Minnesota Wild General Discussion XII
- Thread starter Bazeek
- Start date
- Status
Watch Kunin at Wisconsin or EK before he came over. These guys played offensive hockey. Look at Eks Scouting reports, they didn't say he was primarily a defensive center. Some actually say he lacked defensive consistency. Look at guys like Granlund, Coyle, Nino. These are all guys who excelled offensively.
Jesus comma Brodin
Effing Norris-Byng Brodin
Strong disagree. Respectfully of course.
I see nothing that says Ek and Kunin will magically become these skillful playmakers that can get Kaprizov the puck. Yes, I am a Zuccarello hater, but when he played with decent linemates last season, his production was fine. I don't think this solution makes sense to get the most out of Kaprizov or Zuccarello.
HotDish
Win it for Hynes
I think Zucc deserves another shot in the top 6. I think he can rebound from last season if he can get consistent time with two line mates and ones that have skill. I think he would work well with Kap on the other wing. Hopefully they just find someone to center them both.
DeagleJenkins
Registered User
I’d rather we find someone to take zucc away from us. If we have to find someone line mates to help them produce i would rather it be a younger guy.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
So you think that watching Parise play, who by the way was a lot more skilled than Kunin was during their respective college times, is what is preventing Kunin from being a skillful NHL player, and not, oh I don't know, playing against NHL players and not college players?
I understand and your respect your disagreement and appreciate the discourse you are providing here.
If you read between the lines of what Guerin has been doing and what he has been saying, what I gather is that he wants the young players to step up and the only way how is to get them more ice time. Unfortunately, the Wild have a lot of depth at both wings and so something is going to have to give. Given that Guerin wants to see what the young guys have to offer, I'd think that they rather run with the young guys instead of the vets.
Zucarrello didn't really produce more than Kunin, even though he a little more ice time and played two more games than Kunin. They both scored 15 goals, but Kunin had only 6 assists less than Zuccarello and that could be because of a variety of factors.
Last season was Kunin's first full season in the NHL and even that was cut short due to the pandemic. I'd rather see what Kunin does with an offensive winger like Kaprizov and given that Joel Eriksson-Ek can provide some good defense from the pivot, it'd be great if Kunin and Kaprizov could form some chemistry together.
I don't think it's fair to compare Parise with Kunin as Parise was taken in the top 15 of a generational draft (seriously, that draft was loaded). But I also think that in some ways that getting blocked by veterans that are getting top 6 minutes only because they are veterans is hindering some of the progress of the younger players. I think last season was really the first season where the ice time for a lot of veterans and younger players were better distributed. I also think that Parise gets to play with guys like Fiala and Zucker while Kunin gets to play with Greenway and Foligno can make a huge difference. And then there is the PP and who gets to play there.
2Pair
Registered User
- Oct 8, 2017
- 12,633
- 5,103
No.
There's definitely an argument that the vets were given too much icetime and certainly too much of the important icetime, but the argument that they forced the kids to play with less skill is ridiculous. Mikko Koivu at his absolute worst, plays the game with twice the skill of Eriksson Ek or Kunin.
Kunin is such a bland player offensively. He can’t skate that well, he can’t pass that well. His analytics are terrible. He can finish good and he is RH. But I don’t think he is going to be a difference maker. Maybe he become a strong middle 6 Swiss army type. But Anything beyond that is a huge stretch IMO
HotDish
Win it for Hynes
First, we don’t even know if Zucc wants to leave. He has a NMC, the plan is DOA if he is happy here.
second, what team wants him? Last season didn’t make his value go up and he isn’t very young or cheap.
I think it is safe to say Zucc will be here next year. If you ever want a team to pick him up you might as well use him in the top 6 since that is his role and you want him to build his stock.
DeagleJenkins
Registered User
I was already see. Willing to retain salary to be rid of him. He wasn’t a need before and he isn’t now
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
Where they were taken in the draft has nothing to do with the conversation.
Jesus comma Brodin
Effing Norris-Byng Brodin
2Pair
Registered User
- Oct 8, 2017
- 12,633
- 5,103
I agree with your assessment of Kunin, but I do think that there's quite a bit of value in having a line like Greenway - Ek- Kunin that can go up against the better lines in the league. If all three guys can get to the point where they're scoring 40 points a season? That's a 2nd/3rd line that you can win with.
I just don't understand the desire to put these guys into situations where they're going to struggle or be non-factors. Take what a player is good at and use that to your advantage.
- Nov 7, 2017
- 4,955
- 1,359
I believe he'll start with Kaprizov, and Bjugstad in the middle. Zuccs can also play LW with Fiala, they never tried this for some reason, center Johansson/Bjugstad.
- Nov 7, 2017
- 4,955
- 1,359
Jesus comma Brodin
Effing Norris-Byng Brodin
I mentioned the same in another thread as well, about him playing with Kaprizov. I think that would be a good solution to get the most out of Zuccarello given his playmaking ability. The center, it is what is with our current centers but I would expect it to be one of these two as well.
2Pair
Registered User
- Oct 8, 2017
- 12,633
- 5,103
It was pretty much the 2nd line last year. I don't really care what you call it though, find a line that's good at a role and then use them accordingly. A line like that allows you to put together a line like Kaprizov - Johansson - Zuccarello and use that line in situations where they can excel. Playing guys like Kunin with Kaprizov makes as much sense as playing Donato with Foligno and Hartman
I'm curious to see what happens if the Wild keep at center. There are a lot of bland players offensively Minnesota have had, but the fact that he scored 15 in his first full season was a good sign.
So, the plan is to piss him off? Staple him to Rask/Sturm on the 4th line and give him 10 minutes a night. Maybe then he'll waive his NMC. He's getting paid a ton, but that shouldn't guarantee him a spot in the top 6.
Who knows? Maybe Dallas wants him back and we'll take a 7th round pick.
As for Kunin, in 18-19, he saw time with Foligno, Eriksson-Ek, Coyle, Donato and Parise it appears. That seems to be the most common line combination for him and he had 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points in 21 games.
In 19-20, he saw time with Greenway, Eriksson-Ek, Sturm and Foligno. He scored 6 goals and 6 assists in 23 games playing with them.
I'm really curious to see how a Johansson - Eriksson-Ek - Kunin line would work or a Kaprizov - Eriksson-Ek - Kunin line would work as they seem to have found chemistry with Foligno, so wondering what they can do with an actual offensive talent.
In January, Foligno had 5 goals, 3 assists for 8 points in 9 games. Kunin had 3 goals, 5 assists for 8 points in 9 games and Eriksson-Ek had 1 goal and 5 assists for 6 points in 9 games. That's 22 points between the three of them in 9 games. More than that, they scored 9 goals in 9 games.
I fail to see why people want to get rid of Kunin. He’s improved his point totals and point per game every season. T-4th last season in goals. He’s only 22, there is room for more improvement. If he’s a 25+25 guy that is a solid second line player that a lot of teams would love to have.
- Status
