Depth Scorers and Physicality the Minnesota Wild Could Sign

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Welcome to Part 1 of 5 of the top fifteen Unrestricted Free Agents available this offseason. If you don’t exactly know what this project is about, read the prelude for the explanation of the process and look at the noteworthy players who missed the cut here.

Throughout this process, clear distinctions of groups and classes of forwards became apparent. You had your stereotypical cold-blooded scorers, dazzling playmakers, or thunderous power forwards. Some of those same players are certified all-stars, distinguished captains, and/or prime-aged skaters looking to earn big unrestricted contracts.

With the roughly $12 Million the Minnesota Wild have to spend ($19 Million but RFAs must be resigned), they could realistically sign any of the UFAs available. What they need is a consistent, reliable, late 20’s-early 30’s scoring threat. The Wild have only had 5 skaters score 30 goals in a season: Eric Staal and Jason Zucker in 2017-2018, Zach Parise in 2014-2015, Jason Pominville 2013-2014, Brian Rolston in the three seasons from 2005-2008, and the prodigious one, Marian Gaborik from 2001-2003 and 2005-2008.

After Marian Gaborik left for bigger markets, the strategy of Wild GMs and Coaches was securing scoring potential throughout the lineup, sometimes passing on the “Game Breaker, Clutch-Time” forward that could score at any point when on the ice. Parise was brought in to be that player, but either the inability to stay healthy or the inability to build an effective scoring group around him has only generated one 30 goal season, whereas, in New Jersey, he had 5 in 7 seasons, including one 45 goal season which would be the franchise record in Minnesota.

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The solution for the Wild scoring woes will likely not be found in the first trio. These UFAs are all in their late 20s or 30, all played in at least 78 games last season, and all possess the ability to score, but only one of them has had a 30 goal season and he’s done it twice. This could be because of the overall performance of the teams they once were on and/or the previous roles and responsibilities they had on their squads. They aren’t the silver bullets the Wild desperately need, but they could add scoring potential similar to what Nino, Charlie, and Granny had. Is that the best thing for the Wild? Wellllllllll. We saw how it worked for 6 years. But who knows? If Paul Fenton could sign one or two of these early ranked players on good deals, I wouldn’t be against it.

15. Joonas Donskoi (76.5 pts)

SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 12: Joonas Donskoi #27 of the San Jose Sharks prepares to take the ice for warmups against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 12, 2019 in San Jose, California (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Rounding out the bottom of the top 15, the 27-year-old Finn has only had four full seasons of NHL experience. On average, he plays in 70.75 games, scores 30.5 points (11.25 Goals and 19.25 Assists), and has a +/- of 4.75 per season. He isn’t electrifying or game breaking, but, at 6’0” 190lbs, he has pretty explosive speed, excellent stickhandling/puck control (being dubbed a “Shootout Specialist”), and works hard at both ends. Where he can improve is his ability to finish.
Looking at highlights of Joonas Donskoi, he frequently puts himself in good positions to score, typically on the back door of the crease or where he could be sprung for a breakaway.

Being on San Jose, he doesn’t have plenty of opportunities to score more (averaging 14:04 TOI/game over his four seasons) with Joe Pavelski, Evander Kane, Tomas Hertl, Logan Couture, Timo Meir, Gustav Nyquist, Joe Thorton, and Kevin Labanc all registering more time. He typically played on the 2nd or 3rd line with either Hertl and Kane or Nyquist and Thornton. San Jose has been a solid team recently, making the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 and making the playoffs for four straight seasons, losing in either the first or second in the other two, and is now tied with Colorado 2-2 in their series.

Joonas Donskoi most resembles Ryan Dzingel and (ironically enough) Mikael Granlund. He can use his body a little bit better than these two and doesn’t seem to shy away from contact as Granny used to. Donskoi made the top 15 largely because of his age, the number of games he played and is conveniently right-handed. With his lackluster resume of scoring, he doesn’t convince me he can solve the Wild’s need for goals. After reviewing him, I’m unsure if the elite scoring ability is there, but with only four seasons of experience, he may develop into a more clutch scorer. If I were Fenton and decided to pursue him, I would offer him about $1.7-$1.9 Million per year over two years. It’s a similar average annual value he had in San Jose and it’s on a short enough deal that if he doesn’t pan out, he can easily be moved.

Donskoi hasn’t played from taking this hit from Brayden McNabb

14. Wayne Simmonds (76 pts)

ST. PAUL, MN – MARCH 25: Wayne Simmonds #17 of the Nashville Predators sets up in front of Devan Dubnyk #40 of the Minnesota Wild during a game at Xcel Energy Center on March 25, 2019, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /

At 14th, Wayne Simmonds is a curious case. For starters, he’s never finished a season positive in +/-. Another is he might be the fastest, hardest, toughest two-way winger I’ve ever seen. Simmonds plays a very tough game with lots of energy. He loves to hit and instigate physical play, akin to Marcus Foligno and is also smart defensively. He also possesses a good shot and can score some goals from the faceoff circle or sideboards or by bullying his way to the net.

Wayne could bring a physicality to the Wild that hasn’t been seen since Derek Boogaard (may he rest peacefully). In previous seasons, it has increasingly felt that opponents have been able to abuse the body against Minnesota. With Jordan Greenway establishing himself as a promising power forward and Marcus Foligno well established as one, adding Wayne Simmonds would be able to cement the Wild as a physical powerhouse, something that hasn’t been used to define a Minnesota hockey team in a while. Also, we shouldn’t forget, Matt Dumba really used the body well during his short time on the ice this season.

Wayne Simmonds averages about 43 points per year (22 goals, 21 assists), 16:05 TOI per game, and 137 hits per season. He scored well because of the number of goals he scored last year (17), his age (30), the number of games he played (79), and is right-handed. I thoroughly believe he should have scored better because of the teams he was on this past season. Philadelphia struggled throughout the year with a revolving door of goalies (EIGHT THIS SEASON) and Nashville going from Central Division monsters to merely pay rent for first in the division, even though St. Louis, Dallas, and Colorado all arguably played better than them.

In 17 games with Nashville, Simmonds only had 1 goal and 2 assists. In 62 games with Philly, Simmonds had 16 goals and 11 assists and was beloved by everyone in that locker room and fans who wore a Flyers jersey. I would imagine a contract would look like a 3 to 4 year deal with a cap hit of $3.5-$4 Million a year. I would be genuinely excited to see Wayne Simmonds in the Green and Wheat, but I’m wary if it would propel the Wild transform the Wild into a serious contender.

13. Gustav Nyquist (96.5 pts)

SAN JOSE, CA – APRIL 10: Gustav Nyquist #14 of the San Jose Sharks takes a shot on goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on April 10, 2019, in San Jose, California (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Coming in at 13, Gustav Nyquist has made the most of a sorry situation. He debuted for the Red Wings in the 2011-2012 season and with Zetterberg, managed to shoulder much of the production for Detroit as they continued to age and they tried to keep the playoff streak alive. When he debuted, most were impressed with his sneaky speed, creativity to create with and without the puck, and his ability to beat skaters to the outside. The biggest shortcoming to his game is that Nyquist is undersized, but the Wild have had a bit of history utilizing undersized players; Zucker, Fiala, and Spurgeon are all 5’10” or shorter and Zach Parise is 5’11”, just like Goose.

He made the top 15, in large, because of his point production, age, and endurance (throughout the season and in games), but is held back for being left-handed, something the Wild already have plenty of. I was unsure really how to score the likelihood he would join the Wild, as he’s never really played with any Wild player during International play (Brodin and Ek were never on Team Sweden with Nyquist), but maybe Joel and Jonas can sell their fellow countrymen on the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

The Swede averages 16 goals per season, but with only playing about a quarter of the games the first two seasons with the pro squad, his season average is more like 22 goals per season. He’s never broken the 30 goal ceiling, coming close in 2013-2014 with 28 in 57 games. He consistently would contribute around 50 points per year. He’s capable of big-time minutes, averaging around 17:00 per game. Nyquist’s production likely also suffered from a lackluster team. Detroit made the playoffs 5 of the 7.5 seasons he was there but lost in the first round every year drastically except for Gustav’s second season (2012-2013) where they lost in the second round to the Blackhawks.(because remember when Detroit was in the West) In 2014-2015 they lost to Tampa Bay in game 7.

Gustav got traded to San Jose at the most recent deadline for a 2019 2nd round pick and a conditional 2020 3rd round pick (becomes a 2nd round pick should San Jose reach the 2019 Stanley Cup Final or re-sign Nyquist) to add more potent scoring ability. Since joining the Sharks, Gustav scored 6 goals and 5 assists in 19 games, averaging about .58pts per game, but has struggled a bit in the regular season and into the postseason. Not entirely uncommon for deadline transactions (see Martin Hanzal)

Gustav Nyquist could likely be higher on this list, but I don’t believe he’s reached his absolute potential as a scorer and playmaker. With multiple seasons on a team that wasn’t really contending and just trying to keep a realistically meaningless streak alive, Gustav’s best has yet to be seen. The contract the Detroit Red Wings gave him was 4 years, $19 Mil ($4.75 AAV) with a no-trade clause that kicked in the last two seasons (Gustav had to waive it to be moved to San Jose). I felt as this was a fairly aggressive contract by the Red Wings, possibly willing to splurge a bit and add movement protection to ensure he didn’t leave. That said, I think the contract is around what I would offer him now: 3 to 4 years worth $20 Mil to $22 Mil, but wary about the movement protection.

Wrap Up

That wraps up Part 1 of my UFA ranking series. If you think Donskoi, Simmonds, or Nyquist are misranked, let me know. Make some predictions of who you think will be on the list, make your own assessments on players, or if you think Joonas, Wayne, or Goose would be good additions to the team. Come back next time to see who just miss the top ten.

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