The Mikko Rantanen Trade Ramps Up the Urgency On A Kaprizov Extension

July 1st; the only thing the team can do is play and wait.

I'd heard Russo speculate the team can discuss with both Kap and Rossi's agents what the initial wants are, but there's only so much they can do given the current LTIR scenario.  Russo's angle was, "Kap sat out a month.  That might be an eye-opener that he may not be infallible, and shouldn't end up pissing away the sheer money the Wild are going to offer him if he potentially gets hurt again."

Kaprizov going to the Blackhawks isn't going to make that team a contender.  They have a hell of a lot more holes one player can fix.  Nearly pulling off a comeback last night shouldn't change Kap's opinion that, "Eh...the Wild are way, WAY further along than the Blackhawks might ever be.  If I'm looking somewhere, I'm not looking to freaking Chicago."

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Ramps Up the Urgency On A Kaprizov Extension

No, the urgency did not get increased. It was already urgent and nothing can be done as far as an extension until July. It reinforces it, perhaps.

Colorado has $3.9M in cap space now and a couple new picks to encourage a team to help them bring in someone with a larger cap hit than that, so they likely aren't done building their team for this playoffs. Necas will make around $7M less than Rantanen next year and could deliver 90% of the points while playing with MacKinnon and Makar--he's just shy of that mark today.

Rantanen is unquestionably better than Necas, but I can understand Colorado not wanting to pay him more than MacKinnon when they also have an extension for Makar on the horizon. The Wild don't have that issue. As their most valuable player, Kaprizov will set the bar for their top contract and they have a number of their key players already locked up on long-term deals well below KK97's new cap hit.

oh oh oh can we get Nick Foligno for Kaprizov?

7 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

oh oh oh can we get Nick Foligno for Kaprizov?

We'd probably need to throw in Boldy and Rossi as well.

Apples and oranges.  KK97 is the equivalent of NM29, not Rantanen.  We will pay KK97 top dollar and it will be the right move.

It's not a question of money with Kaprizov as our owner already eagerly stated he will not be outbid. Which will likely get other GM's to throw out ridiculous offers making CL spend as much money as possible and Paul Theofanaus one happy agent.  Where did the Chicago/Kaprizov rumor originate anyhow? Seems ridiculous. 

Colorado trading Rantanen is a puzzler to me. I heard that Mikko was blindsided as was McKinnon when it happened. Sounds like Mikko was even willing to take a team friendly deal. The whole thing is just odd.

13 minutes ago, MacGyver said:

Sounds like Mikko was even willing to take a team friendly deal. The whole thing is just odd.

What does he consider a team friendly deal? Sounds like his team had already rejected $12.5M per year.

agree that this is NOT a money thing for Kaprizov - and it is mostly about winning, so let's consider - 

should the Wild fall in round 1 or fail to even make the PO (which is a real possibility given how "great" we've been playing) - i think Kap does not sign in July and what then?

will Billy be fine letting it play out for the whole year? I don't. Hence there'll be some dealing. Just don't be late to the party Bill. 

3 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

What does he consider a team friendly deal? Sounds like his team had already rejected $12.5M per year.

Who knows what number he actually had in mind. I read he did an interview this weekend where he stated he was blindsided by the trade and that he was willing to take less than the market value. For him to say that is odd being he is going to have to negotiate a new contract with Carolina or wherever he winds up. Why would you publicly put that out there? Yes Colorado has to sign Makar but with the salary cap going up you would think Colorado would do whatever they could to keep a future HOF player in the fold.  There's part of this picture we are not being shown. 

32 minutes ago, MacGyver said:

Who knows what number he actually had in mind. I read he did an interview this weekend where he stated he was blindsided by the trade and that he was willing to take less than the market value. For him to say that is odd being he is going to have to negotiate a new contract with Carolina or wherever he winds up. Why would you publicly put that out there? Yes Colorado has to sign Makar but with the salary cap going up you would think Colorado would do whatever they could to keep a future HOF player in the fold.  There's part of this picture we are not being shown. 

Maybe he agreed to his agent to take a team friendly deal but the agent wanted to play hardball to make himself look good. There is so may layers of contact between GM and player it is so hard to know.

1 hour ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

There's part of this picture we are not being shown. 

Agreed.  It doesn't make sense. 

If you told me:  "Sit tight with Rantanen and your chances will be better to win a Stanley" ... why trade?.  The goal is the cup.  Why make your team worse when you are a legit cup contender?    

6 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

it is mostly about winning

I agree with this take. Yes he’s expecting to get paid, and winning has to be part of the equation. Isn’t that what almost every player wants? I gotta believe so. Does it HAVE to be this year? Let me put it this way. Right now what NHL teams could realistically dump $15 M in contracts and make a playoff run this year? My opinion is none. It’s a really big ask and a longshot. Heck you’re probably going up against some LTIR beast teams as well. If Kap and his agent are really thinking it’s this year or walk… well then chances are he’s walking. I still believe the Wild can win a series but this team has not beaten enough top Western Conference teams to convince me this is their year. The next few years there’s a case to be made things will be different. 

I don't think this does anything as far as urgency for us goes. I do think it highlights where Colorado was not going to go for a wing: >$12.5m. Right now Panarin is making the best money for a wing at $11m and change, and that was signed awhile ago. 

Carolina will have the money to sign Rantanen. He and Aho are buddies. I think what we can read out of this is that the folks (like me) who thought they were getting Kaprizov for $12.5m or less are mistaken and there will likely be some sticker shock when we see the price. 

Draisaitl's $14m is being thrown out there for Rantanen. Is Rantanen better than Kaprizov? I would say no, but the statistical points may say yes. Kaprizov has not had a MacKinnon playing next to him, though. I'd also say that the Wild play a more structured game which ticks off a few points in exchange for better defense. 

One other part of this equation may be Kaprizov's desire to win. It is obvious that if we max out our cap space like we have been doing (though actual money out is much less) and Kaprizov leaves a little on the table, we should be able to sign or resign a player with a little more talent. I don't begin to know his mindset, but if it's winning, I would say that he'll resign for a fair deal.

But, as mindsets go, I would bet a whole lot more on Kaprizov looking at the future years ahead of him, than the success/failure of the previous years behind him. I think he's too young to be a mercenary, has familiarity with the area, likes it here, and, isn't asked to do a lot of extra media appearances such as in a larger market. I think he likes staying low key, and having his privacy. I don't put much stock in the having to get out of the 1st round crowd right now, but I will say that if we don't get out of that 1st round, changes will need to be made with the placeholders. 

Can the kids win? That is the big question. Adding a Buium, Yurov the same year could be huge! Bringing in Jiricek full time could also be. Giving them that experience and having them figure it out might be a really good idea. 

One other possibility is that perhaps Kaprizov gives Shooter the benefit of the doubt, signs here for the money part, but they have an understanding that if they aren't getting traction in the playoffs, Kaprizov can ask out and it will be honored by Shooter. We've seen some other handshake deals, but I think Guerin would want to stress that it would need to be confidential and he'd get him to a place he'd like to go. Then you slap on a designation. This is something that Shooter does really well, and I'm betting he had this talk with Fiala. 

I started scrolling through the Forums a bit ago. I haven't noticed gamethreads on the front page in a long time. But, apparently, UK Soldier is putting them on in the Forum's section. He's had a little help. I wasn't aware we were still doing this, but some might be interested in knowing where to find it. 

For me, I typically start games on delay and catch up during the intermissions. I'm generally within 10 minutes to live when I end. But for those who watch on time and like the commercials, did you know this was happening?

30 minutes ago, Burnt Toast said:

I agree with this take. Yes he’s expecting to get paid, and winning has to be part of the equation. Isn’t that what almost every player wants? I gotta believe so. Does it HAVE to be this year? Let me put it this way. Right now what NHL teams could realistically dump $15 M in contracts and make a playoff run this year? My opinion is none. It’s a really big ask and a longshot. Heck you’re probably going up against some LTIR beast teams as well. If Kap and his agent are really thinking it’s this year or walk… well then chances are he’s walking. I still believe the Wild can win a series but this team has not beaten enough top Western Conference teams to convince me this is their year. The next few years there’s a case to be made things will be different. 

i think next year - the list of teams will increase, and if money is not priority #1 - then he has plenty of options -  he can join ovi for a year, while keeping an eye on Demidov and MTR (then maybe join him),  or join NYR, NJD or either FL teams as a merc or PHI (not only Mitchy but there is a coach similarity - they brought someone with ties to Kap recently....). Would a reunion with Fiala work out? Wouldn't it be something if he goes to COL? or Vegas or DAL (after Benn's contract is done)? plenty of zingers out there to be had....at our expense.

so yeah - i think PO and R1 Win is a must. Loose and no amount of $ will make him stay. 

Reading a little Russo today and the Athletic's trade rumors room. No mention really of Tuch, though Buffalo is listed as in between selling and buying. 

However, one name popped out a little who I wouldn't mind having back: Nico Sturm. I could see him centering Foligno and Trenin on the 3rd line. San Jose retains half and maybe takes a contract and a prospect? 

With Buffalo, I think we'd have to have some cap help (maybe just for this year) and some help from CBJ. If they sell Provorov, they'll need to gain additional cap space. We already saw how retaining 25% of Rantanen + dumping Hall = 3rd round pick. Seems to me that we'd be doing a lot less. 

Boy, adding Sturm + Tuch, I think, adds to this team for playoffs. 

Tuch or bust!!!

1 hour ago, OldDutchChip said:

he can join ovi for a year

Washington Caps bust a Kap out of Mn. Does have a certain poetry about it. Let’s say they do. Think about this ODC… Kaps new contract $15M ( close) + $13 M Buyouts gonzo (mostly) + Cap increase $5M (Guess)= $33M. That’s enough for JT , both Brock’s and Tuck. Comes complete with a new GM. ( pretty sure). Just sayin’ Disclaimer: I forgot about the Brock we already have’s contract extension. 

19 minutes ago, Burnt Toast said:

Washington Caps bust a Kap out of Mn. Does have a certain poetry about it. Let’s say they do. Think about this ODC… Kaps new contract $15M ( close) + $13 M Buyouts gonzo (mostly) + Cap increase $5M (Guess)= $33M. That’s enough for JT , both Brock’s and Tuck. Comes complete with a new GM. ( pretty sure). Just sayin’ Disclaimer: I forgot about the Brock we already have’s contract extension. 

sure the cap space....last time we had that much money - we wisely spent it on Freddy, Foligno, Harty, Zuccy, Trenin and Bogo (i think MJ too) - that's total of 20MM? 🙂 so yes in theory - we could land JT and Brock and Tuch but who knows.

and how much are we talking about....there is Rossi's $ which will like be 7MM at a min. So our cap space is a bit less than we may think....Then we have to get a back- up G - i guess we'll stick with Wally. 

yeah we'll have enough for Brock Nelson. So i dunno - Kaprizov out / Brock Nelson in, seems like 💩 hahaha

if it were me - i'd swing for it. we do know that some good players are available now and may not be available to us later. Avs got worse. Stars have some injuries and are not clicking yet - and Benn is 55. Might be our year to knock one of them out. Sure we can get one of the Brocks, but they are not really the top prize. will Billy have the balls to go for game-changers (JT M/Elias) and not stick with safe route (BN)? and do so now at the cost of some current players? Carolina had the balls. Does Bill? (i know i know about the current cap - but let's find ourselves another Chicago or talk with Columbus to be that 3rd team and ask them to retain $ and then start talking with Nucks about EP or JT)

As for Caps - imagine Ovi winning the Cup next year - passing it to Kap - who passes it to MJ......😜

3 hours ago, Burnt Toast said:

It’s a really big ask and a longshot. Heck you’re probably going up against some LTIR beast teams as well.

Landeskog could return from LTIR for Colorado in the playoffs. They are being rather hush hush about his timeline for return.

2 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

This is something that Shooter does really well

He lived it, has the hardware and the reputation as a competitor. I think BG has been planning for KK’s extension the moment Kap signed his 5 year deal. Looks like next year we’re going to have 4 Russian  born players on the team, coincidence? I don’t think so. Along with OCL’s desire to keep Kap I think absolutely everything is being done to make that happen. 

2 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

No mention really of Tuch, though Buffalo is listed as in between selling and buying. 

Buffalo is looking to trade Cozens out for Pettersson. They are not looking to move Tuch. They could part with Zucker and his expiring contract.

Buffalo wants to compete for playoffs next year, not go prospect heavy in a full rebuild.

1 minute ago, Burnt Toast said:

He lived it, has the hardware and the reputation as a competitor. I think BG has been planning for KK’s extension the moment Kap signed his 5 year deal. Looks like next year we’re going to have 4 Russian  born players on the team, coincidence? I don’t think so. Along with OCL’s desire to keep Kap I think absolutely everything is being done to make that happen. 

let's go for 5 russians. if canes are still in dealing mood - let's do boldy for svechnikov 😉

8 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Landeskog could return from LTIR for Colorado in the playoffs. They are being rather hush hush about his timeline for return.

Landy is likely not coming back (at all). Nichushkin might though. 

2 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

let's do boldy for svechnikov

I’ll make the call myself. That would be a perfect storm, The Wild rebuild The Russian 5!!!