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Home | Sports | Minnesota Wild

Roster situation

Last update: April 20, 2008 - 11:28 PM

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The Wild has a salary cap hit of $33.88 million tied into 12 players next season, roughly $20 million below what's expected to be a $53 million to $55 million salary cap. General Manager Doug Risebrough has said he plans to retain injured defenseman Kurtis Foster, so it's actually $34.905 million. That leaves 10 more players to fill out the 23-player roster, and when one considers right winger Pierre-Marc Bouchard could earn between $3 million and $4 million, flexibility starts to decrease quickly. Here's a look at the Wild's roster situation:

UNDER CONTRACT

Left wingers

Derek Boogaard, $875,000 cap hit in 2008-09

Centers

Mikko Koivu, $3.25 million

Eric Belanger, $1.75 million

James Sheppard, $1.4 million (including bonuses)

Right wingers

Marian Gaborik, $6.33 million

Mark Parrish, $2.65 million

Defensemen

Kim Johnsson, $4.85 million

Nick Schultz, $3.6 million

Brent Burns, $3.55 million

Martin Skoula, $1.8 million

Goalies

Niklas Backstrom, $3.1 million

Josh Harding, $725,000

Total against salary cap: 12 players, $33,883,333

Note: Roster contenders Benoit Pouliot ($1.7 million if all bonuses earned) and Colton Gillies ($1.4 million if all bonuses earned) also are under contract.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

To retain rights, qualifying offer must be tendered in late June.

Left wingers

Stephane Veilleux, $546,700 cap hit in 2007-08

Right wingers

Pierre-Marc Bouchard, $2.6 million

Defensemen

Kurtis Foster, $1.025 million

Note: All have arbitration rights. Minor-leaguers Clayton Stoner, Peter Olvecky, Danny Irmen and Shawn Belle also are restricted free agents.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Can become completely free July 1

LW/C Pavol Demitra, $4.5 million cap hit in 2007-08

LW Brian Rolston, $2.432 million

D Keith Carney, $2.1 million

D Sean Hill, $1.325 million

D Petteri Nummelin, $1.1 million

LW Chris Simon, $1 million

LW Todd Fedoruk, $875,000

RW Branko Radivojevic, $640,000

RW Matt Foy, $506,000

LW Aaron Voros, $495,000

Note: Minor-leaguers Erik Reitz, Joel Ward, Serge Payer and Steve Kelly also are unrestricted free agents.

MICHAEL RUSSO

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