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It’s amazing how quickly perceptions can change in the NHL. Just a few years ago, Bill Guerin was the belle of the ball in St. Paul. The man with the nerve to buy out two cornerstone franchise stars was pulling all the right levers.
But that goodwill has seemingly evaporated. As soon as Guerin sold off the previous regime’s “country club” roster, he replaced it with his own cozy and comfortable work environment. Guerin’s recent extensions and doubling down on a mediocre roster have left him in many fans’ crosshairs this summer.
Most fans cite the market-value contracts following down seasons as a concerning trend. There’s also the plethora of no-movement contracts Guerin attached to aging vets with no discount when other NHL teams with attractive environments avoid such commitments.
But what if the consequences of a locked-in roster go beyond just the impact on the NHL team? With another seemingly successful draft this past June, Minnesota’s prospect pool looks as strong as ever. The problem is…. Where are these guys going to play? Or even more dire, how many will look at the dwindling opportunities for themselves in Minnesota and decide their careers are better suited if they start them elsewhere?
Brace yourselves, Wild fans, because if this trend of roster construction continues, your favorite prospect may end up on the trade block soon.
Yes, I know, that sentence is a little aggressive. We may become numb to fear-mongering headlines during an election cycle. However, this is a real issue the Wild will need to navigate in the coming years. One quick look at the two position groups, both on the roster and in the system, paints a clear picture.
Let’s start on defense. The Wild will have locked five defensemen into place for the next two years once Faber signs his inevitable extension and four of them over the next three. Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, Jake Middleton, and Zach Bogosian are all extended, with only Bogosian and Brodin carrying no-trade protection in that time.
