Minnesota Wild: Tom Kuhnhackl Available As A Cheap Depth Player

The Minnesota Wild continue to miss a trick this pre-season by not submitting a single waiver claim. Here is the perfect chance to add younger depth without sacrificing the present.

If the new General Manager really sought to make an impact for the Minnesota Wild, you’ve got to think that lowering the average age of the team without giving up the farm would be it.

Yet another good option to help do so has found his way onto the waiver wire; a player primed to be picked up and slotted into a Bruce Boudreau team; especially given his playing style.

I’ve preached all summer long that waiver pickups could be the smartest way forward, whether that was Connor Brickley, Jared Coreau or Kerby Rychel.

The latest name that I think should interest the Minnesota Wild is Tom Kuhnhackl. The German-born winger has two Stanley Cups to his name and offers both versatility and youth, as well as cup-winning pedigree.

Although he found himself not renewed by the Pittsburgh Penguins, with whom he won both Cups, he has landed a spot with the New York Islanders, who promptly waived him at the end of camp.

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With a career total of 168 regular season games and 47 playoff games, it’s clear he at least has somewhat of an NHL pedigree and maybe doesn’t deserve to languish in the American Hockey League.

Also factor in, he’s managed to work his way up gradually from the ECHL, to the AHL before finally cracking the NHL. This is a player that has paid his dues; something that I’m sure Bruce Boudreau would appreciate.

In Kuhnhackl, the Minnesota Wild could acquire a player that skates decently for a bigger-framed guy, although I’d like to see him be a little more aggressive given his size.

He has scoring instincts too, though I guess we all would if we found Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin on the same roster.

More importantly, he could play a role on the Minnesota Wild special teams if he were to head west, as he spent time as a penalty-killer with the cup-winning Penguins side.

A versatile 26-year old winger doesn’t sound like a bad idea. It’s certainly better than bringing in more guys that are the wrong side of thirty.

In my thinking, Paul Fenton needs to make a move in terms of making some changes. The Minnesota Wild side should be alright for playoffs provided they repeat last years’ performances, but they need to get younger and fast.

If they’re not going to be drafting high, they need to find another way to get younger and waivers may well be the smart option.

Statistics courtesy of Elite Prospects.