Yakov Trenin Can Help the Wild Unleash Joel Eriksson Ek

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin should thank the Colorado Avalanche for extending Brock Nelson to a three-year contract averaging $7.5 million per year (AAV). Guerin would've likely gotten into a bidding war where they may have signed Nelson to a three- to four-year deal worth $8.5 million plus. 

John Tavares is the only center available for the Wild because the Dallas Stars extended Matt Duchene to a team-friendly deal worth $4.5 million AAV for four years. Duchene wasn’t signing with the Wild for $4.5 million. Instead of overpaying for Tavares, the Wild should look from within and make Yakov Trenin Eriksson Ek’s temporary contingency plan. 

Guerin knows he has to protect Eriksson Ek, one of his most valuable assets. He’s the rock who holds everyone together. When healthy, Eriksson Ek is the engine of the Wild’s forward group because he can be a true 200-foot player who can anchor the top line against the NHL’s best. Kirill Kaprizov is the superstar, but Eriksson Ek is the rockstar and the team’s heartbeat. 

In 2023-24, he scored 30 goals and 64 points while taking on brutal defensive matchups. However, Eriksson Ek’s production dropped to 29 points in 45 games as injuries and overuse took a toll on him. Guerin wants to keep his top center healthy. Part of that plan is finding a reliable center to play some hard defensive minutes so Eriksson Ek can produce. 

The Wild have Charlie Stramel developing in the system at Michigan State University, but he’s at least 2 years away from playing that kind of role. The Wild would at least want Stramel to complete a full season with the Iowa Wild (AHL) after he’s done with his senior year to adjust to pro hockey. 

Can Stramel become the Wild’s version of Sam Bennett, where he can be a playoff performer? Stramel must be consistent when he gets to the AHL. In the meantime, the Wild have an affordable center in Trenin until Stramel is ready. 

Trenin brings the toughness and defensive responsibility the Wild need to keep Eriksson Ek on the ice. He can take on the dirty work that took a toll on Eriksson Ek’s career. However, they can share the work, so Minnesota can keep Trenin, who played 76 games last year, in the lineup. The Wild will need Trenin to play up to 80 games to cover for players with injury histories. 

Trenin has some underrated talent. While he won't always produce stats, he can sometimes pick up more skating speed to generate offense. Trenin isn't the best skater, but he's faster than someone like Justin Brazeau. That's another reason he must alleviate some of Eriksson Ek’s workload. Trenin has enough speed to keep up with higher-level competition. 

He has the physicality to succeed in a shutdown role. Trenin had 32 hits in 6 games against the Vegas Golden Knights, or at least 5 hits per game. The Wild can expect Trenin to continue providing physicality that will wear down teams. Minnesota should have Ryan Hartman and Marcus Foligno support Trenin so the Wild can play a true shutdown line against the league’s best. 

How would this work for the Wild? 

Hartman must play disciplined hockey. He served a ten-game suspension, which league commissioner Gary Bettman reduced to eight games. Hartman showed the NHL how productive he can be when the game is on the line against the Knights. Hartman had to have seen how impactful Brad Marchand was in the playoffs. Hartman can be the Wild’s Bennett and Marchand. 

Foligno will need to stay healthy. Foligno last played 82 games in the 2018-19 season. He played 77 games this season, which is progress. However, he only played 55 games a year prior. 

Much like Trenin in the playoffs, Foligno showed promise by providing physicality with 5 hits per game (33 hits) in 6 games against the Knights. Trenin and Foligno have found good chemistry with each other. Adding Hartman to that makes everything better for a sustainable shutdown line that will drive teams mad. That’s why Guerin needs to be wise with his spending. 

Trenin’s role as a defensive safety net could be the key to unleashing a fully healthy Eriksson Ek. This cost-effective move allows Guerin to address roster depth without sacrificing flexibility or overpaying in a shallow free agent market. If the Wild want to go deep in the playoffs, keeping Eriksson Ek fresh and productive is Guerin’s offseason objective. Trenin could quietly be the most important piece in that puzzle.