Dan Wallace: Gustavsson and Duhaime File For Arbitration

I am wondering if Guerin is going to lock Gus in for the 2 years then. The Wild should have ample cap space in 2 years. And maybe Wallstedt will be ready to be the #1 in 2 years. If so, would Gus become a tradable asset towards the end of year 2? I personally would like to see Gus on a 3yr contract, where the Wild could use him in a trade that 3rd year (this means Wallstedt is the stud people are expecting him to be) to bring in whatever they really need at that time.

Now that 4th line has Maroon and Dewar written in already. That really doesn't seem like a spot for Walker. Beckman has a chip on his shoulder, so he might be that 3rd guy on the 4th line. I think Duhaime is going to end up being traded, which (IMO) is going to weaken the 4th line. It will be funny if he stays, as we see Dewey x2 racing up the ice with the puck....and Maroon about 25-30ft behind them, chugging his way towards the offensive zone.

I forgot to add, I really wish the Wild brass would just say "puck it" and run Rossi with Kaprizov and Zuccarello. If KK and Rossi can form some type of good chemistry, it makes it easier to not have to resign Zuccarello and instead find a larger, skilled wing to skate with them. I see a line of Zucc/Rossi/KK being beat up on every inch of the ice though. My way to early lineup for right now...

Zuccarello/Rossi/Kaprizov
Johansson/EK/Boldy
Foligno/Gaudreau/Hartman
Beckman/Dewar/Maroon

I forgot to add, I really wish the Wild brass would just say "puck it" and run Rossi with Kaprizov and Zuccarello. If KK and Rossi can form some type of good chemistry, it makes it easier to not have to resign Zuccarello and instead find a larger, skilled wing to skate with them. I see a line of Zucc/Rossi/KK being beat up on every inch of the ice though. My way to early lineup for right now...

Zuccarello/Rossi/Kaprizov
Johansson/EK/Boldy
Foligno/Gaudreau/Hartman
Beckman/Dewar/Maroon
- Gusrichards

I like those line combinations. But I’d prefer Foligno on the 4th line with Maroon being the 13th forward. Give Walker an extended look on the Gaudreau line.

I honestly believe that last year was just an off year for Foligno. Now, I don't hold any illusions that he is going to score 40+ pts ever again, but I think 25-30 should be what is expected of him. A part of me thinks that bringing Reaves onto the team last year made Foligno feel a little insignificant. It had been his "job" the few years before to be the muscle. So Foligno went out of his way (and hence, off his game) to be the guy throwing all the hits, and it hurt the team and his game. That kind of thinking is something that Evason/Guerin have to nip in the bud right now. Yes, be heavy to play against. But teams KNOW he is going to try to hit them....what happens when they tense up for the hit and Foligno just skates in and takes the puck away. Probably leads to a decent scoring chance. Like I said, I think last year was just a down year for him. Now being on a line with Gaudreau is not going to really open up his scoring chances, but they still should be decent for a 3rd line.

I just think Walker with his speed has more upside than Foligno. Foligno has pretty much played his role effectively and consistently. He’s never scored more than 26 points in a season except for that outlier year. He’s turning 32 and Gaudreau’s lack of playmaking won’t help him. You’re optimistic and I hope you’re right if he plays there.

I agree Walker has got a higher upside potential offensively compared to Foligno. But I don't consider the 3rd line to be a line that is expected to score that often. Unfortunately, I see Walker making the team as a extra forward. His skill can work in Top 6, but I just don't see him as a regular NHLer. That being said, he could see more ice time on a 4th line of Beckman (or Duhaime, if they can re-sign hm)/Dewar/Walker. Would be the energy kid line, and they would only play as a line when facing a team that is speed and skill, and no need for the heavy 4th line.

If the Wild lose Duhaime and have already lost Reaves and Dumba, this is NOT going to be a heavy team to play against. Yes, Maroon does bring that element, as does Foligno, but that's it. Middleton is the only one in the D core that does. Merrill tries to, but he's just not built for it. There are some possible brutes coming soon on D, but they aren't here are ready yet. But the likes of Daemon Hunt could feasibly make the roster as the 7th D (as long as they don't re-sign Addison) and he could be some beef on the back end.

Muscle and might is a concern. I hope Duhaime signs because he brings some of that. I’m thinking they got Maroon because they aren’t confident they can sign Duhaime. If Duhaime stays, Maroon should be in the press box and deployed into service when a matchup calls for it. He’s a poor man’s Reaves.

I’m not convinced Walker is a regular NHLer. But I think you put him or Beckman if he looks better with Gaudreau. Let’s see what we got. I like the Dewey’s with Foligno because he can open up some space for them. They don’t finish well but hey it’s the 4th line. Don’t like Walker or Beckman on the roster unless they’re playing top 9. We’ll see how it goes.

Any info. on what's going on with Matt Dumba ?? Figured he would have been signed by somebody by now. Is he staying with Minnesota ?

Any info. on what's going on with Matt Dumba ?? Figured he would have been signed by somebody by now. Is he staying with Minnesota ?
- Vladdie_Kon1

No, he's not going to be with the Wild anymore (thank goodness). Who knows what is going on with him. Either he is asking for to much money, to long a contract, or both. OR, he is holding out for 1 or 2 specific teams he wants to sign with. He will have to live there after all.

Yeah, I think there is about a 1.3% chance that Dumba re-signs with the Wild, in other words, ain't gonna happen. They would need to trade away both Duhaime and Addison, and then Dumba would have to play for pennies on the dollar. And by that I mean for like $1.6 mil at the most. I don't believe his is willing to go from $6 mil/yr to $1.6mil/yr to stay with the Wild. I understand being loyal, but that would be beyond being loyal. And I don't the Players Association would let him take a contract like that either.

I did hear a rumor that Yzerman was going to have a contract offer to Dumba first day of free agency... Not sure if Dumba declined or is asking for too much salary and term. There's gotta be a reason he's not signed with somebody at this point. Just strange he hasn't found a new team yet. Yzerman still has a little over 8 million in cap space even after signing Debrincat... but he won't sign anybody past 4 or 5 years because of the rebuild he's doing.

First of all Dumba does not have a ton of value at his current rate, and quite frankly I think the majority of NHL scouts and owners have seen how overvalued he really is over the past few seasons which is probably a big reason Billy couldn’t move him at the deadline.
On top of that his personal baggage consists of promoting BLM Bullpoop among other politically charged racial garbage,which I’m sure isn’t all that attractive to the majority of owners and coaches.

And quite frankly (again) hes just not that good. He’s an average bottom 4 d man. The fact that he’s a right shot is the only alluring quality he’s got.