Article: Are the Wild Going To Do Anything Before the Trade Deadline?

[Thomas Williams]

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[mnfaninnc]

I'd certainly love to swap Hartman for Tuch (of course there will be more compensation coming from us), but that would get us through the season and if Buffalo just retained $1m, that would help. 

I'd also like to add Sturm who is that large bodied C who can win faceoffs and add beef to a strong 3rd line. 

Would Hartzy go to Buffalo? I think that's the real question here, and I doubt he would do it. I am hearing that Tuch is on the market, though.

[Enforceror]

11 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I'd certainly love to swap Hartman for Tuch (of course there will be more compensation coming from us), but that would get us through the season and if Buffalo just retained $1m, that would help. 

I'd also like to add Sturm who is that large bodied C who can win faceoffs and add beef to a strong 3rd line. 

Would Hartzy go to Buffalo? I think that's the real question here, and I doubt he would do it. I am hearing that Tuch is on the market, though.

Sounds like Sabres are in the market for a R shot D. Maybe Bogo and Hartman + one of our prospects (none of the four). 

Sturm is currently at a 62.7% of faceoff wins. That's insane. I would like this pickup for sure.

KK Rossi Tuch

Boldy Ek Nyquist

Foligno Sturm Zucc

Lauko Gadreau Hino

Offload: Johansson, Trenin

[Imyourhuckleberry]

I think the most likely trade would be one of their defensemen that are in the $1M to $1.25M range for a prospect or player with a minimum contract.

That's Bogo, Merrill, or Chisholm. Given that Chisholm is a developed LHD at 25 years old and a $1M contract, he's the guy I'd anticipate netting the best return. The Wild have Lambos or Buium available to fill that role soon.

If some team were desperate for veteran D help, Merrill should be easy to move, and he's been pretty solid lately. If they make a move, hopefully it means that Brodin will be back soon.

Trading Merrill's $1.2M contract for a player on a minimum($775k) deal could open up the space necessary to elevate Khustnutdinov or Ohgren later on.

[M_Nels]

11 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Given that Chisholm is a developed LHD at 25 years old and a $1M contract, he's the guy I'd anticipate netting the best return. The Wild have Lambos or Buium available to fill that role soon.

I agree, I've always thought Chisholm is the most valuable expendable asset we currently have.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

49 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I am hearing that Tuch is on the market, though.

Sabres fans look at Tuch as a fan favorite and don't think he would be dealt without a massive haul coming back in return. I don't think the Sabres are calling teams to trade Tuch, but may listen to offers.

Quote

Alex Tuch isn’t going anywhere unless the Sabres get a massive offer

While Tuch has been one of the few bright spots on the Sabres this season, with 47 points and 23 goals in 59 games, on most decent hockey teams, he’ll factor in as a second-line winger. He’s not a game-changing forward, so I’d only anticipate a team desperate to make and win the Stanley Cup Final offering so much compensation in return. 

What kind of team would that be? Anyone whose championship window could be closing soon. The Washington Capitals jump out at me, and, of course, the Canucks, and I would even go as far as to say the Tampa Bay Lightning. Those would be the teams most likely ready and willing to put together a monster compensation package to trade for Tuch. 

The Capitals have a really deep prospect pool compared to most cup contenders, so I could see them making a play with Ovechkin closing in on 40 years old and the team leading the East in the standings.

 

 

[MacGyver]

Tuch is someone I don't see the Sabres desperately willing to move. Just like I said with the Byfield speculation he would likely take something we don't have. It's no secret Tuch loves it in Buffalo it's his home. He's up for a payday and he would probably take a hometown discount to stay there. Prices for available players are ratcheting up by the hour now and that's for players teams are actively shopping. 

I guess I have not seen anything where Buffalo is dangling him but I don't have my ear to the ground as much as some of you do here. He has a modified NTC and a five team no go list. I'd say it's 50/50 the Wild are on that no go list. We can trade dream to our hearts content but the fact remains the Wild are just strapped for money, players they can move and have shown no inclination to trade prospects that have any value. If Rossi is the key trade bait many teams have the same apprehension about his size many here seem to. Personally I think the Wilds best move is no move until the off season.

Given the injuries this team has remarkably been holding it's own.  I'm willing to wait until we get Kaprizov back at least and see what happens. 

[mnfaninnc]

5 minutes ago, MacGyver said:

Personally I think the Wilds best move is no move until the off season.

Given the injuries this team has remarkably been holding it's own.  I'm willing to wait until we get Kaprizov back at least and see what happens. 

When I mentioned Tuch and Hartman, Hartman would be merely a cap equalizer since we'd have to go dollar for dollar. But....something is wrong in Buffalo, their team on paper just doesn't match their success or lack of it. I know it would take way more than Hartman on this, and probably include a 1st rounder in there. A culture shift has to happen in Buffalo. Could Hartman be part of that? Could Spurgeon be part of that? If it's right that Buffalo is looking for an RHS defender, Spurgeon carries the leadership intangible as well as excellent play when healthy. 

Enforcer suggest Bogosian, but Buffalo's had that experiment and it didn't go well. Does Spurgy move the needle? Would Spurgy make either Power or Dahlin better? Would Spurgy help Dahlin with leadership? Buffalo has enough talent on paper to be in a top 3 slot in their division, yet they are scraping the bottom in the Eastern Conference. It wouldn't take Spurgeon alone due to age, but this could be a move that makes sense for the Sabres. Jiricek could then slide into the 2nd pairing to play with Brodin. Could we trust Jiricek defensively? I think we'd have to. 

The big question here is does this make us better? I think adding Tuch to the offense does since we can adequately backfill. Does this make Buffalo a better team? I think it does mainly due to intangibles, but it solidifies their defense a bit too. I also think they can backfill Tuch. 

[Willy the poor boy]

41 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Sabres fans look at Tuch as a fan favorite and don't think he would be dealt without a massive haul coming back in return. I don't think the Sabres are calling teams to trade Tuch, but may listen to offers.

The Capitals have a really deep prospect pool compared to most cup contenders, so I could see them making a play with Ovechkin closing in on 40 years old and the team leading the East in the standings.

 

 

Look at how close these guys are:

Gretzky Games played: 1487 Goals: 894 Ovechkin Games played: 1471 Goals: 885

[Willy the poor boy]

Just now, Willy the poor boy said:

Look at how close these guys are:

Gretzky Games played: 1487 Goals: 894 Ovechkin Games played: 1471 Goals: 885

Not sure what happened there:

Gretzky Games played: 1487 Goals: 894

Ovechkin Games played: 1471 Goals: 885

The Wild play Washington at home sometime in March and may be within the realm of possibility for Ovi to tie or break the record.

Anyone going to that game?

[mnfaninnc]

1 minute ago, Willy the poor boy said:

The Wild play Washington at home sometime in March and may be within the realm of possibility for Ovi to tie or break the record.

And Ovi owns the Wild.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

2 minutes ago, Willy the poor boy said:

Look at how close these guys are:

Gretzky Games played: 1487 Goals: 894

Ovechkin Games played: 1471 Goals: 885

Close in goals, for sure. Ovechkin has substantially fewer assists than goals in his career while Gretzky had assisted on more more than double the number of goals that he had scored himself.

Gretzky was also +520 for his career while Ovechkin will likely finish below +75. No doubt both were great goal scorers and great players.

[Willy the poor boy]

1 minute ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Close in goals, for sure. Ovechkin has substantially fewer assists than goals in his career while Gretzky had assisted on more more than double the number of goals that he had scored himself.

Gretzky was also +520 for his career while Ovechkin will likely finish below +75. No doubt both were great goal scorers and great players.

Agreed, but I was just comparing goals.

[MacGyver]

The Wild have been very reluctant to trade long time faces of the franchise particularly captains. We hung onto Koivu like grim death. I just don't see Spurgeon being moved. Besides I think doing something like moving the team captain and from what I can tell a pretty beloved player in the locker room would be disruptive enough it could set this team back. Moving a Hartman, Merill, Trenin and perhaps even Rossi would not be throwing a grenade in the locker room like moving Spurgeon would be. 

[Enforceror]

44 minutes ago, MacGyver said:

The Wild have been very reluctant to trade long time faces of the franchise particularly captains. We hung onto Koivu like grim death. I just don't see Spurgeon being moved. Besides I think doing something like moving the team captain and from what I can tell a pretty beloved player in the locker room would be disruptive enough it could set this team back. Moving a Hartman, Merill, Trenin and perhaps even Rossi would not be throwing a grenade in the locker room like moving Spurgeon would be. 

This exactly. I know everyone is after that cap space but it wouldn't surprise me if we traded Spurgeon and the wheels fell off the bus. 

[M_Nels]

3 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

This exactly. I know everyone is after that cap space but it wouldn't surprise me if we traded Spurgeon and the wheels fell off the bus. 

Oh but captain's need to be brash and loud according to some on this site...

Bluster and boisterousness does not equal leadership. I'll go to bat anytime for a guy that's works harder than I do and holds others accountable even if he's not getting all riled up and boisterous. 

[Up North Guy]

1 hour ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Close in goals, for sure. Ovechkin has substantially fewer assists than goals in his career while Gretzky had assisted on more more than double the number of goals that he had scored himself.

Gretzky was also +520 for his career while Ovechkin will likely finish below +75. No doubt both were great goal scorers and great players.

just listening to BG on the Paul Allen show. PA asked Billy who was better and he quickly replied that Gretzky was better, largely because the guy in second place points wise is 1000 points behind.

[MNCountryLife]

If the Wild could fix the PK I think the existing Roster could make the 2nd round.  But we appear to be incapable of fixing the PK.  

[M_Nels]

3 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

I'd also like to add Sturm who is that large bodied C who can win faceoffs and add beef to a strong 3rd line. 

No dice on Sturm, just got traded for a 4th in 2026.

Edit: To the Panthers

Edited 1 hour ago by M_Nels

[MNCountryLife]

I would have a hard to seeing Spurgeon get traded.  He played great against the Kraken.  I thought he was our best D man that day and played most of it next to Chisholm.  It is rare that I get to the end of a game and feel like I can pin a loss on Spurgeon.  Whereas I watch Merrill screen our own goalie and an incredibly long point shot goes in.  I still think we are in sell mode.  Trade out Freddy, Nojo, Merrill and Hartman either now or the off season.  Bring in at least two top 6 players with the added cap this summer. Pool your resources and prepare for the TDL in 2026 to snag a horse (as McDavid would say).

[Willy the poor boy]

24 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

No dice on Sturm, just got traded for a 4th in 2026.

Edit: To the Panthers

Wow totally worth it for the Panthers...

[Enforceror]

Reavo on waivers.

[RedLake]

Billy will pick up Reàves

[Imyourhuckleberry]

29 minutes ago, Willy the poor boy said:

53 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

No dice on Sturm, just got traded for a 4th in 2026.

Edit: To the Panthers

Wow totally worth it for the Panthers...

Yeah, that seems like a light return for a Stanley Cup winning centerman who's still under 30 and wins over 55% of his faceoffs. 😉

Solid addition for Florida.

[MacGyver]

1 hour ago, Up North Guy said:

just listening to BG on the Paul Allen show. PA asked Billy who was better and he quickly replied that Gretzky was better, largely because the guy in second place points wise is 1000 points behind.

It's a no brainier Gretzky is still the Great One and the best to have ever played.  They are entirely different players in entirely different eras. Imagine if Gretzky played without the two line pass rule. Or with the new technology sticks. 

Gretzky scored 400 goals at ten years old playing defense. In one season! When asked if he ever thought about passing he replied I had 120 assists too. Ovi is the best goal score ever in this era but it stops there.