Craig Custance of ESPN held an online chat today,

I know it sounds crazy but shouldn't the Rangers atleast consider letting Lundqvist walk and let Talbot take over starting next season? It would give the team big time cap relief to keep their younger players long-term and add a player or 2 that could get them over the "hump".

Craig Custance That's such a tough call. I'm as leery as anyone about giving goalie any term in contracts but there's a small number of elite goalies in this league and Lundqvist is in that group. If Lundqvist would go for it, I'd much rather max out the salary and go shorter term like four or five years but I'm guessing his camp doesn't want to hear that. Talbot has looked good but how many times have we seen young goalies like good for short stretches only to fizzle out? You know what you're getting with Lundqvist.

Are the Wild legitamite contenders

Craig Custance Yes with a caveat. Any team that makes the playoffs in the West will be capable of winning the Cup but I'd still put the Wild in that second tier a shade below the Kings, Blackhawks, Sharks and Blues.

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