Speculation: Off Season - Or this is where we say goodbye!
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I'm guessing due to injury.
/sigh As I said, we're not going to see much in way of change from last year until next year.
Fel 96
JFC
I'm thinking someone will have to be either traded or bought out due to our little cap space. If Backstrom somehow didn't re-sign, which I doubt it, the lineup would probably be nearly identical without Bouchard and Clark.
The off-season just got more interesting to follow. That should make GMCF's job a little bit harder.
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And without Cullen as well. It's time for the rookies to step up.
To be honest, this offseason is going to be a bit boring
Fel 96
JFC
Don't think it's a good idea to let the best Wild player in the playoffs go sign with another team.
Maybe for you but not for me.
Just wait and see till the end of the week, for example.
Fel 96
JFC
Fel 96
JFC
Konopka being on the trade block is interesting.
I'm gonna guess he has more trade value than Rupp. Different cap hit though...
I'm gonna guess he has more trade value than Rupp. Different cap hit though...
Fel 96
JFC
Well I don't expect it to be as exciting as last off-season, but I'm certainly expecting a move or two now that it seems buying out Heater isn't an option.
Fel 96
JFC
Considering how long the Wild have waited before to sign Zenon (2008 IIRC), Konopka sure has a certain value to other teams. No doubt. I honestly didn't think he'd be on the market but I remembered about something.
Jake Dowell will be on a 1-way deal next season so one of Rupp or Konopka likely has to go. Can't have those 3 with such a tight salary cap in that situation.
Jake Dowell will be on a 1-way deal next season so one of Rupp or Konopka likely has to go. Can't have those 3 with such a tight salary cap in that situation.
Puhis
Nah.
Didn't Russo say he MIGHT be a candidate? I don't think he'll be traded. No reason to trade Z at all, unless it's used to balance a bigger deal.
If I were GM, I'd trade Heatley to whoever wants him. He should still fetch either an okay prospect or a mid-round pick. I'd be in talks with Bouchard, ask what he wants. Trade Gilbert. No reason to have 4 million $ in 3rd pairing. Package him with Clutter and trade our way into the 1st round. Bring Gunnarsson over from Sweden, if he's not NHL ready, send him to Iowa and hand Prosser the last spot with the big boys.
Biggest needs are #2C and a top-4 D-man. Technically, Brodz can be used as a stop-gap, in case we fail to re-sign Cullen. Granlund should be given a shot, and so should Coyle. Hell, Torrey Mitchell might just work with two speedy wingers...
Take a long look at Justin Fontaine. If he's ready, we should at least CONSIDER trading Seto, as much as we need that kind of a guy.
All in all, I'm expecting to see something like this:
Parise - Koivu - Coyle
Zucker - Mitchell - Pominville
Granlund - Brodziak - Seto/Fonz
Veilleux - Konopka - Dowell
McMillan, Palmer
Suter - Brodin
Scandella - Spurgeon
Stoner - Prosser
Falk
Bäckström
Harding
EDIT: Just read Fel's post above. Out of the three, I think Rupp will be gone. Probably a low pick or a struggling prospect.
If I were GM, I'd trade Heatley to whoever wants him. He should still fetch either an okay prospect or a mid-round pick. I'd be in talks with Bouchard, ask what he wants. Trade Gilbert. No reason to have 4 million $ in 3rd pairing. Package him with Clutter and trade our way into the 1st round. Bring Gunnarsson over from Sweden, if he's not NHL ready, send him to Iowa and hand Prosser the last spot with the big boys.
Biggest needs are #2C and a top-4 D-man. Technically, Brodz can be used as a stop-gap, in case we fail to re-sign Cullen. Granlund should be given a shot, and so should Coyle. Hell, Torrey Mitchell might just work with two speedy wingers...
Take a long look at Justin Fontaine. If he's ready, we should at least CONSIDER trading Seto, as much as we need that kind of a guy.
All in all, I'm expecting to see something like this:
Parise - Koivu - Coyle
Zucker - Mitchell - Pominville
Granlund - Brodziak - Seto/Fonz
Veilleux - Konopka - Dowell
McMillan, Palmer
Suter - Brodin
Scandella - Spurgeon
Stoner - Prosser
Falk
Bäckström
Harding
EDIT: Just read Fel's post above. Out of the three, I think Rupp will be gone. Probably a low pick or a struggling prospect.
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They will maybe buy out Gilbert, obviously Bouch will walk and Backstrom will be re-signed for around $3M. Cullen if he does, around $2M.
Gilbert's play can be so easily replaced with any free agent d-man this summer. Gilbert also hasn't finished as a plus in his career since his first season I am pretty sure. He is one of the weak points on our team, and obviously the org does not have a ton of faith in him. He played 3rd pairing for a good majority of this last season. Not worth $4M. Best buyout option, really the only one after Heatley.
I really hope Cullen and Backs take home-town discounts, that would be a blessing. Cullen loves playing in his home state and Backstrom pretty much said he can't see himself anywhere else.
It's going to be a decently entertaining summer, and I expect us to move up in the draft. Fletch always has a trick up his sleeve, all of his trades are a puzzle and lead up to something else.
The Center Situation - I hope Coyle is tried at center, because I would love to see him at 2C.
If Backstrom isn't re signed who will the Wild go after in free agency? Some familiar names: Anton Khudobin (we got ripped off in his trade), Jose Theodore (ugh). Evgeni Nabokov, Tim Thomas, Ray Emery.
After listing those names, I really want Backstrom to stay.
Russo said in this article: http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/211926501.html
Trading block may look something like Tom Gilbert, Zenon Konopka, maybe Cal Clutterbuck.
Fel 96
JFC
Yeah I heard about that. Sucks, I just got my Grandma into hockey this last season and her favorite player is Bouchard
80 year old Wild fan
Fel 96
JFC
I'd like to point out that Fletcher has also to deal with the future of Justin Fontaine, David McIntyre, Carson McMillan, Steven Kampfer, Drew Bagnall, Kyle Medvec, Joel Broda, Jarod Palmer and Tyler Cuma this off-season.
EDIT: Oh and Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers as well but I think he's gone with Johan Gustafsson *potentially* coming to NA next season.
EDIT: Oh and Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers as well but I think he's gone with Johan Gustafsson *potentially* coming to NA next season.
Puhis
Nah.
FORWARDS
Zach Parise ($7.538m) / Mikko Koivu ($6.750m) / Charlie Coyle ($0.975m)
Jason Zucker ($0.833m) / Matt Cullen ($3.000m) / Devin Setoguchi ($3.000m)
Mikael Granlund ($2.100m) / Kyle Brodziak ($2.833m) / Jason Pominville ($4.505m)
Stephane Veilleux ($0.588m) / Zenon Konopka ($0.925m) / Torrey Mitchell ($1.900m)
Jake Dowell ($0.700m) / Justin Fontaine ($0.605m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan Suter ($7.538m) / Jonas Brodin ($1.444m)
Marco Scandella ($1.025m) / Jared Spurgeon ($1.750m)
Clayton Stoner ($1.050m) / Nate Prosser ($0.825m)
Justin Falk ($1.000m) /
GOALTENDERS
Niklas Backstrom ($3.800m)
Josh Harding ($1.900m)
OTHER
Buyout: Mark Parrish ($0.928m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $57,513,034; BONUSES: $1,825,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $8,611,966
Yeah, so basically: Trade Heater for whatever we can get, trade Gilbert + Clutter for pick/picks and sign our UFA:s (minus Clark and Bouchard).
Zach Parise ($7.538m) / Mikko Koivu ($6.750m) / Charlie Coyle ($0.975m)
Jason Zucker ($0.833m) / Matt Cullen ($3.000m) / Devin Setoguchi ($3.000m)
Mikael Granlund ($2.100m) / Kyle Brodziak ($2.833m) / Jason Pominville ($4.505m)
Stephane Veilleux ($0.588m) / Zenon Konopka ($0.925m) / Torrey Mitchell ($1.900m)
Jake Dowell ($0.700m) / Justin Fontaine ($0.605m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan Suter ($7.538m) / Jonas Brodin ($1.444m)
Marco Scandella ($1.025m) / Jared Spurgeon ($1.750m)
Clayton Stoner ($1.050m) / Nate Prosser ($0.825m)
Justin Falk ($1.000m) /
GOALTENDERS
Niklas Backstrom ($3.800m)
Josh Harding ($1.900m)
OTHER
Buyout: Mark Parrish ($0.928m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $57,513,034; BONUSES: $1,825,000
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $8,611,966
Yeah, so basically: Trade Heater for whatever we can get, trade Gilbert + Clutter for pick/picks and sign our UFA:s (minus Clark and Bouchard).
Fel 96
JFC
Does it mean that you read my Hockey Wilderness article?Yeah I heard about that. Sucks, I just got my Grandma into hockey this last season and her favorite player is Bouchard
80 year old Wild fan
Does it mean that you read my Hockey Wilderness article?
Yeah I believe I read that on Hockey Wilderness, I read around on there all the time. I wasn't aware that you wrote on there, wow lol.
EDIT: Yup, http://www.hockeywilderness.com/201...hould-be-the-wilds-priorities-this-off-season
Fel 96
JFC
Yeah, that's one of the reasons why I decided to take a serious break from HF Wild.
Looks like it paid off.
Looks like it paid off.
If they can't sign Cullen, i'd sure hope that it's seto who would be the trade bait going forward. He's lost without Cully
I figured we wouldn't be able to buy Heatley out. ****. I'm guessing that was the plan until his injury.
I have to agree with this. If Cullen walks, there's no way we can get rid of another top9 center (Brodziak) and Seto's a strong candidate to go instead.
I have to agree with this. If Cullen walks, there's no way we can get rid of another top9 center (Brodziak) and Seto's a strong candidate to go instead.
Cullen I think will be in high demand. Veteran player, top 6 center. I figure someone might overpay for him. The question is, does Cullen go after the money or does he stay? It's a 50/50 chance.
No 1st round draft pick, tight up against the cap, unless Minnesota trades one of their big guys (Pom, Koivu, Granlund, Coyle, Zucker), I don't think we're going to see much roster change and the 'big' free agents aren't going to come here. I know the free agency for other teams will be exciting with the compliance buyouts but Minnesota is pretty much set going into the next season with what we have now, minus a player or two on the bottom 6 and top 4.
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