By Luke Sims -
The Minnesota Wild promised fans that July 1, 2025, would be “like Christmas.” It would be a holiday where the Wild would go out and spend all the money they have, because the league will have largely minimized the cap penalties for buying out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.
With the cap going up and a bevy of cap space available to them to spend, the team was in a position to spend some cash on some sweet new additions to push the Wild over the top and finally break through that first-round curse.
However, Christmas morning has felt more like Presidents Day for the Wild. They’ve only inked one contract with one established NHL player, center Nico Sturm. While it’s nice to see a reunion with an old friend, a fourth-line center isn't exactly what most Wild fans had in mind when owner Craig Leipold promised them a free agency worth celebrating.
They traded future considerations for veteran winger Vladimir Tarasenko.
So, a scorer who may be past his prime and a fourth-line center? Those are not the Christmas presents Wild fans were hoping to receive. This is outrageous! It’s unfair! I want my GM to make reckless moves for the sake of making them so I can find something else to complain about!
The Wild overpromised, but delivered
Take a deep breath and realize that Bill is not going full Jim Benning in free agency. It’s a blessing in disguise, even though the Wild promised Christmas years ago. Pressure from ownership can force sports franchises into detrimental short-term thinking, and the Wild don’t want to become the latest example.
Nobody is going to feel that Minnesota’s acquisitions will change its fate. Still, the front office made shrewd deals that make a lot of sense for the team’s short- and long-term future.
Tarasenko should be more productive in Minnesota
Starting with the new additions, Tarasenko sought a change and chose to relocate to Minnesota. The Russian waived his no-trade clause to join the Wild for the opportunity to play with Kaprizov and win a third Stanley Cup before the end of his career. Tarasenko has scored 30 goals or more six times in his NHL career and is only one season removed from scoring 23 goals and recording 55 points.
Taresenko played on a Red Wings team that missed the playoffs, where he primarily played third-line minutes alongside J.T. Compher and Jonatan Berggren. Not exactly the kind of guys who are known for being playmakers. Taresenko thrives when he has someone who can pass him the puck, especially from center ice out to the wing.
Marco Rossi and Danilla Yurov are ideal centers to complement Taresenko’s scoring ability. The Wild also have an option of playing him with Kaprizov, an adept playmaker who elevates everyone on his line.
Sturm is an old friend who fixes new problems
Fans remember Sturm as an elite faceoff guy with experience on the penalty kill. He’s a welcome addition to a team that struggled on the dot. None of Minnesota’s other centers were above average in the faceoff circle.
Sturm replaces Freddy Gaudreau, after they traded him to the Seattle Kraken. Adding a more defensively sound, faceoff-winning center will be a boon to the Wild’s penalty kill and faceoff percentage. At only $2 million for two seasons, that’s a wonderful little contract for Minnesota.
The Wild also get a big win in the hope they’ll retain Rossi after an offseason of trade rumors. Guerin has stated that the Wild will match any offer sheet from another team.
While Guerin may not be committed to Rossi long-term, he remains a highly effective playmaking center who appears to be only getting better as he develops his game. The Wild’s free-agent options at center were limited. Pius Suter played for the Vancouver Canucks last year and is the biggest name on the market. That’s not inspiring, nor is it needle-moving for Minnesota, so they’re wise to stick with their homegrown center.
Depending on that Rossi deal, which will probably land in the $5 to $7 million range, this leaves the Wild with $10,961,668 in remaining cap space, assuming Zeev Buium, David Jiricek, Liam Ohgren, Danilla Yurov, and Jesper Wallstedt make the opening night roster.
By avoiding the addition of numerous veterans and bloated contracts, the Wild maintains cap and roster flexibility, with the youngsters poised to make an impact on the roster.
The internal improvements and developments from these young players are an exciting way for the Wild to build a team that wins in the playoffs. Ohgren looks primed to become a scoring threat this year, and Buium flashed his offensive potential on the blueline. Yurov has come over from the KHL and is ready to make an impact. Wallstedt should establish himself in the NHL this year.
Many teams overspent in free agency, especially the Los Angeles Kings. Therefore, I’m thrilled with the Wild adding Sturm and the no-risk acquisition of Taresenko.
Although the fans and owners clamored for Christmas Day, Guerin wisely preserved the team's financial future without further handicapping the team with bad investments.
Sometimes the best free agent deals are the ones you don’t sign.
All stats and data via HockeyDB, CapWages, and Natural Stat Trick unless otherwise noted.
Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form.
-
2
-
3
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.