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.
The Minnesota Wild healthy scratched defenseman Alex Goligoski 36 times this past season. The 37-year-old, who will be 38 when the 2023-24 season starts, found himself as an extra defenseman – most likely something that didn’t sit well with him. The Minnesota native didn’t appear in the playoffs, either.
That’s partly a byproduct of the Wild’s depth on their backend. The Wild's blue line became even deeper after they acquired John Klingberg from the Anaheim Ducks at the NHL Trade Deadline and saw blue chip prospect Brock Faber arrive from the University of Minnesota.
It marked quite a shift after Goligoski recorded 30 points in 72 games for the Wild during the 2021-22 season. Mostly alongside Jared Spurgeon on the top pair, he finished as a +41 and averaged roughly 19 minutes on a nightly basis.
Goligoski recorded six points in 46 games and three in his last 38 games this past season. He costed the Wild 0.8 wins above replacement, according to Evolving-Hockey. That mark finished as second to last on the team to Matt Dumba’s -0.9. There were times during the season where the opposition exposed Goligoski's lack of foot speed, which had to have been a factor behind his healthy scratches.
Though to his credit, the rest helped as he often played better following a scratch. While the Wild were outscored 42-29 in all situations with Goligoski on the ice, they controlled 51.32 percent of the on-ice shot attempt share and 49.91 percent of the expected goal share at 5-on-5. That ranked second and fourth, respectively, on the Wild's blue line.
The top Goligoski moment last season remains the overtime game-winner against the Carolina Hurricanes at home on the night of his 1,000th game celebration.
A rotation could be the solution
Goligoski’s future is up in the air as he enters the second year of his two-year contract that pays him $2 million annually. Goligoski signed that deal last summer following his first year in Minnesota. Now, he holds the cards to his future with a no-move clause.
Maybe he's open to waiving it for the opportunity to play in a larger role after routinely becoming a healthy scratch. He even had the option to play elsewhere via a trade at the deadline, but he chose not to waive it likely because he would rather stay in Minnesota for next season. Calen Addison’s future could also play a major role in what happens with him because that impacts what Goligoski's minutes and role looks like next season.
Here’s a proposal that could benefit both sides: A rotation on the third pair between Goligoski and fellow veteran defender Jon Merrill, who led Wild defensemen with 1.03 minor penalties on a per 60 minute basis last season and only played two games in the playoffs due to being healthy scratched.
Goligoski can still provide value to the Wild – he looked good at times – next season. This way, he and Merrill would both be rested alongside Addison, assuming he returns. This could pay Minnesota dividends because them sharing the third pair could help them both improve their quality of play.
After all, moving Goligoski doesn’t achieve much. It would open $2 million in cap space for the cap-strapped Wild. But moving him may force them to dip into the free agent market anyways, resulting in a replacement that could end up being just as costly or more.
It may be an abstract idea to rotate the two veteran defenseman in and out of the lineup, but the Wild should at least try it.
Aaron’s 2023-24 Goligoski prediction: three goals and nine assists for 12 points
Dylan’s 2023-24 Goligoski prediction: two goals and 11 assists for 13 points
All Data Via Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick and Hockey-Reference