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Chuck Fletcher, Cap Guru

Created by: BoredWildFan
Team: 2017-18 Minnesota Wild
Initial Creation Date: Aug. 2, 2017
Published: Aug. 7, 2017
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
Foligno signs a 3 year deal to wrap up the RFA signings.
Fletcher then sets his sights on a couple of veteran UFAs to fill out the roster.
Cullen signs a 35+ contract with a base of 750K and another 750K in easy to reach bonuses that can be charged to next year's cap if needed.
Stafford, coming off a down year, takes a one year deal at 800K. That may sound optimistic on my part, but supposedly there has been mutual interest in doing a deal. Minnesota should be a "contender" again and the way Boudreau switches the lines around, Stafford could easily end up in a top-6 role with solid play. It might be the best situation for him to have a bounce back year.
Free Agent Signings
RFAYEARSCAP HIT
3$2,666,667
UFAYEARSCAP HIT
1$750,000
1$800,000
Buyouts
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2018
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2019
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2020
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ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
22$75,000,000$72,308,591$0$212,500$2,691,409
Left WingCentreRight Wing
$2,000,000$2,000,000
LW, RW
UFA - 1
$3,500,000$3,500,000
C
M-NTC
UFA - 2
$7,538,462$7,538,462
LW
NMC
UFA - 8
$894,166$894,166 (Performance Bonus$212,500$212K)
C
UFA - 2
$6,750,000$6,750,000
C
NMC
UFA - 1
$5,750,000$5,750,000
C, RW
UFA - 3
$2,666,667$2,666,667
RW, LW
UFA - 4
$3,200,000$3,200,000
C, RW
UFA - 3
$5,250,000$5,250,000
LW, RW
UFA - 5
$1,150,000$1,150,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1
$750,000$750,000
C, LW
UFA - 1
$4,600,000$4,600,000
LW, RW
UFA - 2
$800,000$800,000
RW, LW
UFA - 1
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
$7,538,462$7,538,462
LD
NMC
UFA - 8
$5,187,500$5,187,500
RD
M-NTC
UFA - 3
$2,166,667$2,166,667
G
M-NTC
UFA - 4
$4,166,667$4,166,667
LD
UFA - 4
$650,000$650,000
G
UFA - 2
$725,000$725,000
LD
UFA - 2
$2,550,000$2,550,000
RD
UFA - 1
$725,000$725,000
LD
UFA - 2
$1,250,000$1,250,000
RD
UFA - 1

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Aug. 7, 2017 at 8:47 p.m.
#1
MNBassman
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I don't know how the Wild can manage the roster for an entire season with just $524,000 in cap space. That doesn't leave much for injury call ups, etc...

However, I like this team a lot! I would, however, start the season with different line combos - I don't like Coyle at center!

Zucker/Staal/Niederrieter (size, speed, shooting, 2-way play = very good all-around line!)
Foligno/Koivu/Granlund (I want Foligno protecting Granlund, plus I think his net-front presence can work very well with these two)
Parise/Eriksson Ek/Coyle (veteran forwards helping in the development of uber-talented Ek)
Stewart/Cullen/Stafford (VERY capable 4th line - should play 12-14 minutes a night to help keep mileage off of Koivu, Staal, and Parise so they have something left for the playoffs)

Ennis can fill in anywhere on any line.
Aug. 7, 2017 at 9:54 p.m.
#2
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Quoting: MNBassman
I don't know how the Wild can manage the roster for an entire season with just $524,000 in cap space. That doesn't leave much for injury call ups, etc...

However, I like this team a lot! I would, however, start the season with different line combos - I don't like Coyle at center!

Zucker/Staal/Niederrieter (size, speed, shooting, 2-way play = very good all-around line!)
Foligno/Koivu/Granlund (I want Foligno protecting Granlund, plus I think his net-front presence can work very well with these two)
Parise/Eriksson Ek/Coyle (veteran forwards helping in the development of uber-talented Ek)
Stewart/Cullen/Stafford (VERY capable 4th line - should play 12-14 minutes a night to help keep mileage off of Koivu, Staal, and Parise so they have something left for the playoffs)

Ennis can fill in anywhere on any line.[/quot

The cap is going to be tight no matter who grabs the last two forward spots. Replacing Cullen and Stafford with Ferraro and O'Reilly would save only 150k.

As for the lines, I prefer Coyle on wing as well, but Russo has been reporting all summer that Bruce sees Coyle starting the year at center. I'm not sure if that means JEE starts at wing or 4C (mistake IMO).
Aug. 8, 2017 at 4:13 a.m.
#3
Minnesota Wild
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Quoting: MNBassman
I don't know how the Wild can manage the roster for an entire season with just $524,000 in cap space. That doesn't leave much for injury call ups, etc...

However, I like this team a lot! I would, however, start the season with different line combos - I don't like Coyle at center!

Zucker/Staal/Niederrieter (size, speed, shooting, 2-way play = very good all-around line!)
Foligno/Koivu/Granlund (I want Foligno protecting Granlund, plus I think his net-front presence can work very well with these two)
Parise/Eriksson Ek/Coyle (veteran forwards helping in the development of uber-talented Ek)
Stewart/Cullen/Stafford (VERY capable 4th line - should play 12-14 minutes a night to help keep mileage off of Koivu, Staal, and Parise so they have something left for the playoffs)

Ennis can fill in anywhere on any line.


Bruce has personally said this summer 100% that he plans on starting Coyle at center. Eriksson Ek will also not be on the 4th line playing < 12 minutes/game per Bruce. Most likely the lines will be closer to the original post (although not sure about 2nd line for JEE) than to your post.

Coyle talk at about 35:15-36:00 and JEE talk from about 26:15-27:33
Aug. 8, 2017 at 11:32 a.m.
#4
MNBassman
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Edited Aug. 8, 2017 at 5:02 p.m.
Not that I'm smarter than Boudreau...but, I disagree with him about playing Coyle at Center. He's much better on the wing, IMO. The fact that he can play center adds to his overall value, however.

I didn't have Ek on the 4th line, so I'm not sure what that comment is about... It would be stupid to play Ek on the 4th line...he'd be better off in Iowa playing 20 minutes a game than on the 4th line for the Wild!

The Wild literally have zero bonafide 1st line forwards (argue if you want), but they do have 9 or 10 top 6ish forwards and can play 3 - 2nd lines every night. I don't care how they get mixed and matched, but this team's best chances are to roll the top 3 lines at equal minutes and play the 4th line about 10-14 minutes a game - depending on match ups. The "top line guys" can get their playing time supplemented on the power play and penalty kills.
Aug. 8, 2017 at 11:34 p.m.
#5
Minnesota Wild
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The 4th line part was more pointed toward BoredWildFan's comment. He just messed up the formatting and I didn't want to fight with it in the middle of the night.

I agree we don't have a traditional lineup structure. I disagree that we don't have any first line caliber talent. Nino qualifies as a1st liner in everything but ice time. If it were up to me, Eriksson Ek would either be on the 3rd line or in Iowa. While we do tend to roll our top 9 pretty evenly, the top 2 lines definitely take the harder assignments (with Koivu's line taking the hardest). I saw we try to give him the best chance we can offensively and let him develop his defensive game against easier opposition instead of throwing him in the deep end.

My lines would probably look like this:

Zucker - Koivu - Granlund
Parise - Staal - Niederreiter
Ennis - Eriksson Ek - Coyle or Eriksson Ek - Coyle - Ennis (depending on who you want at 3C)
Foligno - Cullen - Stewart

We have a lot of flexibility though and can have pretty much anyone play on any line depending on matchups, who's hot, and who plays well together.
Aug. 8, 2017 at 11:59 p.m.
#6
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The Wild did run their top 3 lines pretty evenly 5v5 last year. But they relied heavily on Koivu/Granny and Staal/Parise (when healthy) for the PK and PP. The 3rd line took a big step back heading in the off-season (Haula > JEE, Pommer > Foligno/Ennis) so I think it will get more protected minutes this year instead of the all purpose minutes they played last season.

Koivu/Granny and Staal/Parise (when healthy) were the main PKers with Haula/Pommer picking up a shift or two a game on the PK. With Haula/Pommer gone they'll rely even more heavily on the Koivu, Staal, and Parise for PK duties, but they are all 33+ and should be getting less ice time so they aren't worn out by the end of the season/Playoffs. Foligno, Nino, Coyle, and Zucker really need to step up and take some of the load off the old guys. A quality 4C (like Cullen) or a defensive specialist to fill one of the PK spots could really help the team as the season goes on.

The Wild might be putting Coyle at center in hopes that him an JEE could fill out one of the PK units instead of Staal/Parise.
 
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