Minnesota Wild could add speed and versatility by grabbing Mario Kempe off waivers

The Minnesota Wild should be looking to get faster; this is a copy-cat league and that’s the way the competition is trending. Mario Kempe has just been waived by the Arizona Coyotes and presents a very low-risk option.

Now, I guess you’re asking who the heck is Mario Kempe and why might the Minnesota Wild even consider him?

He’s a versatile player that can play wing or center; he’s by no means young at thirty years old and has bounced back-and-forth between the Arizona Coyotes and Tuscon Roadrunners for some time.

The biggest element of his game is his explosiveness; he gets up to speed quite fast though like other guys already in the Minnesota Wild organisation doesn’t always use the body size he has to the best of its potential.

Kempe tallied 37 points in 47 AHL games and has previously racked up 32 and 34 points on 56 and 54 game seasons in the KHL, suggesting that there certainly is some degree of scoring pedigree that has yet to be unlocked in the NHL.

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His numbers in Sweden do little to suggest he’s going to be a 50-point man but even 20 points from a fourth line option isn’t too bad in the NHL.

Quite simply, the Arizona Coyotes have waived him and his time in the NHL with them has been quite disappointing. A change of scenery could be the difference-maker for the player.

What with Matt Hendricks being injured and the guys in the AHL with the Iowa Wild not really offering the pace needed, it’s an idea at least.

I don’t see why the Minnesota Wild shouldn’t at least consider it; it’s not as if he eats a massive cap amount, is contracted for longer than the year or generally will damage the team going forward.

You never know, he could be added as an additional piece in a trade down the track if he can have a decent ten or twenty games in the NHL.

Adding speed and explosiveness has to be key in a team that has looked slow early on, so I say why not. Minnesota Wild General Manager, Paul Fenton could do a lot worse than adding Kempe at no cost other than salary.