Dan Wallace: Kahkonen or Soucy?

Not protecting Kahkonen Is a real head scratcher! I hope Soucy Is the one chosen by Seattle. Again, Remember that this season Talbot will be facing some real adversity and he won't be facing low scoring cupcakes every other night. I think Talbot will Implode this season.

Either one is alright by me. I hope they don’t take Menell because he has more upside then both Kaukonen and Soucy. Soucy turns 27 this week and he has plateaued. Kauhkonen is too inconsistent and he never seemed to recover from that 9 goal shelling against the Blues That game was more on the team for being a no show but it affected him. I don’t see Kauhkonen being more than a backup.

Menell has ZERO upside, If he had upside he wouldn't have gone to Europe. Kahkonen Is far more talented than Soucy or Menell.

Menell Is 24, Undrafted and no longer a prospect, An AHL All-Star at best and Ironically enough he's from Minnesota so I'm thinking probably a mercy signing by the Wild. Menell should stay In the K and make alot of money. He's Irrelevant.

Menell has ZERO upside, If he had upside he wouldn't have gone to Europe. Kahkonen Is far more talented than Soucy or Menell.
- Shady1962

Menell has upside. He went to the KHL because he wanted to play instead of chillin on the taxi squad. He put up good numbers in the KHL. It’s the 2nd best league in the world. Kauhkonen and Soucy are easily replaceable.

Both. Fire everyone and start over

If Menell was any good he wouldn't have to go to the KHL to get playing time. The KHL may be the second best league but It's a garbage league.

Every player Is replaceable. Lol.

Either one is alright by me. I hope they don’t take Menell because he has more upside then both Kaukonen and Soucy. Soucy turns 27 this week and he has plateaued. Kauhkonen is too inconsistent and he never seemed to recover from that 9 goal shelling against the Blues That game was more on the team for being a no show but it affected him. I don’t see Kauhkonen being more than a backup.
- Minnyhock

Agreed. Menell did great in the K last season and got a lot of minutes, curious to see if he will get a one way deal he has been asking for.

I'm thinking it will be Khak taken as Larsson and Olesiak signed recently with Seattle. Then again it is easier to flip defenseman so maybe Soucy? Should be interesting.

More than one source has suggested that the Kraken will select Nick Bjugstad from the Wild as he is a player that several teams are very interested in, including Vancouver who is talking trade with the Kraken.

Another possibility is that Minnesota has a deal with Seattle for them to select Victor Rask and Nick Bjugstad is the add in prize. Rask on an expiring contract would be worth more than a bag of practice pucks at the deadline netting multiple assets for Seattle.

Agreed. Menell did great in the K last season and got a lot of minutes, curious to see if he will get a one way deal he has been asking for.

I'm thinking it will be Khak taken as Larsson and Olesiak signed recently with Seattle. Then again it is easier to flip defenseman so maybe Soucy? Should be interesting.
- Minsoh

Now that Seattle isn’t taking Price you’re right, that makes it more likely that they Kaukonen is taken unless Guerin makes a deal with Francis. It looks like they’re following the Vegas model by focusing on getting good d men.

Now that Seattle isn’t taking Price you’re right, that makes it more likely that they Kaukonen is taken unless Guerin makes a deal with Francis. It looks like they’re following the Vegas model by focusing on getting good d men.
- Minnyhock

According to the "insiders: it's Driedger, Vanacek and Daccord as the three goalies picked

According to the "insiders: it's Driedger, Vanacek and Daccord as the three goalies picked
- GPHawksfan

Yeah, I just saw that from Seravelli.

I'd give Bjugstad away for a bag of pucks, And I'd throw In Rask and Sturm.

According to the "insiders: it's Driedger, Vanacek and Daccord as the three goalies picked
- GPHawksfan

Looks like Russo is saying Soucy. Makes sense, he should fit in well.

Looks like Russo is saying Soucy. Makes sense, he should fit in well.
- Minsoh

Yes. Guerin will have ti find 3-4 defenseman and at least one center. He’s got his work cut out. He’s set in goal though.

Not sure why all the hatred for Soucy on here. He plays an intregal part of the roster. No team will EVER have a start or superstar at every single position. You will have to have role players who know their own limits and basically just want to play hockey. Soucy is one of those types of players. Yeah, I know I'm slightly biased since he played for UMD and I am a Bulldog fan, but I also understand roster creation and kind of understand the balancing act of the cap. But it's nice to have the 3rd pairing on D just set and let them play their role. Same thing with Bjugstad...he's never going to score 20 goals in a season again, but the more time he spends on the ice letting the stars catch a breather, the better chance those stars have the gas to finish off a game. It's not like Bug is a defensive liability. Now, when it comes to Rask, his game is just too slow to be effective at either end of the ice, so I would love it if BG had a deal to get Seattle to take him. I have no problem giving up a 1st Rd pick for that. Would just be more cap space for this year.

Now when it comes to the defense, and I believe Soucy is being grabbed by Seattle, that means BG now has 4 spots to fill for the roster (this includes a 7th Dman). Yes, guys like Addison, Mennell and Belpedio will be filling at least one of those spots. And you have to figure, Soucy's cap space will be used for giving Ian Cole (another righty) a contract. The Wild current sit with (w/o Soucy) 2 right handed dmen and 1 lefty, Dumba & Spurgeon and then Brodin. If BG is that hard up for Cole, he realistically would be looking for 2 lefties. Now, whether Addison, Mennell or Belpedio (I think Belpedio is leaving the Wild though) can play the left handed side without being troublesome, they have a shot at the roster. As I see the D pairings today...

Brodin - Dumba
? - Spurgeon
? - Addison

Now, can Mennell play the left side? If he hasn't resigned, I'd like to see a Derek Forbort signing. Can Ian Cole play the left side with Spurgeon? Problem is, I don't see a defenseman on the Wild roster that is going to clear out space in front of their own net. Wild need some size and nastiness in back half of the D pairings.

Gus, I agree they need some more physicality on D. I think you may have some bias with Forbort being a Duluth East guy. My view is Derek is Suter slow so I would hope that they can do better. Derek could be a placeholder though until they get someone better.

Soucy is definitely not a dud. I like him as a 3rd pair but his loss let’s the Wild see how Kauhkonen performs as a backup. I’d rather have Menell though with his upside. But Menell is problematic in that he is small.

It would have been nice to get rid of Rask but the other side has to get a lot to take him on. What was Evason doing playing him? Showcasing him? Honestly, I think Boudreau was right just to sit him.

Not sure If Soucy Is hated on this thread by anyone, We all know what he Is and when your building a team that can be a legit contender where would Soucy fit? Where would Soucy fit today with Colorado? TB?

Not sure If Soucy Is hated on this thread by anyone, We all know what he Is and when your building a team that can be a legit contender where would Soucy fit? Where would Soucy fit today with Colorado? TB?
- Shady1962

Colorado or TB? 3rd pairing, just like he did with the Wild and just like he will with Seattle, unless the trade him.

As for my bias on Forbort because he played at East? Sorry, I went to Denfeld...I think it's in the school's by-laws that we have to have complete disdain for those who went to East.

But my whole thinking on Forbort is to be 3rd pairing and penalty kill. The Wild need some beef back on defense. I know today's game is predicated on speed, but when sitting in your own defensive zone, someone needs to clear space in front of the goalie. Dumba kind of does that, but just doesn't appear to be strong enough. Both Brodin and Spurgeon use finesse. And I really didn't see much physical play from Addison or Mennell. And Forbort just seemed to be a name (and I think a lefty) that caught my eye. I'm definitely open to more names to be thrown about that the Wild could use.