We previously wrote about one free agent target for the Minnesota Wild. He was eventually re-signed by the Colorado Avalanche.
With Brock Nelson off the board, the Wild need to shift to a different plan.
At the season's end media availability, Wild General Manager Bill Guerin was asked what the priority will be for the Wild entering free agency.
“I think our D-corps is set. I’d like to focus on forwards. You’re talking about what type of players? Probably more center position. I think Ekky [Joel Eriksson Ek] needs a little help. He’s in a battle every single night, and there’s no easy nights for him, so I think we could create some help there," Guerin said. "I wouldn’t be opposed to a scoring winger either. But we’re going to have to look and see who’s available when it comes to free agency, and there’s always possibilities of trades, too, so we’re going to explore all that stuff.”
The main focus is clearly a center but with Nelson off the board it gets a little tricky. The second best center would be Sam Bennett. But the 28-year old center has 14 goals and 20 points in 20 playoff games and has four goals in three Stanley Cup final games.
He is going to get a lot of money on the open market, assuming he gets there.
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One guy that could get there would be former Wild forward Mikael Granlund. There is some speculation that the Dallas Stars would want to keep him but if he does go to free agency, should the Wild target him?
Granlund, 33, has been playing a lot of wing in recent years but did have a 66% face-off percentage with the Stars in 31 regular season games in 2024-25. He also had seven goals and 21 points. In 18 playoff games, Granlund had five goals and five assists.
The 5-foot-10 forward spent the first seven years of his career in Minnesota before he was traded to the Nashville Predators for Kevin Fiala.
Granlund struggled after the trade and only had one goal in 16 games. The following year was John Hynes' first season with the Predators as the head coach. Granlund had 17 goals in 63 games. He took off in his third season with 11 goals and 64 points in 80 games.
He had 50 goals, 107 assists, and 157 points in 252 games with the Predators under Hynes. During the 2024-25 season with the San Jose Sharks and Stars, Granlund had 22 goals, 44 assists, and 66 points in 81 games.
Would you be open to a Granlund reunion? Share your thoughts below.
Photo Credit: May 13, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars center Mikael Granlund (64) skates off the ice after he scores a power-play goal against against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the first period in game four of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.