An offseason of mega changes for the Minnesota Wild continued Monday as General Manager Bill Guerin traded forward Ryan Donato to the San Jose Sharks, and then hours later completed a deal that will see longtime No. 1 goalie Devan Dubnyk to the Sharks.
According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, Minnesota is also sending a seventh-round pick in 2021 to the Sharks. In exchange, the Wild will receive a fifth-round pick in 2021 and some salary cap relief as they shed part Dubnyk’s $4.333 million cap hit in 2020-21.
Per Russo, Minnesota will retain $2.17 million of Dubnyk’s cap hit.
After the Wild was eliminated from the playoffs this past summer, Guerin elected against committing to either Dubnyk or Alex Stalock to be the team’s No. 1 goalie in the upcoming 2020-21 season, which could start in November or December.
“I was disappointed in the goaltending this year,” said Guerin on Aug. 10. “Al [Stalock] had a tremendous year and Devan had an off year and it needs to be better, that’s just the way it is. If I told you anything different I’d be lying to you. It was not a strong point for us.”
Stalock remains on the roster, but the Wild could also choose to acquire a veteran goalie in free agency, trade for a goalie or hand the No. 1 job to Kaapo Kahkonen,
Kahkonen flashed potential by going 3-1-1 in four starts at the NHL level last season. The 23-year-old also set the franchise rookie record with 44 saves in a Dec. 3 road victory over the Florida Panthers.
In the AHL, Kahkonen posted a 2.07 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.
