Photo: NHL.com

After the Minnesota Wild bought out the final four years of defenseman Ryan Suter’s 13-year contract that carried a $7,538,461 cap hit, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Freidman said on Tuesday’s 31 Thoughts podcast that the Washington Capitals will be among the 36-year-old’s suitors when he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 28.

Friedman in 31 Thoughts names Vegas (🙄), Colorado and a few people told him Washington as places Ryan Suter could end up.

Also says everyone thinks Parise ends up with the #Isles, EF asks is there a chance both of them end up on Long Island? Suter played for Trotz in Nashville.

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) July 13, 2021

Suter recorded three goals, 19 points, a +9 rating, a 47.85% five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, a 52.74% five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and a 52.17% five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 56 games this past season. While averaging 22:11 per game, including 2:22 on the power play and 2:00 on the penalty kill, Suter posted 38 hits, 65 blocked shots, 17 giveaways, and nine takeaways. He has posted at least 40 points in nine seasons.

Hearing LAK will be in on Suter if available on 28th. WASH too

— Adrian Dater (@adater) July 13, 2021

“A lot of people think Vegas, Colorado, and Washington. Those are the kinds of places that he could potentially end up,” Freidman said.

Ryan Suter, bought out by MIN, is still a very strong offence driver but he’s been carried defensively by his partners in recent years. Plays big tough minutes and should be a heavily-desired UFA. #mnwild pic.twitter.com/Eb3kKM4SRs

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 13, 2021

He added that Suter, who played seven seasons with the Nashville Predators under New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz, and left wing Zach Parise, who was also bought out by the Wild on Tuesday, could be pursued by the Islanders.

Suter, who earned one assist and a -1 rating in the Wild’s seven-game first-round exit to the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, is a left-handed shot. The Capitals have Dmitry Orlov, Brenden Dillon, and Michal Kempny all under contract through at least next season and prospect Martin Fehervary is ready to make the jump to the NHL, according to GM Brian MacLellan. The Capitals would likely have to make one-to-two moves to make room for Suter.

Suter’s cap hit could be in the $3-4 million range on his next contract. The Capitals currently have $9,018,695 in salary cap space for this season with left wing Alex Ovechkin (unrestricted free agent) and goaltender Ilya Samsonov (unrestricted free agent) both in need of new contracts.

Here’s Ryan Suter’s timeline since 2014-15. Two-way game eroded but consistently effective at one end at least. pic.twitter.com/NNImbFQKYN

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 13, 2021

By Harrison Brown