2017-18 WILD DEPTH CHART
Here's a look at how the Wild looks heading into the summertime. This will obviously change as the Wild adds and deletes players and re-signs restricted free agents.
The free-agent market opens Saturday. The Wild, barring a trade that I still think is coming, is in the market for a fourth-line left wing, a fourth-line center, a goalie to compete with Alex Stalock for the backup position and a right-shot, bottom pair defenseman.
They also need depth in Iowa with the recent trades of Alex Tuch, Jordan Schroeder and Tyler Graovac and loss of Erik Haula to expansion.
In parentheses, each player's salary cap hits. Restricted free agents are denoted as RFA.
Rosters are a maximum 23 players. Typically, the Wild keeps 13 or 14 forwards, seven or eight defensemen and two goalies.
Depth chart is my opinion and I'll update throughout the offseason.
Forwards
Left wing Center Right wing
Nino Niederreiter (RFA) Eric Staal ($3.5M) Zach Parise ($7.538+M)
Jason Zucker ($2M) Mikko Koivu ($6.75M) Mikael Granlund (RFA)
Joel Eriksson Ek (894+K) Charlie Coyle ($3.2M) Jason Pominville ($5.6M)
------------------------- --------------------------- Chris Stewart ($1.15M)
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Vying for spots: Eriksson Ek, Luke Kunin (925K), Pat Cannone (600K), Christoph Bertschy ($775,833), Pavel Jenys ($678,833), Kurtis Gabriel (RFA), Zack Mitchell (RFA), Mario Lucia ($792,500), Justin Kloos ($792,500), Sam Anas ($792,500), Dante Salituro (725K), Adam Gilmour ($717,500), Chase Lang ($686,667).
Unrestricted free agents: Martin Hanzal, Ryan White, Ryan Carter, Brady Brassart.
Defensemen
Left Defense Right Defense
Ryan Suter ($7.538+M) Jared Spurgeon ($5.187M)
Marco Scandella ($4M) Matt Dumba ($2.55M)
Gustav Olofsson (725K) Jonas Brodin ($4.166+M)
------------------------- -------------------------------
Vying for spots: Mike Reilly (RFA), Nick Seeler ($717,500), Hunter Warner ($636,667), Carson Soucy (925K), Zach Palmquist (RFA), Gustav Bouramann (720K), Dylan Labbe ($692,500).
Unrestricted free agents: Nate Prosser, Christian Folin, Mike Weber, Victor Bartley, Alexander Gudbranson, Guillaume Gelinas.
Goalies
Devan Dubnyk (4.33M)
Alex Stalock (650K)
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Minor-league goalies: Steve Michalek (RFA), Adam Vay ($842,500).
Unrestricted free agent: Darcy Kuemper.
Total cap hit: $62,283,591 ($75 million ceiling).
*Includes $2.5 million buyout cap hit for Thomas Vanek.
Available cap space: $12,716,409.
**Available cap space will be eaten up by roster hopefuls making the team and outside signings.
***The Wild, like all teams, will save some cap space for callups and flexibility to make in-season adjustments (i.e. trades, waiver additions).
