On today’s episode of Locked on Wild, Alex Micheletti joins as we look ahead to 2025-26 to see who will still be here and how many roster spots will be filled by younger prospects! We start with the goalie room, which hinges on Filip Gustavsson’s upcoming extension. There could be a couple of years of overlap between Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt before Wallstedt takes over as the top goalie. We look at the blue line, with several names that could step up such as Kyle Masters, Carson Lambos and Jack Peart. We also discuss the likelihood that Jon Merrill makes it to the end of his current deal. We move to the forwards, and the chances that Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman are retained. We look at potential fill in candidates in Liam Ohgren, Adam Beckman and Marco Rossi. The main point being that the 2025-26 roster is wide open, which means that playing prospects now is vital to the team’s overall success in two years!
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7 Comments
go look at the final 4 teams the past 4-5 years in the NHL, their D Core ALL have either HUGE size or good size but with Elite skaters (Makar & Toews in Colorado) Our small & soft D Core can't win at Playoff Hockey, their bodies can't can't hold up to survive 1 round, let alone 4…
The real queation: Is Gus who we think he is/who he was last season???
If the answer is "YES" you have a golden ticket in Iowa to make a move.
TRADE WALLSTEDT!
I’m guessing the Wild resign Middleton. He’s big, defensively responsible, and tough. AKA playoff hockey. Yes maybe he’s more of a second or even third pair Dman. His value is as good as anyone on the team contract wise.
My thoughts on todays show.
To begin with I think the Wild will have to give up a draft pick to get Merrill or gosky off the team
San Jose would be a good suitor
Zuggs ran out of gas last year ,
Age is catching up with him
The Wild have to bring up the kids
It's all part of the plan!
Iowa is loaded I'm thinking 4 players
Make this year's team
I can also see Dean Evason having a breakdown when this happens!
Also I'm thinking Gus will be taken
To arbitration he's asking for all the money playing a half year will see
Got 2 years. 2 tracks, the plan and the opportunity track. Need a center, draft and develop or get in free agency? Gus’s value on open market? Over achieve in 23-24 or allow some prospects to dip their toe in the nhl? Like most things, it’s complicated. Stick to the plan and wait for an opportunity to get a player(s) ready to make an impact in 25-26.
If the negotiations go sideways, what would Gusty be worth in a sign and trade? I would think a desperate team would plop a first rounder, + maybe another pick or player for a potential top goalie. Buyer beware however as the Wild play a pretty structured game and Gusty struggled when on an undisciplined team in Ottawa. With the Wild having too many goalies this is BIG plus, but it’s all about not tying up too much money for one position. I would keep Wallstedt period, as he continues to shine and sounds like the real deal for the next decade. With Brodin verses Spurgeon, it’s no comparison that 25 is the D you would keep. Spurgeon would be another player I would see what the market bares- maybe an Edmonton or Calgary – going homeward bound would free up money and potentially getting fair value. Lastly, it’s time for the prospects to prove themselves, take off the training wheels and see what they have. The D core is loaded with prospects including Spacek in Europe as well as the players Alex brought up, they are going to need a chance with the big club sooner than later.
Beckman played fantastic, he made an immediate impact. Absolutely deserves more playing time in '23-24. I'm not sold on Rossi, he didn't have a significant impact in his first few exhibitions. Prove me wrong. Gus was a STUD under pressure, we had some of the best goaltending in the league. Why mess with this? Let's stack the team with youth in '23-24, and build a winning franchise that can contend for the cup. We need big fast, modern young skaters that can score. Foligno, Zucci, Goligoski love ya but it's time to hang-em up. The Hawks just got Bedard, who do we get?