FOTR Ep71 feat. Russo | “Christmas in July” for Minnesota Wild | NHL Free Agent Frenzy | Boeser Deal

FOTR Ep71 feat. Russo | “Christmas in July” for Minnesota Wild | NHL Free Agent Frenzy | Boeser Deal

Welcome back for another installment of Fellowship of the Rink. Big episode here for everyone. Uh we’re going to open up with Joe Smith, Michael Russo breaking down the activity around free agency for the Minnesota Wild. Talk about what the heck happened with Brock Besser. And uh we’ll also transition out of that and go over to uh our local prospect guru spoke Z for a recap of what the Minnesota Wild did here in the 2025 NHL draft. So to not waste any further time, let’s kick it over to Joe and Russo. This interview is brought to you by our friends at Waggle Golf. W Golf believes what you wear on the course should reflect your individuality, who you are, where you’re from, your hobbies, interests, and passions. All the stuff that makes you, well, you. That’s why every design is inspired by the desire to create a piece of apparel that strikes a chord when you see it, that makes you say, “Wow, that was made for me.” because in a lot of ways it was. Ready to get your Wagelon? Go to getyouwagalon.com. Throw in promo code SP10 at checkout to take 10% off your entire order. Coming off of the longest first round of the NHL draft we’ve ever seen and what was for most a kind of disappointing and boring free agent frenzy. Not boring here in Minnesota Wildland. We’ve got Joe Smith, Michael Russo. Let’s get into it, guys. At what was it like in the uh writer war room the last couple days?
Um you know what was weird? I I joked with uh Joe last night for you know for it’s just a long day. like I was exhausted and then you’re kind of like imagine if they had been active like you know it just it’s kind of weird but I think a lot of it’s just because you’re sitting at your laptop texting people and and staring at you know the X machine and all that type of stuff for hours upon hours but I mean um you know I think it’s what we both expected um you know and you know I not to be patronizing and condescending right off the hop here but that’s my uh middle name middle names. Um, but if you didn’t know that this was going to be their free agency, you haven’t read or listened to Joe and I in a month. Um, you know, we’ve been warning you. I mean, like just look at the look at their depth chart and their needs and I think a lot of us that are around the team feel that um it was incumbent on on them to not block out some of their kids. Like it’s time to play these guys. So yeah, like could they have signed Nate Schmidt yesterday? Absolutely. But I think Wild fans that are excited for Z Boy would rather him here and not down in Iowa. You know, um could they have signed another right shot defenseman yesterday? Absolutely. But I think a lot of us here would like to see David Uric get a chance. Liam Ogrren, Danil, Europ. Um you know, they could have signed a backup goalie, but I think a lot of us want to see Volstat. So, but if you look at the depth chart, there was those were the slots that were allotted to them. And so, there just wasn’t a lot of openings. And so the one need they needed was a fourthline center that can win draws and maybe kill penalties. And I think they felt with Nico Sturm that they know him. Um and he was affordable and he checks both those boxes. So um you know I I I the one thing that that Bill keeps on saying that that I think fans are going to hold him to test to is that all right, you’re saving cap space to eventually go big game hunting. And so that that’s what he’s got to do. Like, you know, I don’t blame the fans for being disappointed. They were, you know, told four years to wait for, you know, July 1st, 2025. Um, and even told by the owner in the fall to do that as well, and it didn’t happen. But you can’t invent players in free agency. They could have, they did go, they wanted to sign Brock Besser. they wanted to, but when they started to get the inkling the day before that Brock um had major options and even I think they were willing to go up to a six-year term, I think when they realized that he probably was being swayed somewhere else and now we know Vancouver, I think that they just decided that to pivot and go for Teraraenko. Could they have gone for Nioani at less money, younger couple years? Yeah. Um but I think they’re taking a one-year bet. they’re keeping themselves affordable that he’s tradable at the deadline as well even though he’s got a no trade. Um, but you know, I just think that it’s kind of modified no trade now actually it changes. But I just think that this is what we expected, but now it’s like you kind of hope that like all right, keep your eyes open is is if Thompson if he finally says enough, get me out of here. If there’s other players around the league that Phil, you know, Bill has been open, you know, talking about Jack Eel, Matthew Kachchuck, Nico Ranton, and that big guys get traded in the in the year. And I just think that free agency has proven that I think every year it’s going to be pretty lousy. So, um, now I think he’s going to scour the landscape in the trade market for the next year or so.
And I I don’t think especially with how you guys prefaced the the Terasenko deal, right? I think a lot of people were prepared. Okay, Besser’s not happening here.
Yeah. I think the entire hockey landscape was shocked when pretty much right away on July 1st, Brock Besser signs not only a deal that was maybe a little bit lower than expected, but with the Vancouver Conucks, who was pretty much 32 on everyone’s list if they were going to guess where he was going to land. What happened?
Yes. Yeah. Um, well, you know, you know what’s really funny? I don’t know if you remember March 7th, I was in Vancouver. Uh I was uh uh I was on that road trip if you remember Joel and and that was the day of the trade deadline and I was at their morning skate and Brock was out there and I was live tweeting that Brock was out there and I actually tweeted that sources were telling me that the Canucks re-engaged with Vancou with um with Brock. Now it obviously didn’t happen at that time but I think that it showed that one they had some interest still. Um, I think that when it comes I I think what’s most fascinating about the Brock Besser deal, and this might also say something about just how incredibly good Ben Henson is as an agent. Like, he’s to me one of the best in the business. Like, everybody gets paid when you go to Ben Hankinson. Like, I would if I if I was a player, I wish I I had him negotiate my athletic deal. Um, is that is that you think that’s ethical, Joe? Whatever gets you whatever gets you the bag, man.
Yeah. So,
um like like I mean you got Latarian Boyd one-way contracts today like like the guy’s unreal. But what does it say to you that they couldn’t even get a third or second round pick for Brock Besser at the time where that’s what all they were really being offered
and then all of a sudden Ben goes into yesterday and he’s got seven-year deals at seven at this type of price coming in from everywhere. there were like a lot of teams going after them, including the Wild were willing to, I think, go up to six years on him. Maybe five, five or six years at a significant AAV. Um, and and it and he winds up going back to Vancouver. But I think what that shows you is how difficult it is to make a trade in today’s NHL. Like I think this goes back to the wild. Like I think we all look at, you know, Bill Garin and you’re and people are disappointed that he wasn’t able to get trades that materialize. But I think with the cap going up and up and up, I think it’s actually going to be harder to make trades. And at the deadline, they couldn’t get anything for him. And then he goes into free agency and everybody in the league wants him at significant money. And so I just I I I it’s really fascinating to me that it just shows how difficult right now it is to make a move when this guy would was there for the taking at the trade deadline for anybody. They couldn’t get a significant offer. Patrick Aline basically announces that to the world that they couldn’t get a significant offer. essentially did it in a disparaging way. I was at the press conference and then all of a sudden one they come back to him and offer him seven years at 725. Um but uh would you guys pause? Is that all right? [Music] A lot of people are talking about obviously Besser choosing to sign in Vancouver and not coming to the Minnesota Wild, but Joe, a lot of people don’t really understand that there’s going to be a lot more to it than just Wild choosing not to sign players.
Yeah. I mean, I think the the key thing now is everyone’s going to have money in cap space going forward. So, it’s not like they can just overpay people and then that’ll be the carrot to bring them to Minnesota. I think you need to find you need to create yourself as a destination spot um for players to come here and win. Um I know I know I think Mike’s had some conversation with people players come in the playoffs and I’ve talked to other people too on the league about Minnesota and I think there’s a lot of really good vibes as far as like the place to live and raise a family and the market in terms of the fans. Uh but I think people want to see the Wild take another step and win a playoff round maybe before convincing themselves to make this a long-term spotter in free agency. And uh good news for the Wilders, Nikico Sturtorm did pick to return um in Minnesota. Obviously, Terasenko waved his no trade clause um to come to Minnesota with with the assist from Carroll Capri off who chat with him on the phone on Monday. But Mike, I think that’s kind of the key going forward here with more money in like in the pockets of the W of the Wild Brass. Like can they convince some of these guys to to come here free agency or way with no trade for that big trade in the middle of the season? Yeah, I I think that’s the big thing is that like in today’s NHL with the caps going up and up, if they are going to delve into free agency or with, you know, threequarters of the league, it seems having trade protection, um, you know, you’re constantly going to have to sit there and and, you know, recruit, but turn show everybody that you’re a destination. And the way to do that is winning. um you know there look the perception out there is I know that the Wild are sensitive to this but look they’ve made the playoffs eight times in the last 10 years but they’ve also lost in the first round eight times in the last 10 years and I can tell you like when I walk into the Florida room now because I’ve covered them for three playoff rounds playoff uh years in a row like like they all know me as as somebody that covers the Wild so they always ask me about the Wild and they all talk about and these are big players is talking about how they that god they’re so good every year in the regular season but they just can’t get over the hump and I just feel like that’s the perception out there and so until you win until you show the rest of the league that you can get over that quote unquote hump um you you you know it’s going to be hard to recruit players in a league where there’s 32 great markets and there’s soon going to be 34 great markets and maybe even 36 soon after that and um you know they’re they’re just going to continue to expand this league so it’s just going to get harder and harder especially as the cap continues to climb and Everybody’s got money.
I think I think that’s what’s encouraging I guess right now if you’re a Wild fan is that Krill Capri off at least believes that the Wild can win and has been very happy. Uh obviously he talked to Kerosenko about coming into play uh here in Minnesota. It seems like Bill Garren’s been very talking to us about signing Krill to an extension which he was eligible starting on on Tuesday. Mike, what is your sense on kind of where we are in that process and what that number might look like now that we have free agency kind of over? Well, I thought for a long time that he’s signing. He just seemed everybody I talked to behind the scenes says how much he loves it here. And I know again I just said that there’s 32 great markets and you know maybe he’s he’s appealing uh finds that appealing somewhere else. But the new CBA rules actually really helped the Wild because the Wild are the one team that can sign him to eight years. um where everybody else in the league, if he goes to free agency on July 1, assuming he’s not traded by the Wild before that, he could sign for only six. So, if the Wild traded him to another team technically next season, um then they could sign him to eight years. Um so, I I just think that that um I don’t think Bill and Leopold would so be so publicly publicly um
confident or optimistic or Yeah. like like and the other part of me is like I know Bill said like I this is I got no basis for believing this. Okay, but um no basis for saying it other than total conjecture, but I know that Bill said that last that he was talking to his agent the last couple days. Um you know I just wonder if maybe a lot of the homework has been done and it’s just a matter of just figuring out the the sorting through everything. Um, and essentially that it’s sort of I don’t want to say agreed to, but um, but you the one thing is that Carrill’s in Moscow right now and when he signs the Wild are going to want to do all sorts of bells and whistles as they should. Um, I would think that they’d want to almost wait to announce something until he’s back in the country. Um, and I don’t know if they’d make them, you know, if he’d want to fly back here just for a couple days to to announce something like that. So maybe they’re just they’re, you know, they’re gonna maybe they even just agree to it and then they have their press conference when he returns here and we’re just going to be waiting until later in the summer or September. That’s sort of what happened with Dry Idol last year. Remember true D Idol signed right before training camp. Um it was actually right before it was probably around September 4th or something because I remember I was at the uh NHL car wash the media tour um in Vegas and I was sitting at a table with him with like three or four other writers and he had just signed his contract. Um, so like you know it doesn’t have to get done right this second. So I do think like I tr as I wrote the other day like I I trust the Wild when they when they you know are so confident and I trust him that he wants to stay here. So we’ll see.
I think the real move would be to sign him on the fourth and just erase the uh Parisian suitor.
That is a good point. Um Joe uh Joe might be not in a condition to write that day though. So, I might have to making sure my
feel like I’m doing every time I show this, I feel like I’m doing brand uh you know, like you know, like just go to sodastick.com and get it. It’s crazy. And I think
that’s really not why I have it. But sodastick.com, some some of the proceeds go to the children’s hospital. Essentially, the way it works is they sell it and then I get a check and then I donate to the children’s hospital. Nice. the the next domino to drop other than Kil Capri off uh Marco Rossi and we have been writing the last couple months Mike and it has been true that he’s been part of you know trade conversations with other teams seems to have called the Wild about Marco’s availability because they’ve sensed the contract impass or stalemate whatever you want to call it the Wild have had with Marco. Um, do you get a sense like I do that since we got past the draft, all that stuff like that, while he could get traded, a likely scenario is he does get signed at some point later this summer?
Um, I still don’t know. Um, every time I come on here, I’m expecting to see that 67’s jersey disappear, but it’s still there. Um, you know, uh, you know, like, uh, I don’t know. I I really don’t. And I know that he says, first of all, when he says he’ll match anybody’s uh offer sheet, that’s that’s a strategic thing to let everybody else know publicly. I don’t know if I totally believe it. Like if somebody came in and offered him 7, you know, 2001 million, which is right below that one threshold that goes over the first and third. Um, you know, I I don’t I just don’t see them matching. I I don’t because they don’t believe he’s that in that even ballpark that vicinity. So I think it’s just him saying that publicly. So I I would take that for a grain of salt. Um you know I do think that they’re I do think they’re going to continue to look I really do. Um because the other issue here that’s going to make I think bridging the gap really difficult is I don’t think their side has a lot of trust that the Wild they know that the Wild have been trying to trade him and if he signs a tradable contract Marco’s not going to trust that he’s just not going to be traded somewhere else. Um if that makes sense. So, like,
yeah,
you know, they they
if it’s too if it’s too low and it’s just essentially something that’s allowing him extra time to move a very tradable contract, I I just don’t know if Marco’s going to sort of Marco’s agent going to fall for that. Um, so we’ll see where this goes. I I just think that this could be a long process. I think I know his agent’s shopping for offer sheets. Um, so we’ll see where where it does go. Um the one thing though is that like another team now after hearing what what Billy said might just not want to do the offer sheet and then run into him in a back room one day. You know meetings and you know you go into the bathroom at the O Palm Beach in Manalapan and all of a sudden Billy’s at the you might turn right around and leave. God. And Joe, you mentioned that uh someone had commented on your post asking about comparing him to Braden Point because of size and point totals early on in their career. Well, I will say this. Uh what does remind me a little bit of the two is kind of that determination, playing bigger than their size. Like Marco, a lot of his goals are within five feet of the net, right? Like he’s not afraid to go to those areas, you know? Um, and I think that’s what obviously Brain Point um, has done as well his entire career. He had to fight the label of being too small forever, right? Um, I I just I mean I think Marco’s a really good player. I just don’t I think Braen Point’s a superstar.
Yeah.
And Braden Point’s a 50 goal scorer. Um, like I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Marco scoring 25 goals. That’s a really good player. Really good two three seed to have. Um but Braden Point I think uh his skill set um is elite elite in that respect. Um so I think there are similarities in terms of uh you know toughness, able to go to the dirty areas for their size, not backing down from anybody. Um obviously being able to defend well um to Rain Point is a guy who I think if he had the better matchups could be a Selki caliber uh defender. So, um, but yeah, I think in that respect, I think Marco, uh, you know, kind of determination, that kind of thing. But, uh, I think, you know, Braden points, like I think overall skill set is, uh, a step above, of course, uh, and he’s proven it in any shell. 50 goal scorer, one of the top in the league,
and I mean, he’s he’s no Louis Belpio, but he’ll serve on the bench. Um,
yeah. So Russo, you whether you want to admit it or not, you basically spoke the uh Mark the Sturm contract into existence. We’ve talked, you guys have at least said quite a bit in your writing and on X about Terasenko and why they felt that was the move. Everyone’s concern now is uhoh, are we pushing the prospects down yet again? Where do you see them slotting in? And do you think that that’s a valid concern for fans who are very vocal about that being a concern?
Yep, I will. Sorry, just sending a tweet. I was replying to That’s why I was smiling. I was replying a guy with a with my typical sarcasm. So I just reported that Cal Peterson has a one-year oneway $700 75,000 contract. So he’s like one way and I go I go you could bury that, you know. So it comes off the cap completely if he’s in Iowa. So I said unless you’re helping Craig pay the 775 in Iowa, who gets don’t sweat it. Like fans just get up in arms about everything. Um so Teraraeno I mean where do I see him sliding in? I I he is going to get like as as Joe reported the other day, John Hines is gonna go down Florida and um tough gig uh and uh you know he’ll turn that one lunch or dinner into a week.
Bring his family down there too, you know. Look at that. all of a sudden you know Billy uh really hitting off with Terara Seno spend like two or three extra days here on the uh on the beach. Um so uh you know so that’s a good sign. I mean we just saw Mike Sullivan do that with Mika Zan. We see coaches do that a lot with players that they you know they go to a new place and they got to sit there and try to get that guy in line and and I’m sure Quinnville just recently did that with Krider as well. Um so you know I I think that’s a good thing. they’re going to give him every opportunity because I think the one thing that they realize or they they they’re betting on is that it just was not the right fit in Detroit. He didn’t play a lot in the top six and and so they’re going to give him every opportunity to play in the top six and and you know, look, I mean, first of all, he looked incredibly good yesterday. I know we’re talking to him on a Zoom, but he looked fit as a fiddle. Um certainly suntanned, so he’s definitely going out on the water golfing every day. Um, and he uh, you know, he he’s somebody that I think that they’re going to they want to keep on his off off wing because that’s where he really uh, seems to flourish is playing on that right side. So then the question is how does it work? Is it Rossi or Eric next to him and then on the left wing do they put Baldi there who we have seen Baldi play really well on the left side or um, but I think they love Baldi with Capri off right now. So they put Zukarella there which makes a lot of sense if Zukarella’s okay playing left side and and then you know you have a guy that can maybe put the puck on the platter for Terasenko and we see how um Zuki has eyes in the back of his head and has this wavelength with Carrick Capri off and maybe he could develop that with uh with Teraraenko. So, um, look, I have not been in like I covered that Florida run a couple years ago when he played third line with Lindell and Lucinan. He didn’t seem he seemed to lose a lot of uh puck speed, did not have a lot of offensive chances. Um, I didn’t see him a lot in Detroit last year, although I feel like one of the games he scored against the Wild. Maybe I’m totally wrong on that. Um, and it just uh it just feels like it’s a good bet to make. Um, again, it’s not our money. You know, Craig’s got to be the one to pay the 4.75. So, if it doesn’t work out, you know, yeah, you could look at that. Um, it really with their caps based situation, I don’t think it’s affecting too much. They still have enough to pay Rossi uh whatever he’s going to eventually earn here, whether it is matching that offer sheet or negotiating contracted under his own valition. So, uh, we’ll see. I think another part of that too is I think like Scott was mentioning just where does it mean for the young players like Ogre or Eurov and
Oh yeah and I I think that uh yeah I mean Sturm more affects Eurov right um the question is does Rossi get traded um because they really like you know they they like Hartman in the middle so right now you know they’re they’re expecting some some they’re expecting that Euras going to have a transition so like when I put him at at 13th forward yesterday in fifth line center. I didn’t look at the mentions, but I’m sure that jumped out to people. Um, but that’s where he’s going to probably have to start and then he’ll work his way up. There could be injuries in camp. Um, maybe they they shuffle things around that they like. Maybe he looks in camp like he’s unbelievable. Um, so things could change, but that’s where he is right now. Um, in terms of Ogran, I mean, yeah, like like right now I would love him over Joe Hansen. I think they’re going to start Jojo on the third line. um you know and and we’ll see where it goes. Ogrren’s going to have to work his way up. Um obviously Valstat’s going to be the backup unless Peterson outplays him. Uh because Wildstat technically doesn’t doesn’t earn mile uh you know doesn’t need waiverss, but I don’t think they want to pay him 22 in the minors. Um and who’s the other one that we’re forgetting? And then you’re a Czech and Boyam are going to be it looks like in the lineup as long as they don’t look like you know me in training camp. And I’m going to kind of pivot here, too. I got to ask because I see everyone commenting on, you know, oh, the CBA doesn’t go into effect until next year. Get all these contracts in now. Oh, John Tavvarz deferral on his new deal. Like, it’s okay. He’s getting it in before the new CBA. Why is that different than what happened to the Wild with Perezian Sudter? Totally agree with you. That’s why I That’s why I sent a source from the league that when I wrote that story the other day that the general rule is that everything now is um you know is under under because here’s another
here’s another one like technically like the one thing I wanted to know is if Capri off signs now we’ve never known the cap past one year. So, is he under the rules? Like, theoretically, I’m just saying, could he get 20% of 103 or does he have to get 20% of 955? I’m told
it’s 955 even though his contract definitely starts when the cap’s 103.
Um, so like, yeah, it it is weird. Um, I really think the Wild were sort of punitively punished. Um, but the only thing I’ll say is that the the NHL’s rationale there whenever I asked Bill Daly and those people about it because this was a Bill Dailyaly thing is that and he has said this publicly to me is that the teams that were warned. So, um, oh boy, hang on for a second. Um, [Music] let’s wrap then for the the free agency piece here, guys. Like what did you think about Bill Garin’s work here? Like anything you would have done dramatically differently? Do you like it? Are there things you’re still watching for as this all unfolds? Um I mean, you know, yeah, you’d love him if he could have figured out a way to get JJ Purka here or something else. I mean, but in terms of the free agents that were out there, like like I like I I’m absolutely for it. like like like I actually like I love Besser but I but you signed Besser to seven times seven and a half and now if Tae Thompson is available this year or somebody else like you know it takes him out of that stuff. So like like this is why he’s doing it. Um now he almost went for Besser but it would have eventually affected somebody else. Besser is the only one I think he had any interest in. like he doesn’t want to you don’t want to waste 8 million bucks on a long-term deal on potentially Nikolai Ellers or something and then that takes you out of something. So I actually think it’s better not to get locked up take the one you know Terasenko comes off in a year blah blah blah. So I don’t know what what do you think Joe?
Yeah I mean obviously I like the Sterm signing. You could have gone to Sean Curle or you could got another guy there you know um at that point but Sturm you know fits the mold. He’s an elite faceoff guy. He can kill penalties. He’s familiar here. Like I think the fourth line center at that price isn’t bad, you know. So that was one need. Uh they haven’t I don’t know how much they’ve like crazy upgraded their center position depth. Like obviously he replaces Freddy better face off circle. So they haven’t really given I don’t think E more help than he had last season necessarily. I don’t know if that’s makes sense but you know Rossy’s your number unless Rossy trade brings something back in that respect. Um, but you know, Terara Senko is a buy low thing. I mean, our thoughts initially were, hey, go Patrick Kane. Maybe he would be a guy who can on a shorter term deal do it, but he resigned with Detroit.
Yeah, everybody resigned. Like the everybody I wanted them to go get like like I would have loved Corey Perry. I know that um uh you know what uh Yeah. So, I don’t know. Sorry.
In LA is very fun though if they match up again.
Yep. Yep. So,
no, like they they for what they was available like I think they they showed some restraint in a sense like um that may not have been there in the past, you know, and they got the guys they needed and you know, it’s about time to see these five first round picks and see how they do and if they if they can can end up being doing well, then you don’t have to worry about as many big big moves. But, uh you need guys on ELC’s or or cheap contracts to contribute even if the cap is going up. So, it’s time to know what these guys are capable of. Yeah, I agree. I just think that uh like I’m looking forward to seeing what these guys do. I mean, you know, especially Urachek, like I find him fascinating. They gave up a lot. We’re all like we’re all sitting there and and uh you know, scrutinizing it without ever really seeing him. The one time we did see him in the lineup that last year, like the right before he was sent down, he made that unbelievable play. Yeah.
Yeah. So, like let’s let’s see it, you know, like if if they, you know, sink or swim time. This is, you know, this is this is what we really haven’t gotten to see. I mean, obviously Baldi and Rossy, but we haven’t gotten to see a lot of these guys and and so I think it’s smart.
One last one before we do the Waggle Golf question. Uh, Mike, uh, Greg Croin, they’ll open campus today. We’re going over talk to prospects. Greg Cronin brought in as the Iowa coach, you got a chance to talk to him and have him on your show and cave fan uh, last week. just what’s your overall impressions and maybe uh whether this could be a fit and how what are you looking forward to seeing I guess from how this goes in Iowa?
Yeah, I mean I look I enjoyed talking to them. I think it’s good that they have accountability down there. I know that a lot of a lot of people have just taken gospel for some stuff that were said said on podcasts and and and written about him, but but um you know, I think that uh that uh it says something that he could have just sat home and collected his paycheck and decided no, I want to make I I I want to work. Um and he’s going to Iowa down there. So, we’ll see. I think he’ll bring some structure down there. I think um you know, you look at Anaheim last year. I don’t know if he gets fired if if uh Joel Quinnville is just not sitting there. I mean obviously Pat Verbique wanted to go and hire him and did hire him and I think that then it kind of makes more sense because if you look at Anaheim last year they were one of most other than maybe Winnipeg. um they they were you know their 21 point increase was as you know near the top of the league and um and so they just seemed they were they got to the periphery of the playoffs and and it just obviously the four nations I think took some momentum away from them but if you look at a lot of their young players they all improved especially Jackson Lome he just looked really really good I know a lot of people are just you know like they do like they’re like people one person says it just becomes accurate like ah it had nothing to do with Cronin it was only because of docel you know like come Come on, man. Like,
you know, like
had nothing to do with Cronin, but everything that went poorly was Cronin’s fault.
But he was on the radio. He said he admitted that he was probably a little bit um a little bit, you know, uh, you know, too hard on. I think he went in there with a flamethrower the first year because that was probably the edict from Patique and then he just and he wrote him win, lose or tie the whole way. And I think that the exit meetings after his first year were harsh that like this is too much even from the veterans. And I think that if you know um you know I think that that after year two I think that it was that he really toned it down started using guys like Korn and Gudas and and um you know there’s one other guy that I know astro and I think he started using sort of the the veterans more to deliver the message and wasn’t in the locker room nod and all that stuff.
Final question brought to you as always by our good friends at Waggleolf. First, make sure you head over to getyouwagalon.com. Throw in promo code sp10 to take 10% off your entire order. Today kicks off dev camp. Let’s hear it, guys. Prospect Foresome, give me four players between the two of you that you’re most interested in seeing here at Dev Camp this year.
Well, there’s not really a dev camp.
Oh, no.
Um, yeah. I mean, there’s kind of a dev camp. There’s like nine guys here, right? you know,
they’re not they’re not going on the ice. Um, it’s totally different. Um, but I mean, obviously, uh, you know, Joe is Ze Williams beat writer. He’s said I’m the only one covering Zu, so he’ll be around him today. Um, you know, I’m looking forward to, uh, seeing this, uh, young Fenom on Benk. wish they were going on the ice just so we could see what this guy looks like because a lot of people have really raved about him and said that, you know, if he was 5, six inch bigger that he’d probably be like freaking top five pick that that’s how talented he is. I’m looking forward to seeing him. Ryder Richie is somebody I’m looking forward to talking to. He had such a really quality year. Obviously went to Memorial Cup, now transferred to US College. Is it BEC or BEu?
BU. Um, so and he’s one of the biggest guys that have done that and now you know you could do stuff like that. So, I I’m interested in talking to him today about if this is be going to become a trend, but but uh yeah, we’re not going to get to really see him on the ice. We’re going to just have availabilities with him.
I think Riley Height too, uh talking catch up with him, I know with all the success guys like Hunter Hate had last year, we didn’t really see Riley height a lot cuz he was planning junior. He’ll probably be in Iowa to start the season. Just where’s he at? What do you learn from that experience NHL preseason last year? And how far away is he from playing in the NHL? So, him, Ryder, Richie, Zeve, um Coopa Linen here, I think a couple guys that are um a few other guys that are here that were were draft picks from previous years, but
yeah, he’s he’d be to we I don’t even know if we requested him today, but I’d love to know, you know, just what he was thinking going back to Finland and obviously had a down year and, you know, how much this is going to be because he’s be one of the guys that Cronin’s going to really rely on and and uh you know, have implemented in Iowa this year. So, Nice. Well, I know you guys have been uh blowing up a little bit on the side here with everything that’s going on today with uh free agency and whatever the Wild have cooking. So, appreciate you taking the time. I’ll let you guys run and get back to all of your fun. Awesome. See you. Sorry if I was distracted during the show. A lot of stuff going on. So, Scott’s got to Scott’s got some editing to do. I know Joe’s not doing it. There were pauses. or like start overs or all sorts of things. So,
all right. Cool.
Thank you.
Awesome. And as promised before, we’re going to kick it over here to close out with a little bit of prospect insight. Newest guys added to the organization with spoked Z. Let’s real quick make sure that we hit on this for the fans that either didn’t watch our live stream over the weekend, didn’t pay attention to the draft, or just don’t know any of the player names. Let’s recap the wild picks specifically if you can just give a couple minutes on each of the guys that Jud took. Obviously, I didn’t dig until number 52 uh second round. They take Theo Hawquist. Um right shot defenseman, 6’2, really good skater. He’s got some untapped offense. He started showing a little bit of that as the year went on. Looked pretty good in transition. Then he plays a pretty advanced uh defensive game as well. Never going to allow you with his skill. never really gonna like do anything that jumps off the page, but plays very reliable defensive hockey. Um, I mean, I think he probably tops out as like a five, maybe a good four if he’s a pure shutdown guy. Um, he’ll definitely have to get grow some strength. Um, but I mean, I thought he plays a very pro style game. And again, like by the end of the year, of all the the draft eligibles that played in the SHL, there wasn’t a defenseman that played more minutes than him. He ended up playing about 12 games. couple of those games that are playing 12- 13 minutes. Um so again, just plays a really predictable game. Um if his offense can like take another step forward if he can consistently show up more often, he could again potentially be a four. But um I think this this is a pick that probably hits potential five or six. Again, 6’2 right shot defenseman projectable, but very simple, smart decision maker. So I didn’t hate the pick. I thought they left some upside on the table, but um I think you know down the line he’s going to be an NHL player. Next one up is Adam Bino.
Obviously, they didn’t pick again to the fourth round to take Adam Bino, which to me was a grand slam home run swing in the fourth round. Uh big question with him is is he going to be able to play in the NHL at such a short as such a short player, 5’7 center, dynamic playmaker, dynamic offense, really good skater, moves very well, played the USHL this year. Um adapted slowly but eventually by the end of the year looked really good. So that is a home run swing on upside. I’m a big fan of that pick. If he hits as as far as like especially this draft, if you want to just talk about pure upside and like skill and what they bring to the table, he would have been an easy first round pick. Um I think there are plenty of people had him probably in their 30s or 40s just given the skill um and how good he’s been, especially like at international events, too. I’m a big big fan of Yatabanak pick. Um there wasn’t very many other guys that had like remotely close to similar upside as him in the fourth round. So I thought that was a really good pick. Um next in the fourth round again a pick a player who was really interesting Lum Amidowski out of North Bay. Um I went back I’m going to be clipping up a bunch of video especially for him. I really really do like this player. I thought that was a really good pick. Plenty of guys had him um as a top 100 pick. Uh but really just like a projectable power forward. He’s got a ton of skills. The the goals that I’ve seen him score have been very fun to watch. Like he’s just a fun player to watch. Score some sweet goals. Super strong. He’s got size. Flies up and down the ice. Plays a pretty like straightforward game as far as just like north south. Um so I think that was a nice pick in the fourth round. Again, I’ll be clipping up some videos of him post. Um after him, Carter Clippenstein just a super projectable like fourthliner. He’s a prick to play against, super physical, solid defensively, can chip in some offense occasionally. Um so another guy that just projects maybe again like not a ton of upside as far as like he’s not going to be guy that’s going to be looked at for offense or anything. Um but does play the NHL style. I can kill penalties again really just a projectable bottom six guy. um obviously with size. And then their last pick in the fifth round, uh Justin Kipki out of uh Victoria, uh one of the better defenders in the WHL as far as overages go at least. Um solid defensively, really good skater, chips in some offense. Um but okay pick again there this was the overarching thing with this draft to be honest with you is just like there it felt like a lot of teams got super lazy um and just picked for size because there are probably three or four guys that went undrafted this year that I would have comfortably took in like the second round specifically someone like Bruno Osmanis. I can’t believe he didn’t get drafted. Um, he played like 27 30 games in the SHL this year, put up like 13 points or something, which is incredible for 18-year-old. Could not believe he didn’t get drafted. Um, Dakota Ru Mulan, who played like 15 minutes a night at Michigan, 6’1 right demon, really solid. I’m pretty sure most people had him in their second round, like mid to early second round. He got undrafted. It just felt like there were so and I don’t think we’ve ever seen I think this is by far the most six foot five six six foot six defenseman we’ve ever seen go one draft it really did with a couple of these teams it felt like they watched the Panthers they were like okay big physical mean okay that’s how we’re going to draft um and in a draft that wasn’t super loaded with like high-end talent they were guys that just went undrafted that I was that was very very surprising to see so u really weird draft overall fault. Um, and again, just felt like a lot of teams were, if not like just negligent, just like lazy and just drafted for size, which I thought was very, very weird. Um,
do you uh do you think it was interesting that a Cameron Schmidt, um, Adam Bak and LJ Mooney all went very quickly, like within 20 picks of each other? And teams that like Dallas picked Logan Stank over however long ago, the Wild have Matt Zucarella and have picked Marco Rossi in the past. And the Canadians have Cole Cfield. Do you think there’s anything to be said about teams making picks that have confidence that they can develop with lack of size?
Yeah, I mean I it did feel like there someone was just wait like everyone was just waiting for someone to take Cameron Schmidt. He never should have fallen that far. It was funny like right before he got picked. I remember the live chat we were talking about and someone asked like what’s a similar player that has like this this issue like where’d they go? And I was like I think Jaden Pon went 94 to Carolina and like I mean I think two minutes later Cameron Schmidt went 94th to Dallas. Um, again, Cameron Smith again, another guy just to in terms of like goal scoring, offense, skill, skating ability, he’s a top 15 pick. It’s just the fact that he’s 5 foot seven. Um, so the fact that he fell to the fourth round, that was what surprised me. I thought the place he would go was late second, but I don’t know. But then obviously, like you said, those two guys go pretty soon after him. So, it felt like there were a lot of teams just waiting for someone to take the home run swing on one of those guys and then they would step in. Uh, I’m glad the three of them went, but it’s crazy that they end up going fourth round and later. Um, and I mean, Carolina doing the funny ass. I was just making I got to pull up their uh their draft because once again, they just sit back. They love to trade back and they are not afraid to take swings. Um, and they love drafting out of Russia. Like they trade back. They get Seamian Frol Love, who we thought there was a good chance he’d be the first goalie to go in the first round before Ravensburg. The different Russian goalender went before Ravensburg. And that was probably the most mind-blowing pick of the lot. Uh, but then they take a swing in another second round again. Charlie Sado out of Penn State, which I like Sorado a lot. He’s fun. Was surprised to see him go, but they did it. They weren’t afraid. They took Riabin at 62. Another kid, top 15 talent, may never most likely won’t play an NHL game. Uh, but so much upside. One of my favorites. They take the third round. Kerban Limit left D. Russia Kid 6’3, 6’4, flies up and down the United chips in some offense. Really good player. Roman Bosov, a massive right shot man. Very fun to watch. And then two of my favorites, VGO Nordland and Philip Eckberg in round six and seven. Another two players who are undersized but insanely insanely skilled. VGO Nordland is another kid if he wasn’t 5 foot eight probably would have gotten the first round. So the most projectable style in the world but one of the more skilled players in this class and he’s a ton of fun to watch. So I wasn’t surprised to see him go late. Um of course it was Carolina.
Thank you all again for tuning in as you do every week. Those of you that are new here, welcome. We’d definitely appreciate subscribing on Apple or Spotify, leaving five star review. If you like video more than audio, definitely check us out on YouTube at uh the soda pod. But otherwise, uh we’re going to have content turnurning out for you guys all summer. Awesome interview banked with coach of the Gophers, Bob MCO, that I believe we’ll be using next week as it sits right now, if not the week following. Um, but let us know if there’s guys you want us to be bringing in from the Wild, from the Gophers, from wherever for interviews throughout the summer. Hit us up in the comments. Let us know who we need to grab for you. But otherwise, catch you all next week. Stay classy, State of Hockey. [Music]

Michael Russo jumps on to discuss everything Minnesota Wild and addresses fan outrage after the Chrismas in July they’ve been waiting for failed to live up to expectations as covered by Joe Smith on “Fellowship of the Rink” Episode 71

Minnesota Wild with Joe & Russo
— What happened to Christmas morning after Parise & Suter buyouts?
— The Athletic MIN War Room
— Brock Boeser re-signing with Vancouver Canucks
—- Not signing players vs persuading them to play in Minnesota
— Kirill Kaprizov contract
— Marco Rossi offer sheet
— Sturm & Tarasenko impact on prospects like Yurov & Ohgren
— Pros & Cons of Wild signings so far
— Greg Cronin interview with Russo on KFAN – fit for Iowa Wild?
— Waggle Golf Prospect Foursome
—- go to https://tinyurl.com/45bh24ch and take 10% off with promo code SP10
– Spoked Z reviews Minnesota’s 2025 NHL Draft class
— [2nd] 52) Theodor Hallquisth
— [4th] 102) Adam Benak
— [4th] 121) Lirim Amidovski
— [4th] 123) Carter Klippenstein
— [5th] 141) Justin Kipkie
— Tall players over-drafted, short players slide too far

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FOTR Ep71 feat. Russo | “Christmas in July” for Minnesota Wild | NHL Free Agent Frenzy | Boeser Deal

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