CreaseAndAssist

Maybe, but we'll see. The mediocrity in Iowa has lasted through a few coaching staffs. Kleinendorst, Army, McLean...all struggled mightily to turn the Iowa Wild into a winner. Cronin will have his work cut out for him. So far it looks like Wallstedt is going to get the benefit of the doubt and be with the big club just about no matter what. I don't think he's earned it after an ugly last two seasons but here we are. Ohgren also probably has a roster spot locked up and Yurov has an out to return to the KHL if he doesn't make the NHL roster so... Here are the Iowa Wild / Iowa Heartlanders roster hopefuls looks like this as far as I can tell... LW/RW - Vinnie Hinostroza C - Caeden Bankier C/LW - Hunter Haight C, RW - Tyler Pitlick C - Ben Jones LW - Michael Milne RW - Brad Marek LW - Cameron Butler C/LW - Riley Heidt W - Ryan Sandelin F - Matt Sop C/LW - Mark Liwiski C/RW - Ryan McGuire RW/LW - Elliott Desnoyers D - Jack Peart D - Carson Lambos D - David Spacek D - Matt Kiersted D - Ben Gleason D - Wyatt Newpower D - Kyle Masters D - Stevie Leskovar D - Will Zmolek G - Samuel Hlavaj G - Cal Petersen G - Riley Mercer G - William Rousseau Charlie Stramel returns to Michigan State (NCAA) Ryder Ritchie goes from WHL Medicine Hat to Boston U. (NCAA) Justin Kipkie goes from WHL Victoria to Arizona State (NCAA) Jimmy Clark returns to Minnesota (NCAA) Aaron Pionk returns to Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) Adam Benak goes from USHL Youngstown to OHL Brampton Aron Kiviharju returns to HIFK (Sm-Liiga) Rasmus Kumpulainen returns to Pelicans (Sm-Liiga) Sebastian Soini returns to Ilves (Sm-Liiga) Theodore Hallsquith returns to Orebro (Eliteserien) Lirim Amidovski returns to North Bay (OHL) Carter Klippenstein returns to Brandon (WHL)

And my original post stands just as well as it did when I posted it years ago...

(Shrugs) I'm kind of indifferent to the whole arena improvements thing. The main beneficiary are the Minnesota Wild and while Leipold has said he'd pay half for the improvements, I don't blame the citizens of St. Paul being hesitant to provide more corporate welfare. Yet, I would think it would be critical for the city to try to keep the main tennant to its arena. They act like the arena is some old pile of trash. It still works pretty well with the big open concourses; especially on the main level. This team has never had much trouble selling merchandise. Honestly, if you asked me what the franchise's most successful quality is I would say its marketing. The retro-3rd jerseys were basically an invitation to print money. That won't change whether they stay in St. Paul or not. St. Paul has some tough decisions to make, but I'm not going throw shade on them for not wanting to throw hundreds of millions of dollars to 'help' a billionaire.

Crease And Assist: Episode #75 2025 Minnesota Wild Draft & Free Agency Review This is our latest episode. We discuss the results of the 2025 Draft as well as Minnesota free agency including listener comments too! Give it a listen!

Russo seemed to think Rossi still could be dealt, because they have a set price point for him and don't seem willing to go anymore than they want to. Still, without Eriksson Ek at the start...it seems crazy to then deal Rossi but whatever at this point...out of our control. Hlavaj played better than Wallstedt last season by a significant margin. IMO, Wallstedt has acted a bit entitled by not being in prime shape and then getting pouty after he didn't get the 3-headed monster goaltender rotation they initially spoke about. It's put up or shut up time for Wallstedt IMO.

Yet lets face facts. This is probably not the automatic 30-goal scoring Vladimir Tarasenko at this point. This is more likely to be the past their prime Dany Heatley or past their prime Thomas Vanek that we are getting. It'd be great if he had a nice sunset rebound ala Eric Staal, but I'd keep my expectations of Tarasenko's impact measured. Still, I think he'll be happier here and I liked what he had to say to the media about earning a spot. It's good to hear him not sound like he's entitled because of his past or because of his choice to waive his no-trade clause to come here. Russo said this on his latest podcast but I think what will ultimately move the needle or not for the Wild is the play of its youngsters; particularly Buium, Yurov and probably Ohgren as well. If Yurov & Ohgren can score 15-20 goals (combined) that will really be helpful. Buium will likely get a chance to start in the Wild's top 4 sooner rather than later with Brodin set to miss the start of next season after his upper body surgery. Nico Sturm should help make the 4th line more of a pain to play against and help the PK. If he wins over 50% his draws he'll be a big upgrade by itself. I am a bit concerned about their choice for the veteran backup goaltender in Cal Petersen who was pretty meh last year in the AHL. He was better than Wallstedt, but Petersen also had a sub-.500 record. IMO that's the pre-season battle to watch and honestly the spot should go to who appears to be the most capable at this point. If Wallstedt still isn't ready, he should go back to Iowa and be the anchor there along side Samuel Hlavaj. I still don't think this team is a contender. But could they be better than last year's team? Yes.

I would rather see this team give Carson Lambos or David Spacek or someone else from that Iowa group a chance to be that 7th defenseman. Even signing a cheap NHL free agent there basically tells those young players there are no spots for them with this organization IMO. IMO Jiricek shouldn't just be guaranteed a spot either. Perhaps the most interesting thing I heard about Tarasenko's trade was that he CHOSE to waive his no-trade clause to come to Minnesota. So that tells me he was miserable in Detroit and is looking forward to a fresh start here. Supposedly there are going to be a bunch of depth (I.e. Iowa Wild) signings announced today.

Wild took on all of Vladimir Tarasenko's $4.75M deal. Between that and Sturm's $2M x 2 seasons deal the team didn't over extend itself with term or money. I thought we might see the team pick up a goaltender. Kaapo Kahkonen is off the board and most of the other decent cheap options.

We will have a full draft recap show next week. On some levels, most of the selections make sense, whether we made the best choice we could with those available is another matter.

I agree with you there. If you are not happy with Rossi at center, then move him to wing. The lame free agent class should make that kind of pivot rather academic but the Wild seem to think they seem rather hellbent on dealing him away. Probably because they don't want to pay him AND the likely big raise for Kaprizov. And if Kaprizov seriously wants $18M a season, Guerin should be fired. I wouldn't pay Kaprizov a cent over $15M per season. Yes, I know the salary cap is going up, but that's too much for a player who struggles to stay healthy as much as he does. Eriksson Ek is going to get banged up playing all situations like he does and with his in-your-face style. I understand why the team wants to ease up his workload so he can be used a bit less and thus be more of an offensive contributor. However, that's also why you have to be willing to be bad to go and get those elite centers that become your #1 centers / franchise cornerstones. They are lucky to have found as capable center as they have in Eriksson Ek considering where was picked. You mention a winger...the Utah Mammoth traded Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring to the Buffalo Sabres for J.J. Peterka. IMO for that kind of asking price, the Wild had to have been able to do better than that...well within their capability but IMO Peterka was exactly the kind of player (age, skill set, career trajectory) they should've been after for help on the wing. I like Doan and Kesselring as young players, but to not get more than those two for Peterka is a pretty paltry return for the Sabres. IMO that's a big missed opportunity for the Wild.

Crease And Assist: Episode #74 2025 Minnesota Frost Draft Review In this episode, @MNSOTA and I review all of the Minnesota Frost's six selections. We also discuss whether the #PWHL expansion draft was fair or not and we discuss the likely make up of next season's roster as it stands right now. Give it a listen!

They shouldn't give him up without giving a King's ransom. The other GM's thought they'd fleece Billy with some slow thug 3rd liners and garbage picks. He doesn't want picks. Not giving Guerin any credit, but not taking those deals is the right move. It doesn't mean a deal can't happen later though. The more time you wait, the more desperate they (the suitors) will become.

Don't forget its tax free in Florida...

I saw this interview yesterday. Not surprising that Guerin didn't really answer anything with any level of specificity. Yet at the same time, the bad contract comment was rich. Same guy who gave Trenin a 4-year deal at over $3.5M to play on the 4th line...yea no bad contracts. The rumors swirling right now have an aire of desperation to them.

Crease And Assist: Episode #73 2025 Minnesota Wild Draft Preview In this episode, @MNSOTA, Kalisha and I discuss Wild fans perceptions going into the 2025 NHL Entry draft and we even do a full mock draft for all of the team's 4 selections in this year's draft (2nd, 4th, 5th & 6th round picks). We also answer listener questions too! Check it out!