Wild salary commitments...

LemaireisGOD · February 25th, 2007, 05:54 PM

A very interesting spreadsheet with all of Minnesota's salary commitments until 2010-11.

HockeyAnalysis.com - Taking a deeper look at the world of hockey. » Minnesota Wild

GO WILD!!!

Socodawgs · February 26th, 2007, 04:33 PM

We are paying Kim Johnnson how much!!!

Chinaski · February 26th, 2007, 05:03 PM

Thanks for the link. Here's another one that is very similar and also gives RFA and UFA status. I can't say it is 100% reliable, but it seems to be pretty accurate -
NHL Team Salaries

That Johnsson contract could become a serious burden if he doesn't improve dramatically next year. I'll cut him a little slack this year, but he's making too much to not get it together and start playing like a $5 million defenseman right out of the gate next year.

LemaireisGOD · February 27th, 2007, 05:58 AM

I think we've been getting pretty solid play defensively out of him considering the big minutes he logs, but offensively that must improve to justify his salary most definately. I am not going to cut anyone some slack, but I guess I still believe that he's the best defenseman we've ever had. If we hadn't seen him put up significant points for the Flyers over the years I don't think anyone would really be questioning him all that much. One statistic that might be rather revealing is his shots on goal. My guess is that his shots on goal are WAY down from what it was when he was with Philadelphia. If his shots are the same then I think he's more prime for criticism. Just a thought.

Chinaski · February 27th, 2007, 07:44 AM

I think it was the Star Tribune that ran an article not too long ago about how both Parrish and Johnsson have had to change their games based on what is expected of them here. Apparently, it is more than what has been expected of them in their past roles on other teams. That's about the only reason I will cut Johnsson a little slack. I think that playing for Lemaire can be considerably different than playing for a lot of other coaches. It can take some time to adjust and with the injuries this team has had, it also takes awhile to develop the chemistry.

Personally, if Johnsson wasn't known as a defenseman with offensive upside I would have rather had Mitchell if I thought we were going to sign a one-dimensional defenseman. I don't necessarily think he has to put up monster numbers, but I thought he would be more of a catalyst to the breakout than he has and might have been able to help hold the offensive zone a little longer with smart pinches.

He might have a lot more points if we didn't use Rolston on the point on the PP as well. Didn't he get a lot of first unit PP minutes with the Flyers?

LemaireisGOD · February 27th, 2007, 02:55 PM

I'd say he's been pretty competant as the breakout passer type of defenseman. To be honest...I'm fairly satisfied with what he's done for this team thus far. Would I like more points, yea of course...but we could say that about alot of players. I think Lemaire wants to see some more points, and I think he'd pretty effective if we tried to set up that back door play we'd occasionally try with Kuba / Zyuzin. Either way...he's far better than those two dopes even though by Kuba's own standards he's have a monster year and I'd much rather have Johnsson than Kuba. Just a thought. Mitchell? Nah...he sucks. I'm glad he's gone too.

Chinaski · February 27th, 2007, 06:14 PM

Kuba's having a monster year by his standards because of the big 3 in Tampa. No way it can be Kuba on his own, can it?

Agree on the back door play and it has been there a few times. You can tell Johnsson is looking for it. We need to find a way to open up that passing lane more on the PP.

LemaireisGOD · February 28th, 2007, 05:32 AM

I think it has a lot to do with Tampa's forwards, it really opens up the point positions rather nicely. Although if you look at a lot of Kuba's goals this year you notice he's shooting fairly close to the net. He was marginally effective when he did that for the Wild; but his point shots were utterly useless. Johnsson to me has a better shot from the point and is generally much more versatile than Kuba. Kuba still doesn't body up on a guy, yet we'll see Johnsson hit someone. He's no Phaneuf but he's not just going to let a guy skate by him just because he's too much of a pansie to hit someone for a change. Kuba would let the guy skate past, hook him or trip him and consider it well defended. He was so overrated when he was here. GO WILD!!!

Chinaski · February 28th, 2007, 06:14 AM

Kuba was brutal. I couldn't stand the guy. Especially his reluctance to take the body, even when it was the ONLY viable defensive play available to make.

Early in the season, Skoula was brutal too. I took to calling him Skuba.

LemaireisGOD · February 28th, 2007, 01:31 PM

So did I...Skouba! Although he's been much better since we started sitting Petteri Nummelin more. GO WILD!!!

Chinaski · February 28th, 2007, 03:58 PM

That's great! At least Kuba trained me to not get too excited about Skoula's early season mistakes. I would just mutter, "here comes a turnover".

To his credit, Skoula has picked it up. And that's the difference. I have actually seen Skoula hit some people and do so effectively. I think he rushes the puck and passes it better than Kuba as well. He's serviceable and he's got some potential to be better. I wonder if they'll try to re-sign him.

LemaireisGOD · March 1st, 2007, 01:38 PM

I think that's dependent on whether we think Belle is finally ready for primetime. Although the rumors I've heard is the team is not going to re-sign AJ Thelen; if we don't I guess we can officially call him the team's first 1st round bust. GO WILD!!!

February 25th, 2007, 05:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	Wild salary commitments... A very interesting spreadsheet with all of Minnesota's salary commitments until 2010-11. HockeyAnalysis.com - Taking a deeper look at the world of hockey. » Minnesota Wild GO WILD!!! __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

February 26th, 2007, 04:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
Socodawgs Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 73	Holy Cow! We are paying Kim Johnnson how much!!!

February 27th, 2007, 05:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	I think we've been getting pretty solid play defensively out of him considering the big minutes he logs, but offensively that must improve to justify his salary most definately. I am not going to cut anyone some slack, but I guess I still believe that he's the best defenseman we've ever had. If we hadn't seen him put up significant points for the Flyers over the years I don't think anyone would really be questioning him all that much. One statistic that might be rather revealing is his shots on goal. My guess is that his shots on goal are WAY down from what it was when he was with Philadelphia. If his shots are the same then I think he's more prime for criticism. Just a thought. __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

February 27th, 2007, 02:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	I'd say he's been pretty competant as the breakout passer type of defenseman. To be honest...I'm fairly satisfied with what he's done for this team thus far. Would I like more points, yea of course...but we could say that about alot of players. I think Lemaire wants to see some more points, and I think he'd pretty effective if we tried to set up that back door play we'd occasionally try with Kuba / Zyuzin. Either way...he's far better than those two dopes even though by Kuba's own standards he's have a monster year and I'd much rather have Johnsson than Kuba. Just a thought. Mitchell? Nah...he sucks. I'm glad he's gone too. __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

February 28th, 2007, 05:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	I think it has a lot to do with Tampa's forwards, it really opens up the point positions rather nicely. Although if you look at a lot of Kuba's goals this year you notice he's shooting fairly close to the net. He was marginally effective when he did that for the Wild; but his point shots were utterly useless. Johnsson to me has a better shot from the point and is generally much more versatile than Kuba. Kuba still doesn't body up on a guy, yet we'll see Johnsson hit someone. He's no Phaneuf but he's not just going to let a guy skate by him just because he's too much of a pansie to hit someone for a change. Kuba would let the guy skate past, hook him or trip him and consider it well defended. He was so overrated when he was here. GO WILD!!! __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

February 26th, 2007, 05:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chinaski Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 15	Thanks for the link. Here's another one that is very similar and also gives RFA and UFA status. I can't say it is 100% reliable, but it seems to be pretty accurate - NHL Team Salaries That Johnsson contract could become a serious burden if he doesn't improve dramatically next year. I'll cut him a little slack this year, but he's making too much to not get it together and start playing like a $5 million defenseman right out of the gate next year.

February 27th, 2007, 07:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
Chinaski Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 15	I think it was the Star Tribune that ran an article not too long ago about how both Parrish and Johnsson have had to change their games based on what is expected of them here. Apparently, it is more than what has been expected of them in their past roles on other teams. That's about the only reason I will cut Johnsson a little slack. I think that playing for Lemaire can be considerably different than playing for a lot of other coaches. It can take some time to adjust and with the injuries this team has had, it also takes awhile to develop the chemistry. Personally, if Johnsson wasn't known as a defenseman with offensive upside I would have rather had Mitchell if I thought we were going to sign a one-dimensional defenseman. I don't necessarily think he has to put up monster numbers, but I thought he would be more of a catalyst to the breakout than he has and might have been able to help hold the offensive zone a little longer with smart pinches. He might have a lot more points if we didn't use Rolston on the point on the PP as well. Didn't he get a lot of first unit PP minutes with the Flyers?

February 27th, 2007, 06:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chinaski Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 15	Kuba's having a monster year by his standards because of the big 3 in Tampa. No way it can be Kuba on his own, can it? Agree on the back door play and it has been there a few times. You can tell Johnsson is looking for it. We need to find a way to open up that passing lane more on the PP.

February 28th, 2007, 06:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
Chinaski Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 15	Kuba was brutal. I couldn't stand the guy. Especially his reluctance to take the body, even when it was the ONLY viable defensive play available to make. Early in the season, Skoula was brutal too. I took to calling him Skuba.

February 28th, 2007, 01:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	So did I...Skouba! Although he's been much better since we started sitting Petteri Nummelin more. GO WILD!!! __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)

February 28th, 2007, 03:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
Chinaski Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 15	That's great! At least Kuba trained me to not get too excited about Skoula's early season mistakes. I would just mutter, "here comes a turnover". To his credit, Skoula has picked it up. And that's the difference. I have actually seen Skoula hit some people and do so effectively. I think he rushes the puck and passes it better than Kuba as well. He's serviceable and he's got some potential to be better. I wonder if they'll try to re-sign him.

March 1st, 2007, 01:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
LemaireisGOD Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 504	I think that's dependent on whether we think Belle is finally ready for primetime. Although the rumors I've heard is the team is not going to re-sign AJ Thelen; if we don't I guess we can officially call him the team's first 1st round bust. GO WILD!!! __________________ "Why mess around with PT Boats when you can have a Destroyer?" ~ Al Strachan (Hockey Night in Canada)