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  • Wild Address Penalty Kill With Four-Year Deal For Yakov Trenin


    Image courtesy of Matt Krohn-USA Today Sports
    Tony Abbott

    As free agency dawned, most people assumed the Minnesota Wild's No. 1 priority would be signing a top-six wing to address their secondary scoring. That scoring winger may still be coming, but it wasn't the first thing Minnesota locked down on July 1. Instead, they signed depth winger Yakov Trenin, whom the Wild signed Monday morning to a four-year deal with a $3.5 million annual average value (AAV).

    Trenin, 27, has ties to the Wild organization: John Hynes coached him in Nashville. Arguably, his most productive season came under Hynes, when he scored 17 goals and 24 points in 80 games in 2021-22.

    Make no mistake, though, the dozen or so goals Trenin scores each season are secondary to his game. His true strength is as a penalty killer, an area of his game where he can claim to be one of the NHL's best. Over the past three seasons, Trenin ranks 21st among forwards by providing 3.0 Goals Above Replacement (worth about a point in the standings) with his penalty-killing alone, tied with the likes of the Calgary Flames' Blake Coleman and former Wild center Connor Dewar.

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    As you might recall, Minnesota's penalty kill has been a near-constant thorn in their side for most of the Bill Guerin Era. There have been seasons of competence, but those successes are immediately followed by regression, with last season's being the worst yet.

    Here are the Wild's league rankings in each year since Guerin took over as general manager:

    2019-20: 25th (77.2%)
    2020-21: 12th (80.7%)
    2021-22: 25th (76.1%)
    2022-23: 10th (82.0%)
    2023-24: 30th (74.5%)

    Overall, it's a mediocre showing (23rd in NHL, 77.9%), and opponents have magnified their flaws further in the postseason. Among the 27 teams with postseason games in the past five years, only the Arizona Coyotes (nine games in the 2020 COVID bubble) and Los Angeles Kings (who constantly play the Edmonton Oilers in Round 1) have fared worse than Minnesota. Their 72.6% postseason penalty kill over that span easily cost them winnable series against the St. Louis Blues in 2022 and the Dallas Stars in 2023.

    The Wild signed Trenin to patch up those flaws. To his credit, he rarely gets scored on while short-handed. Here are the top-10 players in the NHL (among 183 forwards with 250-plus 4-on-5 minutes) in terms of goals surrendered per hour since Trenin entered the NHL:

    1. Teuvo Teravainen, 4.25 GA/60
    2. Trevor Lewis, 4.42
    3. Vincent Trocheck, 4.46
    4. Garnet Hathaway, 4.81
    5. Jesper Fast, 4.86
    6. Sebastian Aho, 4.88
    7. Patrice Bergeron, 4.96
    8. YAKOV TRENIN, 4.97
    9. Josh Bailey, 5.04
    10. Brock Nelson, 5.12

    That's great company, but it doesn't come without a red flag. Most of those penalty kill minutes were with one of the top goalies in the NHL, Juuse Saros, backstopping him. When you look at expected goals, he surrendered 7.51 of those per hour on the ice, ranking a much more middle-of-the-pack 98th in the NHL. That suggests Saros may have been saving his bacon more than the goal totals suggest.

    Minnesota will have to hope that Trenin's size (6-foot-2, 201 lbs.) and speed lead to fewer chances than expected goals suggest. They'll also have to rely on him defensively at even strength, and the Wild's system always seems to plug in players like Trenin and lift them to new heights defensively. 

    The Wild are also trying to get back to the identity they want to have: a team that plays hard and pairs skill in the top-six with relentless forechecking in the bottom-six. Marcus Foligno told the media at the end of the season, "It felt like we didn't have that energy. It felt like there was a sag, a little bit of a 'Poor Me'-type vibe when goals would go in. That wasn't usually the case in seasons before." Guerin and hope Hynes that Trenin's size and jam will help Minnesota restore that attitude.

    The Wild paid a fairly big fee to sign Trenin. At 27, he has age on his side, but his $3.5 million cap hit represents Minnesota's massive, long-term commitment in their bottom-six. They'll pay Trenin, Foligno ($4 million AAV), Ryan Hartman ($4 million), and Freddy Gaudreau ($2.1 million) a combined $13.6 million through 2026-27. In 2027-28, that bottom-six commitment will drop to $9.6 million after Hartman's deal expires.

    Instead of filling those roles with team-friendly deals, the Wild again splurged on a role player in terms of money and term. Granted, Trenin fits a very important, specific need for Minnesota on the penalty kill, but he'll need to be much more than a specialist to fully justify the expense. Teams can always find penalty-killers at the trade deadline. That's exactly what the Colorado Avalanche did when they acquired Trenin last year.

    Rounding out the news of the day, for now, the Wild signed Travis Boyd and Devin Shore, both to two-way deals. Boyd, 30, most recently played with the Arizona Coyotes, drawing in for just 16 games last year with two goals and eight points. In his previous two seasons, he scored 15-plus goals and 30-plus points but rated among the worst defensive players in the NHL.

    Shore, 29, split time between the Seattle Kraken (a goal, four points in 21 games) and their AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley (seven goals, 25 points in 39 games). He spent the past three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers and never drew in for more than 50 games. He figures to be a true 13th forward/minor-league option for a Wild team that lacked depth last year.

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    5 minutes ago, Protec said:

    That's why the Wild were pushed around and unable to defend against the big hard teams. They're one step closer to getting a heavier more complete group. MN will need more scoring than just one big Russian depth guy, but this isn't a crummy AAV or term.

    i'd probably instead would have taken the money from Midds and Trenin and went and signed Marchy (before Preds got to him). thats 8 million for Midds and Trenin. I just don't see any sense in it, if there could be a world where we could have had Marchy instead and just played one of our prospects instead of Midds.....i dunno, waste of money to me

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    7 minutes ago, Patrick said:

    The fact that Tanev got essentially the same price makes me sick.  Tanev is SIGNIFICANTLY better than Midds. BG has to stop it with the loyalty club contracts. Stupid signing.

    You got some good points here. I don't like the Middleton signing so much but he's not an old player. It's kinda the journeyman deal and is safe if MN expects Faber and Buium to become the next wave on defense. The future on defense is set now and it's not horrible. In many ways the flashiest UFAs carry big risk.

    This is a better version of the Wild who barely missed the playoffs. I'm optimistic.

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    Tanev is 34, so that $4.5m might look terrible while he's sitting on the shelf someday.  Middleton's been a stalwart and is 6 years younger on a shorter deal.  They aren't the same player, not the same age range, so whatever.  If I'm banking on who will stay healthy, it'd probably be Midds.

    Also, in case anyone forgot, the LA Kings somehow suckered someone into the PLD contract a year after signing it.  None of the Wild's players nore contracts have PLDs baggage nor lackluster reputation.  The Kings just proved anyone can get traded out of a bad situation if a team wants someone bad enough.

    Edited by Citizen Strife
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    why not just let Midds ride it out this year and see.

    By then we'll  know if Zeev is the next great D? Even if he is half of what people are clamoring he is, then he already IS better than Midds! or maybe O'Rourke, Hunt, Peart or another half dozen of prospects develop into legit NHLers? If any of this happens, then Midds now moves down to third pair. And if Midds plays there without Spurge - he is a mess, an old, slow, mess. and getting paid 4.35 per and we have him for the next 5 years! since i am assuming the contract starts next year? and NTC (of course!) argh!

    why doesn't billy realize that he has his D prospects (plus new "prize of the draft" - Zeev) are all of these prospects ceiling third pairing? thats it? you cannot tell me that they cannot beat out Midds. they have yet to be given a chance and likely won't with this extension. Good luck Zeev.

    i don't think i've been happy once commenting on here! is it too much to ask for ONE good move from these idiots that run wild?

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    41 minutes ago, Protec said:

    I see Foligno fizzling

    I'm thinking the Lauko and Trenin adds will prevent us from needing to pickup up a D Lo OR a Reeves so I can get on board.  

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    i don't think i've been happy once commenting on here!

    Um...that's not the team nor our problem.  Being frustrated is a personal choice.  Maybe I'm just a content dumbfuck, but I've learned a few things that have made me feel better about a lot of things. If I have time to be angry about something, I have time to do the things that make me feel better.  That way I leave my feelings at the door and try to look on the bright side.

    Sorry if that sounds lecture-ish or a little too optimistic, but being angry doesn't solve anything.  I think the team is going to go about its business whether we whine about the team, support them, get angsty, etc.  

    Besides, if I ever feel I'm getting too angry about something, I can just listen to Sabbath or Maiden and cheer right back up.  Note: I am NOT past the point of being pissed about if the team is struggling or not.  I just...don't really care that much at the end of the day.  Watching a team should be fun, all things considered.

    Edited by Citizen Strife
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    1 minute ago, Citizen Strife said:

    i don't think i've been happy once commenting on here!

    Um...that's not the team nor our problem.  Being frustrated is a personal choice.  Maybe I'm just a content dumbfuck, but I've learned a few things that have made me feel better about a lot of things. If I have time to be angry about something, I have time to do the things that make me feel better.  That way I leave my feelings at the door and try to look on the bright side.

    Sorry if that sounds lecture-ish or a little too optimistic, but being angry doesn't solve anything.  I think the team is going to go about its business whether we whine about the team, support them, get angsty, etc.  

    Besides, if I ever feel I'm getting too angry about something, I can just listen to Sabbath or Maiden and cheer right back up.

    oh i am just a pessimist and a realist at the core - so its all down hill now for Wild

    i was fooled once! when we got heater and setaguchi - i got excited - that taught me to not make the same mistake!!

    might have to bring out some metal - JP or DIO for me

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    1 minute ago, FredJohnson said:

    Oh no, where will NoJo play if this guy plays wing on the 3rd line??!! (Sarcasm)

    possibly still on line 2, while Nutty is rotting in AHL?

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    JP and DIO

    See, now we're speaking the same language.  Besides, I'm not getting fooled into rooting for ANY Minnesota team ever.  I just laugh it off at this point.

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    18 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

    oh i am just a pessimist and a realist at the core - so its all down hill now for Wild

    i was fooled once! when we got heater and setaguchi - i got excited - that taught me to not make the same mistake!!

    might have to bring out some metal - JP or DIO for me

    I had a dream last night, more of a vision where a wild Bearcat stepped out of the spruce trees near a tranquil Minnesota lake and said Trenin is from a place in Russia with a silver mountain where they ride tigers. I haven't looked into it yet but seemed relevant so I figured I'd mention it.

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    4 years @ $4.35m per year for Mids is an overpay. He’ll likely be a 3rd pairing defender, and mentor, as early as the first year of the extension. Why does Guerin overpay his veterans, in term and AAV, after down seasons? Middleton didn’t do anything to almost double his salary… and he got a limited NTC? Again Guerin didn’t wait to see how the season started, negotiated against his own expectations, and delivered essentially the same contract as everyone else gets. 🤷‍♂️

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    WTF BG.  It's like he doesn't care about negotiating for the benefit of the organization.  It's your job dude.  Every extension he has made has been too long with too much protection and I'm tired of bitching and hearing people bitch bout the same thing.

    At what point is the player loyalty going to pay off?  It better be this day next year.

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    58 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

    JP and DIO

    See, now we're speaking the same language.  Besides, I'm not getting fooled into rooting for ANY Minnesota team ever.  I just laugh it off at this point.

    Is anyone on this forum under 50?  😀

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    Kaprizov- Boldy-Ek

    zuccarello-Rossi - MoJo

    hartman- Folino-Trenin

    freddy - ??? - ??? (Marat/Boston guys we traded for)

    1. Two questions:

    -  where do u see spot for your young players. U cannot play them in the 4th line, and 3 line are taken for these year and only one spot available for the nexr

    - how Wild can be making playoff (I am not talking about getting deeper in the playoffs) with this?

    maybe I am missing something but

    - if I would be Yrov I wouldn’t come next year, would wait one more to be able to be eligible just for one year contract 

    - I don’t know why Kaprizov would sign here ? Tampa Bay or Florida Panterns will be his next destination 

     

     

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    1 hour ago, Protec said:

    You got some good points here. I don't like the Middleton signing so much but he's not an old player. It's kinda the journeyman deal and is safe if MN expects Faber and Buium to become the next wave on defense. The future on defense is set now and it's not horrible. In many ways the flashiest UFAs carry big risk.

    This is a better version of the Wild who barely missed the playoffs. I'm optimistic.

    I agree it's not terrible and I like Midds as a player but it seems like an unforced error.  It's a million high and a year too long and a year too early.  The margins are so narrow that a move like this doesn't make any sense.

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    4 minutes ago, Patrick said:

    I agree it's not terrible and I like Midds as a player but it seems like an unforced error.  It's a million high and a year too long and a year too early.  The margins are so narrow that a move like this doesn't make any sense.

    It was the first fair offer Midzy's agent came up with, so BG got out the Brandy, they had a couple shots and they wrote it up...

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    1 hour ago, Protec said:

    I had a dream last night, more of a vision where a wild Bearcat stepped out of the spruce trees near a tranquil Minnesota lake and said Trenin is from a place in Russia with a silver mountain where they ride tigers. I haven't looked into it yet but seemed relevant so I figured I'd mention it.

    i think Billy had the same dream! 🐅

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    15 minutes ago, Lovehockey said:

    Kaprizov- Boldy-Ek

    zuccarello-Rossi - MoJo

    hartman- Folino-Trenin

    freddy - ??? - ??? (Marat/Boston guys we traded for)

    1. Two questions:

    -  where do u see spot for your young players. U cannot play them in the 4th line, and 3 line are taken for these year and only one spot available for the nexr

    - how Wild can be making playoff (I am not talking about getting deeper in the playoffs) with this?

    maybe I am missing something but

    - if I would be Yrov I wouldn’t come next year, would wait one more to be able to be eligible just for one year contract 

    - I don’t know why Kaprizov would sign here ? Tampa Bay or Florida Panterns will be his next destination 

     

     

    maybe if Ohgren impresses a ton, they can put him with Rossi and Boldy and then Kap and EK can play with someone? i dunno. maybe they convince tarasenko to come in for whatever we have left to play with for the year so he can play up with Kap and EK? a bit depressing considering Tarasenko is aging fast. very fast. 

    to your second Q - i wouldn't worry about playoffs. i think this is finally a year where we go for top 3 pick and maybe get ivan the russian. maybe even a boldy for mitchkov trade? 

    kaprizov, mitchkov, ivan, yurov ..... i am back on this wild train! billy go for it. 

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    19 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

    maybe if Ohgren impresses a ton, they can put him with Rossi and Boldy and then Kap and EK can play with someone? i dunno. maybe they convince tarasenko to come in for whatever we have left to play with for the year so he can play up with Kap and EK? a bit depressing considering Tarasenko is aging fast. very fast. 

    to your second Q - i wouldn't worry about playoffs. i think this is finally a year where we go for top 3 pick and maybe get ivan the russian. maybe even a boldy for mitchkov trade? 

    kaprizov, mitchkov, ivan, yurov ..... i am back on this wild train! billy go for it. 

    If u are not joking: there is no single spot to put any other player on the Wild roster. Period. And we will not be able to trade anyone with contracts structure 

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    1 hour ago, Protec said:

    I had a dream last night, more of a vision where a wild Bearcat stepped out of the spruce trees near a tranquil Minnesota lake and said Trenin is from a place in Russia with a silver mountain where they ride tigers. I haven't looked into it yet but seemed relevant so I figured I'd mention it.

    image.gif.490adbd7e76ed7ac08203d7716659c56.gif

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