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The Wild Aren't Done Yet

Well, let's just say that Wild fans hope the Wild aren't done yet.

Free agency started Tuesday, and as usual, it's anything but free. The insane money being thrown around makes you wonder how the league's personnel people got their jobs ($3.75 million a season for Jeff Finger? Really?).

In Minnesota, the Wild have developed a reputation for fiscal conservatism. There's nothing really wrong with that, but there's a bit of a problem on the Minnesota roster as of right now.

That problem? There aren't many forwards. In fact, Jacques Lemaire couldn't field four full lines right now.

Not only did Brian Rolston sign with New Jersey, but Aaron Voros went to the Rangers, and Todd Fedoruk signed with Phoenix. Yes, the Wild signed Andrew Brunette and Craig Weller, but look at the roster on the Wild's official website. Ignore the fact that they still have Voros listed.

The forwards on the team right now? Eric Belanger, Derek Boogaard, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Brunette, Marian Gaborik, Mikko Koivu, Mark Parrish, Benoit Pouliot, James Sheppard, Stephane Veilleux, and Weller.

(Bouchard and Veilleux are restricted free agents who are expected back.)

That's eleven players, and if you think Boogaard and Weller are each playing 82 games, you're crazy.

Unless the Wild plan on taking two more minor-league prospects to camp this fall (outside of Sheppard and Pouliot), general manager Doug Risebrough needs to sign (or trade for) at least two more decent forwards. Minnesota doesn't have enough quality players to fill two solid lines as is, and that won't cut it on a team expected to take another step toward a Stanley Cup.

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