RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (Full Version)

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twinsfan -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (6/30/2020 2:54:13 PM)

The NHL is poised to select Las Vegas and Toronto as its two central-hub cities for the 2019-20 season’s restart expected in late July, according to The Athletic’s Arthur Staple.

Vegas, home of the Golden Knights and T-Mobile Arena, will house the expanded Western Conference playoffs while Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, home of the Maple Leafs, will host the East.

That means the Philadelphia Flyers would get to stay in their region rather than travel out west as previously reported.

Toronto has not been nearly as affected by the coronavirus pandemic as major American cities that threw their names in the proverbial hat of potential host duties.

Ontario (Toronto’s province) has over 34,000 confirmed cases of the virus since the outbreak. That’s fewer than 21 U.S. states despite the region having a population of over 14 million.

The city has experience hosting major hockey tournaments in the past — most notably the 2016 World Cup of Hockey — so it has the infrastructure to house multiple teams comfortably.

Vegas has experienced a minor spike in coronavirus cases, though it is muted compared to other areas of the United States that are seeing their numbers skyrocket (Florida, California, Texas).

Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, reported 736 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday.




twinsfan -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/1/2020 3:48:29 PM)

Vegas is out.

Now it's Edmonton and Toronto.




David Levine -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/9/2020 2:48:43 PM)

Wild hire former Canucks draft guru Judd Brackett to lead amateur scouting
The man credited for restocking Vancouver's cupboards with prime prospects made a very public exit a week ago. Now he's joining the Wild.
By Michael Russo

On Thursday, Bill Guerin made his first significant front-office addition since becoming the Wild’s general manager 10 1/2 months ago by bringing in the well-regarded Judd Brackett to oversee Minnesota’s amateur scouting department.

The 43-year-old Brackett comes to the Twin Cities fresh off a 12-year stint with the Vancouver Canucks, the past five as their director of amateur scouting during a span in which the team gobbled up such gems as Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes. After a very public and unusual breakup with the Canucks allowed him to become a “free agent” on July 1 despite never getting to work his final draft with the club, Brackett ended up unemployed barely a week and will hold the same title with the Wild.

The respected Brackett has worked hard to help restock the cupboards in Vancouver. You can go through each of the drafts in the past five years and find a lot of high-end talent. But what likely also intrigued Guerin was Vancouver’s late-round success during Brackett’s tenure. It gave Vancouver a ton of surplus value either as players it could use or eventual trade assets.

As far as specific drafts, the 2019 draft could end up being a home run for the Canucks. They took uber-talented Vasily Podkolzin 10th overall, Nils Hoglander in the second round and Brackett really campaigned for seventh-round pick Aidan McDonough, who had a solid freshman year at Northeastern.

In 2018, the Canucks pilfered the Calder Trophy contending Hughes at seventh overall. Brackett also snagged another Northeastern product, Tyler Madden, in the third round. Madden is the son of former Wild center John Madden and played youth hockey in Edina. Tyler Madden was traded to the Kings in this season’s Tyler Toffoli trade.

But maybe the most impressive selection in the Brackett era was grabbing Pettersson fifth overall in 2017. Pettersson was not touted that high in the draft, but Brackett was a big proponent and the kid has emerged into a bona fide star up the middle for the Canucks. Vancouver also selected a number of other talented players in a draft class regarded as the organization’s best since the turn of the century.

https://theathletic.com/1919328/2020/07/09/wild-hire-judd-brackett-former-canucks-draft-guru-to-lead-amateur-scouting/




TJSweens -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/9/2020 3:08:22 PM)

That's great news. Guerin's first hire appears to be a big move. Love seeing the top guy surround himself with quality people.




stfrank -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/11/2020 12:53:35 PM)

Per the Strib.
The Wild's NHL play-in postseason series against Vancouver will start on Sunday, August 2, in Edmonton.
The dates are set; Game 1 is Aug. 2, Game 2 is Aug. 4 and Game 3 is Aug. 6, with Game 4 on Aug. 7 and Game 5 on Aug. 9, if either is necessary. The Canucks also tweeted game times but followed that by tweeting that the times were subject to change, saying Games 1, 4 and 5 would be at 9:30 p.m., and Games 2 and 3 would be at 5:30 p.m.
If those times stick and are listed in Pacific time, we will be forced to stay up late just to watch them play. [X(][X(]




TJSweens -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 8:41:49 AM)

Wild looking to sign top prospect Kirill Kaprizov, though he'd be ineligible for playoffs

By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune JULY 12, 2020 — 11:43PM

The wait for Kirill Kaprizov will be over soon.

Well, sort of.

Kaprizov isn’t eligible to play the rest of this season and can’t suit up for the Wild’s qualifying matchup against Vancouver as part of the NHL’s 24-team return, but the team is allowed to sign the prized prospect to a two-year, entry-level contract starting Monday.

The Wild has until 4 p.m. Wednesday to sign Kaprizov to a deal that starts with the 2019-20 season and burn that first year instead of signing him to a contract that begins in 2020-21, when he would be able to play.

Wild General Manager Bill Guerin said Sunday he would be willing to do that since the 23-year-old could participate in training camp and accompany the team to Edmonton for its games.

“To have him in the mix and have him signed would be nice,” Guerin said. “If he could come over and get to know the area, meet some of his future teammates, see how things are done here, I think that would definitely be an advantage.”

Guerin wasn’t sure if Kaprizov would need to quarantine upon arriving in Minnesota.

The Russian winger, who the Wild drafted in the fifth round in 2015, has spent the past three seasons with CSKA Moscow in the Kontinental Hockey League. He finished the KHL’s top goal scorer for a second straight year, burying 33 goals in 57 games. Winning a gold medal at the 2018 Olympics and a bronze at the 2017 World Junior Championship have made the talented scorer one of the most intriguing players not in the NHL.

If Kaprizov signs a contract that begins with 2019-20, the deal can’t include a signing bonus or performance bonus for that season. It can contain a signing bonus for 2020-21. Unsigned draft choices can sign contracts that begin with the 2020-21 season, also starting Monday.

Evason update

Coach Dean Evason could have the interim label removed from his title soon. Evason took over for the fired Bruce Boudreau on Feb. 14 and became a strong candidate by going 8-4 before the shutdown.

Guerin has been pleased with how Evason has handled the interruption to the season and complimented him for his communication skills. Evason’s candidacy to take over on a permanent basis won’t hinge on how far the Wild goes this postseason.

“I’m not going to do that,” Guerin said. “It’s more about the process and the operation and the communication, all those things. I know he knows the game. I know he knows how to deal with players. Those are the good things.

“I’m comfortable with Dean. I like Dean.”

Etc.

• Guerin isn’t expecting any Wild players to opt out of the remainder of the season. Players have until 4 p.m. Monday to notify their teams they want to sit out.

• Forward Luke Kunin, who has Type 1 diabetes, has been cleared for camp. “He’s been in, and he’s healthy and doing great,” Guerin said. “We haven’t been told anything by Luke or anything, and he hasn’t shown any concerns.”

• Guerin said the Penguins still have time to decide if they want to defer the first-round draft pick owed to the Wild from the Jason Zucker trade until next year. Like the Wild, Pittsburgh is restarting in the qualifying round and has a 1-in-8 chance to win the No. 1 pick if it fails to advance.

• Defensive prospect Calen Addison, whom the Wild also received in the Zucker trade, has been invited to camp — the only non-Iowa Wild addition.

• The Wild can start re-signing players Monday, an opportunity Guerin isn’t opposed to exploring. Kunin and Jordan Greenway are among the restricted free agents, and Kevin Fiala, Marcus Foligno and Jonas Brodin will be eligible for extensions.




stfrank -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 9:07:22 AM)

I just want to see Kaprizov signed at this point. Losing the year of service is less important than getting him signed and in the fold.
I want to see the Pens beat the Habs so there is no chance of them getting what is considered another generational talent. They have had their fair share over the years and it's someone else's turn.....like maybe ours. [:D]




Mr. Ed -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 9:14:59 AM)

Evason officially has a 2 year contract as head coach.




TJSweens -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 9:22:59 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stfrank

I just want to see Kaprizov signed at this point. Losing the year of service is less important than getting him signed and in the fold.
I want to see the Pens beat the Habs so there is no chance of them getting what is considered another generational talent. They have had their fair share over the years and it's someone else's turn.....like maybe ours. [:D]

Losing the year of service probably helps us sign him. Because of the NHL CBA, Kaprizov can make a hell of a lot more money by staying in Russia than he would on an entry level deal here. Signing him now and burning year 1, gives him extra money and accelerates the time until he can make a bigger payday.




TJSweens -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 9:25:02 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

Evason officially has a 2 year contract as head coach.

I have no problem with that. I trust Guerin's judgment at this point. If all goes well, it would be another piece of irony that a guy Fenton brought in would play a key role.




stfrank -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 9:46:24 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

Evason officially has a 2 year contract as head coach.

I have no problem with that. I trust Guerin's judgment at this point. If all goes well, it would be another piece of irony that a guy Fenton brought in would play a key role.

The thing I like about Evason is he doesn't seem as tied to, and loyal to the vets on the team. He has given the younger guys on the team a bigger role and so far they have handled it well. I loved BB, but maybe he was just a little too "old school" for the younger guys on the team.
I also think there is no sense in making a coaching change in the middle of this pandemic era when everything could end up shut down 2 weeks from now.




TJSweens -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 9:56:24 AM)

From the things I have read, the younger players, especially Fiala, really like Evason and respond to him. The consensus seems to be that he is a real strong communicator.




TJSweens -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 11:20:57 AM)

Finally: Wild sign the highly-coveted Kirill Kaprizov

By JACE FREDERICK | jfrederick@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press
PUBLISHED: July 13, 2020 at 11:17 a.m. | UPDATED: July 13, 2020 at 11:17 a.m.
The wait for Wild fans is finally over: Kirill Kaprizov has signed with Minnesota.

The KHL star and Olympic hero has inked a two-year, entry-level contract with the Wild, the team announced Monday.


Kaprizov will not be eligible to play for Minnesota in the upcoming playoffs, but the 2015 fifth-round pick will be on the roster at the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

“We are thrilled to officially sign and welcome Kirill to our organization,” Wild general manager Bill Guerin said in a statement. “He has exceeded all expectations in his development since he was drafted in 2015. Kirill is a smart and dynamic forward that has led the KHL in goals each of the past two seasons and we look forward to having him on our roster when next season starts.”


The 23-year-old tallied 62 points (33-29=62) in 57 games this past season for CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League.

Kaprizov will be allowed to join and practice with the Wild as they prepare for the NHL’s upcoming restart, which will give him a valuable jump on preparing for next season.




TJSweens -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 11:22:45 AM)

Great news! It was in the back of my mind that he might re-up with his Russian team at the last minute. I was worried about deja vu all over again.




Bruce Johnson -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 2:19:54 PM)

I just read the good news about the Russian player. Forgive me if this has been posted, but here is a highlight video of him. He looks like a smooth and nimble skater and a goal scorer. Some players just know how to score. Good for the Wild.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yi9WJ_E4oQ




TJSweens -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 2:58:43 PM)

Thanks Bruce. The thing that stands out to me is his ability to recognize and shoot for the opening. Lou Nanne once said ... Shooters know how to shoot the puck. Scorers know how to shoot for the back of the net .... Kaprizov is clearly a scorer.




kgdabom -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 4:42:41 PM)

Just a 2 year deal which is actually a one year deal.

Minnesota has signed Kirill Kaprizov to two-year, entry-level contract.
The deal begins with the 2019-20 season, so the first year of his contract will be burned. Still, he will be able to join the team and skate with his new teammates during the NHL Return to Play Program once he clears quarantine. Kaprizov will not be eligible to play during Phase 4 when the NHL is set to resume games. He racked up 33 goals and 62 points in 57 games with CSKA Moscow of the KHL this past season. Minnesota selected him in the fifth round (135th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

SOURCE: Minnesota Wild on Twitter
Jul 13, 2020, 12:05 PM ET




stfrank -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/13/2020 4:50:29 PM)

Great news indeed! Now we need a true #1 center and we are finally moving in the right direction.




TJSweens -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/14/2020 10:31:49 AM)

A couple of things to keep in mind with the contract:

1. Burning the first year of the contract was probably necessary to sign Kaprizov. The Wild are limited in what they can offer Kaprizov because he has to sign an entry level contract to play in the NHL. If he was an undrafted FA this wouldn't be the case, but he was drafted, which means he is bound to the terms of the CBA in his draft year.

2. He is actually taking a pay cut to play here. This makes him eligible to get a bigger payday as an RFA after next season.

3. The Wild will essentially maintain control through 2024, since Kaprizov will be a RFA for that time.

4. If they waited, they risked him resigning with his Russian team, which takes him off the market, probably for at least another 3 years. The NHL and KHL have an agreement that neither league can sign a player who is under contract to the other league. The CBA also prohibits them from buying out the contract of a player in the other league.

Guerin made a smart decision to propose it to Leo and Leo didn't hesitate to sign off. Burning a year was a small price to pay, to guarantee having him here next season.

Kaprizov is a pure scorer. The Wild have had only had one other pure scorer in their history. Even then Gabby was more of a one trick pony as a scorer. The majority of his goals came on transition wrist shots. I don't mean to minimize him. He had a wrister that was hard as another players slap shot. His release was so fluid that goalies didn't realize the shot was off until it was almost to the net. Kaprizov scores in a lot of different ways from a lot of different angles and a lot of different eye levels. He also has a much better handle with the puck and can go through traffic in a way Gabby never could.

I really hope the Wild can pare him up on the wing with Fiala and find a C who can help them mesh their games. It could be something special that this team has never had.




TJSweens -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/14/2020 3:04:50 PM)

Now imagine the young core the Wild would have if they lose against Vancouver, win the second lottery and draft Alexis Lafrenière.

Lafrenière, Kaprizov, Fiala, Kunin, Greenway & Ek up front. Add Calen Addison to the blue line and the whole thing looks like something that could seriously compete in the NHL for years.




stfrank -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/14/2020 3:25:10 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Now imagine the young core the Wild would have if they lose against Vancouver, win the second lottery and draft Alexis Lafrenière.

Lafrenière, Kaprizov, Fiala, Kunin, Greenway & Ek up front. Add Calen Addison to the blue line and the whole thing looks like something that could seriously compete in the NHL for years.

And we get another 1st round pick from the Pens thanks to the Zucker trade.




TJSweens -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/14/2020 3:38:54 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stfrank

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Now imagine the young core the Wild would have if they lose against Vancouver, win the second lottery and draft Alexis Lafrenière.

Lafrenière, Kaprizov, Fiala, Kunin, Greenway & Ek up front. Add Calen Addison to the blue line and the whole thing looks like something that could seriously compete in the NHL for years.

And we get another 1st round pick from the Pens thanks to the Zucker trade.

That's still pending. If Montreal beats Pittsburgh in the first round, they will hold onto the pick pending the outcome of the second lottery. If they win the lottery, they keep the pick and we get next year's pick.




SoMnFan -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/14/2020 3:39:12 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

Now imagine the young core the Wild would have if they lose against Vancouver, win the second lottery and draft Alexis Lafrenière.

Lafrenière, Kaprizov, Fiala, Kunin, Greenway & Ek up front. Add Calen Addison to the blue line and the whole thing looks like something that could seriously compete in the NHL for years.

"Tank for Frenchy!"




SoMnFan -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/14/2020 3:45:55 PM)

Btw ... excellent move on the 2 year deal for Evanson,, imo
Don't need to rock the boat at this point
Many of the guys respect him enough to play hard
If it falls to excrement, and you need to bring in a "name" …. you're out a year or two of salary. Big whoop.
There's some better decisions being made over at 101 Wild Boulevard.




stfrank -> RE: 2020 Wild Post Mortem Offseason & Draft (7/15/2020 6:39:42 AM)

The Wild will play Colorado in an exhibition game on Wednesday, July 29, at 1:30 Central time in Edmonton.

Game times are also set for the Wild's first two games against Vancouver in a best-of-five play-in series. Game 1 is Sunday, Aug. 2, at 9:30 Central and Game 2 is Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 9:45 Central.

Game 3 on Thursday, Aug. 6 has a game time to be determined. If necessary, Game 4 is Aug. 7 and Game 5 is Aug. 9.

It appears the NHL doesn't want many people from Minnesota tuning in to their rebooted season with start times like that. [X(]




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