COL gives that contract to Nichushkin all day long, and speaking of COL I bet they would beat that offer for Zacha.

Where do they have the spare 5 mil though?

Zacha will likely get Sam Bennett trade price (late 2nd or early 3rd plus so-so prospect). A 5th would be a steal and can only see that price if extending him looks to be very challenging (like he wants term, big $$ or NMC).

Yeah, and unless MN makes two trades (Dumba and Fiala perhaps), I don’t see how MN affords Zacha. I’d argue Zacha would be a good pickup for the Wild to slot in at C2, just financially, I don’t think it makes sense right now.

Makes sense.

Maybe there is a scenario where he takes a low-dollar 1-2 year deal with Minnesota to prove himself as 2C on playoff team. Then tries to hit his UFA with that on the resume.

If BG gets the sense Zacha would come here, maybe that moves him off his current ask for Dumba. If they trade Fiala and Dumba for futures then being Zacha in, that seems like a good use to cap dollars IMO. I just don’t think anyone is offering anything close to what BG wants for Dumba. Personally, I’d trade him for whatever I could get. **** Zacha might get run at 1C. Feels like Hartmans slipper is going to fall off, Zacha Kaprisov Zuc would be a nice L1. Boldy-Rossi-Hartman L2.

They have $24M in cap space. Nichushkin is the #1 UFA priority not even blinking giving that contract.

Have you looked at the players they have signed for next year? Missing half the team..1 netminder not to mention the young dmen that will eventually need a big payout

Yeah I’ve looked at it probably more than you. It’s a foregone conclusion that Kadri is probably gone. So $24M to sign Nichushkin ($5M), Lehkonen ($3.5M), Kuemper ($5M), that leaves $10.5M to sign a dman, Burakovsky and a couple of bottom 6 forwards. But you probably didn’t take into account they have guys like Meyer, Kaut, Maltsev, Ranta, McDonald to fill low end rolls. And what young dman do they have to pay, Byram is under contract next year and is an RFA. I know it’s shocking and all but Nichushkin isn’t going anywhere, Kadri and Burakovsky maybe even Kuemper might not be back but Nichushkin will.

Why not?

Some of the big market teams seem to always get players at huge discounts, why not Minnesota. If Zacha did 1-2 years at low dollar, plays significant role on playoff team, could then cash in as UFA. If he plays like he did last year, could be solid 60-pt season in him.

Not the worst move from his part.

Not all his choice, but between these two options...

Lottery team: 3 years, $3.5 million
Playoff team: 2, years, $1.5 million

...I'd take latter one every time. He is still young enough to cash in later.

Hey if Zacha wants to take 2/1.5, I’d take that all day.

Yall take him he has run his course in NJ and needs a change for all i care id get rid of him and retain half his salary.