Dan Wallace: Wild Blueline, Who's Replacing Soucy and Suter?

Ghost and Goligoski coming your way!

The reports of Kirill Kaprizov being offered a KHL contract does little to change the landscape of the contract negotiations. Kaprizov knows that the NHL is where he wants to play and the league that provides him with the greatest earnings potential and all that comes along with that.

This isn't necessarily accurate. His greatest earning potential involves him becoming a UFA in 3 years. The KHL can likely offer salaries competitive to what Guerin will offer on a short term deal.

This isn't necessarily accurate. His greatest earning potential involves him becoming a UFA in 3 years. The KHL can likely offer salaries competitive to what Guerin will offer on a short term deal.
- Antilles

Can probably make more in endorsements here than in mother Russia.

Ghost and Goligoski coming your way!
- HenryHockey

Galigoski as a stopgap, maybe. Ghost, no way. Philly waived him and he cleared. Name a team that actually wants Ghost. The only time anyone talks about Ghost is in the context of him being a salary mitigation element to facilitate a bigger deal.

Minny needs 3-4 D men with an emphasis on physicality.

Goligoski would be an ok stopgap for this upcoming season. I know it generally takes defensemen a few years to mature into decent NHL defenders, but depending on how his season goes this year in Iowa, Ryan O'Roarke just might be up on the roster for the 2022-2023 season. And Daemon Hunt was drafted last year as well, though I think he is still a few more years out.

Plus there is the Johansson's, Phillip and Simon from the year before that. It appears the Phillip is starting to look a little bit better, though still not looking like a 1st Rd pick. And does Fedor Gordeev become something?

I still think Guerin has some trades up his sleeves right now. If they do sign Nick Foligno, I kind of see Greenway being used in a trade as well. And I think Fiala is still be bandied about in trade talks. Not sure what the returns would be on trades, but I could see these types of lines...

Zuccarello / ? / Kaprizov
Hartman / Rossi / Boldy
N. Foligno / Eriksson-Ek / M. Foligno
Rask / Sturm / Bjugstad

Brodin / Dumba
? / Spurgeon
Some type of pairing of Cole, Addison, Menell.

Now, I would rather keep Fiala and put him in Hartman's spot. Then move Hartman to RW and Bug over to LW, putting Rask in the press booth. But it all depends on what Guerin can do to get a #1C for that 1st line.

Goligoski would be an ok stopgap for this upcoming season. I know it generally takes defensemen a few years to mature into decent NHL defenders, but depending on how his season goes this year in Iowa, Ryan O'Roarke just might be up on the roster for the 2022-2023 season. And Daemon Hunt was drafted last year as well, though I think he is still a few more years out.

- Gusrichards

Interesting note from Dreger "NHL will allow junior eligible players who played 20 or more AHL games last season to return to the AHL next season"

This should benefit O'Roarke a ton if he's allow to stay and mature in Iowa this season rather than the CHL.

The Penguins will send you Pettersson and one of our forward prospects for Greenway.

Can probably make more in endorsements here than in mother Russia.



- ThatDarnCat

Exact opposite. In Russia, he'd be scoring far more national endorsements as the top player in the entire country, while in the NHL he'd mostly be doing regional endorsements as the top player in Minnesota.

Escrow is capped at 18% this year. US Federal income taxes are 37% & MN income taxes are 9.85%. That's 64.85% of his "salary" that he never gets. No escrow in the KHL, taxes are 13%. As the best player on one of the wealthiest teams, he might get 2-3m in the KHL. With the better endorsements over there, that's the equivalent of 5-6m over here. Wild could easily offer him more than that per year. But they are trying to go long term if they are offering salary in that range, and there is pretty much no way he maximizes his earnings taking longer than a 3 year deal.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's highly unlikely he actually ends up back in the KHL.
But for a player like KK, it really is a pretty big factor in his current contract negotiations, because he really could make just as much money at home in the short term, then look for a Panarin like NHL contract in 3 years. Wild are going to end up having to give him a contract that is less than ideal for them to stop that from happening.

The Penguins will send you Pettersson and one of our forward prospects for Greenway.
- MacPatty

Prospect: Poulin. Deal!

I said late last winter on this sight that Kaprizov had more negotiating strength and options than some people thought and I took a lot of heat. Well! Look where we are today. Your Welcome.

I said late last winter on this sight that Kaprizov had more negotiating strength and options than some people thought and I took a lot of heat. Well! Look where we are today. Your Welcome.
- Shady1962

Kaprisov wants to play in the NHL. His leverage is contract length. Wild want 8 years and Kaprisov wants 3 years. Probably a 5 year deal.

Kaprizovs leverage Is I'm going home until I get what I want.

I was shocked to see Matt Calvert retire today he was a guy I was hoping Minnesota would explore In free agency.

I was shocked to see Matt Calvert retire today he was a guy I was hoping Minnesota would explore In free agency.

I was shocked to see Matt Calvert retire today he was a guy I was hoping Minnesota would explore In free agency.

Don't know what's wrong with my phone, I didn't mean to send the same statement 3 times.

Knowing the Wild, they are talking to Skoula right now

Poulin Isn't a lock to be an everyday player for the Pens, He Is there top prospect but the Penguins have mortgaged so much of there youth for another kick at the Stanley Cup. And thank you for Calen Addison.

Could the Wild be Interested In a center like Adam Henrique? I really hope we go after Danault.

I'd be Interested In Joseph and Petersson for Menell and Greenway.

Kaprisov wants to play in the NHL. His leverage is contract length. Wild want 8 years and Kaprisov wants 3 years. Probably a 5 year deal.
- Minnyhock

If playing in the NHL was that important to KK, he wouldn't have spent 5 years in the KHL refusing to do so. His preference is likely the NHL at this point, sure. But it's clearly not that big of a deal to him.

If playing in the NHL was that important to KK, he wouldn't have spent 5 years in the KHL refusing to do so. His preference is likely the NHL at this point, sure. But it's clearly not that big of a deal to him.
- Antilles

Kaprisov can make about $2M max in the KHL and the Wild are offering $8-9M per season. Maybe quality of life is more important to him and money is secondary. So then he can take fishing trips to Siberia with his buds. Or maybe he sees himself as an elite hockey and wants to play in the best league in the world and get paid like a superstar. Watch what happens.

If playing in the NHL was that important to KK, he wouldn't have spent 5 years in the KHL refusing to do so. His preference is likely the NHL at this point, sure. But it's clearly not that big of a deal to him.
- Antilles

Refusing...not that big of deal to him? What?...Similar path as Panarin with the same agent playing hardball. That is all this is, but hey whatever narrative you wanna believe go for it.

Kaprisov can make about $2M max in the KHL and the Wild are offering $8-9M per season. Maybe quality of life is more important to him and money is secondary. So then he can take fishing trips to Siberia with his buds. Or maybe he sees himself as an elite hockey and wants to play in the best league in the world and get paid like a superstar. Watch what happens.
- Minnyhock

You are just ignoring everything that's already been pointed out because you don't like the obvious conclusion it leads to. KK wants to be a UFA as soon as possible, like Panarin. He can make the equivalent of ~6m in the KHL the next 3 years, then get a massive UFA contract. He has a history of choosing the KHL over the NHL. Those are the realities the Wild have to negotiate under, all of which lead to the conclusion the Wild aren't going to be super happy with the contract they end up having to give him.