The thing is, you get Jiricek for $1.975m cap, and you get Spurgy who's best days are behind him for $7.5m cap. I'm taking Jiricek with Brodin and see if that can work. You should probably try the pairing together before burning the ships, though.

I think Brodin is our best all around D and asking him to babysit or groom Zeev and/or Jiri is not my preference. i guess if you want to build for the future - then sure - punt the season and mentor them. but i think he needs to be driving the first D pair with Faber. i think he would love to spend the next four years trying to win it and not rebuild - that'll energize him and we see him be our Lidstrom. he deserve a chance to win (so do we right haha) about as much as any one else on the team. 

[OldDutchChip]

14 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Young, big player. Sometimes you have to break the bad habits before installing the good ones. The key thing here is that he will get away with his deficiencies in the A but not in the N which is why he needs TOI.

If I were Guerin and spent all that draft capital on him, I would definitely be suggesting he gets plenty of ice time to Hynes.

If I were Guerin and spent all that draft capital on him, I would definitely be suggesting he gets plenty of ice time to Hynes. 

more ice time for jiri = more losses = billy fired ..... conundrum....

 

[MNCountryLife]

53 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

If I were Guerin and spent all that draft capital on him, I would definitely be suggesting he gets plenty of ice time to Hynes. 

more ice time for jiri = more losses = billy fired ..... conundrum....

This may depend on how closely Leipold and BG communicate.  If they agree on the sentiment that playing Jiri is the right thing to do and they recongize that more losses is likely a result it will be tough for Leipold to fire BG.  If they don't agree and BG still does it... then BG better hope it works if he does it.

In the same breath I think Leipold needs to take some blame for the Kirill contract.  He really hamstrung BG.  Which may not prevent the firing.. but if other owners see it that way it will make a new job option for BG much more viable if he is fired.

Like it or not... BG has gotten us to the playoffs with a massive weight hanging over us.  Perceived or real that is the concensus. 

[OldDutchChip]

9 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

This may depend on how closely Leipold and BG communicate.  If they agree on the sentiment that playing Jiri is the right thing to do and they recongize that more losses is likely a result it will be tough for Leipold to fire BG.  If they don't agree and BG still does it... then BG better hope it works if he does it.

In the same breath I think Leipold needs to take some blame for the Kirill contract.  He really hamstrung BG.  Which may not prevent the firing.. but if other owners see it that way it will make a new job option for BG much more viable if he is fired.

Like it or not... BG has gotten us to the playoffs with a massive weight hanging over us.  Perceived or real that is the concensus. 

i see your point, but it may be as simple as not making the PO this year ....

if Ducks make it over us, i think Leo dumps Bill (regardless of new 5 year plan) - 6 years is a long time for a GM to hang around as is - to miss the PO after 6th year.... and still be employed... but it's MN sports so who knows

[Dango]

2 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Kyrou healthy scratched tonight…would fit nicely with Wild…trade announcement coming???

St Louis has some intriguing players that could be good additions and in the past they werent afraid to move good quality players .

[mnfaninnc]

2 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

but i think he needs to be driving the first D pair with Faber.

The thing is that both players possess the same high qualities of shutting opponents down. Wouldn't you pair them with a more offensive option? Faber's got a little more offense to his game, but his main value is being able to defend 60% of the ice on rushes, and can skate with just about anyone. Brodin has that same gap ability. Wouldn't you pair them with someone who only has about a 40% gap ability? 

I'm still miffed on why Buium and Spurgeon didn't work out as a pairing. On paper it looked good. 

[mnfaninnc]

2 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

more ice time for jiri = more losses = billy fired ..... conundrum....

The other solution is washing your hands of the trade and being done with it? At 21? He can still be a difference maker but he needs ice time for the game to slow down for him, and he definitely needs to be working with Andy Ness a lot. When Bogo is ready to return, I think the Wild should keep him up, but just have him getting 2-3 hour skating sessions with Ness, doing drills, and smoothing out his stride. He's better than the A. 

Maybe from watching up top with Goligoski, he can learn where his gaps are, and watch Spurgeon to know when to pinch.

[OldDutchChip]

50 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

The thing is that both players possess the same high qualities of shutting opponents down. Wouldn't you pair them with a more offensive option? Faber's got a little more offense to his game, but his main value is being able to defend 60% of the ice on rushes, and can skate with just about anyone. Brodin has that same gap ability. Wouldn't you pair them with someone who only has about a 40% gap ability? 

I'm still miffed on why Buium and Spurgeon didn't work out as a pairing. On paper it looked good. 

in my fictional universe Zeev no longer plays for us 🙂 

but should Zeev for Pasta fail - i'd still prefer running these pairs -

Brodin/Faber Spurge/Midds Bogo/Zeev

hoping Bogo is back soon - that's how much i mistrust Jiricek..... 

[OldDutchChip]

52 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

The other solution is washing your hands of the trade and being done with it? At 21? He can still be a difference maker but he needs ice time for the game to slow down for him, and he definitely needs to be working with Andy Ness a lot. When Bogo is ready to return, I think the Wild should keep him up, but just have him getting 2-3 hour skating sessions with Ness, doing drills, and smoothing out his stride. He's better than the A. 

Maybe from watching up top with Goligoski, he can learn where his gaps are, and watch Spurgeon to know when to pinch.

i'd send him back down and play him top D pair minutes. and give his spot to another D prospect (is there any D prospect that deserves a game or two? spacek? or is it that bad....) Rght now Jiri is costing us. He fumbles pucks, makes bad reads, clumsy on skates, hardly ever uses his physicality the right way and his D partner has to babysit him and try to cover for his mistakes. say what you want about bogo - but he doesn't make nearly as many mistakes, is physical and can skate.....if you can't outskate bogo.....i dunno - it's hard for Billy to admit it - but he must do what's best for the team, own the mistake - who knows maybe next year he'll come in and wow us. right now he needs to be in IA where his mistakes are not costing Wild games. play, skate, take chances, expand the physicality of your game, get that F U in your game and come back stronger for us. that's what i'd do with him

 

[1Brotherbill]

On 11/5/2025 at 10:45 AM, MNCountryLife said:

I thought you were nuts when I first read this.... but the more I read it the more it seems like a good deal.  You gain a guy that could help the roster today.. and a #1 pick that is almost guaranteed to be an impact player on your roster.

That number one pick will be the first line center next year.  Even if the Wild don't win the 1st or 2nd lottery there is a top center available in the top 5.