RE: Wild 2025-26 Season

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RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/3/2026 10:09:37 AM

stfrank

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It was a very fun game to watch, except for those last minute let downs.
Hughes seems to be really having fun out there and the guys are all making sure he gets to play a lot with the puck on his stick. Even Kirill is deferring to him to start and then finds a spot for a return pass.
Kirill is looking more like his old self flying around and making plays. That Montreal team is still young, but are an up and coming team and we owed them one, so it was nice to get the win.

Post #: 376

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/3/2026 10:59:03 AM

Jeff Jesser

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Only gripe for me is 30 plus for Hughes is a lot of time.

Post #: 377

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/3/2026 11:17:36 AM

Phil Riewer

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jeff Jesser

Only gripe for me is 30 plus for Hughes is a lot of time.

Also Russo mentioned Hughes has been playing hurt since we got him.....but they all are playing hurt.

Specifically when he goes to the box/bench......probably why he prefers to stay on the ice Jeff....

< Message edited by Phil Riewer -- 2/3/2026 11:32:53 AM >

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Post #: 378

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/3/2026 11:26:37 AM

David Levine

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Quinn Hughes Is Gonna Shatter the Market, Isn't He?

Hughes has played like an MVP. His 29 points in 24 games represents higher production than anyone on the Wild... including Kaprizov. Bill Guerin realized what other GMs didn't: you get the talent first, then worry about the rest later.

Hughes has been shown to be worth almost any price a team could pay. Entering Sunday, Hughes sits third in the NHL with 5.9 Standings Points Above Replacement, per Evolving-Hockey. That's behind only McDavid (6.5 SPAR) and Macklin Celebrini (6.0 SPAR), two legitimate MVP candidates.

Hughes' 24 games with the Wild have, by themselves, been worth a whopping 4.6 points in the standings. Just counting his time in Minnesota, Hughes is a top-10 defenseman and top-20 player this season. Heck, it exceeds the 4.0 SPAR Kaprizov put up in 41 games last year, when he was a runaway Hart Trophy favorite before getting hurt.

For one, it's going to be hard to pay Hughes to the point where he's a negative value. His next contract would start at age-28, meaning the first four or five years should be ones Minnesota can reasonably expect Norris-caliber hockey.

The other thing is, Hughes knows what a bad situation is from his time in Vancouver, and that might lead him to prioritize staying in a good spot rather than squeezing every cent he can.

https://hockeywilderness.com/news-rumors/minnesota-wild/quinn-hughes-is-gonna-shatter-the-market-isnt-he-r31169/?mc_cid=54163ab0bc&mc_eid=ce7312704d

Post #: 379

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/3/2026 1:34:00 PM

stfrank

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Yeah, it's going to be an interesting summer for the Wild. But, with any luck we will be playing for a Cup instead of golfing.

Post #: 380

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/3/2026 1:54:20 PM

TJSweens

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The Wild are going to have to pay big. Hughes has a ton of leverage. The lucky part is that Spurgeon, Hartman and Sturm all come off the books in time for the first year of any extension. That's $13.58M in cap space freed up.

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Post #: 381

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/3/2026 1:57:23 PM

Jeff Jesser

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As a shock to nobody, i'm sure. Hughes was asked "who did you play against and thought he was a bad guy but when you got to MN you realized he's actually not a bad guy?".

QH: "I never thought he was a bad guy but I didn't like playing against JEE"

Post #: 382

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/3/2026 2:16:15 PM

stfrank

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jeff Jesser

As a shock to nobody, i'm sure. Hughes was asked "who did you play against and thought he was a bad guy but when you got to MN you realized he's actually not a bad guy?".

QH: "I never thought he was a bad guy but I didn't like playing against JEE"

Yup, Ek is one of those guys you love to have on your team, but hate to play against.

Post #: 383

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/4/2026 10:11:05 PM

kgdabom

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Boldy with a first period hat trick. Wild blow the lead, but win in OT on a goal by Spurgeon with just a few seconds left. Hughes with 2 more assists.

< Message edited by kgdabom -- 2/4/2026 10:12:06 PM >

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Post #: 384

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/5/2026 7:17:50 AM

TJSweens

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quote:

ORIGINAL: stfrank

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jeff Jesser

As a shock to nobody, i'm sure. Hughes was asked "who did you play against and thought he was a bad guy but when you got to MN you realized he's actually not a bad guy?".

QH: "I never thought he was a bad guy but I didn't like playing against JEE"

Yup, Ek is one of those guys you love to have on your team, but hate to play against.

Ek is the kind of player who gets under the opponent's skin and lays eggs.

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"The eternal fate of the noble and enlightened: to be brutally crushed by the armed and dumb."

Post #: 385

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/5/2026 7:30:33 AM

TJSweens

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It looks like any hope of getting Ryan O'Reilly is gone. The Preds are in contention and O'Reilly is adamant that he doesn't want to be traded.

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Post #: 386

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/5/2026 8:05:58 AM

stfrank

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The next best option for now would be Trocheck, but he has 3 years left on his contract and that would limit any options down the road. A good time for Guerin to be patient and wait until summer if you ask me.

Post #: 387

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/5/2026 9:26:51 AM

TJSweens

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quote:

ORIGINAL: stfrank

The next best option for now would be Trocheck, but he has 3 years left on his contract and that would limit any options down the road. A good time for Guerin to be patient and wait until summer if you ask me.

Trocheck seems kind of blah to me. Another old guy.

I'm still intrigued by one of the young Ottowa centres. Dylan Cozens in particular at 24 slots in as a top 6 and would be at a controlled salary for a few years. Wallstedt would be a high price, but a 1A/1B goalie tandem is kind of a luxury when that centre is desperately needed for the playoffs.

I don't like waiting until summer because the Wild need to sell Hughes that they built to compete for a title right now.

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"The eternal fate of the noble and enlightened: to be brutally crushed by the armed and dumb."

Post #: 388

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/5/2026 9:57:36 AM

Jeff Jesser

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Agree with both of you guys on Trocheck. He would help, short term, but it's kind of 'meh'.

Fun game last night but I want us to clean up the D zone. Can't score 5+ every game.

Post #: 389

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/5/2026 2:55:56 PM

stfrank

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I think the D will get better when Brodin returns.

Post #: 390

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/5/2026 2:57:33 PM

Phil Riewer

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quote:

ORIGINAL: stfrank
I think the D will get better when Brodin returns.

I am worried....he just can't stay healthy.

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Post #: 391

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/6/2026 10:07:29 AM

Jeff Jesser

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I've been trying to figure it out and the best I can come up with is that the whole team, defensively, is more loose since QH got here. The way he plays is very free flowing and it looks like he doesn't play in a system. I've heard him described as a "rover" and it's very fitting. Before him, we were very systematic as a team. Now it seems like the entire D core is trying to keep up with him. He does things that the others can't. They need to get back to being "them".

The upside is that the O is so much more fun. It's scary to think what KK would be with a legit #1 center AND QH's. He's already starting to click with him. Boldy turning in to a superstar 50 goal guy doesn't hurt either.

Post #: 392

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/6/2026 10:48:38 AM

Phil Riewer

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jeff Jesser

I've been trying to figure it out and the best I can come up with is that the whole team, defensively, is more loose since QH got here. The way he plays is very free flowing and it looks like he doesn't play in a system. I've heard him described as a "rover" and it's very fitting. Before him, we were very systematic as a team. Now it seems like the entire D core is trying to keep up with him. He does things that the others can't. They need to get back to being "them".

The upside is that the O is so much more fun. It's scary to think what KK would be with a legit #1 center AND QH's. He's already starting to click with him. Boldy turning in to a superstar 50 goal guy doesn't hurt either.

It didn't only unleash our top 2 scorers but also unleashed Faber.......I do agree that the other pairs of defenseman are trying to act like the first pair. It isn't only Hughes though from what I see.....doesn't Faber have 13 goals?

< Message edited by Phil Riewer -- 2/6/2026 10:49:45 AM >

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Post #: 393

RE: Wild 2025-26 Season - 2/6/2026 12:38:35 PM

Jeff Jesser

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Yeap. Faber has been outstanding.

Post #: 394