Minnesota Wild weigh a bold pivot as Claude Giroux hits free agency after the Ottawa Senators let him walk—could the veteran become the Wild’s backup plan if Dylan Larkin slips away? Seth Toupal breaks down Giroux’s faceoff dominance, locker room presence, and potential fit as a productive stopgap center alongside Matt Boldy, while weighing how Danila Yurov’s development could impact the team’s plans.

Key free agency storylines include backup goaltender options with Filip Gustavsson sidelined—will Cal Petersen or Phoenix Copley step up behind Jesper Wallstedt? Defensive depth takes center stage as the Wild consider veterans like Erik Gudbranson or opening space for prospects such as Carson Lambos. The episode closes with the fallout from Zach Werenski’s surprising veto of a move to the Dallas Stars, adding more intrigue to a Wild offseason filled with shifting priorities and open questions.

Photo Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

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