People talk about asking a player to waive but it rarely happens. Guerin said at the buyout news conference that it was in the works for a long time. My theory is that he decided shortly after getting the job. Most likely Guerin picked Yeo’s brain about the state of the clubhouse with Suter and Parise holding court. Guerin would be tipping them off with the ask.

COL started their rebuild in 2009. PIT did one from 2002-09 and CHI 2001-07. Unfortunately, most owners and GMs don’t want to do a full rebuild. Retool looks more attractive to them. Owners have a bottom line and GMs have a shelf life.
- Minnyhock

I mean... tipping them off? What difference does that make? Guerin had plenty of time after the Wild's season ended to talk to Suter prior to the buyout window. There is absolutely nothing a player can do, other than say no. Guerin could have said "You aren't in the future plans of the Wild. We'd like to move you wherever your preference is, please give me a list of teams you'd waive your NMC for. If you aren't willing to, we'll have to decide between buying you out and paying you to stay home next season." Suter could say whatever he wanted to the other players or to the media just as easily after the buyout, as he could before if he knew it was coming. It's a situation where the player has no power.

And exactly. Leipold prioritizes the bottom line. He's willing to spend to the cap, he's certainly no Melnyk; but he's not willing to take a financial loss to give the team the best chance possible to win a Cup.

13 of the last 14 Cup winners had a player they drafted either first or second overall on the roster when they won. The exception, St. Louis, had also picked first overall, just in the weakest draft and won with assets descending from trading their former first overall. Obviously, a full rebuild doesn't guarantee a Cup win; but it's step 1, and Leipold isn't willing to take that step.

I mean... tipping them off? What difference does that make? Guerin had plenty of time after the Wild's season ended to talk to Suter prior to the buyout window. There is absolutely nothing a player can do, other than say no. Guerin could have said "You aren't in the future plans of the Wild. We'd like to move you wherever your preference is, please give me a list of teams you'd waive your NMC for. If you aren't willing to, we'll have to decide between buying you out and paying you to stay home next season." Suter could say whatever he wanted to the other players or to the media just as easily after the buyout, as he could before if he knew it was coming. It's a situation where the player has no power.

And exactly. Leipold prioritizes the bottom line. He's willing to spend to the cap, he's certainly no Melnyk; but he's not willing to take a financial loss to give the team the best chance possible to win a Cup.

13 of the last 14 Cup winners had a player they drafted either first or second overall on the roster when they won. The exception, St. Louis, had also picked first overall, just in the weakest draft and won with assets descending from trading their former first overall. Obviously, a full rebuild doesn't guarantee a Cup win; but it's step 1, and Leipold isn't willing to take that step.
- Antilles

In May, Andy Strickland interviewed Jason Arnott about his time playing with Suter and Weber in Nashville. Arnott said Suter was a bad teammate even back then. Arnott said that all Suter did was complain that he wasn’t on the PP and not getting enough minutes. Meanwhile, Weber was willing to learn, was super respected and played hard. He said the attitude difference was night and day. Arnott said he knew that Suter was a distraction in the Wild dressing room.

Why would Suter modify his no move to help the team when that wasn’t in Suter’s DNA? There is no way playing hardball with Suter would get him to waive. Telling him he would sit if he didn’t agree would never play because he was still the 4th best dman on the team.Most likely Guerin knew coming in that he was going to lay the groundwork for a buyout. My tipping them off comment may not have been clear. Guerin already knew he was buying them out and he knew the answer to an ask to waive.

In May, Andy Strickland interviewed Jason Arnott about his time playing with Suter and Weber in Nashville. Arnott said Suter was a bad teammate even back then. Arnott said that all Suter did was complain that he wasn’t on the PP and not getting enough minutes. Meanwhile, Weber was willing to learn, was super respected and played hard. He said the attitude difference was night and day. Arnott said he knew that Suter was a distraction in the Wild dressing room.

Why would Suter modify his no move to help the team when that wasn’t in Suter’s DNA? There is no way playing hardball with Suter would get him to waive. Telling him he would sit if he didn’t agree would never play because he was still the 4th best dman on the team.Most likely Guerin knew coming in that he was going to lay the groundwork for a buyout. My tipping them off comment may not have been clear. Guerin already knew he was buying them out and he knew the answer to an ask to waive.
- Minnyhock

Guerin didn't know the answer, because according to both Suter and Guerin, he never asked. Guerin assumed what the answer was. You are giving reasons he MIGHT have been correct. None of which change the fact, it was stupid not to ask.

Guerin didn't know the answer, because according to both Suter and Guerin, he never asked. Guerin assumed what the answer was. You are giving reasons he MIGHT have been correct. None of which change the fact, it was stupid not to ask.
- Antilles

Guerin is far from stupid. Neither you nor I have the information that he had. Surely, he did his homework. For all we know, Guerin had some sources that had information that Suter was not amenable to waiving. Suter has never ever been a team first guy. Why should Suter waive? When you ask for something in a negotiation, you want something of equal or greater value back. What would Guerin give Suter of equal or greater value? You don’t know that Guerin made an assumption. Guerin made a rational decision based on all the data and information he had to make what he thought was the best choice amongst a bunch of bad choices. These idiot jawboners like Russo that tell you what GMs should do don’t even live in the real world. They just write about it.

I think the Guerin had it in his plans to buyout Parise and Suter when he interviewed with Leipold to start with. He had knowledge from a previous Wild coach on what type of locker room character Suter was. He saw that Parise's skills were starting to diminish. He was setting the tone for what he planned to make the Wild organization become. Like new GM's like to have their own coach, BG looked at the roster and knew what needed to be removed when he interviewed. Players and former players alike talk to each other all the time, so Guerin already had a preconceived idea on what Suter was. Then he got to witness it first hand. Yeah, I'm treading on Suter here. And this comes full circle in a semi "forced" rebuild with the buyouts...i.e., they can't afford anyone, so they will have to move forward with a lot of young, cheap (hopefully) talented players for a few years. Guerin was smart in seeing that the cupboards that Fletcher had emptied with bad trades and bad drafting were starting to get some talent in them. Fenton's 2 drafts (besides Filip Johansson) were pretty good drafts. As it appears now, Guerin's 2 drafts so far look like they will be decent. And BG's times dealing with a player like Fiala made him realize that Fiala was never going to be a part of roster for long. I think BG got lucky in the fact that Fiala had the regular season that he did and it made him easier to trade...making that decision to trade him easier, because BG (and myself) never saw a superstar player in Fiala. I have pretty much been onboard with just about everything Guerin has done so far. My only problem that I am seeing is his love for Dumba. He should trade him now and find a true #1 C with the cap space saved with removal of Dumba and a few others from the roster. So maybe BG is playing the game that we will not trade Dumba to up the return in a trade. At least that is what I am hoping he is doing.

Hey Gus. The best thing about the Fiala trade for you is that you no longer have to type Fialalalala.

Hey Gus. The best thing about the Fiala trade for you is that you no longer have to type Fialalalala.

- Minnyhock

Hahahahaha!!!!! Actually, truth be told, I giggled like a little school girl every time I typed that. I think I am going to miss that the most.