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Minnesota Wild and GM Chuck Fletcher part ways after nine seasons

By Dave Stevenson |
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 09: Chuck Fletcher walks the red carpet prior to the 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Brookfield Place on November 9, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 09: Chuck Fletcher walks the red carpet prior to the 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Brookfield Place on November 9, 2015 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Wild have announced they will not renew general manager Chuck Fletcher’s contract

It could be an offseason of huge changes for the Minnesota Wild. That’s what happens when you experience three consecutive first-round exits. The changes have started in the front office, as the team has announced they will not re-sign general manager Chuck Fletcher.

Fletcher had been with the team for nine seasons. During his tenure, the Wild have made postseason appearances in six consecutive seasons, including the 2017-18 season. Fletcher’s defining offseason came in 2012 when he signed both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to 13-year deals.

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Those two deals aren’t looking too good, as both players are starting to show their age. Also, Fletcher has left the Wild in rather dire straits as far as salary cap space. Minnesota only made it out of the first-round twice with him in the front office.

Overall, this is the right move for the Wild. They need to undergo some significant changes. And Fletcher’s blueprint wasn’t working. The Wild have already expressed interest in Nashville Predators assistant GM Paul Fenton as his replacement.

Depending on who Minnesota hires as their next general manager, head coach Bruce Boudreau could be on the job market once again. He’s helped the Wild make the postseason in each of his first two seasons, but on a “win now” team, his team didn’t progress as expected. How much of the blame Boudreau deserves for that is up for debate, but the NHL is a results-driven league.

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Until the Wild find a new GM, assistant GM Brent Flahr will serve in an interim role. Minnesota has a number of intriguing candidates out there. And currently, they don’t have too much competition, as the Carolina Hurricanes are the only other team with a GM vacancy.

Because of these two factors, expect the Wild to take their time and interview a variety of candidates. They have about two months before the NHL Draft and they must nail this hiring.

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