Quoting: Jorenmakingmecrazy
I agree it is an overpay and as a Wild fan I would bawk at it. But I feel this is closer to what it would take to add a JT MIller or Hertl
Yeah I see your point, but I figure we are probably doing a baby rebuild after this season anyways, and JT Miller and Fiala and Dumba and Greenway could all be on the trade block and bring back some serious draft capital and prospects. I just don't see how the Wild can keep a traditional vet heavy team and stay under the cap. I won't complain if Billy G goes for a cup. This is the closest the Wild have ever looked like a contender, and with the dead-cap it could be a couple more seasons until we get another swing. So I am for a slight overpay to try and bring home a Stanley Cup!
Miller should cost more than Hertl. Miller has been putting up a point-per-game for a while now. He has the on and off ice attitude that would fit well with what the Wild are trying to do. Miller is a talented, physical guy who doesn't take very much sh*t from anyone and he wants to F'ING WIN. I really like the idea of having Miller around for Rossi's rookie season next year. Rookies tend to do better when they aren't expected to be "that guy" on opening night.
However, it really comes down to cap. If long term cap was not in the Wild management's thinking, then Rossi and Boldy would both be with the big club. They are putting up over a point per game in the AHL. The only reason to keep them in the minors is to slide their contracts a year. If the Wild are willing to move Dumba in the off-season, then it could work. Or (as you stated) if they trade Miller in the off-season, it could work. So, yeah, I'd be on board. But not for that asking price. Change the first to a second and I'd be all-in.
All of that said, if the Wild are serious about a cup, then they need to improve their goaltending and they need their defense to suppress shots. Talbot is solid. But he is not going to bring you a cup. Not on his own at least. Make a move for Fluery. Run him in a tandem with Talbot for the rest of the year. Highest Sv% gets game 1 of the playoffs....
Then the Wild will have my attention as a serious cup contender.
In other words, I don't think the team with the most 5v5 goals in the Western Conference should be looking to add offense in order to win a cup. Especially when it is widely accepted that guys like Fiala and Greenway are underperforming. Get those two on track and you're looking at a juggernaut. But, scoring 6 goals per game doesn't matter if you're giving up 30+ shots to bad teams on a regular basis. In the playoffs, those will be "good" teams. You can't give up 30-35 shots and expect to win (especially without elite goaltending).
Just my $0.02