Wilderness Walk: Ryan Reaves Wants To Come Back

I'd like to see Reeves back. He seems to have the leadership skills and character for the locker room. Hopefully they can agree on a team friendly deal.

Reavo wants to continue to collect an NHL paycheck.  Squeeze one more year out. Can’t blame him.  Cap hell Wild don’t have a dime to spare.  I also don’t believe there are many suitors.  I bet he and BG figure something out. 

I love Reaves' personality and ability to deliver crushing checks, however, that last part, to me, seemed to diminish as the season wore on. To my knowledge, Reaves had no LBIs that would slow him down, but he looked like he was pulling a trailer late in the season and in the playoffs.

I could see something around vet minimum for Reaves, but anything higher, to me, seems like it could be better spent elsewhere. We needed Reaves to really pound Stars in the playoffs, the trouble was, he couldn't catch them which included the trudging Suter. 

One last thought, could Reaves actually be a decent net front presence on the PP? He would be a pain to move out of the slot and might open up some more space for the other guys. Does he have good enough hands to chip some home?

Kyle Masters was also on Kamloops:

Quote

January 2023 – Masters, who was drafted in the 4th round at the 2021 NHL draft, has been having a strong season in the WHL for Kamloops Blazers. In his previous three seasons in the WHL, Masters had played for the Red Deer Rebels, where he had been a strong puck-moving defenseman who lacked the ability to put up points. His time with Kamloops has transformed him into a current PPG player with six goals and 29 assists in only 33 games played. This upwards trend in points is vital for his development, as he will transition to professional hockey within the next couple of years. He remains a good prospect for the Wild, especially as Minnesota doesn’t have many blue-chip prospects at the blue line. Expect Masters to be a potential third-line puck-moving defenseman at the NHL level. Nathan Leblanc

This was a scouting report on him in January. He finished with 65 points in 66 games. Somehow, he made his way onto the Kamloops roster and this was the 1st season he really put up points. Kamloops was a powerhouse team, Red Deer, probably, not so much. 

Masters' measurables are 6' 176 currently. He will need strength and weight, but is a solid prospect for a 4th rounder. Reading about him sounded like reading about Matt Dumba except for the ability to check hard. 

We don't have a lot of RHS defensemen in our system. Masters is 20 so he'd be in Iowa next season, most likely. In the playoffs, he performed as a .5 ppg player. Since he had a breakout year, and there should be buzz surrounding his game, this might be one of my trade chips that I'd use if I were Shooter. I haven't seen Masters play, but if I were choosing prospects, Spacek would be the guy I'd want to keep. 

Somehow we've got to get centers. We've got bunches of D right now. We've got to rebalance our system and get centers in. I'd also look at trading some of our glut of LW candidates. 

David Spacek who played for Sherbrooke in the Q

Quote

January 2023 – Spacek, who was drafted in the 5th round at the 2022 NHL draft, is having a strong season with the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL. It is Spacek’s second season in the QMJHL after putting up 50 points in 57 games during the 21-22 season and 13 points in 11 games in a strong playoff. This season, Spacek has put up 26 points in 29 games for a strong Sherbrooke team who are contenders to win the QMJHL league title. Spacek also represented Czechia at the 2023 World Junior championships, where he demonstrated his strong play with 8 points in 7 games, helping to lead Czechia to a silver medal. Spacek has the potential to be a second-pairing defenseman at the NHL level, however, will need to keep refining his game at the AHL level before-hand. With Minnesota lacking up-and-coming defenseman in the pipeline, Spacek could break into the team sooner rather than later. Nathan Leblanc

This was Spacek's scouting report from January 2023. His measurables are 6' 174, or 2 lbs. lighter than Masters. While we drafted Spacek last season, he was actually a member of Masters' draft class and went undrafted. Spacek was a 5th rounder a year late, Masters a 4th rounder. These guys have, essentially the same body type and are the same age. 

One difference is that Spacek put up points in 2 years as opposed to just 1 for Masters. That could easily be quality of teammates. I have seen Spacek play and was very impressed by him in the WJCs.  While Spacek also needs strength and weight gain, he seemed to be very physical, good at closing gaps and playing as many minutes as David Jiricek who was picked 6th overall. I thought their play was fairly even.

Spacek also has bloodlines which I value as a trait. In a quote from David, he says his dad helps him review his games, specifically defensively. I would say this little bit has helped him accelerate past players his own age. He was a bit of an unknown commodity when playing for Czechia before the Q. 2 solid seasons in the Q, however, is pretty good, especially when known for defense and hard to beat 1on 1. He has a tendency to let the wing go wide and then rub him out. 

This is also a guy with a heavy shot, physical game and improving skating. He's a RHS defender. Does this remind you of anyone currently on our roster? I think you'll find him better defensively but less of an offensive player than Dumba. 

Protec doesn't really respect the Euro players. However, in Europe, the Eastern European players are different. Spacek was born and grew up here. He played his jr. in Eastern Europe where they seem to be more aggressive and tough. His dad had a 13 year career and was well respected. To me, the odds of this kid making it seem to be better than Masters. 

Now, if both make camp next year, this will be an interesting battle for playing time. 1 other item, Spacek was still playing when Covid hit. Masters was injured and had the leagues cancelled. We don't really know what potential Masters has yet to unlock due to that. He may have the higher ceiling and lower floor of the 2. 

CHL Update- Winnipeg dropped game 3 and is now down 1-2 in the series. Lambos picked up an apple in the 6-3 loss, and was +0. Seattle scored 3 goals in what appears to be less than a minute in the 1st period to break it open, that must have been a rough shift for 1 defensive pair!

Well talking about specialists, Reavo's name comes to the top of the list. He is big and slow, can't catch the important players to lay hits and can't force anyone to drop the gloves. I like what he brings to the locker room but frankly why would he have a spot on the roster. I'm sure we can get another charismatic player to step up and not pay 1M for a guy who serves no other purpose. I disagree with Guerin, Reavo is not elite in any aspect of the game. He was still relevant when he was a bit younger and faster but he is slowing down and taking him on for any sort of term is throwing money away. He has already said he wants term and that will not work for us.

I already cringe at the Gaudreau contract. I don't mind the money but the term is not good. We need to stop handing term to 30+ yr old guys along with NMC's. This is not a good policy longterm and leaves us with little to juggle when our cap crunch breathes down our neck. When we are out of cap hell, will we want to be paying a forth-liner 2.1M to block our prospects from having a spot on the roster? I would have rather kept Bjug around at 1.2 or 1.3 to play that role better.

I would rather us rebuild for the past two years and not hand out NMC's like candy trying to extend 3-4 liners for the next few years. By having a losing season we may have been able to convince some our NMC guys to move on while getting higher draft picks to get the pieces we need. Instead, "it's all about winning" has left us extending sub par players and pensioners to cobble together a competitive team that doesn't have the gas to make it past the first round. What good are we doing by passing the buck to next year with another low pick and another early playoff exit. 

Before you say Kap will leave if we weren't competitive for a season or two, how do you think he will feel after 4 straight years of tasting the playoffs only to go home empty handed? Wouldn't it have been better to do the rebuild as soon as he signed the extension to give us time to complete the partial rebuild before his term is up?

20 hours ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

I already cringe at the Gaudreau contract. I don't mind the money but the term is not good. We need to stop handing term to 30+ yr old guys along with NMC's. This is not a good policy longterm and leaves us with little to juggle when our cap crunch breathes down our neck.

While the term isn't ideal, I believe it is fine for Gaudreau. He doesn't rely on speed to get it done, he's got some very good defensive instincts, a good stick, and is one of those guys who plays all over.

Just having his shootout expertise in the lineup was worth $1m. That won't diminish over the next 5 years. I'd also have to project out large increases in the salary cap starting in '24. So, in reality, that $2.1m as a percentage of cap now will probably look more like $1.5m as the deal expires. 

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

While the term isn't ideal, I believe it is fine for Gaudreau. He doesn't rely on speed to get it done, he's got some very good defensive instincts, a good stick, and is one of those guys who plays all over.

The problem isn't the player he is now at that price. He is a usable utility player that can fit in multiple roles while we go through the cap crunch. It is the future of holding that cap hit later on while he is 35. Blocking other players from coming up because we locked in an aging 3-4 liner for 5 years isn't going to look good. I know he isn't currently a forth liner, but I would assume that is where he will land after the cap hits come off and we fill out our roster with an extra 15M. I would rather lock in a Duhaime, Dewar or Shaw for term than him. Guys that have yet to reach their peak and have a higher ceiling I feel much more comfortable giving term vs an aging utility player that is at the peak of his career now.

13 minutes ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

The problem isn't the player he is now at that price. He is a usable utility player that can fit in multiple roles while we go through the cap crunch. It is the future of holding that cap hit later on while he is 35. Blocking other players from coming up because we locked in an aging 3-4 liner for 5 years isn't going to look good. I know he isn't currently a forth liner, but I would assume that is where he will land after the cap hits come off and we fill out our roster with an extra 15M. I would rather lock in a Duhaime, Dewar or Shaw for term than him. Guys that have yet to reach their peak and have a higher ceiling I feel much more comfortable giving term vs an aging utility player that is at the peak of his career now.

I would say the established veteran player is always less risky than the unestablished speculation of 'ceiling' of a young player.  

Also, Freddy has less mileage and doesn't turn 35 until the end of the last year.  I think the decline speculation is a little unwarranted.  

Since we are purely speculating here... I am going to say that Freddy is actually going to get better with age.  Having that contract and security will put him in a better state of mind and the continuity of playing and developing chemistry is going to pay dividends as he becomes more of a cagey puck handler and finds simpatico with speedy wingers.  I see 25 goals 30 assists per 82 next year.  Maybe even some more GW shootout goals?  He was money.

^^^
 

And in games when he found a loose one around the net, he finished most with goals. I tend to agree the term for Freddy is fine and his deal could be very Hartmanish if he does score 20+ for a few seasons plus wins shootout points.

1 hour ago, TheGoosesAreLooses said:

I would rather lock in a Duhaime, Dewar or Shaw for term than him. Guys that have yet to reach their peak and have a higher ceiling I feel much more comfortable giving term vs an aging utility player that is at the peak of his career now.

I would too, but I don't think we'll get any of those players for 5 X $2.1m. I also don't think he's blocking anybody. This contract, while it has a full NTC is not untradeable if things go differently for him down the contract. 

If Dewar/Duhaime/Shaw earn more ice time, then Freddy drops. You still get to have him for shootout points. Plus, he's one of those guys at 34-35 that is a very nice 13th forward. In 3 seasons, that will be a little above average for that type of player. You don't want to use one of the kids as a 13 or 14. That spot is for a veteran who can step in anywhere and be effective.