The Minnesota Wild are going to need to make some changes if they want to remain in contention for a Stanley Cup next season and it means several free agents could be walking out the door. The Wild worked to keep one of their own by signing Michael McCarron to a six-year extension on Tuesday, but the next biggest question could be the fate of Mats Zuccarello.
Zuccarello is scheduled to hit the market on July 1 and has been a key member of the top six since arriving as a free agent during the 2019 season. With his additional ties to superstar Kirill Kaprizov, it would seem like a no-brainer to bring him back. But with the need for other moves, The Athletic’s Michael Russo noted it may not be as big of a lock as Wild fans once thought.
“I’m starting to wonder on Mats Zuccarello if they are debating it internally,” Russo said during an episode of the Talk North podcast this week. “I think they, internally, this year, had a lot of the concerns that even the fans had, that maybe Kirill Kaprizov, as incredibly good that Mats Zuccearello has been for him on and off the ice throughout his many years here in Minnesota, that maybe he was too dependent on Mats and maybe it’s time to, you know, try to get younger in that position [and try to], get some sort of different look there in that top six.
“Plus, if you have moving parts, if you’re gonna make other trades, maybe you have to sort of slow play this and see what else lands. So I’m starting to wonder if Mats is not a shoe-in to come back.”
Wild facing a difficult decision on Mats Zuccarello ahead of free agency
As a longtime member of the Wild, it would be weird not to see him in a different uniform next season. In his seven years with the Wild, he’s scored 118 goals and racked up 389 points while also taking a leadership role in the locker room. That role included helping Kaprizov acclimate to the NHL after he came over from Russia for the start of the 2020-21 season, making them good friends off the ice.
That had general manager Bill Guerin telling Russo that they would “take care of” Zuccarello’s contract in the offseason. But it may be more complicated than just presenting him with a check. Russo estimated that it could be a one- or two-year deal at less money than the $4.1 million he made last season and could be loaded with bonuses.
Even then, Zuccarello will be approaching his age-39 season. He hasn’t scored 20 goals or played more than 70 games in a season since the 2022-23 campaign (although he had 19 during the 2024-25 season and 15 in 59 games last year). While the age cliff hasn’t arrived yet, it could be right around the corner as he approaches his 40s.
That could lead the Wild to scour the free agent market for a replacement, but the free agent market is light as teams have opted to keep their players with the salary cap rising. A trade could also be an option, but that also would deplete assets that need to be used as the Wild look for a top-line center.
The pursuit of a center also brings financial complications to a deal. The Wild have $9.4 million in cap space according to Puckpedia and if they acquire someone like Dylan Larkin, who has an $8.7 million on his deal, there may not be room to add a player like Zuccarello unless they move some other contracts around.
The biggest selling point to bring Zuccarello back is his bond with Kaprizov. But for a player that is roughly 10 years younger and will make $17 million a season beginning next year, the Wild have to cut the cord eventually.
It’s a debate that will have Wild fans torn as free agency approaches and one that could have Zuccarello saying goodbye sooner than expected.
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