The Wild Are Going To Drive Everyone Insane This Year

The old guys are tired and they can't sustain that level of output indefinitely (and they get hurt more easily). Plus, this coincides with Tarastinko coming back, so you can blame him.

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Perhaps more concerningly, the Wild are the same team they were before they hired Guerin. Good enough to make the playoffs, not good enough to win once they’re there. Always stuck in the mushy middle. If the team hasn’t changed much since Guerin took over in 2019, why should anyone be sold on them contending anytime soon?

Yes, yes, and also yes.

NoJo scores the game-winner off his nutsack. I didn't think he had one. 

The Wild are a roller coaster team. Always have been. 

Playoff teams try to add at the Trade Deadline to address their weaknesses. It’s pretty simple, if the Wild can find a player that helps with scoring they will have a much better chance at advancing. Get ready for sticker shock if they do make a move. It’s a sellers market. 

And regress they did 🤔

nah - they let off the gas a bit vs Sabres (still got a point), beat an Oilers team that will still likely end up in WCF (in fact shut them out), then got beat by a Calgary team that is on a heater (last 10 they are 7-3 - ain't to bad right?) and still Wild are missing Foligno and Rossi (and Hinny too - underrated energizer bunny)

Yes, their secondary scoring is not that great, but you remember the injuries? Rossi? can't believe I have to be the one reminding others but he still exists but is injured. Maybe account for that?

We also will strike for a top 6 forward this year. So that "lack of depth" will be resolved. I am still very optimistic about the team. 

You have great G tandem. Kap and Boldy are showing up and are each in Tier 1 and 2. Yurov has been show casing more and more skill and spunk. Trenin and Sturm are bringing a physicality (Trenin specifically is playing excellent hockey). Jiricek is no where on the ice to hurt us and MJ and Bogo are delivering on a silly small budget.

Yes, we do have a Vlady problem and now Zuccy's potential head injury concern....but aside from that - this is NOT the same version from years past. Gone are Parise, Vanek, Pommy, Koivu, Heater, Gucci, Zucker, Granlund.....NOT one of which is in the same tier as Kap and Boldy (and skill wins in this league). Our D and G are also above any seen before.

This version of the Wild will take out Dallas in R1. 

2 hours ago, NoJoSux said:

NoJo scores the game-winner off his nutsack. I didn't think he had one. 

The Wild are a roller coaster team. Always have been. 

Cardiojo’s summer training routine: 

If Rossi comes back and performs at the same pace prior to injury and if Kap gets back to his normal self this team can go places. Those are two pretty significant ifs though...

3 hours ago, OldDutchChip said:

And regress they did 🤔

nah - they let off the gas a bit vs Sabres (still got a point), beat an Oilers team that will still likely end up in WCF (in fact shut them out), then got beat by a Calgary team that is on a heater (last 10 they are 7-3 - ain't to bad right?) and still Wild are missing Foligno and Rossi (and Hinny too - underrated energizer bunny)

Yes, their secondary scoring is not that great, but you remember the injuries? Rossi? can't believe I have to be the one reminding others but he still exists but is injured. Maybe account for that?

We also will strike for a top 6 forward this year. So that "lack of depth" will be resolved. I am still very optimistic about the team. 

You have great G tandem. Kap and Boldy are showing up and are each in Tier 1 and 2. Yurov has been show casing more and more skill and spunk. Trenin and Sturm are bringing a physicality (Trenin specifically is playing excellent hockey). Jiricek is no where on the ice to hurt us and MJ and Bogo are delivering on a silly small budget.

Yes, we do have a Vlady problem and now Zuccy's potential head injury concern....but aside from that - this is NOT the same version from years past. Gone are Parise, Vanek, Pommy, Koivu, Heater, Gucci, Zucker, Granlund.....NOT one of which is in the same tier as Kap and Boldy (and skill wins in this league). Our D and G are also above any seen before.

This version of the Wild will take out Dallas in R1. 

 

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Meanwhile, Minnesota only scores 2.73 goals per game. That’s fewer than the New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, and Vancouver, three teams that are out of the playoff picture.

That certainly caught my attention. How is a team that is tied for 3rd in points% in the East out of the playoff picture???

I'd say the Flyers are very much in the playoff picture, and so are the Devils, who are tied for 8th in points% in the East--both just won last night. I'll certainly grant that Vancouver is out of it, but I don't think anyone should be eliminating Philadelphia or New Jersey at this point.

Colorado and Dallas are way out in front of the pack in the West, but the Wild are in 5th place and in a decent spot if they can get some guys back from injury. They will be looking for help prior to the trade deadline. The Wild definitely need more scoring, but they are still 7-2-1 in their last 10.

The Wild are 10-9 in games that end in regulation, and 6-5 in games that go into OT/shootouts. It's not amazing, but they've played winning hockey despite the slow start. Edmonton and Florida, 2 recent cup competitors, have struggled to get out from their slower starts so far.

Also, since the start of November, there are 15 teams who have averaged fewer goals/game than the Wild. The Wild are #1 in goals allowed per game since that point. The +18 goal differential they Wild have in their last 18  games(everything after October) is top 5 in the NHL.

The Wild may not average under 2 goals per game against as they move forward, but if they stay below 2.5, and they score 2.8 per game, they'll finish with a respectable goal differential around +20.

The Wild hang their hat on defense.  Even including October the Wild are 7th in GAA.  That is how we win.  Low scoring games battling it out to the very end.  We do need to pick up a player at the TDL that can score and can maintain the defensive structure we need.

I do not think it is a coincidence that our losing started with the return of Tarasenko either.  Not only is he not on the score sheet... he is really bad defensively.  

If Zuc can't play I hope they put Trenin on the 1st line with Kirill and Yurov.  His physical play and speed can open the ice for Kirill.  I prefer that over Tarasenko.

I would also move Bogo up with Spurgeon if Mids is out.  Spurgeon seems to thrive with a big guy next to him and the Hunt/Zeev combination has worked well in the past.

Anyone hear if Pitlick and Ben Jones will be entering the lineup?  Or is someone else on deck?

16 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

The Wild hang their hat on defense.  Even including October the Wild are 7th in GAA.  That is how we win.  Low scoring games battling it out to the very end.  We do need to pick up a player at the TDL that can score and can maintain the defensive structure we need.

Good call! I wonder if we can pry ROR from Nash for Ohgre (who’s been better of late) and a first? And do it before price goes up and others bid for him? 

I think that would give us a huge advantage come POs. He is the only one from Nash I’d take, and has a nice contract and (iseally) should fit perfectly. Thoughts?

4 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

Good call! I wonder if we can pry ROR from Nash for Ohgre (who’s been better of late) and a first? And do it before price goes up and others bid for him? 

I think that would give us a huge advantage come POs. He is the only one from Nash I’d take, and has a nice contract and (iseally) should fit perfectly. Thoughts?

I like it...ROR is solid.  He has the 200 foot game to maintain our D structure and he can score.  Big guy that can handle the rigors of the playoffs and he wins face-offs.  Nashville may not want him next year so a trade for Senko that sees his contract expire next year may be appealing for the Preds that want to clear cap space.  I don't think a first would be required if we can wait long enough.  I would offer Nash Senko and a 3rd.... or straight up for Ohgren.

I think Alex Tuch also wants out of Buffalo.  He is definitely keeping his options open.  He has a good defensive game and can clearly score.  The problem with him is what you have to give up to get him.  His contract expires and he is most likely a rental that we don't sign for next year.  Buffalo will want big for him.

Blake Coleman is another guy from the Flames I would consider.  Similar to ROR he has a good contract.  200 foot game and can score.   They may take Tarasenko for the expiring contract as well to free up cap space....  or we offer a prospect and a 3rd.  At 34 you don't worry about resigning him.

We don't have any #2s for the next 2 years.... which is why I say 3rd.  I suppose a 2nd 3 years out could be viable.  I wouldn't give up a 1st.  

I would really try to earn back our 2nd round picks we don't have.  Evaluate the prospect pool and try to trade out a couple players that we don't envision making it out of IA and see if we can get a 2nd or 3rd round pick for them.  Peart? Lambos? Milne?

Or even consider trading Vlad for them.

Marcus Johansson has played well this year.... I have to wonder what he could get in a trade.  A playoff team may consider him valuable and offer up a #1 or a high level prospect. 

Probably not going to happen since the low pay structure was done so BG would not trade him away. (handshake agreement).  

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Perhaps more concerningly, the Wild are the same team they were before they hired Guerin. Good enough to make the playoffs, not good enough to win once they’re there. Always stuck in the mushy middle. If the team hasn’t changed much since Guerin took over in 2019, why should anyone be sold on them contending anytime soon?

More from Tom on the not tanking strategy that Guerin used, probably a promise to OCL if he bought out the 2 contracts. He did promise "competitive" teams. And that is precisely what the only decision maker on the Wild wanted.

During that time he traded out players and got extra 1sts and 2nds. These guys are finally acclimating to the roster this year, with a couple of sprinklings in the past couple of years. This team is becoming younger.

The issue here isn't the mushy middle as we appear to be right now. The issue is we will not look the same in the later part of the year. Why? Because it takes rookies time to acclimate, especially when those rookies aren't your generational players. 

We had successful runs to the playoffs the last 5 years, derailed by 1 year filled with injuries, followed by another where we squeaked by. But we then turned over a third of the roster, mainly allowing rookies to acclimate. Everyone with any sense would realize that the start of this season was not going to be like last year, but, instead was going to be slow, but heading down the stretch, this team would be far better.

Opportunity has struck for younger guys, and these guys are filling roles like the calm influence of reclaimed Hunt, Buium getting better defensively and picking his spots better offensively, The Wall showing last season was a fluke, Yurov proving he can play in the top 6. Even Ohgren is looking better. 

We need these guys getting better, and while we are still dealing with injuries, they get more TOI. Now, how do we keep them fresh during the Olympic break? The Wall might be playing.

Then, on the other side of established players, we see Boldy taking another step and solidifying himself in tier 3 and pushing for tier 2 status. Rossi was also performing better until injury took out his foot. The thing is, typically a project under construction looks like a disaster until it's finished. 

If you simply want to look at results thus far in the season, then, sure, let's just say same old Wild, mushy middle team. There's no hope, we'll always be that way. But this is not a linear progression. It will have peaks and valleys, but the potential for much more is in the lineup. 

I do not agree with getting the best scorer at the TDL. That is not the identity. What we need is the best scorer with a 200' game who can also play in this system. We found that 'Senko has not been a good fit for that because of his defensive deficiencies. Targeting guys who have offensive upside but are solid all over is the way to go. For instance, I would think a center like Elias Lindholm would probably thrive here (not saying he's available).

As for the mushy middle, this middle has expanded to include about 2/3rds of the league. We have 2 top dogs in the West, none in the East, and 3 bottom feeders in the West. The East is completely up for grabs! Injuries has derailed the Panthers so far. Nobody is out of it in the East. A bottom type team can go on a heater and easily be in the playoffs, and the Atlantic division is really tight. 

What we want is to go into the Olympic break in position to make the playoffs. I would not give up a ton of assets to land an ROR, but this guy is a nice fit with his game for what we need. I just don't think he's got that much left in the tank, maybe a couple of more years. Giving up Ohgren + 1st seems too expensive for me. But, he is a 200' center with size who wins faceoffs and I've always liked his game. He ages decently because he has never relied on speed, but on positioning. 

22 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

Or even consider trading Vlad for them.

The thing about Vlad is his 8 team trade list. He waived to come here, we may be pretty stuck with him unless he wants to go. I do suspect that Vlad does have another level of playoff hockey in him. 

Amendment to previous post:

Really there are no teams out of it right now. The worst team in the league is Vancouver who is 6 points out of a playoff spot. In the East, Buffalo is 7 points out. A hot streak like we had in November would be enough to put either team in playoff contention. 

I think what we are seeing is incredible parity right now. Anybody can beat anyone unless you're playing Colorado or Dallas. This season will not be defined by we lost to so and so and beat so and so. This season will be defined on when we played them. It would be nice if we could catch teams that have injury black holes at certain positions when we're pretty healthy, but right now, we're just trying to tread water until some of our guys get back. A 2-2 road trip is the definition of treading water.

32 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

I like it...ROR is solid.  He has the 200 foot game to maintain our D structure and he can score.  Big guy that can handle the rigors of the playoffs and he wins face-offs.  Nashville may not want him next year so a trade for Senko that sees his contract expire next year may be appealing for the Preds that want to clear cap space.  I don't think a first would be required if we can wait long enough.  I would offer Nash Senko and a 3rd.... or straight up for Ohgren.

I think Alex Tuch also wants out of Buffalo.  He is definitely keeping his options open.  He has a good defensive game and can clearly score.  The problem with him is what you have to give up to get him.  His contract expires and he is most likely a rental that we don't sign for next year.  Buffalo will want big for him.

Blake Coleman is another guy from the Flames I would consider.  Similar to ROR he has a good contract.  200 foot game and can score.   They may take Tarasenko for the expiring contract as well to free up cap space....  or we offer a prospect and a 3rd.  At 34 you don't worry about resigning him.

We don't have any #2s for the next 2 years.... which is why I say 3rd.  I suppose a 2nd 3 years out could be viable.  I wouldn't give up a 1st.  

I do wonder if there is some gentleman agreement made between Kap and Bill to keep Vlady around….i hope not - but sometimes it’s tough to see a decline when you are up close to a person - so maybe Kap still sees Vlady of old (his comrade!) and vouches for him? Who knows

i do think everyone here agrees that Vlady is done and once we are all healthy - he needs to be removed someway 

7 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

The thing about Vlad is his 8 team trade list. He waived to come here, we may be pretty stuck with him unless he wants to go. I do suspect that Vlad does have another level of playoff hockey in him. 

I think he does too.. But getting him to do it may be another discussion.

Just now, OldDutchChip said:

i do think everyone here agrees that Vlady is done and once we are all healthy - he needs to be removed someway 

I believe Johansson has outplayed him and that would send Vlady to the ProssBox.

3 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I believe Johansson has outplayed him and that would send Vlady to the ProssBox.

Pretty sure everyone on this board knows my dislike for Johansson by now.  But even I have to admit that his play this year has been pretty darn good.  He is engaging.  Props to the guy.   He has earned his ice time.   

*** I would still trade him out if I had a chance ***

8 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I believe Johansson has outplayed him and that would send Vlady to the ProssBox.

I hope so 

but think it may instead put Hinny or Sturm there (or even Yurov) - which would suck

9 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

I do wonder if there is some gentleman agreement made between Kap and Bill to keep Vlady around

Kirill may have been the reason Valdy came here.  BG would need to have a good discussion with the guys and try to find a nice way to handle the situation.  

2 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

but think it may instead put Hinny or Sturm there (or even Yurov) - which would suck

Pitlick seems to be the odd man out right now.  Hynes does seem to like Tarasenko for PPs.  Which I get... he does have the shot for it.