Welcome to the offseason series where we will look at each player’s impact this past season, what their future in Minnesota looks like and what to expect in 2023-24.

Mason Shaw has had an incredible journey to the NHL that has seen him tear three ACL’s along the way, yet he has never given up.

The Wild drafted Shaw in the fourth round in 2017 at pick No. 97 after he recorded 27 goals and 94 points in 71 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League.

Along his road to the NHL, Shaw had torn his ACL three times and made it four times when he crashed into the boards in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights on April 1 this spring.

Joe Smith of the Athletic said his journey was so tough in the minors after his third ACL tear that Shaw’s dad thought that was it for his son and that Shaw may never play hockey again or that hockey may not be for him.

Yet Shaw battled through it all and made it to the NHL where he solidified himself as a fixture in the Wild's bottom six and became a penalty kill specialist.

But in what would be his last year of his two year, $750K AAV deal, Shaw tore his fourth ACL after putting up seven goals and 17 points in 59 games for the Wild.

Not long after his surgery, the Wild invited the 24-year-old center to do the “Let’s Play Hockey" before game three of the first round series against the Dallas Stars.

The Wild clearly got fired up from Shaw’s energy and scored five goals past Minnesota native Jake Oettinger, which had been the most he allowed all series. The Wild ended up losing three straight and lost the series in six games, but that is besides the point.

What’s Next For Shaw?

Still recovering from his fourth acl surgery, Shaw likely won’t be ready for the start of the 2023-24 season but also is currently a restricted free agent. So the Wild have to decide if they want to re-sign the 5-foot-11 center or let him go and see if any team would send Shaw an offer sheet.

Despite not being ready for the start of the season, it is hard for me to think that Bill Guerin and his staff wouldn't sign Shaw who was so good for the Wild on the penalty kill. You could see how much they missed his presence in the playoffs, especially on the penalty kill.

Even in his first full season in the NHL, Shaw proved to be one of the Wild’s best defensive forwards on a team full of good defensive forwards like Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, Marcus Foligno, Connor Dewar, and even Kirill Kaprizov was lights out defensively.

A contract for Shaw isn't expected to cost much. He is just coming off a two year deal which earned him $750K a year. You could see a deal where Shaw would be set to make close to $1 million a year on a one to three year deal.

If, and likely when, the Wild sign Shaw, he will start the year of the LTIR, which means his contract won’t directly count toward the cap until he is taken off of it.

When Shaw gets back into the swing of things, I would imagine he will play in the NHL, but maybe the Wild look to get him some games in the AHL again to ease him back into things.

Aaron’s Shaw 2023-24 prediction — 7 goals and 11 assists for 18 points

Dylan’s Shaw 2023-24 prediction — 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points

All stats via NHL.com, Evolving-Hockey, and Hockey-Reference.