MN Wild Avoid Arbitration with RFA Defenseman

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Daemon Hunt - Stanley Cup Playoffs-Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

While the Minnesota Wild remain in talks with Detroit to try and acquire Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin in a blockbuster trade we’ve now been waiting months for, team president of hockey operations Bill Guerin continues to conduct his offseason business.

Minnesota Wild nearing deal to keep Daemon Hunt

On Sunday’s agenda: Get a deal done with rookie defenseman Daemon Hunt before he is due to file for arbitration later in the day. And according to Michael Russo (The Athletic), the deal is done at one-year, $900K.

Hunt, a 24-year-old restricted free agent, has played 45 career games in the National Hockey League, since the Minnesota Wild selected him in the third round (No. 65 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, 32 of which came last season.

Hunt totalled just one point in the first 13 games of his NHL career, during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. That made his 6 assists in 32 games last season (12:05 TOI) standout a bit as a possible step in the right direction for former Moose Jaw Warrior.

Possible implications of a Daemon Hunt contract

Interestingly enough, Hunt was sent to Columbus in November 2024 (along with Minnesota’s 2025 first round pick), as part of the trade package going out for defenseman David Jiricek, who the Wild have subsequently traded away since.

Hunt actually re-signed in Columbus on a one-year, two-way deal. However, when the Blue Jackets waived him in October 2025, Guerin jumped at the opportunity to claim him and bring the Canadian back closer to the northern border.

Related: Jack Hughes to MN Wild Trade Rumors Back Up?

Clearly, there was motivation to make lock him in for at least one more season. The only issue now, and why it took so long for this deal to get done in the first place, is the MN Wild’s lack of room under the salary cap.

After inking his $900K deal, the Wild sit between $1.4M – $2.0M, depending on who you ask. Above, Russo has the Wild with about $2 million in room to work, while PuckPedia has them at just under $1.5 million.

I’m told on X that the difference is the contract of Matt Kierstad, who Russo doesn’t have as being on the roster when the money matters.

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