The Minnesota Wild entered free agency hoping to add an experienced veteran who checked several boxes on and off the ice. It appeared to be a perfect fit, with strong mutual interest and a hometown connection fueling optimism.
But despite making a serious push, Minnesota ultimately watched the coveted free agent sign elsewhere.
Wild Insider Details Failed Winger Pursuit
Former New York Islanders captain Anders Lee was one of Minnesota’s top free-agent targets after reaching the open market. The Edina, Minnesota native appeared to be a natural fit, but he ultimately signed a three-year, $16.2 million contract with the Utah Mammoth, carrying a $5.4 million average annual value.
Wild insider Joe Smith explained that Minnesota pursued both Lee and Patrik Laine in free agency, but admitted that Lee’s contract ultimately became too expensive for the Wild.
“Yes, it seems that the Wild’s additions of Coleman and Shabanov fill their holes up front. They pursued Anders Lee and Patrik Laine during free agency, but in hindsight, the $5.4 million AAV over three years that Lee got would probably have been too rich for Minnesota,” Smith said.
Smith added that the only scenario where Minnesota could still make a significant addition would be if Patrick Kane unexpectedly became available, although the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres are currently viewed as the favorites to sign the veteran winger.
Minnesota’s interest in Lee was genuine. According to reports, the Wild put together a full presentation on the opening day of free agency in an effort to convince him to return home.
The decision wasn’t easy for Lee as he seriously considered the Wild before ultimately choosing Utah. After making his decision, Lee personally called general manager Bill Guerin rather than leaving the conversation to his agent, a gesture that reflected the respect between the two sides.
While the Wild entered free agency with roughly $12 million in cap space, they also had several long-term financial priorities to consider. Committing a three-year term at a $5.4 million cap hit to a winger turning 36 years old was a risk the Wild couldn’t comfortably match without compromising their future financial flexibility.
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Meanwhile, Utah was looking for a veteran forward who could provide a strong net-front presence, help on the power play, and support its young core. That led the team to offer Lee a guaranteed multi-year contract, something Minnesota wasn’t willing to match because of its roster and salary cap situation.
In the end, it wasn’t a matter of the Wild losing interest. They simply weren’t prepared to meet the price and term required to complete the deal, allowing Utah to land one of the offseason’s most experienced free-agent forwards.
