"They're the glue that's going to hold us together," Boudreau said from inside Plymouth Ice Center, where Minnesota Disabled Hockey staff and volunteers taught 30 wounded military veterans in a "learn to play sled hockey" event. "All three of those guys had great years last year, so we're looking forward for them to be part of the Wild organization for a lot of years to come."
Niederreiter and Granlund are both coming off their best seasons in Wild uniforms. Foligno, acquired in a trade with Buffalo last month, brings the size and two-way grit Boudreau covets.
Granlund doubled his previous career-high goal total with 26 markers last season, part of a team-best 69 points that helped him earn Lady Byng Memorial Trophy consideration. Niederreiter scored 25 goals and added 32 assists, appearing in all 82 of Minnesota's regular-season contests.
In his sixth season in Buffalo, Foligno had 13 goals and 10 assists in 80 games played.
"It's a waiting period till at least August 3 and 4," Boudreau said, referring to the arbitration dates for Niederreiter and Granlund. "Right after they're done, training camp is right around the corner. … As an organization, we just want to see what we have and what our team's gonna look like. We think we know what it's going to look like, but until we get all three of those guys signed, we're not 100 percent sure."
In the cases of Niederreiter and Granlund, if they don't reach agreements with Minnesota before their hearings, an arbritator will determine their salaries. The Wild would be able to give them either a one- or two-year contract.
Re-signing Niederreiter, Granlund and Foligno also would determine what kind of additional moves General Manager Chuck Fletcher could make in free agency, if any.
"Once we find out what goes on here, then the dominoes will start to fall," Boudreau said.
