Minnesota Wild General Discussion XV

[57special]

If the Wild had a true Legit # 1 Center what would your expectations be this year??

Does this true #1 Center have a name?

 

[Nsjohnson]

Fiala I think is heating up. He has played 18 games and is 2nd on the team with 7 goals.

He's still on a 31 goal pace over 82 games played. He'll probably score something like 20 this year. My guess is he will still be our goal scoring leader. If he an KK can stay on the PP together and actually you know, make the PP work, I can see a nasty duo and goals being scored.

Kirill has now officially exceeded my expectations. I would say by about a good 50%. What is most promising is that he doesn't stop learning. Not skills, but strategy, and he does it on the fly.

Just think what he would be like with a Barkov or Eichel (can't a guy dream?) and this whole season under his belt.

 

[Dirty Dan]

Fiala I think is heating up. He has played 18 games and is 2nd on the team with 7 goals.

He's still on a 31 goal pace over 82 games played. He'll probably score something like 20 this year. My guess is he will still be our goal scoring leader. If he an KK can stay on the PP together and actually you know, make the PP work, I can see a nasty duo and goals being scored.

Kirill has now officially exceeded my expectations. I would say by about a good 50%. What is most promising is that he doesn't stop learning. Not skills, but strategy, and he does it on the fly.

Just think what he would be like with a Barkov or Eichel (can't a guy dream?) and this whole season under his belt.

I think maybe sometimes Fiala tries to do too much. I look at Kaps assist to Zuccarelo today, good vision simple pass. Sometimes Fiala might try to cut that to the net instead of taking options

But other times he looks like McKinnon in terms of handles and release, its crazy, just doesn't have that elite top speed

Maybe sometimes he needs to be more of a Granlund and try to get some easy points. He has 3 assists this year , Granlund would have a ton more but on the flip side hes tends to be invisible in games and doesn't have that same fire

 

[Prior]

Spitballing,

Say the team goes 4-4 in expansion. Parise does not waive. Greenway is the logical choice to be selected.

Do you try to overthink it and expose Khakonen to entice Seattle to take a goaltender in what will likely be a weaker pool of available goaltenders? In my view, I feel pretty good about Khakonen getting close to a Backstrom type peak which admittedly is very high end. And I do not feel super strong about what is coming down the pike at the position. However, I think the team can win with Talbot and work to address the position.

If Greenway is committed to having offseasons like he did this year and continues to improve, he’s a valuable piece. Granted if we need to lose one, realistic piece, he’d still be the one I would choose at this point I think.

 

[57special]

A good, young goaltender is worth more than Greenway.

 

[MK9]

He has played 18 games and is 2nd on the team with 7 goals.

He's still on a 31 goal pace over 82 games played.

Well, and he's doing it with mostly mediocre, sometimes at best, linemates.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I would rather lose Dumba than Greenway currently. Let’s see how this year plays out, but he’s be so good and impactful.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Either way, we have internal replacements at both positions, and ammo to go get more.

 

[2Pair]

Either way, we have internal replacements at both positions, and ammo to go get more.

No they don't

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

No they don't

Sure do.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Either way, we have internal replacements at both positions, and ammo to go get more.

Who in the organization is 6’6 and a top 6 forward that we can plug in there? Not to mention he’s an excellent 2-way forward. I like Boldy, but I think he fills a different role. Greenway is the type of guy the will wear people down throughout a playoff series.

 

[2Pair]

Who in the organization is 6’6 and a top 6 forward that we can plug in there? Not to mention he’s an excellent 2-way forward. I like Boldy, but I think he fills a different role. Greenway is the type of guy the will wear people down throughout a playoff series.

Not to mention that Boldy is slotted to replace one of Parise, Bjugstad, Johansson.

 

[grN1g]

Greenway is a 6'6 230 lbs line backer on skates with above average skills.

Yeah not too many of those floating around the league or the prospects pools of any teams.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Who in the organization is 6’6 and a top 6 forward that we can plug in there? Not to mention he’s an excellent 2-way forward. I like Boldy, but I think he fills a different role. Greenway is the type of guy the will wear people down throughout a playoff series.

It’s positional and production. Not too worried about Boldy being 6’2” and not 6’6”.

 

[57special]

Greenway is a 6'6 230 lbs line backer on skates with above average skills.

Yeah not too many of those floating around the league or the prospects pools of any teams.

Actually, he would be too big for a linebacker these days. Feed him up a bit and he would be a DE. A big part of Greenway's value is his physicality. Hockey is trending towards faster, and more skilled, but size and strength still matter. A good team has a combination of both

 

[grN1g]

It’s positional and production. Not too worried about Boldy being 6’2” and not 6’6”.

I think I see what you're getting at. Production could be elevated from a better player off setting any physical dominating attributes?

I mean if this convo came down to hey you can only keep Greenway or Boldy for the sake of argument I'll agree and take Boldy.

 

[keeneyedobserver]

Keep Greenway, Foligno and Hartman if affordable. They add the grit and give others the freedom to make pretty plays.

 

[Minnewildsota]

If we’re exposing a goaltender, it better be Talbot. If you’re choosing between the two, I think it’s a no brained you keep KK

 

[grN1g]

If we’re exposing a goaltender, it better be Talbot. If you’re choosing between the two, I think it’s a no brained you keep KK

Agreed although KK does need to get alot better at rebound control. Just rewatched highlights and he certainly let's up alot of big rebounds.

 

[57special]

Keep Greenway, Foligno and Hartman if affordable. They add the grit and give others the freedom to make pretty plays.

Can only do it if Dumba is traded, allowing us to go 7+3 at the ED. I guess we could just go that way and leave Dumba exposed, but that would be pretty indefensible.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Agreed although KK does need to get alot better at rebound control. Just rewatched highlights and he certainly let's up alot of big rebounds.

I think overall his rebound control has been fine. Maybe yesterday was a fluke because he was in a groove then the team gave Talbot the not. Maybe it was because Arizona didn’t really have a lot of shots for the first period, first half of the game. Something certainly to keep an eye on though

As for whomever was asking about shootouts, I think KK will be fine. He seems to do well on breakaways, which are slightly different but I’m taking as a good sign. Until he actually faces a shootout.

 

[57special]

So after scoring a goal in his first game back, does Hunt get to play again?

 

[Northerner]

Can't believe anyone would choose Talbot over Kahkonen. Nuts.


Also it's hilarious to see all the love for Greenway. This board used to bag on him quite regularly.

 

[Drewcifer]

If it comes down to exposing Greenway in the expansion draft we need to trade him at the deadline. More teams have room to protect another forward than a defenseman. We could probably get a pretty good return for him at this point. It could end up being a selling high type situation.

 

[2Pair]

Can only do it if Dumba is traded, allowing us to go 7+3 at the ED. I guess we could just go that way and leave Dumba exposed, but that would be pretty indefensible.

Losing either Greenway or Dumba to Seattle for nothing would have to be the last mistake Guerin would be allowed to make.