What could Minnesota Wild get for Gustavsson? Will they trade Rossi? Mailbag, part 1

It’s mailbag time as the Minnesota Wild head into an important offseason that could see them trade goalie Filip Gustavsson and even 21-goal-scorer Marco Rossi while trying to add a top-six forward via trade or free agency on a one-year or two-year deal.

Assuming Liam Ohgren and Marat Khusnutdinov make the team, the Wild have 11 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies locked with $6,499,746 in cap space at this point. That includes $14.7 million in dead money, plus another $425,000 for Rossi hitting goals and time-on-ice bonuses this season. That cap figure could drop to $6,287,246 if Rossi receives another $212,500 bonus for making the all-rookie team.

For a complete look at where that leaves the roster and cap situation, our current offseason depth chart is at the bottom of this article (with a full breakdown here).

But before that, let’s tackle a bunch of questions from Wild fans. We received enough to split this into two mailbags, with the first focusing on trades, free agency and (non-prospect) contracts. On Thursday, we’ll get into prospect and coaching questions, as well as all the other random topics you raised.

(Note: Some questions are edited for length and clarity.)

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What would a return look like on a Gustavsson trade? Frankly, I’d be fine just getting rid of the contract.

To start, a Gustavsson trade would save $2.825 million when you take into consideration that the Wild would remove his $3.75 million average annual value and replace it with Jesper Wallstedt’s $925,000 AAV. But that’s if the Wild trade Gustavsson for a high draft pick and/or prospect. If they trade him for an NHL player, the savings would obviously be a little less.

The second the Wild extended Marc-Andre Fleury at one-year, $2.5 million, it indicated that Gustavson would be on the trading block this offseason. There’s no guarantee he’s traded, but indications are that the Wild don’t believe Wallstedt can get any more from playing in the minors and would find immense value in him working a full year with Fleury and goalie coach Freddy Chabot.

Obviously, there’s risk in trading a young (25-year-old) goalie like Gustavsson who had a strong season in 2022-23 (.931 save percentage, 2.10 goals-against average), but returning with the same goaltending that was so sub-par this season is a risk as well.

Do you think Gustavsson is even tradeable after a tough year?

That’s a tricky one. The Wild would be selling lower than after last year’s breakout season, obviously. And there are a lot of goalies out there potentially on the trade market. Still, with the volatility of the goaltender position league-wise, a team could bet on unlocking Gustavsson’s full potential.

Getting a first-rounder for Gustavsson seems unlikely, but perhaps the Wild could get a second. They’d probably prefer to get a rostered player back, anyway — ideally a middle-six winger. They could also use Gustavsson as a chip to move up in the first round, though many of the teams ahead of them aren’t necessarily in the market for goalies. The Flyers could be a fit, but they’re only one spot ahead.

This isn’t a fire sale on Gustavsson, though. The Wild will listen on him, but they’re not going to just give him away. And if they don’t trade him, they could start Wallstedt in the minors and/or have three goalies on the roster at times next season.

What are the chances Marco Rossi gets traded?

Higher than you’d think. If the Wild could trade Rossi for the same level of high-end prospect, but one who’s bigger and faster, there’s a real chance they’d pull the trigger.

For instance, the Wild were interested in Cutter Gauthier before Philadelphia traded his rights to Anaheim. That is the type of trade they might consider for Rossi.

It doesn’t have to be a center, either, because they envision Danila Yurov playing center once he makes it to the NHL, and we’re starting to sense that they foresee Yurov and Joel Eriksson Ek as their top two centers and aren’t convinced Rossi should be third- or (obviously) fourth-liner. Also, the Wild plan to give Riley Heidt every chance to make the team in the fall. But if they are to keep him in Minnesota rather than returning him to the WHL, they’re going to want him getting top-six and power-play minutes.

The Wild’s top six right now is Kirill Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy on one line, and Rossi and Mats Zuccarello likely with a free agent or trade acquisition on the other. Something has to give there if Heidt’s going to be inserted.

You’ve said the Wild could be pursuing a top-six forward in free agency. Who are some options?

Well, it could be via trade, too, whether that’s trading Rossi or Gustavsson or even a prospect or draft pick.

If it is in free agency, we think they’d be interested in a right-shot forward on a one- or two-year deal. One that may make sense if he doesn’t re-sign with the Detroit Red Wings is veteran David Perron. Selfishly, we’d love Patrick Kane, although he’d probably want a good number AAV-wise and term-wise after his time with Detroit.

Guerin talked about building better depth. With one more year of cap hell, what depth players are out there in free agency or trade?

He’s talking about Iowa and potentially spending money on players on one-way contracts who could clear waivers in the fall but provide better call-up options when they run into injuries next season. So in other words, if you lose a power-play guy or a top-six player, perhaps coach John Hynes would have a handful of options who can provide more of an impact next season on the NHL roster. The Wild, to be blunt, were disappointed in most every call-up from Iowa this season. (More on that Thursday.)

You’ve reported Brock Faber could get $9 million a season? Any other possible extensions this summer?

The only one seems like Jake Middleton. You can bank on that one.

So it looks like Faber will get the bag. What does a Rossi extension look like? Bridge deal? Long-term contract?

It doesn’t seem likely the Wild would sign him long-term or even to an extension at this point. There’d be no incentive for Rossi to sign an extension if it’s not long-term. It’d make more sense for him to play out the final year of his entry-level contract and have a great season so he puts the Wild in decision-making mode in hopes of signing long-term next offseason.

The Wild, when they have to re-sign him, would likely prefer short-term or a bridge. Again, though, he could be trade bait, so that tells you the Wild aren’t about to sign him long-term.

What is Ryan Hartman’s future with the team? I believe he is no longer a front-line guy and having a hard time adjusting.  

Hartman, 29, signed a three-year, $12 million extension in September, with a no-move clause for next season. So he’s not going anywhere. He’s a versatile player, one who can play center or wing. He’s competitive and can be hard to play against. He’s still a 20-plus goal scorer. The key is Hartman harnessing his temper and frustration and not letting it lead to penalties or suspensions (like toward the end of this season). He’s also got to be more consistent. The Wild are counting on it.

Hynes is excited about Hartman, with the key for the veteran getting the most out of his summer workouts and conditioning. “He’s got the big moments and has these parts of games that you see some real potential here,” Hynes said. “We need him to be good. I know he wants to be good. We had a great, great meeting. I think Ryan Hartman’s upside is there, even though he’s a veteran player.”

Do you see (GM Bill Guerin) moving Jon Merrill in the offseason?

If there’s a taker, sure, absolutely. But probably not.

Another option, if the Wild need the cap space or if they feel Daemon Hunt or somebody deserves a job out of camp, is to bury $1.15 million of Merrill’s $1.2 million cap hit (so every penny besides $50,000) in the minors. The Wild are set in their top six with Jonas Brodin-Faber, Middleton-Jared Spurgeon and Declan Chisholm–Zach Bogosian, so all they need is depth, and Merrill fits that bill.

Also, as much hate as he gets, he was much, much better in the second half of the season after a very poor first half. But if Hunt is to be on the roster, it should be to play — not to be the seventh defenseman. Merrill is the one suited for that job.

Does Guerin buy out Marcus Johansson?

Unlikely. Johansson makes just $2 million in the final year of his deal, which should be plenty of motivation unless he plans to finish his career in Europe.

Our sense is the Wild will run it back with Johansson but won’t hand him a top-six role. They’re betting on getting the version of Johansson who was really good after being reacquired at the 2023 trade deadline and not the one who had just 11 goals and was soft on pucks and all the stuff that drove Wild fans bonkers.

“JoJo has so much talent that he always leaves you wanting more — or he did this year,” Guerin said. “I think the world of him and his ability to skate and transfer the puck. And his patience with it is so good I’m almost shocked he didn’t produce more than he did this year. I would love for him to come back and regain the form he had when he first came back to us. Because he was unbelievable. He has that capability. That’s what I expect.”

Regarding Chisholm, do you view him as a one-year stopgap for more prospects in Iowa to develop, or could he eventually get a multi-year deal?

It’s undetermined. Chisholm, 23, is a restricted free agent and will be re-signed to a reasonable contract (likely around $1 million). And he showed down the stretch that he can be a solid third-pairing option and even someone who can play a role on the power play. He was a great find by the pro scouting staff as he was claimed off waivers in January, and he had his ups and downs in the final two months in a regular role.

Can Joe Smith work with Billy to get Steven Stamkos here on a respectable, one-year deal next year? Assuming he doesn’t re-sign in Tampa?

Smith: Yes, I’d be happy to try. Stamkos wants to go somewhere where he can continue competing for championships, so that’ll be the biggest hurdle in the short term.

Russo: I assume you’re being tongue in cheek, but he’s not signing a one-year deal in Minnesota … probably because Joe is here.

“You think of Tampa, you think of one player. It’s Stamkos.”
Examining Steven Stamkos’ legacy + contract situation w/ @reporterchris. It’s hard for many to imagine him not being in @TBLightning sweater. But it’s complicated. Insight from friends/teammates https://t.co/82xVuutDsL

— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) April 11, 2024

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Wild 2024-25 depth chart

Forwards

Vying for spots: Khusnutdinov, Ohgren, Heidt ($950,000)*, Lettieri ($775,000), Shaw (RFA)**, Beckman (RFA), Walker (RFA), Raska (RFA), Firstov ($925,000), Haight ($897,500), Toporowski ($870,000), Milne ($861,667), Novak ($846,667)

Pending restricted free agents: Shaw**, Beckman, Walker, Raska

Pending unrestricted free agents: Lucchini, Khaira, Elson, Fogarty, Swaney

* Heidt can only return to the WHL or play for the Wild.

** If the Wild think Shaw would be awarded a one-way contract in arbitration or he won’t agree to a two-way contract, they may not tender him a qualifying offer and he’d become an unrestricted free agent.

Defensemen

Vying for spot: Hunt ($828,233), Lambos ($863,333), Masters ($865,000), Spacek ($862,500), O’Rourke ($855,833), Peart ($925,000)

Pending restricted free agent: Chisholm, Johansson.

Pending unrestricted free agents: Goligoski, Mermis, Butcher.

Goaltending

Vying for spot: Wallstedt*

In the system: Hlavaj ($875,000)

Pending restricted free agent: Jones

Pending unrestricted free agent: McIntyre

* Even though Wallstedt is included in the depth chart, his cap charge isn’t included in our tabulation.

Cap space

Salary cap hit: $81,000,254 (including $14,743,488 in dead money, $425,000 in Rossi bonus overages and assumes Ohgren and Khusnutdinov make the team)

Projected salary cap: $87.5 million

Salary cap space before re-signing Chisholm, signing unrestricted free agents and possible internal additions: $6,499,746*

* If Rossi makes the all-rookie team, the Wild’s cap space will decrease by another $212,500 to $6,287,246

(Top photo of Marco Rossi and Filip Gustavsson: James Guillory / USA Today)