With the offseason underway for a number of teams and the remainder to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.
2016-17 Grade: B+
The Wild set a franchise record with 106 points during the regular season. A milestone like this would usually lead to an A grade, but being upset by the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the playoffs brings it down a notch. Even though they largely outplayed the Blues, wrapping up such a great season with only one playoff win leaves a bitter taste.
Free Agents
Unfortunately for the Wild, they have some key names that will need new contracts this summer, specifically on the RFA side:
| Player (Position) | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit | '16-17 Points/SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Schroeder (RW) | RFA | 26 | $600K | 13 |
| Martin Hanzal (C) | UFA | 30 | $3.1M | 39 |
| Ryan White (C) | UFA | 29 | $1M | 16 |
| Mikael Granlund (RW) | RFA | 25 | $3M | 69 |
| Erik Haula (C) | RFA | 26 | $1M | 26 |
| Nino Niederreiter (RW) | RFA | 24 | $2.67M | 57 |
| Nate Prosser (D) | UFA | 31 | $625K | 7 |
| Christian Folin (D) | RFA | 26 | $725K | 8 |
| Victor Bartley (D) | UFA | 29 | $650K | 0 |
| Darcy Kuemper (G) | UFA | 27 | $1.55M | .902 |
2017 Draft Picks
The Wild have six picks in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, though none in the first two rounds.
| Round | Picks |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 (Own+Coyotes) |
| 5 | 1 |
| 6 | 1 |
| 7 | 1 |
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Summer Priorities
1. Lock up Mikael Granlund
A full-time move to the wing paid huge dividends for Granlund, and will likely result in a nice contract this offseason. He set career highs with 26 goals, 43 assists, a plus-23 rating, and 177 shots on goal. It took some time for the former ninth overall pick to develop, but he has finally arrived.
The 25-year-old is highly skilled and should only continue to get better. The Wild need to ensure that he is a part of their future moving forward. The only problem is, it will cost a pretty penny.
2. Re-sign Nino Niederreiter
While locking up Granlund should remain priority No. 1, extending Niederreiter shouldn't be too far behind. Niederreiter's breakout season wasn't as extreme, but he too set career highs in goals (25), assists (32), plus/minus (+17), and shots on goal (186).
Niederreiter can not only produce offensively, but he plays a rugged style of game. The 6-foot-2, 211-pound winger has recorded at least 120 hits in each of the past five seasons.
Niederreiter is only 24 years old and should continue to progress at a steady rate. He's a versatile player who can skate in the top six, but can also be used as a checker on the third line if needed. Locking him up to a four- or five-year deal shouldn't cost an absurd amount, either.
3. Get rid of Jason Pominville somehow
Pominville has averaged 14 goals and 45.6 points per season over the last three years. The 34-year-old has a cap hit of $5.6 million for the next two seasons.
It's hard to imagine any team wanting Pominville given his waning production and his expensive contract. The only team that might be willing to take a chance on the veteran would be the Vegas Golden Knights, but it's unlikely Pominville would waive his no-movement clause to go to a team not ready to compete.
Even if Pominville were to allow the move Vegas, Minnesota would need to sweeten to the deal by giving up a prospect or a draft pick.
If the Wild can't find a suitor for Pominville (even if they retain some salary), buying him out is the most logical solution. Here is how Pominville's buyout would be spread out, according to Cap Friendly.
| Season | Buyout Cap Hit |
|---|---|
| 2017-18 | $4.35M |
| 2018-19 | $1.85M |
| 2019-20 | $1.25M |
| 2020-21 | $1.25M |
As you can see, the first year is a bit of a tough pill to swallow, but it's smooth sailing afterwards. Buying him out as soon as possible is ideal. Teams have to submit their protection lists for the expansion draft by June 17. If the Wild doesn't buy him out before then, they could risk losing a player such as Jason Zucker to Vegas.
2017-18 Outlook
Minnesota's 2016-17 season was no fluke. The Wild are a team with insurmountable depth both up front and on the back end. Plus, they have a great goaltender in Devan Dubnyk.
The Wild can't even be totally blamed for getting ousted in the first round by the Blues. Their expected goals for per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 in the series was 2.47, while their expected goals against per 60 minutes was just 1.58. They simply ran into a red-hot goalie in Jake Allen. The Wild averaged 36.4 shots per game in the playoffs, but Allen's save percentage was an absurd .956.
If they stay healthy, the Wild could very well contend for first in the Western Conference once again.
Offseason Outlook Series
COL | VAN | NJD | ARI | BUF
DET | DAL | FLA | LAK | CAR
WPG | PHI | TBL | NYI | WAS
TOR | CGY | BOS | SJ | OTT
STL | NYR | EDM | MTL | ANH
MIN
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