How Will Preseason Deployment Affect the Opening-Night Lineup?

Luke it's hard to argue with what you have on paper. I always think back to last year as set too and then Kulikov got sent packing. I have BG's words echoing in my head, "If we can make the team better and we can make the move, we're gonna try to do it".

I enter this year with mixed feelings, but don't ever want to deny KK his opportunity to make an impact and change the direction. You watch the intensity of his game and will to win, he just needs a few pieces to fall into place.

On the flip side, I'm looking to establish the future of our team, so talk of  resigning players, status quo with the line up has me thinking were in the same boat as last year, good, but not good enough, so I temper any excitement or feelings at this point. I hate to say well, let's wait until next year, but we need a lottery moment to change things.

I do know one thing, I'm going to enjoy the chit out of the IA Wild season in addition to watching Faber and hopefully Rossi this year either way!

25 minutes ago, vonlonster67 said:

I do know one thing, I'm going to enjoy the chit out of the IA Wild season in addition to watching Faber and hopefully Rossi this year either way!

It would be fairly surprising if the Iowa Wild don't have a great season. The Des Moines area fans should be able to enjoy some really good hockey!

Just now, Imyourhuckleberry said:

It would be fairly surprising if the Iowa Wild don't have a great season. The Des Moines area fans should be able to enjoy some really good hockey!

I plan on taking in one game live, but may do more....its not going to be just this year, but next year too!

1 minute ago, vonlonster67 said:

its not going to be just this year, but next year too!

They'll have even more talent next year in the skaters, I imagine, but likely to lose a major talent from their goalie stable. Yes, still should be fun to watch.

49 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

They'll have even more talent next year in the skaters, I imagine, but likely to lose a major talent from their goalie stable. Yes, still should be fun to watch.

Perhaps Jones will have figured it out?

58 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

It would be fairly surprising if the Iowa Wild don't have a great season. The Des Moines area fans should be able to enjoy some really good hockey!

Super stoked for this season! I live in NW MO but Des Moines isn't too far. Plan on going to 5-6 games this season, only went to 2 last year because we had a newborn. The Wallstedt bobblehead giveaway is circled on my calendar, going to have to get in line EARLY for that one.

This is pretty much what we all thought would happen. It didn't take a genius to figure it out. 

It seemed like these lineups were penned in before any competition began. If I were a prospect, this would be disheartening since there really was no room for me regardless of what I showed. 

Then, on top of it, Zuccarello gets resigned which is another road block. Yurov and Khus%^&* are coming next year and probably taking slots. I'd be thinking "what do I need to do?" How does Walker take this? He had a fantastic showcase and has had a real good preseason. I'd say he's earned a look but nobody but the coaches know what he's done in practice. 

Does this make them hungrier, or hope for a trade? 

Here are the few things. 1. With the signing Wild did today and with strong desire to sign Hartman for the next 2-3 years Wild will have 8 players who are suited to play on the first three lines. 2. We have to admit that the only chance to win Stanley Cup is with Kaprisov on the team. 3. By end of the 2-3 years Kaprisov will 29. And now here is the question: with these 8 players taken the first 3 lines does Wild have any chance to be real contender. These are the same 3 lines that played last playoff and we know the result. To me the answer is: no way. So to me this is the continuation “Billy G” strategy- let’s have veterans and very average team and find the excuses of not getting better. And this lead to me with the last question: if Kaprisov see this the same way would he want to stay with Wild after couple of seasons. If not we are done 

7 hours ago, Lovehockey said:

Here are the few things. 1. With the signing Wild did today and with strong desire to sign Hartman for the next 2-3 years Wild will have 8 players who are suited to play on the first three lines. 2. We have to admit that the only chance to win Stanley Cup is with Kaprisov on the team. 3. By end of the 2-3 years Kaprisov will 29. And now here is the question: with these 8 players taken the first 3 lines does Wild have any chance to be real contender. These are the same 3 lines that played last playoff and we know the result. To me the answer is: no way. So to me this is the continuation “Billy G” strategy- let’s have veterans and very average team and find the excuses of not getting better. And this lead to me with the last question: if Kaprisov see this the same way would he want to stay with Wild after couple of seasons. If not we are done 

Good points, valid concerns from an outside perspective. I would mostly agree. The thing I think we miss about the big picture is the personal side, the chemistry in the organization, the inner culture, and the potential for trades.

I'll explain. We don't get to see the inner-workings or meetings. We don't hear the calls between GMs. We don't know the players and their relationships too well. We're not tuned into the team synergy. Overall, the Wild on paper haven't added a Patrick Kane for 1M/year, we get Khaira. The Wild don't have Bedard joining the team, we're hoping Rossi can make it.(I'm thinking Walker could be just as well.)

My point is, the Wild are getting better by making small gains and maintaining flexibility while at the same time keeping a solid playoff roster intact. Look at what GMBG has shown us. He appreciates veteran experience. He gives out fair/good contracts that are not huge risks to guys who've earned it.(mostly tradable contracts.) He also makes moves before the deadline to improve the roster before the playoffs in his own way. Unlike XGMCF, Guerin's additions have worked well.

Take all this as a whole and I come to the conclusion Guerin and his group does their due diligence and are on a path that makes small gains and improve through the sum of parts. This is out of necessity until the penalties drop off.(Guerin's plan all along.) In that time, it's possible the Wild's prospects arrive. Kaprizov is the top guy with Grizzle and a Norwegian Hobbit in his company but that isn't gonna be enough by itself, especially in the playoffs. In the end of my argument here, I agree with the points you're making on paper from our view. Guerin must feel safe though, with the potential and options as they see it. The Wild out-performed expectations the last two years with players like Goligoski, or Greenway on the team despite our gripes. Guerin and the Wild haven't had the best playoffs but they've made it and had a chance each time to win a series, against Vegas being nearest to a round one win. My money is on this year being the same. Solid season, tweaks, playoffs, and hopefully a healthy team can get over the first round hump. After seeing Florida go the distance last year, I don't think the Wild can be ruled out before any games have been played. Sure, getting another big-time guy on the roster would be great but I think they're looking within til the cap penalties are done and the prospect cream rises to the top. Guerin is doing a good job and certainly hasn't screwed up the overall picture by keeping Moose and Zuccarello.

19 hours ago, Protec said:

Guerin is doing a good job and certainly hasn't screwed up the overall picture by keeping Moose and Zuccarello.

I think the Foligno signing was a pretty bad signing but the Zuccarello signing wasn’t bad.

Florida has far more talent, we don’t have a Barkov, Tkachuk, Montour, Ekblad, Verhaeghe etc.

They got these players by having some really bad years, but look at them now.

This team is beginning to creep up in age and the gap between the veterans and the prospects/new players seems to be a few years or more till then really hit their peak.

Statistically most Nhl players hit their highest points total between 24-26 years old.

“On average, players retain about 90% of their scoring through age 29, but the drop from there is pretty sharp.”

Zuccarello 36

Spurgeon 33

Folingo 32

Johansson 32

Gaudreau 30

I think it’s fair to say that most of our up and coming prospects are at least 3-4 years away before they really start producing. Now add 3-4 years on to the players age I listed above.

Its a little concerning 

Yes we will have more cap but if they keep extending player like Foligno, our prospects are never going to get the experience they need. 

I just don’t see Kap wanting to play with a bunch of geriatrics or a bunch of new players who haven’t quite ironed out their game.

That's fair but it's safe to say the Wild will have some balance. Not all old guys. A couple players who are exceptional. Solid defense and goaltending despite cap penalties.

I think the Florida example was meant to be more of a "just make the playoffs" point. Sure Ekblad and Barkov are top class guys but teams like Boston or Toronto had the big names and dominant seasons without going deep last season. It will be interesting to see how the next two years go because if Foligno really slows down, he'll become a Reaves or Lucic type guy who isn't counted on for goal scoring. At 4M you'd be right to say that's too much on paper but the organization values the guy so the cost VS. return in a couple years when the penalties are over with won't be a huge problem. Just a couple million off the total available money that will be offset to a degree by entry-level guys.

At least that's what it looks like the GM and Owner are thinking when they make the Foligno offer. So it's a nice contract for Foligno and a way to set a precedent within the organization. Play well, be gritty, commit to the organization and do what they ask, you will be rewarded. More of a family vibe than mercenary group as Vegas has been described at times. I think a lot of us had the same inital reaction to 4x4M but I'm alright with both deals and players sticking around.