[Signing] Wild sign Dubnyk (6yrs, $4.16mil AAV)

[Roof-Daddy]

Well thanks to this low cap hit the Wild are paying only $7.5 million for their goalie tandem next year, if they are forced to hold onto Backstrom.

After that they get what looks to be a real bargain for the next 5 seasons.

[browna]

3 years too long for a NHL average calibre goalie with only 4 months of elite play, though I suspect he could be buyout fodder at an ok rate, if things go south by that point.

[1qqaaz]

Since Dubnyk changed the way he responds to goalie coaching, there's a chance that his play may permanently improve. He's also playing on a team with pretty good defense.

He might have an off year or 2 during the 6 years, but I think in general it's as good of a signing as Minnesota could have hoped for.

[nmhen]

The way I see this, if the Wild doesn't get to actual, legit contender status very soon, this deal is the least of our problems. Koivu is 32, Parise and Suter are 30, Pominville is 32, Vanek is Vanek...and we're starting to see appropriate dips in production for those ages.

We do not have time to try to execute any kind of re-tooling, and that's assuming you could move some of those contracts in the first place. Fletcher gives away NTC/NMCs almost as freely as he gives away 2nd round picks. In other words, we're stuck with these guys for the time being, so we need to try to win NOW. The problem is that they are not contenders right now, even with Dubnyk playing like he did in February and March. And they are looking like they will largely bring back the same roster that has lost to Chicago three years running now.

So, if the Wild doesn't actually get that "window" open more or less now, then having a mid-30 year old Dubnyk carrying a $4.3M cap hit in 5 or 6 seasons will be the least of their problems.

[cannon7]

Think Dubnyk could've gotten more as a UFA, but think it was wise to sign with a team with a solid defense.