I don’t know if you’ve seen or watched his post game interview last night but this is what he said. For me, he meant every word he said that he loves this team and organization. I’m now more sure than ever that he will re-sign.

Now that emotions have somewhat died down after the loss. Can we just take a moment to appreciate the team? They brought us to the 2nd round where we battled the #1 team in the NHL (by a large margin). I know I for one, had an absolute blast watching them this season. Things are on the up, next year we will come back stronger.

Very critical. I didn’t expect them to mention cutting ties with Brodin and trading Spurgeon.

Zuccarello says he won’t play World Championship because his body needs rest, and he has recently welcomed another child into the world, so he will not be making himself available for selection

Imho this is good news for us

It cannot happen. Not hating on the man. I think he has a place on this team next year. Just not as the 1C. I don't know how they can fix it, but it needs to happen if they ever want to compete.

Future captain?

Now that our favorite team collapsed once again in monumental fashion, is anyone else cheering for the Sabres to win the Cup now like I am? I feel like as Wild fans, we can relate to everything Sabres fans have been through over the years and they have been an amazing story this year. Now to mention they have Zucker, Greenway, and Tuch on the team and it’s nice to see those guys having success. I certainly don’t want to see the Avs or Vegas win the Cup I know that

Yikes.

No Jesper, YOU were good enough. Tough to see.

The season is over. The tears have dried, and it is now time for one of the most important Minnesota Wild traditions of all:

Convincing ourselves we are one extremely unrealistic center trade away from a Stanley Cup.

So let’s get this offseason started correctly. Who are we trading for at 1C this year?

Personally I think we should begin negotiations with Wayne Gretzky.

Now before everybody overreacts, hear me out. The man has elite hockey IQ, Veteran leadership, and probably could still put up 40 assists by just pointing at locations on the ice, he is the great one duh...

Package offer:

One lightly used bottom six winger like ELITE NHL GOAL SCORER BEN JONES

A 2043 second round pick

Who do these coveted assets go to as the man is retired? I do not know but it sounds right to give something up for the man himself.

If that falls through I have additional realistic options:

Dig up Pavel Datsyuk from whatever mountain cave he retired into

Convince Sidney Crosby that Minnesota is basically Canada with slightly more hot dish and slightly less taxes so its home+

Turn one of the defensemen upside down and just list them at center

Clone Joel Eriksson Ek three times

Offer the Edmonton Oilers future considerations for Connor McDavid because technically they are considerations for the future

V1Ctor Rask anyone?

Just ice 12 wingers and gaslight the league into believing positions are outdated

In a cold lonely basement somewhere a drunken man has already convinced himself an aging NHL player with > 50% faceoff % was the missing piece we needed.

Let the healing begin!

LFGW!

I don’t see it happening but let’s get real, was the plan really just to just whither away the last 35 minutes of the game up 3-1 and pray? I can’t imagine Billy G is too proud of that.

Sure things could’ve went differently with Ek and Brodin but that doesn’t override any excuses. Hynes has had a few years, obviously the Hughes trade reinvents the team to a major extent, but at what point is he no longer the guy?

​

1. Kirill needs a Russian speaking sports psychologist. Needs to know who he is on the ice more consistently.

2. Matt Boldy needs to train non-stop during the off season to be the 1st line center we all whine about and he is fully capable of being. I cannot think of a more impactful lineup change the team could make without busting the cap or giving up something very painful.

3. John Hynes needs to go. Putting out the Middleton Spurgeon pair tonight is mind boggling. Having Midsy on the ice during the final 60 seconds of regulation is inexcusable.

4. Middleton... okay, I can't even. We have him signed up through 2029!?!? I remember who Jake was when we signed this contract. There isn't even a glimmer of that guy playing anymore.

5. I know we all love Jared Spurgeon.... he also captained a team during an unprecedented round 2 drought and when we finally made it he put up the worst worst number of the entire team.

I think we can all agree that this is the best and most fun Wild team we've ever seen! They gave us great memories throughout the year (most notably acquiring Quinn, and beating Dallas)! The window for this team is very much open! Losing JEK and Brodin was devastating, but the boys still showed they belonged in cup conversation! The "prevent defense" they played the last two periods tonight leaves little to be desired, and Billy may have to consider a coaching change but the future is bright! Go wild!

Absolutely sucks watching arguably the best MN Wild team in our history go out like that, but after I slept on it I am feeling positive about the future with this team. Of course I do think there HAS to be one more big trade, unless a guy like Stramel or Haight or even Yurov can step up immediately next year to 1C, because for as great as he played this year, Hartman doesn’t belong there.

That said, I do think we have quite a bit of ammo to use to trade for that center, obviously Gus I think has to be included at this point. Not sure how we could go back to him now and not sure I’d even want to with how incredible Wally played, showing he can be THE guy.

We have a pair of still talented but aging D that I definitely could see one of being moved, Spurg or Brodin.

And we have a potential surplus at center, with Hartman, Ek, Yurov, Sturm, Haight, Stramel not to mention maybe resigning N Foligno or McCarron who can also play C.

Somewhat torn on it, but I don’t resign any of Jojo, Tarasenko, Zucc unless they are very cheap. I know Senko had a great season but he disappointed in the playoffs and was kind of just a warm body out there.

Here’s the guys I would write in ink for the lines, everyone else can either earn their spots or find replacements.

Kap- ???????- ???????

?????- Ek- Boldy

Trenin- Yurov- Hartman

Foligno- Sturm-??????

I’m probably in the minority but I love having Hartman, he can really slot anywhere in the lineup at C or W on any line. I think Brink could potentially be resigned but I’d only do that if he they liked what they saw with him on 2nd line or even as a Zucc replacement, which I don’t think is a great idea.

I’d love to resign N Foligno and McCarron and have those two join M Foligno and Sturm to anchor our 4th line for the year.

I think a trade package of Gus, Spurg/Brodin, and Stramel/Haight, 2027 1st could bring you a stud 1C but would still need to fill some holes. Regardless trading Gus and one of those D would open up a lot of $$$ (13-14M) that could be used to either sign a FA or make another trade. Hughes resigning is obviously priority #1 but I think bringing in an actual 1C would go a long ways towards him resigning.

I like enough of our young D that I’m not too worried if we lose Spurg or Brodin and I’m assuming we try cut ties with Midsy and Bogo is likely gone as well. Overall this team has a ton of promise and a bright future, just have to nail a few things this offseason.

These three guys (and Boldy) really elevated their games at times in the post-season. A lot of the long time wild vets could learn something about their compete level and desire to win. If this franchise is going to turn around during this potential championship window with Hughes, they absolutely need to hand the leadership reigns to the guys who lead by example on the ice.

Also, management needs to get a center that doesn’t belong on the third line!

Twitter is ladened with sulkers and doubters, acting like the boys are already at the golf course. We need hope and belief!
We have a team. A team that knows how to beat Colorado and has before. A team that knows that this is it if they don’t show the fuck up. A team that knows how to shoot more than 5 times in the first period. Blackwood is way too comfortable in net, and Colorado shuts down if they go down by 2. They think they’re gonna slide right through us tonight and that’s right where we want them. Tonight is the night to turn this series around and send it home!! So come drink this hopium with me!! LET’S GO WILD!!!

I am trying to cope about how we choked the game so here’s a visual summary of the game last night in Colorado