- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: There is a big gap between the money the Wild want to pay Devan Dubnyk on a three- or four-year deal, and what he’d like. There has been little to no communication between the sides since earlier this month. GM Chuck Fletcher plans on meeting with Dubnyk on Tuesday in Las Vegas. Fletcher will be meeting with Dubnyk’s agent, Mike Luit, on Thursday. Fletcher has spoken with RFA Mikael Granlund’s agent a couple times in the past two weeks about a short-term contract.
- Chad Graff of the Pioneer Press: GM Fletcher and Devan Dubnyk will have a face-to-face meeting on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Fletcher will meet with Dubnyk’s agent on either Wednesday night or Thursday in Florida.
“I’m still hopeful we’ll get a deal done,” Fletcher said. “He’s certainly a guy we’d like to sign, and it’s certainly our priority to re-sign him. And yet we’re cognizant that ultimately he holds the cards. We’ll do the best we can within those parameters.”
Dubnyk can start talking with other teams on Tuesday, and Fletcher thinks that it could help both sides as it would give Dubnyk a better idea of what his league wide value is.
“He’ll have a much better idea of what the marketplace is by the draft, and we will too,” Fletcher said. “Hopefully that will help clarify things and allow both of us to find a way to come to a deal.”
The Wild will look at Plan B’s as well.
“During this time period, we’ll certainly speak to as many teams as we can (about acquiring a goalie),” Fletcher said.
- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: Mikael Granlund has no arbitration rights. His agent, Jim Diamond, has spoken with the Wild several times in the past few weeks.
“We’ve been talking on and off since training camp basically,” Diamond said. “I wouldn’t say we’re way off. It’s like a marathon. The last half mile is the most difficult. I would surmise that’s where we are.”
They have always been talking a short-term contract
“We remain focused on a shorter-term deal. It’s pretty clear Mikael has a large, important position on the team. His skating took another level, his faceoffs took another level and he’s focusing his summer work on contributing more in the goal scoring department and not being just John Stockton (a passer) out there.”
- Michael Russo: The Wild are working on signing draft pick Stephen Michalek. He wasn’t granted another year of eligibility at Harvard by the NCAA.
