NHL Trade Deadline 2013: Should The Wild Start Dealing Prospects?

The trade deadline is upon us, and the biggest question in the Wilderness is also the most obvious one: What are the Wild going to do? At the beginning of the year, it was suggested that they should sell, sell, sell. Get rid of Cullen. Get rid of Setoguchi. Get rid of Bouchard. It's funny what winning does, though, as the Wild's trade talk has decreased to the point that the only name the Wild have been connected to thus far is Ryan Clowe. And even that was kind of a surprise.

There are three major reasons it's been quiet. Firstly, as we've touched on, the team is winning. They're third in the Conference seeding, as well as having amassed the third highest point total in the Conference.They're not in a rush to be sellers, they like the chemistry of the team thus far, and it would take a collapse for them to miss the playoffs.

The second reason is that the Wild are intent on managing their salary cap, for now, and for the long-term. The Wild have the third smallest amount of cap room this season (~1.4 million, per CapGeek), which, with 13 games remaining, would be enough room for one deadline-type acquisition, but perhaps will require for some creativity to get more than one. Long-term is what looms, though. With Koivu, Parise, and Suter locked down for a very long time, the Wild will want to avoid getting in a cap hell by the time guys like Brodin, Granlund, Coyle, and Zucker will start entering their second deals. For example, it's possible that the rumored Ryan Clowe trade may come with a 5 year, 25 million dollar extension. This could have some significant opportunity cost down the road.

But another part of that flexibility that prospects provide is the ability to use them as currency to upgrade the current team, in the short or long-term. They have the currency. Should Fletcher use it?

The Case Against Trading Prospects

There's also the possibility is that a trade acquisition is going to have a limited impact. Say the Wild trade a prospect and a pick for Ryan Clowe. He's going to play in 13 games, and whatever playoff games the Wild play. Those 13 games are games which may not matter all that much, the Wild's playoff chances are currently excellent, so it's very likely that Clowe is only going to have an impact for the playoff run*. Unless he's instrumental in a deep playoff run, something like that may not be worth the price.

*Re-signing a player is a nice bonus, but that should only be counted as a factor in a trade in a sign-and trade situation. At least in my opinion.

The Case For Trading Prospects

Today, Trevor Lewis is a good bottom-6 guy for Los Angeles, and Patrick O'Sullivan is either close to, or completely out of hockey.

Pavol Demitra, on the other hand, played two years for the Wild, putting up 118 points in 139 games, as the Wild enjoyed two trips to the playoffs. You can't exactly say the Wild got the short end of the stick.

I'm not saying that the Wild have a bunch of O'Sullivans, but the fact remains that some of these guys, and maybe some of the guys who are being highly touted, aren't going to be what we hope they can become. Especially in situations where you can improve your team both now and in the long-term, getting guaranteed production immediately can often be the wisest choice, even if it comes with a higher price tag.

My Turn

The Wild should be looking to spend from their prospect pool, but should save their currency until it comes time to land a young star with the production to match. Maybe the right deal is out there now, but if not, they've got a team that's clicking, and the inside track on a playoff spot. They can wait.

What do you think, Wilderness?