Wild expected to wade, not dive, into free agency

Unlike last offseason, the team won't be making any big moves on big names when the free agency period begins starting today.

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: July 1, 2007 - 12:54 AM

Daniel Briere and Chris Drury won't be getting calls from the Wild today. Nor will Scott Gomez or Ryan Smyth.

Unlike last summer's free agency period, don't expect the Wild to make a big splash in the coming days.

In fact, if anything, the team plans to cautiously stick its toes into the pool to test the temperature when the free-agent market opens this morning at 11.

"We're in a position where some of our top-end spots are nailed down, and that's good," General Manager Doug Risebrough said. "We expect good growth from our younger guys and I also want to make sure there's opportunity for some of the guys in the minors to get a shot.

"So no doubt we have [less flexibility] than last summer."

Risebrough says the Wild will be looking at "middle-tier" free agents. However, one thing that will hamper the Wild during free agency is the amount of long-term deals it has given out.

Mikko Koivu re-signed for four years Saturday. The Wild would like to re-sign Pierre-Marc Bouchard to a four-, five- or six-year deal. Last summer, the Wild signed Mark Parrish for five years and Kim Johnsson for four.

"There's only so many long-term contracts we can have," Risebrough said. "If I'm willing to execute a long-term deal on our younger guys, I'm out of the market for the older guys."

That's because most unrestricted free agents want security. "So if I'm only able to offer one- or two-year deals, that'll take me out of the market on many players," Risebrough said.

Including goalie Manny Fernandez, who was traded to Boston today, the Wild had 15 players signed for next season at $39.15 million. Pencil in an anticipated $6-7 million for its remaining restricted free agents, and the Wild was already at around $45-46 million with three or four players needed to fill the rest of the roster. Deleting Fernandezs $4.33 million cap hit gives the Wild breathing room.

The salary cap ceiling is increasing from $44 million to $50.3 million.

With Wes Walz, Todd White and Wyatt Smith unsigned, the Wild should be in the market for centers. Most the skilled centers available will be expensive, so the Wild could investigate potentially more reasonably-priced skilled players such as Alexei Yashin, Viktor Kozlov, Dainius Zubrus and Radek Bonk.

But the team mostly will be looking for grit and competitiveness. Centers fitting that category include Bryan Smolinski, Ryan Johnson, Byron Ritchie and Michael Peca. Minnesotan Jason Blake would be ideal for speed, grit and scoring, but his price could be near $4 million.

The Wild also lacks physicality on the blue line. Physical defensemen such as Vitaly Vishnevski, Cory Sarich, Aaron Miller and Danny Markov are available, but after re-signing Martin Skoula on Saturday, Risebrough said, "We're comfortable coming back with the same defense."

While Risebrough and assistant GM Tom Lynn will be dialing agents all day today, there's a chance the Wild "will be getting out of the way for a few days," Risebrough said.

Risebrough did say there could always be surprises.

"There is a supply and demand factor and when I look at certain teams who say they're going to sign [expensive players], I don't know how they're going to do it. They don't have any room," Risebrough said. "So this could cause a rippling effect because some players could suddenly become available."

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com

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