Minnesota Wild Playmaker Mats Zuccarello Set To Hit Free Agency

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Dylan LoucksTue, June 30, 2026 at 8:28 PM UTC·4 min read

Tuesday could mark the final day of Mats Zuccarello's seven-year run with the Minnesota Wild.

When NHL free agency officially opens on Wednesday, July 1, Zuccarello will become an unrestricted free agent for the first time since signing with Minnesota in the summer of 2019. Unless the two sides agree to a new contract, he'll be free to sign with any of the league's 32 teams.

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Vladimir Tarasenko is also headed to the open market and Marcus Johansson has already signed in Sweden. That leaves the Wild with multiple openings on the wing and a need to add skill to their top-six forward group.

Oh and Bobby Brink was not qulified.

It's a scenario that felt unlikely just a few months ago.

Throughout the season, there appeared to be mutual interest in getting another deal done. Zuccarello has repeatedly called Minnesota home, and the Wild have never hidden how much they value the veteran winger both on and off the ice. But with July 1 arriving and no extension in place, his future is suddenly uncertain.

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“It’s going to be hard to see yourself leaving here, for sure,” Zuccarello said after the season. “My family and my girls are growing up here. It feels like home.”

If this is the end, Zuccarello will leave as one of the most impactful free-agent signings in franchise history.

After signing a five-year contract in 2019, the Norwegian winger helped usher in a new era of Wild hockey alongside Kirill Kaprizov. Their chemistry became one of the NHL's best, with Zuccarello's elite vision and passing ability helping unlock Kaprizov's offensive game almost immediately.

Over seven seasons, Zuccarello became far more than just a top-line winger. He developed into one of the team's leaders, a mentor for younger players and a fan favorite whose personality made him one of the most respected players in the locker room.

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Even at 38 years old, Zuccarello continued to prove he could still produce offensively. Despite missing time with injury during the 2025-26 season, he remained nearly a point-per-game player and continued to play major minutes alongside Kaprizov.

He recorded 15 goals, 39 assists and 54 points in 59 games this season after missing the first few months with an injury. He recorded two goals, seven assists and nine points in eight playoff games as well.

In his previous nine seasons before coming to Minnesota, Zuccarello had over 60 points just one time. He has recorded over 60 points, three different times with Minnesota and had a career-high 79 point season in 2021-22

The Norwegian star recorded 118 goals, 271 assists and 389 points in 452 career games with the Wild. He is fourth all-time in Wild career assists and first among wingers.

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He set a Wild franchise record in 2021-22 for most assists in a single season (55) before Kirill Kaprizov broke it that same season.

&amp;#x002018;It Feels Like Home&amp;#x002019;: Mats Zuccarello Hopes His Wild Career Isn&amp;#x002019;t Over — ‘It Feels Like Home’: Mats Zuccarello Hopes His Wild Career Isn’t Over

‘It Feels Like Home’: Mats Zuccarello Hopes His Wild Career Isn’t Over As the veteran winger enters a crucial offseason, he opens up about his undeniable chemistry with Kirill Kaprizov and a deep-rooted desire to finish his career in Minnesota.

The question has never been whether Zuccarello can still play. Instead, it comes down to where he fits into Minnesota's long-term plans.

The Wild are entering a pivotal offseason. Bill Guerin has made it clear the organization wants to get younger while also remaining a Stanley Cup contender. Minnesota has already seen Johansson depart for Sweden, Tarasenko is headed to free agency, and several other roster decisions still need to be made.

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While bringing Zuccarello back remains an option, every dollar matters as the Wild continue trying to reshape their roster around Kaprizov, Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, Matt Boldy and the next wave of young talent.

For the first time since arriving in St. Paul, there is a very real possibility Zuccarello's next game won't be in a Wild sweater.

Of course, free agency doesn't necessarily mean the two sides are finished. Veteran players often test the market before returning to their current club, and Minnesota could still work out a deal after July 1.

But once the market opens, the Wild lose the exclusive opportunity to negotiate with one of the most important players of the past seven seasons.

Whether he returns or signs elsewhere, Wednesday marks the beginning of a new chapter.

And it could also signal the end of one of the most memorable eras of Wild hockey.

College football realignment refresh: July brings Pac-12 relaunch, new FBS members

Welcome back, Pac-12. Kirby Lee / Getty Images

By Chris VanniniJuly 1, 2026 Updated 8:21 am EDT

It’s July 1, and for the fifth consecutive year, conference realignment has brought summer movement within the Football Bowl Subdivision.

What started with Texas and Oklahoma’s shocking jump from the Big 12 to the SEC in 2021 has continued to trickle down across the rest of college football, especially in the Group of 5 conferences, which are now a Group of 6. Welcome back, Pac-12.

Eleven more FBS schools officially moved Wednesday, along with some non-football-playing additions, bringing the total to 47 FBS moves since the initial Texas and Oklahoma reveal and growing the FBS to 138 teams (up from 130 in 2021). That’s more than one-third of college football’s top level.

To catch you up on this year’s moves, here’s a look at the changes effective this month.

Pac-12

Out: None
In: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State, Gonzaga (non-football)

In 2024, the Pac-12 lost 10 schools to the Big Ten (four), Big 12 (four) and ACC (two), leaving just Oregon State and Washington State. What had started with USC and UCLA’s departure for the Big Ten snowballed into an existential crisis by 2024. Rather than close up shop and join the Mountain West, Oregon State and Washington State spent 2024 in a scheduling partnership with the Mountain West for football and with various leagues for other sports. A year later, the Pac-12 added five Mountain West schools. There were lawsuits, which were recently settled.

To reach the FBS-mandated minimum of eight members, the Pac-12 also added Texas State from the Sun Belt. The league will have a “flex” rematch game to close the regular season, giving everyone eight conference games. Basketball powerhouse Gonzaga is also coming over as a member in all sports, though the Zags don’t have football.

Pac-12 members as of July 1

School
Boise State
Colorado State
Fresno State
Gonzaga (non-football)
Oregon State
San Diego State
Texas State
Utah State
Washington State

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Mountain West

Out: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State
In: UTEP, North Dakota State (football only), Northern Illinois (football only), UC Davis (non-football)

After nearly collapsing following the Pac-12 departures, the Mountain West struck a favorable deal with Air Force and UNLV to keep them in the fold, then added UTEP from Conference USA and brought Hawaii in as a full member (rather than a football-only one) to stabilize. The league also added Northern Illinois from the MAC as a football-only member. Then, in a late move earlier this year, the Mountain West added North Dakota State as a football-only member coming up from the Football Championship Subdivision. A recent NCAA rule change will allow the Bison to be bowl eligible this season, rather than the previous two-year wait for an FCS transition.

Mountain West members as of July 1

School
Air Force
Grand Canyon (non-football)
Hawaii
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota State (football only)
Northern Illinois (football only)
San Jose State
UC Davis (non-football)
UNLV
UTEP
Wyoming

Conference USA

Out: Louisiana Tech, UTEP
In: None

CUSA is the only conference to have had a membership change in each of the last five years. This time, UTEP took the Mountain West offer, which made sense geographically. Louisiana Tech then announced last year it would join its fellow Louisiana G6 schools in the Sun Belt. That also led to a lawsuit, which was similarly settled in time for the Bulldogs to move this offseason.

Conference USA members as of July 1

School
Delaware
FIU
Jacksonville State
Kennesaw State
Liberty
Middle Tennessee
Missouri State
New Mexico State
Sam Houston
Western Kentucky

Sun Belt

Out: Texas State
In: Louisiana Tech

The Sun Belt saw Texas State leave for the Pac-12 but remains a 14-team league after adding Louisiana Tech. The conference has leaned into its tight geographic footprint, and these moves make its members even closer.

Sun Belt members as of July 1

School
Appalachian State
Arkansas State
Coastal Carolina
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Louisiana
Louisiana-Monroe
Louisiana Tech
James Madison
Old Dominion
Marshall
South Alabama
Southern Miss
Troy

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MAC

Out: Northern Illinois
In: Sacramento State

Northern Illinois had been the MAC’s westernmost program. Now the Huskies are leaving the conference for the second time and will be replaced by a team out in California for football. The Hornets had been trying to move up from the FCS in recent years but didn’t have an FBS conference home. North Dakota State’s move, complete with a sizable payment to the Mountain West, created the blueprint for Sac State to do the same, and the MAC was willing to take it.

MAC members as of July 1