CreaseAndAssist

(shrugs)  Oh well...

6 hours ago, IllaZilla said:

Great podcast!

 

I think it will be interesting to see if any of your predictions turn out...

@IllaZilla Thanks for listening!  Glad you liked it.  It is interesting.  I've seen Edstrom bantered about a bit at 21, but some other common guys mentioned in mock drafts:

LW - Eduard Sale (Brno, Czech) - 6'2", 174lbs - Shoots Left

LW - Samuel Honzek (Vancouver, WHL) - 6'3 1/2", 186lbs - Shoots Left

D - Tom Willander (Rogle Jr., Swe. Jr) - 6'1", 180lbs - Shoots Right

C - Oliver Moore (USNDT, USHL) - 5'11", 188lbs - Shoots Left

C - Calum Ritchie (Oshawa, OHL) - 6'2", 185lbs - Shoots Right

C - Brayden Yager (Moose Jaw, WHL) - 5'11", 166lbs - Shoots Right

10 hours ago, Alexandron said:

Joe Smith

@JoeSmithNHL

·

Jun 22

“This is my time.” Marco Rossi is spending summer in Minnesota, determined to be a full-timer with #mnwild next season. My sitdown with prized prospect on his up and down year, the outside noise/doubts, how he regained his confidence. It’s up to him now.

 

Meh.  What did anyone expect him to say?  I'd rather stay in Des Moines?  Or its not fair they are insisting I train in Minnesota?  He has to recognize the organization is wanting to see progress and exhibit that he has NHL potential.  Barring him looking completely in over his head at training camp he'll probably make the team next year.  Not that this is a surprise, but if he's still here by the time training camp opens my expectations are fairly low.  

5 hours ago, Alexandron said:

Michael Russo just published recently our Wild 2023-24 schedule. But some Wild games (probably Nov 18;19)will be in Sweden too.

 

15 back to backs, top 3 for that in the league.  Seattle only has 7 next year which is the least of any team.  

47 minutes ago, Icechipper said:

Wonder whether Swedes Klingberg, Nyquist or Sundquist getting any interest as UFAs......

Klingberg probably will although at a reduced rate I'd imagine...although it will be interesting to see what price points Nyquist and Sundqvist settle for.  The Wild won't have room for them.  Good opportunity to promote the kids and stay cheap when we have to for these next two seasons.  

9 hours ago, Icechipper said:

Several mock drafts have Wild taking Oshawa Generals centre Calum Ritchie in first round. He's from Brampton, Ont., 6-2, 187 lbs., reportedly strong skater. Shoots right. Had 24 goals, 35 assists for 59 pts in 59 games.

Plays on the perimeter.  Doesn't go to the tough areas of the ice.  So a 6'2" player that plays like a smaller player.  I hope we don't draft him.  

Episode #17: Hockey Parents Gone Wild

@MNSOTA and myself discuss the resignation of Larry Olimb as Orono HS girls hockey coach, we discuss the reality of coaching today and the myths of college recruiting.  Enjoy!  

The one time Vegas...had to follow the rules.  

Problem is, you'd still have Parise and Suter on your team then.  I don't want either them near my team again.  The timing for this organization continues to work against its goals / interests.  Again, because of the stupid retroactive punishment the NHL imposed that put the Wild in a Catch-22 situation because of cap recapture.  But no...Tampa Bay and Vegas totally didn't abuse LTIR at all for a massive competitive advantage.  The Wild didn't get a competitive advantage in the first place and then got punished on top of it.  

I don't have a show specifically talking about Kirill and his options.  However I've mentioned many times the point of no return is after this upcoming season.  Guerin will have to size that up and decide whether he can realistically keep him or not.  If you look at the cap situations around the league; it doesn't really look that great.  Most of the teams that are way under the cap are either garbage or want to remain near the floor (aka Arizona).  

Certainly a portion of the fanbase will lose their crap if the Wild shop #97, but they may not really have a choice if he gives them signs he's wanting to just coast into being a UFA and wishes to seek opportunities elsewhere.  The NMC kicks in after this season, and then while you can ask him to waive it to try to make a deal he's clearly going to have all of the leverage and ability to decide where he's willing to go and that might not be ideal either.  

On 6/25/2023 at 12:58 PM, TropicalFruitGirl26 said:

 

I realize Goligoski is long in the tooth, but if it means Merrill becomes the odd man out and is moved out then....WELCOME BACK Golgo! 

Goligoski sucks and never should've been extended and given a no movement clause to boot.  The NMC forces Guerin's hand.  I won't be heartbroken if they have to shop Merrill or even Addison, but giving a 35-year old player an NMC was just foolish.  

On 6/23/2023 at 3:40 PM, OccamsRazor said:

 

Unless you can obtain skilled talent to go around him and snagging a guy like Michkov maybe able to do that say for instance find a legit Russian center, (he doesn't have to be Russian someone you know can develop some quick chemistry with) and get you your top stud line of the future.

 

Star power is needed and that requires big bold moves...it isn't something that comes about being passive in this league.

 

But an aggressive retool can take place and i think Vegas showed you you don't have to have the stud goalie in net but to have the right team around your goalie.

(shrugs)  Vegas is a way different animal.  They got a bunch of players entering their prime, they didn't have to rely on players they drafted and developed in order to improve.  Toss in the league letting them pull a Tampa Bay and open up cap space with LTIR, they didn't have to travel the path of regular season misery to adding the kind of talent you need to turn your fortunes around.  

If your defense is big and strong enough to control things your end; then you can get by with Adin Hill or Logan Thompson as your goaltender.  

On 6/23/2023 at 3:02 PM, Confrontational said:

I don't think Krill will stick around - he has little loyalty IMO...  He might have been close to the best thing that has happened to MN - but whether you like it or not - he showed his true colors with his hold out - and that he didn't have much choice other than to get MN out of the way before he could move on for more $ and to a more fully built out team...  My bet is he just views MN as buying his time - and getting paid well to do it...

 

I've listened to one of Derek's podcasts - and I just don't see how MN is going to get those types of players and the size/speed they need to dominate - and be consistent...  I would bet Krill is keeping his eye on a handful of other teams that he'd jump at if he had the chance...

 

Skilled guy, yes... Loyal, don't think so...  No doubt he notices the massive issues with personnel and the gaping holes in coaches who can't seem to ever fix certain critical things...  Krill wants to be a star - and I think we all know that's not going to happen in MN - he needs a stronger supporting cast than just him...  I almost kind of wish his whole hold out would not have materialized - I think the team could have some very strong components right now if that would have happened - but, there is still that massive consistency issue with most players in MN... I dunno - just have a strange feeling we put too many eggs into one basket with him - and I think he's only looking out for himself and his $...

Thanks for listening!  This team has this season to consider whether #97 is going to stick around or not or whether they should move him before his full no movement clause kicks in. 

Would adding a player like Michkov make him want to stay, or wouldn't it matter?  Do the team's prospect pool really influence him one way or another; those are all things Bill Guerin will have to figure out and then act accordingly.  One thing Bill Guerin cannot do, is to let #97 walk for nothing.   

Wild re-signed Hunter Jones to a one-year, two-way deal ($787,000).  My guess is he'll be Jesper Wallstedt's backup in Iowa.  No matter what I'm sure Hunter will be glad he's no longer having to be under siege with the Heartlanders like he has the last two seasons.  

Trading up will be expensive.  As far as giving up on Rossi goes, I'm ambivalent.  He's had time; even after his health scare to take the initiative.  While people want to talk about his points at the AHL level, he didn't produce in the games / moments when Iowa needed him to.  He didn't do anything with Minnesota to make you really say he compelled the team to give him another call up either.  

I am more compelled to sit back and hope the KHL deal scares enough teams off he falls to us or falls closer where the asking price to move up may not be as steep.  Getting into the Top 10 will cost a king's ransom this year.  

Another 5'11" defenseman.  Right shot, put up a lot of points for Prince Albert but they must feel they'll need the points to add another small-ish defenseman to the team's roster.  I had heard they wanted to retain Dakota Mermis but we'll see what happens.  Joe Hicketts has been a rock for Iowa the last two seasons; tough to see them move on from him just for his veteran leadership but if they're going all in on the kids...they're going to want to make sure they carry most of the play.  

Iowa should have the following defenseman in Des Moines next year.  

Daemon Hunt

Ryan O'Rourke

Simon Johansson

Kyle Masters

David Spacek

Carson Lambos

Landon Kosior

Michkov recently signed a deal to stay in the KHL until 2026.  While the Wild wouldn't necessarily be in a hurry, the hope would be the opportunity to play with a guy with his talent would tempt Kaprizov to stick around.  

As far as making a deal goes...not sure what else you'd want and that would probably determine whether Bill Guerin would consider it or not.  But I'd rather see us take a swing at Michkov than take a risk on a guy like Sale who is more boom / bust.  Michkov probably will be a star, you just have to be willing to wait for him.  

Is anyone going to this thing?  I'd think you'd have more fun watching a DaBeauty League game instead.  

They don't have the money for him.  And to be honest, I'm not that interested because he never seems happy wherever he is.  Its not like they're not giving him ice time and opportunity in Winnipeg; but the players seemed to have soured on that organization.  Still, right now...the Wild don't have the space or would have a hard time making the space to fit a Pierre-Luc Dubois let alone what else we'd have to trade to get him.  

Fergus Falls girls were pretty good last year and the boys had moments by what I had heard / seen.  

Episode #16: Mock Draft-a-palooza

@MNSOTA, Kalisha and myself discuss the team's possible moves at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, then do a full mock draft for all of the Wild's six selections.  In addition, Theresa does a Minnesota Wild Mockery Mock Draft that you won't want to miss!  

13 hours ago, CreaseAndAssist said:

The fact even a homer group like the Minnesota Wild prospects doesn't have Marco Rossi on its top 5 tells how far he's fallen in this organization.  He made the 2nd team in case anyone cares, but that's saying a lot for a player who the organization had such high hopes on.  

That being said, you can almost kind of tell the organization is pivoting to place its hopes more on Khusnutdinov instead of Rossi at this point.  David Spacek being on this top team is a bit interesting when you consider the other players he's competing with (Lambos, Hunt, O'Rourke, Peart, etc).  

The fact even a homer group like the Minnesota Wild prospects doesn't have Marco Rossi on its top 5 tells how far he's fallen in this organization.  He made the 2nd team in case anyone cares, but that's saying a lot for a player who the organization had such high hopes on.  

Episode #15: Into the Looking Glass

In this episode, @MNSOTA and Kalisha and ask what can the Minnesota Wild learn from the Stanley Cup Finals and we also take another look at the upcoming 2023 NHL Draft.  We also answer a bunch of listener questions too!  Check it out!  

On Episode #14 we talked about the hiring of Brett McLean as the Iowa Wild head coach as well.