Currently we are in the running for the playoffs but we have a few contracts coming off the books. Next year, we'll have more contracts coming off the books.
Fletcher and Richards, for reasons beyond any comprehension, seem to be really gunning for a playoff spot and I wouldn't be surprised to retain a few players that will simply walk at the end of the year.
Same old, same old it seems for Wild fans.
Next year we're also going to be thinking long and hard about how much we want to give Mikko Koivu, who is the heart and soul of this team and I'm thinking around 6.5-8 million a year. A lot of money but I don't see Fletcher letting Koivu walk.
So the question is; is it time to think about rebuilding the team? I know a lot of people think about retooling but the problem with retooling is that you need pieces to move without losing a beat. We don't have that.
Our top 5 prospects are huge question marks, and three are long term projects.
Currently we are in the running for the playoffs but we have a few contracts coming off the books. Next year, we'll have more contracts coming off the books.
Fletcher and Richards, for reasons beyond any comprehension, seem to be really gunning for a playoff spot and I wouldn't be surprised to retain a few players that will simply walk at the end of the year.
Same old, same old it seems for Wild fans.
Next year we're also going to be thinking long and hard about how much we want to give Mikko Koivu, who is the heart and soul of this team and I'm thinking around 6.5-8 million a year. A lot of money but I don't see Fletcher letting Koivu walk.
So the question is; is it time to think about rebuilding the team? I know a lot of people think about retooling but the problem with retooling is that you need pieces to move without losing a beat. We don't have that.
Our top 5 prospects are huge question marks, and three are long term projects.
Nice post. No plan at all is just a plan to fail. What are their goals regarding our future (prospects). I agree with most of what you're saying. So who and/or what can we move that will ultimately help us re-build this team? IMO we need ALOT more depth on our offensive and defnsive minded Centers and Wingers. We seem to be okay on D on both levels. Any Ideas........? Us wild fans need to talk more!
I can see Koivu signing for closer to 6.5 than to 8. He knows that this is his team and I think he wants to be here for a while longer even if that means signing for less than he could get on the open market.
Letting Nolan and Belanger go for nothing is not really the same as letting Rolston, Demitra, and Gaborik go for nothing. The 2 most important UFAs to be have been dealt with in Johnsson and Zidlicky, so I wouldn't call this same old.
Do me a favor, compare that league wide to what other, young, talented centers are playing under. You'll find those numbers that you threw out are absurd.
Do me a favor, compare that league wide to what other, young, talented centers are playing under. You'll find those numbers that you threw out are absurd.
Koivu has Minnesota over a barrel. If they trade Koivu the fans will burn down the Center.
BTW: Let's see:
Getzlaf - 5.35 million
Antropov - 4.00 million
Savard - 5.00 million
Vanek - 7 million
Staal - 8.25
Langkow - 4 million
Nash - 5.4 million
Stastny - 6.6 million
Richards - 7.8 million
Riberio 5.0 million
Datsyuk 6.7 million
Horcroff 5.5 million
Kopitar - 6.8 million
Cammallari - 6.00 million
I could go on by if Hory, Cammy, and Stats can make over 5 million, it is definitely not a stretch for Koivu to think 6-8 million a year. Especially since most of these contracts were negotiated years ago.
So the problem is, is Koivu the franchise player for Minnesota or is he not? If he is, they will need to pay him like one. If he isn't...well...
Letting ANY free agent leave for nothing is really the same. Because we are turning something into nothing.
Fletcher and Richards, for reasons beyond any comprehension, seem to be really gunning for a playoff spot and I wouldn't be surprised to retain a few players that will simply walk at the end of the year.
Beyond any comprehension? First thing, the coach should always try to win. Second thing, so should the GM, unless you risk losing a high-value player to free agency for nothing. Even then it's debatable. The point of this whole league isn't draft picks, or prospect pool ratings, or fantasy league player ratings. I swear, I think half the people at HF don't actually like _the game_ of hockey.
Beyond any comprehension? First thing, the coach should always try to win. Second thing, so should the GM, unless you risk losing a high-value player to free agency for nothing. Even then it's debatable. The point of this whole league isn't draft picks, or prospect pool ratings, or fantasy league player ratings. I swear, I think half the people at HF don't actually like _the game_ of hockey.
The point of the matter is, for a team to win is to continue to win. You can't do that if you can't replace the parts with what's in the shop.
Do I want the Wild to lose? No, but realistically the team needs to rebuild because we have no tools left in the shop to replace the pieces that are falling off.
Koivu will make $6M no questions asked. You don't get a 2-way player like him all that often, and look what he is doing with the linemates he has. Think about what would happen if he actually had a player on his line that could score consistently.
Team needs to go into rebuild and I'm happy with that. I had no huge hopes for the playoffs this year anyways.
It's a little unfair to include FAs who haven't actually walked yet, isn't it? And didn't Risebrough trade Rolston's rights for something? Come folks, accuracy!
It's a little unfair to include FAs who haven't actually walked yet, isn't it? And didn't Risebrough trade Rolston's rights for something? Come folks, accuracy!
Forgot! Riser did get a 4th for Rolston...
Not really. Given our track record, I wouldn't be surprised if Hnids or Boogie man didn't come back.
Not really. Given our track record, I wouldn't be surprised if Hnids or Boogie man didn't come back.
No one will sign Boogaard and hopefully it will stay that way. Of the 198 games he has played, he has gone over 150+ without scoring a goal. And since that last goal, he has seen 4 assists total. Clutterbuck may be out of position all the time because he goes to hit people, but at least he can get it in the net. This is $500k that could be spent better elsewhere as far as I'm concerned.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormrider451
Perhaps if you guys held on to 1st rounders you might have some decent prospects.. Don't the wild always find a way to trade their first away?
BTW... and off topic.. Is Backstrom starting tomorrow or still out?
When you have our draft history, you pretty much give up all hope on 1st round picks at this point. Hopefully this year will be different but I'm not banking on that either.
Backstrom will be out for a little while. Tweaked groin. So you can pretty much mail it in that we're done.
BTW, quick list of FA's I would like to see us at least throw offers at:
Armstrong, Colby 27 ATL $2,400,000
Whitney, Ray 37 CAR $3,550,000
Comrie, Mike 29 EDM $1,250,000 (Dude, Hillary Duff at the games...whats not to like?)
Moore, Dominic 29 FLA $1,100,000
Weller, Craig 28 FLA $600,000
Modin, Fredrik 35 LAK $3,250,000
Frolov, Alexander 27 LAK $2,900,000
Kovalchuk, Ilya 26 NJD $6,389,300
Jokinen, Olli 31 NYR $5,250,000
Ponikarovsky, Alexei 29 PIT $2,105,000
Marleau, Patrick 30 SAN $6,300,000
Morrison, Brendan 34 WAS $1,500,000
Kubina, Pavel 32 ATL $5,000,000
Martin, Paul 28 NJD $3,833,333
Sutton, Andy 34 OTT $3,000,000
Volchenkov, Anton 27 OTT $2,500,000
Corvo, Joe 32 WAS $2,625,000
Perhaps if you guys held on to 1st rounders you might have some decent prospects.. Don't the wild always find a way to trade their first away?
BTW... and off topic.. Is Backstrom starting tomorrow or still out?
No, the Wild have only traded away three first-rounders (one pick and two players) and two were this year. In that time they have also had a couple busts (one of which was traded, one who never received a contract) and a couple players who haven't reached their potential. However the big issue with those picks are poor drafting/development combined with giving up second and third round picks for those players.
No, the Wild have only traded away three first-rounders (one pick and two players) and two were this year. In that time they have also had a couple busts (one of which was traded, one who never received a contract) and a couple players who haven't reached their potential. However the big issue with those picks are poor drafting/development combined with giving up second and third round picks for those players.
Oh.. Because I am almost 100% sure that I remember one of the commentators of this past draft talking about how Minny had made a habit of trading away their #1's picks. Perhaps he got carried away
