The chances of Jonathan Taveres signing in Minnesota this summer were always slim at best. The veteran center had made it known that his preference was to stay in Toronto, and on Friday, word trickled out that he would be staying in the Big Smoke for the next four years. So, if he wasn't a part of the Wild's future, how does it affect them?
Simply put, it took another center off the free agent market prior to July 1st. If Minnesota's big quest is to find depth down the middle, that makes Bill Guerin's job harder. Another potential replacement, Charlie Coyle, was also erased from availability. While not a free agent, the former Minnesota Wild was rumored to be on the trading block, and Colorado reportedly made it official when they dealt him and Miles Wood to Columbus for Gavin Brindley and some draft picks.
While those doors closed, perhaps another one opened up. In another draft-day deal, the New York Islanders sent defenseman Noah Dobson to Montreal for Emil Heineman and two first-round draft picks. This could be a sign that new general manager Mathieu Darche is ready to blow up the roster and start a nice rebuild on the island. If the Islanders are in full strip-down mode, there is a likely probability that they are listening on all of their players.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau could slide into the middle of the Wild line-up fairly nicely. The 32-year-old has one year left on a contract that carries a $5 million cap hit and is coming off of a 14-goal, 28-assist season. He also had a strong possession season at 5v5 as the Islanders posted a 54.43% XGF number with him on the ice, along with a 52.74% edge in high-danger chances.
Or, if Guerin wants to aim for the stars he could inquire about the cost of Mathew Barzal. While Pageau is best suited for a third-line center role, Barzal has the ability to be a number 1A or 1B center. An injury-marred season led him to suit up in just 30 games (where he posted 6 goals, 14 assists), but he is one year removed from an 80-point season (23 goals, 57 assists) and could flourish with Kirill Kaprizov riding shotgun on his line.
The 28-year-old does come with a hefty $9.15 million cap hit that runs through the 2030-31 season. Asking the Islanders to pick up a portion of it would cost the Wild an additional asset or two, but the Wild have enough cap flexibility to make the deal happen even if they have to absorb the entire deal.
The twists and turns keep coming as the hours to the draft and the start of free agency dwindle. There is an expectation that more deals are on the horizon, but the question remains on how aggressive the Wild will be in filling the holes in the line-up.