Article: Does The Quinn Hughes Trade Make The Wild True Contenders?

[Luke Sims]

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[Enforceror]

I heard from Fred that Hughes is too short to be a difference maker.

[MNCountryLife]

The central is brutal.  As good as we are playing, the Stars are just as good in the last 10 and the Avs are even better.  There are good odds we will play Dallas and then the Avs in the first 2 rounds.  The road to the cup will be a difficult one.  Sure wish they would seed them better.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

The Wild do have the potential to make a trade like the Brock Nelson deal that the Avalanche made last year. They didn't go to the finals, but if Guerin can find the right veteran to pull from a team that isn't playoff bound, and the Wild can be fairly healthy at playoff time, maybe they can be a true contender this year.

[FredJohnson]

Contenders? Yes.

Favorites? No.

[Patrick]

Based on this year Boldy is better than KK.

A few points to consider.

- KK has played 4 games more 5 v 5 minutes than Boldy (88 minutes). Despite this Boldy has 2 more points 5v5.

- Boldy is matched up against the other teams best line every night while KK gets the softest matchups the coaching staff can find.

- Boldy is +11, KK is +1.

- Boldy is an elite PK guy and is borderline elite defensively while KK is below average defensively

Conclusion: We have TWO franchise forwards! Put that in your chart!

[Beast]

A lot of the pieces are there.  I think they’re close than a lot of people nationally think.  If Tarasenko’s game last night wasn’t just a flash in the plan and he becomes a scoring threat, that’ll help.  I think Yurov is taking significant leaps as well.

I think it would take getting a center that can play on the top line for me to say they have a high likelihood of beating Dallas and Colorado sequentially in playoff series.  Ek and Yurov are best suited for the middle six (and two of Hartman/Foligno/Trenin could bump down to 4th line).  I’ve heard the Crosby speculation and don’t think it’s realistic, but maybe Malkin is more realistic?  Have to think he may be open to that with all the Russians (shoutout to Sota Pod).  An O’Reilly might get them there, but not sure he has the offense punch anymore (he’s riding an unsustainable shooting percentage).  But, it might look something like this come playoff time:

Kaprizov-Malkin/OReilly-Zuccarello

Johansson-Ek-Boldy

Trenin-Yurov-Tarasenko

Foligno-Sturm-Hartman

Hughes-Faber

Brodin-Spurgeon

Hunt-Bogo/Jiricek

Im sure one or two of the guys there would have to go to Pittsburgh or Nashville.  So like would change a bit.  But, that’s the most likely Wild team to win a Cup that we’d see in our lifetime.  The Powerplay would be incredible.

[Pewterschmidt]

I think we’re one Brayden Schenn away from being contenders, not pretenders

[NoJoSux]

26 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

I think we’re one Brayden Schenn away from being contenders, not pretenders

A guy who can play in the Central would be important. 

[B1GKappa97]

Based on this checklist, we should probably go after Tuch instead of ROR? Then he'd take over as scoring winger for Zuccy, who could slot into the offensive forward over Hartman. 

Ideally we'd get both players and then I think we'd really be set for this season, but idk that we've got the pieces to pull that off unless we're sending out Yurov and I'm not sure I want to do that for Tuch. Plus it would take some cap-gymnastics and likely involve putting Tarasenko on waivers to clear the necessary space which leaves us looking for a bottom-6 forward again.

 It would instantly give us a great team though..

Zuccy-ROR-Kap

Tuch-Ek-Boldy

Jojo-Hartman-...Hinny?

Trenin-Sturm-Foligno

[Scalptrash]

Not enough depth. If healthy, second round.....finally.

[Pewterschmidt]

I’d guess we can realistically acquire Brayden Schenn.  He’s a piece that would make us sturdier down the middle pushing ek and yurzy down a line.  And we wouldn’t have to give up too much of our remaining prospects

[FredJohnson]

23 hours ago, Enforceror said:

I heard from Fred that Hughes is too short to be a difference maker.

I’m only stating what the HW Experts have been telling us on here forever. 😉

[Imyourhuckleberry]

5 hours ago, Scalptrash said:

Not enough depth. If healthy, second round.....finally.

I don't like the NHL format because I would prefer to have the best 2 teams from the conference actually play in the conference finals. If the best 2 teams are in the same division, that cannot happen in the NHL with the current format.

It seems much more optimal to have the top teams facing each other in the final rounds rather than in round 2.

[FredJohnson]

16 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

I don't like the NHL format because I would prefer to have the best 2 teams from the conference actually play in the conference finals. If the best 2 teams are in the same division, that cannot happen in the NHL with the current format.

It seems much more optimal to have the top teams facing each other in the final rounds rather than in round 2.

Thank you!

[OldDutchChip]

Would Buffalo trade Tage for Wally?

would we give up Wally?

I think you go for it

Tage is a great contract and value and gives us another player on our timeline (0-4/5 years) and it’ll only help convincing QH to resign

Kap Boldy QH Ek Tage - that’s a monster 5 to rival any that’s out there 

 

[B1GKappa97]

On 12/18/2025 at 2:37 PM, OldDutchChip said:

Would Buffalo trade Tage for Wally?

would we give up Wally?

I think you go for it

Tage is a great contract and value and gives us another player on our timeline (0-4/5 years) and it’ll only help convincing QH to resign

Kap Boldy QH Ek Tage - that’s a monster 5 to rival any that’s out there 

 

I would, for Tage. It would cost Yurov too though. 

[Enforceror]

16 minutes ago, B1GKappa97 said:

I would, for Tage. It would cost Yurov too though. 

I've been reading that Tuch is asking for a little under $11m and Buffalo is balling at the price. Not sure we could fit it in without some big moves but it would be a great get.