Wild call up Sammy Walker, place Alex Goligoski on LTIR: What it means for their cap situation

The Minnesota Wild made a significant move on Wednesday by recalling right wing Sammy Walker from AHL Iowa. In order to facilitate the call-up, defenseman Alex Goligoski was placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), allowing the team to exceed the $83.5 million salary cap. Here’s what you should know:

Star third-year forward Matt Boldy will be out of action for an estimated two to three weeks due to an upper-body injury. This creates an opening in the lineup that will be filled by Walker.

The Wild were already facing salary cap constraints and couldn’t afford Walker’s salary in their first game without Boldy, which was a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

Goligoski, who was seen wearing a walking boot in the locker room following the win, sustained his injury during Monday’s practice at the Bell Centre when he was struck by a puck.

So, what does this mean for the team’s cap situation?

Until Goligoski is removed from LTIR, the Wild will not accumulate daily cap space. However, once he is cleared, the team must ensure they are cap-compliant. By placing Goligoski on LTIR, the Wild have gained more flexibility with their roster. This move has transformed their cap space from approximately $51,000 to $1.95 million. Additionally, any bonuses earned by players will now count towards the cap hit, not just their regular salary. According to Puckpedia, the Wild currently have $1.07 million remaining cap space available if needed.