Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Minnesota Wild have officially entered their offseason, after an embarrassing 4-1 series loss to the Colorado Avalanche that cut their postseason run off before it could gain anything more than second round momentum.
So, it’s back to the drawing board for Bill Guerin. The Wild don’t have any games left on their 2025-26 schedule, but work is only getting started for their general manager and president of hockey operations, who is undoubtedly hungrier than ever to deliver the State of Hockey their first Stanley Cup.
We know for sure that Billy’s No. 1 priority, when the NHL calendar flips seasons on July 1, is getting Quinn Hughes extended.
Minnesota Wild free agents this offseason
But first, because of the NHL offseason calendar, Guerin must look beyond Quinn Hughes’ extension, where there’s plenty of tasks that need completed first.
For example, the MN Wild will first decide which pending free agents they want back, and which of those have mutual interest in returning. Heading into the summer, Minnesota has EIGHT unrestricted free agents scheduled to hit the open market, along with TWO restricted free agents.
PlayerFA Status2025-26 SalaryV. TarasenkoUFA$4.75MN. FolignoUFA$4.50MM. ZuccarelloUFA$4.13MM. McCarronUFA$900KM. JohanssonUFA$800KR. FabbriUFA$775KZ. BogosianUFA$1.25MJ. PetryUFA$775KB. BrinkRFA$1.5MD. HuntRFA$775K
The MN Wild enter the offseason with $13.5 million in cap space for 2026-27, according to PuckPedia.com. It’s also worth noting that they currently have $48.5 million available for 2027-28 and $72.4 million for 2028-29.
While there aren’t any key pieces to the organization’s future listed on the above free agent table, the names you see, and which ones Guerin decides to bring back, will absolutely decide how many games this team wins next season, and how deep their next playoff push lasts.
At the top of the list of free agent decisions are Vladimir Tarasenko (34), Nick Foligno (38) and Mats Zuccarello (38). The most likely to return is Kirill Kaprizov’s sidekick, but just about every pending free agent played a role in the Minnesota Wild taking their biggest postseason step in over a decade.
Free agents all want to return to Minnesota Wild
Of course, the money will have to be right and interest mutual. However, if Guerin comes to the negotiating table this summer with any of these guys, ready to play ball and with market-level competitive offers in hand, it sounds like he will have his choice of who returns.
Five of the above free agents spoke with reporters during their individual season-ending press conferences, where all five made it very clear that they’d love nothing more than a return to Minnesota. The other five free agents who didn’t meet with media weren’t requested, according to The Athletic.
“I would love to come back. It’s a team that I genuinely feel is on the verge of becoming something great. It’s just a matter of making sure that I’m ready to do what’s necessary to help this team be successful.” — Nick Foligno
“It’s hard for me to say what they want and whatever is going to happen. But no, it’s going to be hard to see yourself leaving here, for sure. Like I told you guys, I’ve had my family and my girls are growing up here. It feels like home. But it’s not always up to yourself. You know how it is. But I’m sure we’ll figure that out when it comes.” — Mats Zuccarello
“Absolutely, would love to return. We are — me and my family — are very thankful for Minnesota people, and organization make the transition smooth as possible.” — Vladimir Tarasenko
“You have a GM and coach who wanted me to come in here and help the team, and when someone gives up what they gave up to get me, I think it shows how much they wanted me. So try to return the favor. — Michael McCarron
Quotes via The Athletic
Again, we do not know what numbers will look like during contract talks, but Zuccy doesn’t sound like a guy ready for retirement. Kirill Kaprizov wants him back and that means the Minnesota Wild do to.
That’s why I’d be completely shocked if Mats isn’t in wearing a Wild sweater and feeding Kirill the Thrill in 2026-27 (and probably longer). That will make their Russian superstar happy, if his $17 million per year wasn’t enough.
The future is less certain for Minnesota’s FORMER Russian star, though. Vladimir Tarasenko scored 23 goals and assisted on 24 more this season (14:56 TOI). That’s the most goals and points (47) he’s put up since 2023-24.
Tarasenko, McCarron, Johansson talks will come down to money
We’ll see how badly he really wants to return when his agent sits down at the negotiating table with Bill Guerin because, while the Wild are reportedly interested in bringing Tarasenko back (per The Athletic), it won’t be anywhere near the $4 million-plus he made last season.
Meanwhile, Nick Foligno is pondering retirement more so than Zuccarello. With that said, he loved playing with his younger brother Marcus. Both he and Michael McCarron played huge roles in Minnesota’s postseason run, especially after Joel Eriksson Ek went out with injury.
Nick Foligno gets his second of the game and it’s 3-0!
🎥: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/aTrBrUfoBr
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) May 14, 2026
While money won’t be an issue for Foligno, if he does decide to return, the same cannot be said for McCarron. The 31-year-old trade deadline acquisition feels somewhat obligated to do right by the MN Wild, after Guerin gave up a second round pick to rent him for one postseason run.
However, he’s also looking for his first ‘real’ NHL payday, after putting up 17 points in the regular season and the first four playoff points of his career. And that could pose a problem, if the Wild are indeed interested in bringing him back.
“I think I’m at a point in my career where I haven’t really taken that next step financially, or had security, I’d say. I guess that’s what I’m looking for.”
Michael McCarron (via The Athletic)
Marcus Johansson, again, seems to be deciding between a return to the MN Wild, or going back to his homeland of Sweden, for the final years of his hockey career. However, he played for league-minimum last season, and is expected to want more if he’s going to stay.
That’d make sense since Johansson was relied upon for 15 minutes of ice time in both the regular and postseason. The 35-year-old scored FOUR goals in the postseason and 49 total points (15 G, 34 A) in the regular season.
Mentioned in this article: Bill Guerin NHL Offseason
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