Is Marian Gaborik is next to move on?

Bruce Ciskie poses a good question(s) on this subject. Marian Gaborik is the face of the Minnesota Wild and if they lose them they become even weaker. Signing Gabby must be a top priority, this can not end up the same way some of the other free agents non-signings went. If they lose Gabby the fans will probably revolt, unless they can get a replacement that is the same or better than Gaborik. The chances of that happening is slim and none. Also, with Hossa only signing a one year contract with the Redwings I would hope the Wild GM Doug Risebrough would take another shot at signing Hossa.

Time to waive Johnsson and Skola?

I have another suggestion for freeing up cap to sign Gabby and possibly Hossa, get rid of Kim Johnsson and Martin Skoula because if the Wild aren't going to be contend for a division title why not develop some younger defenseman and free up more cap to get better offensively.

Now that the Minnesota Wild have made the moves they're going to make in free agency, and they've bought out the contract of forward Mark Parrish, there is only one thing left to do this off-season.

Sign Marian Gaborik to a contract extension.

It's probably the biggest move the Wild will make, because it makes it perfectly clear that he's the player the Wild are going to build a championship contender around.

Gaborik is coming off a 42-goal season. It would be very smart to sign him now and keep him from entering free agency (we all saw how well that worked with Brian Rolston).

But can the Wild make it happen?

This isn't going to be about cap room. The Wild are in good shape there. After the Parrish buyout, the website nhlscap.com says the Wild have over $4 million in cap space. Gaborik's cap number will be a shade over $6 million this season.

Working off that figure, it stands to reason that Gaborik will need an annual average in the neighborhood of $8 million to $9 million before he'll sign an extension. Assuming another $2 million jump in the salary cap next year, the Wild will be left with around $10 million in cap space for the 2009-2010 season if Gaborik's annual average jumps to $8.5 million. Again using nhlscap.com, the Wild appear to have eight players to deal with in free agency after the upcoming season, including goaltender Niklas Backstrom.

So while the Wild could afford to make the move, it appears it will cause a pretty tight cap for them next summer if they do extend Gaborik.

They can't let that stop them.