Minnesota Wild: Is Free-Agency Still an Option to Fill the Roster?
Wild Head Coach Bruce Boudreau has not been shy about voicing his desire for better play from the roster hopefuls looking to make the team. With the final preseason game being played tonight, if he’s still not satisfied could the Wild look to bring in a free-agent to stabilize the roster?
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It is no secret that Minnesota Wild might have overplayed their hand a bit thinking that some of the younger players in their system would be unequivocally NHL ready this training camp. Head Coach Bruce Boudreau has called for the different roster hopeful players to step up and “take it” at many different points during this preseason. And based on the Wild bench boss’s postgame comments leads you to believe Boudreau does not really feel that any of the roster hopefuls have quite grabbed the job like he wants them to.
Now that might be some tough talk by Boudreau designed to get max effort out of who’s left, but the results seem to back-up the narrative that Boudreau is underwhelmed by this group. Also if one thing is clear Boudreau is a very honest guy, and has said so on many different occasions. So if this group is not up to the task, is there any possibility that the Wild could look outside the organization to bring someone else in?
Sep 26, 2016; State College, PA, USA; Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane (9) is blocked by Minnesota Wild defensemen Hunter Warner (79) during the third period during a preseason hockey game at Pegula Ice Arena. The Wild defeated the Sabres 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
It’s a fair question and I’m not the first one to suggest it. Michael Russo on Wednesday asked Boudreau if they might look outside the organization and he answered “Boudreau tersely said, ”I have no idea yet.”” The fact that Boudreau did not explicitly answer that question with an endorsement of the current roster hopefuls is telling.
If after tonight’s final preseason game Boudreau is still saying the same things, then you could see him appeal to GM Chuck Fletcher for some outside help from the free-agent market. My thought is if the Wild do go that route it will only really be one player brought in. They won’t completely give up on every one of these roster hopeful players, but if still unsure of their ability to join the roster the Wild will look to buy down some of that risk with a veteran free agent.
Right now the free-agent market is actually not that bad. Due to the realities of the salary cap the current unsigned UFA list is long a full of viable veterans that still have something in the tank. Additionally, the Wild would not need to sign a free-agent to a contract of more than a year because there is almost no doubt that next season players like Alex Tuch, or Joel Eriksson-Ek will be back and be even better and can make the roster in the hands down way that Boudreau wants.
The Wild don’t need to necessarily go this route, but it’s an option that might need to play out if Boudreau still doesn’t feel like he’s got a team who can play his game. The idea that they passed on other free-agents earlier in the offseason makes it harder to fathom the Wild making this move, but in the end they’ve got to do what is needed. Watch for Boudreau’s comments after tonight’s game and into Sunday, if it’s still the same talk we’ve seen a free-agent signing might be in the cards.
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