Team: 2023-24 Minnesota Wild

Initial Creation Date: May 2, 2023

Published: Jun. 29, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I think that by re-signing Marcus Johansson so early, BIll Guerin has revealed that his plan for the 2023-2024 season is effectively in place. Assuming that the RFAs other than their potential future starting goalie don't get much more than their Qualifying Offer (shown here for four of them), then trading Marcus Foligno would give the Wild enough cap space to run a 23-man roster. But it seems odd to move a heart-and-soul guy . . .

Although he's over 35, Alex Goligoski can still be bought out, at a cap hit of $666,667 for the next two seasons, but that alone doesn't create enough space for two players.

It is true that Sam Steel is arbitration-eligible. If he rejects the team's offer of $1 million or less and files for arbitration, it's unlikely that he'll ask for, or get, more than $2 million; in that instance, Goligoski can be bought out to make up the effective difference in the cap figure shown here.

As far as the prospect pool goes, the Wild are set on defense and in goal for the foreseeable future, so the focus in the draft should be on forwards. There should still be an attractive choice available at 21st overall this June.

I'm aware that almost all ACGMs prepared by Wild fans have Addison at $1 to $1.2 million, well above his Qualifying Offer. But he seems to be in Evason's doghouse and he isn't arbitration eligible, so that's all I've given him here. Of course, his final figure depends upon how much cap space Minnesota has available when it's time to close out the roster. I think Bill Guerin might well wait until Addison is the last remaining piece of the puzzle to sign him.

Another possible route to saving cap space is to bury Jon Merrill in the AHL, or trade him.

In short, I think the main off-season issues for the Wild will be:
(1) What will Gustavsson's new contract look like?
(2) What will happen with Addison?
(3) Will Foligno, Goligoski or Merrill be cap casualties?

Note that Hunter Jones actually signed a one-year deal on June 23rd, after this ACGM was originally created.