Bill Guerin confirms Wild in the market for a center and wing

The Wild enter the 2025 offseason finally free from the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter dead cap hits, meaning general manager Bill Guerin can flex some financial muscle to strengthen a squad that’s made the playoffs in five of the last six seasons.

With the financial constraints lifted, Guerin now has the ability to go big-game hunting in free agency this summer.

"Yeah, I'm really excited. I mean, this is big. I mean, we've been waiting a long time for this," Guerin told the Wild on 7th podcast following the team’s elimination from the playoffs.

"And when I say 'we,' I mean everybody. You know—fans, ownership, coaches, players, you guys. So yeah, this is a big summer," Guerin continued. "I want to make our team significantly better this summer."

According to Cap Wages, Minnesota will have just shy of $17 million in available cap space this offseason. For a team that’s had to pinch pennies and find creative ways to build a roster over the past several seasons, that’s a breath of fresh air.

So where will Guerin focus his efforts?

"We're going to focus mainly on forwards," Guerin said. "I mean, I believe our D is set. We've got a good mix of veterans and youth. So mainly for me, I'm focused on forwards. Yeah, faceoffs—we need somebody to help with that. We need veteran-type guys who’ve been through it, who’ve got some battle scars and can help in that way. But we could always use more skill too. That’s everybody, but definitely in the forward position."

With stars like Mitch Marner, Brock Boeser, John Tavares, Brock Nelson, and Sam Bennett potentially hitting the market this summer, Guerin will have plenty of options.