Post Mortem Edition of who Should the Minnesota Wild Sign

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 22: Paul Fenton of the Minnesota Wild attends the 2019 NHL Draft at the Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 22: Paul Fenton of the Minnesota Wild attends the 2019 NHL Draft at the Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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1. Joe Pavelski (126pts)

SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 19: Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks takes the ice for warmups against the St. Louis Blues in Game Five of the Western Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on May 19, 2019 in San Jose, California (Photo by Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – MAY 19: Joe Pavelski #8 of the San Jose Sharks takes the ice for warmups against the St. Louis Blues in Game Five of the Western Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center on May 19, 2019 in San Jose, California (Photo by Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images)

I really sold myself on the idea that we would see Joe Pavelski in green next season. I wasn’t

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entirely wrong, just had the wrong shade.

Joe Pavelski signed with the Dallas Stars.

I thought the Wild had an incredible chance to get Joe Pavelski. Plover, Wisconsin is just a 3-hour drive from St. Paul. Fellow Wisconsinite and Team USA member Ryan Suter is on the team. Not to mention Zach Parise. I guess Joe wasn’t convinced with where this team could go in the final couple years of his career. I wonder if Phil Kessel nixing a move to the Wild exposed any of that for Pavelski.

Joe could have been a Swiss army knife for the Minnesota Wild. Natural scorer, superb passing, incredible leader. He checked a lot of boxes off the “Needs” list for the Wild.

I’m not torn up about the Wild missing out though. He’s an elite talent, but age does play a factor, and in a week Joe Pavelski turns 35. I’m certain the fanbase wouldn’t be pleased about adding another 30 years old+ guy.