Post by Corey Scott on Mar 15, 2013 15:56:07 GMT -5
There are some very lofty expectations for the future of Minnesota, however this year the playoffs are still not out of the question for a team who only a month ago sent out players such as Pronger, Sullivan and Hejduk among others. At that point in time Minnesota was out of playoff contention by a far margin and in the bottom 5 teams in the league. However, since the exodus of their veterans things seem to have changed, with the team sporting the best record over the past 10 games of any team outside of the top 10 in standings, going 7-2-0-1.
A quick review of the main changes made in Minnesota:
1) The big trade that sent their number one future HHoF Chris Pronger east to the Pittsburgh penguins.
To Minnesota:
Chris Stewart
Troy Brouwer
VAN 3rd 2013
To Pittsburgh:
Chris Pronger
*(50% salary held, reducing to 3.75mil)
Pronger was sent packing to the current first place Pittsburgh Penguins and in return Minnesota recieved Chris Stewart as the big peice in the trade. Stewart currently performing very well in the NHL is expected to be a long-term member of Minnesota's top 6. Should Brouwer be resigned, he would be a great third-line type player for the Wild. A final note of the trade is the savings of 3.75 million in cap space for next season, a point that cannot be forgotten.
2) The most recent trade of the bunch, Minnesota sent the young offensive dman Gardiner and the young goaltender prospect Olivier Roy to Colorado in exchange for Ryan Strome. A top 20 prospect in the league. The trade offers another strong forward prospect to join the ranks of Chris Krieder, Teuvo Teravainen and Mika Zibanejad as well as the current youngsters already playing in Minnesota.
To Minnesota:
Ryan Strome
To Boston:
Jake Gardiner
Olivier Roy
3) In the trade that some GMs were left dumbfounded, Minnesota was able to pry two firsts from Buffalo for ageing veterans Milan Hejduk and Steve Sullivan. Minnesota GM Scott was quoted as saying "It was a no brainer, when in the position we were in at the time, being sell mode, you have to take what was offered." The trade:
To Buffalo:
Milan Hejduk(minny holds 1 mil cap)
Steve Sullivan(minny holds .5 mil cap)
To Minny:
Van 1st 2012
Ott 1st 2012
David Musil
Adam Pardy
Other minor trades also occurred, such as bringing in Antoine Roussel and sending out Todd Marchant.
The Future
The above trades were all made with the future in mind and it sure does look bright in Minnesota. GM Scott quoted saying, "By next season we fully expect to be making a long playoff run. We will be in buy mode this summer and intend to fix the few holes we appear to possibly have. We will have plenty of cap space to do so and our owners are commited to spending as needed." Plenty of cap space indeed, as it has been projected that Minnesota will have roughly 8.5 million in cap room with 4 positions to fill should they ice the team projected below.
* Denotes pending UFAs with hopes of being resigned.
**Minnesota prospects will be highlighted in a future article
A quick review of the main changes made in Minnesota:
1) The big trade that sent their number one future HHoF Chris Pronger east to the Pittsburgh penguins.
To Minnesota:
Chris Stewart
Troy Brouwer
VAN 3rd 2013
To Pittsburgh:
Chris Pronger
*(50% salary held, reducing to 3.75mil)
Pronger was sent packing to the current first place Pittsburgh Penguins and in return Minnesota recieved Chris Stewart as the big peice in the trade. Stewart currently performing very well in the NHL is expected to be a long-term member of Minnesota's top 6. Should Brouwer be resigned, he would be a great third-line type player for the Wild. A final note of the trade is the savings of 3.75 million in cap space for next season, a point that cannot be forgotten.
2) The most recent trade of the bunch, Minnesota sent the young offensive dman Gardiner and the young goaltender prospect Olivier Roy to Colorado in exchange for Ryan Strome. A top 20 prospect in the league. The trade offers another strong forward prospect to join the ranks of Chris Krieder, Teuvo Teravainen and Mika Zibanejad as well as the current youngsters already playing in Minnesota.
To Minnesota:
Ryan Strome
To Boston:
Jake Gardiner
Olivier Roy
3) In the trade that some GMs were left dumbfounded, Minnesota was able to pry two firsts from Buffalo for ageing veterans Milan Hejduk and Steve Sullivan. Minnesota GM Scott was quoted as saying "It was a no brainer, when in the position we were in at the time, being sell mode, you have to take what was offered." The trade:
To Buffalo:
Milan Hejduk(minny holds 1 mil cap)
Steve Sullivan(minny holds .5 mil cap)
To Minny:
Van 1st 2012
Ott 1st 2012
David Musil
Adam Pardy
Other minor trades also occurred, such as bringing in Antoine Roussel and sending out Todd Marchant.
The Future
The above trades were all made with the future in mind and it sure does look bright in Minnesota. GM Scott quoted saying, "By next season we fully expect to be making a long playoff run. We will be in buy mode this summer and intend to fix the few holes we appear to possibly have. We will have plenty of cap space to do so and our owners are commited to spending as needed." Plenty of cap space indeed, as it has been projected that Minnesota will have roughly 8.5 million in cap room with 4 positions to fill should they ice the team projected below.
Minnesota's Projected Team 2013-14
Projected Pay-Roll: ~56 million
Chris Stewart - Ryan Getzlaf - Jakub Voracek
Cody Hogdson - Mike Richards - Vacant
Troy Brouwer* - Lars Eller - Lee Stempniak
Michael Frolik - Marcus Kruger - Vacant
Francois Beauchemin* - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Erik Karlsson - Kevin Shattenkirk
Nick Leddy - Vacant
Jonathan Quick
Vacant
Projected Pay-Roll: ~56 million
Chris Stewart - Ryan Getzlaf - Jakub Voracek
Cody Hogdson - Mike Richards - Vacant
Troy Brouwer* - Lars Eller - Lee Stempniak
Michael Frolik - Marcus Kruger - Vacant
Francois Beauchemin* - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Erik Karlsson - Kevin Shattenkirk
Nick Leddy - Vacant
Jonathan Quick
Vacant
* Denotes pending UFAs with hopes of being resigned.
**Minnesota prospects will be highlighted in a future article
