The Minnesota Wild are well aware of their tight financial landscape and the trouble that will likely ensue as they field their 2023-24 roster. After accounting for Brock Faber and Marco Rossi’s cap hits – both are expected to be on the 2023-24 roster – the Wild are left with only about $7.29 million to spend this summer, according to Puckpedia. That’s even with the cap expected to rise by $1 million to an $83.5 million ceiling.

So budgeting has never been more crucial than now because at the top of the Wild's agenda is their five RFA's who need new contracts: forwards Brandon Duhaime, Mason Shaw and Sam Steel, defenseman Calen Addison and goaltender Filip Gustavsson. Aside from Addison, all of them are eligible for arbitration – potentially making things even trickier this summer.

Even though all of the Wild’s UFA’s are expected to depart to free agency this offseason – with the possible exception of Ryan Reaves – the Wild have their work cut out for them with their RFA's.

Editor’s Note: Contract predictions are via AFP Analytics

Filip Gustavsson (Projected contract: $3.16 million AAV on a one-year deal or $4.25 million on a three-year deal)

The Wild’s top priority is to re-sign their pending RFA goaltender in Gustavsson, who emerged as a bonafide starter last season. He took over the reins from Marc-Andre Fleury as the season progressed, which ended with him starting in the postseason.

Gustavsson, 25, finished 22-9-7 with a .931 save percentage – the second best mark in the NHL. He saved 24.54 goals above expectation in his first year in Minnesota, which ranked seventh. His calm demeanor in goal proved to help the Wild succeed.

It’s highly likely that his next contract will be a bridge deal if they don’t go to arbitration. Based on comparable bridge deals and his projected contract, his extension should fall somewhere in the $3-4 million range. 

North of $4 million will create problems. Think recent contracts in the past few years: Jake Oettinger and IIya Sorokin at $4 million, Carter Hart ($3.98), Chris Driedger ($3.5) and Vitek Vanecek and Alexander Georgiev at $3.4 million.

While it’s likely he and Fleury will rotate again next season, expect Gustavsson’s workload to increase. And he appears to be a perfect bridge to the arrival of top goalie prospect Jesper Wallstedt, who potentially will arrive for the 2024-25 season.

Calen Addison (Projected contract: $1.42 million AAV on a two-year deal)

Addison saw many ups and downs throughout his rookie season, where he finished with three goals and 29 points in 62 games. The 23-year-old started the season as a valuable asset on the power play, showing off his offensive potential. But then his season went downhill and led to healthy scratches both down the stretch and during the entire postseason. 

The Wild felt he didn’t play well enough at 5-on-5, which led to his removal from the lineup. Though his future is uncertain, his contract is projected to be around $1.4 million – which could be a bit on the lower end. What happens with Addison remains to be seen, but his absence would significantly impact the power play and offense on the blue line.

Brandon Duhaime (Projected contract: $1.23 million AAV on a two-year deal)

Duhaime has developed into a versatile bottom-six fixture for his speed, physicality (a 235 hit pace last season) and ability to kill penalties. Not to mention the 26-year-old scored nine goals in 51 games – a 14-goal pace.

He’s the perfect type of depth winger the Wild need in their bottom six. Between his size, usage on the penalty kill and ability to chip in offensively, the Wild should try to re-sign him to a multi-year deal.

Mason Shaw (Projected contract: $1.1 million AAV on a two-year deal)

Shaw suffered his fourth ACL tear against the Vegas Golden Knights on April 1, which will delay his first game next season as he won’t be ready at the start of the season. His next deal should be inexpensive and fall around the $1 million range as he continues to establish himself as a key part of the Wild’s fourth line. Shaw recorded 17 points in 59 games in addition to being a valuable penalty killer.

Sam Steel (Projected contract: $1.42 million AAV on a one-year deal)

Unlike the other RFA’s who are guaranteed to be re-signed, Steel’s future with the Wild is more unknown due to the lack of roster spots available and prospects like Marco Rossi pushing for a full-time role. Steel, 25, proved to be a solid versatile depth piece for Minnesota last season after the Wild signed him following the Anaheim Ducks’ decision not to qualify him. The former first-round pick scored 10 goals and 28 points in 65 points while coming in and out of the lineup.

If the Wild do re-sign him, he will be a bottom-six forward. It's difficult to see him getting another shot on the top line centering Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello given the other options down the middle. He shouldn’t cost too much, but it comes down to whether there’s a spot for him in the lineup.

Looking ahead

All signs point to this being one of the Wild’s quieter summers, in part because of their cap situation and lack of flexibility. It’s unlikely that the Wild will make any drastic core changes, or add any big-name players during the offseason either – that includes buyouts, free agency and trades.

But the Wild’s focus will continue to be on re-signing their RFA’s who played a pivotal part in their regular season success last season – and are expected to again in the 2023-24 campaign. Minnesota could look to the free agent market for a cheap depth piece if needed down the line.

All Data Via Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick, Hockey-Reference and CapFriendly