Trade Deadline Primer: Minnesota Wild
With the Olympic break approaching, the trade deadline is about a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We begin our look around the league with teams that have clear plans at the extremes of the standings, this time with the Wild.
The Minnesota Wild have made a bold move by acquiring Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks, sending top-six center Marco Rossi, top prospect Zeev Buium, wing prospect Liam Ohgren, and a first-round pick in return. This trade has already paid dividends, as the Wild have posted a 16-5-5 record with Hughes in the lineup. However, they still appear to be a few lineup pieces shy of true Stanley Cup contention. The Trade Deadline will challenge the Wild to mend those holes with a recently-thinned wallet.
Record: 34-14-10 (2nd in Central Division)
Deadline Status: Buyers
Deadline Cap Space: $14.52MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 42/50 contracts used per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks:
- 2026: MIN 3rd, MIN 4th, SJS 5th, MIN 5th, MIN 6th, MIN 7th
- 2027: MIN 1st, MIN 3rd, MIN 4th, MIN 5th, MIN 6th, MIN 7th
Trade Chips:
The Wild have dangled star goalie prospect Jesper Wallstedt in recent trade discussions, aiming to find a star addition on offense. Wallstedt offers unprecedented market value, and the Wild could land a serious addition with his value alone.
Trade Needs:
- Center: The Wild have struggled to find a top-center role, with none of Rossi, Joel Eriksson Ek, Ryan Hartman, or Danila Yurov appearing capable of leading a Cup-winning offense. They are one piece short of a true top lineup.
- Center Options: The Wild could target Robert Thomas from the St. Louis Blues, adding a forechecking and playmaking presence to complement Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. Alternatively, they could pursue Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames or Elias Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks.
- Cheaper Options: If the above options are too expensive, the Wild could consider Vincent Trocheck from the New York Rangers or Alexander Wennberg from the San Jose Sharks, adding diversity to their depth chart.
Goalie Reassurance:
Dangling Wallstedt for another big trade is a bold decision, and the Wild would need to replace their backup goalie role. They could explore deals with the Pittsburgh Penguins or Florida Panthers to acquire netminders like Joel Blomqvist or Daniil Tarasov.
Photo courtesy of John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images.
