Minnesota Wild Ink Remaining RFA’s

Sep 23, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Carson Lambos (71) looks on during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The noisy, yet ultimately uneventful 2026 Minnesota Wild offseason continues to move forward, despite the fact that Dylan Larkin remains a member of the Detroit Red Wings.

Few would argue that the Wild roster, on paper, appears less talented than the one we saw during the second half of the 2025-26 season, post Quinn Hughes trade. However, it is undeniably younger as well. And the youth movement continued Friday morning.

Minnesota Wild re-sign three restricted free agents

From vacation on the Italian Riviera, Michael Russo (The Athletic) reported the Wild have re-signed all three of their remaining restricted free agents, Carson Lambos, David Spacek and Caedan Bankier, who are all just 23-years-old. The Minnesota Wild made it official a short while later.

We’ll see if any of Bankier, Spacek, or especially 2021 first round pick Carson Lambos, can find his way to more NHL playing time next season. At forward, the path is clearer than ever, now that veterans like Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Johansson and Vladimir Tarasenko are gone.

Caedan Bankier is former third round pick who has yet to make his NHL debut. Last year down in Iowa, he played 66 games, totaling 10 goals and 10 assists for the Iowa Wild.

Keep an eye on young MN Wild defensemen… just in case

On defense, you can’t help but wonder if aging prospects like David Spacek and Carson Lambos eventually help Minnesota reel in someone like Dylan Larkin, even if only indirectly.

While neither of those defenseman would excite Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, in a trade, either 23-year-old could help the Wild feel more comfortable offloading one of his veterans.

For example, would the Wild be willing to move Jonas Brodin or Jared Spurgeon, if president of hockey operations Bill Guerin becomes convinced that Spacek and/or Lambos will be NHL ready this season?

Related: Red Wings Wanted Absurd Return from Wild for Dylan Larkin

Lambos — a former No. 26 overall draft pick has played in just one NHL game (0 points). He’s played three seasons down in Iowa where last year he scored 8 goals and added 11 assists (-4 +/-) in 70 games played.

David Spacek — a 2022 5th round pick — has also played three seasons with the Iowa Wild, though he’s gotten to play in two NHL games (0 points). In 59 games with the Iowa Wild last season, Spacek scored 7 goals and added 29 assists

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