Team: 2020-21 Minnesota Wild

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 8, 2020

Published: Aug. 9, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

——— TRADES ———
Wild start prepping for the 2021 Expansion Draft, knowing they’d have to leave Brodin unprotected, so move him to Montreal, who could use a left handed defenseman. Since Montreal advanced in the playoffs, the 2020 pick will now likely be around 45. To sweeten the pot, Montreal adds Jordan Harris, a B prospect, which the Wild could desperately use more prospect depth at the blue line.

After a serviceable year from Stalock after Dubnyk struggled, Wild ship him to the Flyers who could use an experienced backup goalie on the cheap. Brian Elliott will likely look for more money after a good year backing up Hart, and Philly is pretty tight on the cap. Chuck Fletcher was the one that brought Stalock into Minnesota, so he gets reunited. The Wild free up a spot for Kahkonen to become the 1B goaltender as they look towards the future between the pipes. Possibility that Dubnyk gets moved instead, but given his age, cap hit, and MNTC, he’s too difficult to move.

Pittsburgh keeps their pick for 2020 as part of it being lottery protected. It becomes an unprotected 2021 pick.

——— FREE AGENTS ———
The Wild mostly try to round out depth in their bottom 6 and bottom 3 defensemen. Melker Karlsson gives a bit of veteran presence to the, still very young, forward group while not really threatening to take away minutes from the likes of Greenway, Donato, Kunin, and Erickson-Ek.

Eveson appears to like Hunt, so he’ll fit somewhere in the lineup, with Patteryn remaining as depth. Sekera and Weber are brought in as stable, safe defensemen at a lower cost, but both are familiar with the central division.

——— NOTES ———
The Wild keep enough cap open to sign Fiala to a long term deal.

The Wild find themselves in a much better position to protect 7-3-1 so they do not get fleeced like they did in 2017 losing Tuch and Haula.

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