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Minnesota Wild: Three UFA Defenseman Targets

By Brandon Quast

BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 22: Jake McCabe #19 of the Buffalo Sabres during the game against the Minnesota Wild at the KeyBank Center on November 22, 2017 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 22: Jake McCabe #19 of the Buffalo Sabres during the game against the Minnesota Wild at the KeyBank Center on November 22, 2017 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images) /
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Last week, the Minnesota Wild & Bill Guerin shocked the fanbase by buying out not only the last four years of Zach Parise‘s contract but what was more shocking, was that defenseman Ryan Suter was also bought out the same day as Parise.

Without Suter on the team for the 2021-2022 season, the Minnesota Wild may have to dive into free agency when it opens on July 28th and sign a veteran defenseman. We are going to discuss three possible candidates that Guerin my look at when the free agent frenzy opens.

Jake McCabe

BUFFALO, NY – FEBRUARY 11: Jake McCabe #19 of the Buffalo Sabres during the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center on February 11, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo beats Detroit 3 to 2. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – FEBRUARY 11: Jake McCabe #19 of the Buffalo Sabres during the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center on February 11, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo beats Detroit 3 to 2. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /

Jake McCabe, from Eau Claire, Wisconsin was a 2nd round pick for the Sabres in 2012, could make sense for the Wild. McCabe is a two-way defenseman with some grit. He can move the puck really well and plays well both offensively and defensively.

Unfortunately for McCabe, he only played 13 games this past season for Buffalo due to injury so it would be interesting to see how the gritty defenseman could rebound this coming season. His best career season came during the 2016-2017 season, appearing in 76 games for Buffalo, McCabe scored 3 goals and 17 assists.

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