Jump to content
Hockey Wilderness Zone Coverage Property
  • Wild Shift Focus To Adding Defensive Center


    Image courtesy of © Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
    Thomas Williams

    Several hours before free agency opens up for the NHL, the Minnesota Wild out and acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from the Detroit Red Wings to address some scoring issues.

    A move like this, to take on his full contract with one year left, should mean that they are somewhat out of the running for one of the top remaining free agents. The Wild do have almost $13 million in cap space after this acquisition, but still have Marco Rossi to re-sign (potentially, if not traded). With that space shrunk down to single digits, it limits the Wild's ability add someone of true top-end impact.

    The Athletic's Michael Russo expanded on the Wild's plans after getting Tarasenko in the fold.

    Quote

    "We knew the Wild wanted to add a scoring winger to their arsenal; we figured that would come via free agency. But players such as Brock Boeser, Nikolaj Ehlers and Mikael Granlund would have taken more term and probably dollars than the Wild wanted to invest. Adding Tarasenko and taking on his full $4.75 million takes them out of the scoring winger market when free agency opens Tuesday and allows them to solely focus on adding a faceoff-winning, penalty-killing center, perhaps Christian Dvorak, Sean Kuraly, Nico Sturm or Radek Faksa."

    Those sure are some names. Maybe the most fun would be a Nico Sturm reunion in St. Paul, but someone with a little bit more of a scoring touch like Christian Dvorak could be a real possibility to add someone in the bottom six and down the middle.

    Time will tell who the Wild end up adding (if anyone) as free agency opens up Tuesday at 11 a.m.

    • Does Vladimir Tarasenko have any gas left in the tank? Looking at what he can provide as he gets into his mid-30s. [Hockey Wilderness]
    • The X is no longer The X. Now, the building where the Wild play is called the Grand Casino Arena. [NHL.com]
    • At the 2025 NHL Draft, the Wild played it extremely safe. [Hockey Wilderness]

    Off the trail...

    • Some trade grades on the latest moves including Mitch Marner, John Gibson, and more. [ESPN]
    • Well, this is going to be bigger than everything else. Mitch Marner has been signed and traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. [Sportsnet]
    • In response of losing Marner, the Maple Leafs went out and bought very low on some scoring depth, acquiring young winger Matias Maccelli for just a conditional third-round pick. [MLHS]

    Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form.

    • Like 1

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Featured Comments

    Merry Christmas morning to all who are celebrating. Let's remember there will be no new shiny high end toys, but maybe some new socks? The biggest gift of all is no longer being under the buyout penalty and now the team can officially begin moving forward. 

    The biggest gift of all that we can hope for is quick news of a shiny new deal for Kap. This will help the typical mn sport fan be more mentally stable as each passing hour will be met with hand wringing and thoughts of peril. Be well on this fine Christmas morning my friends, exercise patience and don't let the intrusive thoughts win. 

    • Like 4
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    If Sturm is the free agent acq. this will feel more like Festivus for the Rest of Us.

    The airing of grievances(towards the Wild) has already begun in earnest.

    debed049-6179-4d9b-a591-5bbdd7882c10_480

    • Like 2
    • Haha 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    2 hours ago, IllicitFive said:

    Merry Christmas morning to all who are celebrating. Let's remember there will be no new shiny high end toys, but maybe some new socks? 

    Craig forgot to tell everyone it was White Elephant this year.. 

    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 4
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 minute ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

    Christian Dvorak went to Flyers for $5.4M on 1-year deal.

    Sturm or Faksa might be the best C options for the Wild now.

    If we get spurned by Sturm his nickname becomes...

    ....

    Wait for it...

    ....

    Spurm

    • Haha 3
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Boeser staying in Vancouver after all.  7y/7.25AAV.  Whatever.  What a shit show free agency is gonna be.

    Glad the Wild weaved out of the way.

    Edited by Citizen Strife
    • Like 7
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    41 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

    Boeser staying in Vancouver after all.  7y/7.25AAV.  Whatever.  What a shit show free agency is gonna be.

    Glad the Wild weaved out of the way.

    I'd have signed him to that <.< 

    But also sounds like we're going after Sturm, so that's cool. 

    • Like 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    3 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

    Christian Dvorak went to Flyers for $5.4M on 1-year deal.

    Sturm or Faksa might be the best C options for the Wild now.

    alexei yashin still out there 🤔

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    35 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

    "Nico Sturm to return to the #mnwild on a 7 year contract with a total value of 10.5 million (1.5 AAV) and a full no movement clause"

    I haven't seen this posted anywhere yet, so I'll assume the 7 year term is just someones idea of a cruel joke

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    8 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    I haven't seen this posted anywhere yet, so I'll assume the 7 year term is just someones idea of a cruel joke

    I think so.  I saw 2 years 4M, no protections

    • Like 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 minute ago, RazWild said:

    Nothing has posted yet, as far as I can tell.

     

    The last thing I saw, was Russo saying that the Wild were *closing in* on signing Sturm.

    its on puckpedia

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Faster, younger, Nico Sturm replaces Frederick Gaudreau as bottom 6 C on shorter term deal for slightly less money. Gaudreau seems to have a more developed all-around game, but Sturm does check a bit more. Hopefully Sturm can have a couple solid years winning well over 50% of his faceoffs.

    • Like 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    29 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

    Faster, younger, Nico Sturm replaces Frederick Gaudreau as bottom 6 C on shorter term deal for slightly less money. Gaudreau seems to have a more developed all-around game, but Sturm does check a bit more. Hopefully Sturm can have a couple solid years winning well over 50% of his faceoffs.

    No big splash like we were all hoping but essentially we upgraded JoJo and Freddy. 

    These aren't long contracts and should give us a little runway to see what we have with our prospects. Maybe more importantly, we still have cap space for trades. Yeah it's underwhelming but at least we're not in a spot where we're stuck with no light at the end of the tunnel.

    Let's wrap up the Rossi saga and get him signed. We can still make trades as the season continues.

    • Like 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    1 hour ago, SkolWild73 said:

    its on puckpedia

    I edited that comment within like 20 seconds, because Russo had just posted his story on the Athletic just as I made that comment.

     

    Likewise, PuckPedia hadn't posted the signing at that point either. I had literally just refreshed the signings page when I wrote that, so.... 🤷‍♂️.

    Edited by RazWild
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...