Some speculation on Minnesota Wild goalies
per Mike Russo
on Niklas Backstrom
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8. Niklas Backstrom’s nine-year career with the Wild may be over.
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With the team looking to re-sign Devan Dubnyk, Backstrom may be bought out of the final year of his contract.
He was signed to a multi-year contract at 35 years old, so if the team goes this route, the Wild would save one-third of Backstrom’s $4 million salary ($1.3 million) but be charged with his full $3.417 million cap hit.
That’s why Fletcher will likely first try to trade Backstrom with the willingness of retaining some of his salary and cap charge.
on Josh Harding
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9. Josh Harding, 30, who missed all season with complications from multiple sclerosis after playing two games with Iowa, is expected to retire. His contract will expire June 30.
“I wouldn’t want to speak for him, but he has bigger issues than just hockey,” Fletcher said.
