The goalie situation

[Digitalbooya]

Figured this would be a good discussion to see where people are at.

Which tandem would you prefer for next year and why?

Click to read more...

 

[keppel146]

Let Wallstedt play one more year in Iowa. If he comes in at age 22-23 that’s still super young.

 

[Wabit]

Without knowing what MAF's contract will be I can't really say.

 

[NHL1674]

One more year of cap hell. I say keep Wally in Iowa one more season as opposed to throwing him in front of a paper thin roster. I can't see our defense getting much better, and we honestly don't know if Spurgeon will even return as the same player.

In my opinion, next season is a throw-a-away season. Unless Billy has plans to have MAF mentor the kid, but I just can't see Fleury wanting to finish here if he still wants to play one more year.

 

[HobeyBroten]

My ideal scenario, would be to sign MAF to a 1-yr contract. I can only assume a NMC would be there, but I would like to have Gus prove to us it was an off year, and allow Wally to marinate one more year between IA and MN.

I think the 25-26 season would have Gus and Wally as the duo.

Only suggesting this as we are one more year in cap hell and the contracts to Foligno, Hartman, and Zucc didn't do us any favors.

I'm the biggest proponent of letting the kids play and pull them up ASAP, but MAF is who he is. He's actually having a pretty decent year and if there's an opportunity for him to help mentor the younger players, is worth more than wins and losses if he comes back next year.

 

[north21]

Next year maybe run out the same group but give wally some more action. Going forward I think we are set w gus and wallstedt for a long time.

 

[BagHead]

If Fleury is willing to come back for a little bit of a pay cut on a 1-year deal, I'd prefer he and Gus next year. I'm of a mind to let prospects marinate longer than they need to rather than shorter than they need, and I'm not sold that Wallstedt will be ready yet.

 

[MuckOG]

I wonder how much Gus would be worth as part of a draft day trade? Maybe we sign MAF to a 1 year deal and roll with MAF and Wallstedt next season. We aren't expected to make a run for the Cup anyways.

 

[Digitalbooya]

I wonder how much Gus would be worth as part of a draft day trade? Maybe we sign MAF to a 1 year deal and roll with MAF and Wallstedt next season. We aren't expected to make a run for the Cup anyways.

Russo and LaPanta have been heavily hinting in their podcast that they think Fleury will be re-signed.

 

[DANOZ28]

next season being (hopefully) last year of cap h3ll i want the young rookies to have a year of experience so we can "go 4 it" after that. please sign yurov by some miracle!

 

[Outlandish]

I went with MAF and Wallstedt. Can Gus be used to move up a couple spots in the draft as it seems we're going to end up a couple spots shy of where folks want to be?

I don't actually mind having Gus and MAF next year but if we're hoping to make an impact the year after that it might be nice if Wallstedt had significant NHL time next year. That said, with MAF being old and Gus potentially being unreliable Wallstedt might get a fair few games regardless.

 

[north21]

next season being (hopefully) last year of cap h3ll i want the young rookies to have a year of experience so we can "go 4 it" after that. please sign yurov by some miracle!

Yes to yurov next season.

 

[BagHead]

next season being (hopefully) last year of cap h3ll i want the young rookies to have a year of experience so we can "go 4 it" after that. please sign yurov by some miracle!

What would be really special is if they wait just a little longer than that. I think what I would do is wait for several qualifying events to happen, and then pull the trigger all at once:

1) Wait for the crop of Wallstedt, Yurov, and Ohgren (plus Bankier or whoever comes out of the woodwork) to develop,
2) Sit on your open cap space, using it strategically to re-sign the guys who are young enough to keep (Boldy, Rossi, Faber, Kaprizov), and to take on short-term, cap-dumps for assets.
3) Wait for your biggest cap players who are underperforming due to age to fall off the roster (Foligno... sorry buddy, Spurgeon, etc.)

At that point, you bring in all of the kids full-time who have shown themselves to be ready, and use the massive amount of cap space to sign several UFA's, at least one of which should be as high-end as possible. You throw the bank at that one, a bank which should have coffers overflowing since you didn't waste cap space.

The problem is that all of these don't apply (enough) until 3-4 seasons from now. That probably wouldn't be the case had the team simply not re-signed all those UFA's last year. For the GM and owner pairing who is patient enough to wait through all that, the reward can be high.

 

[DANOZ28]

my take is wallstedt is getting shelled in iowa which can't be good for his mental health. if our ahl team was better i think you'd be right.

 

[DANOZ28]

Russo and LaPanta have been heavily hinting in their podcast that they think Fleury will be re-signed.

that may well happen , if it does i hope we bring in tarasenko or other talent so kaprizov doesn't get frustrated. with young players kaprizov should understand theres a learning curve.

 

[Minnewildsota]

my take is wallstedt is getting shelled in iowa which can't be good for his mental health. if our ahl team was better i think you'd be right.

It would be one thing if he was getting shelled (which I think is a bit of an overstatement, personally) and posting bad numbers. That’s not happening though. He’s getting “shelled” and putting up average to good numbers.

 

[DANOZ28]

you are entitled to your opinion even if your wrong.

 

[Minnewildsota]

you are entitled to your opinion even if your wrong.

A .911 save percentage Is bad? What would be a good save percentage then?

And it’s “you’re”

 

[Spurgeon]

If they need the cap, Gus & Wall

If they don't need the cap, I'm fine with Fleury being re-signed on a 1 year deal. I do think they need to get Wallstedt some NHL time though.

 

[BagHead]

A .911 save percentage Is bad? What would be a good save percentage then?

And it’s “you’re”

Actually it's "ur".

 

[MuckOG]

If they need the cap, Gus & Wall

If they don't need the cap, I'm fine with Fleury being re-signed on a 1 year deal. I do think they need to get Wallstedt some NHL time though.

Trading Gus would add cap space.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Actually it's "ur".

Not yer?

Trading Gus would add cap space.

How do you figure?

 

[MuckOG]

How do you figure?

Because Gus currently carries a $3.75 million cap hit over the next two seasons. That would open up a few million $$ of cap space right away for next season.

Of course, this is assuming MAF re-signs for the same amount and Wallstedt is called up.

 

[Minnewildsota]

Because Gus currently carries a $3.75 million cap hit over the next two seasons. That would open up a few million $$ of cap space right away for next season.

Of course, this is assuming MAF re-signs for the same amount and Wallstedt is called up.

Oh. Sorry. I misunderstood what you meant, I thought you meant we would have additional money against the cap. My bad. It was a long night.

 

[AKL]

I would have needed to see Wallstedt get more starts in the NHL this season (and do well in them). As it stands, Gus and Fleury/free agent signing next season.