Dan Wallace: On the Eve of Camp Foligno Inked

Everyone knew those contracts were going to eventually come back to haunt the Wild. But so far they've gotten value from them and most likely will continue to get value from them for at least another 2 or 3 seasons. That being said it's still the one deal I support Fletcher on. Those signings immediately allowed the Wild to become legitimate playoff contenders and nothing was given up (aside from a butt load of cap space) to get the 2 best UFA's available (at the time) for the rest of their careers.

Everyone knew those contracts were going to eventually come back to haunt the Wild. But so far they've gotten value from them and most likely will continue to get value from them for at least another 2 or 3 seasons. That being said it's still the one deal I support Fletcher on. Those signings immediately allowed the Wild to become legitimate playoff contenders and nothing was given up (aside from a butt load of cap space) to get the 2 best UFA's available (at the time) for the rest of their careers.
- MnGump

This. Even back when they signed, among all the excitement you knew that this was going to come back and haunt them. Question is how much value can we expect at this stage of the contracts? I see maybe another 2 maybe 3 seasons. We will have to see. Foligno contract seems like CF put a lot of faith into his potential to help the bottom 6 with that term. Excited hockey is back!

Here's to hoping that Foligno and JEE rub off on Coyle, and that whole line plays with an edge to their game. Coyle has the talent, and I believe JEE does as well. IF they have to carry Foligno a little, but still score well and bounce the other team around, it should be a good fit.

This. Even back when they signed, among all the excitement you knew that this was going to come back and haunt them. Question is how much value can we expect at this stage of the contracts? I see maybe another 2 maybe 3 seasons. We will have to see. Foligno contract seems like CF put a lot of faith into his potential to help the bottom 6 with that term. Excited hockey is back!
- Minsoh

Well as I stated, those signings immediately turned the Wild into perennial playoff contenders... They've been in the post season every season since. I think the value is diminished or lost once they start missing the post season.

Now it's fair to say that that investment made them playoff contenders but not necessarily "cup" contenders, and that IMO is the big rub. In a perfect world those 2 signings should at some point get a team into cup contention but that in fact has not been reality.

I'm not sure I've seen enough out of Foligno to warrant that contract term, but who knows, maybe Fletch finally gets lucky and has the pieces he needed now in place to get over that hump.