Player Discussion Jacob Middleton

[TaLoN]

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[north21]

Interested to see where Middleton slots in, based on a lot of comments and my own eyes I think a lot of us wouldn't mind trying him with Spurgeon and sliding Goligoski down a notch. If it works out it could really solidify the back end.

Brodin/Dumba
Middleton/Spurgeon
Goli/Kulikov

 

[Jesus comma Brodin]

I like the player and hopefully the future contract, too. 20 game tryout to become a sub $3.5M top 4 defensemen?

 

[DeagleJenkins]

I like the player and hopefully the future contract, too. 20 game tryout to become a sun $3.5M top 4 defensemen?

that mustache alone gets him 4M a year.

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

Potential path to being able to handle moving on from Dumba while we wait for O'Rourke/Hunt/Lambos/etc?

 

[123TripleDoge]

in my mind we traded rask for him and it's actually clutterbuck playing defense and it's all come full circle

 

[Minnewildsota]

Potential path to being able to handle moving on from Dumba while we wait for O'Rourke/Hunt/Lambos/etc?

I was just thinking that. Probably doesn't have the offense that Dumba does, but probably better defensively?

Even if he does get $3m/year (which I think would be gratuitous), that's 1/2 the salary of Dumba. Potentially keeping the door open for Fiala?

Just did some math. This is assuming that Fiala will get $7m/yr and Middleton will get $3m/yr:

Forwards
	Kaprisov	$ 9,000,000.00
	Zuccarello	$ 6,000,000.00
	Eriksson Ek	$ 5,250,000.00
	Foligno	$ 3,100,000.00
	Greenway	$ 3,000,000.00
	Jost	$ 2,000,000.00
	Hartman	$ 1,700,000.00
	Gaudreau	$ 1,200,000.00
	Body	$ 880,833.00
	Duhaime	$ 750,000.00
	Fiala	$ 7,000,000.00
Defense
	Spurgeon	$ 7,575,000.00
	Brodin	$ 6,000,000.00
	Dumba	$ 6,000,000.00
	Kulikov	$ 2,250,000.00
	Merrill	$ 1,200,000.00
	Middleton	$ 3,000,000.00
Goalies
	Talbot	$ 3,666,667.00
Buyouts		$ 12,743,588.00
	All	$ 82,316,088.00
	w/Dumba w/o Fiala	$ 75,316,088.00
	w/Fiala w/o Dumba	$ 76,316,088.00
	w/o Both	$ 69,316,088.00

Of course this only equates to players that are currently under contract, with the exception of Fiala and Middleton

 

[TwiztedHeat]

I was just thinking that. Probably doesn't have the offense that Dumba does, but probably better defensively?

Even if he does get $3m/year (which I think would be gratuitous), that's 1/2 the salary of Dumba. Potentially keeping the door open for Fiala?

Idk I can’t see a world where we trade Dumba over Fiala. But tbh I’m really stoked about the idea of Middleton playing with Spurgeon and re-signing at under $3m for a few more years.

I was just thinking that. Probably doesn't have the offense that Dumba does, but probably better defensively?

Even if he does get $3m/year (which I think would be gratuitous), that's 1/2 the salary of Dumba. Potentially keeping the door open for Fiala?

Just did some math. This is assuming that Fiala will get $7m/yr and Middleton will get $3m/yr:

Forwards
	Kaprisov	$ 9,000,000.00
	Zuccarello	$ 6,000,000.00
	Eriksson Ek	$ 5,250,000.00
	Foligno	$ 3,100,000.00
	Greenway	$ 3,000,000.00
	Jost	$ 2,000,000.00
	Hartman	$ 1,700,000.00
	Gaudreau	$ 1,200,000.00
	Body	$ 880,833.00
	Duhaime	$ 750,000.00
	Fiala	$ 7,000,000.00
Defense
	Spurgeon	$ 7,575,000.00
	Brodin	$ 6,000,000.00
	Dumba	$ 6,000,000.00
	Kulikov	$ 2,250,000.00
	Merrill	$ 1,200,000.00
	Middleton	$ 3,000,000.00
Goalies
	Talbot	$ 3,666,667.00
	w/ Both	$ 69,572,500.00
	w/ Dumba w/o Fiala	$ 62,572,500.00
	w/ Fiala w/o Dumba	$ 63,572,500.00
	w/o Both	$ 56,572,500.00

Of course this only equates to players that are currently under contract, with the exception of Fiala.

Doesn’t work, forgot to include buyouts. We’re unable to make it under the cap even adding a minimum contract. Maybe trade Talbot and try to re-sign MAF for like 2.75 and bring up Hunter Jones as the 2nd goalie. Then you barely make it. Hell trade Gaudreau and make a run at Meyers and save another 300k. But you need to also figure in Rossi. Fiala has to come in 6.5 or less or it can’t happen. Or Middleton needs to come in at 2.5.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Doesn’t work, forgot to include buyouts. We’re unable to make it under the cap even adding a minimum contract. Maybe trade Talbot and try to re-sign MAF for like 2.75 and bring up Hunter Jones as the 2nd goalie. Then you barely make it. Hell trade Gaudreau and make a run at Meyers and save another 300k.

You're right. Let me add those into the equations.

EDIT: It's been updated.

 

[ThatGuy22]

Looks like Middleton was on the Sharks roster when the Covid freeze hit. That means he only needs to hit 71 games instead of 80 for the Wild to avoid him becoming a Group 6 UFA. Much more manageable, was going to be tight if he needed to hit 80.

 

[BagHead]

that mustache alone gets him 4M a year.

We may not have the best team, but we'll have the best looking team.

 

[Minnewildsota]

We may not have the best team, but we'll have the best looking team.

Just wait until they see Spurgeon's Stache. It strikes fear into the boldest of enemies.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I got to wonder if Brodin-Spurgeon, Middleton-Dumba would be a better combo.

 

[TaLoN]

I got to wonder if Brodin-Spurgeon, Middleton-Dumba would be a better combo.

Brodin and Spurgeon don't have a great record together. I'd keep Brodin and Dumba together as they seem to have great chemistry together.

Middleton might be the new Scandella next to Spurgeon though, which could be good. If not, then Middleton at least upgrades the bottom pair.

 

[Jesus comma Brodin]

I got to wonder if Brodin-Spurgeon, Middleton-Dumba would be a better combo.

Brodin and Spurgeon don't have a great record together. I'd keep Brodin and Dumba together as they seem to have great chemistry together.

Middleton might be the new Scandella next to Spurgeon though, which could be good. If not, then Middleton at least upgrades the bottom pair.

I am with, TaLon in keeping Dumba and Brods together for now, but am excited to see him with Spurgeon if that's the route we go. I'm sure Goligoski is a nice dude but he has been an utter disaster in this top 4 for the last few months, but would be a good 3rd pairing guy if Middleton can be an upgrade next to Spurgeon.

 

[Nino Noderreiter]

Question

What is the conceptual difference between Middleton & Mermis?

 

[Minnewildsota]

Question

What is the conceptual difference between Middleton & Mermis?

Skill

 

[Slotski]

Question

What is the conceptual difference between Middleton & Mermis?

IMO, net front clearing, size and toughness.

 

[57special]

I am with, TaLon in keeping Dumba and Brods together for now, but am excited to see him with Spurgeon if that's the route we go. I'm sure Goligoski is a nice dude but he has been an utter disaster in this top 4 for the last few months, but would be a good 3rd pairing guy if Middleton can be an upgrade next to Spurgeon.

Goligoski's point totals give lie to his overall play. Too bad about the NMC, because we probably could've fooled someone into taking him for a nice return. The guy is slow and weak...sort of like a poor man's Suter.

Question

What is the conceptual difference between Middleton & Mermis?

Size and toughness. Mermis is a #6/7. Middleton a #5, hopefully. I think it is optimistic thinking that he can be a #4 beside Spurgeon, and even more being a Dumba replacement. I don't think Middleton has anything like Dumba's skating or puck handling abilities.

 

[ThatGuy22]

Brodin and Spurgeon don't have a great record together. I'd keep Brodin and Dumba together as they seem to have great chemistry together.

Middleton might be the new Scandella next to Spurgeon though, which could be good. If not, then Middleton at least upgrades the bottom pair.

They actually have great numbers together generally, but this Narrative remains from a few Seasons ago when they did actually try to swap them with everyone healthy and put Dumba with Suter and Brodin with Spurgeon.

The Brodin/Spurgeon pairing had great underlying numbers (55 xGF%), but Dubnyk was being Dubnyk and not stopping anything. Brodin/Spurgeon had like a 1.8 xGA/60 but a 3.52 GA/60 (33 GF%).

Dumba/Suter pairing had trash underlying numbers (40 xGF%) and even worse results (30 GF%), so the entire top 4 wasn't getting results(largely because Dubnyk), and the process for half of it was bad and they reverted which righted the ship.

They never have a terribly big sample size together in a given season, but over their career as teammates they are like 57 xGF% and 53 GF% over about 600 minutes.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

If he works out I wouldn’t mind signing him to be Spurgeon partner for a couple years

 

[TaLoN]

 

[AKL]

What's the point of having Kulikov come out when Merrill and Goligoski have both been awful

 

[thestonedkoala]

I thought Kulikov was better than Merrill or even Goligoski. Shows what I know.

 

[TaLoN]

I thought Kulikov was better than Merrill or even Goligoski. Shows what I know.

I would've agreed. Was hoping it was Merrill being taken out. Dean thinks otherwise for now anyway.