2024-25 Wild Season

[upnorthkid]

As of today, the Wild are projected to have $22M in cap space for 2025-26 which puts them right in the middle of the league. Is that just enough to remain a treadmill team in the NHL? Or can Guerin pull a rabbit out of a hat?

Everything he's done as a GM has led to this moment in the off-season and we will find out soon if Guerin's long-term vision can get paid off.

exactly. i think the unfortunate part is that we're talking about "rabbit out of a hat" territory in terms of the roster. it's 22M in cap with the following roster currenlty signed
wings: Kap, Boldy, Zuccy, Foligno, Hartman, Hinostroza
Centers: Ek, Trenin, Gaudreau

Needs in F group: top line center (minimum 9M AAV if you want an actual top center; if you're going to believe in Ek as a C1 then you're looking at at least 7-8. Rossi fits as another C2/C3 type guy IMO) and a couple of mid line wingers. Hartman and Foligno's scoring dropping drastically means you need some mid-line scoring added or you will never keep up in the west. That's going to be another 5-10M AAV.
--F costs are going to be in the 13-20 range depending on how "in" you want to go
---you also need to be thinking about resigning Kap who becomes a UFA after next year and you probably want to get that done first given waiting probably only increases the odds he leaves if we look like we're not going to contend

Defensemen: most of D core is back (for better or worse) with Brodin, Spurgeon, Faber, Middleton and Bogo. They will sign Buium which will be a cheap deal. Question is if they try move one of these guys by finding someone who needs to eat some contract dollars and trade future draft capital to try add or if they want to stand pat with this group who's been notoriously unhealthy.

Goalie: we'll need 3rd goalie unless they think Wallstedt still isn't ready.

The bummer part is that the FA class is rather lacking in terms of top end guys, unless you're going to try sign someone like Marner or Boeser which again doesn't really address your need at center unless you think if you pair Rossi or Ek with enough scoring it will be fine and those guys will be hellishly pricey.

I just don't see it with how the roster is constructed. We have a pair of pillars for the D core (Faber and hopefully Buium) and 2 high end forwards in Kap and Boldy (and some great middle 6 guys). I'd try blow up the rest and retool around those guys who will be continuing in and progressing into their primes

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

As of today, the Wild are projected to have $22M in cap space for 2025-26 which puts them right in the middle of the league. Is that just enough to remain a treadmill team in the NHL? Or can Guerin pull a rabbit out of a hat?

Everything he's done as a GM has led to this moment in the off-season and we will find out soon if Guerin's long-term vision can get paid off.

The salary cap goes up a lot next year, and a lot more in the next several years than was expected.

Some teams are going to spend a lot of money wisely, and some teams are going to spend a lot of money foolishly. The cap increase is going to benefit the teams that handle the cap masterfully already; for the teams that don't know how to manage their cap, the increase is going to entice them to throw around some stupid money on some dumb contracts.

There will be some awful contracts signed this summer, you just have to hope it's not your team that's doing it.

 

[Slim Tubby]

The salary cap goes up a lot next year, and a lot more in the next several years than was expected.

Some teams are going to spend a lot of money wisely, and some teams are going to spend a lot of money foolishly. The cap increase is going to benefit the teams that handle the cap masterfully already; for the teams that don't know how to manage their cap, the increase is going to entice them to throw around some stupid money on some dumb contracts.

There will be some awful contracts signed this summer, you just have to hope it's not your team that's doing it.

As UNK stated, we also have to factor in KK's new contract as well. You mentioned it early on...just because the Parise and Suter contracts drop off, it doesn't mean the Wild will be flush with cap space.

 

[GreasyGopher]

imo, no.

This offseason they have to make a choice on Rossi. Otherwise other guys like Merrill, Johannson, Nyquist, Chisholm all probably depend on the number. They still are missing a number 2 scorer unless Boldy can become more consistent as well as a 1st line center (to me; others think better of Ek but to me he's best suited as a 2 and shut down defensive guy rather than one who can make the offense go). Defensively they'll add Buium I'd sure assume and you're likely viewing him and Faber as the future, but it's going to take some time for Zeev to mature into that.

They'll have plenty of cap room, but the aging contracts of Foligno, Hartman, Gaudreau and to a lesser extent Trenin and Zuccarrello are things they need to figure out. You obviously need some balance between your scorers and physical guys, but your physical guys are now all aging/slowing down and offer next to nothing offensively so they're getting closer to Pat Maroon status with each passing year.

They're kind of at a hinge point as they have a ton of money next year with the dead cap coming off the books, but with a roster that either you have to spend big for some high end guys or kind of blow it up. I don't know if I see enough where if you spend (and if the FA class has what we need) you're going to be rewarded like you'd hope.

I’m in a similar spot with this team. They seem to be more than a few bolt ons away from being contenders.

A big trade (or 2) to shake up the team may be a good way to move up the timeline.

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

As UNK stated, we also have to factor in KK's new contract as well. You mentioned it early on...just because the Parise and Suter contracts drop off, it doesn't mean the Wild will be flush with cap space.

Sports was so much simpler when we thought it was just about having good players and maybe some good coaching.

I heard a quote from Bill Walsh from back in the 80's that they were really only competing against 6 or 7 teams, the rest, forget about it. At the end of the day, no matter what they say, not every franchise and ownership group is "in it to win it", at all costs. There's an epidemic of poor ownership and management, in all leagues really.

Where do the Wild fall in all of that? I really don't know. Watching it from an outside perspective, in comparison to how my own team handles things (the VGK), it doesn't look the same I'll tell you that. But I don't follow what Wild ownership and Front Office say and do closely enough to gauge if they are 100% all in on winning.

The brunt of those Suter and Parise contracts come off after this year, but not all of it. Doesn't seem like much but that remaining $1.66M/yr for the next 4 years, that's a bottom 6 Forward or decent blue liner. Much better than it has been, but it's still something

 

[GopherVotary]

Much-needed defeat of the Caps tonight. And classy move by Ovechkin, organizing a post-game handshake line for MAF.

 

[TRF Guy]

Much-needed defeat of the Caps tonight. And classy move by Ovechkin, organizing a post-game handshake line for MAF.

I was there also and very classy by Ovie.
Brazeau is a waste of ice time. Not sure what BG was thinking with him. Not only slow but for his size he's not physical.
Guy I was sitting next to started a conversation about Boldy and how he needs to get his ass in gear. Must of heard us because he had one sweet goal about 5 minutes later. Huge W that I did not see coming

 

[TRF Guy]

The hand shake

Ovechkin: 'It's been an honor' to battle Fleury throughout career

Alex Ovechkin had nothing but praise for Marc-Andre Fleury after the Washington Capitals' loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.Ovechkin met Fleury, the goalie he's played most throughout his NHL career, at centre ice for a handshake following their final regular-season meeting before the...

thescore.com

 

[TRF Guy]

Another ugly performance at home last night. They had a Devils team come in after getting destroyed the night before in Winnipeg 4-0 and they had a days rest but still managed to lay an egg. Blues now tied with them with the Canucks 6 points back and Flames 7 back

 

[Full Speed Ahead]

Another ugly performance at home last night. They had a Devils team come in after getting destroyed the night before in Winnipeg 4-0 and they had a days rest but still managed to lay an egg. Blues now tied with them with the Canucks 6 points back and Flames 7 back

At least we control our own destiny. To guarantee a spot in the playoffs, we have to win 6 out of our remaining 8 games, including the one against the Canucks and the one against the Flames.

 

[TRF Guy]

At least we control our own destiny. To guarantee a spot in the playoffs, we have to win 6 out of our remaining 8 games, including the one against the Canucks and the one against the Flames.

Say they do then they get the Jets or Knights. One and done per usual

 

[TRF Guy]

Good news is the Wild scored 4 goal tonight. Bad news is the Rangers scored 5

 

[GopherJake]

Good news is the Wild scored 4 goal tonight. Bad news is the Rangers scored 5

Gus blew it on the OT goal. Chisholm blew it on a goal. Johansson is playing extremely well. Bunch of sloppy penalties, but one sweet shorty and almost another. With all that and no Ek or Kaprizov, I’ll definitely take the point.

 

[upnorthkid]

Luckily everyone behind us but stl has been awful so we should limp along enough to still get in, whether that’s beneficial or not

 

[TRF Guy]

Gus blew it on the OT goal. Chisholm blew it on a goal. Johansson is playing extremely well. Bunch of sloppy penalties, but one sweet shorty and almost another. With all that and no Ek or Kaprizov, I’ll definitely take the point.

First half of game wasn't good. Then they shifted gears and like you said got a huge point. Got 2 of 4 points thus far on the road trip. Can't bitch

 

[TRF Guy]

The scuffling Minnesota Wild may soon receive a much-needed boost.

Kirill Kaprizov was cleared for contact after receiving “positive feedback” from his surgeon, Wild head coach John Hynes told reporters on Wednesday.

 

[upnorthkid]

The scuffling Minnesota Wild may soon receive a much-needed boost.

Kirill Kaprizov was cleared for contact after receiving “positive feedback” from his surgeon, Wild head coach John Hynes told reporters on Wednesday.

the problem with kk is its a groin and could pop again at any time. don't think this team has enough to really contend and at some point you wonder if him coming back at all currently could jeopardize going forward.

 

[TRF Guy]

the problem with kk is its a groin and could pop again at any time. don't think this team has enough to really contend and at some point you wonder if him coming back at all currently could jeopardize going forward.

Guerin thinks this team can contend for a Cup yet which is laughable. They get in and it will be one and done. With that said if Kap wants to play and is cleared to play he will play. Team tells him no who knows what that will do to try and extend him with a new contract. We shall see soon

 

[upnorthkid]

Guerin thinks this team can contend for a Cup yet which is laughable. They get in and it will be one and done. With that said if Kap wants to play and is cleared to play he will play. Team tells him no who knows what that will do to try and extend him with a new contract. We shall see soon

the part that more frightens me more in regards to extending him are two

For this year, last thing I want is to tank him for next season... but (and these go together somewhat), if he comes back and gets hurt you're possibly killing your star for another long haul (and we all know how weird injuries like this can linger) and secondly, if Billy is telling Kap this roster can win a cup and we don't need more help, why would he want to resign here unless he just loves MN? I'm sure he has to be looking elsewhere and seeing teams adding borderline stars at the deadline while we add... Nyquist?

 

[TRF Guy]

the part that more frightens me more in regards to extending him are two

For this year, last thing I want is to tank him for next season... but (and these go together somewhat), if he comes back and gets hurt you're possibly killing your star for another long haul (and we all know how weird injuries like this can linger) and secondly, if Billy is telling Kap this roster can win a cup and we don't need more help, why would he want to resign here unless he just loves MN? I'm sure he has to be looking elsewhere and seeing teams adding borderline stars at the deadline while we add... Nyquist?

I hear ya. Being it's Minnesota sports and we can't have nice things it would not shock me one bit if he bolted

 

[gophersfan]

Non Wild news.

Alex Ovechkin has tied Wayne Gretzky for the most goals in NHL history. One more from breaking it.

 

[TRF Guy]

Non Wild news.

Alex Ovechkin has tied Wayne Gretzky for the most goals in NHL history. One more from breaking it.

Watched the third period since the Mild were sucking. He had a chance to go out on the ice when the Hawks pulled their goalie. He said no thank you. Class

 

[TRF Guy]

Great playoff push from the boys

 

[upnorthkid]

Great playoff push from the boys

View attachment 36449

We’ve known their one and done for awhile at best. Would be nice if our gm did as well

 

[GopherJake]

Watched the third period since the Mild were sucking. He had a chance to go out on the ice when the Hawks pulled their goalie. He said no thank you. Class

He came damned close, after they restored the goalie - after the empty netter - to getting the hatty to break the record. One Grade A look (which he held the puck on?) and a couple sniper tries. Would have been epic.

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

Great playoff push from the boys

View attachment 36449

I think I heard a stat the other day that the St Louis Blues were 15 points behind the Wild sometime in January. OOfffff.

 

[TRF Guy]

I think I heard a stat the other day that the St Louis Blues were 15 points behind the Wild sometime in January. OOfffff.

When you are on an 11 game heater that will happen when the other team is slumping

 

[upnorthkid]

going to get very interesting down the stretch to see if they can hang onto the final spot.
STL 91 pts, 5 GR: Col, at WPG, at Edm, at Sea, Utah
MN 89 pts, 5 GR: Dal, SJ, at Cal, at Van, Ana
CAL 84 pts, 7 GR: Vegas, at SJ, at Ana, MN, SJ, Vegas, at LA
VAN 81 pts, 7 GR: Ana (up 5-2 currently), Vegas, at Dal, at Col, MN, SJ, Vegas

Stl has the hardest schedule left but is the hottest of the teams. the back to back with Cal and Van is probably going to be the decider on if we get in or not.

 

[Full Speed Ahead]

going to get very interesting down the stretch to see if they can hang onto the final spot.
STL 91 pts, 5 GR: Col, at WPG, at Edm, at Sea, Utah
MN 89 pts, 5 GR: Dal, SJ, at Cal, at Van, Ana
CAL 84 pts, 7 GR: Vegas, at SJ, at Ana, MN, SJ, Vegas, at LA
VAN 81 pts, 7 GR: Ana (up 5-2 currently), Vegas, at Dal, at Col, MN, SJ, Vegas

Stl has the hardest schedule left but is the hottest of the teams. the back to back with Cal and Van is probably going to be the decider on if we get in or not.

We still control our own destiny, but so does Calgary. For Calgary to get in, they need to win three more of their remaining games than the Wild win. If we win say two out of our five remaining games, then Calgary needs to win five of their seven remaining games. I didn't take OT into consideration -- too many options when you factor those into the equation. Bottomline, I'd rather be in our position than theirs.

 

[kg21]

Calgary down 2-0 in the second.