The Minnesota Wild enter the offseason after advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2015. The team is looking to improve the roster to make a run at a Cup, and the Wild could be in the running to trade for Dylan Larkin.
As they prepare to make an offer for Larkin, the Wild are also taking care of some internal pieces, according to Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic.
Michael McCarron has been re-signed to a six-year, $20 million contract, making sure one of the top unrestricted free agents does not hit the open market. He will have a full no-movement clause the first three years of the deal, then a 15-team no-trade list and a clause that blocks him from being placed on waivers in the last three years.
The Wild traded for the forward at the trade deadline, knowing they needed depth at center. McCarron has never been paid higher than an AAV of $900 thousand, but now he will be over tripling his salary. With the lack of talent at the position on the open market, the Wild wanted to get this done quickly. It also speaks to the organization that McCarron did not test free agency, something he has now addressed.
“I think, obviously, you have a GM and coach who wanted me to come in here and help the team, and when someone gives up what they gave up to get me, I think it shows that — how much they wanted me. So try to return the favor,” McCarron said. “At the same token, I think I’m at a point in my career where I haven’t really taken that next step financially or had quite the security, I’d say. I guess that’s what I’m looking for.”
Now, the forward will be part of the franchise for the next six seasons. It is also a franchise looking to make it to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time ever, despite being a successful team.
“I prioritize winning,” McCarron said. “I haven’t won anything. I mean, I’ve won a World Championship and a Memorial Cup, but that was 15 years ago, and a men’s World Championship, just a short little stint in your long career, where the success of my NHL career hasn’t really been what I’ve wanted. So winning a Stanley Cup has always been my goal. Coming here, it was a great opportunity, too. You know, it feels like if you got past Colorado, you’d have a really great chance to do that.”
The next step for the Wild is to look at the trade market and the rest of their free agents, as they enter the draft without picks in the first two rounds.
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