The Minnesota Wild’s Offseason Should Look Like This
After the season wraps up, these players are due for new contracts.
Luke Kunin (C/RW)
The 22-year-old is coming off a strong season in his top 9 role with the Wild. Kunin recorded career highs in goals (15), assists (16), and therefore points (31) in 63 games played. Kunin also recorded career highs in shots (128) and shooting percentage with 11.7%. Kunin also showed some grit this year and stood up for himself and teammates with 3 fights.
Two different deals could happen for Kunin. If Kunin can provide the Wild with 20 goal seasons, he would be a wonderful player to keep long term. Coming off his entry-level deal most players his age land either a 2-year bridge deal or a long term deal. I would give Luke Kunin a 2 year AAV of $2.250M.
This bridge deal and allows Wild GM Bill Guerin to see Kunin’s progress. His first two years he played a fantastic defensive 3rd line center role. This year he played more of a two-way center role with some goal production. Not only does a 2-year bridge deal show a player’s progress but it allows us to sign Kunin for cheap and see if he can be consistent. If Kunin can put up 20 goal seasons for two more years then, the Wild can lock him up long term and pay him more.
Jordan Greenway (LW)
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I personally love Greenway and would love to see him in a Wild sweater for many years. I think we can all agree his size is extremely intriguing but would like to see him use it more to his advantage. You could go the same route as a 2-year bridge deal like Kunin, but I would rather lock him up.
Greenway has the potential to score 20 goals in the national hockey league, consistently. Two seasons ago he had 12, but last season he entered the NHL pause with only 8. We saw flashes where Greenway used his frame to his advantage, battling on the boards and picking up more assists in return.
The 2015 50th overall pick recorded career highs in assists with 20 and points with 28 but saw his goal production dip from 12 to 8. Greenway was a beast in the 2017-2018 playoffs. He used his body very well and picked up a goal and an assist in the series before losing in 5 games to the Jets. We would love to see playoff Greenway more, especially in the regular season. The former Boston Univerity winger is a mean player and is not afraid to step up for his teammates with a fight or a hit.
Let’s get down to business, 5 years AAV of $2.500M. If Greenway hits the 20 goal mark one time in this deal, then it is considered a steal. If Greenway keeps doing what he is doing this contract suits him well and will provide the Wild some much-needed grit for many years.
Carson Soucy (D)
Carson Soucy had a strong year. He plays a great defensive game and also joined the rush this year recording 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points in 55 games. If Brodin gets traded, Soucy would fit perfectly in the top 4 and would do just fine with more minutes. Good young defensive defensemen are hard to come by, so I believe Soucy should be rewarded for his efforts. Bill Guerin can go two ways with this, either a 3 year AAV of $3.000M or a 6 year AAV of $4.500M.
Brennan Menell (D)
Menell is an undrafted 23-year-old defenseman who had a monster offensive year in the AHL. Menell recorded 5 goals and 42 assists for 47 points in 57 games. The right-shot defender led the league in assists as a defenseman and was rewarded to play in the all-star game, as well as the AHL All-star team. If Dumba gets traded Menell is likely the man to replace him. 2 year AAV of $1.000M seems fair to me.
Kirill Kaprizov (LW/RW)
Isn’t technically a resign, but I’ll keep this one short. Just please sign him. Every Wild fan knows who he is and is dying to see him put on a Wild jersey and play. So please sign him already.
Kaapo Kahkonen (G)
If Dubnyk can play like he used too and just take last year’s season and flush it down the toilet, he could be a solid starter for the Wild on the last year of his deal. If not, we have Kaapo Kahkonen and Alex Stalock to fill that hole. What more could you ask out of Kaapo last year in the AHL? The leader in wins(25) and shutouts(7), and his .927 save percentage ranking 4th in the AHL, he was rewarded with the AHL Goaltender Of The Year award. 2 year AAV of $1.000M.
Who Could Be had on the Market?
Before I talk about free agency, I do want to address the 2 UFA’s I left off the re-sign list. First, Mikko Koivu. He will likely retire if not I’ll resign him 1 year for cheap to fight for a 4th line center role.
Second, Alex Galchenyuk. I would rather let Galchenyuk walk to free up that 4 million to acquire a free agent. I know he got a lot of second chances but I think letting him go to free agency where maybe a team like the Senators or Red Wings sign him and he gets a top 6 role. I just don’t think Minnesota is a good place for him. If Galchenyuk has a strong postseason I could see Guerin give Galchenyuk one more chance, but it will have to be cheap.
Anthony Cirelli RFA (C)
If the Wild don’t make a trade for a huge number one center Cirelli is a wonderful option for the Wild, but it will have to cost them. The 22-year-old center recorded 16 goals, 28 assists, and 44 points in 68 games. He is capable of producing more, his defense is also a very strong asset. He is a guy many teams would love to get their hands on. You can go two ways with this, like most things.
Option 1
Option 2
You put in an offer sheet of a 5 year AAV of $5.000M on Cirelli. Let’s say this year’s offer sheet compensation is the same as last year, in that case, the Wild will have to give up a 2021 1st and a 2021 3rd for the 22-year-old center Anthony Cirelli.
Whatever it may be, the Wild need Cirelli in the starting line-up.
Mattias Janmark UFA (C)
I was debating between Janmark and his teammate Radek Faksa. Both would provide solid depth as a center and would mainly fill in as a 4th line center alongside LW Marcus Foligno and RW Ryan Hartman.