Here's a look at the Wild's depth chart for next season as it stands today. The TBDs indicate open spots that either need to be filled through the promotion of Wild prospects or external acquisitions (free agency or trades). Below each player are his 2011-12 salary and 2011-12 salary-cap hit. The salary-cap ceiling for next season is $64.3 million.
The Wild's 2011-12 depth chart
FORWARDS
Line 1: Pierre-Marc Bouchard ($4.25 million salary, $4.08M salary cap hit); Mikko Koivu($7.29M, $6.75M); Devin Setoguchi ($2.75M; $3M)
Line 2: Guillaume Latendresse($2.6M, $2.5M); Kyle Brodziak ($1.3M, $1.15M); Martin Havlat ($5M, $5M)
Line 3: TBD;Matt Cullen($3.5M, $3.5M); Cal Clutterbuck ($1.5M, $1.4M)
Line 4: Eric Nystrom ($1.4M, $1.4M); TBD;Brad Staubitz ($600K, $575K)
Note: Three or four spots are open depending on if the Wild keeps 13 or 14 forwards, seven or eight defensemen and two goalies make the team.
Vying for spots: Colton Gillies, Casey Wellman, Cody Almond, James Sheppard, Patrick O'Sullivan, Carson McMillan, Matt Kassian.
Unrestricted free agents: Andrew Brunette, John Madden, Antti Miettinen, Chuck Kobasew
Restricted free agents: Wellman, Sheppard, Gillies, O'Sullivan
Minor league unrestricted free agents: Robbie Earl, Jed Ortmeyer.
DEFENSEMEN
Line 1: Nick Schultz($3.6 million salary, $3.5M salary cap hit); Marek Zidlicky ($4M, $4M)
Line 2: Greg Zanon($2.1M, $1.933M); Jared Spurgeon ($535K, $527K)Line 3: Clayton Stoner($575K, $550K); Cam Barker* ($3.25M, $3.08M)
Note: One or two spots are open depending on if the Wild keeps 13 or 14 forwards.* The Wild is considering buying out Barker by Thursday's deadline.
Vying for spots: Marco Scandella, Nate Prosser, Justin Falk.
Restricted free agents: Falk.
Unrestricted free agent: Drew Bagnall.
GOALIES
Starter: Niklas Backstrom ($6 million salary, $6M salary cap hit)
Backup: TBD
Note: One spot is open.
Vying for spots: Dennis Endras.
Unrestricted free agents: Jose Theodore, Josh Harding.
SALARY BREAKDOWN
• Actual 2011-12 payroll (as of today): $50,250,000
• Salary cap hit: $49,876,110
Notes: Includes bought-out Mark Parrish's $927,778 payoff and cap hit. ... This total also includes the 17 of a possible 23 players.
After a middling start in the NHL with Columbus, David Jiricek — the 21-year-old former first-round pick — is getting a fresh look from the Wild.