- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune: The Wild have about $61.9 million committed to nine forwards, five defensemen and two goalies as of now. They have to re-sign free agents Devan Dubnyk, Mikael Granlund, Erik Haula and Christian Folin. First priority is to re-sign Dubnyk, then they can figure out how to spend their remaining money.
The Wild will have to make some trades to free up some cap space. GM Fletcher will want to have at least a million cushion during the season for injury callups and potential trades at the deadline.
Dubnyk has all the leverage.
1. He knows there’s no chance the Wild will be comfortable going into next season with a Darcy Kuemper-Backstrom tandem.
2. There are so few quality goalies available as free agents, he knows he’ll be wanted this summer by somebody (or somebodies).
3. The Wild has to be concerned about that free-agent interview period that will occur during draft week and in the days leading up to free agency.If the Wild give Dubnyk four or five years, the cap number would come down. If they go three years, the cap hit would be higher.
It’s likely that Jared Spurgeon gets traded this offseason. He has a $3.6 million salary and $2.667 million cap hit next year. He’s 25-years old and will be looking for a nice, long-term contract after next season. Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson wrote that the Oilers should look at a Jared Spurgeon, and that the Wild could use someone like Nail Yakupov. It makes sense for both sides. Pure speculation and no knowledge if each team even likes those players.
The Wild have had some talks with Mikael Granlund’s camp during the season, but put talks on hold until their season was over.
“I won’t get into the details,” Fletcher said. “I have had some conversations with Todd over the year, and we’ve chosen to wait until after the season. But I think we’ve had good, candid discussions. He’s an important part of our future, and we’ll try to see the right fit.
“You can justify it either way, but I think that by the end of the year we can sit down and we’ll have a fuller view of the big picture from which to make our decision.”
Matt Cooke, Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek all have some sort of no-trade clause.
- Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun: Canucks GM Jim Benning said this week that they’ll decide on their goaltending situation for next season before the draft in June. If Eddie Lack isn’t part of their long-term plan, they’ll look to trade him. They have talked to Lack’s camp about an extension – Lack will be a UFA after next season.
“We’ve had preliminary talks with Eddie’s agent and we know what it’s going to take to get him signed,” Benning said. “We’re bringing in all our pro scouts and we’ll meet here in the next couple of weeks … and as a group make that decision.”
Ryan Miller has two years left at a $6 million cap hit.
- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: Bruins pending UFA Carl Soderberg will be getting a nice raise this offseason. Soderberg could easily get more than $3 million on the open market, something the Bruins are not in a position to do for a No. 3 center. The Bruins have a younger, cheaper Ryan Spooner ready to be their third line center. Soderberg said the Bruins would be his first choice.
“I don’t know. I don’t think anyone knows. I want to hear from Boston for sure first,” said Soderberg, when asked his thoughts on free agency. “That’s my first choice. If we can find a solution together this coming couple of months, that would be great.
“I’m comfortable. I like it here. I think everyone on the team does. I would love to be here next year and have revenge.”
- John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor: There may not be a lot room for Jamie McBain on the Kings future blueline. McBain on the possibility of being a King next season..
“The meeting was good. I had kind of already had little talks here and there, regarding where I was, so there really wasn’t a whole lot of surprise in any of the conversations that we had. Overall, it was all positive talk. We just kind of reelected on the season, especially where I ended up the season. I was very happy with the way things ended and where we were at… , nothing yet. From the exit meetings – and I’ve already known this, anybody who looks at the paper knows – they have pieces that they have to get in place first. With the salary cap the way it is – even last year, me getting called up, it needed to be for the least amount of money possible – they had to find some money within the salary cap. I know they have some pieces they have to figure out first and they have to figure out the salary cap issue. If things come together and maybe if there’s a spot for me, that would be great.