2021-22 projection

If you think that is all Batherson, Tkachuk, or Zub are being paid you are absolutely out of your mind.

Wild aren't trading soucy.

One of dumba/ spicy is being kept. Wild aren't going to risk losing two dman.

We can debate the amounts, but I think they are all in the ballpark.

IMO Tkachuk isn't signing an 8 year deal and on a shorter bridge deal and he won't get the huge dollars many are projecting. My guess is 5.5m tops on a 2-4 year deal.

Batherson has had a hell of a season, but he's still just a 50 point winger with only 1 year of production in the NHL. 3-4 million a year on a short term deal is reasonable.

Zub is the wildcard because he has arb rights. I think he's worth more but you don't have to look further than Zaitsev to give an older first year player a big contract.

I figure the Wild protect 4 & 4 in the expansion draft and wouldn't want to lose Soucy for nothing. If the trade doesn't work, that's fine. There are other teams (COL, TB) that Ottawa can target for a Dman.

I'd bet money against Tkachuk signing a bridge deal. He's the future leader of the franchise, and not signing him to an 8x8 or close to it would be a big mistake. And I think it's extremely unlikely they walk Batherson to unrestricted free agency in 2 years, where we have way less control over his retention. I think, after seeing other takes, that its more likely he signs a 5 or 6 year deal at about $5-6 million.