Minnesota Wild forward Jason Pominville is seeking a long-term contract extension, according to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Jason Pominville contract: Wild F seeking long-term extension
The Minnesota Wild and Jason Pominville are still discussing a contract extension.
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The two-sides have been engaging in negotiations since before training camp, with the hopes of coming to terms on a new agreement. Russo writes that Pominville is seeking a multi-year extension with an annual salary north of $5 million. Minnesota is apparently trying to lessen that figure, as the club would like to move into the future with some salary cap space to extend players like Charlie Coyle and Jonas Brodin.
Russo also speculates that Minnesota might be interested in pursuing Buffalo Sabres co-captain Thomas Vanek, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Pominville stated that he would prefer not to negotiate during the season, which would mean the two-sides have until Thursday’s opener to get a deal done, via the Star Tribune:
“I don’t want to really talk during the season,” Pominville said today. “I don’t want it to be a distraction for me and the way I play, and then you’re always thinking. If you know they’re talking and things aren’t going the way you want it to go, then you’re thinking, ‘Oh, are they not wanting to sign me anymore?’ I don’t really want to have that distraction, so hopefully it can get done before [the season]. If not, there’s still a lot of time.”
Russo cites a source who says the two-sides are fairly close in negotiations, so reaching an agreement prior to the season might be a realistic aspiration.
Pominville is entering the final year of a five-year, $26.5 million that carries an annual average value of $5.3 million against the salary cap, according to CapGeek.com. The Wild acquired Pominville prior to last season's trade deadline from the Sabres in exchange for Johan Larsson, Matt Hackett, a first-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft and a second-round-pick in the 2014 draft.
In 10 games with the Wild, Pominville recorded nine points (four goals, five assists) while averaging 17:31 of ice-time per game.
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