What Should Expectations be for the Wild This Season? 

"good not great" is the story of the wild franchise

As a Wild fan I wouldn’t mind missing the playoffs in order for us to get a higher draft pick.

As a wild fan I hope it’s a development year for our young guns. Then when they have cap space this could be a scary team.

I'd love to see them just keep developing young talent this year and not make a desperate grab for the playoffs. Save that energy for next year when the Parise/Suter penalty drops then go for it.

The Wild are like today’s Islanders: good enough to reach the Playoffs, not good enough to make a lot of noise there.

As a Wild fan, I'm not very optimistic. Although if Spurgeon and Brodin can stay healthy it will probably help a lot.

I think they could sneak back into a wildcard spot this year, although they need a lot to go right for them. LA for example might have a considerable dropoff, and i think gustavsson can have a bounce back year.

I love opening up packs of hockey cards while watching your premium NHL content like an NHL almanac magazine

I want to see the kids play and grow. Especially ohgren and Khusnutdinov. I'd like to see some Iowa kids have a chance as well. Will he watching Buium and Heidt

Have you looked at the Kings? I don't think you have. Last time you checked on them was after elimination if I'm not mistaken.

For our goalie splits, I think my ideal would be The Flower starting 30-40 games, The Bus starting 30-35, and The Wall anywhere between 10-20 depending on playoff position by January.

I appreciate you taking the time to put in the work to make this video :)

Tank and take your chances.

The Wild isn’t my team, but I do enjoy cheering for them since they’re such underdogs

One clarification that I do not see many people mention, the cap space actually opens up during this season not after. If the Wild accrue cap space in the first half of the year by being under the limit, they can potentially use all $12MM at the deadline without worrying about the ability to re-sign anyone. Guerin has already utilized this trick two seasons ago when he retained on ROR in order to add picks, then boosted the Wild using those same picks to essentially get MarJo, Nyquist, and Klingberg for pure cash. There is a lot more flexibility available to Guerin this season, as long as they are in fact able to accrue cap space. This would have been a similar strategy to last season if Spurgeon had not been injured in the pre-season, forcing them to spend up to the very limit. The Wild team is a hard read for peak potential, their big players have been injured often, especially in the playoffs. Gus has had consistency challenges, when he is on though, he plays like an elite guy that will steal a series. His focus was definitely off for large chunks of last season, but at least he finished with strong play and has had a fire lit underneath his feet this off-season. And if he fails again, Wallstedt is in the wings, so at least there is a backup option available. I might be optimistic, but compared to last season, this season feels like it has much more potential considering the handcuffs are unlocked.

Man we were so exited for that Gus contract then he got that shut out against the Staley cup runner ups but then he just hasn’t been the same. I don’t know if it’s best to move him down to the AHL and Jesper up or trade him but I think the wild need to move on from their older players like Foligno and Supergeon when the buyouts are over.

There's a decent chance Öhgren makes the team out of camp, and a slim chance Riley Heidt makes the team instead of going back to the WHL. The Wild's goals for this season: stay healthy, see some growth with young players (Öhgren if he plays, Khusnutdinov, Rossi, Chisolm, Faber, etc), and have enough success to help convince Kaprizov to re-sign next summer. Whatever that looks like (playoffs, no playoffs but young players improve), I don't know. I know the "stuck in the middle" mantra continues to stick, but they have one of the best prospect pools in the league. You could have Yurov (star in the KHL currently), Heidt (dominating the WHL), Haight, and Buium on the team next year. Add in some decent $$ to play with in FA and one of the best goalie prospects, and the team could break out in 2026-2030ish. The org is literally just killing time this year so we can move on from the years and years of Parise/Suter cap hits that have chained this franchise down. By next season, the roster could be a 75% turnover from 2019-2022 playoff-team era. The fact the Wild get the "Mild" tag during these cap hits instead of being cellar-dwellers is pretty impressive, even though their results don't seem that way on paper.

I'm really interested to see what Guerin can do after this year. I think he has done a pretty decent job taking the team through this penalty.

Die hard Wild fan here. The story for this season is going to be health. Last year, the team barely missed the playoffs whilst playing without Spurgeon and Brodin most of the season. Defense was a the issue, sprinkle in a little bit of inconsistent goaltending with all in all, streaky play. A full 82 could have Kaprizov in the 120 point range which would be huge, considering the team lost an incredible amount of 1 goal games and OT losses. I think this years squad gets back to the playoffs, competes if not wins the first round then gets roadblocked by Dallas or Colorado. Looking forward to one year from now with Danila Yurov and Zeev Buium joining the team with extra cap space. Regardless, LETS GO WILD!!!

I really hope Fleury finishes his career with a strong season; not so much his record but I'd love to see at least a 90% save percentage. 89.5% from last season was sub par. The record was around .500, which was respectable.

If you're Guerin, the play the whole time has been trying to field the most competitive team possible while tanking the cap hits. You need to take the cap hits because if you didn't, you would have been here anyway, but with an even worse team. You need to stay competitive, because you have an absolute top-tier talent in Kaprizov who you need to keep happy. The Wild need to maintain this for one more season, then really take a leap in the 25/26 year or Guerin is probably gone.

"should" is a daaaangerous word, Hockey Guy

Develop from within first, spend on Kap v

If they use their new cap space well, they could become a very strong team in the central division

The Wild are a weird team. I could see them missing the playoffs completely or just squeaking in.

Lifelong wild fan here and you pretty much nailed everything down to the questionable contracts for bottom 6 guys. I’m not expecting the Wild make the playoffs this year. Next year when the cap restraints are much lower there will be room to add a real free agent or two

If healthy that defense is good. hopefully the goaltenders have a better year. Should be a fun season.

Only two players on this board with 82 games played. Injuries were rough last year, but at least the two iron men were Faber and Rossi. Those guys have a lot of potential for this team

Cmon Shannon. How do you not know that all that cap space is already spent and the 3/4th liners are all on NMCs and virtually unmovable?

Shannon they don’t have cap space to sign a big name next offseason because they already used that money up on Faber and Middleton

The wild will be held back by how tough the central division is.

Missing playoffs or making it doesn't matter. I don't think they win a round but this year is a great opportunity for young players to get some games in and make some big moves next year.

They’re never bad enough to start a successful rebuild, but they’re never good enough to be contenders. There is perpetual mediocrity in Minnesota, unfortunately.

I hope they move Gus so we can see the perks of playing the Wall/Flower.

There's a lot of good solid young talent on the Wild, but they're missing the gamebreakers to push them over the top, also they don't really have established goaltending yet...

Massive wild fan here, I worry Kaprizov is going to want out after his contract expires. He’s not going to want to waste the prime of his career in a small market and/or with a team that’s rebuilding

A good season would be letting the talented prospect pool get a chance to really play and see what we have. Then set yourself up for a 2025/26 season with a couple big free agent splashes and start to make some pushes

I want to get to playoffs, even though we won't win. We need the experience for our young guys, and Flower deserves to go out on a playoff team

I think you’ve got those lines wrong bud. It’ll be Kirill EK Boldy one of the best lines in hockey last year. What happens after that line is the problem. Lol I like your question to us, I think there will be some surprising young talent in the next year or two. what would YOU do if you were Billy g?

Why is Eriksson Ek on the 2nd line? He could be a point per game player on a line w Kaprizov & he’s easily our 2nd best forward, Ek has been a project player for a while but he’s earned my respect over the last couple seasons

The Minnesota Curse continues with exception to the Twins but hold the MLB record for consecutive playoff losses until last year. The new MN PWHL and the Lynx are the other exceptions. Will this ever end?

Kings fan here looking at PLDs 8 year, and remembering it was WPG that signed it and they got the better of the trade 😭😭😭

If I was GMBG my focus for this year would be to convince Kaprizov that sticking around for the future of the team would be a win win for everyone. Then sign him to an extension during the next offseason.

If I were Guerin I would not make huge (expensive) changes this season, but I think the team needs to make the playoffs. They need the experience so that next season, when they have more cap space, they can get the pieces they need to make a deep push in the playoffs. Last year was a down year, but I have hopes that the Wild will bounce back this season a bit.

Cap penalties fall next year, Yurov and Heidt look ready, Buium could join the team after the college season, Lambos has a ton of talent if he can take the next step. Things are looking up for the Wild’s future. The big question is if they can hold onto Kaprizov after this current contract. This season should be focused on development tho. I want to see Boldy, Rossi, Ohgren, and Walstedt getting lots of opportunities.

Minnesota’s highlight to me will be a wildcard spot- followed immediately by getting crushed by a top team in the west (think last year’s Caps). The ceiling isn’t high enough to make enough noise to me.

Good video. Only thing I would point out is the Wild can't go out and get anyone big next year because Billy G has spent money on bottom sixers like a drunken sailor.

Main goal this season should be playoffs bcs of fanbase. Second goal is to figure out goaltending. Give Wallsted at least 10 starts. He is Minnesotas goalie of the future so drive him in to nhl. Third goal is to see what they have as centers and maybe make few moves during season to be in good position for next season. Aim to playoffs, sell in deadline if not even close and improve team.

Ive been patiently waiting for Carolina, I feel like he’s waiting because of how different the roster looks

Kings are the last team missing this overview by my count Shannon 🙂

They’ll be in the draft lottery next year

The wild should just try and play it out. Granted there are going to be some players that are going to really Excel so that they don't get cut next season. But they are going to have a huge amount of money available next season! They should be able to get three quality players and a good two or three players in the draft

Don't think we should roll with 3 goalies with the amount of space we have. Trade Gus and find someone similar next off season. He's already had discipline issues twice and that can't fly if you're sub .900. Give it to Wallstedt. Don't think we're gonna be bad enough to warrant going for picks. Most likely we're gonna be better than last season so i guess showing Kirill that we're serious about going for playoffs are gonna be more important than getting a slightly higher pick but not in the top 10. Central looks quite beatable in a first round except for probably Dallas.

It’s the wild. They’ll make the playoffs but not win a round

The Wild's 2010's teams fell short of goaltending in the playoffs. This goaltending duo won't cut it either, so imho Wild would be better off not making to the playoffs. Looking at the supercharged team Edmonton has for the 24-25 season I would just directly tank for a year.

Off topic but why is Washington picking ahead of Detroit at tankathon when they made the playoffs?

I suppose we'll eventually lose Kap...I hope i'm so wrong though.

Next year. Don't waste money trying to squeak in.

There’s too much trade protection on this roster. No move clauses everywhere and 4x4s on aging players. Plus they are going to have to extend Kaprizov soon and he’s going to cost 💲 that’s going to eat into that cap space. By the time that 14 mill is off the books, who knows how much there will actually be to go out and make a big splash. Rossi is going to get paid too.

I would like to see what the kids can do.

Playoffs maybe the finals would be nice go wilds

There's a saying in Minnesota sports... "There's always next year..." I hope we can change that next year, but who knows... Also until Ballys is figured out it not like I can watch any of the games anyways

Did you look at the kings? Maybe i missed it

Can you do college hockey?

Next July 1 they have a bunch more cap space they’ll go out and get two big-name players like they did in 2012 😉

League average goaltending would have made them a 108 point 2nd/3rd seed last year. The Wild just got wrecked by their goalies. (Injuries on defense probably didn't help, but the goaltending stats are almost comically bad.)

One more season of cap hell, then they’ll be on the rise

THG , MY SHOW is doing better than expected, on Aug 25th I'm doing something that's never been done before, I'm having Alexis Pearson The voice of Minnesota women's team Plus her guests Joe Smith an Hogie from the Soda pod and Pat Micheletti with Alex Micheletti from Beyond the pond On WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SMOKING, it would be nice if you Could come on the Show for Ten minutes,say hi with your view on the Wild Denny from Minnesota

Typical MN fan here: What does the Wild need to do to re-sign KK? I don’t see him staying.

Would the team be better with suter and parise?

Isn't the state of Minnesota crawling with talent to harvest? Seriously, not sarcasm.

My own opinion is that the Wild miss the playoffs this year, sign Kaprizov to an 8-year extension and then once the cap hit hell pretty much goes away, shoot for the moon. Also, bring up a couple more Russian players. Hopefully Yurov. Again for all of you folks that are going to respond to this by saying that I don't know squat about hockey - THIS IS MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION.

NOPLAYOFFS Clap

Man the Wild never seem to just embrace rebuilding. I'm not sure if that's ownership thinking they need to keep the MN fans happy, but it's MN, people love hockey in MN. They'd totally understand sucking for a bit to get much better. We seem to just be stuck in an endless cycle of mediocrity since our inception.

LGRW

It's going to be hilarious when they have to trade Kaprizov to a serious franchise.

Regarding Minnesota When they put. Boldy ek kaprizov together , in 20 games they scored 82 points which was first in the NHL Rossi needs help, and if they put Ohgren Rossi Heidt together, the second line will be scary, in my 62 years of watching Hockey, I've never seen a kid with his moves, yes I think He's that good,, Gus Bus was out of shape last year, and now he's married with a new baby, you can be sure that won't happen again, I loved old Gus Bus, but of course with Hynes running the show, I don't see Heidt making the team, if the kid's make the team I see good things happening The lines should be Boldy Ek kaprizov Ohgren Rossi Heidt Hartman Marat Folingo Zuggs. Trenin Gudreu Faber. Spergon Middleton Brodin Chisholm Hunt Gus Bus. Walstedt Fleur should retire Gudreu bought out. And mojo on the bench

With Spurgeon a question mark, Brodin is the only solid Defender they have.

Not much to expect.... still a team stifled by the Suter/Parise buyouts, and some poor contracts done by Guerin for 3rd line players. Typical Wild season - finish right around the last playoff spot, and either don't make it, or lose in the first round, and have ANOTHER draft without a top 5 pick.

Leafs?

Congratulations, your team STILL can’t make it past the first round

Wild = Mild. Always have been. Bad leadership on down. Kaprisov will be gone once his contract is done. And I was a season ticket holder for the Wild for just about 3 seasons before I had to tap out.

Just don’t finish last

Even when we're finally off the Suter and Parise hook (no offense Guerin) this franchise is what it is....soft. We are too small at the lines and slow and most likely we'll eventually lose Kap to another team. I'm one of the few Wild fans that don't care for Spurgeon we need a captain with fire in his belly. I know I'll get shit for this but don't care....the Wild apparently don't. Sorry for the rant. I would love for this team to make me "eat my words" I really would.

Hot garbage. The Mediocre Wild are going to be awful, hopefully bad enough to get a great draft position

they'll make the playoffs, but as usual not a deep run probably They should be sure to bring up some of younger players, maybe in a year or two could have some star players or tradable players out of that..

Bring the NHL back to Minnesota !!!

Wild are like the 2010s Panthers - no identity.

If I were Bill Guerin I'd resign immediately and hope & pray that people would forget that I was ever involved in this dumpster fire of a franchise.

Playoffs

Horrible ownership and front office (GM). Until the owner sells or drops dead this team will be a perennial loser franchise. Truth has been told.