Nino Noderreiter
Registered User
I can’t help but think that we traded a 23 year old center that would fit really well with this team going forward given that Rossi works out.
I think this season could have been the season that we really allowed Kunin to step into a consistent bigger role offensively, possibly playing with Kap and Fiala and getting PP minutes.
Rossi, Kunin, Ek seems like a great center core to build around. Kunin also could switch to wing if you acquire another top C using Dumba or other assets or possibly even use him as part of your package to avoid giving up additional draft picks or say Boldy.
In 76 AHL games Kunin had 27 goals and 20 assists. He has an elite or borderline elite NHL caliber shot. In the AHL, he got better each year. It’s been the same in the NHL.
Without getting a lot of power play time, Kunin had 15 goals and 16 assists in 63 games and was essentially on pace for a 20-20 season. If you include playoffs and his first 3 games this year he has 19 goals and 16 assists in his last 70 games (note: he’s playing 2nd line wing for the Preds with Duchene and Haula).
It seems like if Kunin, say, got PP time with Fiala and Kaprizov and played with them on a line... even without a lot of improvement he could be a 25+ goal - 25+ assist player given his ability to shoot the puck and how good offensively Kaprizov/Fiala are.
Kunin ripping these Kaprizov passes would lead to a lot of goals. I like Marat and Bonino is solid, but I can’t believe we traded Kunin—given our lack of C depth—for Bonino and picks that might not be at the NHL level before Kaprizov and Fiala’s next contracts. Instead we’re making them play with Rask/Bonino and making it much harder for them to produce.
Kaprizov or Zucc - Kunin - Fiala
Zucc or Kaprizov - Ek - Greenway
Parise - Bjugstad or Sturm - Johansson
Foligno - Bjugstad or Sturm - Hartman
Once Rossi comes over Kunin and Ek can slide down. It seems like we’d be in a pretty sound position both near term and in the future compared to where we are currently at.
The Wild need more players that fit the timeline of Fiala/Kaprizov and what’s left of the primes or good play from Spurgeon, Suter, etc. Kunin’s game would be perfect to pair with Kaprizov. I think we need that production now, given Kunin is only 23 as well or the same age as Kaprizov. Marat won’t be here another 3 years or so minimum.
I think we traded away a 50 point center and lost out in the chance to have a much better foundation in terms of C depth.
You could even still trade Dumba/Boldy/1st for Dubois and play...
Kaprizov - Dubois - Kunin
Zuccarello - Rossi - Fiala
Parise - Ek - Greenway
Foligno - ____ - Hartman
Brodin - Spurgeon
Suter - ______
Soucy - ______
To me, that would allow you to have a really solid core of forwards who are all 23-24 or younger surrounded by vets like Parise/Zuccarello and an elite 4th line with Foligno and Hartman.
I think this season could have been the season that we really allowed Kunin to step into a consistent bigger role offensively, possibly playing with Kap and Fiala and getting PP minutes.
Rossi, Kunin, Ek seems like a great center core to build around. Kunin also could switch to wing if you acquire another top C using Dumba or other assets or possibly even use him as part of your package to avoid giving up additional draft picks or say Boldy.
In 76 AHL games Kunin had 27 goals and 20 assists. He has an elite or borderline elite NHL caliber shot. In the AHL, he got better each year. It’s been the same in the NHL.
Without getting a lot of power play time, Kunin had 15 goals and 16 assists in 63 games and was essentially on pace for a 20-20 season. If you include playoffs and his first 3 games this year he has 19 goals and 16 assists in his last 70 games (note: he’s playing 2nd line wing for the Preds with Duchene and Haula).
It seems like if Kunin, say, got PP time with Fiala and Kaprizov and played with them on a line... even without a lot of improvement he could be a 25+ goal - 25+ assist player given his ability to shoot the puck and how good offensively Kaprizov/Fiala are.
Kunin ripping these Kaprizov passes would lead to a lot of goals. I like Marat and Bonino is solid, but I can’t believe we traded Kunin—given our lack of C depth—for Bonino and picks that might not be at the NHL level before Kaprizov and Fiala’s next contracts. Instead we’re making them play with Rask/Bonino and making it much harder for them to produce.
Kaprizov or Zucc - Kunin - Fiala
Zucc or Kaprizov - Ek - Greenway
Parise - Bjugstad or Sturm - Johansson
Foligno - Bjugstad or Sturm - Hartman
Once Rossi comes over Kunin and Ek can slide down. It seems like we’d be in a pretty sound position both near term and in the future compared to where we are currently at.
The Wild need more players that fit the timeline of Fiala/Kaprizov and what’s left of the primes or good play from Spurgeon, Suter, etc. Kunin’s game would be perfect to pair with Kaprizov. I think we need that production now, given Kunin is only 23 as well or the same age as Kaprizov. Marat won’t be here another 3 years or so minimum.
I think we traded away a 50 point center and lost out in the chance to have a much better foundation in terms of C depth.
You could even still trade Dumba/Boldy/1st for Dubois and play...
Kaprizov - Dubois - Kunin
Zuccarello - Rossi - Fiala
Parise - Ek - Greenway
Foligno - ____ - Hartman
Brodin - Spurgeon
Suter - ______
Soucy - ______
To me, that would allow you to have a really solid core of forwards who are all 23-24 or younger surrounded by vets like Parise/Zuccarello and an elite 4th line with Foligno and Hartman.
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