Bill Guerin announced today that the Wild have inked Jonas Brodin to a 7 year extension worth $42M ($6M AAV).

Brodin was set to become a UFA at the end of the 20-21 season and it was expected that Guerin would be looking to move one of either Brodin or Matt Dumba this off-season due to the upcoming expansion draft.

Brodin's signing means that the Wild have over $21M tied up in three defenseman until the end of the 2024-25 season. Ryan Suter at $7.548M/yr for the next five and Jared Spurgeon at $7.575M for the next seven seasons.

Matt Dumba is under contract for the next three seasons at the the same $6M per that Brodin is set to make beginning in 2021.

For a team that is desperate need to create an identity, keeping the status quo and locking them up for such extended terms is not the way to accomplish that.

Not to say Brodin has not earned the right to an extension my question is much the same one that I asked last year at this time when the Spurgeon seven year deal was announced. Why so long on the term? Especially when we are living first hand results of how the Suter and Zach Parise deals are very difficult to work around when trying to make significant roster changes.

I trust that Guerin is working on making the Wild a better team but this move is not exactly giving the Wild faithful any hope that things are going to change any time soon.

Now Guerin could still move Brodin or Dumba but it is looking more likely that will be the latter and with this move did Guerin back himself into a corner by essentially taking Brodin off the table therefore reducing the potential trade prospects?

We will have to wait and see...

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