WILD DEPTH CHART
As free agency is set to open Friday, here's a look at how the Wild is shaping up to look next season. This will change constantly throughout the summer as the Wild adds and deletes players.
Obviously, lines change, roles change (maybe Charlie Coyle moves to right wing if the Wild adds a center and not a right wing, maybe Mikael Granlund back to center if the Wild can't add a center), etc. I kept the third line intact only because they were the Wild's most effective line from mid-February on.
But, any of those three could play in any role in the top-6 depending on acquisitions. Like I said, by Friday night, things could be shuffled around quite significantly.
In parentheses, each player's cap hits. Restricted free agents are noted as (RFA).
All rosters can be a maximum of 23 players. So we don't know if the Wild would keep 14 forwards or eight defensemen, or like it often does, 13 and 7 and go with 22 players instead of wasting cap space (benefit of having Iowa so close).
Just an fyi: Two key roster hopefuls, Tyler Graovac and Christian Folin, would require waivers to get to Iowa, so they have definite inside tracks to make the team.
Forwards
Left wing Center Right wing
Mikael Granlund ($3M) Mikko Koivu ($6.75M) Jason Zucker ($2M)
Zach Parise ($7.538+M) Charlie Coyle ($3.2M) ----------------------
Nino Niederreiter ($2.66M) Erik Haula ($1M) Jason Pominville ($5.6M)
------------------------- Tyler Graovac (RFA) -----------------------
----------------------- ------------------------?
Vying for spots: Graovac, Jordan Schroeder (RFA), Zac Dalpe (RFA), Alex Tuch (925K), Joel Eriksson Ek ($894,167), Christoph Bertschy ($775,833), Kurtis Gabriel ($666,667), Zack Mitchell (615K), Grayson Downing ($692,500).
Other minor leaguers: Sam Anas, Brady Brassart, Adam Gilmour, Marc Hagel, Pavel Jenys, Chase Lang, Mario Lucia.
Unsigned unrestricted free agents as of now: Ryan Carter, Chris Porter, Justin Fontaine, David Jones, Jarret Stoll.
Defensemen
Left Defense Right Defense
Ryan Suter ($7.538+M) Jared Spurgeon ($5.187M)
Marco Scandella ($4M) Jonas Brodin ($4.166+M)
Nate Prosser (625K) Matt Dumba (RFA)
Christian Folin (725K) -----------------------?
Vying for spots: Folin, Mike Reilly (925K), Gustav Olofsson (795K).
Other minor leaguers: Guillame Gelinas, Alexander Gudbranson, Dylan Labbe, Zach Palmquist (RFA), Nick Seeler, Hunter Warner.
Goalies
Devan Dubnyk ($4.33M)
Darcy Kuemper (RFA)
Minor-league goalies: Steve Michalek, Adam Vay.
*Wild's expected to sign a veteran goaltender with NHL experience for Iowa to act as the No. 3.
Total cap hit roughly: $60,831,091 ($73 million ceiling).
*Includes $1.5 million buyout cap hit for Thomas Vanek, $1 million buyout cap hit for Matt Cooke.
Available cap space: $ 12,168,909.
Remember, this cap space is deceiving because the Wild, like all teams, will want to keep a cushion for callups and flexibility to make in-season adjustments (i.e. trades, waiver additions).
