Hockey Wilderness

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Can Bill Guerin Save the Wild's Christmas?

4 days ago | hockeywilderness.com | Chris Schad

Shortly before the start of the 2024-25 season, Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold had big hopes for this offseason. The Wild would be freed from the strictest part of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter’s contract buyout, and could finally find a way to add to a team with a legit superstar in Kirill Kaprizov. Leipold said nobody will throw as much money at Kaprizov as the Wild when negotiating a contract extension.
Zeev Buium Is More Than An Offensive Defenseman

1 week ago | hockeywilderness.com | Tony Abbott

We all have an image in our head of what an "offensive defenseman" is. They're skilled players with the skill to create on the offensive end of the ice, but usually at a price on the defensive end. Think of Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson, who dazzled with 66 points as a rookie for the Montreal Canadiens but finished as one of the 20 worst defensemen in even-strength defense, per Evolving-Hockey.
What (Actually Good) Lessons Can the Wild Learn From the Panthers?

1 week ago | hockeywilderness.com | Tony Abbott

Every year, when the Stanley Cup is awarded, the hockey world looks at the team that just won and asks, How do we do that thing? For the second year in a row, teams will try to copy the Florida Panthers' formula, and for the first time in a row, the Minnesota Wild will have some flexibility to keep up with the Seth Joneses. The theme of this Panthers run to the Cup is that they're 1) incredibly talented and 2) very willing to play dirty playoff hockey.
What Is the Opportunity Cost Of Trading For David Jiříček?

1 week ago | hockeywilderness.com | Tony Abbott

You don't have to, but you can look at the David Jiříček trade like this: The Minnesota Wild traded up to the sixth overall pick in the 2022 Draft. If on that draft day, someone offered the State of Hockey a chance to trade up to get Jiříček -- without even costing them the picks that became Liam Öhgren and Danila Yurov -- that deal would be enthusiastically approved. Granted, that is the most favorable way to frame that trade.
Can the Wild Get Better By Standing Pat?

1 week ago | hockeywilderness.com | Tony Abbott

The NHL's salary cap is on the rise, but the league's economy might be about to grind to a halt. There's a flow to player movement. There are usually a group of teams looking to reset their competitive window, and a team of buyers looking to fuel them with futures for the price of taking the sellers' good players off their hands. But unless a team is interested in the Pittsburgh Penguins and their slightly used Rickard Rakell or Bryan Rust, that might not happen this offseason.
Jakob Ihs-Wozniak Would Be a Dream Pick For Minnesota

2 weeks ago | hockeywilderness.com | Luke Sims

The Minnesota Wild don’t have a first-round pick this season. They sent it to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the David Jiricek trade, who will now select 20th overall in 2025. Therefore, the Wild must be creative to get something from this draft class. One way the Wild could make the most out of their second-round pick would be to call Jakob Ihs-Wozniak to the stage when they pick at 52nd overall. There are a few things that stand out about Ihs-Wozniak’s game.
Matt Duchene Is the Wild's Last, Best Hope At Center

2 weeks ago | hockeywilderness.com | Tony Abbott

Once upon a time, when certified brain genius Paul Fenton ran the Minnesota Wild, the team sought to address its long-running center woes in free agency. Fenton reached out to a soon-to-be-35-year-old Joe Pavelski, a five-time 30-goal scorer with the San Jose Sharks. Pavelski's age made him a risk, but coming off a 38-tally season, it was one worth taking for the Wild. Or, it would have been, had Pavelski bothered to call Fenton back.
The Wild Should Cash In On the Sam Bennett Craze

2 weeks ago | hockeywilderness.com | Tony Abbott

Over the past two months, Sam Bennett has made NHL general managers everywhere go, Hell yeah, that's the kind of guy we need in the playoffs. Bennett is now the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, and why shouldn't he be? He's got 14 goals and 20 points, all while providing speed and toughness for the Florida Panthers as they seek their second-straight Stanley Cup. There's even a good possibility that GMs everywhere will get a crack at getting a Sam Bennett-type player in... Sam Bennett.
What's Next For the Wild With Brock Nelson Off the Board?

3 weeks ago | hockeywilderness.com | Tony Abbott

When Bill Guerin told the media at his end-of-year presser that he would be looking for "centers" this offseason, we knew exactly what he meant. Minnesota native Brock Nelson was the guy the Wild had their eyes set on, and that wasn't just the local media saying it. In January, John Buccigross called Minnesota's desire to add Nelson in free agency "The worst-kept secret in hockey" on national television.
The Wild Might Still Be Playing With One Hand Behind Their Back Next Year

3 weeks ago | hockeywilderness.com | Tom Schreier

Bill Guerin won the Stanley Cup twice as a player. He won his first with the New Jersey Devils in 1995 and another with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. I will focus on the 2009 championship because it’s more recent and relevant. Still, that 1995 team was fun. It was in a lockout year, so the stats are funky. Still, Guerin was the third-leading scorer with 12 goals in 48 games. Behind him were: Tom Chorske, 28, who now does Minnesota Wild games on TV.