3 candidates to replace Chuck Fletcher as Minnesota Wild GM

ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 15: Fans arrive at Xcel Energy Center before Game Three of the Western Conference First Round between the Minnesota Wild and the Winnipeg Jets during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 15, 2018 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

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Dean Lombardi

The current core of players is an established group that is locked in. The Minnesota Wild may look for a general manager with plenty of experience that has won a Stanley Cup. In this case, they have a candidate that has won two. Dean Lombardi is responsible for building the two Los Angeles Kings teams that won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014.

Lombardi was successful in the draft building up the Kings slowly. Drew Doughty, Alec Martinez, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson are all important contributors to the team that were drafted. Lombardi is also not afraid to pull off a major trade to make his team better. He acquired Mike Richards from the Philadelphia Flyers for two of the Kings top prospects Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds. Lombardi later would also add Jeff Carter for top defenseman Jack Johnson. Dean Lombardi got himself in trouble in Los Angeles by signing veterans to long-term, expensive contracts. Dustin Brown was given an eight-year contract with a cap hit of $5.875 million dollars at the age of 30. Marian Gaborik was the recipient of a seven-year contract at the age of 32. Luckily for the Kings they were able to trade away this nightmare contract.

Next: 5 Minnesota Wild players who could leave with GM Fletcher

The good news for Minnesota is all of its older veterans are signed to contracts already. Lombardi has proven he can make big-time moves to get a veteran team the pieces they need to get a cup. As a long-term fit Lombardi is not the guy for the job in Minnesota. If the organization wants to make a major push for the cup in the next year or so, Lombardi’s phone should already be ringing.

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