The Minnesota Wild have a decision to make quite soon. Will they turn to the waivers list to pick up some depth and get a bit younger in the process.
The clear issue here is cap space; it’s at a premium for the Minnesota Wild and whilst they’re not at the 50 contract limit; they’d struggle to fit more than two minimum NHL contract players under the cap.
The waiver wire has had some decent young players that could easily turn things around popping up; there was Connor Brickley, who we suggested would be a good pick-up. Most recently, Kerby Rychel is the name sticking out to me.
Zach Smith, one of the assistant captains for the Ottawa Senators even passed through the other day, no surprise with his cap hit.
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It’s not like the talent isn’t there to be had.
There’s more than just salaries at play though; I don’t think the new General Manager Paul Fenton has yet worked out what he wants the make-up of the Minnesota Wild to be.
If he wanted to get younger, a little less physical and a bit more skilled than Rychel and Brickley, among others probably aren’t the best guys to have.
If however, he wants to maintain that physicality whilst phasing out those the wrong side of thirty, these would’ve been good players to pick up.
Granted, they haven’t yet managed to crack an NHL roster with any regularity, but they’re very decent players in the American Hockey League and are deserving of a look.
Do I want the Minnesota Wild to become a team that takes such risks; maybe not. But equally, if they control it by giving looks on the fourth line – I can’t seem a ton of harm in doing so.
I guess a lot of this is born out of seeing no movement from the new General Manager in terms of doing anything big!
We can’t all make mind-blowing trades or acquire elite free agents, but this summer has been very Minnesota Wild. Middling but without an impressive final result.