By Kalisha Turnipseed -
The Minnesota Wild should acquire a top-six forward at the March 7 trade deadline. The Wild have dealt with myriad injuries this year, including recently placing Kirill Kaprizov on Long-Term Injured Reserved (LTIR).
By doing so, the Wild have opened more cap space. Minnesota will also have more salary cap once the offseason starts. With Zach Parise and Ryan Suter off the books, the Wild should target Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, who may be available if Detroit doesn’t make the playoffs. Trading for Larkin would add to Minnesota’s center depth, which is Guerin’s long-term objective.
Guerin was Team USA’s general manager at the 4 Nations Face-Off and discovered that Larkin had chemistry with Matt Boldy during the tournament. Larkin brought speed through the middle and a goal-scorer’s shot, while Boldy was the primary playmaking wing. Together, they created another level of offense.
If the Wild add a superstar like Kaprizov to the formidable duo, they suddenly have a legitimate top line that will beat opponents on the transition and make them look foolish.
What role should we expect from Larkin?
As mentioned above, Larkin is expected to play between Kaprizov and Boldy once the team is fully healthy. Like Joel Eriksson Ek, he’s a reliable two-way presence but brings better skill and elite speed on the transition. Larkin will bring leadership to the locker room, giving the team a much-needed spark. He can also serve on the penalty kill and play in all situations.
Larkin can play on Minnesota’s top powerplay unit, moving Mats Zuccarello to the second powerplay unit and making the team deeper. Larkin complements Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek, Boldy, and Brock Faber better. The Wild will eventually elevate Zeev Buium and Danila Yurov to play on the second unit with Zuccarello and Marco Rossi. The Wild must also extend Rossi to have center and power play depth.
What will it take to trade for Dylan Larkin?
Trading for Larkin is no easy task. Larkin grew up in Waterford Township, less than an hour away from Detroit. He's their captain, and it's common for players like this to stay with their hometown teams. Still, we've seen guys like Phil Kessel win the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins and reject a trade to Minnesota.
Larkin wants to win the Cup, and the Red Wings are still an inconsistent team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2016, even after hiring Steve Yzerman in 2019. The Wild aren't any better due to their playoff struggles, but they have an established superstar in Kirill Kaprizov, with whom Larkin should consider playing. Due to Larkin and Boldy's chemistry, Larkin wouldn't reject playing with Boldy.
By playing with Kaprizov and Boldy, Larkin becomes a more dominant player because they have a center who can bring separation speed. This is the kind of center the Wild need. Larkin dominating the game with Kaprizov should be something on his bucket list.
The Wild want to maintain center depth throughout the rest of this season and heading into 2025-26. If anything, this is likely where they give up a forward like Liam Ohgren, who’s projected to become a 20- to 30-goal scoring forward at the NHL level. If the Wild want to keep Rossi in the organization along with Yurov and Buium, then parting ways with Ohgren makes sense.
The Wild don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft. They would likely have to give up more capital, such as a second-round pick combined with a third-rounder in a different year. However, they should also include David Jiricek, and the Wild already used hefty draft capital and Daemon Hunt to acquire him.
The Red Wings are desperate for right-shot defensemen. They only have Moritz Seider on the right side of their top pair. They need a second-pairing defenseman to improve their top four, and Jiricek fits the description. At 6-foot-4, 204 lbs., Jiricek has similar size to the 6-foot-3, 205 lbs. Seider. However, they are different players. Jiricek is the offensive-minded defensive, while Seider brings a defensive approach.
Who replaces Jiricek?
That’s why drafting Buium, who has more upside than Jiricek, hits the jackpot for the Wild. Buium isn’t a right-shot defenseman, but can play the right side. Teams will regret passing on Buium, who Minnesota took 12th last year, because of his versatility.
The Wild can keep Faber on the powerplay. Minnesota has Jiricek in the AHL right now, so does it hurt the team if they trade him? We shouldn’t get too caught up on what the future could look like. Let’s stay in the present.
David Spacek has risen up the Wild’s depth chart as he’s adjusted to professional hockey. He's on pace to triple his point production from his rookie season. Do the Wild have their next Jared Spurgeon waiting in the wings? The Wild will have Spurgeon and Zach Bogosian coming off the books within the next two years after this season, creating a perfect timeline for Spacek.
Jonas Brodin and Faber have been a successful pairing for the Wild. Minnesota should consider putting Buium with Jake Middleton, who’s made a name for himself in the NHL as a physical, shutdown defenseman. Middleton is the kind of defenseman Buium can thrive with. Buium will become an upgraded version of Spurgeon.
Having a top-four of Faber, Brodin, Middleton, and Buium is good for Wild hockey. Those pairings will give Spurgeon fewer minutes to keep him healthy. Guerin should consider extending Declan Chisholm and play him with Spurgeon. By extending Chisholm, the Wild can make Bogosian their 7th defenseman.
Who replaces Ohgren?
Instead of trading Hartman or buying him out, they can play him as a right winger on the third line. He’s gotten the message after getting suspended for ten games, which the league recently reduced to eight. He’s a liability because he’s carelessly in the penalty box, but they need an agitator.
Hartman is still a 20-goal, 20-assist forward when he’s on his game. He won’t score 30 goals in the NHL again, but the Wild can rely on him for depth. He can fit in nicely with Eriksson Ek and Marat Khusnutdinov, who they should keep to maintain center depth. That can be a real checking line who can chip in offensively.
The Wild can also look forward to Charlie Stramel coming into the picture in either 2026-27 or 2027-28 when Zuccarello and Hartman’s contracts expire. Will we see Hunter Haight or Riley Heidt? Ryder Ritchie is rising through the prospect rankings. Replacing Ohgren won’t be particularly difficult.
Trading for Larkin makes the Wild a bona fide contender. Larkin is a Guerin-type player. He will keep the team from making Yurov a full-time center. However, if injuries affect Minnesota's depth, Yurov can still thrive as a part-time center.
Moving Yurov to the wing makes his NHL transition easier. Larkin will be more productive playing on a better team. He is a four-time 30-goal scorer and is on pace to eclipse that total this year. Can he become a 40-goal scorer with Kaprizov and Boldy? Absolutely!
Instead of trading for Brock Boeser, let’s bring in Larkin.
Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form.
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.