Potential Trade Targets For The Minnesota Wild On Defense

Jan 20, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Ottawa Senators defenseman Marc Methot (3) plays with a split lip after taking a puck to the face against the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Marc Methot, shoots left

6’3”, 231 lbs

June 21, 1985

Average Annual Value: $3,000,000, last year under contract

On paper, Marc Methot is a good fit for the Wild. Methot has never put up many points, with his 23 last season being his career-high (including his time in the Ontario Hockey League). But he is big, and reliable defensively.

If Minnesota looks to make a playoff push this year (should they make it into the postseason), they need size on the back end. Teams like Anaheim and St. Louis play a grueling style that can walk over smaller teams.

Methot also fills the need Minnesota has for a left-handed shot on the bottom pairing. They have frequently been using right-handed defensemen playing on their offside. This makes it that much harder to breakout from the defensive zone while under pressure from a fast forecheck.

With Ottawa on the outside looking in, they will conceivably be sellers at the deadline.