The Wild won't look the same next season, not after trading away its second-best scorer.
But the loss of Kevin Fiala could end up being the only significant change for the team. If so, that means the Wild returns the bulk of the lineup that finished top-five in the NHL with its most productive performance in franchise history.
"Right now, I'm pretty happy with where we are," General Manager Bill Guerin said. "But, like I've always said, if we can make our team better, I will."
That opportunity is on deck.
For the first time in three years, the draft won't be a virtual event, with picks being rattled off at Bell Centre in Montreal starting Thursday when the first round kicks off. This also brings GMs back to the draft floor, where trade talks can intensify.
Then, on July 13, the free-agent signing period opens, and so does the shopping spree.
Not everyone, though, has the same wallet.
After factoring in the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, which jump from approximately $4.7 million to almost $13 million, the Wild has less than $7 million in available salary cap space, according to capfriendly.com. Fortunately for the team, the majority of last season's roster is under contract: 11 forwards, six defensemen and a goalie after forward Connor Dewar signed a two-year, $1.6 million deal in June.