OK, here we go. Some ground rules: No questions about stripping Mikko Koivu of his C, firing Mike Yeo, putting Marco Scandella on the power play, trading Thomas Vanek, signing Devan Dubnyk to a long-term deal, signing Chris Stewart, why the refs hate the Wild, playing Jordan Schroeder 25 minutes a night on the top line.
Not necessarily. In fact, I'm hearing through the grapevine it's very possible that 2016-17 has 31 teams with a lone expansion team in Vegas. They haven't come out with expansion rules yet, but the Wild and every team will be able to protect X amount of players
It's going to be a mathematical equation for sure. Priority No. 1: Re-sign Dubnyk (I broke one of my own rules, which I was joking about incidentally). Once they see where that comes in, the Wild will then work hard to trade Niklas Backstrom with the hope of retaining salary. When that likely fails, it'll buy out Backstrom, which I believe would be a roughly $3.4 million cap hit (all of that is conjecture by the way even though I'm writing it as fact). Once they do that math, they'll figure out if they need to work to trade others (i.e. Matt Cooke maybe) and see if they can try to re-sign a guy like Chris Stewart
You're blocked and fired!!!!
I think they are very much analyzing this internally. Can you win with a player his size long-term and can he stay healthy?
Absolutely has elevated his play offensively and for the most part has been much better defensively (last night's turnover aside)
Completely depends on the answers to the previous question and how much he wants. After they figure out Dubnyk's cap hit, after they figure out Backstrom's cap hit if they have to retain salary via trade or buyout, they will see what they have left over to improve the team, sign players, etc. Little doubt they'd be interested in re-signing Stewart, but this is a rare opportunity for him to hit the open market, so there is a certain price point the Wild can go up to and we'll see if he prices himself out of here
Anything's possible, but I think it's very likely that he will want to stay in a place where there's been a perfect fit and he's playing behind a defensively-structured, hard-working team with teammates that love him.
There's no doubt he is not functioning anywhere close to expected in my opinion, and that's why I say the Wild has to make a bigtime decision on him. Maybe they just sign him to a bridge deal and delay the long-term decision. But the risk there is if he gets hurt in that contract
My guess is that's where he tops out, but he is still very young and not fully developed in terms of his top-end potential
I guess that's one way to look at. Another way is it would be a massive conflict of interest him playing for a team where his dad is a financial partner. If I'm him, I also go to the place where there's the most opportunity, and I don't see a ton here in the short-term. If he doesn't sign in Columbus, I'm hearing the Rangers have interest. We shall see.
I don't think the first round
I don't think so. Brodziak should be in the lineup -- plain, simple. Maybe Haula should play over somebody else, but Brodziak should play
It wouldn't shock me Tuesday in Chicago if Kuemper played if the Wild's clinched.
He's been skating and will play at the U. I know the Wild likes him as a prospect, but missing an entire year of development obviously hurts him (if you don't know what this is referring to him, Seeler left Nebraska Omaha and had to sit out a year)
He probably starts on the 3rd or 4th line and slowly works his way back up to the Koivu-Niederreiter line
I have to read the CBA this summer to figure out the number, but my guess is he makes the team next year. But you're right, the Wild will have gauge this carefully this year so it doesn't make a similar mistake and rush a guy too soon. But man, he has surprised me with how quick he has developed. He still has to get better in his own zone. He was on for two goals for last night, but also two against and played roles in both
Do you have access to the Internet? :)
His one goal was pretty sweet
If Brodziak would take a serious discount, I'd re-sign him to be a fourth-line center and penalty killer. Carter, too, on a one-year deal. I think too often Chuck Fletcher has signed veteran checkers to three-year deals.
It's completely up to him. He'll meet with The Don and The Joyce and The Tony and The Ali over Easter and chat. Pops is on record at the U as saying he's not fond of players leaving college early to play in the AHL, BUT Mario is not far from graduating. He could probably do what Anders Lee did at Notre Dame and Nick Bjugstad did at the U and get his degree in a summer or two. I know the Wild would like him out of there to start developing as a pro and get some pace in his game because the skill and shot is there
I think the good goaltending resulted in those other factors. It all goes hand in hand, but the Wild needed a fresh body in net
Burke wants a big management role, not to be a goalie coach, so unless you're hiring him in that capacity, he won't be in Minnesota because I can't imagine Bob Mason's going anywhere
Chicago, Boston, Vancouver, Denver, Philly come to mind
OK, here we go. Some ground rules: No questions about stripping Mikko Koivu of his C, firing Mike Yeo, putting Marco Scandella on the power play, trading Thomas Vanek, signing Devan Dubnyk to a long-term deal, signing Chris Stewart, why the refs hate the Wild, playing Jordan Schroeder 25 minutes a night on the top line.