One of the best moves that GM Bill Guerin has made for the Minnesota Wild this year was trading for Zach Bogosian. After a disappointing start to the season, Guerin attempted to light a spark in the team by trading defenseman Calen Addison to the San Jose Sharks and then trading for Bogosian from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Bosogian may have started on the third pairing, but with all of the injuries and players being in and out of the lineup, he’s quickly become indispensable to the club. Bogosian is a hard-nosed defenseman who has a veteran presence and a Stanley Cup under his belt. He was the third overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, and that talent still shows even after more than a dozen years in the league.
He Fits Well With the Minnesota Wild
His gritty style fits well with the Wild, and during a year when many of the veteran players have been in and out of the lineup with injuries, Bogosian has been able to be in more of a leadership role when needed. And while he isn’t known as much as a fighter, his oversized physical presence is enough to warn opponents away.
The craziest thing about Bogosian’s trade to the Wild is that he and his family already owned a house near Lake Minnetonka. They spend their off-season in Minnesota, so there wasn’t much adjustment when moving here.
When Bogosian was in Tampa Bay, he was slowly forced into a depth and healthy scratched defenseman. Moving to the Wild, he’s been given an opportunity to show that he is still a great defenseman, especially when he’s had to step into a top-four pairing.
Isn’t He Too Old?
This is the number one thing people ask about extending Bogosian’s time with the Wild. But he isn’t as old as he seems. First off, he made his NHL debut at the age of 18 years and 87 days with the Atlanta Thrashers. So he’s been playing for at least parts of 16 seasons, spread over five different NHL clubs (counting the Thrashers and the Winnipeg Jets as separate teams, although Bogosian moved with the team when it moved.)
Secondly, the large bushy beard and long hair make Bogosian seem much older than his actual age. He is only 33 years old and judging by the way he’s been playing, he has a few good years as a third-pairing defenseman ahead of him.
What Would a Contract for Bogosian Look Like?
Currently, Bogosian is in the last year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. His current cap hit is $850,000. Even though Minnesota has a well-known salary cap crunch, fitting in a contract that is similar to his current one would fit easily. Giving the veteran defenseman a two-year contract would also help. Many of Minnesota’s defensive prospects in Iowa will need a bit more time before they are NHL-ready. This contract could be an easy bridge until the young defensemen are ready to come up.
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