Minnesota Wild Free Agency Outlook, Potential Fits

Minnesota Wild Free Agency Preview/Outlook, Salary Cap Situation, Restricted Free Agents, Team Needs, and Potential Fits

Minnesota Wild have managed to free up some cap space heading into free agency following the buyout of Thomas Vanek. He carries a $1.5 million dollar cap hit in 2016-17, and $2.5 million dollars in 2017-18.

We expect the Wild are just getting started in what promises to be busy offseason. Minnesota has already hired coach Bruce Boudreau as their bench boss, and it is expected that one of their five top-four defenders will be traded at some point.

Rumors continually peg Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba as top targets.

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It’s understandable that teams would ask about Dumba’s availability, but given his growth in 2015-16, and the fact he’s the second best RH shot on the roster, it seems more unlikely Matthew is dealt.

Instead, it comes down to one of two left-handed shots sitting beneath Ryan Suter on the depth chart; either Jonas Brodin or Marco Scandella. Brodin carries a $4.167 million dollar cap hit through 2021, while Scandella makes $4 million dollars/year through 2020.

It was a disappointing finish to a decent season in 2015-16 for Minnesota. They finished the regular season 8th place in the Eastern Conference, snagging the final Wild-Card Spot in the playoff hunt.

The Wild went 38-33-11 with 87 points, but unfortunately fell victim to the Dallas Stars in round one after a six game series.

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Minnesota Wild Free Agency Outlook/Preview

Salary Cap Committed to 2016-17: $58,831,087
Number of Players Signed: 36

Notable Unrestricted Free Agents: David Jones, Justin Fontaine, Jarret Stoll, Ryan Carter, Chris Porter, Tyson Strachan

Notable Restricted Free Agents: Jason Zucker, Zac Dalpe, Jordan Schroeder, Matt Dumba, Darcy Kuemper, Tyler Graovac

Minnesota still have four to five players (approximately) left to re-sign.

If we estimate the cap hit between Dumba/Kuemper, it’s assumed the Wild should have roughly $10-11 million dollars to spend ($73 million dollar projected salary cap in 2016-17).

That number will be closer to $15 million once trading a defenseman.

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Minnesota Wild Free Agency Team Needs

Top-Six LW/C (Replace/Upgrade on Vanek), Bottom-Six Forward Scoring Depth

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Minnesota could also use an upgrade at center, but may opt to look to the trade market given their wealth of blue liners.

Recent rumors suggest Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as a potential target – a link we’ve spoken about since the trade deadline.

Wild fans highly oppose the idea, but why not target divisional foe Matt Duchene? He’s the top center available, and let’s face it, if the Toronto Maple Leafs can trade their captain to the Ottawa Senators, anything is possible.

That replacement for Thomas Vanek may or may not already exist given his diminished role that led to the buyout. Whether it be a prospect stepping up, or a bottom-six forward, the opportunity is there.

Minnesota could however look to free agency for an upgrade. After all, the more you spread out the offense, the closer to 12-deep a team can be.

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Potential Minnesota Wild Free Agency Targets

Top-Six LW/C: Eric Staal, Milan Lucic, Andrew Ladd, David Perron, Mikkel Boedker

Bottom-Six Forwards: Michael Grabner, David Legwand, Jamie McGinn, Shawn Matthias, Nick Spaling, Nathan Gerbe, P.A. Parenteau, Dale Weise, Mike Santorelli, Kyle Chipchura, Tomas Fleischmann

*Salary/Free Agent information was obtained through www.generalfanager.com