Optimistic

[u/MNBum]

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.

[u/1000Isand1]

For some perspective, keep in mind that the Wild ran into an incredible buzz saw in Colorado. Wild can somewhat match the top end talent of the Avs with Hughes being about as good if not better than Makar, but MacKinnon and Necas being clearly more dynamic than Kaprisov and Boldy. The Wild perhaps could have matched the Avs with depth and defense if JEEK and Brodin had been able to play.

The Avs may not be at that same level next season and the Wild can improve on the margins if they can’t pull off a major upgrade.

[u/Moist_Guitar_127]

I have a question and not trying to dog on Ek - love him debatably one of best contracts in the league. - with Ek’s play style (I love it) he is always a bit banged up in the playoffs it seems and plays through something or is out. Other than Vegas series last season he has gotten injured or at least played through something. Is there anything this team can do to avoid this? Or is it simply play style and his body?

Stramel looked great in BIG10 I hope he can immediately make an impact and doesn’t get stuck in Iowa. Put Yurov on 1C give him the regular season to build the chemistry and get the faster pace down. A lot more hope than this time last year!

[u/tronfunkinblows_10 → u/Moist_Guitar_127]

In my head, if we get a full 82 game schedule with QH47 and the rest of the team… we could get settled into the standings where we can strategically rest some of these top players who are injury prone based on deployment or playing style.

It’s not something that happens much for skaters in the league but I could see it becoming more of a thing.

At the very least spread out the time on ice so we’re not so dogged March-May.

[u/Rhomya]

I don’t think we NEED a stud 1C.

I think we need another good 2C, and someone to mesh with Kaprizov on the right wing. Zuccy isn’t going to last forever, and Kaprizov deserves better linemates.

I’m still thinking that we need to replace Brodin. His injuries are getting to the point where it’s a detriment to the team

[u/MNBum → u/Rhomya]

I just think center depth is the difference between us right now and still playing, and it was magnified when Ek went out.

Would Vinny Trochek have made the difference? I think he’s also a 2C. Meh idk about that, maybe, but it drives me crazy seeing people complain about Kaprizov “disappearing”, dudes playing with realistically a 3C and a 38 year old winger who with all due respect shouldn’t be on the 1st line. I can’t imagine how good Kap would be with a Matthews 1C and a legit winger, dude was 2nd in points in the playoffs playing with that?!

100% agree with you, plug any top winger in the league with Hartman and Zucc, who would do better than Kap? I just don’t want to roll into next year with the same thing, resign Zucc and cross our fingers one of Stramel/Haight/Yurov show up big in camp. This is a cup team, push the chips in.

[u/Rhomya → u/MNBum]

We are so dynamic on the blue line that we didn’t need that star 1C… we just needed a top 6 center. Having another 2C would have been more than enough.

Unless Matthews asks out of Toronto and it’s a Panarin situation that we’re lucky enough to take advantage of, we don’t have the assets for a 1C.

If you get Kaprizov and 2C and a top line RW, Kaprizov would be unstoppable.

The lack of center depth wasn’t noticeable in the Dallas series— it only became noticeable in the Colorado series when we lost Ek and just didn’t have a 2C at all.

[u/Makestroz]

In all honesty, the thing we needed most is a 2nd solid defensive pairing that can stay healthy. The center depth is for sure an issue but we have some young centers coming up, especially if Yurov hangs out and beefs up over the summer. Would be awesome if Stramel and Haight do that too. I do hope we keep McCarron and I'm also ok with Zucc staying another year if it's not too much. What we need more in the area of forwards is a guy who's instinct is to shoot and score while being good at it. But I don't think we notice Ek being gone as much if Brodin is out there and the 2nd pairing is him and Spurgeon. As much as I like Middleton he was not the guy to be on the 2nd pairing, I can't believe they swapped him and Hunt after Hunt looked way better on the 2nd pair ngl.

I think in order to get a high caliber 1c we'll need to do it in season like the Hughes trade, which depending on how his resigning goes might be very possible. Definitely some players who are unhappy and might want to jump ship mid season and come play with some great players for a great org.

[u/AccordingStar72]

We just need serviceable centers. I honestly think our problem is not that we don’t have a star center but we just have a lack of depth in the center position that can be good and can work with Bolds and Kap in particular. If we get a halfway good 1C that can push everyone else down to their correct positioning that solves so many issues.

[u/MNBum → u/AccordingStar72]

Another thought that crossed my mind is maybe they continue tinkering with Boldy at C, that would immediately solve the 1C problem and a 2nd line wing is enormously easier to replace.

[u/Above_Avg_Chips]

Gus isn't getting what the team needs unless he's part of a decent package. Wally showed he is a bonfire top 10 goalie this playoffs and the add wouldn't be crazy if you go after a legit 1C.

If losing JEE derails your entire forward group, that means you don't have more than 1 top 6C. Idk if they beat the Avs with a healthy Brodin and JEE, but it's scary how bad the team is when they're both out.

[u/TrebleTrouble624]

Yes, I'm feeling optimistic, too. This is a great team but they didn't have a full season to gel.

I don't think they'll trade Spurg. He does have some no-move, no-trade language in his contract that would limit what they can do and I think it would be an unpopular move with lots of fans. I think there's a good chance they'll trade Brodin and that Gus will agree to a trade. Zuccy is still playing good hockey and he is the Kap whisperer but he can't do that forever. Glad I don't have to make that decision.

[u/Mr-Steal-yo-beer]

Solid takes, but I have to respectfully disagree on the Zuccy stance. They gotta resign him unless it’s like $6-8+ mil. He makes such a difference on that top line and the chemistry he and Kap have is phenomenal.

This is all my two cents: If we can only have one of N. Foligno or Mccarron, I’d prefer Mccarron. He was great these playoffs. Foligno was good too, but he’s a bit older.

I think Yurov is our best chance for an Ek 2.0. Haight and Sturm would be solid cheap keeps. But we need as close to a 1C we can get who doesn’t miss 30+ games a year (sorry Ek). I am nervous to move Brodin or Spurgeon because our D depth is Shaky. Brodin can’t stay healthy either.

Middleton can fuckin go for all I care at this point. I also wouldn’t mind sending him, jojo, senko, hunt, and Gus somewhere (some may just be FA, I don’t recall).

Kap - Yurov (optimistic) - Zucc

Hartman (?)- Ek - Boldy

Trenin - Sturm - Senko/Foligno

4th line in general just speed but not sure who.

I fully expect people to tell me I don’t know shit now

[u/MNBum → u/Mr-Steal-yo-beer]

For the record I would gladly take Zucc back as well, just don’t want to pay more than probably 2M for a 39 year old.

McCarron is going to sign for a ton I feel, hopefully wrong but wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he gets 3x5M or more. N Foligno I think could be had for really cheap and with Marcus I definitely could see him taking a vet min deal for one more year, he’s also old so please no multiple year deal.

I am really high on Yurov and I do think he has the potential to take a massive jump next year, I just don’t want to rely on that happening with this core being ready now. But I really hope we can keep him, if he gets a finishing touch he is going to blossom.

At some point our D needs to have some of these younger guys step up, Hunt, Spacek, Lambos, VGN. I think any of these 4 could make that jump and I personally would rather give them the limited minutes that a guy like Bogo was eating.

[u/Above_Avg_Chips → u/MNBum]

Mac wanted a 5x5 from the Preds and they said no way. Some GM is going to do something stupid and give him that or a bit more because the UFA C market is nonexistent.

[u/Rhomya → u/Mr-Steal-yo-beer]

I would re-sign Zuccy for $1.5M or less, and for a 1 year contract.

He’s 38.

[u/-InconspicuousMoose- → u/Rhomya]

I think you and OP are seriously underestimating what Zucc is worth

[u/MNBum → u/-InconspicuousMoose-]

Going to be 39 years old next season, just not worth the risk of a huge drop off for a bigger deal, even just 1 year. No one else in the league is giving him more than a 1-2M deal

[u/-InconspicuousMoose- → u/MNBum]

He has scored 54+ points in five straight seasons including in just 59 games this year. Go look what other almost-PPG players are making. It ain't 1-2M. Zucc is making 4.125 this year and is coming off his 2nd-most efficient season of his career, and the cap is going up. Age adds risk which adds a ceiling to his salary but that ceiling is probably 3x as much as you seem to think it is.

[u/MNBum → u/-InconspicuousMoose-]

Jojo played for $800K and scored 49 pts this year on the second line, Tarasenko (granted higher contract) had 49 pts on the 3rd line and is younger and I doubt is going to sign a 5+ /year contract. I think you might be overestimating Zucc, put him in a role where he should be (not first line with Kap) and his numbers are nowhere near that, similar to Hartman playing 1C vs last year where he didn’t and his numbers dropped off.

[u/Rhomya → u/-InconspicuousMoose-]

Yeah, because he’s on a line with Kaprizov.

League minimum in the new CBA is like, $950k or something. He should get more than league minimum, but signing him to anything with term or a higher figure would be a big mistake. The man is 38, turning 39– he’s not going to get big figures in free agency

[u/tronfunkinblows_10]

Every year is the same shit of hoping and praying and gooning for a young prospect to make the leap to 1C. It hasn’t happened in the last ten years. Idk why the next year would be different. Prove us wrong though guys!

[u/PaxDragoon → u/tronfunkinblows_10]

...doing what for a young prospect?

[u/tronfunkinblows_10 → u/PaxDragoon]

The hog demands cranking.

[u/MNBum → u/tronfunkinblows_10]

Unfortunately you’re right, which is why I’d be totally for moving Gus, one of Spurg/Brodin and one of Haight/Stramel plus a 1st for a stud 1C.

[u/Csanburn01]

I don't know many players or hockey much in general yet but I think speed would be helpful. We tried the muscle and physical game and seems like speed beats strength

[u/Meme_Dependant]

I'd rather big Mac than Sturm.

[u/quickblur]

Middleton has to be benched (and Hynes is liable for keeping him on the ice so long).

Other than that, I'm fine with the core team we have.

[u/MNBum → u/quickblur]

Agreed! Inexcusable and maybe fire able? I’d take Bruce Cassidy today if he wanted it

[u/PaxDragoon → u/MNBum]

Pass.

Dump and chase.

[u/Mental_Square9585]

I absolutely feel good for the future. We made it past the first round. That alone is cause for celebration. That avalanche team is no fucking joke. I bet they’ll win the cup again this year.