I like the idea of locking up Sandin for 8 years. You're right that Aho isn't going to hit the market in all likelihood, but I think someone like Scheifele is a good bet to be available and would be a good player to add if the Caps still want to be aggressive

For the 1,000,000,000,000,000th time…the Wild have no interest AND no cap space for the cancer that is Kuznetzov!!

1) Yes they do.
2) This is for next season and MIN will have plenty of space next season. Zucc, MAF, Foligno all off the books with the cap going up like $4M.

Eh I don't want to get mixed up with a 31yo Scheifele on a long term deal. I'd do like a 2-3 year deal at most.

Team looks nasty. Might get a little less AAV and term on Sandin and then you can ice a full 23 man roster.

Could also move out TvR or Oshie to get more space to mess around with.

I’ve read that dreams are good conversation starters. So can we have a conversation about how trading one of your top center prospects for a 32 Evgeny Kuznetsov would be a good idea in the slightest? Cause I don’t see it

Because MIN needs to start winning soon and Kuz helps them. They also have Ek and Rossi there to take over top 6 so they won't miss out on Marat.

I think I'm one of the few MN fans that would have interest in Kuzy next year, but def not at the cost of Marat.

I'd consider like Firstov and a mid pick, but Marat is off the table for me.

TVR would make sense with Iorio and Chesley on their way up.

And one year of 32 year old Kuzy is the key to Minnesota making the jump to becoming a legit contender? I’m sorry, I can’t not laugh at that thought process

1) No they don’t nor should they.
2) There are a lot of better ways for the Wild to spend $$ than on Kuznetzov!

Milano is a good middle 6 just never plays that many games in any season dont see getting a 2nd for him.

Welcome to being a NHL GM where they make rash decisions.

1) They do.
2) There can be. This is just 1 option.

That’s not a justification, but thanks for indirectly admitting it’s a bad trade

For future reference btw, Minnesota still has 15M in dead cap in 2024-25. 2025-26 is the year we can expect an overpay trade like this to be an actual possibility

It's a great trade if you want to win now. Just saying GMs make rash decisions like this. Would I trade Marat for Kuz? No probably not because I'm a prospect freak. But if you're in MIN shoes where you are consistently sitting in mediocrity and don't want to scare Kaprisov off, I can 100% see that trade happening.

Scare Kaprizov off?

Dude, the team just had back to back 100 point seasons, with what is typically described by most people as a middling roster. And did it with a $12-14M
handicap due to the buyouts.

Despite this success, the team has still managed to build one of the TOP prospect pools in the league. So while they could afford to part with prospects for help now it doesn't mean they should or would make this trade. Because you seem to be under the mistaken impression that the team is in *win now* mode, when they're actually just in *stay competitive* mode until the buyouts are over. Because there is absolutely a difference between the two.

The team isn't wasting assets on a player they can neither afford or could keep around. And if they did make this move for center help they wouldn't be interested in Kuzy because he doesn't play defensive hockey, well or at all. They would instead go after someone like Lindholm from Calgary.

We'll see. If MIN still can't get out of the 1st round because they are strapped due to those buyouts I can easily see him walking when it comes free agency.

The buyouts will literally only cost a combined $1.2M during Kaprizov's final year of his current contract. In short, it will have ceased to be a problem by then.

Furthermore, the prospects should be pushing for NHL ice time by that point too. Minnesota's *win now* window starts in 2025-2026 season. Which is coincidentally Kappy's last contract year too. The cap will have gone up by then and Minnesota is easily one of the teams most primed to take advantage of the offseason that year. Which is pretty stacked with potential UFA talent, if Minnesota wants to go that route.

We'll see I guess. MIN has never been able to do anything in their franchise. Hopefully they can finally get it together.

An overpay for a rental of a likely middle 6 talent is a bad trade no matter how you slice it. Especially when the piece you’re giving up is potentially at least a good 3rd liner THAT SAME YEAR.

And Minnesota won’t be strapped in the final year of Kaprizov’s contract, aka: the most important year of his deal to convince him to resign.

Bottom line, it’s an overpay for a guy you can probably get for at most a mid rounder and a 32 year old Kuznetsov does not move the needle

And if Marat is viewed as a trade chip, it makes much more sense trade him in a package for a much better (potentially longterm) center option. Again, Kuznetsov does not move the needle

Kuz is a top line center that's averaged over 72 points (per 82 games) the last 8 seasons. People just look at this last season then all the sudden think he sucks. He doesn't. Caps were severely injured (2nd most in terms of quality) and Laviolette wore out his welcome. You put him next to Kaprisov he's easily over 80 points. But I do understand not wanting to give up Marat for 2 years for someone. Just saying if MIN wants to get better right now this would make them better, easily. Having Kuz on line 1 with Kap and Body then Ek taking care of the defense heavy 2nd line they'd shred.

I agree, Kuzy does make them better. What you are failing to understand is that at age 32, he does not move the needle nor does Minnesota have to enter win now mode while the buyouts are still in effect to the degree of 15 million dollars against the cap. When Marat comes to North America, he will at the very least bring great skating and hands in the offensive zone and be an absolute pest defensively. I value that a lot ore than Kuz who was almost traded for Ryjo

Also, Boldy and Kap don’t play on the same line

Kuz just turned 31 and he would move the needle for a team with 1 top 6 center. But again, I see why some wouldn't do that if you think MIN shouldn't be going for it the next 2 years.