Wild Winger Has NHL's 9th-Best Contract

Ek is a great value too. Hopefully Guerin also gets Rossi on a team-friendly deal here given his lack of leverage.

Boldy's agent seems to have a history of more team friendly contracts. Comparing this to Rossi, you can see why Guerin might have pause on paying the full amount. Here is a comparison:

Great steal of the 2019 draft by Paul Fenton!

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/mn-wild-teasing-massive-contract-174814074.html

So... its happening? Or no? Hurry up and come back already, Kap! 

23 hours ago, Enforceror said:

Here is a comparison:

I'm not getting the final row of numbers. Was that now, was it when the contract was signed? Do we like that number beneath what was signed for or above? 

In national news, Waddell opened up about his trade of Adam Fox to the Rangers. Apparently, when Waddell acquired Fox from Calgary in the Hanifan-Lindholm blockbuster, Waddell checked with Fox's camp to be assured he'd sign with the Canes. When he heard that Fox definitely would sign, he pulled the trigger. 

2 weeks later, Fox went back on his commitment, and said he'd only sign with NYR, forcing Carolina to trade him to NYR for 2 2nds. Now, this is fully the Waddell side of the story. Of course, there is nothing in writing to prove this conversation ever happened. However, Waddell is still pretty sore about how it all went down. Was there a misunderstanding? That seems unlikely unless as a college player Waddell couldn't directly ask him the question. 

Big deal, how does this have anything to do with the Wild? Well, remember that Shooter had handshake deals with some of the players he got on bargain contracts? By fulfilling those handshake promises, the young GM was building a reputation that players could trust him. That reputation circles through NHL locker rooms. So does the reputation that if a player doesn't fit into the organization, Guerin will try to find him a spot where he does, even if it isn't for the best offer to the Wild. 

While this has not had an immediate affect on our UFA ability to attract, we also haven't really had any money. If things progress like I think they will with the kids, just assuming that Bogo will be the 7th D is not a good assumption. I believe that Guerin will ask Bogosian if that is a role he will accept and if not he will try to find him a place where he can play 3rd pair. 

Overall, and very generally speaking, Guerin has treated the vets with a lot of dignity here, and that also is a reputation builder. Remember, Bogosian was on a Lightning team that was a contender, but he wanted something better than 7th D. I think Bogo had some protection but agreed to come here. I think he's been far better than we thought he'd be.

And in other news, can someone explain why the Twins traded Duran? They still had him under control until '27, he's one of the better closers in the league, and he's young. Wouldn't that be a guy you'd want to keep around? 

I just don't think that getting 2 highly rated prospects was worth getting rid of a star like that. Jax has not proven he can do the job and may also be traded out. Is there a plan further down the line? Do they think Varland can close? 

This is baseball what does that have to do with hockey? In this case, it's about FO attitude. Yes, this season is lost, but next season you'll need a closer and Duran was easy to pen in. Building a solid relief staff to turn out the lights in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings is important. To my knowledge, we don't have another reliever throwing 100+. 

Baseball players and hockey players take a similar amount of time to develop while baseball has far more levels to get through. Does this mean the Twins are rebuilding? They have had several young players they've been trying to put into the lineup. Some aren't quite there, but you might have to suffer through some struggles so they can learn, instead of just sending them down. 

So, with that said, the Wild are looking at 5-6 rookies starting the season with the big club. Will they be patient with these guys and let them learn? Or are we going to just take our stars under team control and sell them off because of a lousy season? 

Let's just say that the Wild season isn't stellar and we're seeing growing pains. Do we just sell off Goose since we're having a down year, or invest in him and realize next season we will be better? Goose would be the equivalent of Duran. Even if The Wall takes more starts, wouldn't having 2 quality 'tenders be better? My hope is that the Wild FO doesn't have this same mentality as the Twins FO. Of course the Twins are in the middle of a sale and need their bottom line to look better, but, seriously, a quality closer making just over $4m isn't going to do that much to turn around the finances. The pitcher they got will now probably need Tommy John surgery. 

I don't mind trading off the rentals, but trading out a guy like Duran will come back to bite them.

11 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

In national news, Waddell opened up about his trade of Adam Fox to the Rangers. Apparently, when Waddell acquired Fox from Calgary in the Hanifan-Lindholm blockbuster, Waddell checked with Fox's camp to be assured he'd sign with the Canes. When he heard that Fox definitely would sign, he pulled the trigger. 

2 weeks later, Fox went back on his commitment, and said he'd only sign with NYR, forcing Carolina to trade him to NYR for 2 2nds. Now, this is fully the Waddell side of the story. Of course, there is nothing in writing to prove this conversation ever happened. However, Waddell is still pretty sore about how it all went down. Was there a misunderstanding? That seems unlikely unless as a college player Waddell couldn't directly ask him the question. 

Big deal, how does this have anything to do with the Wild? Well, remember that Shooter had handshake deals with some of the players he got on bargain contracts? By fulfilling those handshake promises, the young GM was building a reputation that players could trust him. That reputation circles through NHL locker rooms. So does the reputation that if a player doesn't fit into the organization, Guerin will try to find him a spot where he does, even if it isn't for the best offer to the Wild. 

While this has not had an immediate affect on our UFA ability to attract, we also haven't really had any money. If things progress like I think they will with the kids, just assuming that Bogo will be the 7th D is not a good assumption. I believe that Guerin will ask Bogosian if that is a role he will accept and if not he will try to find him a place where he can play 3rd pair. 

Overall, and very generally speaking, Guerin has treated the vets with a lot of dignity here, and that also is a reputation builder. Remember, Bogosian was on a Lightning team that was a contender, but he wanted something better than 7th D. I think Bogo had some protection but agreed to come here. I think he's been far better than we thought he'd be.

There's this assumption out there that Guerin and/or Evason and Hynes are out to "block" talent or undercut them for money. I just don't think (in quite a few cases) the talent has been to that can't miss no brainier level.  Boldy and Faber sure, but Rossi is that next level of "could be but not yet.". Guerin has to win games.  Hynes has to win games.  Outside of some obvious players, Hynes knows or has to see who is providing something on a given day.  Guerin has to make a hard pass at a player's worth and go "I know what I want, but that player isn't it."

Sometimes you get the Khusnutdino for Brazeau or Nyquist situations, sometimes, you get the Kahk for Middleton or Addison for Bogo things.  What kinda sucks is there is a lot riding on this upcoming season. Guerin didn't get squat for Rossi in the trade or offer sheet market...so then what?  Guerin has to still do due diligence.  Not jumping on the 15/Blueger deal from Vancouver was smart.  I'm buffalo wasn't buying what we were selling for Peterka.

There's little to nothing Rossi and the agent can do but holdout, which is probably the last thing Rossi would want to do.  Biggest thing for me is Rossi is still a viable middle six with Top-6 skills on good days.  We know jack about what Yurov is.

But I think Guerin is fighting to make deals that make sense.  If Jiricek isn't the guy, that would suck.  It would mean running with Bogo again..but alas.  You just have to see players as "what have you done for me lately" 

.

2 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

I'm not getting the final row of numbers. Was that now, was it when the contract was signed? Do we like that number beneath what was signed for or above? 

The final column is an estimated market value (current). Looking at it again, I can see that some of the numbers don't make sense. Shame on me for spitting out AI generated figures without evaluating.

I was attempting to see if there were any under/over pay trends with Boldy and Rossi's agents. I'll see if I can redo this with better info when I get some time. Thanks for challenging the figures.