There’s been a lot of talk about how the Minnesota Wild could make some big additions this offseason, but it’s hard to tell if there’s some fire behind the smoke. With a limited amount of assets after trading for Quinn Hughes last December and a weak free agent market, general manager Bill Guerin could have his hands tied against his will, leading to the core of the same team that came up short in this year’s playoffs returning next winter.
But Wild fans may have gotten the action they wanted when Swedish team Färjestad BK announced that they are signing Marcus Johansson to a two-year deal on Friday.
A frustrating player to fans that was held in high regard by the organization, Johansson’s decision to return to his home country is a little surprising. But it’s also a move that confirms big changes could be coming as the Wild look to take another step forward this offseason.
Marcus Johansson’s departure could kickoff Wild’s busy summer
Overall, Johansson was a productive player in his second stint with the Wild. Acquired in a trade ahead of the 2023 deadline, Johansson scored 37 times and recorded 113 points in 225 games, filling a top-six role in the lineup. He was also one of the Wild’s biggest surprises last year scoring 15 goals and recording 49 points on a one-year, veteran-minimum contract.
But Johansson always seemed to play his best when there was something to gain. Before he was acquired from the Washington Capitals in 2023, he scored 13 goals with 28 points in the first 60 games but returned to Minnesota to score six goals with 18 points in 20 games. That performance helped Johansson earn a two-year, $4 million contract but he was an average player, scoring 22 goals with 64 points in 150 games between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
When Johansson returned to the Wild last summer, it was met with skepticism. But with a spot on Sweden’s Olympic team on the line, Johansson came out of the gates on fire with 12 goals and 32 points in his first 38 games. With the added benefit of convincing the Wild to include Liam Ohgren in the trade package for Hughes, Johansson had what he wanted. But his play tailed off in the second half with three goals and 14 points in his final 37 games.
Despite his inconsistencies, John Hynes called him a “jack of all trades” last November, making it easy to see Johansson coming back on a modest deal. But now that he’s in Sweden, the Wild could be setting up for their first big move of the offseason.
Vladimir Tarasenko is a stronger candidate to return after Friday’s news and the Wild could look to acquire one or two top-six wingers either on the free agency market or via trade. Letting a beloved veteran walk also sends another message to the locker room that no one is untouchable and it could lead to a key addition this summer.
If that means trading a promising prospect or a notable name from their current core, Friday’s news shows it’s not a bluff. And it could help Wild fans see Guerin land the big name they’ve been calling for.
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