Article: Could David Jiricek Get 'Ohgrenned' After the Wild's Trade for Quinn Hughes?

[Chris Schad]

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[Patrick]

May as well hold on to him. Buying high and selling low is never a good strategy. Personally I think the Wild should trade Gus. High value, good contract and Wallstedt is the future. 

I love Gus but it makes too much sense to move on. 

[MNCountryLife]

I still think Jiricek's value is quite high.  He is a big guy and only 22yo.  It is expected for those big guys to simmer a bit longer before being ready.  he will hit his stride at 24/25 years old.   He will eventually establish a permanet roster spot in the NHL in the 27-28 year.  Probably earlier if we trade him.

Edited Monday at 02:24 PM by MNCountryLife

[Dis-allowed display name]

1 hour ago, Patrick said:

 Personally I think the Wild should trade Gus. High value, good contract and Wallstedt is the future. 

I love Gus but it makes too much sense to move on. 

I said this about a month ago and someone pointed out he has a pretty solid NMC.  

While I am still fairly happy with the Hughes trade, this article points out how bad moves by Guerin have been. I'd love to see Jiricek turn it around or be a better asset than he is now but I have no idea what that would take.

Spurgeon and Brodin won't be around that much longer, it might be nice to have him on the roster if he would be a good player with another year of development.  

I am not convinced of all of this "win now" momentum strictly because of the duration or Hughes contract and the uncertainty.  I assume it is 75% or better he signs here, but if we get rid of everything, lose in round whatever and he decides to go somewhere else, we are done for a long time.  I would like a couple  small hedges against that bet.  Call me risk averse.  If you can flip Jiricek for a legit young player with a lengthy contract, then by all means.....

Edited Monday at 03:02 PM by Dis-allowed display name

[FredJohnson]

1 hour ago, Patrick said:

May as well hold on to him. Buying high and selling low is never a good strategy. Personally I think the Wild should trade Gus. High value, good contract and Wallstedt is the future. 

I love Gus but it makes too much sense to move on. 

It’s also wise to cut loose a mistake.

It’s also also wise to move on from a redundant or expensive veteran sooner than later. (I don’t think Gus is completely redundant yet, though)

[Pewterschmidt]

How many whiff’s does Billy Meatball’s get?  All bets are off once Olympics are over and Guerin’s GM tour ends.  Does the Hughes Hail Mary™️ save Billy’s bacon?  Hughes is a freak but was a 5’9” transition wizard what this core needed to get past round one once big boy hockey begins.  We’ll find out.  Guerin’s betting his job that Hughzy is the answer. Brock? No.  Laine? No.  Trenin? Absolutely yes.  Hughes was best player bill could get to come here, because Hughes had no choice.   Thank god bill 86’d parise and Suter and transformed the culture.  
🔥 hot take Monday 🔥 

[MNCountryLife]

Defense: I'm betting BG lets Spurgeon, Brodin and Bogo retire as they wish.  BG seems to respect the older players and tries to do right by them.  Wouldn't surprise me to see Hunt and Jiricek as starters full time in 2 years.  I don't see BG trading any of those guys.  Mids would be the only one and he controls his contract.

[MNCountryLife]

Offense:  Hartman is the odd man out here.  He is the easiest to move.  

2 hours ago, Patrick said:

Wild should trade Gus.

I also agree with this.  The Wall is a full time goalie and has proven himself.  He is better than Gus.  

Moving Hartman and Gus would open up some room for a high end top 6 rental.

[Pewterschmidt]

5 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

The Wall is a full time goalie and has proven himself.

After a nice little 50/50 run thru half a season?  After cratering in Iowa a year ago?   I like Wall-e, but goalies are gonna goalie.  

Edited Monday at 04:06 PM by Pewterschmidt

[mnfaninnc]

3 hours ago, Patrick said:

May as well hold on to him. Buying high and selling low is never a good strategy. Personally I think the Wild should trade Gus. High value, good contract and Wallstedt is the future. 

I love Gus but it makes too much sense to move on. 

Even next season, we have a goalie room coming in at $9m. That's really good value for the position. More than this year, but still, really good value. I think we can ride both for awhile. I'm not sold on The Wall being the #1 goalie yet. But I am sold on the tandem being really, really good.

[Dis-allowed display name]

1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

How many whiff’s does Billy Meatball’s get?  

Too many apparently.  I don't think that Ohggie had much value but when I look at the Hughes trade, I am pretty sure they would have taken a first, Buium, and Rossi and been happy.  Ohggie, if you did not want him would at least been a tiny trade chip still left in your pocket.  I have read that all four were Guerin's "first offer."   Kaprisov at $17 million was also supposedly Guerin's "first offer."

That does not make me real confident in his poker face.  It is pretty clear any GM in football can fleece Kwesi, but apparently you can fleece Guerin fairly easily too.  

We got few bullets left in the gun and if somebody dangles something enticing, I think Guerin shoots them all.  I fear that those bullets are actually aimed at our own heads.

I am still ok if he makes a deal but it would have to be proven top 6, under 27 years old, and years left on his deal for me to like it.

[mnfaninnc]

1 hour ago, MNCountryLife said:

I also agree with this.  The Wall is a full time goalie and has proven himself.  He is better than Gus.  

Moving Hartman and Gus would open up some room for a high end top 6 rental.

On top of the above comment, I think it's too soon. Even after the Olympics, this year's condensed schedule mandates you have 2 goalies. This may be one of the reasons why there is so much parity this year. The Jets are a prime example. They rely on Hellebuyck to be the guy, but when he went down, their depth was exposed. Comrie couldn't carry the water, and whoever is behind Comrie couldn't even do Comrie's job. 

[mnfaninnc]

1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

After a nice little 50/50 run thru half a season?  After cratering in Iowa a year ago?   I like Wall-e, but goalies are gonna goalie.

This year, you simply need at least 2.

[mnfaninnc]

One more reason why you need 2. Injuries. The Avs just put Blackwood on IR and while Wedgewood has had a fine year, he is not a #1 goalie. We saw what the Avs looked like last year without decent goaltending. If Wedgewood suddenly isn't hot anymore, things could change for 'Rado. Yet, they've probably banked enough points that the closest anyone gets to them is a small blip in their rear view mirror.

[mnfaninnc]

I don't think I'd try and trade out Jiricek. I still believe he will turn into a very good player, probably 2nd pairing. 

This is, of course, using the assumption that Jiricek is actually putting in the work, and improving his skating. The decision making should come with experience. He's had bad habits he's needed to get rid of, and my hope is that he realizes this. The making of smart simple plays in Iowa which was his concentration last time Neil commented on him is a great start. 

Now, if someone backs up the brinks draft pick truck, or it gets us Crosby short term, then I may listen.

Edited Monday at 05:22 PM by mnfaninnc

[MNCountryLife]

1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

After a nice little 50/50 run thru half a season?  After cratering in Iowa a year ago?   I like Wall-e, but goalies are gonna goalie.  

If we don't free up cap space there will not be a top 6 trade coming at the TDL.  We don't have the cap space to bring in a $9M to $13M AAV.  Rumor is that Austin Matthews is on the block.

You have to give something up to get something.  Hartman is likely out the door but even with his $4M gone, who else is heading out in this trade?

Without a larger value going out the door it is more than likely we see a bottom 6 forward at the TDL... not a top 6.

[MNCountryLife]

18 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

This year, you simply need at least 2.

People have been high on Gus.... with good reason.  But he was average before he got here and I still believe that the Wild D scheme plays a big part of the success of Wild goalies.  Cal Peterson(.893) in IA has put up respectable numbers with a horrible team in front of him.   I think he is viable.

I probably wouldn't be pushing for this ... but the Hughes trade changes things.  We are in win now mode.  We need another top 6 player.  Senko has played great recently but with the bottom 6... not top.  If Gus doesn't go out the door with Hartman how do we get the funds to bring in a proven guy that is $8M or greater?

 

[mnfaninnc]

5 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

If Gus doesn't go out the door with Hartman how do we get the funds to bring in a proven guy that is $8M or greater?

Retention, and we should get it

[Willy the poor boy]

3 hours ago, MNCountryLife said:

 He will eventually establish a permanet roster spot in the NHL in the 27-28 year.  Probably earlier if we trade him.

LOL. How true...

[MNCountryLife]

29 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Retention, and we should get it

Not sure I understand your comment.  Are you thinking another team will retain a players salary?

[bisopher]

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

Yet, they've probably banked enough points that the closest anyone gets to them is a small blip in their rear view mirror.

Cue the "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear" image, same as Dallas...🙂

[Scalptrash]

Ohgren is arguably doing better than Rossi and Buium in Vancouver, so far. Rossi is hurt again, or still hurt, but I don't think he was too keen on the trade. It took him forever to get comfortable here, so he may fold up in Van. 

Billy got totally fleeced in the Jiricek trade, no doubt about it. He may develop into an NHL caliber D, but nowhere near as high as projected, and certainly not worth what was given. You don't pay that much for projects, only sure things.

You either got it or you don't; see Q. Hughes, Faber or Buium. High first round players that comfortably stepped in on day one.

[hydguy75]

1 hour ago, MNCountryLife said:

If Gus doesn't go out the door with Hartman how do we get the funds to bring in a proven guy that is $8M or greater?

Not factoring NMC's, how do we open up cap space without regression in this win-now mode?  

Zucc $4.1M, UFA, and aging out.  He can still skate fast (enough) to be paired with KK, this season, but what about after?  Eventually we will need to create / buy the KK win-now line.  So do we hit extend to another aging vet, or cut bait and find someone to better align with the KK 8 year contract? 

The Moose.  $4M, also UFA next year.  Age 34, his stats this year not as good as expected.  Consider offering him a move to his hometown of Buf, in exchange for Tage or Tuch?  Buf is on a heater right now 9-1-0 in Last 10.  If they lose momentum before TDL, would they consider bringing Foligno back?

Hartman,  $4M.  stats are lagging this season.  I'm convinced after last season, the refs have his number.  His legacy will be liability in the postseason at the most inopportune time(s), forcing us on PPK's and potentially costing a series.  

Spurgeon.  $7.57M, Age 36.  On paper this one makes the most sense to move, but watching his finesse Defense disrupt so many passes, shots, etc.  this one is tough to even consider.  BG will most likely let him retire-out here and we'll benefit come postseason.  

T-Senk  $4.75M, 34.  Also on paper this one makes sense, but the recent success on the "red" line makes you wonder.  

The wagon is almost empty.  BG has had many trades and contracts, not all of them panning out well.  Any additional win-now sell the farm move this season must factor getting past the Avs and most likely the Stars too.  Our layered D and 1A-1B GT will shut down most east coast offenses, so not as concerned about that.  

 

[Will D. Ness]

Why mess with a good thing?  Trading Gus invites disaster.

Jiricek is definitely expendable.  The dude hasn't learned from his mistakes and I'm not seeing much improvement in the fundamentals.  I love his size and shot and I think he probably will be a solid 3rd pair guy for many years.  Actually, he probably could replace Bogo next year... maybe but he has to clean up his mistakes and know his limits. 

I think if there is a team out there that will give us a quality top 6 guy that fits what we need, and will take Jiricek in return?  That would have to be like fireworks going off in BG's brain.  I make that trade all day.

[Pewterschmidt]

30 minutes ago, hydguy75 said:

If they lose momentum before TDL, would they consider bringing Foligno back?

The ole send our garbage away for other teams stars…it just might work.