Throughout their historical past, Minnesota Wild followers love an excellent villain. Todd Bertuzzi was one in all the first to feel the wrath of Wild followers throughout their first style of playoff hockey. The playoff vitriol was renewed when Patrick Roy went from a Hall of Fame goalie in the 2000s to the Colorado Avalanche’s head coach in the 2010s.
Even Ryan Suter went from franchise savior to playoff adversary in current historical past, and the first spherical usually could as nicely be Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s “Final Boss” persona, given how lengthy it’s been since the Wild have been out of the first spherical.
But the Wild’s upcoming playoff sequence with the Dallas Stars has an opportunity to supply some new villains. And winger Jason Robertson is one in all the greatest that would come out of this sequence.
Wild followers have already got some beef established with Robertson. When he grew to become a full-time NHL participant throughout the 2020-21 season, he was the prime competition for Kirill Kaprizov for the Calder Trophy, scoring 17 objectives and recording 45 factors in 51 video games. He grew to become an All-Star throughout the 2022-23 season (46 objectives, 109 factors) and had two objectives and 7 factors throughout the final playoff sequence towards Minnesota the following spring.
But whereas Robertson appeared like a blossoming franchise participant, he’s hit a wall since that sequence. Robertson has tallied 80 factors in every of the previous two seasons, and whereas he’s rebounded with 41 objectives and 91 factors in 78 video games getting into Thursday night time’s recreation towards the Wild, he’s develop into missed.
The most fast storyline to Wild followers is Robertson’s feud with basic supervisor Bill Guerin. Guerin has been the basic supervisor for the United States nationwide crew for the Olympics and final yr’s 4 Nations Tournament, however Guerin opted towards including Robertson to the crew. While Team USA might have used his aim-scoring, Guerin opted for a extra full strategy, including physicality to the backside six.
Guerin’s strategy labored, capturing the United States’ first Olympic gold medal since 1980. But Robertson could be human if he watched that efficiency and believed he ought to have been a part of it. This creates the typical “revenge” storyline that anybody who didn’t go to Milan would have, but it surely’s not the solely purpose Robertson might play with some hearth in the playoffs.
Robertson will develop into a restricted free agent at the finish of this season. While it appeared he was a cornerstone for Dallas, it appears like his personal group has been planning an exit technique. The Stars made a giant dedication, signing Mikko Rantanen to an eight-yr, $96 million contract after acquiring him in a commerce with the Carolina Hurricanes final season. While the cap goes up, there’s a query of how a lot they wish to pay Robertson.
The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman dove into Robertson’s case, projecting his subsequent contract with a $11.9 million per season. But he’s additionally enjoying at a stage that may have his market worth bounce as much as $15.7 million over the subsequent eight seasons.
The Wild could have sabotaged Robertson’s marketing campaign to receives a commission after handing Kaprizov a contract with a $17 million annual common worth that begins subsequent yr. And whereas groups have determined to maintain their very own gamers amid a wage-cap enhance, relatively than being extra aggressive in free company, Robertson might be the odd man out in Dallas in the event that they wind up getting bounced by the Wild in the first spherical.
“As much as the Stars may not want to trade Robertson, it may be the only way to shake up this roster if this postseason ends up in disappointment again,” Goldman wrote. “Dallas’ asset pool has been decimated over the years; its prospect pipeline is down at thirty first in the league, and the membership is already with out two of its subsequent three first, second, and third rounders.
“So this might be the best path to gaining assets that allow this team to swing for another high-end player. It’s just a risky path, considering how few players are as valuable as Robertson right now. The Stars know exactly what he is capable of, how well he fits in Dallas, and what a core part of this team has become.”
This units up a harmful mixture for the Wild. Robertson could wish to stick it to Guerin after being handed over twice for the U.S. nationwide crew. But he additionally in all probability desires to receives a commission and ensure it occurs in Dallas. Robertson’s playoff profession hasn’t been fruitful as he had simply 4 objectives and 6 factors in the Stars’ 11-recreation playoff run a yr in the past but when he performs like he did in 2022-23 (seven objectives, 18 factors in 19 video games) and 2023-24 (six objectives, 16 factors), he can present that he’s a part of the answer.
For a Wild crew on the lookout for their first playoff sequence win in a decade, that is one thing they don’t wish to see. And it might result in a motivated Robertson having a giant efficiency as the Stars look to ship Minnesota to a different early tee time.
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