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  • Can the Wild Get Better By Standing Pat?


    Image courtesy of Stephen R. Sylvanie - Imagn Images
    Tony Abbott

    The NHL's salary cap is on the rise, but the league's economy might be about to grind to a halt.

    There's a flow to player movement. There are usually a group of teams looking to reset their competitive window, and a team of buyers looking to fuel them with futures for the price of taking the sellers' good players off their hands.

    But unless a team is interested in the Pittsburgh Penguins and their slightly used Rickard Rakell or Bryan Rust, that might not happen this offseason. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic recently quoted a GM as saying, "Almost everyone is looking to add or get better." 

    That's bad news for the Minnesota Wild, for whom the buyout shackles are finally off their wrist and are ready to make a splash. In a world where the Buffalo Sabres were looking to trade Tage Thompson, the Detroit Red Wings were shopping Dylan Larkin, or Brady Tkachuk was trying to find a way to leave the Ottawa Senators, the Wild might have been able to do that. 

    But in a world where even last-place teams like the Chicago Blackhawks or San Jose Sharks are done trying to bottom out? The road for the Wild to improve gets a lot rockier. 

    Or does it?

    "I don't want to sit on my hands at all, and I'm kind of tired of doing that," Bill Guerin said in May,

    In March, he said, "[July is] going to be a time where organizationally, we make a step."

    However, Minnesota might be in as good a position as anyone to improve without a huge shake-up.

    The Wild only punched their ticket to the playoffs in the last 20 seconds of the season, when Joel Eriksson Ek scored a game-tying goal against a dreadful Anaheim Ducks team to clinch their spot.

    While that suggests the Wild are a bubble playoff team, the truth is that with a reasonably healthy year from Kirill Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek, Minnesota would have been an easy playoff team. Yes, even with "one hand tied behind their back," as Guerin occasionally says of their cap situation.

    The Wild are (currently) set to return most of that team from last season, and are already making three major additions, without spending a dime in free agency. Top prospects Zeev Buium, Danila Yurov, and David Jiříček are all expected to be on the roster next year. You can probably add in a fourth by penciling in Liam Öhgren in the lineup.

    That's the 12th overall pick from last year's draft, plus three top-25 picks from the 2022 Draft. Playoff teams usually aren't in a position to add four highly-touted first-rounders in a single offseason. That's reserved for young, up-and-coming teams after years of painful rebuilding.

    However, the Wild are in exactly that spot.

    Of course, it's important to temper expectations a bit. We don't know which players are ready to step into huge roles and which require more time. But even two of those four being ready for prime time next season would make a significant impact. 

    Even beyond the injuries and the prospects, the Wild still have room to improve next year. Their young core currently includes Matt Boldy (24), Marco Rossi (23), and Brock Faber (22). All three players have room to improve next season.

    The State of Hockey is still waiting for that elusive Boldy breakout season, even though he is coming off a career-high 73-point campaign. Still, the organization and its fans believe there's more meat on that bone. His final 20 games (including playoffs) suggest that, as he scored 11 goals and 24 points over that time. If his 2025-26 season can resemble the first and last 20 games of last year, and not the middle 48, we could see something truly special.

    Rossi put together a second-straight 20-goal season while managing to take his playmaking up a notch as the Wild's top-line center. The trade rumors surrounding him have been on full blast this offseason, but a combination of a thin center market and Minnesota's not-so-stellar job of selling him could keep him in Minnesota. If Rossi is back in St. Paul, he'll be motivated to either prove to the Wild he's part of their future or put on a show to audition for another spot. His work ethic to get better next season can't be questioned.

    Then there's Faber, whose disastrous second half plummeted him to the fourth-worst season in the NHL, per Evolving-Hockey's Standings Points Above Replacement. Faber cost the Wild 3.3 points in the standings last season. Still, no one believes that it represents his true talent level. With a smarter plan to keep his workload in check, Faber should look much better as a top-pairing defenseman.

    Sure, it might be preferable to see the Wild add a bona-fide No. 1 center, if you're not sold on Rossi. But with reasonable health, a wave of prospects arriving, and their young stars continuing their upward trajectory, they might not need a huge shake-up. Suppose Minnesota can limit itself to adding a top-six winger around the edges. Then, it would complement a promising core without ripping out any of the foundation of what the organization is building. As loath as Guerin is to sit on his hands, it might be the best way to set up the Wild to win in the near term.

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    20 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

    to be considered serious trade partners we have to actually be willing to deal players other team want

    Well, we've got some vets who are bottom 6 guys who can play up temporarily if needed. They need thinning out. I think those guys need to exit first. I'd hate to suddenly look and see we have 25/23 players on our roster. 

    Then, flipping youngsters with promise for maybe guys 3-4 years further along in development could be a way to get better now. It's not just cap space that we need relief from, it's roster space. These bottom 6 guys are paid fairly and can have some value, but we've just got too many of them right now. 

    I'd like to ride with the youth for a little while and see what we've got and then fill in holes, unless we've got an opportunity to add from a team in cap trouble. Maybe opportunistic is the word I'm looking for. For instance, is Lafreniere for real, or is that just the name to get you into talks? Could Necas be a possibility? CO needs the prospects and cap relief. Would Necas resign? I'd need a contract extension in place before the deal. 

    We're not 1 guy away, but we're about a line away. If we can get the right guys, maybe the sum is greater than the parts? 

    To me, we've also got to talk about the Zuccarello problem. NMC and not a top 6 guy anymore as far as minutes go. Where does he fit in?

    I'd like to see what a Marchment-Rossi-Necas line would play like, and keep Boldy-Ek-Kaprizov together. I think that's a doable thing and that should get us over the hump to a round 2 in the playoffs even though the central division is a tough division to get through.

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    3 hours ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

    Watch Paul Maurice's post game interview from Game 6 after Florida clinched. He describes a top to bottom organizational unity. The Panthers don't have 23 superstars who are the best in the league at every position.

    Unity is not a word ever used to describe Guerin's approach to managing the club. He's the boss, the big swinging dick, and if you're not one of his guys you're gone. That's not the Florida Panthers approach.

    I agree with the approach, but I don't think Guerin has been the problem in this. From the reports, this locker room is very good and likes each other, that's where the unity comes in. The thing FL had was a lot of tenacity from Tkachuk, Bennett and several others. They had secondary scoring. 

    Unity isn't the word that Guerin uses, but he's got other words that are similar in regards to the locker room. I also think there is a huge buy in from the players who just don't have another gear when the playoffs come around. For the most part, they give it their all. We had some stinkers when we were pretty injured, but exhaustion doesn't mean there's no unity. 

    Florida's roster isn't that much larger than ours, but they have guys who do multiple things well. We don't really have that with everyone, and we couldn't go out and get it either with the cap handicaps. We had to get value players who did less things well. You'd like to have more, especially top 6, guys who can play the heavy game and also dazzle with skill. We don't really have 6 guys who can do that. It's not that they aren't buying in, it's just that they aren't very good at it. 

    I thought Boldy took a giant step forward in the playoffs this season. But, look at the black hole lines we had. They weren't particularly good at the skill and weren't particularly good at the heavy game. In my mind, that's what needs to be fixed.

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    20 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

    Canes will deal and have tons of cap room. I think the player fits will be pretty easy as both play that same structured game. Stars have little cap room so they will be looking to subtract cap. While Marchment or Robertson might be nice, it seems like they will first look for suitors outside of the division to me. 

    Buffalo is a call, but I have to wonder if both teams aren't after the same thing. Do we have strengths to cover their weaknesses and vice versa? I'd love to bring Tuch back, but does he even want to leave Buffalo? 

    That was the same thing with Larkin, he's at home, does he really want to leave? Tuch has a 5 team list, Larkin is full NTC. I don't think Detroit is willing to blow things up, I think they're in adding mode to win now. That's why I thought Spurgeon might interest them. 

    For me, I'd rather play Jiricek 2nd pairing minutes and move Spurgeon who will not be on our cup run team and maybe get an unproven young guy for him that can help our center depth. 

    Yeah i hear ya - here is where i think we should be fully present on - and have an offer ready depending on a player

    Stars:

    Robertson, Marchment

    Canes:

    Svech

    Buffalo:

    Tuch or Thompson

    Ottawa:

    Tkachuk

    Detroit:

    Larkin

    Van

    EliasP

    Columbus:

    Voronkov (can we offer sheet him?)

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    Out of all those players, I think Tkachuk would be the most important, and that one I'd trade a lot for. I don't think the Canes have any interest in trading Svech.

    I do not believe we can offersheet successfully Voronkov. Columbus has money and will likely match anything. However, could we trade for Voronkov? That seems like a possibility and we DO have a relationship with Waddell.

    I'm convinced Larkin isn't going anywhere. If there are cracks in that, I'd pounce but not with Faber + Rossi. I really think Detroit's next step is playoffs and they need a couple of pieces, 1 is RHS defense with experience.

    I don't think Thompson is going anywhere, but I'd love to have him. Again, he's not a Rossi + Faber player to me, only B. Tkachuk is. Tuch will be traded if he isn't interested in an extension, and that's one to keep an eye on.

    I'm less convinced that Vancouver is willing to trade Pettersson the center. However, if there are cracks there, I'd package something around Rossi. 

    Stars and Avs I'd be calling regularly. You left out Necas and Lafreniere. Why is that?

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    31 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

    Well, we've got some vets who are bottom 6 guys who can play up temporarily if needed. They need thinning out. I think those guys need to exit first. I'd hate to suddenly look and see we have 25/23 players on our roster. 

    Then, flipping youngsters with promise for maybe guys 3-4 years further along in development could be a way to get better now. It's not just cap space that we need relief from, it's roster space. These bottom 6 guys are paid fairly and can have some value, but we've just got too many of them right now. 

    I'd like to ride with the youth for a little while and see what we've got and then fill in holes, unless we've got an opportunity to add from a team in cap trouble. Maybe opportunistic is the word I'm looking for. For instance, is Lafreniere for real, or is that just the name to get you into talks? Could Necas be a possibility? CO needs the prospects and cap relief. Would Necas resign? I'd need a contract extension in place before the deal. 

    We're not 1 guy away, but we're about a line away. If we can get the right guys, maybe the sum is greater than the parts? 

    To me, we've also got to talk about the Zuccarello problem. NMC and not a top 6 guy anymore as far as minutes go. Where does he fit in?

    I'd like to see what a Marchment-Rossi-Necas line would play like, and keep Boldy-Ek-Kaprizov together. I think that's a doable thing and that should get us over the hump to a round 2 in the playoffs even though the central division is a tough division to get through.

    Kap likely mandated (or will) that Zuccy stays on the team if he is to re-sign 🙂 so i'd pencil him somewhere in the top 9

    Yeah - let's add Necas on there then as a target

     

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    20 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

    Out of all those players, I think Tkachuk would be the most important, and that one I'd trade a lot for. I don't think the Canes have any interest in trading Svech.

    I do not believe we can offersheet successfully Voronkov. Columbus has money and will likely match anything. However, could we trade for Voronkov? That seems like a possibility and we DO have a relationship with Waddell.

    I'm convinced Larkin isn't going anywhere. If there are cracks in that, I'd pounce but not with Faber + Rossi. I really think Detroit's next step is playoffs and they need a couple of pieces, 1 is RHS defense with experience.

    I don't think Thompson is going anywhere, but I'd love to have him. Again, he's not a Rossi + Faber player to me, only B. Tkachuk is. Tuch will be traded if he isn't interested in an extension, and that's one to keep an eye on.

    I'm less convinced that Vancouver is willing to trade Pettersson the center. However, if there are cracks there, I'd package something around Rossi. 

    Stars and Avs I'd be calling regularly. You left out Necas and Lafreniere. Why is that?

    Necas - forgot him - please add

    Lafreniere - i am not familiar with his game so i'll defer on that

    Voronkov - will they match a 6.9MM per!? 

    Tkachuk - structure a trade around Rossi + Faber + Canadian player of their choice  for Tkachuk

     

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    2 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

    Tkachuk - structure a trade around Rossi + Faber + Canadian player of their choice  for Tkachuk

    I still don't think they'd do it. If it were the other way around, and I was the Ottawa GM, I wouldn't do it, he'd be untouchable for me unless he asked out and I'd hope he'd do it privately. So, it's worth a phone call to see if he's available. One would think if he was, Billy would know.

    2 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

    Voronkov - will they match a 6.9MM per!? 

    Yes they would. They've got $40m in cap space and 18 players signed.

    But, wouldn't it be great if we could trade for Voronkov and Marchenko? That would certainly change the direction of this team. Other possibility with Columbus is trading out a couple of bottom 6 guys for them to hit the cap floor. So, my bet is that Voronkov will be the recipient of a pretty nice contract. 

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    1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

    I still don't think they'd do it. If it were the other way around, and I was the Ottawa GM, I wouldn't do it, he'd be untouchable for me unless he asked out and I'd hope he'd do it privately. So, it's worth a phone call to see if he's available. One would think if he was, Billy would know.

    Yes they would. They've got $40m in cap space and 18 players signed.

    But, wouldn't it be great if we could trade for Voronkov and Marchenko? That would certainly change the direction of this team. Other possibility with Columbus is trading out a couple of bottom 6 guys for them to hit the cap floor. So, my bet is that Voronkov will be the recipient of a pretty nice contract. 

    worth a call to OTT - I bet Tkachuk is not long for CA

    As for Columbus available $ - they do not spend to the ceiling (they were 30th last year at money spent) so they have to be smart with money allocation (as of course all - but there is less room to splurge). perhaps 6.9 is too rich for them. 

    Getting both comrades is a dream. But one of them - may be attainable

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    This is why a Tkachuk is worth the price:

    Quote

    Tkachuk says he tore the adductor off the bone, as well as dealing with a sports hernia on the same side of his body. And yet, he still had 23 points in 23 games to help lead his team to a back-to-back Stanley Cup win. Absolutely insane. 

    These happened in the 4 Nations Tournament. He wasn't miraculously healed when the playoffs came around, he just gutted it out even though he was injured. Brady is making just under $9m/yr on a longterm deal. He would be an absolute steal if we could get him. I highly doubt he's available, only if he's asked out privately. 

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    1 hour ago, OldDutchChip said:

    As for Columbus available $ - they do not spend to the ceiling (they were 30th last year at money spent) so they have to be smart with money allocation (as of course all - but there is less room to splurge). perhaps 6.9 is too rich for them. 

    Columbus barely made the floor last season. They have no problems telling people they are rebuilding. This team, if they keep their youngens, is going to be a monster in 3 seasons.

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    From around the division comes this:

    Quote

    Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi suffered a season-ending concussion this past season in February. Long into his recovery, he's now revealed, he continued to experience headaches, and was subsequently diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. 

     

    POTS, as it's referred to, is a blood flow disorder of the autonomic nervous system that is characterized by an excessively fast heart rate and symptoms of lightheadedness upon standing. 

    Josi says, however, that he's received treatment and expects to be able to play in the 2025-26 season. 

     

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    6 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

    Columbus barely made the floor last season. They have no problems telling people they are rebuilding. This team, if they keep their youngens, is going to be a monster in 3 seasons.

    IF all goes right for them they'll be good - that's been a curse for some teams - relying on that future to pay off - and does it? Columbus has a decent core but there is zero superstars and that's what win. (Yes FL won as a "team" but let's not pretend they didn't also have few superstars playing for them) Columbus is also under tight budget so unless they can contend = they may look to cut cost and a cost control piece like yurov (and of course freddy) would be enough to pry away Voronkov for 7. 

    i think there is a chance to steal one of their young players..... 

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    10 hours ago, Burnt Toast said:

    Brad M was integrated quickly and seamlessly

    And Seth Jones and Nate Schmidt and etc. There are no Johansson, Trenin, Gaudreau, Brazeau types on the Panther's roster. What has been Billy's big splash so far? Signing Johansson. That's a damned wasted roster spot. Doesn't matter if it was basically for league minimum. What message is that sending to prospects and prospective free agents? This franchise will never be successful with Guerin at the helm. And the franchise will be in trouble for a couple years after he's gone with the stupid contracts that he has been signing and will continue to sign.

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    1 hour ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

    And Seth Jones and Nate Schmidt and etc. There are no Johansson, Trenin, Gaudreau, Brazeau types on the Panther's roster. What has been Billy's big splash so far? Signing Johansson. That's a damned wasted roster spot. Doesn't matter if it was basically for league minimum. What message is that sending to prospects and prospective free agents? This franchise will never be successful with Guerin at the helm. And the franchise will be in trouble for a couple years after he's gone with the stupid contracts that he has been signing and will continue to sign.

    whats the big deal with MJ's contract? if a prospect outplays him - that's fine - here is his job. the horror!!! 800K contract for the only player that can actually enter the O zone on PP!

    and Trenin? - he is just the worse! - forget that for 3.5MM he played like close to a 6MM player in the PO - but i guess you care about reg season finesse stats? yeah you right - let's trade trenin, harty and foligno (Billy's boys - discard....)

    Braz and Freddy are also either gone or at a league min.

    What else you got to cry about? Where is a stupid contract? 

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    11 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

    and Trenin? - he is just the worse! - forget that for 3.5MM he played like close to a 6MM player in the PO

    Forsling ($5.75M), Lundell ($5.0M), Bennett ($4.425M), Verhaeghe ($4.167M), Luostarinen ($3.0M), Mikkola ($2.5M).

    You're right, ODC... your guy Trenin played like close to a $6.0M player in the playoffs. He actually outplayed all of the guys listed above.

    The glaring stupid contract that I am crying about is Trenin and Johansson's is just as bad. Wow, he can carry the puck into the O-zone sometimes. And then gets bumped off the puck or turns it over.

    Someone correctly wrote earlier in this post about the need for players with a variety of skills. What is Johansson's other skill?

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    47 minutes ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

    What is Johansson's other skill?

    He's good at dropping his stick. He's good at getting hit, knocked to the ground and then getting up really slowly. He's good at touring the o-zone around the net. He's good at playing the perimeter. He's good at speed. And, apparently, he is a champion at the neck beard. Is that enough?

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    21 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

    He's good at dropping his stick. He's good at getting hit, knocked to the ground and then getting up really slowly. He's good at touring the o-zone around the net. He's good at playing the perimeter. He's good at speed. And, apparently, he is a champion at the neck beard. Is that enough?

    He's great at avoiding contact, even if it comes at the expense of executing a hockey play.  F'ing fantastic at that.  The polar opposite of GRIT.  This is why it's so confusing that bill keeps him around (regardless of the price) because this noodle is the opposite of what it appears bill is trying to build.

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    24 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

    He's good at dropping his stick. He's good at getting hit, knocked to the ground and then getting up really slowly. He's good at touring the o-zone around the net. He's good at playing the perimeter. He's good at speed. And, apparently, he is a champion at the neck beard. Is that enough?

    Don't forget about the water-ski backcheck.

    #tributetoProtec

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    We've been waiting for 25 years for a serious stanley cup championship or at least a team that can get deep into playoffs.  What's another 25 years?

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    2 hours ago, ArizonaWildFan said:

    Forsling ($5.75M), Lundell ($5.0M), Bennett ($4.425M), Verhaeghe ($4.167M), Luostarinen ($3.0M), Mikkola ($2.5M).

    You're right, ODC... your guy Trenin played like close to a $6.0M player in the playoffs. He actually outplayed all of the guys listed above.

    The glaring stupid contract that I am crying about is Trenin and Johansson's is just as bad. Wow, he can carry the puck into the O-zone sometimes. And then gets bumped off the puck or turns it over.

    Someone correctly wrote earlier in this post about the need for players with a variety of skills. What is Johansson's other skill?

    you don't think Trenin outplayed his 3.5MM contract in the PO? that's interesting....

    And MJ is on a league min! if you can find any recent league min players bringing 30+ point minimum to the team - let me know

    But fine go ahead complain 😱

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    1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    Don't forget about the water-ski backcheck.

    #tributetoProtec

    he is an insurance for us and someone that knows the offense. for league min - we could do worse. if any one comes in and outperforms - here is his job.

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    18 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

    This is why a Tkachuk is worth the price:

    These happened in the 4 Nations Tournament. He wasn't miraculously healed when the playoffs came around, he just gutted it out even though he was injured. Brady is making just under $9m/yr on a longterm deal. He would be an absolute steal if we could get him. I highly doubt he's available, only if he's asked out privately. 

    Brady isn't Matthew. Brady isn't Matthew. Brady isn't Matthew. Brady isn't Matthew.

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    Just now, Tony Abbott said:

    Brady isn't Matthew. Brady isn't Matthew. Brady isn't Matthew. Brady isn't Matthew.

    I agree with that, but they are the same type of player with the same DNA. They play similar games, tough to play against and light up the scoreboard. Brady would totally be worth it.

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