Minnesota Wild: Is There Still a Need to Trade for a Forward?

The Minnesota Wild were looking to add forward depth this offseason ever since the final horn blew on Game 6 against Dallas. The trade rumors that were once so strong have failed to materialize, and now with the free-agent signings of Staal and Stewart do the Wild still need to trade for another forward?

Heading into this offseason there was no doubt that the Minnesota Wild’s greatest need was a few more players up front in the forward corps. Chuck Fletcher made that clear at his first offseason press conference when he explained that the Wild would be looking to add one or two forwards. The conventional wisdom what that the Wild would look to the trade market to acquire at least one of those forwards considering they had a strong defensive group to use as a trade chip.

What happened was actually something that didn’t require a trade at all. The Wild decided to buyout Thomas Vanek giving them $5 million in extra cap room which they quickly recapitalized into contracts for free-agents Eric Staal and Chris Stewart who annual cap hits equal $4.65 million. Basically the Wild took Vanek’s cap savings and got Staal and Stewart with it.

The Wild’s acquisitions of Stewart and Staal through free-agency looks to have filled out their forward depth very well. Both players will fill specific roles on the team and already look to have spots reserved for them in the lineup. It’s a Wild forward lineup that is looks more solid than before with little room for additions.

A closer look shows that as the team is assembled now the Wild can fill all their forward lines with quality players. Here’s a look at what the forward lines could be:

Line 1

Coyle- Staal – Parise

Line 2

Granlund- Koivu -Niederreiter

Line 3

Zucker – Haula – Pominivlle

Line 4

Stewart – Graovac – Dalpe

This would leave Jordan Schroeder, possibly a player from Iowa, or a new acquisition to come in and be the depth forwards.

That’s a pretty solid four lines of forwards that would leave the Wild in great position if they went into the season with that group. Still many around the State of Hockey are insisting that the Wild should still be hitting the streets to find another top-tier forward via the trade market. If they were to bring in a new top nine or top six forward, the question becomes where to they fit in?

Right now it’s plain to see they don’t fit in. None of those pieces in the top nine should be put on the fourth line or in the press box, they should be playing right where they are. The only way for another forward to have a place in this lineup the Wild must make room, and that means they’ll need to trade one of their top nine forwards to make room for the player coming in.

So sure the Wild can still go hunting for players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Martin Hanzal in a trade for a defenseman. But if the Wild trade for a forward the deal could be one that includes, or rather should include, one of the top nine forwards of the Wild to make room in the lineup for the incoming player. And so the question begins to be asked, do the Wild need to make a trade at all?

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With a group like this you’d hesitate to trade any of those pieces. Some have said that Jason Pominville should be moved, but he’s got a no movement clause and was the team’s highest scorer in the playoffs. Zucker had a down year, but it looks as if the organization thinks he’ll rebound under Bruce Boudreau. Granlund had a great World Championship for Finland playing on a line with Mikko Koivu, so the Wild will pair them up as Granlund moves to play the wing full-time.

The bottom-line here is that the Wild forwards as assembled now are formidable and not really in need of any major upgrades. So if you’re hoping for a trade, it just might not happen and that’s fine. Afterall keeping the defense intact it just fine. The group will play well, and you give Mike Reilly and Christian Folin another year to mature properly that’s a good for the future of the Wild. Additionally, there’s also something to be said for bringing in too many new faces to a team. Familiar faces work best with each other.

Next: Filling Out the Fourth Line

Still it’s very conceivable that a trade does happen, but the point here is it doesn’t have to happen for the Wild to be competitive. The trade market will soften as the offseason draws on, but right now the Wild might not have made a deal for a reason, they like their team and they only will deal for the right price. Still if it doesn’t soften the Wild should come out just fine, yet we still hear rumors. The funny thing about rumors is they are true some times and wrong others.

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