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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.

Jamie Oleksiak

DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 03: Jamie Oleksiak #2 of the Dallas Stars skates the puck against Adam Erne #73 of the Detroit Red Wings in the second period at American Airlines Center on January 03, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 03: Jamie Oleksiak #2 of the Dallas Stars skates the puck against Adam Erne #73 of the Detroit Red Wings in the second period at American Airlines Center on January 03, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

To start of with Jamie Oleksiak, the obvious thing is his size and at 6’7″ 255 pounds, he could add some huge size to the Wild’s defense core. Oleksiak skates rather well for his size and makes himself rather difficult to play against and just like with McCabe, brings a lot of grit with him on the ice which isn’t a bad thing for a defenseman to have.

Alex Goligoski

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – MAY 05: Alex Goligoski #33 of the Arizona Coyotes warms up before the NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at Gila River Arena on May 05, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – MAY 05: Alex Goligoski #33 of the Arizona Coyotes warms up before the NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at Gila River Arena on May 05, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The one that I find to be the most likely option for the Minnesota Wild is Coyotes pending UFA defenseman Alex Goligoski. Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2004, Goligoski has made an impact on every team he’s played on most recently the Arizona Coyotes and formerly of the Dallas Stars. Goligoski could make for the perfect Suter replace just based off his abilities to eat a lot of minutes. At 35, he still possess strong puck moving abilities and is an extremely mobile defenseman and I almost forgot to mention, he’s originally from Minnesota.

Ian Cole

ST. PAUL, MN – MAY 22: Ian Cole #28 of the Minnesota Wild skates with the puck past Nicolas Roy #10 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period in Game Four of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center on May 22, 2021 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Golden Knights defeated the Wild 4-0. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN – MAY 22: Ian Cole #28 of the Minnesota Wild skates with the puck past Nicolas Roy #10 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period in Game Four of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center on May 22, 2021 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Golden Knights defeated the Wild 4-0. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Ian Cole is an internal option to return to the team next season. A lot of the fanbase enjoyed watching the play of Cole since he was traded to Minnesota at the beginning of the season. Even with Cole wanting to return to the Wild, it is still possible the Wild may still seek to sign a UFA when free agency opens.

Calen Addison

Feb 20, 2021; Anaheim, California, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Calen Addison (59) shoots the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2021; Anaheim, California, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Calen Addison (59) shoots the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

Calen Addison is Minnesota’s top defensive prospect. He got a good look mid-season due to a plethora of injuries on the blueline and didn’t disappoint. Bill Guerin said that roster spots will have to be earned this coming season and Calen Addison is one that will be vying for one of the open defense spots.

Brad Hunt 

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 20: Brad Hunt #77 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates scoring a power play goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the game at Xcel Energy Center on October 20, 2019 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Canadiens 4-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 20: Brad Hunt #77 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates scoring a power play goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the game at Xcel Energy Center on October 20, 2019 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Canadiens 4-3. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Brad Hunt could be a candidate to return to Minnesota but I feel as if this could be more of an unlikely situation due to the fact that Hunt found himself in the press box more often than not last season than actually playing. When Hunt did play, he only played 12 games scoring exactly one goal and not really doing anything impressive defensively.

*All Stats/info used can be found at NHL.com

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