Edited Oct. 15, 2021 at 4:36 p.m.
Buyouts:
The Suter buyout was dumb. It costs as much or more to replace him in the lineup.
The Parise buyout (understandable at least) should have been held off one more year. He's not worse than any of the guys GMBG brought in, they have the cap, and it would have saved a year of dead cap on the backend. It also takes away any chance to move his cap if he LTIRs.
Prospects:
Boldy is the only prospect that looked ready to be in the NHL. He needs to gain the NHL confidence not more skills time in the AHL.
Rossi needs a lot of work. If what we saw in the camps is his game he's a winger not a center.
Beckman is really raw. He can shoot and that is about it. AHL time is what he needs.
Addison looked good in a man advantage and bad at 5v5. Sheltered PP specialist is what he is currently.
Dunhaime is getting a look now, but I don't think he'll stick. He looked in over his head whenever he was playing with/against other NHL players.
Lizotte is the the d-man prospect that impressed me the most. He's my first callup out of camp.
Roster:
Kulikov is the only offseason signing I've been impressed with so far. To be fair I haven't seen enough of Goligoski to really have an opinion yet. The guys brought in to be the 6D have been terrible.
I'm not sure how it's possible but Fiala somehow has worse linemates than he did last season.
I see Foligno regressing from last year. Greenway adds some goals but loses a bunch of assists.
The PP is going to be a work in progress all season.
If JEE sticks with Kaprizov he'll have a 60p season. Lots of dirty goals, and 2nd assists.
Spurgeon has the most to prove of anyone on the team. He lost his longtime security blanket and needs to show he can be a top-pair d-man without an elite babysitter as his partner.
Unless Kaprizov drags the Wild kicking and screaming into the Playoffs, I have MN as a seller by the TDL with the current roster.