Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher and soon-to-be free agent goaltender Devan Dubnyk met for nearly a half hour Tuesday in Las Vegas.
Dubnyk told reporters following the meeting that he wants to remain with the Wild. The Vezina and Masterton Trophy finalist was 27-9-2 with a 1.78 goals-against-average after he was traded to the Wild in January. His play over the second half of the season led Minnesota into the playoffs.
“I had the most fun playing hockey I ever had in my career,” Dubnyk told reporters during a press conference. “The fans are great; the city is great; the guys are great – everything was awesome.”
Devan Dubnyk says there's no deadline for new deal with Wild. Still wants to be back. Fletcher and agent meeting this weekend
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) June 23, 2015
Reports have hinted that Dubnyk is looking for a long-term contract in the neighborhood of $5 million a year. That could be tough for Minnesota to handle, considering its salary cap situation.
“The stuff I’ve read has made it definitely a lot bigger than it is,” Dubnyk told the Star Tribune’s Michael Russo. “Nothing’s really changed between us. I want to be there. [Fletcher] wants me to be there, and we’re going to work as hard as we can to get something done.”
Before departing for Las Vegas, Fletcher said re-signing Dubnyk was still his top priority. His meeting with the goaltender Tuesday was just the start of the process; he is also expected to meet with Dubnyk’s agent Mike Liut in Florida before the start of the NHL Draft on Friday.
NHL free agency opens July 1.
