It’s not another Robert Ludlum novel; it’s the dilemma facing Chuck Fletcher and the Minnesota Wild front office. What to do with Jason Pominville and his $5,600,000 annual cap hit.
Jason Pominville came to the Minnesota Wild in April 2013 from the Buffalo Sabres with a 2014 4th round draft pick in exchange for Matt Hackett, Johan Larsson, a 2013 1st round pick and a 2014 2nd round pick. Minnesota gave up a lot of assets to obtain Pominville and the dearth of draft picks in recent years has shown, particularly in the struggles of the Iowa Wild.
Pominville’s arrival brought leadership, he came from Buffalo as their incumbent Captain, and he brought a history of scoring. Pominville had put up at least 20 goals in every full NHL season he played, bar his rookie year in 2005-06 in which he put up 18 goals. Plus, he’d cracked 30 goals twice which was something the Wild desperately lacked at the time and still do on a consistent basis.
He came as advertised too. In Pominville’s first 10 games with Minnesota, at the tail end of the 2012-13 season, he put up 9 points in 10 games. This was followed up with a 30 goal, 60 point campaign in 2013-14 which also brought about the end of a contract that had been signed in Buffalo. He brought depth to the Parise and Suter signings, Minnesota won a playoff series, Jason Pominville was destined to be part of the new Minnesota franchise’s Stanley Cup run.
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Fast forward to the off season 2016. Pominville is about to enter the third year of a five year contract with an average annual value of $5.6 million. In fact, he is set to make $6.25 million this coming season (per GeneralFanager). During the first two years of his new contract we have seen his goal and point production dip to the some of the lowest levels of his NHL career. Pominville put up 18 goals and 54 points in 2014-15 followed by 11 goals and 36 points in this season just past. Not terrible numbers but an alarming decline given the expectation, the term and the value of the contract. Is this a case of a big contract being handed out to an aging player based on past performances? It certainly seemed that way just prior to the firing of Mike Yeo.
Just when the mob were sharpening their pitchforks and lighting the torches, Pominville found line mates he clicked with and they went on to be the best line for the Wild down the stretch. Pominville, Erik Haula and Nino Niederreiter were a key reason the Wild were able to hold on to a playoff spot last year. The chemistry they found and their ability to hem the opposition in to the offensive zone made them one of the most effective third lines in the NHL. This impressive play continued into the playoffs with Pominville leading the Wild in scoring and goals.
Couple the potential demonstrated by Pominville and his line mates with his impressive possession metrics throughout his time with the Wild and there may be a case not to look to jettison him just yet. In every season he has played with Minnesota Pominville has posted a Corsi For % of over 50 and has the Minnesota Wild generated more shot attempts with him on the ice than off (per HockeyReference). So should the Wild retain Pominville and hope the chemistry with Haula and Niederreitter grows and pushes him back to the 30 goal scorer of two season past or should they look to move him and his contract while he still holds some value in the league?
I would say move him.
Pominville will be 34 this coming season and the marked decline in scoring cannot be solely contributed to being ‘snake-bit’ with a low shooting percentage. Haula and Niederreitter will excel with whomever is placed on their wing and the Wild may even be better served having a third line spot open for Alex Tuch.
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It may be possible to package Pominville with one of the young defencemen crowding the blue line in Minnesota at the moment and bring in a young scoring piece up forward. This would clear up cap space which will be needed as the hunt for the number 1 center of the future continues and also bring in some young talent because after all, goals win games.