Jump to content
Hockey Wilderness Zone Coverage Property

  • Which Teams Should Wild Fans Root For To Become Deadline Sellers?

    Image courtesy of Matt Krohn - Imagn Images
    Tony Abbott

    By Tony Abbott -

    The Minnesota Wild are buying... but no one's selling.

    The story of the NHL's offseason is that of an arms race where teams are loading up... with nothing. Teams are flush with cap space, but the product isn't out on the free agent market. The few big-name players were re-signed by their teams as soon as they realized how the summer would play out.

    This means that "Christmas Morning" didn't arrive for the Wild, who had hoped to land a big-name player via free agency or trade. With the draft and free agency largely in the rearview mirror, the next opportunity for holiday festivities comes at trade deadline season.

    Teams not named "the Pittsburgh Penguins" aren't selling now because they're hoping that they can move up into the playoff picture this next season. In July, any GM can convince themselves that their team is competitive. By January, the reality checks will have been written out, and teams that were reluctant to sell in the summer will be looking to cash in assets for futures. 

    We assume.

    Of course, not all selling teams are equal. The Penguins are a great example. Sure, if they were willing to deal Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, that'd be a different story. But in reality, we're talking about less-than-exciting names like Bryan Rust and Thomas Novak.

    If the Chicago Blackhawks flop this season, are teams going to be lining up to pilfer their roster? As much as Bill Guerin (and a bunch of other GMs) would covet getting Nick Foligno for a playoff run, there'd be no one available to qualify as a "Christmas Morning"-type add.

    So, what teams should Wild fans hope fall out of the picture and sell at the deadline?

    The big dreams from the fan base involve centers with multiple years left on their contracts who may theoretically demand out of their situation if things go wrong. You know their names: Dylan Larkin, Tage Thompson, and Brady Tkachuk.

    We're going to narrow our scope just a touch. We're looking for teams with either veteran forwards who will become UFA in 2026 or (preferably) 2027, or soon-to-be expensive RFAs in the 24- to 26-year-old age range.

    Which teams would have the most to offer the Wild if things go south?

    Buffalo Sabres

    Even if Thompson doesn't shake loose, Buffalo would make sense for the Wild to examine.

    There's a lot of potential for some "The Boys Are Back In Town" action with Jordan Greenway and Jason Zucker (UFA 2027), but the obvious fit is Alex Tuch (UFA 2026).

    Tuch isn't the two-way force he was with the Vegas Golden Knights, but he still fits the bill as a power forward. The 6-foot-4 right-shot winger has banked 36 goals in two of the past three seasons and remains elite at driving offense at even-strength. Even as a pure rental, he'd add a new element to Minnesota.

    Even if we go a tier below Tuch, there are still some intriguing names that could become available. The most obvious is Jack Quinn (RFA 2027), a 2020 first-round pick and former teammate of Marco Rossi on the Ottawa 67s. He'd be a reclamation project for Minnesota, but a right-shot forward with some goal-scoring chops might be worth looking into.

    Columbus Blue Jackets

    The Jackets are included here because we're vultures circling the franchise's historical misery. Columbus has Kirill Marchenko (RFA 2027) on a deal that's so cheap it might as well be free, paying him just $3.85 million against the cap. The soon-to-be 25-year-old racked up 31 goals and 74 points last season while playing at a borderline-MVP level, contributing 5.1 Standings Points Above Replacement, according to Evolving-Hockey.

    Perhaps it's not ideal to fuel Columbus' paranoia. Still, if there's any indication that Marchenko might follow in the footsteps of Artemiy Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, the Wild should be all over the situation. It'd probably be the best way to use Kirill Kaprizov's clout in an attempt to create a Russian Superfriends in St. Paul.

    Other names to monitor might include 22-year-old Kent Johnson (RFA 2027), who found his way under Dean Evason last year, scoring 24 goals and 57 points on the wing. Still, he has been unhappy with the organization before, and if old grudges resurface, that presents an opportunity. Minnesota might also have use for reclamation projects in Yegor Chinakhov and center Cole Sillinger (RFA 2026).

    Nashville Predators

    If Nashville can repeat its nightmare season, Ryan O'Reilly (UFA 2027) would be a perfect veteran target for Minnesota. His two-way credentials as a center are undisputed, even if last year was a step back, and you can't knock his playoff pedigree. He's averaged more goals and points in the playoffs (26 and 68, respectively) per 82 games than he has in the regular season (20/59) and has a Conn Smythe Award on his shelf. 

    Even better, O'Reilly would come with an incredibly cheap $4.5 million cap hit. The hope would be that he'd remember his minutes as a Minnesota Wild player fondly and be psyched to return to the team that paid him a small part of his salary in 2023.

    And as long as we're dreaming about Cup-winning centers, if all Steven Stamkos (UFA 2028) knows in Nashville is two years of losing, what's his motivation to stay in Nashville for the last two years? 

    New York Rangers

    Panarin (UFA 2026) would be the primary target, and likely the only real one for Minnesota's purposes. Like with Marchenko, this would be a test of how much pull Kaprizov's presence would have on fellow Russian players. If the Rangers stay out of the playoff picture, the Wild can get an early start on free agency in 2026.

    Seattle Kraken

    If Seattle becomes a seller next season, they might have the most to offer the Wild of any team. The highlight is Jared McCann (UFA 2027), who is 29 and has 132 goals since the start of the 2020-21 season. That's 46th in the NHL over that time, in line with the likes of Larkin (135), Brad Marchand (134), Elias Pettersson (131), and Brock Boeser (130). For a $5 million cap hit this season and next, the Wild would be getting a lot of bang for their buck.

    The Kraken also has a ton of veterans who are set to go UFA in 2026. They could corner the rental market with 6-foot-5 Mason Marchment, Jaden Schwartz, Jordan Eberle, and underrated goal-scorer Eeli Tolvanen. Maybe we're veering away from "Christmas Morning" -- if there were those kinds of players, Seattle wouldn't be expected to be an also-ran -- but each of them could help the Wild.

    The NHL landscape looks stagnant right now, but it won't stay that way forever. As teams fall in and out of contention, new names could easily shake loose, and the Wild need to be ready to strike. Even if Minnesota can't make those deals now, they'll be smart to use the summer to lay the groundwork that leads to them reeling in a big fish.

    By Tony Abbott  

    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.

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 2
    Go to articles

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Featured Comments

    0 Stanley Cups

    I would love to see Tuch back in Minny, that was so regrettable losing him and Haula to protect others, but the Wild took a shot and couldn't get past STL.  It'll interesting to see if hometown guy Tuch re-signs with Buffalo, the main piece of the Eichel trade got screwed without trade protection by VGK, or does he hit UFA and finally get to sign with a contender.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    ArizonaWildFan

    Nice piece, Tony. Some really interesting potential names ahead of the TDL.

    Hypothetically, and of course this could never happen, but what if the Wild struggle and are not in the playoff picture in early March. Are they sellers? If so, who are they peddling?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    B1GKappa97
    13 hours ago, 1Brotherbill said:

    Tuch and O'Reilly would be interesting adds.  

    A 3rd line of Foligno-ROR-Hartman is playoff hockey incarnate. Gritty, greasy goals nearly every game. Sounds like exactly what Billy would want to build. 

    Since we added Tarasenko and plan on playing him on 2nd line wing, idk that they'd be too interested in adding Tuch though, unfortunately. Probably only if Tarasenko is a bust. 

    Still even getting only ROR would potentially give us:

    BEEK

    Zuccy-Yurov-Tarasenko

    Foligno-ROR-Hartman

    Ohgren-Rossi-Trenin

    for the playoffs, which looks a lot better than last year's team..

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    mnfaninnc

    For me, I think it is Duck season (not Wabbit season). I'd like to add both Mason McTavish and Chris Kreider to the lineup. But, reality shows that we also need some subtractions, mainly in the bottom 6 where the kids will take over. 

    Kreider is exactly the type of player that Guerin likes and would remind him of himself. McTavish is the kind of center that takes weight off of Ek's shoulders. 

    Of course, I wouldn't mind acquiring Tuch too, but from what I've read, he is very happy in Buffalo. 0SC is right on target with his assessment of Tuch. To me, that was a fireable offense from Fletcher who panicked and didn't really know how good Tuch really was.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Scalptrash

    CBJ would NEVER trade Marchenko, especially at his current salary and being an RFA. Voronkov (RFA 2027) would be a better target and he's a beast!

    They have four good young Russian players, so I don't see any of them wanting to leave to come play with Kaprizov.

    • Like 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    1Brotherbill
    10 hours ago, B1GKappa97 said:

    A 3rd line of Foligno-ROR-Hartman is playoff hockey incarnate. Gritty, greasy goals nearly every game. Sounds like exactly what Billy would want to build. 

    Since we added Tarasenko and plan on playing him on 2nd line wing, idk that they'd be too interested in adding Tuch though, unfortunately. Probably only if Tarasenko is a bust. 

    Still even getting only ROR would potentially give us:

    BEEK

    Zuccy-Yurov-Tarasenko

    Foligno-ROR-Hartman

    Ohgren-Rossi-Trenin

    for the playoffs, which looks a lot better than last year's team..

     

    I think ROR would be on one of the top lines being that he can win a draw where others have an issue with that aspect of the game. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    B1GKappa97
    12 hours ago, 1Brotherbill said:

    I think ROR would be on one of the top lines being that he can win a draw where others have an issue with that aspect of the game. 

    Maybe, but I think he fits as a 3rd liner better than a 2nd at this stage of his career. 

    And of course I forgot that we added Sturm. So if we add ROR it probably means Rossi's been traded. Or Yurov. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    1Brotherbill
    11 hours ago, B1GKappa97 said:

    Maybe, but I think he fits as a 3rd liner better than a 2nd at this stage of his career. 

    And of course I forgot that we added Sturm. So if we add ROR it probably means Rossi's been traded. Or Yurov. 

    Can never have an excess of centers.  St. Louis won a cup with 5 and 6 centers on the roster. 

    • Like 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    ArizonaWildFan

    How about adding the Penguins to the list? Crosby has two seasons under contract at $8.7M AAV, he's 37 and maybe wants to make another Cup run. If Pittsburgh's rebuild isn't working this season and the Wild look like potential contenders, would he see himself as the missing piece in Minnesota?

    I read somewhere that in the history of the NHL, only 127 players have spent their entire career with one team. Last season alone there were over 850 players that suited up for at least one NHL game. Maybe The Kid is considering another Cup ahead of being #128?

    If Crosby wanted out of Pittsburgh one would assume that his wish would be granted. Guerin must have some familiarity with Sid and obviously with the Penguin organization. Could he make that happen without selling the farm?

    If Pittsburgh is rebuilding, they would be looking for youth. The Wild would have to be careful not to give up assets that derail their contender status. Rossi, Buium, Faber, Yurov, Ohgren and Jiricek would all have to be on the table along with draft picks. What would it take and what should the Wild be willing to part with?

    Crosby being a center makes Rossi a good piece, center for center. The Wild would probably have to add more and I would lean towards Buium or Jiricek, depending on how they look this season. Get rid of one of them before we get too attached as fan favorites and/or contractually.

    It would certainly be a win now move. Would it work? Would it be worth it? There's only one way to find out.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    raithis

    I feel like the trade deadline is going to be kind of dull.

    The main reason that teams trade star players is because they can't afford them in the next year.  The other reason teams get rid of star players is because the team is trending in the wrong direction and so they jettison older star players to focus on younger players they hope to develop into stars.  Even then though, the cap is typically a huge reason why a team goes that route.

    We saw that with the cap going up, more teams and players wanted to re-sign their star players.  And with the cap going up more and more in the next few seasons, it's likely to stay that way because teams will tend to hold onto those players for longer.

    I get the feeling that we might see more huge trades in the next few years since teams will have more to work with, but there will be less star players heading to free agency like this year.

    It will be more the star player wanting to move on from the team than the team wanting to move on from the star player since the team can find a way to keep the star player more easily than they would have been able to the last few years.

    • Like 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    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.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

    ×

×
×
  • Create New...