Minnesota is going to lose a good player no matter what. I wouldn't move any D out of fear of losing them for nothing. Brodin, Dumba would only be moved if a player like Draisaitl was the return.
Notable players left exposed:
Staal, Haula, Zucker, Spurgeon, Scandella, Folin
FWDs - Parise, Koivu, Pominville: NMCs, must be protected.
Coyle and Niederreiter: Best of the younger core FWDs. No-brainers for protection.
Granlund: As frustrating as he can be at times, he's playing too well to be left unprotected.
Graovac: Big, young, improving, and most importantly, he's cheap (625K cap hit). He probably wouldn't be selected if he's exposed, but MIN is in such cap hell next year, they need to protect inexpensive talent.
Defense - Suter: NMC
Dumba: The youngest and least expensive of the remaining top-5 Defensemen, he has too much upside to leave exposed. He'd be selected for sure.
Brodin: Only 23. Looks to be having a break-out season already eclipsing last years point total while playing solid, shut-down defense. He'd be selected if he was exposed.
The others and why I leave them exposed:
Staal: Playing well this season, but I don't see Vegas taking a 32 year-old making 3.5mil whom would most likely be unhappy about playing for an expansion team. If he's selected, it would be a hit to the line-up, but it frees-up some cap space.
Haula: RFA with arbitration rights this summer. Does McPhee really want to deal with that for a 3C?
Spurgeon: Wild fans know how important Spurge is to the team. It would be a huge blow to the team if he was selected. I leave him exposed only because of his cap hit. I don't think Vegas invests 5+mil x 3years for a defenseman who's perceived as too small by most of the league. I could very well be wrong about that.
Scandella: Good, solid 2nd pairing LHD. Not as valuable to the Wild's future as Suter, Dumba, Brodin, Spurgeon. It's a toss-up whether Vegas would want to take on that much of a cap hit (4mil x 3).
Folin: No way MIN can protect him over the others. Playing very well in mostly a top-4 role this year. Booming Right-handed shot. Cheap price tag. I could see him as a dark-horse choice if Vegas grabs some expensive talent from other teams.
Zucker: I think this will be Vegas' selection. Fast. Past 20+ goal scorer. Vegas will have a harder time finding guys who can score than finding capable D. Las Vegas is his hometown so I think he'd be excited to play there. Plus, from a front office p.o.v. that's a way to help sell tickets. Leave him exposed and if needed throw in a mid-round draft pick to help persuade Vegas to select him over Spurge or Scandella.
Graovac seems like a waste to protect. Yes he's young and cheap, but he's so far a dime a dozen 3/4 liner.
Staal at 1C means more to the Wild than Graovac as a 3/4 liner. Heck Haula means more as a 3C than Graovac.
The Wild might have to choose 2 of the Granny/Nino/Haula trio to extend. One of them probably prices himself out of Minny's cap.
I do agree with the d- man protection. Minny just can't afford 4 d-men making between $4m-$7.5m next season.
I think Zucker ends up in Vegas, but not as the expansion pick. Trade or bribe, it fits with what the League wants and has talked about since they were awarded the team.
And as good as Zucker may be, the Wild have the most defensive depth in the league, so Vegas might as well take advantage of that.
Spurgeon has a rather large contract, small body, never topped 30p in a season, and is injury prone. Over the last 3 seasons he missed 36 games, and already missed a few this year (4 games). That being said GMCF loves the little guy and is a notch in his belt as a GM, so I doubt he gets exposed unless he can convince Vegas not to take him.
And as good as Zucker may be, the Wild have the most defensive depth in the league, so Vegas might as well take advantage of that.
Spurgeon has a rather large contract, small body, never topped 30p in a season, and is injury prone. Over the last 3 seasons he missed 36 games, and already missed a few this year (4 games). That being said GMCF loves the little guy and is a notch in his belt as a GM, so I doubt he gets exposed unless he can convince Vegas not to take him.
True but Spurgeon is a top 2 (not a #1, just so were clear) on any team, except maybe Chicago because of Kieth and Seabrook.
And as good as Zucker may be, the Wild have the most defensive depth in the league, so Vegas might as well take advantage of that.
Spurgeon has a rather large contract, small body, never topped 30p in a season, and is injury prone. Over the last 3 seasons he missed 36 games, and already missed a few this year (4 games). That being said GMCF loves the little guy and is a notch in his belt as a GM, so I doubt he gets exposed unless he can convince Vegas not to take him.
True but Spurgeon is a top 2 (not a #1, just so were clear) on any team, except maybe Chicago because of Kieth and Seabrook.
I'm not a big Spurgeon fan, and see him as more of a #4 puck moving RHD that can QB the PP. Suter made Dumba look like a #2 for a half dozen games this year.
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
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