Re: This is not a thread about the Minnesota Wild
The Wild have 17 players under contract for 2013-14 and approximately 9mil in cap space if they don't buy anyone out.
Free Agents include:
UFAs: Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Matt Cullen, Brett Clark(?), Niklas Backstrom
Non-Roster UFAs: Jarod Palmer, Drew Bagnall, Stephane Veilleux, David McIntyre, Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers
RFAs: Cal Clutterbuck, Carson McMillan, Justin Falk, Jared Spurgeon
Non-Roster RFAs: Tyler Cuma, Steven Kampfer, Marco Scandella, Justin Fontaine, Kyle Medvec, Joel Broda
The 17:
Forwards: Zach Parise, Dany Heatley (1), Mikko Koivu (5), Jason Pominville (1), Devin Setoguchi (1), Kyle Brodziak (2), Torrey Mitchell (2), Charlie Coyle (2*), Zenon Konopka (1), Jake Dowell (1)
Defenseman: Ryan Suter, Tom Gilbert (1), Jonas Brodin (2*), Clayton Stoner (1), Nate Prosser (1)
Goalies: Josh Harding (2)
Re-sign Cullen for a year, give Spurgeon a 3 year deal, that isn't big money, but above where he is with his entry-level deal, and offer a deal to Clutterbuck. Scandella is the one name from the non-roster guys that I think they need to lock up. I'd also like to see some of them signed to small contracts, 2-way contracts, AHL contracts or whatever for depth reasons.
Development from Zucker, Coyle and Dumba will be key, but especially Granlund. He needs to be become the player everyone thinks he can be. I think we still need a top line center, because I don't think Koivu is that guy. Koivu is perfect for a 2nd line, but not the top line. Hopefully Granlund develops into that, but in the meantime, I think we have to go with Koivu.
I also think, that if this team is going to be a cup contender at some point in the next 2-5 years, Clutterbuck has to be on the 4th line. Nothing against him, but we need enough talent, ahead of him, to fill out 3 complete lines, if the Wild are going to compete for a Cup. I look at this as a kind of litmus test, if the Wild can fill out 3 lines, without Clutterbuck being in that mix, I think that the talent and depth have improved enough to make a Cup run. I doubt they'll be there next year.
The forwards that should be on this team next year: Parise, Koivu, Coyle, Zucker, Pominville, Cullen, Setoguchi, Heatley, Clutterbuck, Granlund, Brodziak, Mitchell, Konopka, Dowell, are still short on the talent needed, barring development from the Coyles, Zuckers, and Granlunds. I don't expect any free agency help whatsoever, after the huge splash last year. I'm guessing we'll be looking at Parise-Koivu-Coyle, Cullen-Setoguchi-Zucker, Pominville-Granlund-Heatley, Clutterbuck-Brodziak-Mitchell starting off next season.
I'm much more optimistic about the defense. Suter-Brodin is rock solid, and will only be better next year. I expect Scandella to be with the team all season, and be paired with Spurgeon. Add in Stoner, Falk, Gilbert and Dumba to round it out, and it looks pretty good. I actually wouldn't mind if Falk wasn't resigned, because I think Dumba will be ready to step in from day 1 next season.
