Wild GM Guerin’s biggest priority this summer is to re-sign three key restricted free agents
Wild GM Bill Guerin and coach Dean Evason met with reporters in downtown St. Paul on Thursday. They reviewed the season and looked ahead to a busy summer.
***Click the video box above to watch Guerin and Evason address many pressing topics***
Guerin noted that his biggest priority this offseason is to re-sign restricted free agents Kirill Kaprizov, Kevin Fiala, and Joel Eriksson Ek. Guerin sees all three in Minnesota long-term.
Kaprizov, to no surprise, was named a Calder Trophy finalist on Thursday, an award given to the best first-year NHL player.
Guerin also spent five minutes addressing the Zach Parise conundrum — he has 4-years left on his contract. Parise was a healthy scratch the first three games of the playoffs, and once in the lineup Games 4-7, wasn’t used on the power play. Guerin disagreed with Parise’s analysis that his situation was a sideshow and gave Parise credit for how professional he was handling everything.
Guerin and Evason wrap up season, look ahead to busy summer
But with a belief that Parise wants to play regularly, would the Wild consider buying him out? There would be long-term salary cap hits associated with such a move, but some immediate relief and a roster opening.
Guerin truly believes that the projection is good that they can be a championship-level team.
In addition to the three restricted free agents, D Ian Cole, F Nick Bonino, F Nick Bjugstad, and F Marcus Johansson are among the Wild’s unrestricted free agents.