The Minnesota Wild have a lot on their plate right now, and the picture could change quickly depending on what happens with a few familiar names.
According to Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic, Minnesota is still eyeing Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman hasn’t been sold on the Wild’s offers so far, but Minnesota plans to keep pushing to get him.
At the same time, the Wild may be staring at some openings in the top nine. Mats Zuccarello, Vladimir Tarasenko and Marcus Johansson could all be on the way out, and together they accounted for 53 goals and 150 points. Tarasenko is expected to be looking for more money than Minnesota is willing to spend.
Zuccarello’s future sounds shaky as well. The sense is the Wild are fine with moving on, and sources say he’s not happy with how things have gone. Minnesota wants Kirill Kaprizov to get away from Zuccarello’s East-West hockey and start building chemistry with other players.
If Zuccarello is gone, the Wild will have options to consider. Patrick Kane looks like a natural replacement, and Claude Giroux also comes up as a possibility. Other UFAs mentioned are Jaden Schwartz and Anders Lee.
There’s also a trade component to all of this. If Minnesota lands Larkin, Danila Yurov would likely be part of the package going back the other way.
The Wild are also shopping Yakov Trenin, who has two years left at $3.5 million, and Nico Sturm, who has one year left at $2 million. If either player is moved, the team may try to bring back Nick Foligno at a reasonable price.
Other possible trade candidates include Ryan Hartman at $4 million, Jonas Brodin at $6 million and Jared Spurgeon at $7.575 million. Jake Middleton, at $4.35 million, and Marcus Foligno, at $4 million, both have no-trade clauses after July 1st.
One player Minnesota would like to keep is Zach Bogosian, and the Wild hope to re-sign him.
Elsewhere around the league, Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts: The Podcast - The picks are in episode that Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright is drawing interest from a few teams.
“I think Seattle’s got Shane Wright out there. I think there’s a few teams looking at that. As I mentioned, Seattle still trying to do something big.”
Friedman also said Ottawa Senators AHL forward Arthur Kaliyev is headed for free agency after a tough year.
“Someone told me that 40 goal scorer in the American Hockey League, Arthur Kaliyev won’t be staying in Ottawa, he’ll be a free agent. Tough year for Kaliyev.
Cleared now by the NHL. See if he gets a fresh start somewhere.”
In Other News...
Kraken Landed A Draft Shock Seattle Fans Will Love
Seattles draft haul had an unmistakable surprise at the top, with defenseman Chase Reid going seventh overall and giving the Kraken a blue-line piece they clearly valued more than anyone else in that range expected. The pick fit a night that also brought a heavier, more physical forward in Casey Mutryn in the second round and a developmental swing on Washington-state defenseman Hawke Huff in the fifth, giving the organization a mix of near-term intrigue and longer-view upside.
For Kraken fans, Reid was the kind of first-round twist that can change the mood of a draft room in a hurry, especially when a player with his profile is still on the board that late. Seattle then rounded out the class with Mutryn, whose style should appeal to a team that wants more edge up front, and Huff, whose path has already included some real adversity as he tries to keep climbing toward the NHL. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Face A Free Agency Crossroads That Could Reshape This Roster
Carolina enters free agency with most of its roster already in place, but the Hurricanes still have a decision point that could shape how aggressive they can be from here. With a little more than $11 million in cap space, the club has enough flexibility to stay active, yet not so much that every move can be made without consequence. Restricted free agent Alexander Nikishin is expected to be central to the conversation, and the front office also has to weigh whether an unrestricted option like Mason Marchment fits the mix.
Nikishins next deal may end up being the hinge for everything else, since his value could influence how much room remains for outside additions and how quickly the Hurricanes can move. A shorter bridge agreement would keep things manageable for now, while a longer commitment would speak more to where the organization sees him in the years ahead. Marchment adds another layer to that calculus, because a forward of his profile could help fill out the lineup if Carolina chooses to spend some of that space on the open market. [Read more 🡒]