ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Wild have made qualifying offers to five restricted free agents: defensemen Jared Spurgeon, Tyler Cuma and Kyle Medvec, and right wings Justin Fontaine and Carson McMillan.
The move to retain their rights was made Tuesday. Minnesota did not make a qualifying offer to forwards Joel Broda or Benn Ferriero, making them free agents when the NHL market opens Friday. Ferriero was acquired in a draft-day trade with the New York Rangers for defenseman Justin Falk. The Wild also received a 2014 sixth-round pick in that deal.
Spurgeon, a top-four blue-liner last season, is the most important of the Wild's restricted free agents. Center Matt Cullen is their most prominent unrestricted free agent, but there might not be enough room under the salary cap to re-sign him.
