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** Wild 2023 Off Season and Summer **


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Some info from Russo:

Michael Russo

@RussoHockey

4h

It’s telling the Game 4 refs from #mnwild series don’t move on, including the respected vet Pollock. Was told league felt the penalties on Foligno that caused 1-0 and 3-1 deficits were bad calls.

 

Scouting The Refs

@ScoutingTheRefs

5h

 

The National Hockey League has named the NHL Referees and Linesmen advancing to the Conference Quarterfinals (Round 2) of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. https://scoutingtherefs.com/2023/05/38967/nhl-referees-and-linesmen-for-round-2-of-the-2023-stanley-cup-playoffs/

Michael Russo

@RussoHockey

2h

#mnwild re-sign Marcus Johansson to a 2-year, $4 million deal. Now about $8.1M in space this summer.

 

Michael Russo

@RussoHockey

1h

Guerin says he’s evaluating the staff. Didn’t commit that all members of assistant coaching staff will be back.

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Great signing for the Wild. He was clearly one of the best Wild players in the last series and quite frankly I would have loved to sign him as a potential replacement for Domi or Dadonov if they walk away. Duration is fine and at $2M AAV it's almost a bargain.

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Posted (edited)

Michael Russo

@RussoHockey

May 1

Filip Gustavsson says he surprised himself with his superb regular season. Felt he was good in Game 1, but “average” the rest of the series. He felt he wasn’t a “difference maker,” let in some bad goals on PK. As for contract, he just told hus agent to call him when it’s done.

 

How he could be a difference maker if the team practically didn't produce the last 3 games of the series? First 3 games we placed 11 goals (scores were 3:2; 3:7; 5:1) and the last 3 games we placed only 3 goals vs Dallas 11 goals (scores were 2:3; 0:4; 1:4). Total  we placed 14 goals vs their 21. Huge difference. During the last 2 games both 4th goals were ENG on our net. Gustavsson was able to hold score for us from 1 to 3 goals per game and in general, he was pretty consistent goalie as during the regular season as well as during playoffs season. Hope that BG will be able to sign him. 

 

Regarding Fleury, Russo placed his dialog:

Michael Russo

@RussoHockey

May 1

Fleury: “I’m tired of moving. I’m not going anywhere,” even if his role next season with #mnwild is more backup than 1A/1B." 

 

And I am fine with that. 

 

In comparison to our production, I took the scores between Panthers and Bruins series (1:3; 6:3; 2:4;2:6; 4:3; 7:5; 4:3). Total Panthers placed 26 goals vs Boston's 27, but the main difference in production was made in their last 3 games: Panther's 15 goals vs Boston's 11 goals.

 

 

 

 

Edited by Alexandron
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On 5/2/2023 at 3:49 PM, Alexandron said:

 

 

Regarding Fleury, Russo placed his dialog:

Michael Russo

@RussoHockey

May 1

Fleury: “I’m tired of moving. I’m not going anywhere,” even if his role next season with #mnwild is more backup than 1A/1B." 

 

And I am fine with that. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we gave him the 2 year deal, He jumped on it for that very reason.
I doubt other teams then would offer more that 1 at a time. 
I figured he'd be here but nobody thought Gus would be in the mix so heavily. 
I'm sure we'll see Wallstedt at some point later on but it sounds like they're in no rush to rush him here now.

I've seen on some Wild FB pages that some think Gus should get 6M range 🙄 😂and there's no way we could sign him...He's gone, Etc.
If heard more reasonable #'s like the 3M range which is still spendy in our situation, But I think BG will come up with something.

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The Wild should offer Gus a prove it deal for 2 years until the cap hell is over. 
Gus had one good season, that needs to be kept in mind. 

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Gus is an RFA, so he doesn’t have a ton of leverage. Russo and Lapanta were suggesting something in the $2M/2yr range. 
 

Russo also made it sound like BG had an offer on the table for Reaves. Not sure that is such a good idea. Especially when BG said there is no place on the team for specialists, when referring to Addison. Well what is Reaves? A specialist. Not fast, doesn’t score, is basically out there to police other teams. 

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There are other things Reeves does. 
Not take stupid penalties, works hard and ,probably most important, show the young guys the kind of work it takes to stay in the nhl. 
But will he take less than $1 million, because he’s not worth more than that. 

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On 5/6/2023 at 12:53 PM, IllaZilla said:

Gus is an RFA, so he doesn’t have a ton of leverage. Russo and Lapanta were suggesting something in the $2M/2yr range. 
 

Russo also made it sound like BG had an offer on the table for Reaves. Not sure that is such a good idea. Especially when BG said there is no place on the team for specialists, when referring to Addison. Well what is Reaves? A specialist. Not fast, doesn’t score, is basically out there to police other teams. 

I agree. Reaves is a specialist too mainly to police other teams. Surprisingly, he was not able to protect Kaprizov from Suter every game entire round#1. And Foligno was mostly blocked by referees mistakes to provide in full his main physical work for the team. Addison was a PP specialist who didn't play at all in playoffs this season. His 3 goals and 26 assists in PP during the regular season helped us to get into playoffs because our general production on 5-on-5 this season was very limited.  Probably, with him we would have more success on PP during playoffs, which was a crucial part of our elimination because our PP stats without him were one of the worst among 16 playoffs teams. I think, in general, we need specialists for the team. Sometimes a narrow one to provide a better team's outcome.

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Posted (edited)

I don't know if any of you got to listen to Russo's last podcast with Guerin, but don't expect any changes next year.

 

Main points:

Goal is still Stanley Cup.

 

Getting #1 Center is still a priority. But insinuated that it will have to be through the draft. 

 

Didn't use the cap crunch as an excuse for the state of the team, but then did kind of use it as an excuse for Evason being safe.

 

Evason is safe because he's only been in the league for four years and is still learning and did get them to back-to-back 100 point seasons. And the cap crunch.

 

Special teams coaches are probably safe too, since he chalked up the bad PP and PK to losing both Eriksson-Ek and Shaw simultaneously.

 

Wants Reaves back.

 

When questioned about stating "No room for specialists on the team" when referring to Addison, yet wanting to sign Reaves, basically said apples to oranges.

 

When questioned if the players took the "Grit First" thing too far with all the jawing at the refs and the overly physical play, he didn't think they did. More or less pointed to the refs making bad calls.

 

Still thinks Rossi can make the team. Same with Addison.

 

When asked about the poor face-off performance, pointed to losing Eriksson-Ek.

 

Doesn't believe in tanking like Chicago did because there is no guarantee that the #1 pick will pan out.

Edited by IllaZilla
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I think BG kind of has to play this pr game because his options are so limited. 
Blaming faceoff issues on losing Ek is just stupid because it’s not like Ek is really a top faceoff guy. 
He may be our faceoff guy but hardly a league leader. 

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On 5/11/2023 at 8:14 AM, IllaZilla said:

I don't know if any of you got to listen to Russo's last podcast with Guerin, but don't expect any changes next year.

 

Main points:

Goal is still Stanley Cup.

 

Getting #1 Center is still a priority. But insinuated that it will have to be through the draft. 

 

Didn't use the cap crunch as an excuse for the state of the team, but then did kind of use it as an excuse for Evason being safe.

 

Evason is safe because he's only been in the league for four years and is still learning and did get them to back-to-back 100 point seasons. And the cap crunch.

 

Special teams coaches are probably safe too, since he chalked up the bad PP and PK to losing both Eriksson-Ek and Shaw simultaneously.

 

Wants Reaves back.

 

When questioned about stating "No room for specialists on the team" when referring to Addison, yet wanting to sign Reaves, basically said apples to oranges.

 

When questioned if the players took the "Grit First" thing too far with all the jawing at the refs and the overly physical play, he didn't think they did. More or less pointed to the refs making bad calls.

 

Still thinks Rossi can make the team. Same with Addison.

 

When asked about the poor face-off performance, pointed to losing Eriksson-Ek.

 

Doesn't believe in tanking like Chicago did because there is no guarantee that the #1 pick will pan out.

That 1st one is a head scratcher.
The 'Grit First' was a base plan to be aggresive and when it didn't work or the other team adjusted, We didn't have an answer or adjusted much ourselves. The barking at the Refs constantly will not get you any calls your way after all that. 

Yes we missed Ek and his play around the net and the ability to get under the skin of most of the opposing team :P But losing him and Addison can't be the reason or special teams collapsed. 
It's just a poor designed system not using the player's abilities that we have. Besides, Look at how many teams in the PO's were missing key players and yet found ways to score and win.

I'm just looking forward now to what comes up from the farm and see how they mesh together in these next 2 seasons. If it's as deep and strong as they say, Anything could happen with the new blood infusion.

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@ClusterChuckThey're going to have to use a bunch of the young guys next season, because as it sits right now, they have about $8M and change for next seasons cap. Which may seem like a decent amount, but they now have to replace UFA's Nyquist, Sundqvist, Reaves, Dumba, and Klingberg, not to mention RFA's Steel, Duhaime, Shaw, Addison, Gustafsson and Jones are all due a raise.

 

I think the team has finally been forced into a rebuild of sorts...

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On 5/16/2023 at 2:23 PM, IllaZilla said:

@ClusterChuckThey're going to have to use a bunch of the young guys next season, because as it sits right now, they have about $8M and change for next seasons cap. Which may seem like a decent amount, but they now have to replace UFA's Nyquist, Sundqvist, Reaves, Dumba, and Klingberg, not to mention RFA's Steel, Duhaime, Shaw, Addison, Gustafsson and Jones are all due a raise.

 

I think the team has finally been forced into a rebuild of sorts...

I thought Nyquist in the short time here showed some quality play and a nice fit. Too bad we probably can't keep him.
Sundqvist did alright but will go.  Reaves, BG's fav might stay for 1M. Dumba has to go. Klinger didn't impress much.
Now the question does Gustafsson want to stay and take an average raise or did he perform so well in a contract year that he might want to go for more somewhere else. 
Addison probably gone as maybe DuHaime. Steel/Shaw ?? No idea what BG can do to keep them or what the plan is with Gus taking 2-3M possibly of the 8M.
Probably the most interesting summer coming we've had in Wild History.

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I don’t think Gustavson will have as much say in this as he would like. As a RFA BG holds the hammer. At the worst Gus will get a raise not as big as he wants or for the term he wants. 
The Wild will probably have to pay more than they want but he will get resigned. 
I don’t know what will happen with Shaw. I hope he can come back. 
Sundquist, Klinggurg can go. 
Reeves can stay if it’s 1 mill or less. 
Dumba could stay but I don’t think he wants to play for less than 2 mill. 
Maybe next year would be a good time to play the young guys as much as possible and except the losses for the better draft pick that it gets them. 

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16 hours ago, Tomdog said:

I don’t think Gustavson will have as much say in this as he would like. As a RFA BG holds the hammer. At the worst Gus will get a raise not as big as he wants or for the term he wants. 
The Wild will probably have to pay more than they want but he will get resigned. 
I don’t know what will happen with Shaw. I hope he can come back. 
Sundquist, Klinggurg can go. 
Reeves can stay if it’s 1 mill or less. 
Dumba could stay but I don’t think he wants to play for less than 2 mill. 
Maybe next year would be a good time to play the young guys as much as possible and except the losses for the better draft pick that it gets them. 

 

It sounded like Guerin was going to bring Shaw back. Liked his game and his hustle. Said he was a guy you want on your team.

 

Reaves made $1.75M last year. And he was making noises about getting as much money as he can over the next several years, so he probably won't take a pay cut. I just hope they don't do something stupid. Like a multi-year deal.

 

And someone will throw silly money at Dumba.

 

I certainly hope they do play the young guys. A lot.

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I'm not sure if this will work with the cap hit, but are incentive clauses tied in with the cap hit?

Would it be possible to sign some of these guys cheaper with an incentive clause to make the low salary a little more agreeable?

 

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16 hours ago, Tomdog said:

I'm not sure if this will work with the cap hit, but are incentive clauses tied in with the cap hit?

Would it be possible to sign some of these guys cheaper with an incentive clause to make the low salary a little more agreeable?

 

Incentive clauses can only be given to players on their ELC or 35+ contracts. And the incentives have to fit within the cap space, even if the player doesn't attain them. Teams are allowed to go over the cap with incentives up to 7.5% of the league salary cap.

 

I guess I'd rather see them give a spot to a young guy and see what he can do rather than sign a 35+ player for cheap with a bunch of incentives...

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@ClusterChuck@IllaZilla, @Alexandron, @Jimtown guy, @Tomdog, @Math

 

Your postings from the Wild In-Season thread have been moved here guys.
Just giving you a heads up, nothing you posted after MN's elimination was removed, simply relocated to this fresh thread.

Figured it was time for a new thread as Minnesota moves into the next phase of their operations heading into the Fall.

Continue your postings fans!

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9 hours ago, IllaZilla said:

Incentive clauses can only be given to players on their ELC or 35+ contracts. And the incentives have to fit within the cap space, even if the player doesn't attain them. Teams are allowed to go over the cap with incentives up to 7.5% of the league salary cap.

 

I guess I'd rather see them give a spot to a young guy and see what he can do rather than sign a 35+ player for cheap with a bunch of incentives...

Yea, with those rules I agree. 
Maybe it’s time to put out the best of the young guys and take your lumps. 
The young guys need to learn how to play, sink or swim. 
Then the Wild will know for sure what they have and if it’s a losing season maximize the draft. 

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2 hours ago, Tomdog said:

Yea, with those rules I agree. 
Maybe it’s time to put out the best of the young guys and take your lumps. 
The young guys need to learn how to play, sink or swim. 
Then the Wild will know for sure what they have and if it’s a losing season maximize the draft. 

Well, we keep hearing about how great a farm system the Wild have. Time to put up or shut up. 

 

I'm tired of hearing about all these great prospects we have, yet the team continues to sign over-the-hill veterans...

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