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Shady, I like what you are starting here! So, what needs to be done.
I am assuming the cap will go up ever so slightly, but if not, I am basing things off of the current # of $81.5 million. Right now, the Wild have approx $22 mil in cap space for next season. If Seattle does draft Dumba, that gives the Wild $28 mil in cap space. Buyout out Rask, which moves them to $30.7 mil open. I know there is talk that Rask is tradable now for a 5th or 6th Rd draft pick, but I think that is a BIG if, so not considering it now. What to do with Parise? I honestly think he will waive his NMC not only for the ED, but for a trade to a contender, with the Wild eating at least $4 mil for the rest of the contract. And pray that he stays active for the next 4 years. But that also open up more cap space, depending on what comes back. I'm just going to take a guess at a $2 mil player, so that gives the Wild about $32.2 in cap space. And since Rossi is considered such a gym rat, I am expecting him on the roster for next year, along with Boldy. So we have this...
Zuccarello/ ? /Kaprizov
Fiala/Rossi/Boldy
Greenway/Eriksson-Ek/Foligno
Sturm/Hartman/?
Brodin/Spurgeon, Suter/Addison, Soucy/?
Need that #1 C, preferably with good size. Does Fiala become a trade asset with one of the 1st Rd picks the Wild have and a prospect for someone who could be a #1 C, but is blocked on whatever roster they are currently on? I know that this doesn't get the Wild an Eichel or Barkov, far from it, but that's not what I would be looking for. If I were Guerin, I am not giving up prospects like Rossi, Khusnutdinov, Beckman, O'Rourke or Hunt. But I can throw in guys like Khovanov, McBain, one of the Johanssons or even a player that is basically NHL ready in the right to Brennan Menell or Belpedio. Then get a player that is currently playing #2 or #3 C for a roster that has a great #1 C already. How about a package of Fiala, Dumba, 1st Rd pick and McBain for Leon Draisaitl. The Oil have more cap space than the Wild, so they can chase for their #2 C as a FA, plus have players like Dumba and Fiala. This of course screws things up before the ED and probably pushes Seattle to take either Soucy or Kahkonen. With Parise waiving his NMC and a trade like this (my guess is this is probably not enough for Draisaitl), here is what the protection list could look like.
Forwards: Zuccarello, Greenway, Foligno, Hartman, Eriksson-Ek, Sturm and Draisaitl.
Defense: Suter, Spurgeon and Brodin
Goalie: Talbot
Left Open: Soucy, Kahkonen and whoever comes in a Parise trade. |
